"A Traverser is pretty much a summon."
Jack was now walking in front of Crux with his hands in his pockets and a lazy tone. The two made their way out of the ritual space.
"Through The Channel, which is the link between the universe's multiple worlds, you will be able to travel to different kingdoms, towns, cities, etc. You have to be summoned though if you want to travel to a new world and you also need to have multiple contracts in place for free Channel travel in the future. It's a lot of legal work which I honestly don't care for..."
Jack was barely explaining the surface-level information needed as he was uninterested in those aspects so Crux filled in the gaps with his own knowledge and sense.
'The Channel controls Traversers and their movement, pretty much acting as a mediator between us and the regular folk as well as being a link between everyone and everything. It's pretty much a natural order of the world like that of the universe itself, gravity or the very air we breathe... interesting.' Crux was fascinated with the concept. He always found himself in traced with physics books and science, so this was a new discovery to unravel.
'Traversers are not only at the will of The Channel but they are also at the mercy of their Summoners. At least their first-ever one. That's the only part that sounds a little troubling so far.'
"The gist is that, as a Traverser, you have the innate ability granted by The Channel to drive out spirits in weapons and beasts. This ability is the only thing that can defeat a set of giants in this world which you guys refer to as a 'Boss'. I'll show you once we get to the weapons room."
The two walked through immensely decorated halls of luxury and gold. There were grand paintings at every corner and the place screamed royalty. This must have been a 'castle'. Crux had heard stories of it from the elders. Before the massacre that led him to becoming a stay rat on the streets. A place where royalty lived and those powerful enough to conquer nations.
The floor was shiny with not a speck of dust and multiple butlers had passed by the two in their walk. Each one bowed low towards Jack and he walked by them as if they didn't even exist.
"Oh! Actually..." Jack turned around to the butler he just walked by, probably the 7th one in 10 minutes, and said, "I did a bit of a ritual at B wing. Go clean it up before Father sees."
He then turned and strode off without even waiting for an answer. Crux followed in silence, observing all that he could. As they came to a vestibule, Crux saw a quick glimpse of himself in a mirror hanging at the end of the hallway to the left.
He was a lanky, tall, and pale kid. He had grown-out silver hair(a sign of all the stress he had endured)that was tied back into a short ponytail, and his bangs usually covered his upper face. This, coupled with his slouching posture, made him always look gloomy and depressed. Unapproachable. His clothing was ripped and dirty, showing his ribs and bony figure that was a stark contrast to his grand surroundings. The cuffs on his wrists, metal piercings in his ears, and left eyebrow glimmered on the silver surface far from him.
He looked exactly like himself and unlike himself at the same time. For the first time in his life, his back was somewhat straightened allowing his eyes which were always hidden to show in the mirror. Crux's eyes were so colorful and gleaming with hope! He never knew he could look like this. Give off this anticipating and ambitious aura.
Crux looked... optimistic. That was the word, right? He didn't even know.
'Now that my mind has calmed... I can feel my heart is beating so fast. Get a grip, you idiot! Why am I so excited?'
It wasn't just excitement but relief and happiness that filled him. He genuinely thought it was the end back there... but thanks to some miracle he was here. Crux felt her just used all his luck for the remainder of his life.
While lost in thought, Jack's yell from the other side of the hall snapped Crux out of it.
"GET OVER HERE FOOL! It's no time for thinking we're in a hurry!"
Crux ran over with an annoyed sigh.
'Is this seriously who I'm going to work under for the rest of my life...?' He thought as he pushed the open door and stepped into the weapons room.
Looking up, Crux couldn't believe his eyes. All types of weaponry filled every minute space of the room. Whether it was a spear type, sword, bow and arrow... there was so much in all different sizes, colors, and makes. A purple Katana, 8ft golden Claymore, giant cleaver, red Axe, rainbow arrows, Celtic spears, and more which Crux couldn't figure out since they were hybrid weapons.
Crux's neck almost broke as he followed the walls of weapons to the ceiling, where more swords hung. He couldn't even fathom how dangerous that was.
"You think this is cool? Come over here." Jack said with an arrogant chuckle.
Crux looked to where the royal boy was standing and it was before a huge see-through case in the room's corner. There were multiple of these cases around the area, but this one was the biggest, towering over the two by at least 5ft.
As Crux walked over, he wondered how a normal human could even wield something that huge. And who the hell was the enemy to need this big thing in the first place!?
"Everything in this universe has a Pneuma." Jack started explaining.
"And that Pneuma is the building block to the very concept of existence. To conscious. Being a Traverser means having the power to control the consciousness of every existence in the universe. To draw out its prime potential for the accomplishment of your goals. Whether it be weapons, machines, animals, or even people."