Galeon felt vividly aware of how much time had passed. Absolutely none at all. Not even a single second had gone by since he acquired his Eyes of Clarity and this moment. He awoke from a trance that was decidedly too real to be a mere dream. He knew it was real. His entire being was telling him so. His eyes were screaming to him of this fact.
And yet it was so different from the last time he had experienced something similar. The last time, he had fallen unconscious for nearly an entire week. What was different this time? Was the entity that he encountered last time simply too powerful? Or was it because it was through his own means that he entered that trance-like dream this time?
He could not say. There were too many things he did not know. He used to dream of the universe beyond the bounds of the blue sky, but now that he was faced with its bare reality in all the raw details, he felt overwhelmed. There were so many things happening outside, things that seemed even grander than whatever is happening in Corrin.
This world of his was like a tiny speck of dust floating in space. It could vanish in one moment and perhaps no one would even know, much less bother to care. Galeon felt so startlingly insignificant. What was he to do with all the power he had come to wield in these past days when everything seemed insurmountable? Just days ago, he felt unstoppable and free. He felt like he could finally do anything, reach out and grasp his dream with his own hands, but all of a sudden, he felt like a bird given the illusion of freedom within a vast cage.
He was steadily drowning in a sense of doom. With every power and knowledge he obtained, he felt like he was understanding less and less of the world around him. Now, it seemed like nothing was as they were presented to him. He could not even trust his own eyes anymore as they seemed to be failing him again and again.
And as though reacting to his thoughts, a notification appeared in his vision. It was regarding something that he himself wanted. He had thought of it during the trance as he was digesting Benjamin's words, and now, it appeared to him in the moment he needed it most.
[Clarity: The first step toward purity.]
[Eyes of Clarity: None may elude or be hidden from your gaze. Your eyes pierce through all fallacies and perceive reality as it is meant to be perceived.]
[Note: This trait was born from a strand of an unknown authority obtained from Clarity. In order to grow this trait, it is necessary to either obtain more of the authority that created it or develop the trait such that it transforms into something that especially belongs to the Shaper of Self.]
[Shaper of Self has created a new category of traits: Signets]
[Signets: Traits or skills that have reached a threshold and have developed their own inherent authorities. Their growth relies not only in defining their complexities but also in comprehending their authorities.]
[Note: Due to their nature, future Signets born from the Vernal Bloom will be jointly administered by the Vernal Bloom and Shaper. Possible changes to the Vernal Bloom's functions from the birth of Signets remain unknown until it is freed from restrictions.]
[Shaper has been designated as a Signet.]
[Lux, Bringer of Light has been designated as a Signet.]
[Eyes of Clarity has been designated as a Signet.]
Eyes of Clarity, it did not dispel any confusion that Galeon had. In fact, it only added more to the steadily growing pile. But at the same time, he understood what it was meant to do. All this time, he had been seeing the world through the lens of a mundane human. Even with all the power he now wielded, his perspective still remained as small as before. How could he progress further on the path to Eternity if he failed to see beyond the bounds of this world?
Eternity, the all-encompassing concept that he sought. While some would posit that Infinity and Space were superior in their breadth, Galeon begged to differ. It did not mean that he believed Time to be superior. He just believed that Time and Space were equally necessary. Space alone could stretch on forever and one would not be able to see the end. But how would one know how far they have gone without knowing Time? Similarly, Time ticks ever onward without care. But how would one perceive this progress without the material of Space?
Infinity, the ever-presence of all things... Galeon had no need for this. He loved the idea of oneness with existence that he even nearly lost himself in a dissolution of his self when he thought to go past the Fifth Step during the beast tide. But as much as Galeon hated Finality, he also valued it greatly. And he cannot accept Infinity to extend without End.
So then why was he seeking Eternity?
How different was the endlessness of Eternity from Infinity?
This is probably the sort of conundrum that would earn Galeon the strange and mocking gazes of others. Was he not just contradicting himself? He wants Infinity to End and yet he seeks for Eternity. Of course it was ridiculous, even he thought so. But as stated before, he did not seek endlessness. He sought a new Beginning after the End.
Finality is important. It is a necessary part of everything. There can be no creation without destruction, no life without death. There is no white without knowing black. Recognising the different faces of a coin was necessary. Finality was the punctuation, the period that closes the sentence. But the paragraph may still go on. A new sentence may still be written.
Eternity... it is not the endlessness of all things. It is the tale of existence, a story unfolding as it is told. And like any story, it has a beginning and it has an end. But a new story may begin after that. It might not be a continuation or a repeat of the same story, but it is still a story nonetheless. And there would be more to follow it for Eternity.
This was what Galeon strove for. He wished to see Eternity unfold, not for the stretches of time that he might exist, but for the tales he might witness. He envied Benjamin who seemed to be able to do just that, watching everything transpire and recording it all in some universal archive. But Galeon's desire was also different.
Galeon wanted to gaze upon Eternity.
He did not want to watch every single little detail. He had no need to record it all, though he would admit that the thought was enticing. It tugged at his sentimentality, but that was besides the point. He just wanted to lose himself in the flow of Time, to see civilisations rise and fall and rise again. He wanted to see worlds be born. He wanted to see the stars align.
He wanted to be a part of something much bigger than himself, to be whole in a manner beyond his mere sense of self could ever achieve. And for that, he would not mind the imperfections of life, the struggles he would have to face. This was his dream. If he could not even bear to suffer for it, then he was never worthy of achieving it.
The spark that seemed to flicker out amidst the turbulent blizzard winds now steadied. Its ember growing into a more conceivable flame that burned both patiently and reflectively. Galeon smiled as he looked beyond the heaven-reaching mountain, beyond the tainted skies of Corrin. There he saw the sun that had nearly completely set, the twin moons that stuck together like close siblings, the stars that twinkled every now and then some thousands or millions of years from the past.
It was fascinating to be able to see them, truly see them. The clarity of his sight had given him a unique perspective of everything. They were alive, very much so. And just like him, they were afraid of the changes coming. The pillar of light that perhaps only he and Helena could see was like a beacon of upheaval heralding unknown dangers to them all.
These celestial bodies, they did not dim as the prophetic message said. At least, not in the literal sense. To Galeon, they looked helpless and powerless. They had no control over anything and could only await their fates, whatever they may be. His heart ached for them as this need not be the case. He saw them for what they truly are – existence in its purest and most untainted form. They were life in a manner beyond the meagre understanding of humans and their science. And he sought to be with them, to live like them.
Unbeknownst to Galeon, his intent was so heartfelt and true to his being that it resonated with his authorities. And somewhere deep within his very being, a budding flame slowly started to lose colour. And yet, it seemed all the brighter, reflecting a mind yet metamorphosing until it unfurls into a grand tapestry.