In the great room, hewn deep within a cave of marble the size of a mountain, the air was thick with ancient, accumulated authority. Nyxander and Vacuros stood side by side, filling the space with contrasting energies, while across from them stood Umbrazel. His piercing gaze fell upon the two primordial children, a silent weight pressed upon their young shoulders. Nyxander seemed utterly unfazed, his eyes wandering about the room with careless curiosity.
Hum," Umbrazel cleared his throat, sharp and commanding, folding his right hand over his mouth in a silent signal for Nyxander's attention. Nyxander turned to him with a slow, feigned obliviousness, casual. "Are you okay, Uncle?" he asked innocently, drawing a tense icy glare from Vacuros.
The gaze from Vacuros was cold enough to freeze the air between them, but Nyxander showed him his back. He only raised his palms upwards, shrugged, exaggerating his expression as if to ask, What's the problem?
"Attention!" boomed Umbrazel's voice, thunder-like in the cavern, shattering lingering tension as if with a hammer on glass. Both primordial children instinctively turned their attention to him, their demeanor shifting under the weight of his authority.
As well as you both know," the firm, deliberate voice of Umbrazel began, "today marks the start of your coming-of-age ceremony." His arms folded over his chest, putting weight into every word he spoke. ""I will now give you the foundational knowledge of our race and the legacy of our clan."
He lifted his right hand, splaying five fingers in a teaching gesture. "There are five realms in all," he said, his voice booming with the weight of eons. "The first realm…" He bent his thumb into his palm. ".is the Neonate Realm. All primordial children are born into this realm. In this stage, they need to learn to manage their Essentia blood.
The gaze of Umbrazel sharpened, his voice low, if for the weight of his words. "This Essentia is volatile, wild like a storm seeking destruction. It bends the laws to its affinity, yet the body and mind of a Neonate are too fragile to withstand the recoil of such power. At this realm, the body expands, growing anywhere from ten to fifteen feet, adapting to contain the chaos within."
Before he could continue, Nyxander raised a hand, and his voice cut through the somber explanation. "Sorry, Uncle, but there's something that bothers me about Essentia," he said, curiosity leading his tone, tinged with the audacity of youth.
Umbrazel paused, sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he invited Nyxander to continue. "Go on," he said, his voice even, though interest was piqued.
Nyxander leaned his head slightly to one side; a look of deep reflection crossed his face. "When I was training with Father, I tried to find the source of my Essentia. But every time, it feels like it's in every part of my body. I just can't find it, and it confuses me," he said, his voice trailing off as he finished.
Umbrazel nodded, his expression softening as he prepared to enlighten the young primordial. "That is because the Essentia flows through every corner of our being," he explained, his voice carrying a patient yet commanding tone. "In truth, Essentia is our blood, coursing through us like rivers of energy. This is why our body size is so crucial. Each breakthrough to a new realm causes our body to expand, increasing the Essentia fluid within us. It's an intricate balance of growth and power."
Nyxander's eyes gleamed with a spark of understanding as he chimed in, cutting through Umbrazel's explanation. "So, at the Neonate Realm, we're like walking explosive plants that could go off at any moment," he concluded, his words infused with a mixture of wonder and dread.
His eyes settled upon Nyxander, a hint of approval dancing in the ancient eyes. "Exactly," he said, his voice as solid as a mountain. "That is why we forbid any primordial at this stage from attempting to manipulate the laws, no matter how tempting it may be. The risk is simply too great, and the consequences… irreversible.
He resumed his explanation, his hand closing deliberately, with almost ritualistic slowness, as he brought his index finger to his palm. "The second is the Ascendant Realm. At this point in time, the primordial body lengthens steadily and extends from about twenty to thirty feet tall, reaching up towards the heavens.". This growth reflects their deeper and deeper connection to the laws, which they begin to fathom and manipulate in their most basic forms." His middle finger folded next, punctuating his words.
The third one is the Paragon Realm: in this place, the primordial body swells to an astonishing size of fifty-nine to seventy feet tall. This is where they have reached the far shore, the summit of their understanding. In this stage, they have already mastered their art of the segment of the law, and they could use it with ease, like a brush on an endless canvas. Soon, the manipulation of laws would be instinctive for them.
Nyxander, ever the questioning fire, spoke again, and he caught Umbrazel with that inquiring tone of his. "From the look of it, it seems that to break through to another realm, our bodies will continue to expand until they reach the required size. That won't be easy, right?
The stern expression of Umbrazel softened, and he nodded, his approval evident. Nyxander wasn't satisfied yet, though. He furrowed his brow in thought, "But one thing bothers me: does our body expand over time, or does it need something else?
Meanwhile, Vacuros leaned forward, for he had been the one disturbed by Nyxander's constant interruptions, while Nyxander's probing questions almost lit furnaces of curiosity inside him, driving him to want more.
Umbrazel nodded steadily and spoke to the question. "Good question," he said, his voice firm but patient, like a teacher guiding a promising student. "The body's growth is intertwined with the primordial's comprehension of the laws. It does expand over time, but only as the primordial deepens their understanding. Think of it as a tree-its roots must delve deeper into the earth for its branches to stretch higher into the sky.
The words hung in the air, like a heavy fog, setting over the young primordials as they absorbed the gravity of Umbrazel's teachings.