Chapter 5: Trial
[Next, I will pass a wisp of cosmic energy inside your sea of consciousness. You must merge it with your newly formed Starseed to create an illusory Starseed.]
Solara's stern voice echoed inside his mind, informing further instructions to him.
Suddenly, A surge of foreign energy crashed into Lucian's sea of consciousness, rushing towards the Starseed.
Lucian's heart raced in sudden panic sensing immense danger from the unknown energy. The mental pressure it was giving off was beyond anything he had ever witnessed.
It felt as if a towering mountain were pressing against his very soul, threatening to crush him under its unfathomable weight.
[Don't panic. This is just a wisp of cosmic energy sent inside your sea of consciousness by me. Guide it towards your Starseed and let it merge. But be warned, any interruption, any wavering, will break the process. You must remain focused.] The calm yet commanding voice of Solara echoed through his mind, snapping him back from the edge of his fear.
The voice lessened the mental pressure emitted by the wisp significantly, allowing Lucian to catch his breath.
Just a tiny amount, a wisp of cosmic energy can cause extreme danger. How powerful must it be? Lucian thought, fearful and excited for his future.
He understood that the path he was about to walk was one fraught with danger. His choices would shape whether he became feared or revered—a fine line, and one he could easily stumble upon. Shaking his head, he cleared the unnecessary thoughts and focused on the merging process.
He took a deep breath, centering himself.
The wisp revolved next to his Starseed, casting its shadows around it. The wisp shimmered a cosmic brilliance unlike anything Lucian had ever seen, and in one swift motion, it touched the surface of his Starseed.
swoop
The instant they merged, a cataclysm of light exploded through his mind. His entire sea of consciousness was illuminated. The whole cosmos's reflection appeared above his consciousness, demonstrating its glory.
Planets, stars, and galaxies swirled around him, a reflection of the universe's grandeur dancing above his consciousness. Lucian stared at the reflection, his grey eyes shining with unknown intentions.
—
Outside, Solara watched over Lucian's still body, her golden eyes reflecting his pale face. His body lay motionless in a lotus position on the futon, his consciousness deep within the trial.
[The Trial has begun.] Solara's solemn voice echoed outside. Sadly, it couldn't reach Lucian's mind.
[The Trial of Worthiness, A test of the soul's strength, of willpower unyielding. My job has been completed. I can't help you from here, you are on your own. Hopefully, You will bring positive results. Good Luck O' Chosen One.]
She softly whispered, gazing at Lucian's body. Depending on his willpower, the trial could last a second or an eternity. Thankfully, Solara had isolated the space and time around them. By the time he completed the trial and returned, only a minute had passed outside.
Solara stood beside Lucian's body, patiently awaiting his arrival.
—
Lucian stood alone, staring deeply into the cosmos reflected above his consciousness. His eyes trembled. For the first time in his life, he felt small. A hollow emptiness seeped into his chest.
The reflection affected his consciousness developing negative and easily influential thoughts inside of it. He felt his insignificance before the entire cosmos, questioning his existence itself.
Why? What is the meaning behind my existence? Is my life worth living? Are my achievements worth anything before the mighty cosmos? Am I just a mere ant following its rule?
Doubt crept in like poison, infecting his thoughts. His eyes started developing a sense of hollowness inside them.
Why do you exist? the cosmos seemed to ask him. What purpose do you serve in the grand design?
His consciousness shook, cracks appearing inside them that affected his mentality deeply. The reflection of the universe above him loomed, casting a shadow of insignificance over his soul.
Suddenly, An eerie silence resounded within Lucian's sea of consciousness. The space and time seemed to have frozen still, affected by this unknown phenomena.
A gigantic eye covering the reflection of the cosmos itself appeared above Lucian's consciousness. The eye was infinitely large, unfathomable, and immeasurable. It towered above Lucian's consciousness, staring at his soul with a judging gaze.
The dark crescent moon symbol etched inside the eye glowed heavily with a sinister light, descending on Lucian's soul.
[The Time has not arrived yet.]
It slowly retracted its gaze back, freeing Lucian's poor soul. The eye closed itself, disappearing from his consciousness.
The space and time revived and the trial continued as if the disturbance hadn't existed.
Lucian's consciousness continued to crack, sending him inside a never-ending loop of negativity and insignificance.
But then—amid the darkness—flashes of light broke through. The blessing of the Stars, Lucian's innate ability stirred within his soul breaking the seal placed by Solara apart.
Blessing of the Stars–An overpowered ability that grants the user the power to harness and use cosmic energy. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg since it also contains several other hidden abilities. Sadly, The Blessing of the Stars was an incredibly rare ability and not much had been explored about it so its potential is limitless.
A warm feeling rushed over Lucian's consciousness from within his soul. The negative emotions intensely fluctuating from Lucian's consciousness were suppressed and the positive emotions flourished from within.
[Emotion Reinforcement]
The grand library within his sea of consciousness stirred slightly.
Various memories flashed through his mind. The warm, loving smile of his mother. The firm, supportive grip of his father's hand. Zeph's laughter, Kiara's knowing gaze. His friends. His family. The people who believed in him.
Their faces, filled with love and hope, anchored him. They reminded him that, to them, his existence meant everything.
Suddenly, the vastness of the cosmos felt less overwhelming. His chest swelled with clarity.
What am I worried about? My Life? haven't lived much to experience anything. Death? Why be scared of something inevitable? Death doesn't scare me.
I have a long life ahead of me, Who knows what I could achieve? The cosmos is unfathomable but is it Omniscient? Omnipotent?, NO! It is just a mindless entity protecting its rule. Why be scared of something like that?
What does it mean to live? I don't know. Haven't lived long enough to answer the question but Experience is the only word I could come up with.
[Life and Death are cycles of nature. If you fear it, It rotates faster before your eyes, but if you enjoy it, you won't notice it till one day it stops rotating.]
woosh
In that moment of clarity, Lucian's grey eyes brightened, a deep understanding settling into his heart. The cracks in his consciousness sealed, his soul reforged by the fires of his will.
His Starseed shone brilliantly, pulsing with newfound strength. The wisp of cosmic energy had merged completely with his solid Starseed, forming an illusory Starseed that reflected the entire cosmos within it. The Starseed hovered over his consciousness pulsating with brilliant starlight.
He had successfully passed the trial, gaining the recognition and worthiness to harness the cosmic energy.
However, This was just the beginning. Cosmic energy was not something a mere mortal could handle without repercussions. Thankfully he had the blessing of the Stars thus he wouldn't die immediately. However, He needed to urgently strengthen his physique and learn the proper method to utilize cosmic energy.
He focused on his newfound powers, clenching his fist tightly. He felt the starlight passively flowing across his body, slowly strengthening it.
This felt intoxicating and wonderful. He shook his head slightly, shaking off that feeling.
Obsession over power is extremely dangerous. He reminded himself, feeling slightly scared.
Outside, Solara's gaze softened as she felt the shift within Lucian. His body twitched slightly, attempting to awaken from its slumber. A faint smile curved on her lips.
He was ready.