[THE WEEPING FOREST — INTERIOR REGION]
Jacender and Aleximus both opened their eyes in unison. At last, their Sanctum Chamber Emergence process had finished.
They slowly rose from their drowsy stupor and sat up straight.
"..?" they both noised, accidentally bumping their turning head against the other's. Jace grabbed his forehead and stared harder at who he'd bumped into. "Aleximus!" he gasped happily as he pounced on him. Aleximus dodged the hug with a careless look and smirked. "So you passed too, huh?"
Jace picked himself up and groaned. His brother never was one for much outward affection. Instead, Aleximus surprised Jace with a raised fist and stuck it out to him. Jace grinned and bumped his hand against it. They'd both taken one step closer to power.
"Congratulations," a familiar voice spoke. Their eyes traveled to the wooden throne where Nahasch sat curiously surveying them with his eyes. "You two have become stronger. That is good."
Jacender and Aleximus responded to his comment with a smile and stood up.
Nahasch rose from his throne and pointed behind them. "The boy had been worried about you."
Just as he said, they both spun to find Hidemi asleep against a tree with a trail of saliva running down his face.
"He awaited your return for nearly two days straight. It was only yesterday, when he collapsed from exhaustion, that he finally fell asleep."
Hidemi did all that for us? Jace wondered. He didn't know it yet, but a bond between him and the half-dwarf boy was starting to form. Jacender found himself beginning to enjoy his company. Not as someone he had happened to help out — but as a friend.
His first.
Besides him, Aleximus remained silent and only glanced quickly at Hidemi. He was feeling something akin to regret for all the mean words he had hurled the boys way before they had undergone their test.
"Nahasch," he started, turning to the lord, "You said you'd teach us more about Sanctum Energy once we finished. Let's get started."
"Very well," Nahasch nodded. "I must warn you, I can only teach you the basics. You must have noticed by now — I am not like you. My essence, the core of my being, spans the fourth dimension, a realm far removed from your world of time and space. Though I stand before you now, this form is a fragment of my true self. In this state, I am weakened, bound by the constraints of your dimension... yet even here, I retain a fraction of my former reach."
Jace raised a confused brow and looked to Aleximus for help. Aleximus ignored him and responded with, "That's fine. The basics will have to do for now."
Unlike Jacender, he wasn't interested in anything that wouldn't further his goals. He needed to focus.
"Can you teach us about the Sanctum categories?"
Nahasch smiled softly and crossed his arms. "Oh?"
Jace fumbled forward. "Categories? What are you talking about?"
Aleximus groaned and took in a deep breath. "Back in the Axis, Hatagi said something about being an Extractor — Someone who could 'steal and redistribute Sanctum Energy'. He also said that there were four class systems that everyone would fall into based on their affinity. Extractors are the rarest right? What are the other four?"
He's bright, this one, Nahasch marveled. No more than a few months in the outside world and he already has such a firm grasp on things. Whatever happened in his Emergence process seemed to have cleared his mind of distractions.
"Correct," he answered aloud. "But what makes you so sure he wasn't lying to you?"
"I'd thought about it before — when you brought up the Sanctum Chambers. You said that once we learned to sense Sanctum Essence, our hearts — or cores — would transform that power into Sanctum Energy, which we could manifest, right?"
Aleximus looked around for a second and grunted contentedly as his eyes fell on a large stick. "Shoo, shoo," he told Jace as he raised it and beat him back.
"Remember this?" he asked Nahasch while he sketched something detailed into the soft dirt. It had an oval-like figure and veins running through it. A heart, Jace realized.
Aleximus tapped the finished drawing. "You made a stone replica for us before we went unconscious. Well, pay attention to these."
He quickly added four valves to the heart and outlined several small particles so it'd look like they were floating around it.
"These heart valves, they keep blood flowing throughout your body. Well if the Sanctum Core is supposed to do the same, but just with Sanctum Essence, then these four valves couldn't be that simple."
Nahasch's eyes widened.
"Heart valves prevent blood from flowing backward, right? At least I think that's what Uncle Matsuda's medical book said," he muttered, recalling a time he had broken into his uncle's room for clues about escaping the Axis. The medical knowledge had come in handy on days when he and Jace needed to administer first aid and Anna wasn't there.
"Well," he continued, drawing an arrow from the particles to each valve. "If the heart sends blood continuously pumping through these valves, and the valves themselves keep blood from coming back, then that means whatever Essence is being converted into Sanctum Energy by the 'core' is then occupied by the valves. If it were only about the dangers of keeping the blood flow and energy flow separate, then one valve would've been enough. But since there are four, I can only assume that they'd be fine flowing through the same veins that regular blood does. And if that's the case…"
He dropped the stick and brought his eyes back to Nahasch. "...That means these four heart valves have to play important roles with Sanctum Energy. So: four categories for four valves."
Genius, Nahasch marveled. How many scholars, no, how many Sanctum Energy specialists could break down what this boy has done here with merely one look at a stone heart and a vague explanation from an enemy? They are too far and few in between. And even then…
He narrowed his eyes and watched closely as Jacender nagged his brother, and muttered something indistinct about how he knew so much.
…What sort of monster will this boy become once he learns the practical application of Sanctum Energy?
Tannin, who was resting lazily on Nahasch's throne, perked her head up in response to her master's excitement. It had been a long time since he had shown such emotion.
Behind the throne and resting in the shade, Aryeh was perched low with her cubs fast asleep underneath her arms. For a curious reason, she could not bring her eyes to leave Jace.
"Your explanation was marvelous, boy," Nahasch finally said. "But your explanation poses one problem."
Aleximus's cheeks became rosy pink as Jace giggled at him. "Looks like you're not so smart after all."
A leaf fell from the tree branch overhead Nahasch. He plucked it from the air without looking and transformed it in his palm into wisps of energy. "Let me pose you a question," he explained, "If the valves itself are individual doors leading away from the heart and into different sections of the body for Sanctum Essence to dwell in and become Energy… Then what does that make the heart itself?"
Aleximus thought long and hard but he couldn't arrive at the answer. He stared intently at his heart on the floor. Am I missing something? What could it possibly—
"—It's own room," a voice cut in.
Aleximus spun to see Jace with his hand cupped underneath his chin, deep in thought. Nahasch was caught by surprise for a moment as well.
"If my body were like a multi-layered building, then the valves would be doors that led to different staircases, while my heart would be one giant room where each door would be connected to, right? Meaning… There would actually be five Sanctum classes and not four!"
Aleximus stifled a grunt and looked to the lord for confirmation that his brother was correct. It was only when Nahasch smiled that he was certain that Jacender had arrived at the answer.
I overcomplicated it, he thought while facepalming. And I let Jace make me look dumb! Gah!
"But wouldn't it be impossible to be able to control access to each and every room if you were to consider the core as its own class?!" Aleximus probed. He was very interested in energy theory as it was the basis of the strength he could stand to master.
They watched carefully as Nahasch snapped his fingers and apparated four small energy pillars in his hand using the wisps of energy from the leaf. The first one cracked apart, becoming a muscular arm, and floated forward. "This should be simpler for you to follow along with, Jace," Nahasch said.
Jace felt the underlying insult stab his chest like an arrow. "H-Hey..! I'm not that dumb!" he quipped.
Nahasch shrugged uncaringly and continued.
"As you know, the external application of Sanctum Essence after it has been absorbed by your bodies is known as Sanctum Energy. Commonly, once one unlocks their Sanctum Chamber, they are automatically assigned a class depending on their level of affinity with it. This one, for example, used by those with great affinity to physical power or strengthening, is a class known as Augmentors. They are capable of using their bodies and physical tools around them as conduits for Sanctum Energy, thus having greater control over their ability to regulate it compared to most others. It is the most common class to fall into."
Aleximus shot a deadpan look at Jacender and shrugged in a "makes sense" kind of way before looking back at Nahasch. "Hey!" Jace yelled, "I saw that you know!"
The next pillar in Nahasch's hand flew forward and stopped right next to the curled arm. It, too, cracked away slowly and formed grooves as the excess energy was shaved off. Before they had even realized it had finished changing, both twins found themselves in front of a human brain.
Jace yelped and jumped behind his brother, disturbed by the life-like sculpture.
"This class," Nahasch said, "Are known as Mentalists. They internalize their Sanctum Energy to be capable of conjuring great illusions and manipulation of varying degrees." Nahasch continued.
The closer Aleximus examined the brain, the more its contours felt like they were glowing bright purple.
"Mentalists possess the power to kill their enemies using their psyche. An advanced Mentalist would even be capable of bending reality itself in ways that could kill you should you not be careful. Fiction can in many ways become reality."
Jace thought back to when they had first arrived in the Weeping Forest with Hidemi. Nahasch's presence was so dark that none of them were even remotely aware of what was happening. "So you can even make your energy look like the night sky, huh?" he asked.
"Yes. However, I must mention that though fearful, the amount of people who fall into the Mentalist class is less than forty percent. Those who are are blessed with extraordinary power and hailed as geniuses."
He glanced at Jace. "And much like water and fire, Mentalists and Augmentors are polar opposites. Augmentors can be very susceptible to Mentalist attacks if not ready."
They all turned their attention to the third pillar which had already drifted in place. The energy that had been emitted out of the Mentalist brain was sucked dry and absorbed by the third pillar, which didn't change shape. It merely stood the same and didn't crumble like the others. "This," Nahasch explained, "Is the Extractor class."
Jace stepped forward, happy that the evil-looking brain had disappeared. "Well, that was unimpressive," he noted. He raised his hand and knocked on the pillar. "Nothing even changed."
"Hit it," Nahasch instructed him with a smile.
"Huh?"
"Hit the pillar," he repeated calmly.
"Hmph!" Jace grunted cockily. He raised his right arm and wound it up in circles. "Don't blame me if I break this stupid—"
BAOW!
Jacender's first bounced off the pillar's surface with a loud crunch and sent him tumbling back. "AIEEEEEE!!" he screeched, taking to the floor and rolling around madly, "MY HAND! MY HAND!"
Aleximus palmed his face and shook his head. Idiot. Didn't you listen to what I said earlier? Extractors can take and redistribute energy. The pillar was obviously reinforced. You were never gonna break it.
"…Wait!" Aleximus realized and narrowed his eyes. "It redistributed the energy, but the pillar was reinforced! That's something only Augmentors can do, can't they?"
"Not quite," Nahasch told him, "Instead of reinforcing itself, the pillar merely stole the excess energy leaking from the brain and made it its own. Battles involving Sanctum Energy need to be precise in their usage. If you don't use enough energy to destroy your target, you cannot hurt it. Jacender's attack was much too weak to do any real damage."
Aleximus's heart nearly skipped a beat. "That's insane! That means Extractors have an almost infinite supply of Sanctum Essence to turn into Energy at all times. The air around them is a weapon!"
Nahasch nodded again. "That is why, should you ever come across this extra rare breed of fighter, you must do all you can to escape until you are powerful enough to take one down. Unless you overpower an Extractor with energy that cannot be sucked dry, you will die."
A bead of sweat rolled down from Aleximus's head. But not one of worry or anticipation. Instead, it was excitement. If he could somehow harness that same power… How strong could he stand to become?
"As for the fourth and final classification," Nahasch spoke, bringing the final pillar itself towards the two. He leaned down a few feet away from Aleximus and reached for the tree branch the boy had tossed away just moments before.
With a flick of his wrist, the branch was transfigured into a small paintbrush, its tip already dipped in black ink.
"Runemasters," he started, writing a word onto the pillar. "...They are unique beings capable of a sacred art known as Sanctum Etching,"
Jace's brow furrowed as he read what Nahasch wrote. It read "combust."
He flinched, realizing that the lord would be crazy enough to blow them all away, and ducked down for cover. Aleximus did the same and raised his arms protectively right before the pillar exploded into pieces.
Nahasch waved away the lingering dust and continued:
"Words and images that Runemasters draw are imbued with Sanctum Energy and brought to life. It is a taxing process that needs much visualization and creative aptitude. Given the right person, if the Runemaster is strong enough, their pen can become much more mightier than a sword."
"What about the fifth class," Aleximus said almost impatiently. "The core?"
He wanted to know desperately. What could this fifth mystery possibly be? It was something that — judging by Nahasch's words — not many people knew of, due to its rarity.
"It has something to do with the first four categories, doesn't it?" he asked.
"Yes," Nahasch extended his arm and brought together all the crumbled pillar parts with a wave of his hand. Within moments, a large scale with four plates had formed and fell to the ground before them, its form fully physical.
"The fifth and final category, young Ashfields, are a special class known as Balancers."
Jace got to his feet and stepped closer to the scale. He slowly ran his fingers along the chiseled stone and felt something click within him right then; like he was being drawn to it.
"You feel it, do you not?" Nahasch asked him. "That sense of ascension within you? To date, there have only been a few Balancers throughout this continent's history. The number — regarding humans — only dwindles further with every passing age. Your family, the Ashfields, are the only ones who have been capable of producing Balancers in the past few centuries. Amongst them, only the most elite and worthy are tasked with wielding the Codex you carry, Jace."
Jace thought back to his father's hulking figure and the rest of the Ashfields from the manor. Dad… Everyone… Were they all that strong?
Aleximus raised his brow. "Ashfield's?" he murmured. "That's the second time you've said that word. What is it?"
"Ah, that's right, you don't know, huh Aleximus?" Jace smirked, nudging him in the ribs. "It's our last name! When I took my Sanctum Chamber test, I was sent in the Codex and–"
He stopped himself and covered his lips. Crap… Aleximus still hates Dad for leaving us on the Axis! It's probably better if I keep this to myself until I can explain it to him when he's calm!
"Hehe…" he laughed fakely and lowered his arms. "Anyways, I got to find out that our last name is 'Ashfield'. But you absolutely, positively, totally, certainly, completely, totally—"
"JUST SPIT IT OUT, IDIOT!" Aleximus bellowed. Jace shrunk in fear and dropped to his knees. "A-Alright, fine! I was just saying that we can't tell anyone our last names! Geez!"
"And how did you figure that out?"
Jace flinched. "Well, I uh—"
"—All that is important," Nahasch interrupted, "Is that your true lineage should remain a secret if you hope to make it to Pendragon in one piece."
Before Aleximus could question it, Jacender looked at him sternly. "You're just gonna have to trust me on this one, Aleximus. It's for the best, alright?"
A moment passed before Aleximus finally nodded, murmuring, "Okay, okay." as he faced Nahasch again. "Let's just continue. You were talking about Balancers."
He's matured, Nahasch mused. "Yes. As the name implies, Balancers can use the Sanctum Core itself as a class and tap into all the classes it's connected with. Despite its overwhelming benefits, there are drawbacks. Should more than two classes be used at the same time, your Sanctum Chamber will become overstimulated and burn out your Core in violation of your body's energy threshold. In addition, I'd recommend focusing on classes that are more in line with your character and ability."
"So being a Balancer would let me have an affinity to two stronger classes?" Aleximus wondered. "So for someone like me… Something like a Mentalist or Extractor would be best…"
"Yes, and though you can use one hundred percent of the power in both classes, it is not outside the realm of possibility to use upwards of twenty percent of the abilities afforded to you in your two weaker classes should you train yourself to do it."
The scale dissipated back into energy and faded as if it was never there.
"There is still much more about Sanctum Energy that you must learn and how to use it. Its possibilities are limitless so long as you are creative enough to reinvent it, but, alas, I am not suitable to teach you any more than this. You are aware of the basic classes and the mechanics by which Sanctum Essence functions and becomes energy now. The next step is mastering the application of Sanctum Energy and beginning to form your own innate power — your Sanctum Ability."
A tinge of excitement spread through the arms of both brothers and shot down their spines. It was finally time. The time for them to gain power — power that could change their circumstances — had finally arrived.
"Owaaa," came a sudden voice from behind them. Jace spun to find Hidemi yawning as he waved at them, his eyes fighting to remain open.
"Hidemi!" Jace smiled, tackling him for a hug. "You're awake!"
Hidemi, roused by the tackle, groaned before smiling back, laughter spilling from his lips. "OWA!!!!"
Aleximus huffed with his arms crossed and ignored the two. Instead, he focused on Nahasch's creased brow. He was staring at something behind them, but Aleximus knew it wasn't anywhere close. "What is it?"
"It seems we have a visitor," Nahasch smirked. "An envoy from Xastol City has come due to your appearance at the gate. It's no doubt to curry favor with me and turn you over."
Hidemi and Jace rose. The half-dwarf clenched his fist resolutely and shook his head side to side with a defiant, "Mm-mn!"
Pleased with his confidence, Jace smiled proudly and thumped his friend over the back. "What he said! He's not going back!"
They stared at Aleximus to hear his answer.
"We need Ivan's help, right? As long as I'm here, they're not taking you anywhere."
Nahasch stepped towards the forest and beckoned them. "Naturally. For the duration of your stay here, you will be under my protection."
"So where are we going then?" Aleximus asked and stepped by his side. He refused to continue following from the shadows. He'd make his own steps forward now.
"To strike a deal," the lord responded. "Hidemi must join the Dwanivit in one month's time. This is the shortest way towards that."
The trees split apart and opened a path towards the envoy, who awaited at the outermost edge of the Weeping Forest. The boys could all see him before he could see them. It was the captain of the sentries from the wall — Upo, quivering with fear at the task he'd been given.
All three boys followed quietly behind Nahasch with newfound hope and purpose etched on their faces. Their eyes shone with beautiful radiance.
Now, they were ready. Now, things were changing.
[CLASSES]