"Is this fine?" I asked awkwardly, sitting cross-legged in the center of the triangle.
Thoth tilted his head as if deep in thought. "Yeah, that should be fine. Now close your eyes and don't panic."
I glanced at Officer Verna, who stood a bit farther from where I sat, her expression unreadable. I was positioned in the middle of the circle drawn on the wooden floor, precisely on the triangle at its center.
After our earlier discussion, Thoth insisted on performing the awakening immediately. The way he moved and prepared made it seem like this was just routine for him, nothing special. Maybe he'd done this countless times before.
He worked quickly, drawing intricate inscriptions around me. Each symbol was unique, holding meanings I couldn't even begin to comprehend. This runic language was far beyond my understanding.
After a few minutes, Thoth gave Officer Verna a firm nod. She moved behind me, sitting with her back pressed against mine while Thoth positioned himself in front.
A strange sensation washed over me. Why is she so small? It was only then I noticed the stark difference in our statures. Her austere personality had created the illusion of someone towering and commanding, but now, this close, I realized how much smaller she was. And… soft? Not in a weird way, but the thought alone was enough to embarrass me.
I felt my heart racing. Thoth grinned, a mischievous spark in his eyes.
What! It's not my fault! I screamed internally.
"Arthur," Officer Verna spoke, her tone calm yet firm. "Calm down and close your eyes."
I obeyed, shutting my eyes tightly.
"Now listen carefully. Since the amount of ichor in your body is low, it'll be a bit harder for you to sense the life essence. I'll explain what life essence is later, but for now, just do as I say," she continued.
She… guessed what I was about to ask? First time for everything, I suppose. Looks like I'll have to wait to understand this life essence thing.
"Thoth will imbue his life essence into the runic symbols he's drawn, and I'll transfer a small amount of mine into you," Verna explained. "For the first few minutes, your body will feel warmer with each passing second. After a while, it'll get dizzy, and then you'll see sparks of light. When that happens, focus on the sparks."
Wait, how am I supposed to see if my eyes are closed?
Before I could ask, I felt Verna press her back more firmly against mine. Footsteps followed, then muffled sounds. Even with my eyes shut, I sensed something glowing—bright, almost blinding.
The air around me grew warmer.
Then, a soothing heat spread through my body, originating from my chest. Just as Verna said, the warmth intensified with each second. At first, it felt comforting, almost euphoric, but soon my head started spinning. My breathing grew hoarse, beads of sweat rolling down my forehead.
It was like having the flu but worse.
Suddenly, the warmth was replaced by an icy chill. The cold was sharp and agonizing, as if every muscle in my body was being churned and shattered.
A groan escaped me, and I wanted nothing more than to collapse, to clutch my stomach and let the pain pass. But somehow, I held on, forcing myself to endure.
This is nothing compared to getting stabbed!
Minutes passed, and the agony lessened, leaving me gasping for air. I waited, unsure of what was supposed to happen next.
No sparks. No lights. Just darkness.
The darkness was oddly soothing. It felt like floating in a vast, silent ocean, weightless and calm.
Then I saw it. A tiny speck of crimson red.
It wasn't a spark, not exactly, but it shimmered faintly, like a droplet of blood suspended in the void. Another speck appeared, the two revolving around each other like twin stars.
I focused—or maybe it happened on its own. The specks moved closer, merging into one.
The moment they collided, everything went blank. An electric sensation surged through my body, and I collapsed. I didn't lose consciousness, but I couldn't move.
That's when I heard it—a voice. Deep, regal, and husky, with a mischievous undertone.
[Welcome, Challenger.]
[Runes have given their blessings.]
What's that supposed to mean?