After class and a bit more exploring with David, night fell over the Celestial Nexus Academy. The campus lights illuminated the pathways as students retreated to their rooms. Leon entered his and closed the door behind him.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Leon took a deep breath. While his Dual Aspects were a gift that many envied, he understood the reality of his situation. Without consistent and diligent training, even a gift like his could amount to nothing. The downside to Dual Aspects loomed heavily in his mind—the time, effort, and resources required to cultivate them were nearly double. He couldn't afford to slack off.
Reaching into a small pouch at his side, Leon retrieved an Essentia Gathering Pill. The academy had provided every new student with a few high-quality pills, but once they ran out, it would be up to him to find more. Examining the pill briefly, he swallowed it and settled back into his meditative posture.
Leon closed his eyes, focusing on the flow of Essentia in the air around him. Slowly, he directed the energy toward his body. At first, the process seemed routine—calm and steady. But suddenly, he felt the Essentia shift, its flow no longer under his control.
He frowned, sensing the energy being pulled somewhere deeper within him. A familiar presence stirred in his consciousness—the red crystal tied to his essence. His heart raced as he focused on the sensation. 'What's going on?' he thought.
The red crystal, dormant until now, seemed to awaken. It began absorbing the Essentia directly, drawing the energy into itself. Moments later, Leon felt it release something new. The energy that flowed out was Essentia, yet it felt refined—purer and more potent. He shivered slightly as the refined energy coursed through him, filling every corner of his body.
His Aspects reacted immediately. The faint presence of the white snake and the azure sword stirred within him, radiating a sense of joy. Leon focused inward, feeling their energy pulse with vitality as they absorbed the refined Essentia. While there were no visible changes to his Aspects, he knew this was significant.
'This crystal… It's not just enhancing my comprehension anymore,' Leon thought, his mind racing. 'It's doing something far more profound. I'll have to monitor this closely.'
Hours passed as Leon continued cultivating, the steady flow of Essentia helping him solidify his foundation. Finally, exhaustion set in, and he opened his eyes. The room was quiet, and the soft hum of the campus outside had faded. Stretching his arms, he let out a soft sigh and climbed into bed.
Lying down, he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling with the events of the day. His first full day at the academy was over, but he could sense the challenges ahead. Closing his eyes, he made a silent promise to himself. No matter the obstacles, he would make the most of his gifts and forge his path as an Aspect Master.
With that, Leon drifted into a deep sleep.
…...
A week had passed since Leon began attending the Celestial Nexus Academy. He had kept a low profile, spending most of his time in his room or in quiet areas of the campus, focusing on understanding his strength. The academy's environment, rich with Essentia, provided the perfect atmosphere for cultivating.
During this time, Leon reached out to Professor Arlyn through his Essentia Band to clarify concepts about cultivation. Combining her insights with research he conducted online, he began to piece together a clearer understanding of the cultivation path ahead.
The Initialization Stage was the first realm and where all new Aspect Masters began. This was the stage where the Aspect awakened and the body underwent preparation to handle its power in the future. Essentia pathways were expanded bit by bit, allowing for more efficient absorption and manipulation of Essentia.
Although Aspect Masters in this realm couldn't draw power directly from their Aspects, they could harness raw Essentia for battle if necessary. This foundational stage was critical to ensuring long-term growth and stability in cultivation.
The Manifestation Stage came next. In this realm, Aspect Masters could begin to "manifest" the strength of their Aspects. While they still couldn't summon their Aspects physically, they could draw power from them, greatly enhancing their abilities in combat and beyond.
The Harmonization Realm marked the third stage and was a true milestone. In this realm, the Aspect and the master achieved a deep bond, harmonizing their essence. Upon breaking through to this stage, an Aspect Master would form a core, which allowed them to store Essentia as a reserve. This core also enabled the master to summon their Aspect out of their body for the first time, a hallmark of this stage and a testament to the bond they had formed.
Beyond this was the Unity Realm, where one was considered an Aspect King. Leon knew little about this stage aside from the fact that his father, Leoric, had reached it. Aspect Kings were said to possess power so vast that they could rival hundreds of ordinary Aspect Masters. Leon couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and determination whenever he thought of reaching such heights.