Julian woke up the next morning to the sound of light knocking on his door. He slowly opened his eyes, his body still feeling the exhaustion. The energy he expended the night before was overwhelming. His heart was pounding, as if every part of his being was trying to adjust to what he had just gone through.
Sunlight crept through his window, illuminating the dusty walls, and the daylight seemed to dance in the air in the quiet room. He felt a bit dizzy as he rose from his bed. He didn't know what awaited him on this new day.
"Knock. Knock. Knock."
He opened the door to find Albus standing there, smiling as usual. He was holding a large book chained shut with a metal clasp.
"Good morning, recruit. How was your first night in our world?" Albus asked in a calm voice, despite the mystery surrounding him.
Julian replied wearily, recalling all the pain and exhaustion he had felt: "I wish I could say it was ordinary, but it wasn't. Everything feels… heavy."
Albus chuckled lightly, as if he had expected this kind of response, then said, "That's normal. Those who awaken the Sifrania for the first time go through this. But don't worry, you'll get used to it. The important thing is that you're here now."
Albus extended the book toward Julian, saying, "This is the comprehensive guide. You'll need to read it before starting your training. The power you now carry requires understanding, or else it'll end in disaster."
Julian took the book cautiously, looking at the metal chain sealing it, then asked, "Why is it locked?"
Albus moved forward and sat on the chair opposite, then said, "It's not an ordinary book. To open it, you must focus on the Sifrania energy within you. Think of it as a preliminary test."
Julian sat at the small table in the room, placed the book before him, and closed his eyes, trying to summon the energy he had felt the previous night. The first attempt was very difficult. It was like trying to hold water with his hands as if something invisible was resisting him. But after a few moments of concentration, he began to feel a faint flow, then stronger. He felt something strange flowing inside him as if the entire universe was vibrating around him.
He suddenly opened his eyes to find the metal chain glowing a bright red before it slowly unraveled and disappeared completely. The book opened slowly, revealing pages filled with mysterious symbols and inscriptions.
Albus smiled, as if proud of what had just happened, saying, "Well done. This is the first step."
Julian began to browse through the book carefully, finding pages full of information about the different Sitrai paths and their significance. There were paths related to light, others to darkness, some to calamities or prophecies. There were also drawings of strange creatures and pictures of places he had never heard of before.
He stopped at a particular page, which had a title that piqued his curiosity: "The Path of the Sifrania: A Journey to the Self."
He read aloud, contemplating, "The Sifrania is not just a power; it is a reflection of its bearer's soul. To understand it, the bearer must face themselves and overcome their weakest points."
Julian felt a wave of unease, and he closed the book again, saying, "So, what's the next step?"
Albus answered more seriously, "Your training begins tomorrow. We'll take you to the Field of the Self, where you will face your first shadows."
Julian remained silent for a few moments, then asked with a hint of caution, "What happens if I fail?"
Albus smiled deeply and said, "If you fail, you'll try again until you defeat your shadows. The Sifrania is not given easily, and you must learn how to surpass yourself."
Julian flipped through the pages slowly, stopping at one titled "Arkania."
"Arkania?" Julian muttered, focusing on the text. "What is this place, and why is it in this book?"
Albus smiled and lit his cigarette gently, replying, "Arkania is the fortress of the conqueror king Sauron, from the Fourth Age. He was the one who unified Middle Earth under his red banner after centuries of chaos and destruction, spreading his influence over other continents. He became the Emperor of Middle Earth and the Caesar of the Three Continents."
Julian remained silent as he reviewed the information. "If this place holds his hidden legacy, what are we looking for in this book?"
Albus smiled and said, "This is one of a thousand lost places in this mysterious world. We are trying to uncover these places and discover more of the secrets of the Sifrania as well."
This statement intrigued Julian. Many thoughts were swirling in his head as he began to see things more clearly, bit by bit. He then continued his conversation with Albus, saying, "You mentioned before that many evil organizations are aiming to disrupt the balance of the world and take control. Why haven't you dealt with them yet?"
Albus nodded and said, "Because we don't know where they are. If a lion can sense the homes of deer, would any deer remain alive? They are like bats hiding in the dark. They leave no trace behind."
Julian stopped at a page labeled "The Organization of the Structure." He read quietly, "A mysterious organization with mysterious goals. It appeared 200 years ago and is rumored to be searching for an ancient legacy from the Fourth Age."
Albus smiled when Julian mentioned this organization and said, "And they are one of the biggest bats we still know nothing about."
Julian looked at Albus and thought to himself, "And you call yourselves rulers of the mysterious world? I doubt it."
Albus smiled lightly, then stood up from his seat, saying, "Then, I'll take you to the field tomorrow. Do your best, recruit."
After Albus left, Julian sat at the table again and continued reading the book intently for hours.
He stopped at a page titled "Spiritual Bond."
The spiritual bond is a complex and deep process that requires harmony with the human soul and the energy of the Sifrania. It is not a choice or a contract but a highly complex spiritual and physical process, carrying many risks.
The goal of this process is to bond with the Sitrai, which is the path a person follows in their journey with the Sifrania.
There are many different types of Sitrai, and to choose a particular one, the principles of Sitrai must align with the person. You won't find a pure person on the path of darkness, and vice versa.
Julian continued reading, and the spiritual bond consists of two different phases to ensure its success.
The first phase is the phase of confrontation: where the person is forced to face a version of themselves that carries all their fears and mistakes.
Julian muttered, "It looks like I'll be going through this phase tomorrow."
He continued reading, saying: "The second phase is the phase of choice, where several concepts arise, forming different Sitrai paths. The person must align with one and bond with it, being cautious of failure. Because failure at this stage leads to spiritual backlash, making the person weak or even causing them to lose their soul."
After closing the book, Julian felt his mind in turmoil from all the information he had absorbed. He wasn't sure what to do next, so he decided to leave the book on the table. He dressed in his new clothes, a long black suit adorned with fine red lines at the edges. On the right side of his chest, there was a small circle surrounded by intricate lines that resembled a spider's web, symbolizing his new stage. He finished his outfit with black trousers. When he looked at his face in the mirror, he whispered, "So, this will be my symbol from now on."
Julian left his room, trying to calm his swirling thoughts. He wanted to distance himself from the anxiety that was bothering him and feel the cool air that was creeping through the castle's massive windows. His steps felt heavy as if each one was leading him toward something bigger than he could comprehend.
He passed through corridors that were dark and quiet, but the walls covered in ancient engravings made the place seem as though it held many secrets. The faint beams of light filtering through the high windows cast lines on the wet ground, giving the place an eerie feeling, as if the castle were caught between past and present.
As he walked through one of the long corridors, he felt something strange touching his senses. The sound was coming closer to him. "You! Recruit!"
Julian turned quickly to find a young man who seemed to be in his twenties. He had ordinary features with green eyes staring at him. The young man approached slowly, then extended his hand, saying, "Welcome, recruit. I'm Raith Crowan, nice to meet you."
Julian shook his hand and said, "I'm also glad to meet you."
Raith smiled broadly and said, "Did you know we haven't seen a recruit in six months?"
Julian smiled calmly, saying, "It seems that was disappointing."
Raith nodded and said, "Of course, it was disappointing. Recruits are the lifeblood of the organization. If we don't see recruits, the organization won't survive."
Julian smiled and said, "But I don't think such a large organization would fall for something like that."
Raith laughed and said, "You seem smarter than I expected. Looks like we have an interesting recruit this time."
Julian replied calmly, "Don't overestimate me, I'm still ordinary."
Raith looked at him with a meaningful glance and said, "From your response, it seems that the Sitrai of Sovereignty won't suit you."
Julian looked at him curiously and asked, "Why?"
Raith smiled and said, "Because every Sitrai has its requirements. The Sitrai of Sovereignty doesn't accept those who don't value themselves. You can't have the Sitrai of Sovereignty if you doubt your abilities."
Julian continued walking and added, "I think I understand now."
"Of course, every Sitrai has its conditions. For example, the Sitrai of Art doesn't accept those who lack imagination or ambition. If you're not compatible with a particular Sitrai, you'll end up facing spiritual backlash, which we want to avoid."
Julian was reflecting on Raith's words as he listened. Slowly, he started noticing how the castle was filled with strange shadows and light. There was something unclear about the place, something pulling his heart toward the unknown.
Julian said, feeling a sense of tension creeping into his voice: "I didn't expect the castle to be this massive… it feels endless."
Raith replied, smiling lightly: "The castle was designed to be a place for isolation, hiding, and training. Here, we can plan without pressure. But I don't advise you to leave the main corridors. There are places that few visit, and I don't think it's good for you."
"Is there something strange about this castle?" Julian asked as he walked beside Raith.
Raith nodded slowly and said, "You'll notice that soon. The castle may seem abandoned at times, but it's not. Some watch from the shadows."
They stopped in front of a decorated wall, adorned with numerous engravings and statues that told ancient stories. There were massive statues of ancient knights, as though they carried the responsibility of defending and protecting the world.