Julian returned with slow, heavy steps from the engraving circle, the marks of the test still visible on him. Despite this, he seemed confident, as if emerging from a victorious internal battle.
The place was enveloped in an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of his quickening breath. At the entrance of the hall, Cross stood waiting, a smile on his face that held a mixture of relief and satisfaction.
"It seems you've conquered your shadow," Cross said, his voice calm yet wise.
Julian lifted his eyes toward Cross, replying in a low but firm tone, "I didn't expect it to be this difficult."
Cross smiled confidently and nodded. "At first, everyone feels it's impossible. But this isn't a test of strength or skill. It's much deeper than that."
He paused briefly, then continued, his tone carrying the weight of wisdom: "The test isn't about repelling the shadow or defeating it, nor even surviving it. The secret lies in facing it… and accepting it. The shadow is part of us, just as much as the light. Running from it only creates internal weakness, a point that can leave you exposed to dangers."
Julian pondered those words deeply as if they were sinking into the core of his being. He stared at the ground for a moment, then spoke quietly, "So, the key is acceptance? Accepting everything we are… not running, not denying. Running only makes the chaos bigger and creates an internal contradiction that can't be overcome."
Cross nodded with a faint smile as if Julian had grasped the essence of the test. "Exactly. Acceptance is the foundation. Inner balance is what makes us strong, and it's what gives us the ability to overcome hardships."
Julian looked up at Cross, his curiosity growing about the next steps. "So, what's the next step?"
Cross smiled gently and replied, "You have four days. During these days, focus on meditation. Try to sense the sferania around you. Feel it, listen to it, and contemplate its energy. This phase will prepare you for the most important step: the spiritual binding."
Julian smiled and nodded with confidence. "I'll do my best."
Cross waved him off with a reassuring smile. "Alright, you may go now."
Julian left the hall and walked through the castle's wide corridors. The place seemed more alive than usual; despite the bustling activity around him, his eyes were drawn to the murals that lined the walls. Each painting seemed to pulse with life, its details hiding mysterious stories, as though they were part of a past still breathing.
He stopped in front of a particular painting, depicting a knight standing in confrontation with a strange creature, surrounded by thick shadows resembling an endless vortex. The details of the painting captivated him in a strange way, a mysterious feeling, almost like a silent call echoing deep within him.
He stood there for a while, studying the details, his heart beating faster with each passing moment. The painting seemed to pulse with its energy as if inviting him to uncover its secret. Slowly, he reached out toward it, but his inner voice hesitated: "Don't do it…"
At that moment, a calm voice from behind him broke the silence.
"Did this painting catch your attention?"
Julian quickly turned to find a tall man before him, with blonde hair cascading over the shoulders of his long black coat. His sharp features exuded a brilliant intelligence and a Western charm, while his gray eyes held a mysterious gleam as if they knew countless secrets.
He approached Julian with confident steps, a quiet smile on his lips.
"Who are you?" Julian asked, astonishment clear on his face.
The man replied with a soothing smile, "They call me Dariel. Have I disturbed you?"
Julian shook his head slightly and said, "No… it's just that these murals caught my attention."
Dariel looked at the painting Julian was studying, then said with a mysterious smile, "Of course! These aren't ordinary paintings. They hold a power far greater than you might imagine."
"Power?" Julian asked, his curiosity growing.
Dariel stepped closer to the wall and gently ran his hand over one of the murals. "Yes, these murals were created using the sferania. They weren't painted by hand like any other painting."
Julian's curiosity grew as Dariel continued, "In the past, there was someone known as the Prince of Painting. He possessed the strain of painting and used its power to immortalize the history of the organization and its art through these murals."
Dariel paused for a moment, then added with a faint smile, "But be careful… These paintings are not just history; they are gateways to other worlds. If you stare at them too long, you might find yourself there, and never return."
Julian raised an eyebrow in astonishment and asked, "Gateways to other worlds?"
Dariel laughed and said, "Just a legend that circulates the castle from time to time, but it's fun, don't you think?"
Julian replied with a light smile, "Thank you. I'll make sure not to get lost in contemplating them."
Dariel gave him a meaningful look and asked, "Are you new here? I don't remember seeing you before."
Julian nodded and said, "Yes, I've only been here for three days."
Dariel's expression shifted slightly as he regarded him with a mysterious gaze before speaking calmly, "And what do you think of our world, newcomer? Do you fear what you may face, or are you more curious about everything you see here?"
Julian smiled bitterly and replied in a soft voice, "Both."
Dariel nodded in understanding and said, "I see… Good luck,O new."
Dariel vanished into the shadows of the castle, his figure disappearing silently.
Minutes later, Julian finally returned to his room. He sat on his bed for a moment, catching his breath after the eventful day.
After a few moments, he picked up a large book that had been left on the table. Its title read "The Comprehensive Guide." He flipped through the pages slowly until a paragraph caught his attention.
"It is known the Sferania has three main levels: Arizon, Ethereal, and the legendary Ethreon level. The difference between these levels is like the difference between heaven and earth.
While Arizon can control its domain, Ethereal possesses a power that can change the course of an entire battle. As for the next level… It surpasses the imagination. One blow from a warrior at this level can bury entire cities beneath the earth."
Julian muttered to himself, "The Ethreon level… how far away that seems."
He continued reading: "But strength alone is not everything. Among warriors at the same level, the outcome is not determined by a mere difference in strength, but by intelligence and the element of surprise. Strength without intellect is like a sword without edge."
He pondered the words for a moment, then said quietly, "So, even if I'm weak, I can outsmart them… But that doesn't mean the strong can't crush me easily."
He continued flipping through the pages, reading aloud:
"Expanding the domain, or what is known as the 'Sferania Field,' is one of the key abilities for those who master the art of energy control. It involves spreading the energy from the core of the Sferania into the surroundings of the warrior, allowing them to sense everything within this field.
The stronger the person, the larger the area they can cover. It is said that Arizon-level warriors can cover several kilometers, while Ethereal-level warriors can expand their field to encompass entire cities.
As for those who reach a level beyond that… Heh, they can cover the entire planet, observing every movement and every whisper."
He kept reading, his eyes widening:
"But this power does not come without a cost. Expanding the domain consumes massive amounts of energy. The larger the area, the greater the strain on the serranid core, leading to exhaustion of the soul."
Julian closed the book, then muttered to himself, "I won't know its power until I try it."
He stood in the middle of the room, closing his eyes. He began to breathe deeply, trying to sense the sferania around him. He focused all his senses, remembering what he had read: the first step was to feel the surroundings, and the second was to release the energy slowly.
He whispered to himself, "Expand the domain."
In that instant, he felt something amazing. It was as if the world around him had become transparent. Every movement, every breath, every sound became clear. The things in his field were like tightly drawn strings, and he was the musician controlling them.
He continued for a few moments, then suddenly closed the field and collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily. "This… this is amazing…" he said, sweat dripping from his brow. "This… amazing… but so exhausting."
Afterward, Julian sat cross-legged in the corner of the room, focusing on gathering the sferania around him. It was like pumping new energy into his core, slowly filling it with power.
Hours passed, and he was in deep tranquility. The more he focused, the stronger his body felt, as though he was connecting to the world around him in a new way.
Finally, after four hours of continuous meditation, he opened his eyes. He felt the weight of exhaustion on his body, but he was filled with satisfaction. Slowly, he stood up, stretched a little, and then made his way to his bed.
He lay down, closing his eyes, ready for a new day filled with new challenges… and secrets waiting to be uncovered.