Nyxir's heart skipped a bit and he turned hurriedly towards the direction of the voice. A white haired youth entered his vision, a slight smile was plastered on his face as he looked at Nyxir intently like he was trying to read him.
"Why did you suddenly shout like that" Nyxir stared at the white haired boy slightly annoyed.
"I did not shout but you seem to be startled by something before I speak causing you to be more shocked I'm sorry for that. My name is Ivarin by the way."
"What happened" Olivia turned to look at Ivarin then at Nyxir and asked.
"Nothing to worry about just a boy trying to scare me"
" I did not try to scare you I only talked when you appeared startled and I already apologized " Ivarin retorted staring at Olivia. " You must be his sister, my name is Ivarin "
" I already heard it the first time I'm Olivia and he is Nyxir" she spoke as she pointed to Nyxir.
" Nyxir? What a nice name, what does it mean?" Ivarin looked at Nyxir and his eyes brightened a little, he appeared to be curious and he enerstly stared at Nyxir hoping for an answer.
' isn't this the direct opposite of what you should do? You could have asked Olivia for her name why are you asking me instead ' Nyxir lampooned inwardly as he stared at Ivarin with a weird expression on his face.
" I'm sorry, I just haven't heard that name before, that's why I asked it's okay if it is not convenient " Ivarin quickly waved his hand signaling it is not necessary.
" I don't really know the meaning as well, I should probably ask my mom when I find her later" Nyxir replied slightly sarcastic.
" Who is that girl from before?"
" Oh her name is Caelia or something but her background is complicated or rather unknown " Ivarin replied as they maneuver towards a tightly shut double door inside the building.
People are already gathering around the door waiting for the masked man to give them instructions and open the door but the masked remained standing there quietly as if waiting for a signal.
" How do you think she did that? " Nyxir pressed on gesturing towards the girl with his head while trying not to look at her.
" There are some people whose divinity is so strong that they can easily posses some abilities even before awakening it, she is one of those people. She seems to be able to cast a mini domain around her deterring people from entering" Ivarin replied enthusiastically.
" It is like a space warp but spatial ability is rather rare and powerful you know, so we think it might be another means she is using."
" If you know about her and her uniqueness why then did you ask me if it is strange? " Nyxir raised his eyebrows and eyed Ivarin suspiciously.
" Yes why" Olivia who was also listening to their conversation chimed in eager to know as well.
" Errrrr that will be because she walks alone without talking to anyone." Ivarin frowned. " Did you not notice?"
" You see we have been in the same Acsendra for three years and she has been alone for those three years, not talking to anyone or even making friends, she always walks around with that five meter barrier."
An Ascendra is like an institute for aspirants, diviners act as instructor and train aspirants before the go for awakening. Unfortunately, not everybody can afford the tuition especially those who live in the outskirts.
" She is also a very strange person, she was caught one time staring at a butcher cutting meat for nearly an hour. Different rumors spread about her in the Ascendra but she did not even confront anyone for it." Ivarin tattled on and on about the strange girl's character.
" Strange indeed" Olivia chimed in looking turning to look at the girls direction.
" Don't look!" Nyxir tried stopping her but it was too late.
Olivia remained silent as she stared at her for some time before reacting to Nyxir's shout.
" Why? She asked turning back to Nyxir and frowned a little.
"Did you notice anything peculiar?" Ivarin also stared at Nyxir with a bewildered expression.
"Urrrr it's.... nothing, I just think she might not like us.... talking behind her" Nyxir stuttered.
" She can't even hear us or know that we are staring at her, she doesn't have eyes at her back. Even if she does I'm sure she won't mind it" Ivarin smiled slightly.
" Okay everyone you will now head into the celestial lake and forge your path, don't resist the energy form that lake and also don't be too agitated just let the energy flow through you and do it's work it is very simple " The masked man replied after getting a signal from somewhere." No question right?..... Proceed"
He gestured towards the tightly sealed double door.
The gap between the double door radiated a golden glow and the door creaked softly before opening inward revealing a very vast space. The interior of the room looked entirely different from anything in the vicinity, it was vast and brightly lit by_.
"A sun?"
"Wow!"
"Hugh!"
There were surprised gasps from the crowd gathered as they stepped through the door.
Nyxir was also surprised or had to be in order to put a front when in Olivia's presence after all, Nyxir had not been to a celestial lake before.
The interior of the room was filled with a shimmering ethereal river which stretched farther than the eyes could see, there were various lush plants growing all around and trees which acts as a shade from the scorching light dispersing from a giant shining ball from the sky.
"I have heard the celestial lake was designed as a mini world, only the sun is slightly different. Probably because it cannot be correctly imitated. " Ivarin leaned towards Nyxir and whispered into his ears.
The masked man walked over from behind and addressed the crowd.
"The awakening will start as soon as the door closes, you will each be transported to a random location away from other participants and you are to sit in the lake and let the energy invade your body to help you suppress your divinity while you are awakening it. "
" Once you are done, the array will teleport you back here and you will wait for others to finish as well. The time limit is a day before the array stops working and don't worry you don't need to eat when in this space. "
As soon as he finished, he turned around and left.
" Olivia take care don't be too nervous or agitated just take it slowly and easily okay? " Nyxir stared at Olivia.
" You too" she nodded.
" Me three" Ivarin quipped by the side looking from Nyxir to Olivia and then back to Nyxir.
"You aren't going to wish me luck?"
"You already wis__ "
"Bamm!" The heavy double door closed causing the space to tremor slightly cutting Nyxir's word. Then the space twists around him and he finds himself in the middle of the shimmering lake.
The river went from his waist downward and it carried a warm soothing sensation as if it could wash the most severe fatigue off. Nyxir looked around him but could not see anybody, all he could see was the slightly rippling surface of the lake.
" Time to awaken " he grinned slightly before plunging down into the lake allowing his head to be submerged in the lake.
The moment he submerged himself in the waters, he felt the waters of the lake embrace his body with its warmth inducing a sigh from him.
He closed his eyes and concentrated just like how he had done before and gradually warm currents burrowed into his body through the pores on his skin and snaked their way into his stomach before gathering at his chest and head.
He gradually felt an intangible bridge connecting him somewhere far and near at the same time, it was a strange feeling like he existed in both places at the same time. His body trembled under the water and his expression grew more serious.
The celestial lake is just an array designed to open the gate of mind and locate the soul of living things connecting them together so they can interact with the outside world through the physical body, after the initial connection has been established the divinity which had already gathered near the soul would try to invade it but would be suppressed by the current generated by the array which had previously entered the body.
These currents will whittle down the divinity by exhausting it and carefully carry it into the soul which is now stronger and can forcefully suppress the already weakened divinity after which it will then absorb the divinity forming an aspect.
Nyxir allowed the current to flow towards the intangible gates and gradually built a rhythm with it allowing it to flow faster and faster towards the gate.
As soon as the current touched the bridge they disappeared into it but the influx of the currents which should have been a steady flow spiral out of control gushing into the bridge ceaselessly. This puts a huge strain on Nyxir causing his muscle to bulge as he tried to resist the influx but he could not.
Nyxir's face contorted in anguish and he felt his whole body tearing apart, his head was pounding and he felt as if a vortex suddenly appeared in his body trying to suck him in.
"Ahhhh!"
He let out a pained cry but all he could hear was his beating heart which seems like it would burst out of his chest. Nyxir suddenly felt his surroundings change and he opened his eyes only to discover he was surrounded by a very deep abyss.