Chapter 29: A Test of Character

Arva sighed as the screen came back on and Aegis was retiring to his room lead there by Arrgonton’s Head Priestess. Her fingers tapped the armrest of the chair as she sat and thought over the mortal known as Aegis Kan. The only reason she took such an interest in the first place is because he somehow fixed a broken soul with little to no resources with him. Something that wasn’t super difficult for a god but to have no problems afterwards was a different story altogether. He had also done her a favor by fixing Ryna and even now she was receiving benefits from what he had done. A strong sliver of faith joined her ever growing power received from the very girl she was contemplating on.

Arva laughed as the very prayer from the sliver of faith was for Aegis safe protection and completion of his trials. Along the lines of prayer for her father and friends’ souls. Blah, blah, blah, Arva couldn’t care for the rest.

Ever since Aegis had done something the faith, she received from Ryna had drastically improved even with the boundary eating away at most of it. She would take one hundred Ryna’s over ten thousand regular believers as the faith was that potent but coming from once source was not something Arva wished to continue. If she could get her hands on Aegis, she could pry the secret from him willing or unwillingly and enhance the faith of her powers perhaps… perhaps boosting her to the next level of godhood. To write her name in the universe. Arva shivered at the thought.

She could try and dispatch members of her church yet that would be a precarious position as Aegis was the son of a duke with considerable power in the mortal lands. Power that her church could not deny. If only that stupid boundary wasn’t in the way. She’d snatch Aegis from Gaia itself.

***

Mentally exhausted from the Trial of Pride I barely undressed before I was out cold. Only to awake to the smell of cook food drifting into my door. Cooked food that wasn’t over an open flame. Instantly I was awake and getting dressed in a fresh pair of clothes. My mind on the food and the trials I had completed so far. In truth the trials had not been that difficult to me with the only one truly giving me a problem was the Trial of Pride/Judgement. I believe the underlying concept of that trial was to force me to acknowledge the type of person I was becoming.

Stepping outside of the small dorm room provided to me. I rushed towards the sound of laughter and cooking food. Coming out into a brightly lit mess hall with various races eating and laughing together. The moment I stepped through the hall several aura’s locked on me and I fought to keep them from brushing through my body as they tried to worm their way into my body. Speaking of worms, I wondered when Malix would come out of her cocoon and fulfil my request. The worm had woven a black tightly knit ball of something around herself and it was only after I received my bag from Shadow that I realized what/who it was. A soft glow was emitted from the ball, and I couldn’t wait for the worm to finish her metamorphosis.

“HEY.” With the shout of Ax Maiden, the auras that were bothering me instantly dispersed and I almost collapsed to the ground. The people targeting me where several tiers above me in strength and I was defending against several of them at once. My previously refresh mind grew sluggish and I walked slowly to the front of the hall where the food was being handed out. The eyes of every participant on me the entire time.

“Good morning, Aegis,” Ax Maiden said to me as I appeared in front of her with the plate I grabbed.

“Good morning, Ax Maiden.” You could hear the fatigue in my voice and Ax Maiden loaded a healthy amount of oats and meats onto my plate.

“You can come back for seconds if that’s not enough,” she gave me a bright smile and I made my way to an empty spot a bit away from all the people keeping their eyes on me. I had no idea who these people were. The moment I sat the closest person moved their chair in front of me and the chattering that had been present before my presence resumed.

“So, you’re the newest fella on the block, eh?”

A strong but wily voice said to me as I shoved my face full of food. I looked up to study the man talking to me. He had oriental features with tanned skin as if he was constantly outside working on the fields. His bald shinny head was covered in runic symbols and the man flashed me a smile only for me to notice the gold tooth on the left side of his mouth.

“Newest fella? I just passed my second trial if that’s what you’re asking. What is with the people here?”

“Names John but my friends call me John and so can you. Everyone here has passed the second trial.”

My eyes widen in surprise at the revelation, and I glance around again. I noticed that although they continued their conversations plenty of auras where focused in our direction listening in. Nobody here was under tier five.

“My name is Aegis. Why are you all still here? Isn’t there a third trial?”

John gave me a strange look as I asked the question.

“Don’t you know how dangerous grafting a bloodline is? Especially one given out by the divines. You must be in tip top condition. The stronger you are the better unless you already have a bloodline,” John said while giving me a suspicious squint.

“I heard no one has completed a bloodline trial in years however.”

Still shoving my mouth full of food, I dodged John’s questioned with one of my own.

“You’re the first person to make it here in several months. Most don’t make it pass the Trial of Will and those that do only a rare few aren’t consumed by the Black Throne it’s a highly dangerous artifact after all. The one’s who do make it. That's us. Ax Maiden had generously provided her space to train and food to eat to enhance our bodies to the maximum so the grafting process will work smoothly. If we can pass the third and final test that is.”

“Trial of Character. Isn’t that kind of redundant if the Trial of Pride forces you to acknowledge your character?”

John shook his head at my question and gave a small chuckle.

“Definitely a greenhorn,” John said this loudly and the room grumbled in agreement. I guess everyone was listening in to our conversation. John was probably here to fish for information as the closest person I sat next too.

“The trials are different for everyone. Every trial is building up to mold your character it’s an important process for the bloodline grafting after all most die from the process. Hmph you really didn’t do any research before you arrived.” After saying this final piece John moved away from me and returned to his group of friends all with the same bald head and runic symbols covering them.

I shook my head before returning to Ax Maiden for more food and information. Another bright smile was delivered my way as she lobbed heaps of oats onto my plate. I could see why there were so many people here once you completed the third trial you would be given a bloodline and there was still the matter on whether you could survive or not. I had no plans of dying anytime soon.

“How do I begin the third and final trial?”

“When you’re ready just leave and go up the volcano.”

I nodded in thanks and proceeded back to my seat. I would give myself another day of rest before going up the volcano. I had no time to waste unlike the people staying here. I only had two and a half years left for my five-year deadline and I would not be late in returning.

***

The heat of the volcano pressed against my skin as I struggled to climb to the top. I couldn’t recall the taste of food nor the sound of water. My mind went blank and the only thing I could do was press on. Press on from the heat and hope I make it to the top before I collapsed. Space worked in mysterious ways on Redcoomshi I began my journey from the very bottom of the mountain the moment I stepped out of the Greek like temple. Three days. Three days is the time it took for me to climb back up to the spot where I believe the temple resided. That was only a third of the way.

It took me six more days to make it to the top of the volcano. My full waterskin had long run out and even the food provided to me by Ax Maiden before I left was long gone. This volcano seemed to force me to consume resources for every step I wanted to take. Several times I found left over armor the bodies long gone and the bones rarely present as well. If I did not make it to the top of the volcano today, I would not make it at all. My skin was cracked in places and if another day went by, I would start to bleed and still I climbed. Climbed until I reached the very edge.

The heat blasting out like a rocket engine. I could not see any totem or finish line. The only thing waiting for me was the boiling lava far below. Yet still I waited. The last test had been easy and readily available. The Trial of Character was not. I looked down into the lake of lava again. It shown with a golden color. Like the giant slitted eyes ever watching the gods. Ever watching me.

With no other options I did the only thing I could think of. I activated my bloodline. When I did this, I was not expecting a response however, I received one. Mt. Redcoomshi ROARED, and I felt my bloodline resonate to the lava below. With no other options available to me and with the response my bloodline was receiving. I jumped.

My body slammed into the lava and instead of sweltering heat and melting away I sank deeper and deeper. The lava gave me the same feeling as my bloodline, and I could feel my body resonate with it. I could feel my equipment changing. The faithful ax and buckler glowed in a brilliant golden hue. Deeper I sank until my body felt it should go no farther and my bloodline felt complete, but I wasn’t satisfied. I didn’t go on this journey for a pittance increase in power. I wanted it all.

Forcing my body to sink I began to see a sliver of something and realized I was nearing the bottom of the chamber. How far had I sunk? Farther below I sunk until I could make it out just barely. It was a ship shaped like a connected V with a dark glass dome covering where the opening of the V would be. Deeper I sunk and the ship that had been inactive suddenly came to life, and I felt something lock onto my body drawing me in. Faster than I could adapt to the pain from forcing my bloodline farther. I was losing control of my consciousness and I struggled to stay awake. As I was beginning to pass out the pain dispersed, and I found myself in a dock with four giant characters above me. For some reason I could understand. It was like their intent was written so that even if you didn’t know the symbols you would come to understand. It said: SEE GOD, SLAY GOD.