At the end of the tunnel, Aelius confronted Daiden with an air of uncertainty. He blocked the path of his charge and stood in quiet observation of the latter. Daiden noticed his excitement wilt from the pressure; it reminded him of when they first met. But despite the situation, he dug into a state of calm, choosing to trust his once Evaluator.

“Just a moment, Daiden Lost,” repeated Aelius. “There is something I wish to confirm. Consider this my last task as your Evaluator.”

Aelius offered Daiden a glimpse into the depths of his strength. A thin aura surfaced around the former’s arm; it crackled and then blazed into a monstrous flame. Daiden shrunk from the sight. He gulped and accepted his destiny in that moment, as a soon-to-be resident of a world without apparent limitations. His skin dried from the aeter-released heat. Daiden reconfirmed it then, even without definitive information, the existence of Aelius as an extraordinary being at the peak of his world. He clenched his fists to suppress a tremble, and persisted to watch the manifestation of a sword engulfed in fire. Daiden shuddered when the weapon pointed at him, even more so under the threat of unmoving emotion.

“In worship we strengthen, in worship we walk the path of blood,” said Aelius, slowly. “Do you know what that means?”

“No, not entirely,” answered Daiden, truthfully.

“War is our only language, Daiden Lost; we haven’t tasted peace in its truest sense for over three thousand years,” revealed Aelius, with a cold expression. “In faith, in worship, we strengthen, and it holds true for people like us – people with an aptitude for combat. But you come from the Earthen Realm, a world that has long since lost its stench of blood…”

Daiden waited for more to follow, but his ears experienced a slow and uncomfortable silence instead. He shifted uneasily and the tension persisted, drawing mere moments into long hours.

“You’re either destined for greatness, or you are not,” continued Aelius, grimly. “But destiny aside, training with a weapon implies an agreement with death. Your sword is bound to become a tool for murder. You can hold onto lofty ideals or walk with an air of dignity and charm, but when stripped of everything, you’ll always know who you are and what you’ve become.”

Daiden shook a little. He repeated the words in his head and pushed to a natural answer. It made sense, the price for his new life as a soldier. He understood the weight, the burden of accepting such a fate. But a choice was made. He was prepared to make it a normal, to steel his heart to a path of blood. His eyes turned to Aelius, questioningly. He whispered the answer, clouded in both fear and doubt.

“A killer…”

Aelius simply nodded, in confirmation. “This is your last test, Daiden Lost. Make a choice – walk the path of blood, or turn away before ever knowing the depths of your potential.”

“And if I choose the latter?”

“Then I will strike you down, where you stand, and allow you the privilege to become one with Aeterna,” said Aelius, coldly. “It’s the greatest kindness I can show you, given that choice.”

“I…” started Daiden, hesitantly. He spat a sigh and recalled what it meant to him, a second chance. It didn’t require morality; it didn’t require the etiquette of the Earthen Realm. He took a simple step forward, and then one more. “I will learn your culture. You don’t have worry about that. I will listen to commands for as long as someone stands above me. I’m willing to sacrifice as much for the use of my legs, for your kindness.”

Daiden held to his stance and watched as the sword shifted to point at his throat. But the aeter dispersed almost immediately after, and the once brilliant weapon dulled into non-existence. Aelius rested his shoulders and opened the path to his world once more.

“Strange words, but words I agree with,” said Aelius. “Walk the path of blood until you have the strength to deny it. That’s why we visit the Earthen Realm anyway, to witness change.”

Daiden teared a little. He covered his eyes in embarrassment and walked to Aelius’ side. His memories surfaced in that instant, to remind him of his storied past, his descent, his misery. He bit his lip with emotion. There was excitement, with the promise of a new future, and the pain of abandonment. Daiden felt the light more strongly now, it shone with an aura of change and promise. He wiped his face clean, hiccupping through the effort, and steadied his heart for the future in front of him.

“Shall we?” beamed Daiden.

“Welcome to your new home, child,” congratulated Aelius. “You’re still hard to acknowledge, Daiden Lost. But what more can I say to a person who’s passed the evaluation? Maybe you’ll be able to see our world for what it really is, maybe make the right choice when faced with conflict. We’ll see…”

***

It wasn’t too different at first glance. The air felt richer, heavier with aeter – a strange, yet important resource. His body moved without effort, flooded with information that would have otherwise required years of practice. He heard the voice of another, from the depths of his soul, his weapon, rejoicing its return to the world it once called home.

The clouds muddled with the light; the landscape stretched with dullness. There was grass, pale and sickly, reaching to a forest with tall and odd trees. It reflected stillness, unmoving even at the touch of a breeze. The leaves alternated between shades of blue and green, some radiant and others just as dull as the grass. The wood cracked with an abundance of moisture, and the sap fumed at the touch of air – red and with a sweet smell. It looked normal at first glance.

Daiden shivered at the sight of a three-eyed squirrel, or at least what he recognized as a squirrel. It chewed on an insect with its buck teeth, slurping at every crunch, slushing with every gulp. He took in a deep breath and strengthened his heart. He needed it even for this much, even for what appeared to be a black-furred squirrel. His feet retreated, and slowly turned to Aelius.

“I’m here?” asked Daiden, with a gasp. “This isn’t a dream! I’m actually here?”

“Yes,” said Aelius, simply. “This is Mioverold!”