Outworld: Awakening

"My body feels so heavy... Oh? I'm back here again," Adam muttered as he sluggishly move his limps.

Back in the mysterious space which harbored his consciousness, Adam floated on the surface of the raging sea. Each passing second, towering waves slammed against his body. However, it neither sank him nor harmed him.

Slowly rising to his feet, Adam observed the changes surrounding him. Apart from the depth of the waters and the massive waves, everything else remained the same. Despite the depth of the water increasing, Adam could still stand on its surface.

With his head lowered, Adam carefully scrutinized his reflection on the surface of the water.

"Are you there?" Adam said.

But, silence greeted his words.

Unperturbed, Adam asked again, "I know you're in there. Answer me!"

Like before, an ever deafening silence responded.

'What happened to him? Did he die after the merger? No, no.... that's foolish. Although I can't sense him, he is definitely there.'

Raising his head, Adam watched as another wave came towards him. Without flinching, the wave crashed on his body, yet he remained standing.

'The incident in Pyren's Valley would definitely draw the attention of the high-ups in Varidan Academy. This is bad. Damn it! I can't imagine the kind of questions I would face once I wake up. I should have avoided that stupid blob. Why—?'

The exact moment Adam thought of the blob, changes occurred within the space. The raging sea calmed, and the flickering stars arranged themselves in a constellation depicting twin axes.

"What's going on?"

The sudden changes overwhelmed Adam. He constantly looked at his reflection on the surface of the water, hoping it would give a clue to the changes.

At that moment, the constellation emitted a beam of light on the crystal-clear waters; eliciting a thunderous explosion. It sent Adam flying, crashing several meters away.

"What was...?"

As Adam's words trialed off, he blinked multiple times as he stared two majestic battle axes floating above the water.

From his position, Adam watched as the waters beneath the axes parted, bubbled and vaporized. He could not comprehend what was going on. Despite being far away from it, Adam felt a sense of dread overwhelm him. He didn't know why, but he also felt a sense of familiarity with the axes.

'Why do I feel like this? Is this fear or excitement?' Adam thought.

Slowly rising to his feet, he stretched his right hand towards the axes.

"Come," Adam said as he motioned with his hand.

At that moment, one axe vibrated. A split second later, a deafening echo enveloped the mysterious space, and ripples streaked across the surface of the sea.

As if being summoned by a god, the axe flew towards Adam's outstretched arm. Before Adam knew it, the axe nestled in between his fingers, his grip tightly fastened on its blood-red handle.

A gleam flashed across Adam's eyes. Wasting no time, he repeated the same action with his left hand. The previous phenomenon occurred for a second time, before Adam firmly held the second axe.

The exact moment Adam held both axes, the twin axe constellation beamed a radiant red light on him, and Adam's screams filled the mysterious space.

The axes slowly melted, forming reddish black casts on Adam's hands. A split second later, the beam disappeared. Before Adam could react, he felt something jilt his body, and his vision grew dark.

The last thing he saw apart from the cast on his hands, was a massive wave towering over his body.

Varidan Academy, Dratol.

Despite the majestic and awe inducing structures covering Varidan territory, they all paled in comparison to the intimidating administrative center of Varidan, Varidan Towers.

Standing over a hundred feet, it's emerald green walls sparkled under the moonlight. Located at the center of Varidan Academy, it stood proud surrounded by a river and a thick forest.

Unlike most places in Varidan Academy, hardly would any student wander towards Varidan Towers. If the natural barriers did not impede their movement, then the hundreds of guards stationed at the entrance of the majestic tower would do the job.

Unless invited; students, guards and staff were forbidden from approaching a hundred feet of Varidan Towers. Irrespective of their background, defaulters would meet a swift and often painful death.

Adam's subjugation of Pyren's work disrupted the usual serene atmosphere around Varidan Towers. More than a hundred guards sprinted towards Pyren's Valley, with hundreds more assembling around Varidan territory.

In its years of existence, it had never experienced anything like that. Minutes after the explosion, a lockdown directive spread all over Varidan territory. Irrespective of where one found themselves, they had to wait until the Varidan Towers lifted the lockdown.

In an unknown dimly lit, theater-like room in Varidan Towers, six individuals enveloped in darkness discussed among themselves.

Below them, an Aviskin with the head of a hawk knelt subserviently on the floor, not daring to raise his head. Beside him, was a youth wrapped around in thick chains fixed to a black straitjacket.

Six hulking figures who wore black masks while wielding large scythes towered over the Aviskin and the unconscious youth.

"Gareet, is that all you remember?"

The Aviskin flinched as he heard the melodious voice.

"Deans, that is all that happened. Regretfully, I don't know where the explosion originated from, or how it destroyed the barrier," Gareet said.

Silence greeted his words, which only further increased his apprehension.

"You said this youth entered Pyren's Valley before the explosion, is that right?"

"Yes, that is correct," Gareet said.

For a moment, his eyes turned bloodshot as they lingered on Adam.

"Do you want us to believe a mere year one student caused such an explosion? After going through his file, he is only a level E Awakened. Even a level S Awakened couldn't crack the barrier, not to talk of obliterating it. Do you take us for fools?! You Aviskin have—"

"Dean Hensley, that's enough! Don't blame Gareet for the transgressions of his ancestors."

The room fell silent after the hoarse voice. The scythes of the masked men drew closer towards Adam and Gareet, and the latter couldn't stop trembling.

'I should have observed the student closely. Is this how I will die?' Gareet thought.

He genuinely could not explain what happened at Pyren's Valley. After he gave Adam the standard time limit and warned him not to harm any of the creatures in the forest, he went on to attend to other business.

"Gareet."

"Y-Yes, Headmaster Darius," Gareet said.

"No need to be nervous. Which weapons are missing from Pyren's Valley?"

"N-None, Headmaster Darius. I triple checked. From the A class weapons to the C class weapons, none is missing. From the findings of my men, the explosion was greatest at Owynir's pit," Gareet explained.

"Owynir? Isn't that a descendant of Pyren's pet?"

"Yes, Dean Woolahan," Gareet said.

"Give me the casualty report and the damages sustained to the weapons."

Gareet fell into deep thought as he heard the Headmaster's request.

"Headmaster Darius, although the explosion destroyed the barrier, it didn't spread to all corners of the valley. It destroyed the vegetation in Owynir's territory, some beasts suffered slight injuries from the shock wave. Sir, I don't know how, but none of the weapons suffered any form of damage."

"You can go now."

Gareet felt a great weight off his shoulders as he heard the Headmaster's words. With a deep bow, he left the room without delay.

"Headmaster Darius, what should we do about the boy? I recommend we eliminate him to avoid any potential threat in the future," Dean Woolahan said.

"What threat could an E level Awakened pose?"

"Dean Adhemar, do you have a better suggestion?" Dean Woolahan asked.

"We have already healed his injuries. Isn't it better to interrogate him? Who knows, he could give us some clues."

"If someone like Gareet couldn't find out what happened, do you think a mere E-level Awakened would have a clue? That he's still alive is a miracle in itself," Dean Woolahan retorted.

"Dean Woolahan, what—"

"Enough! Put it to a vote. Who wants the student killed?" The Headmaster interjected.

"I'm in favor of the motion," Dean Woolahan said. "We already know Dean Adhemer opposes, so there is point hearing his vote. Dean Hensley, Marcus and Anselm will determine his fate," Dean Woolahan added.

"I'm in favor of the motion," Dean Marcus said.

"I oppose the motion," Dean Anselm said.

"Dean Hensley, make you decision," Headmaster Darius said.

"Whether he lives or dies doesn't make a difference. But since he's a student in my faculty, I oppose the motion. You can go kill one of your own student, Dean Woolahan," Dean Hensley said.

"He lives then. However, include his name on the watchlist. Set it at priority E. But, I doubt such an insignificant character would be associated with any of the rouge guilds. Dean Hensley, send someone to interrogate him when he wakes up. Dean Anselm, tell your subordinates to lift the lockdown. Dean Woolahan, continue your investigation of Pyren's Valley. That's all."

The moment Headmaster Darius finished his statement, the six hulking figures disappeared along with Adam.

"Headmaster Darius, before we leave, I think we have one more agenda to discuss."

"Dean Marcus, what is it?"

"One of my subordinates said she saw a red luminescence replace the golden radiance of The Labyrinth of the Nameless—"

"Dean Marcus, speak no further. This is not the place. Follow me, we need to consult with the elders," Headmaster Darius interjected.

A split second later, various crystals illuminated the room; however, none of the deans or the Headmaster could be seen.