Chapter 22: The Trail of Awakening

He had made it towards the next step, but how far did the rabbit hole go?

Having cleared the first trail Geo began thinking about why he was here.

The cybernetic voice disrupted Geo's thinking as it announced something peculiar.

"Player has cleared the first task, according to regulation the "Drifter" is allowed to ask one question before proceeding with the trails, we suggest thinking carefully as you'll only get this opportunity once."

Geo didn't know what to think about the entire situation anymore,

but one thing was certain, he could find out what was happening, why he was here, and what exactly could be found in these mysterious ruins.

Taking the situation into account he accounted for the one thing he could think of,

rambling on about several things finally arriving at the one thing he wanted to ask.

"I remember entering ancient ruins, that's when the trails started, but, what does this have to do with me? I mean… wasn't I finding out more about myself as I progressed?

So… Is this inside me, or am I still within the ruins?"

Beeping noises could be heard all around the area,

Geo swore he even saw something that looked like it shouldn't be happening,

happen in front of him. Not being great with electrical stuff he didn't know what to think of it. Only, that it didn't feel in place with the rest of the experience. But before he could make out what was happening, something manifested in front of him.

*Beep bzz beep*

At first glance, it looked like a small blob, an orb without a distinct form that kept shifting between dimensions. When carefully, but surely it began leaking some kind of clear, chrome-like substance. The indescribable thing happened again before the orb completely turned into an incomprehensible puddle of clear reflecting substance.

Slowly something grew out of it, taking shape of a cute reflective and metallic orb with what seemed like two pears of small feet. Not like the ordinary human feet, but more like orbs in and on themselves.

That was when the voice spoke once more, trying to pitch its voice the right way,

from extreme lows to extreme highs until it figured out the right sequence to consult Geo.

A confident and middle-aged female voice echoed out of the orb.

"We from the system authorize the question, as this falls between regulations."

As the orb spoke her voice got displayed onto it as if it was keeping track of the pulse,

going up and down as its voice did.

Immediately Geo recognized the voice, although tuned lower to sound more mature he was certain of it. E.V.E. was guiding Geo through the trails, he didn't know why,

but it must have had its reasons.

"As multiple questions have been asked we will try to combine them and answer as accurately as we can. The Trails of the Ancients are an ordeal created to find peace and enlightenment within oneself. So in a sense, everything you're experiencing has to do with your inner self.

While at the same time, you are still within the ruins, this is as real as it gets.

"The System" hopes it has provided the "Drifter" with substantial information to proceed.

Good luck during the coming trials "Player."

"So, I did enter those ruins, back then. But what was that anomaly?

Something I couldn't describe… Did they see? Is all this even real?

Aaagghh it's no use thinking about all this, I just have to keep clearing all the trails they throw at me. Okay, "System" tell me what's up next!"

Cracking could be heard before the orb displayed the trail which was waiting for Geo ahead.

*Crack czzz*

The anomaly could be seen once more as if something was wrong, maybe it didn't fully integrate yet? Geo didn't know to call it… But he was sure that it wasn't good.

[Trail #02; The Trail of Awakening.

Since ancient times, those with a rich future ahead of them gained the opportunity to cultivate their essence. Allowing a man to expand their boundaries time and time again.

This phenomenon allowed them to awaken their inner being, their soul sea.

The essence of each individual is different providing challenging endeavors for those on a journey to find themselves. The essence is all around the world since man had learned to absorb and manipulate it, effectively becoming an extension of oneself, they went further.

The awakening hidden potential within themselves. The challenge ahead is for you the "Player" to accomplish this feed, gaining the awakened state in the process. Objective; Awaken the essence previously obtained and manipulated expanding one's inner soul sea.

Conditions; Staying alive, don't get consumed by doubt or erosion.

Reward: The awakened state of man, needed to manipulate essence in its purest form.

Failure will result in immediate shutdown and eruption of essence within the body,

resulting in death within seconds.]

"Player, do you wish to continue?" [YES/NO]

Again with the absurd survival remarks, Geo began to seriously doubt how much it was worth to unlock the next stage of humanity, allowing him the awesome art of manipulating essence all around him.

"In a way, wasn't the first trail kind of about this as well? As here I learned how the flow of energy around and inside of me worked? This… Might all… Be connected."

Deciding to focus on the task ahead Geo let the fleeting thought pass by and answered the little machine.

[YES]

"Thank you for using "the system" and good luck with the trail ahead.

We await your acceptance and clearance of the trails shortly."

Within seconds the cute looking little robot as Geo would like to call for the lag of a better word, vanished into a puddle spreading out as it became one with the environment.

[Mind Erosion has begun to affect the players' brain, please take caution!]

"Painful! Not again!! When will this disturbance finally end?!"

Although worried about it, Geo decided he needed to continue for his own sake,

maybe he could build up enough resistance to finally end this nuisance once and for all.

He had no time to worry, not now when he was finally advancing beyond himself.

He had to find a way to awaken, a way to jolt his essence. Just enough so he could manipulate it, but how would he do it? Was there a way about it?

A hint must have been within what he needed to do for the first of trails.

When Geo arrived at the new area, something didn't at up…

"Wait… why is the room so small? No weird deathtraps like before?

Ja Niks!! This isn't what I expected at all!!"

Geo argued about how small the room was in comparison with the first.

Was there only enough space for himself? Geo reached to the sides. Within a meter of himself behind him was the gate, which had closed, on the left and right side…

Walls… But in front of him, nothing. What could this mean?

For a moment Geo found himself in complete darkness, not a sound, breeze,

or light as far as he could perceive. Then suddenly a small light on the ground lid up.

A green light shaping tiny orbs together like an arrow pointing in the direction he was facing.

"Better follow it, it might give me a lead to what I'm supposed to do."

As Geo followed the arrows lighting up the pathway they quickly began to increase in numbers, almost like they left Geo behind, now cycling in pulses. He knew something was waiting for him,

but what? What could it be? The suspense was killing him,

when suddenly the pulsating light the arrows gave off had stopped pulsating.

Instead, they filled the room, circling something which Geo could barely make out as a gigantic crystal-like structure. Was this where he was supposed to be?

The crystal began to dimly light up upon Geo's arrival. Having a slightly different shade of green, he knew this was where the trail would start. Captivated by it, Geo moved closer.

As he closed in, something within him told him to reach out to it. Doing so without question Geo wasn't aware of what was about to happen. Gently placing his hand on the crystal it suddenly stopped pulsating for a moment, only for it to concentrate on Geo's hand.

No one could have seen what was about to happen when the crystal began to pulsate once more, this time increasing in speed and becoming more concentrated on the unfamiliar hand on top of it. Geo's hand felt warm, pleasant even, kind of like the energy flowing within. This time it was different, this time it tried to converge with him.

Almost like it was telling him it was okay, to accept it and to take it within himself.

That's when he felt it, his cells answering the call. One by one they began to resonate…

"I want this power, the power of the ancients only I can have! I have to make it my own!"