Awakening

"Although it will become easier for Hugo to open up and activate the myriad chakras in his body, there is a risk of the coiled serpent growing too fast and harming his body…"

"Because of the excess energy?" Tracy inquired, her expression becoming more ashen.

"Yes! Because of the excess energy in the coiled serpent form." The Matriarch nodded.

"In the History of Gaia, only one man has ever awakened such a physique. He died a gruesome death. In the legends, his death is described as an event similar to the explosion of a watermelon." The Matriarch added; her tone nonchalant.

"What can we do to save him?" Tracy cried as she looked at the Matriarch.

"Don't worry. He has that token."

"Why the token?" Tracy inquired. She couldn't understand how the Grim Reaper's Templars could help Hugo out of this situation. What could they do when the ancients had previously failed.

"If he can train fast and contain the excess energy for a few years, he may stand a good chance when entering the ancient tomb of Thanatos six years later."

"The Templars won't accept if no binding oath is made by Hugo. I won't allow him to make such oaths with those maniacs." Tracy replied, her tone steadfast.

"What if I told you that I have a way to enter the tombs without taking the oaths?"

"You have a way to enter the tombs without the Templars' notice?" Tracy's mouth was agape as she gazed at the Matriarch who appeared to be growing more mysterious by the day.

The Matriarch nodded.

Tracy was excited, but after some thought, she couldn't help but shake her head.

"That is an event sought-after by all the talents below the age of twenty in Gaia. Hugo will not survive. He can't attend at just the age of twelve." Tracy was anxious.

"Have you forgotten that he possesses a physique that was considered divine in the old era?" The Matriarch countered.

"Don't forget that the colonialists also keep sending their progenies to explore the ruins and tombs in Gaia. I hear that they are perverted to the point of compelling even the mystic-kings of the noble families to do their bidding." Tracy countered.

"He has the Innate Kundalini-Divine-Physique. I believe that Hugo can contend."

"How shall we get the rest of the eleven tokens required to enter the tomb?" Tracy was still not assured.

"Leave that to me." The Matriarch replied while smiling mysteriously.

"Why haven't I heard about this Kundalini physique? Not even the upper floors of the Giza library have such information." Tracy replied, her tone laced with doubt.

"You have been researching physiques?" The Matriarch sounded surprised as she creased her brows.

"I did some research about physiques and inborn abilities after occasionally seeing Hugo withdrawing large chunks of mana from his surroundings while sleeping," Tracy replied.

"The most ancient knowledge of Gaia is kept hidden only in the obscure and unfathomable Library of Thoth. Only the current keeper of knowledge is privy to such secrets."

"You have been to the Library of Thoth?" Tracy's interest was piqued.

"If I had been to the Library? Would I still be here?" She sighed.

"What about the keeper of knowledge! Aren't those just myths encouraging kids to study and read?" Tracy was surprised.

"I am not sure whether that is myth or fact. But we can't be entirely sure."

"Just think about it for a second… Why have the colonialists failed to completely conquer Gaia for millennia? Some of those myths may actually be true." The Matriarch added while turning to look towards Hugo.

"His awakening is ending. Move him into the tub. Be quick." The Matriarch instructed, her toe urgent.

Tracy nodded and hurriedly lifted the unconscious Hugo, placing him into the tub.

As soon as Hugo's form became immersed in the elixir filling up the tub, its green tint started becoming fainter and fainter, until it disappeared completely.

Tracy's heart sank as she observed Hugo's skin that was tinged with a deep shade of red. His body had stopped absorbing the surrounding mana, however, it continued its peculiar twitching.

"What is happening now?" Tracy looked towards the Matriarch who also appeared surprised.

"The divine physique is even more formidable than I expected." She replied while withdrawing a huge black gourd the height of an adolescent child from her extra-dimensional ring.

"Young brat! This stuff is costly. You will have to pay for this in the future." The Matriarch mumbled as she moved to pour the contents of the gourd into the tub.

It was at this instant that Tracy moved like the wind and positioned her self between the Matriarch and the tub.

"What are you going to give him. Hugo is just a child and can't make any promises. I will use my elixirs instead." Tracy replied as she glared at the Matriarch.

"Young girl! The situation is urgent… Can't you even take a joke? If I wanted to harm him, would I need to go through all this?" The Matriarch sounded amused.

Tracy sighed while stepping out of the way.

"This is the blood of an ancient crystal dragon from the ruins of Eclista." The Matriarch added, her tone nonchalant as she uncorked the gourd.

"What!" Tracy's mouth was agape as she felt the ancient aura from the green liquid that was being emptied into the tub by the Matriarch.

"Why are you doing this?"

"You can think of it as an investment…" The Matriarch replied.

"An investment! That phrase irritates me." Tracy replied as she watched Hugo's body stop its twitching.

"I need to leave for the Marshlands with the others. Take care of him. Keep adding more dragon blood until he fully awakens his physique." The Matriarch ordered while passing the gourd to Tracy.

"Will the Archibishop know about this?" Tracy was anxious. She did not want Hugo to be bound to the Dark Church.

"Why do you think so?" The Matriarch seemed to be tickled by Tracy's question.

"Didn't you take the Oaths?" Tracy was confused.

"Hahaha…" The Matriarch laughed derisively.

"My dear student! You still have lots to learn?" The Matriarch added.

****

Concurrently in a formless golden space…

The golden pyramid hovered silently in the space like it had been rooted there for ages.

Bundi who had been sleeping peacefully beside the pyramid awoke as her green eyes twinkled with mysterious runes and ciphers…

"It has begun…" She mumbled while turning to face the pyramid.

"Already" An ethereal feminine voice sounded from the pyramid.

"This may be the one," Bundi replied.

"But we can't be sure." The voice countered.

"I assure you that this may be the one. Bundi emphasized once again.

"Who is the girl dressed like a frail old woman? She seems interesting." The voice sounded curious.

"Don't know and don't care," Bundi replied curtly.

"You're no fun as ever. Don't wake me up again until the initial activation of the pyramid is completed.

Bundi was already snoring like a bear.

****