4. A Step Towards Enlightenment

Sweat ran down the side of his temple, and his muscles tensed. The celestial being hovered in front of him, wings spread. Tallinhis hung in the air with self-unerring confidence that left Liam with an insatiable hunger for more combat.

"Do you wish to go on?" Tallinhis asked him with the corners of his lip, only slightly turning up.

"I'm not finished yet," Liam challenged as he drew in a deep breath.

Then he too began to change, first with a glow, then wings sprouted from his back. They tore through his flesh, but after years of training, this pain was nothing. Brilliant light erupted from his hand and formed a long sword covered in runes of the Ineffable speech.

"Finally, decide to take this seriously? Prepare yourself, young one," Tallinhis said calmly as his image blurred.

To anyone outside of a Shyfted form, Tallinhis's afterimage would be all the naked eye would see. An explosion of sound rocked the training grounds as Tallinhis was instantly on him. Barely parrying the strike, Liam spun into him, but he disappeared, and it was like he had turned into smoke. Before he could react, Liam felt the blade slide next to his neck.

"Yield Liam, your reactions are improving. You are progressing well considering your recent injury," Tallinhis whispered.

"I will be completely healed by the festival of Morning Souls," Liam said to his mentor.

His life had been good for the last four years, even after what happened only a few months ago. Liam was no one notable, and his linage was unknown. Even as an orphan, he stayed away from the youth that decided to run in gangs looking for trouble. Instead, he went from shop to shop looking for small tasks—anything he could do to earn a place to sleep and maybe even a warm meal.

The years past and once he reached the proper age, he began training to become one of the enlightened. The Hallin-Gra strived to reach the stars but also valued the lives of their citizens. These ideals are what truly started Liam on his path to becoming one of the ranks of enlightened. From the age of 14, Liam trained for four years among other youth.

He was promoted early, after four years. He was given a posting in the far north to watch the border. This area was the border of Gra'Nixhas, but to most, this was the line that separated divine from demonic. Constant raiding on the edges of the border resulted in a near-fatal attack from two elder Shyfters, which almost resulted in him losing his left leg.

"I am glad to see your recovery after you returned to us on the steps of the gate. I can tell you that I was not the only person that aided in your care. Milliahna took very direct care of you," he said, and in the next instant, he was before Liam with a sheepish grin.

"...I am just glad to be able to continue my quest to enlightenment," Liam said, diverting the comment and looking down.

Just then, a messenger bearing the Arch-Wardens crest floated down onto the grounds and headed in their direction. The man was dressed in white robes, with the hood lowered. He had no discerning embroideries or details apart from the crest. When the man finally approached, he gave a low bow to Tallinhis and then turned to Liam.

"Arch-Warden Mordenora summons you to stand before Hallin. You must leave all other worldly possessions and come bathed only in the glow of your radiance," Mordenora told Liam.

He had been prepared for this and released his Shyft. The wings that had torn through his back disappeared in a white mist. With a sigh, he began to undress. As a young boy, when he joined the Potentials, he was forced to transform and release the form until the pain bothered him no more. His Shyft was different and caused him pain when transforming, unlike the others.

Once his clothes were removed, Mordenora nodded. Liam took a deep breath and drew in his Shyft. The action took no more than a split second to start and no more than five seconds to finish, covering his body in brilliant white armor and snow-white wings. With this, Mordenora turned without saying a word, and Liam wordlessly followed.

As they left the training grounds, a warm golden glow surrounded the messenger, and he began to rise. As Liam leaped, his wings began to make log strokes and followed him into the sky. The nation of Hallin-Gra was a land of floating islands, and the capital was spread over multiple islands. Liam stared as they flew higher, ascending to the most significant island in the system of floating landmasses.

"New Mishral, Capital of Ascension, Home of the highest," Mordenora said as they flew forwards. Thanks to the golden bubble surrounding the messenger, Liam made out what the man was saying.

"The Floating City of Wonders," Liam remarked as the finally ascended the base of the one-thousand step staircase that stretched to a far-off tall set of golden doors.

"Are you ready to begin the first step of the last steps of your old life?" The messenger asked.