Awakening the Power

The morning dawned bright and clear, a rare break in the perpetual gloom that usually hung over New Avalon.

Aiden woke with a sense of urgency, the dream still vivid in his mind. He knew that he needed to act, to unlock the power of the artifact before it was too late. After all, anything could happen and he needed strength to survive.

As he dressed, he found himself lost in thought, turning the artifact over in his hands. The intricate carvings seemed to pulse with a faint, inner light as if responding to his touch.

As Aiden left the dormitory and headed to the main campus.

His first stop was the library. He had discovered a series of scrolls in the section that mentioned the Keys of Aether a couple of days ago. So he was going to once again check for more information.

As Aiden unfurled one of the scrolls, his eyes scanned the faded script. "According to this, the Keys of Aether were held by the Astral Guardians, an ancient order dedicated to protecting humanity from the Enigmi."

Aiden read that "the keys were said to be only activated by the chosen ones. The keys resonate with their wielder's inner power, unlocking their hidden potentials."

Aiden felt a thrill of excitement. "So, would I be able to activate this, and do I have a key or is it something else?" Aiden questioned as he read the scrolls.

The keys of Aether were believed to be an artifact. So Aiden, decided to read how artifacts are activated for the first time as he had little to no information about it. He was a poor orphan after all.

Aiden then read about artifacts. "To activate an artifact , you need to meditate to establish a connection if you are a beginner. However, if you have previously activated one, you should be able to activate it with a thought."

He decided to try it that night. As the sun set, he went to a secluded and quiet corner of the Academy's garden, away from prying eyes. The air was still, the stars beginning to twinkle overhead.

He decided to not do it in his dorm for a specific reason. Even though, his dorm room will be more private. The reason is that he saw that cultivating in nature helps comprehension according to some people in the academy forum. 

This could be false information, but just to make sure he still decided to do it. 

Aiden sat cross-legged on the grass, the artifact resting in his hands. He closed his eyes, taking deep, steady breaths, and focused on the cool weight of the stone. He let his mind drift, reaching out with his thoughts, seeking a connection.

Minutes passed, then hours. The night deepened around him, and the air grew cooler. Aiden remained still, his mind focused on the artifact. He felt a strange warmth begin to spread from the stone, flowing up his arms and into his chest.

Suddenly, his mind was flooded with images and sensations.

He saw flashes of an ancient world, battles fought with incredible powers, and a group of warriors wielding artifacts similar to his own. He felt their courage, their determination, and their unyielding resolve.

The warmth intensified, becoming a burning heat that coursed through his veins. He felt his body tingling with energy, his senses sharpening. He opened his eyes, and the artifact was glowing brightly, its carvings illuminated with a golden light.

Aiden looked around and saw that the glow was not just confined to the artifact. A faint, shimmering aura surrounded him, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. He felt a surge of power, a sense of connection to something vast and ancient.

"I think I did it," he said, his voice trembling with awe.

The artifact still glowed softly, a reminder of the power that lay within.

"I need to learn how to control this better," Aiden said, his voice filled with determination. "If the artifact is truly connected to the Astral Guardians in the legends, it might be my key to becoming powerful enough to take revenge on those accursed Enigmi."

Aiden nodded, his mind racing with possibilities.

As he made his way back to their dormitory, Aiden couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

He had taken the first step in unlocking the artifact's power, but there was still much to learn.

The journey ahead would be long, but Aiden knew that he was slowly getting closer to the right path.

That night, as he lay in bed, Aiden felt a strange sense of peace. The artifact rested under his pillow, its faint glow a comforting presence.

He knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but he was ready to face whatever came their way.

The following morning, Aiden awoke with a sense of purpose. The artifact's power coursed through him yesterday, filling him with a determination he had never felt before.

As he made his way to the training yard, Aiden couldn't shake the feeling that his discovery would attract attention if he wasn't careful.

He had to be cautious, but he also needed to learn more about the Astral Guardians and the Enigmi.

Lieutenant Harker was already in the yard, overseeing the recruits' morning exercises. "Alright, recruits, today we're focusing on advanced combat techniques. Pair up and prepare for sparring."

Aiden found himself paired with Tom, one of the stronger recruits. Tom was tall and muscular, with a fierce competitive streak. Aiden knew he had to be on his guard.

"Ready?" Tom asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He wanted to beat Aiden like he did in the orphanage.

"Ready," Aiden replied, assuming a defensive stance. This was his chance, he would finally get rid of some shackles that are in his heart.

They began sparring, their movements fluid and precise. Aiden felt the power of the artifact within him, heightening his reflexes and enhancing his strength. He moved with a speed and agility that surprised even himself, countering Tom's attacks with ease.

Tom grunted in frustration, launching a series of rapid strikes. Aiden blocked and dodged, using his newfound abilities to stay one step ahead. He could see the surprise in Tom's eyes as he struggled to keep up.

As Aiden was about to land a punch on Tom's throat.

"Enough," Harker called out, ending the match. He approached Aiden, his eyes narrowed in scrutiny. "You've improved significantly, Raines. Keep it up."

Aiden nodded whilst Panting, acting like he was tired from the match.

Seeing this, Tom couldn't help but feel rage deep in his heart. 

"How.. How am I losing to this scrawny kid, when he saw me he used to shake from fear of being beaten." thought Tom. "It must be a fluke, I clearly saw that he was tired. I had more energy than him, I wasn't even Panting."

Aiden knew he had to be careful not to draw too much attention so he did not use his full power, but the power of the artifact was undeniable. He felt a sense of pride in his abilities, but also a deep responsibility.

He beat Tom his old bully finally. He was able to protect himself without Mark or someone else's help.

After training, Aiden wanted to find out more about the keys of aether. He needed to find out more about the Astral Guardians and the Enigmi, and the library seemed to have what he wanted.

As he made his way through the dimly lit aisles, he pulled out a dusty book titled The Chronicles of Aether. "This might have what I'm looking for," 

He pored over the text, searching for any mention of the Astral Guardians. After several hours, of looking for anything that could be related to it. He found a passage that caught his attention.

"The Astral Guardians were an ancient order believed to be protecting humanity from the Enigmi. It turns out that not all guardians wielded powerful artifact known as the Keys of Aether, which granted them incredible abilities. But only a select few are known as the chosen ones.

"It also turns out that the Keys of Aether aren't different artifacts, but components of one main artifact."

"Imagine them like individual gemstones, each with their unique power. On their own, each Key holds a modest amount of power, enough to make a difference but limited in scope."

"When two Keys are brought together, their power doesn't just double—it grows exponentially, intertwining their abilities to create far more potent effects. With each additional Key, the combined power increases dramatically, becoming overwhelmingly strong and capable of feats that no single Key could achieve alone. How many keys exist is unknown."

The Guardians were believed to have vanished, their artifact lost to time.

Aiden pondered, "So, the Keys of Aether are like gemstones, where could I find these keys if I want to grow in power."

The next day, he approached Captain Voss after training. He was standing at the edge of the yard, observing the recruits with a critical eye.

"Captain Voss, can I talk to you for a moment?" Aiden asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Voss turned to him, his expression unreadable. "What is it, Raines?"

"I've been hearing about the Astral Guardians and the Keys of Aether," Aiden said, choosing his words carefully. Making sure that Voss is not suspicious of anything.

Voss's eyes narrowed. "And why would you be interested in ancient legends?"

Aiden took a deep breath. "I'm just curious about it, it seems interesting."

For a moment, Voss was silent, his gaze piercing. Then he nodded slowly. 

"Well, It is indeed believed that the Astral Guardians had an artifact that helped them dominate in ancient times." said Voss.

Aiden felt a surge of hope. "Do you know where I might find them?"

Voss scoffed. "If anyone had a way of getting them, do you think they would tell you? These artifacts contained power that even the most pious of people will turn evil upon seeing."

"The artifacts have been lost to time. But some legends say the hidden temples and ancient ruins that exist now have something to do with the Astral Guardians. But it's all just rumours, nothing factual"

"As many tried going to these hidden temples and runes and they found nothing about the artifacts the Astral Guardians legend speak about."

"Is there a map or something that has these locations marked?" said Aiden.

Voss, then pulled out his phone and showed him. "This map shows the locations of several ancient ruins." You can find it online.

"These places could get dangerous, as a group of maniacs that believe that there is indeed artifacts in the runes, camp there trying to uncover secrets. So don't do anything rash"

Aiden looked at the map, feeling a sense of resolve. "Thank you, Captain Voss. I was just researching I won't do anything stupid."

Voss then nodded at his answer.

As he left, Aiden felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Captain Voss, helped him a lot with this information. Aiden felt that he was closer than ever to unlocking the power of the artifact his parents gave him.

He had a lead, a potential path to unlocking the artifact's full power. But he knew that it might all be lies made up by the people, the ruins might have nothing to do with the guardians.

The journey could also be dangerous. Especially with Captain Voss's information about the group of people that lay in wait in the runes, which could fight with him for it.

That night, Aiden lay in bed, his phone clutched in his hand with the map on display. Soon, he drifted to sleep and the artifact under his pillow radiated light faintly almost seeming like acknowledging Aiden's struggle to unlock its potential.