Chapter 8 - What Happens in Eden

A few hours later, Raven collapsed on his bed as the night radiance blossomed in the background. His body ached tremendously but his mind flared like a torch of fire. 

He tousled and tousled until he couldn't contain his excited mind anymore.

'I finally did it? Incomplete Initiate…' mused Raven as he sat on his bed.

He repeated excitedly, 'I am an innate mystic sorcerer.'

His gaze fixated on his right hand. Etched on the soft skin of his palm was something resembling an ancient tattoo. It glowed slightly and looked as though it was grafted to perfection. 

Raven smiled as he recalled this was the same symbol he briefly saw on Blaike's body back then.

'I knew I wasn't tripping,' mused Raven. '…the Alchemical Star.'

After his awakening, Blaike and Kase told him many things about the supernatural world—massive amounts of secret information, actually. Raven simply couldn't process them all. He only retained the seemingly important ones, and amongst them was the alchemical star.

Blaike had told him, "As you enter this uncharted world, you become privy and entitled to the endless discourse and debates that have sparked untold numbers of wars. 'Are there worlds beyond ours?'. 'What is the origin of devils?' One of the most important debates---did the supernatural exist before the current era, and if it did, what really happened back then and how was it concealed from the rest of us."

The Alchemical Star was proof of an untold secret. Even a newbie like Raven had recognized the symbol at first glance. Evidently, it carries a tremendous history.

The Alchemical Star.

The Mark of David.

The Eye of Apollyon.

The Primordial Key.

The Timeless Will.

Across ages and civilizations, it has worn different names, but its essence remains unaltered throughout history. It bore a path to immense power. 

According to Blaike, the symbol would grow along with him, becoming something only unique to him.

 'I really can't crack it,'  looking at the symbol, Raven sighed.

Anyway, there were other things to focus on. 

A frown appeared on his face. 

'Blaike said, although what happened to me with special, it didn't come without consequences. There is a chance I might die spontaneously.'

'I think I understand. After all, nothing is free in the world. Becoming part of the supernatural… I guess it's not as easy as it sounds, especially with my circumstances.'

'First thing first, I got to completely digest the orientation Blaike and Kase got me through.'

Raven picked up a pen and muttered as he jotted, "To become a supernatural without external aids like prima elixirs, a normy is required to undergo arduous physical training regimes. This primed the body for the natural awakening of innate sorcerers…"

It was the case of the foundation preluding all other things. 

"However, the success rate of this method is less than 0.1%," Raven pondered as he twirled his pen. 

In response to current trends, the Order created Project Prometheus, an overarching system used to categorize and regulate supernatural powers and phenomena. Precisely under Section 5.1—Paranormal Potential Index, there was a standard measurement of the supernatural.

"The Order categorizes supernatural individuals into ranks. Hmmm… what did Blaike say again? Oh yeah, it is called classes. Class Zero is the bottom class. The normies."

The established classes;

Class Zero aka Normies.

Class One aka First Order aka Acolytes. This class was what Blaike originally had planned for him. Acolytes were regular individuals just nearing the glimpse of the supernatural. They boasted peak human abilities with some of them even possessing certain superhuman conditions. Acolytes were extremely dangerous as their training had sculpted both their bodies and mind. Blaike had even stated she had met some acolytes that could effortlessly decimate tens of innate sorcerers. They were real mental monsters, having feet in both worlds.

Class Two aka Second Order aka Initiates. This set of individuals had just completed their natural awakening, thereby gaining arcane sigils that allowed them to touch the supernatural, moulding it as they saw fit. 

However, just between the acolyte class and the initiate class existed a special category assigned to indescribable prodigies called Incomplete Initiate. However, it didn't come without severe side effects like early death, plausible reduction of life force, and body failure. 

'I have to correct this flaw as soon as possible. If not…' Raven gritted his teeth. 

There was only one way to fix the problem. Raven had to undergo the same rigorous training. The same one acolytes partake in. According to Blaike, depending on his natural talent in the supernatural, his training might be faster than normal, or just at a regular pace. 

'I have less than six months,' Raven recollected his original goal.

Luckily, Blaike promised him her full support. Well, she had said something like, "...That's where I come in. I'm absolutely thrilled because I get to torture you for fun. Sensei Blaike is gonna love this, Hahaha."

'It's safe to say I'm not safe in her hands. She's gonna kill me, isn't she?' Raven shivered as he thought of the weird lady

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Meanwhile, as Raven giggled all night about his new life, a silent prayer occurred in a quiet room.

"We hail the Earth Goddess, Great Mother of All, Protector of all life. Glory to the Eternal Maiden."

Blaike knelt in the dim glow of candlelights, her voice reverent as she offered her prayers to the small obsidian statue before her. The figure, carved in the likeness of a woman draped in an ever-flowing dress, lacked distinct features. It had no eyes, mouth, or nose. Yet, it radiated such a presence that it captivated the thoughts of those who dared gaze upon it.

She was no mere woman.

She was no mere being.

She was no mere god.

She was the First of the Divine—The Earth Goddess, Beyoha. Guardian of the new world. Leader of the Divine Council.

"I seek forgiveness, Earthly Mother. Forgive me if I had sinned today. Forgive my sins of the past. I am anew in your light. I am afresh by your breath. Your warmth guides my mortal heart. Bless me, Earthly Mother. Bless my future so that I may continue to spread your warmth."

After she was done, Blaike stood to her feet and turned to Kase, "What's with that look, old man?"

"Uhhh, nothing. Just… I'm just surprised, that's all," hesitated Kase.

"What? I keep telling you, I'm just a loyal follower of the Earthly Goddess. Her dominion has few requirements and, at least, I don't have to dress like a motherfucking nun. Imagine the horror! Oooh, and I get to curse however I want. Isn't that just perfect?"

"...Blaike, isn't that kind of how heretics act?" 

"Really? I don't think so."

"..."

"It's fine. It's fine. The Earthly Maiden is super chill. She won't mind. As long as I'm devout, nothing else matters, I just have to follow my heart. Besides, isn't it better to place your faith in something greater than man or blade?"

Blaike whispered, "Some pe-people, you know… some people don't deserve to be amongst the living yet they find it hard to die. People like that… only the goddess can save their hearts. Only she can deliver the penance that they deser–"

Blaike's breath was caught in her throat as anxiety flooded her heart. The cold air gripped her body and her mind throbbed with a relentless sequence of torment.

She felt like she had been transported back to that "place". 

The atmosphere grew heavy with a suffocating stench, and the ground beneath her was littered with lifeless bodies strewn across the ground like discarded trails of trash. The soldiers wore grim expressions as they wiped blood off their faces. Some collapsed to the ground with tears mixed with splashes of blood streaming down their faces. Their eyes shakily darting around in despair as they struggled with the brutality of their actions.

What had she done?

She… 

How could she… 

She should have known better… 

She…

'No!' Blaike snapped out of it. Fear flashed in her eyes briefly. She hid it expertly but Kase picked up on the weirdness.

"It's in the past, okay. Let's focus on what we can do, not what cannot be fixed. We all hide scars" Kase let out a sigh, "Why did you call me?"

"H-How is the boy?"

"Good. Obnoxiously giddy about the new world he is entering," scoffed Kase.

Blaike chuckled, "We have all been there. I will make sure to prepare him well. Sooner or later, he will get drawn into our business. It is inevitable, no matter how long you try to prolong it."

"I know that. Do your best. What else?"

"There are whispers travelling around the zones. The peaceful times are over. The cults are rising once more. New Order's dominion will yet again be challenged."

"Nothing new under the sun. Just when you think those pieces of shit will crumble, they manage to survive on their last legs," smirked Kase.

Just as every Batman has his Joker. The bane of the New Order were the devilish cults— insufferable zealots hellbent on world destruction. The fact they had been dormant for a few years was surprising enough.

"It's different this time. I can feel it," Blaike said. " Things of old are resurfacing. Ancient artifacts. Forgotten mystics. Lost factions. Cursed remnants. Even worse, the Mutant Order has begun to move, and no one knows what they are up to. I sense a new era approaching. Perhaps the Order will finally be toppled."

Kase sighed, "I say let it come. All we can do is prepare the boys."

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"Run!" 

Far away in the center of an orphanage, a young girl bawled in tears as she charged through the hallway. Something was chasing her. Something beyond mortal…

"Tyle, hurry up. We are almost at the exit. I have a relative that could shelter us."

"Tyle, you have run faster!"

"Tyle, say something!"

She briefly looked backwards and froze. Where was her friend? 

The icy fog snarled like a beast as its white tendrils lounged for her. As the demonic fog got within inches of her, she shrieked in fear and stumbled on a rough tile. 

"Stay back. I'm warning you!" Clutching her fists, the young girl barked against the encroaching fog. She spoke to it as though it were alive and intelligent. The icy fog pulsated with cold blue beams as though it was delighted by the young girl's fear.

Suddenly, the young girl heard strange music reverberating from within the heart of the icy fog. 

She quickly discovered the fog swirling around her. Fear overwhelmed her as her heart pounded ferociously. Her gaze trembled as she saw two grey orbs flicker within the fog. 

"How could this be possibl—"

In a flash, the fog swallowed her whole and retreated mysteriously. 

There was nothing left in the hall after the fog disappeared, not even the tiniest sign of struggle or bizarre occurrences. Everything resumed quickly, and although the children were missing two popular figures, the following morning, the staff attributed that to the missing children being rebellious. This was Eden orphanage… lots of children go missing!