Chapter 12: Awakening-(2)

CAERA DENOIR'S POV:

As I felt myself drowning into the darkness, the pain began to fade away, allowing me to take a deep breath and let my tears subside. Frantically, I reached for my head, where the pain had been excruciating moments ago. What my hands touched sent a shiver down my spine-smooth, pristine, curved horns protruding from my skull just above my ears. They split into three directions: one curving backward, one upward, and another forward, curving slightly upward at the tip."Hmm~ So you've finally awakened, huh?" A strong, imposing voice echoed around me, freezing my body in place with fear. I instantly recognized it-this was the same voice from the dream I had after receiving my Regalia. My heart pounded as I tried to look around, desperate to see the source of the voice, but my body refused to move. The sheer weight of the presence held me in place, as if even the air had grown heavier around me.But just as suddenly as the pressure came, it vanished, and I gasped for breath, my body able to move once more. I frantically scanned my surroundings, but there was only one thing I could see: endless darkness. "W-who are you?" I stammered, my voice trembling. "Where am I?"A soft, yet powerful laugh echoed through the void. "Fufu~ My name is Melantha, Melantha Ashenwood. As for where you are, it would be correct to call this place... your Dreamworld."Suddenly, she appeared-a breathtaking woman adorned in black and crimson-scaled armor. Her armor was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, with sharp, dark edges that exuded power and elegance. Her long, silvery-blue hair flowed freely, contrasting with the crimson-black of her armor, and her helmet bore curved, scale-like horns. Her glowing, fiery golden eyes locked onto mine, radiating an intense authority and command, yet behind that intensity lay a strange serenity, like a divine warrior of ancient times.I stood there, completely dumbfounded by her presence. Her beauty, strength, and sheer majesty were beyond anything I had ever encountered or even imagined. Shaking my head, I forced myself out of my stunned state and managed to stutter, "D-Dreamworld?""Yes, Dreamworld," she replied calmly, her eyes never leaving mine. "Now, tell me, child... what is your name?""Caera... I am Caera Denoir," I answered, my voice barely steady."Well, Caera, I know you have many questions, but since we are inside your Dreamworld, we only have a limited time before your body starts to wake up. So, ask only what is most important-there are more pressing matters we need to focus on."I paused, considering her words. I had countless questions, but with such little time, I had to focus on what mattered most right now. Taking a deep breath, I asked, "You said your name was Melantha, but what exactly are you? I've never seen or heard of anything like you before. And were you the one who appeared in my dream? If so, why?"Melantha chuckled softly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Quite the impatient one, I see~. Very well. I am a Valkyrie-more precisely, I was the queen of the Valkyries. And yes, I was the one who came to you in your dream. The reason? It is because of your connection to our race, the Valkyries.""Valkyries?" I repeated, utterly bewildered. "But I've never heard of a race like that before.""Of course you haven't. Our race left this land long ago. As for where they went and why, you'll learn the answers when the time is right-once you grow stronger.""But what does all of this have to do with me?" I asked, my confusion deepening."As I mentioned, it's due to your ties with our race. You carry our blood, child," Melantha said, her fiery gaze piercing through the darkness. "Though your body holds three different bloodlines, the most prominent is the Valkyrie blood."I blinked in shock, my mind racing. "What? Valkyrie blood? But how? Seris told me I only had Vritra blood, and even that's only 40%.""Vritra, you say?" Melantha raised an eyebrow, her expression turning thoughtful. "So, they've evolved... how fascinating. Nonetheless, while it's true you have 40% Vritra blood, there is also 10% from a bloodline I am unfamiliar with. But the remaining 50% is, without a doubt, Valkyrie blood."Her words struck me like a thunderbolt. I struggled to process everything. "But... how? No one ever told me about this."My mind spun with confusion and disbelief. How could I have Valkyrie blood? I knew I wasn't Seris' biological child, but I'd never truly considered the identity of my real parents. And now, a new piece of the puzzle was being revealed, making the mystery of my bloodline even more complex."That, my child, is something I am not aware of," Melantha said softly, a hint of regret in her voice. "Perhaps asking those who have taken care of you might give you the answers you seek."I thought about what she had said. She was right-Seris had always been the one guiding and protecting me. If anyone knew the truth, it would be her. But... would it be right to ask her? Seris had always treated me with love and affection, as if I were her own. Would bringing up questions about my lineage feel like betraying that bond?Doubt and guilt swirled inside me. I didn't want to hurt her or seem ungrateful for everything she'd done. But... I needed to know. The uncertainty of my heritage gnawed at me, especially now that this strange and powerful bloodline had awakened."Now, child, we should start the ceremony!" Melantha's sudden announcement pulled me from my thoughts."Ceremony?" I echoed, my confusion deepening."Yes, in Valkyrie culture, a ceremony is held once a child awakens their nether energy. During this ceremony, the queen bestows her blessing upon younglings, which manifests as a weapon arsenal that grows stronger and more versatile along with them," she explained, her voice calm yet filled with a sense of importance."Wait-what? Nether energy? And what do you mean by a 'weapon arsenal'?" I asked, struggling to grasp the new terms."You have to discover the meaning of that on your own, Caera. While understanding the basics of nether energy is crucial to mastering it, we do not have the time to delve into those details now," she said, a hint of urgency in her tone."Then how am I supposed to use it if I don't even know what it is?" I protested, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness. I barely understood what was happening, and now there was talk of ceremonies and blessings?"Do not worry," Melantha said softly, her gaze warm and reassuring. "After the ceremony, I will give you one last gift that will aid you in understanding and controlling your nether energy. Consider it a guide of sorts-one that will teach you what you need to know."Her words did little to completely soothe the anxiety bubbling inside me, but I nodded nonetheless. There was no other choice but to trust her, at least for now."Now, I want you to sit in a lotus position and close your eyes," Melantha instructed gently.I nodded and slowly shifted into the position, crossing my right leg over my left, hands resting lightly on my lap. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that buzzed beneath my skin."Now, focus on your internal energy, especially the rune that brought you here," she continued.Following her words, I centered my thoughts inward, seeking out the strange energy that had pulled me into this abyss. The moment I focused on it, I felt an unfamiliar yet potent force swirling within me, resonating with a power I couldn't fully comprehend."Good. Now, I will initiate the ceremony."Just as Melantha's voice echoed through the darkness, I felt something cold and metallic rest gently on my shoulder. A shiver ran down my spine, and the second it made contact, an overwhelming pressure descended upon the space around me. It was suffocating, as if death itself had manifested before me. The air thickened with an eerie, oppressive weight that sent tremors through my entire body.My eyes, though closed, fluttered uncontrollably as the intensity increased. And then, Melantha began chanting in a strange, ancient language. The words reverberated through the darkness, each syllable vibrating with power, like a symphony of thunderous energy.The ritual continued, the pressure around me growing denser, heavier. I could feel the very essence of the darkness bending and twisting in response to her words. It was as if the entire space was being reshaped, molded by the force of her incantation.The energy within me-my nether energy-resonated fiercely with the chant, pulsing and expanding in response to Melantha's voice. My senses blurred, overwhelmed by the sensation of something vast and unfathomable awakening deep within me.The energy within me-my nether energy-resonated fiercely with the chant, pulsing and expanding in response to Melantha's voice. My senses blurred, overwhelmed by the sensation of something vast and unfathomable awakening deep within me.Then, I felt it-the same energy that had enveloped me during my Vitra blood awakening-now surging within me once more. It swirled around my body, its speed increasing with each passing second. As it peaked, something new emerged: a sudden, distinct coldness encircled my index finger.I glanced down and realized... it was a ring.With the manifestation of the ring, the crushing pressure around me finally lifted, and Melantha withdrew her sword. The moment the cold metal left my shoulder, I opened my eyes.The first thing I noticed was the swirl of black and red energy dancing around me. It moved with an almost sentient grace, as if welcoming me to this new reality. My breath caught in my throat as I watched, mesmerized by the stunning display."It seems nether energy likes you," Melantha mused softly, her voice echoing in the darkness. "Just as mentioned in the prophecy."Her words barely registered in my mind, so enthralled I was by the beauty of the energy swirling around me. Then, abruptly, the ethereal ribbons of red and black were drawn back into my body. I felt them travel up my arm and settle into the ring on my finger.The ring was unlike anything I'd ever seen. It was sleek, the surface a dark black that seemed to absorb the surrounding light, with a deep red inlay running through it like veins of crushed gemstone. The contrast between the dark, matte outer layer and the vibrant, crimson core gave it a bold and elegant appearance-a weapon of power, yet with an allure that captivated me.I lifted my hand slowly, the ring catching the faint light of the space around us, its crimson veins pulsing softly in time with my heartbeat. Even though I had no idea what it truly was or what power it held, I knew one thing for certain:This ring, this energy-it was a part of me now."Listen carefully, Caera," Melantha began, her gaze intense. "Nether is an extraordinarily powerful energy. If used with ill intent, it could influence not just this world, but others beyond it. It's a force that, if mishandled, could cause you to lose yourself completely. So, before you embark on this path, I need to ask-how would you use this power?"I remained silent for a moment, the weight of Melantha's question pressing down on me. How would I use this power? I thought of Seris, Cylrit, and Nessa-of everything they've done for me, the risks they've taken. The answer became clear, steadying my voice."If I am able to master Nether, I would use it to protect my loved ones and ensure their happiness and safety," I said firmly, though even as I spoke, uncertainty gnawed at the back of my mind. How could Nether possibly affect worlds beyond our own? What did Melantha mean by that?Before I could dwell on it further, a wave of dizziness washed over me, and my vision blurred. My consciousness wavered, my surroundings swaying as if I were on the brink of waking up."Caera," Melantha's voice rang out urgently, pulling me back from the edges of awareness. There was something different in her tone-an urgency laced with something... almost like sorrow. "Your body is waking up. But before you go, I have one last gift for you-a guide to aid you in mastering Nether and to help you through the challenges that lie ahead."I felt her hands grip mine firmly as she helped me to my feet. Despite the warmth of her touch, a strange chill settled over me-a premonition that this was a farewell. Melantha's bittersweet smile only deepened the feeling. Her fiery golden eyes softened, a flicker of sadness in their depths as she looked at me.Before I could muster the words to ask what was happening, Melantha raised her free hand and gently placed it over my chest, right above my heart. A soft, soothing glow enveloped us, and suddenly, a small orb of dark, swirling energy formed between us, crackling with tiny arcs of red lightning."This... is the Fragment of the Valkyrie Queen," Melantha murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced at the orb, then back at me. "It holds knowledge, guidance, and strength. Treat it well, and it will become your most trusted ally in times of uncertainty."I watched in awe as the orb slowly sank into my chest. A surge of energy spread through me, overwhelming yet oddly familiar, like finding a piece of myself that had been lost for so long. My breath hitched, my entire being resonating with the fragment's power. It was as if something vital had clicked into place.Melantha's grip loosened, and she stepped back, her form already beginning to blur and fade. "Remember, Caera, your journey is only beginning. There will be trials, enemies, and doubts. But through it all, trust in yourself and your newfound power."The darkness around us pulsed violently, the dreamworld quaking and splintering as if it were falling apart. Panic surged through me as I instinctively reached out to her, not ready to let go. "Wait, Melantha! I-"But the words lodged in my throat as the world shattered. Everything dissolved into a blinding light, and I felt myself being pulled back, the sensation of Melantha's presence slipping through my fingers like sand."Goodbye, child," her fading voice echoed softly, a final whisper that seemed to linger in the very depths of my soul. "May your path be one of strength and power..."~~A/N: Don't ask any question unless you are confused about something or I didn't explain anything properly. Anyway vote for the chapter if you enjoyed it.PEACE OUT~