Chapter 56: Unveiling the Path

The world around me felt both familiar and foreign, as if the very ground beneath my feet had shifted and yet remained the same. The power that had awakened within me swirled through my veins, a constant, pulsing reminder of the choice I had made. I could feel it in the air, the whisper of ancient forces and unseen eyes watching, waiting. It was as if the universe itself had held its breath, anticipating the moment of my decision. Now, that moment had passed, and the path ahead lay before me, illuminated in ways I hadn't expected.

The figure before me, the one who had guided me to this point, stood still as the shadows around them ebbed and flowed like a living thing. They hadn't moved a muscle since I made my choice. Only their eyes—those brilliant golden eyes—betrayed any emotion.

"Now that you've chosen," the figure spoke, their voice calm but imbued with an unshakable certainty, "the true test begins. You cannot undo what has been set into motion. You are the last of the Arisen, Aria Velanova. The world will either bow before you, or it will break."

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the tightness in my chest. The weight of their words felt suffocating, but I couldn't ignore them. The Arisen were not merely a legacy; they were a force—ancient and relentless.

I took a slow breath, gathering my resolve, and turned my gaze back to the figure. "And what now? What do I need to do?"

The figure's smile was almost imperceptible. It wasn't one of mockery or malice; rather, it was like the smile of someone who had long anticipated the moment of understanding.

"You will learn," they said simply, their voice echoing like a distant promise. "You will learn to wield the power that now courses through your blood. But more than that, you will learn the history of your kind—of the Arisen. You will learn the origins of this world, of the ancient kingdoms that once ruled over it, and the beings who shaped its fate. You will learn of the RX-Rank."

I narrowed my eyes, my pulse quickening. "RX-Rank? What's that?"

The figure's golden eyes glimmered with a flicker of amusement, as if I had asked a question they'd expected all along.

"RX-Rank," they explained slowly, their voice taking on a deeper tone, "is the highest classification of power in this world. It is reserved for those whose abilities transcend the known limits of magic and strength. Those who attain RX-Rank are the ones who can reshape reality itself, bending the very fabric of existence to their will. It is the domain of gods and demigods—beings who stand above all others."

I felt the weight of their words settle into my chest, like an anchor sinking into the deepest part of me. My thoughts raced. RX-Rank was beyond even the SSS-Rank, the highest known tier for most beings. But even as I absorbed this new knowledge, a sense of unease crept over me.

"But... if RX-Rank is the highest... then who—" I paused, catching myself. "Who is the strongest being in the world?"

The figure took a step closer, their cloak swirling with each movement, as if the shadows themselves were tethered to them. They raised their hand, a single finger lifted, pointing toward the sky, where the stars had started to twinkle above us.

"The strongest being in the world," they said, "is not a king or a queen. It is not an Arisen. The strongest being in existence is your mother, Gaia—the Goddess of Nature. She stands above even the RX-Rank, existing in a realm beyond the comprehension of mortal beings. She is an EX-Rank."

I stood frozen for a moment, digesting their words. Gaia. My mother. The name, the image of her, flashed through my mind like a fleeting memory, even though I knew I had never truly known her.

"EX-Rank?" I repeated, my voice soft. "What does that mean?"

The figure's gaze softened, as if they understood the weight of what they were telling me.

"EX-Rank is beyond all others," they said with quiet reverence. "It is a rank that only a being who has transcended all forms of existence can attain. Gaia, as the Goddess of Nature, is in a class of her own. She is the mother of life, the creator of all that grows and blooms. There is no force greater than hers, and there is no being who can challenge her authority."

I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of this revelation. My mother. The Goddess of Nature. She was more powerful than anyone, anything. But what did that mean for me? What was my place in all of this?

The figure seemed to sense my confusion and continued, "You are the product of that power, Aria. You are the last of the Arisen, and your power is a reflection of her strength. But there is something more. The world you live in—the world of kingdoms, races, magic—was shaped by beings like Gaia and the Arisen. The history of this world is not a simple tale of rulers and conquests. It is a story of gods, demons, and the eternal balance of power."

I felt the stirring of something deep within me, something ancient. The world had never been simple, had it? I had always thought of it as a collection of different races, fighting, struggling for dominance. But now, with these new revelations, I understood that there were far greater forces at play, forces I couldn't even begin to comprehend.

The figure lowered their hand, the golden light in their eyes dimming for a moment. "Your journey, Aria, will take you through this history. You must learn of the Arisen's rise and fall. You must understand the alliances and the betrayals that shaped this world. You must study the past to know how to survive the future."

I nodded, though uncertainty gnawed at me. "Where do I begin?"

"First," the figure said, "you must go to the Academy."

"The Academy?" I repeated, unsure if I had heard them right. "What's that?"

"The Academy," the figure explained, "is the place where all races—elves, humans, demons, dragons—come together to learn, to grow. It is the greatest school of magic and history in all the realms. Even commoners with potential are accepted, as long as they have talent. But it is also a place where royal children, like you, are trained in the arts of leadership, combat, and magic."

I felt a flicker of surprise. "But... I don't need training. I'm already strong."

The figure's smile was faint but knowing. "You are strong, yes. But the power of the Arisen is not the same as the power of a ruler. The Academy will teach you more than magic. It will teach you how to command, how to lead. It will teach you what it truly means to wield your power."

I stood in silence, processing everything they had told me. There was so much to absorb, so much to understand. And yet, there was a part of me that felt a strange sense of purpose stirring within me.

The figure raised their hand, a final gesture before turning to leave. "Go, Aria Velanova. Your path awaits you at the Academy. The fate of the Arisen—and of this world—rests in your hands."

And with that, the figure dissolved into the shadows, leaving me standing alone, with the weight of the world and my destiny pressing heavily upon my shoulders.

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