Chapter. 4 - Awakening (1)

"What was that doing under our bed?" Zadius asked.

Xaryus simply shrugged his shoulders and began to flip through its pages, reading it as best as he could.

Strangely enough the sudden appearance of such a book had briefly distracted the two from the pain that had been deeply engraved on their hearts and minds

It explained the building blocks of sorcery, which was named mana, a resource that all living creatures possessed. Some are more adept in sensing the force than others.

The first few pages built and repeated the concept various times before it finally mentioned a sorcerer's 'Awakening', a process that all sorcerers go through.

Awakening opens up a sorcerer's senses, allowing them to finally sense their 'Spite'. Spite is the manifestation of a sorcerer's soul and offers them control over their mana and access to a set of unique abilities.

The book explained that sorcerers are often put into categories depending on the set of abilities their spite offers them. 

Sorcerers with spite centred on physical enhancement are called augmenters, those that are centred on ranged abilities or creating apparitions are called emitters, those that are used to heal and or boost others are called healers or abjurers.

Finally, sorcerers that possess abilities that fit into more than one of the above or simply fits into none - such as a spite specialized in production - are called jacks.

Xaryus continued, his curiosity plainly laid out on his face. Even Zadius welcomed the distraction, his focus glued to his brother's words.

He eventually began to read the part that explained common methods of awakening. There were three well known methods that had been primarily used since the end of the dusk war.

"What's the dusk war?" Xaryus asked.

"How should I know?" Zadius responded, shrugging his shoulders.

"..."

After a few moments, Xaryus continued reading. The book had only mentioned the dusk war but not what it had represented or entailed. Instead, it began to describe each method of awakening.

The first was the rarest and the most powerful, a natural awakening. It mentioned the phenomenon where a person would awaken or simply advance the state of their cores without any set criteria.

Oftentimes it came about through two processes, firstly, through a sort of enlightenment that sorcerers often experienced by deepening their knowledge of spite.

Lastly, there have been numerous records throughout history about sorcerers awakening or getting stronger through extreme stress, discomfort, pain, regret and anger.

The second method was the path to awakening. This method was the most commonly used method before and after the dusk war.

Put simply, if a person's compatibility with mana is ample enough, a sorcerer adept in willing their mana can surge it into the body of another and jump start their awakening.

Lastly, the third method was referred to as the phoenix method. This method was deemed the most difficult and wasn't practiced after the dusk war. Primarily because it was a method that relied solely on talent, a sorcerer had to merely rely on their intrinsic connection with nature and develop their spite by themselves.

"A method made for the talented and the talented alone…" the book stated.

Additionally, the process was extremely difficult and dangerous. If a sorcerer was to lose focus or attempt the method incorrectly various things could happen to them.

The book itself had dedicated two pages to side effects and consequences of performing the phoenix method incorrectly.

It described that the user must enter a state of complete focus. Sitting with their legs cross whilst bringing their fingertips together. It made a very strong emphasis on posture and the rate of breathing which should be extremely slow.

Whilst doing this, the sorcerer must focus inwardly and imagine a calm yet vast space. If the sorcerer is capable, they would eventually sense the mana around them and awaken…

…Or they would fail and wish they had never tried.

Xaryus continued to read and eventually quoted in disbelief "A method that works for one out of thousand sorcerers…"

There was a moment of silence as the two brothers pondered on the content of the book. One of them was filled with hope whilst the other was filled with a much more sinister emotion.

Zadius was willing to risk trying to awaken. Sorcerers were a commodity that always won the battle against time. Upon awakening they would be able to do jobs and fight monsters for money. 

Xaryus however, had approached the situation differently, "We should try and awaken and if we fail, it will just kill us anyways…" he thought, feeling a sense of comfort.

"Explain the method again." Zadius spoke, knocking away Xaryus' dark thoughts.

***

The rundown shack near the edge of the slums was rather quiet. But not because the boys were in deep mourning over their loss. 

Inside, Xaryus and Zadius were sitting near each in the position described under the phoenix method. Their posture was perfect and their breathing slow.

The hardest part was trying to keep their focus. As their eyes closed, and they breathed in and out, the horrors they had experienced just the day before had resurfaced in their minds.

What were they even doing?

Their mother had passed away and now they were trying to awaken?

Why were they trying so hard?

But they knew why, and it was very simple, they weren't living for themselves. Zadius had a younger brother to look after and Xaryus admired Zadius, so if he was willing to keep moving forward, Xaryus would do the same.

Eventually, any unnecessary thoughts faded, and the silence ensued. Seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours.

"...A calm yet vast space." Zadius thought.