. . .
Count Zacries' ResidenceWednesday Morning, July 25th, 2028
Cedric stretched, gazing at the bright morning sky. After cleaning himself and getting ready, he descended the stairs from his room at Count Zacries' residence.
At the kitchen table, Chloe was already waiting for him with a warm cup of tea and steaming toast, the aroma of butter and honey filling the air.
"Have you had breakfast?" Chloe asked with a gentle smile, sweeping a strand of hair behind her ear.
Cedric shook his head slowly. "Not yet. Actually, I plan to go straight to the city library this morning." There was a hint of urgency in his voice, though he tried to hide it.
Chloe raised an eyebrow, looking a little playful. "The city library? That's unusual. Something you want to read, Mr. Bookworm?"
Cedric gave a small smile, slowly sipping his warm tea. "No. I just want to find some information about something." He couldn't explain to Chloe about the monument, about his dream, or about the mysterious figure who saved him. Those secrets were still too heavy to share.
Chloe chuckled softly, understanding that Cedric indeed had a fondness for reading. "All right, be careful on your way."
After saying goodbye, Cedric stepped out and looked at Astranvale's streets, which were beginning to bustle. Vehicles passed by, and the sounds of the city filled the air. His destination was clear: the city's main library. Since the incident at the Aurevian Astravale Monument last night, his mind had been filled with unceasing curiosity. Although the face of his savior was still blurry, and he didn't know who he was, Cedric felt he had to find out what exactly happened there and what it all meant.
. . .
Eingard Library, Astranvale City Center
The main library in Astranvale towered in the distance, its walls filled with ancient, mysterious carvings. The magnificent building was clad in clean white marble with massive towering pillars, reflecting the grandeur of a seemingly eternal past era. Several unfamiliar symbols were carved above the entrance arch, emanating an aura of mystery that seemed to call anyone to uncover its secrets. Cedric stepped inside, greeted by the soft creak of the wooden floor and the distinct scent of old paper wafting through the air, as if holding countless traces of history within its millions of pages.
Ivy floated lightly beside him, her small eyes gleaming as she looked at the neatly arranged rows of books.
"What is this place?" Ivy asked, observing her surroundings with great curiosity. Cedric nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over the rows of books on the top shelves, his eyes quickly scanning titles. "The main library. If there's any record of the Aurevian Astravale Monument, it must be here. This is the largest library in the city."
They began to walk down aisle after aisle, checking the faded titles etched on the spines of the books. Ivy flew low, examining the gaps in the shelves unreachable by Cedric, looking for signs or symbols that might be relevant.
As Cedric's hand touched the surface of an old, worn book cover, a cold sensation ran through his fingers. Ivy suddenly stopped in front of a book with a dark black cover and a mysterious silver carving in the middle, as if an invisible attraction bound her.
"Hey, look at this," Ivy exclaimed, pointing to the book with her small wing.
Cedric approached and pulled it from the shelf. Its cover felt cold in his hand, and when he opened its first page, an unfamiliar word was clearly displayed, written in beautiful ancient calligraphy: Rhovalyre.
"Rhovalyre? What is that?" Cedric muttered, trying to spell the word. Ivy stared intently at the word, her small eyes blinking. "This word... it feels familiar," she murmured softly, her voice a little mumbled. "There's something strange about it. Like... a hidden memory."
Cedric leafed through page after page, but there was no further explanation about Rhovalyre besides strange, incomprehensible symbols. Some symbols even seemed to move slowly on the paper's surface, as if alive, emanating a mysterious aura.
"This isn't helping," Cedric closed the book in disappointment, letting out a long sigh. He looked at Ivy who was still gazing at the book's title with a confused expression. "What's wrong, Ivy?"
"I don't know, Cedric," Ivy shook her head slowly, but remained fixated on the book's title. "This strange feeling... I can't explain it."
Slightly disappointed, Cedric returned the book to its place and left the library. His steps felt heavy; his search had yielded no significant results, only adding new mysteries. The monument remained a puzzling enigma, and the word Rhovalyre only added new, unsolved questions.
As he walked home, dusk began to blanket the city, turning the streets dim. Cedric suddenly stopped. At the end of the dimly lit street, a familiar shadow stood, a presence that caught his attention and stirred his senses. Its tall, sturdy body was enveloped in a trailing grey-black cloak, staring straight at Cedric. There was something familiar about the silhouette, though he couldn't recall the details of its face or features, only a strong sense of deja vu. However, before his steps reached where the figure stood, a thin mist enveloped its surroundings and the figure vanished without a trace, like an illusion swallowed by the wind.
"Who exactly was he...?" Cedric muttered softly, his gaze fixed on the empty spot. Ivy, now floating beside him, also fell silent, as if understanding the question but choosing to remain quiet, keeping a secret.
In the following days, Cedric tried to delve deeper into information regarding Rhovalyre. He asked several old librarians, searched digital archives, and even tried to find it in ancient encyclopedias at Lord Zacries' residence. However, all his efforts were in vain. There were no records, no books, no information that could help him understand the word. Even Ivy, after the incident at the library, never brought it up again, as if there was an invisible boundary preventing her.
Besides the mystery of Rhovalyre and the mysterious figure, Cedric also tried to understand the meaning of his Key, Fluxbringer. He often spent time in his room, or in a corner of Count Zacries' private library, with his notebook full of scribbles. There, he made notes filled with complex formulas, strange diagrams, and wild hypotheses, trying to speculate about the meaning of the name and its relation to his abilities.
Fluxbringer. The word continued to echo in his mind. He broke it down: "Flux" meaning flow, change, or transformation, and "Bringer" meaning bearer or creator. Was his Key related to changing the flow of Neva, or even changing destiny itself? He wrote down theoretical equations about how Neva energy could be manipulated, not just emitted, but transformed in shape, speed, or even essence. Cedric believed in the power of his analysis, and he wouldn't stop until he found a rational and definitive answer.
After school, Cedric decided to practice his abilities. He knew he couldn't rely solely on luck or unexpected interventions like at the monument. He had to master the Neva within him, understanding every flow and resonance. In a hidden spot on the outskirts of the city, a secluded area rarely frequented by people, he found a steep cliff overlooking a dense forest. It was there, accompanied by Ivy, that he began his strenuous training.
"Focus your Neva, Cedric," Ivy instructed, floating before him. "Feel the flow of light within you."
Cedric closed his eyes, focusing all his concentration. He imagined Neva as a river of light flowing through his veins, from his core to his fingertips. He extended his palm. Slowly, with a tremble, small lights began to appear, glowing softly as if dancing in the air, forming random patterns before disappearing. The energy felt warm and pleasant at first, but as he tried to control its flow, it became a challenge. He tried to form a stable ball of light, but often failed.
Sometimes, the Neva felt wild, exploding into erratic sparks that hit nearby trees, even almost burning dry leaves on the ground. Cedric coughed from the thin smoke that emerged from the small explosions, his breath ragged. Frustration began to creep in, but his determination was stronger. He fell to his knees several times, physically and mentally exhausted from concentrating energy he hadn't fully mastered. Every failure was a lesson. He observed, analyzed mistakes, and tried again with a different approach.
"Too much pressure," Ivy said once. "Or too little. Neva needs balance, Cedric."
Cedric nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I understand. It's like... trying to hold water. The harder you grasp, the more slips away."
The training lasted for hours, every afternoon after school. He continued trying to create stable balls of light, then attempting to manipulate them, changing their form into sparks, then into gusts of light. His muscles were stiff, his palms ached, and his mind was drained. But each time he managed to maintain the ball of light for a few seconds longer, or form it a little more perfectly, a faint smile appeared on his lips. He saw progress. He felt his Neva responding, slowly submitting to his will.
"You're starting to master it," Ivy praised, floating around him, her light flickering with delight. "Your Neva is getting stronger, my Deviant. Your perseverance is extraordinary." Cedric smiled faintly, feeling a little proud of himself for his progress.
He performed this training every day, without anyone knowing. Even Chloe, who was so close to him, was unaware of the secret of the power and the Viriant Cedric was hiding. For Cedric, every drop of sweat and every failure in training was an investment for the future. This was the first step to finding answers to all the mysteries surrounding him, a path he had to walk alone, to protect himself and those he cared for.
Because Cedric had managed to somewhat control his Neva flow and consistently create several light balls, he decided to give himself a small reward. He would go to the cafe he always visited, the cafe Chloe had recommended, where Chloe often spent time with her friends. It was the only cafe in the city that served coffee with a unique taste. Tomorrow afternoon, he would enjoy coffee and food there; he decided not to train.