Shattered Sanity

Once everyone had settled down and Garron felt every gaze land on him, he finally let out a deep breath and began his explanation.

”Since none of you little bastards have any knowledge about Aether and Ascension yet, let me first start by introducing the absolute basics,” Garron said calmly while pacing slowly across the frozen training grounds with both hands resting behind his back.

”All living things in this world survive because of Aether. The trees growing in the mountains survive because of Aether. The beasts roaming the forests survive because of Aether. Even your own bodies continue living because traces of Aether naturally exist inside every creature born into this world.”

The children listened quietly while freezing winds drifted across the field, carrying loose snow through the air around them.

”However,” Garron continued while narrowing his eyes slightly, ”possessing Aether and controlling Aether are two completely different things.”

His heavy boots pressed firmly against the frozen earth while he slowly raised two fingers towards the crowd.

”Just like how a man may spend his whole life standing beside a forge, yet that alone will never turn him into a blacksmith.

In the same way, ordinary people possess traces of Aether inside their bodies already, but unless they learn how to sense it, refine it, or shape it into true power, they can never become Ascendants.”

Riven listened carefully to every word leaving the instructor’s mouth, as the explanation naturally engraved itself into his memory without him needing to make any effort at all.

”A person capable of controlling Aether is known as an Ascendant,” Garron explained while stopping near one of the weapon racks standing nearby. ”And the reason Ascendants become feared throughout the world is because the moment somebody learns how to truly manipulate Aether, they stop being ordinary mortals.”

Several children unconsciously straightened their backs after hearing that.

”The source of an Ascendant’s strength comes from something called the Soul Vessel,” Garron continued while tapping the center of his chest lightly. ”Every single one of you already possesses one, though right now your vessels remain asleep and underdeveloped.”

His tone remained simple and direct while speaking.

”You can think of the Soul Vessel as an invisible container attached directly to your soul. The stronger your vessel becomes, the more Aether it can hold. And the more Aether you can hold, the stronger your body, spells, techniques, and abilities become.”

Riven felt his breathing gradually slow while listening.

Because for the first time in his life, power no longer sounded like some distant myth belonging only to old tribal legends and drunken stories shared beside fireplaces during winter nights.

It suddenly felt real.

”The first rank of Ascension is known as Ember,” Garron explained while raising one finger before the students. ”An Ember is somebody who has successfully awakened their Soul Vessel for the very first time.”

Many of the children stared toward him with wide eyes while he continued speaking.

”Once someone reaches Ember rank, they become capable of sensing the Aether flowing throughout the world around them.

Their physical strength increases. Their reflexes sharpen, while their bodies become healthier and more durable than ordinary humans.”

Garron pointed toward the distant forest line surrounding Ashfang Village.

”A trained Ember can kill several ordinary soldiers by themselves if the difference in equipment and experience is not too overwhelming.”

A visible wave of shock spread throughout the gathering, as even some of the well-dressed children standing among the legitimate members of the tribe looked visibly impressed after hearing that explanation.

”The second rank is called Spark,” Garron continued while raising a second finger. ”At this stage, the Soul Vessel stabilizes and begins storing much larger quantities of Aether.”

His voice carried steadily throughout the field.

”Spark Ascendants can strengthen their bodies to far greater levels while also beginning to use simple elemental techniques depending on the type of Aether they naturally resonate with.”

Several children immediately exchanged excited glances after hearing the mention of elemental powers.

”Some people resonate with Flame Aether. Others resonate with Frost, Storm, Earth, Light, Shadow, or even Void Aether in extremely rare cases.”

Riven silently repeated those names within his mind while genuine amazement slowly rose inside his chest.

Because even hearing those strange names spoken aloud made the world suddenly feel far larger and more mysterious than he had ever imagined before.

”The third rank is known as Flame,” Garron explained while raising a third finger before lowering his hand once more. ”Once somebody reaches that level, Aether begins circulating naturally throughout their body at all times.”

His eyes slowly swept across the gathered children.

”A Flame rank Ascendant can reinforce their muscles constantly during combat, move faster than ordinary people can properly react to, create defensive barriers using Aether, and unleash destructive elemental attacks capable of wiping out groups of enemies simultaneously.”

Several children visibly gasped after hearing that explanation.

Meanwhile, within the outcast group, many stared toward Garron with desperate attention shining within their eyes.

Because for children who had spent their entire lives powerless, the idea of obtaining strength capable of changing their fate felt almost intoxicating.

”I won’t talk about the stages above Flame, since that’s not important for now.

However, what I will tell you is that Aether does not only exist inside humans....

In this world, there are many objects and creatures capable of absorbing aether, and hence, we are not the only species that benefit from it.”

He explained, as he placed one hand against the wooden dummy while speaking.

”Certain ancient weapons gradually absorb Aether across hundreds of years and evolve into what are known as Aether Artifacts.

Strong artifacts can strengthen an Ascendant’s abilities, enhance spells, sharpen weapons beyond normal limits, or grant special powers depending on the type of artifact.”

Several children immediately turned toward the sword hanging at Garron’s waist.

The recruiter noticed their attention instantly.

”Yes,” Garron said calmly. ”This sword is an Aether Artifact.”

Excited whispers immediately spread throughout the gathering.

”At the same time, beasts capable of absorbing large amounts of Aether into their bodies gradually evolve into Aether Beasts,” Garron continued while his expression hardened slightly. ”Those creatures are far stronger, faster, and deadlier than ordinary animals.”

His gaze shifted briefly toward the distant forests surrounding the village.

”A weak Aether Beast can slaughter entire hunting groups if they are unprepared, while stronger ones become disasters capable of wiping out villages and destroying armies.”

Several children visibly paled after hearing that.

”Which is precisely why Ascendants exist in the first place,” Garron explained. ”Because without strength, humans would never survive in a world filled with creatures and powers like these.”

The field gradually fell silent once more while the children quietly absorbed the weight of everything they had just heard.

Finally, Garron stopped walking before turning toward them completely.

”I’m telling you all this because your goal from now onward is to reach the first rank and become an Ember,” he declared firmly. ”Once you become an Ember, you will be able to feel the Aether around you. Your body will become stronger and you will become capable of casting simple spells depending on your resonance type.”

His cold eyes slowly swept across the gathered students one final time.

”And to become an Ember, what you little bastards need to do is consume the special medicine I’ve prepared for you while training your bodies hard enough to properly absorb its effects,” Garron explained while slowly sweeping his gaze across the gathered children.

”Starting tomorrow, I’m going to run every last one of you into the ground until your bodies feel like they’re tearing themselves apart and no strength remains left inside your muscles.”

A faint grin slowly appeared across his face.

”And then when the sun rises the following morning, the entire process begins all over again.”

Many of the children visibly swallowed nervously after hearing those words while several among the weaker looking students already appeared uncomfortable merely imagining such brutal training.

However, while many around him shivered at the mere thought of tough training, Riven himself remained completely unfazed.

Because as long as there truly existed a path toward becoming stronger, he was prepared to endure any hardship necessary to walk it.

No matter how much suffering awaited him ahead.