Chapter 5: The Three Doors

POV: Sam Verninne

"Grandpa, what are you doing here?" I asked my grandfather, Jin, who was my father's father. He held a powerful position as a 9th Circle mage in Arcane, known for his cunning and shrewdness in foreign trade and negotiations.

"I'm just enjoying some bagels," he replied, his mouth full. Despite his seemingly carefree attitude, I knew he was always calculating and observant.

It had been three days since his arrival in Eiyu, and I couldn't help but feel frustrated by his lack of action. We were dealing with a killer on the loose, after all.

Meanwhile, another person in the room, my other grandfather Anos, usually more level-headed, seemed aloof and disengaged.

"Have you found any leads on the killer?" I asked him, hoping for some information. He lazily glanced at me before responding, "No, this person is quite elusive. We haven't been able to find any clues."

I couldn't help but think that they both could have put in more effort. They seemed to be slacking off, but I understood that locating someone who didn't possess mana, like us, would be challenging. Our ability to perceive energy was limited to mana, unlike other types of energy.

For instance, vampires emitted their own unique energy, called "Vampire Energy," which we couldn't detect. Mana was our primary focus.

"Heh, you might have found something if you actually tried," my grandpa Jin remarked, trying to provoke my other grandfather, Anos.

"Is that so?" Anos smirked in response, not taking the bait.

My grandfathers' banter was a reminder of why it was best to keep them apart. They were like children when they were together.

"The city is deserted, and it's been a long time since I've seen a situation like this," my mother chimed in, looking out the window at the empty streets and the eerily quiet day.

"Kinley is the same; we've put the Mage cities on lockdown," Anos added, checking his watch.

"Sam, your awakening is still an hour away, right?" he asked me.

"Yes," I confirmed.

In an hour, I would undergo my awakening, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and curiosity. I wondered what the ceremony would be like, though I hadn't seen or heard anything about it. I hoped it wouldn't involve anything too complicated.

"Curious about what will happen, aren't you?" my grandpa Jin remarked, smiling. I wanted to know everything about the awakening process, but I hoped it would be straightforward.

"Just wait patiently. When the time comes, you'll know," he assured me. Sometimes, simplicity was the best approach.

Thirty minutes passed, and I found myself in a meditative position. I began to sense something, a heightened awareness filling my senses.

There were many thoughts swirling in my mind—my awakening, the killer on the loose, and my family, among other things.

Speaking of family, there were six of us present in the room—my mother, aunt, both of my grandfathers, my grandmother Yuu, and my other grandmother Jenna. Two heroes and two mages stood guard outside the house, ensuring our safety.

My grandmothers had a close relationship, unlike my grandfathers, who often clashed. We were still in Hero Country, and due to the lockdown, no one could enter or leave until the killer was caught.

I wondered what the killer's motive was. Were they doing this for fun? One thing I couldn't comprehend was how they killed their victims without spilling any blood. The bodies were mutilated, which seemed impossible without the means to do so.

"Right, Grandpa?" I voiced my thoughts but received only silence in response.

I opened my eyes and found myself in an unfamiliar place. Surprisingly, I didn't panic; I had learned to control my emotions in such situations. I assumed this was part of my awakening.

As I stood up, I realized it was an expansive white space. It felt like floating in outer space, except the environment was pure white instead of dark like true outer space.

"What am I supposed to do here? Farm?" I mused aloud, growing bored after nearly two hours. I closed my eyes, and suddenly, my senses heightened.

I tried to perceive something, anything. And to my surprise, I sensed a presence and walked toward the pulsing energy.

After about fifteen minutes, I discovered it—a ball of energy floating in the air. It was about the size of a softball, emitting a light blue color and a mixture of mana and another form of energy.

Could this ball of energy be responsible for the pulse I felt? I reached out to touch it, and it felt warm and strangely familiar.

Then it dawned on me—this was my Sea of Consciousness. It explained my emotional control, the warmth, and the sensation of air brushing against me. The Sea of Consciousness embodied my life and soul, influenced by my elemental affinities. I could sense wind and fire energy because those were my affinities.

Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind swept over me. It felt different from before, stronger and more forceful. I spun around to find the source, and there they were—doors. Not just one, but three doors in different colors: blue, red, and gold.

I was drawn to the golden door, its intricate patterns and runes captivating. However, despite my efforts, I couldn't open it. Frustrated, I gave up.

Next, I turned my attention to the red door. It stood out with its depiction of a Western dragon, reminiscent of a door from the movie "Insidious."

"Quite curious, aren't you?" a rugged voice echoed in my ears, though I couldn't locate its source.

"Are you looking for me?" the voice continued.

"Yes, it's unsettling to hear a voice in your head, especially a man's," I replied.

The voice sighed, and I found myself face-to-face with a figure that resembled me, but older, more muscular, and with scarlet hair and brown eyes.

"I am Draig Rozar, the King of Dragons," he announced.

I found it hard to believe, but I had to show respect. Dragons were one of the most powerful races, equivalent to vampires and beastkin.

"Are you serious?" I asked politely.

"Yes," he responded, and his irritation was evident as he transformed his hands into claws.

"Forgive my previous actions, Your Highness," I quickly apologized, bowing respectfully.

"Drop the formalities and just call me Draig," he instructed.

"Draig, may I ask why you are in my Sea of Consciousness?" I inquired, maintaining a respectful tone.

"That's not important," he dismissed my question. "You can't open the golden door at the moment. As for the red door, you'll need to reach level 100."

Level 100? What was he talking about? I was confused, but I didn't want to appear disrespectful or incredulous. Could he be serious?

"I want you to become stronger as soon as possible," he stated with a serious expression.

Stronger than anyone in my world of magic? The idea left me in disbelief.

Before I could respond, the scene faded, and I

felt myself waking up.

But before my eyes closed, I caught a glimpse of a screen appearing before me, accompanied by a ding

sound.

"I don't have much time, but get stronger. We will meet again soon. Take care of her for me," Draig's voice echoed as it faded away.

Her? Who was he referring to? I didn't want to get involved with anyone right now.

I received no further response.

...

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