Diversion

Those emerald-colored eyes widened, tears welled up, and Alorian stood frozen in spot - the overwhelming love of his parents was too much for him to bear. It touched him so deeply that even Master Vedana was taken aback, but he regained his composure a second later.

"You've succeeded, child," the old man said, with a warm smile. "I can feel your Prana is refined once again."

Still feeling disoriented, Alorian turned towards the master and did not realize that he had returned to the world. Stuttered over his words, Alorian spoke, "M-Master... I met them, my father and mother."

"These memories, memories I couldn't recall at all," Alorian continued with a hoarse voice, his lips quivering as he held back tears. "I never recognized how much they loved me."

"Especially my father," he then bowed, his sobs breaking the silence of the cold night. "The visions I've faced all this time didn't reflect my father at all."

"These visions were a reflection of my fears, the fantasies I created about the remorse that continued to torment me," he covered his face with both hands, wiping away the fluid that still flowed to his cheeks. "He never once regretted if I failed the trial. He never regretted me as his child."

Master Vedana chose to allow the child to come to terms with the recent situation, offering a smile as the sun's light started to emerge from the eastern horizon, illuminating the world in all its grandeur. He then took a deep breath and rose to his feet.

"Let's return," the elder suggested, causing Alorian to turn around as the tears subsided. "We should have breakfast."

The child tried to sweeten his mood, following Master Vedana, and soon stepped from one stone to another until they reached the shore. The waterfall wasn't too far from the school, and even on foot, they would arrive at the school before the meal began.

Within the expansive courtyard, students began to roam, collectively deciding to head toward the luxurious wooden hall. Alorian, still absorbed in contemplation of the vivid remembrance, was taken aback when Isvhara tapped his right shoulder.

"What are you lost in thought about? Althea is here!" exclaimed the black-haired woman with her hair tied back, swaying as she moved.

Althea, upon hearing this, blushed and stood beside Isvhara. "Huh? Why me?"

Alorian, with the vision fresh in his mind, halted and focused his attention on Althea, who stood quietly alongside Isvhara. In a soft, almost imperceptible voice, he expressed, "Althea... I'm thankful."

For the second time, Althea found herself baffled by Alorian's words. Her eyes widened, and her cheeks continued to radiate a red hue as she struggled to respond, "W-What do you mean?"

Isvhara, sensing there might be something more to their relationship, couldn't help but sport an even broader smile. "Oh, is there something happened between you two?"

Althea caught off guard and flustered beyond imagination, hurriedly clarified to her friend, "It's not what you think, Isvhara!"

"Thanks to you, I could muster the courage to conquer my fears," Alorian continued, his face beaming with elation. His newfound happiness left both women surprised, especially Althea, who was witnessing a side of him she had never seen before - a stark contrast to their initial encounter.

"Alright, spill the beans, you two!" Isvhara interrupted, bringing Alorian back from his trance-like state, where he had been fixated on Althea.

"Oh, sis, come on, there is nothing to be concerned about," Alorian stepped forward and attempted to evade the barrage of questions Isvhara seemed poised to unleash. "Let's eat!"

"He acting all strange," Isvhara whispered and teased, leaning in closer to Althea's ear. "Don't you think he might have a crush on you?"

"What?" Althea exclaimed and turned to Isvhara, who burst into laughter at Althea's tomato-like complexion. "Isvhara! You're embarrassing me!"

Without further ado, Isvhara took Althea's hand and pulled her inside the hall, which was already bustling with students eager to fulfill their hunger and replenish their fuel before a day of education. Although they find it difficult to locate Alorian, Althea notices him and approaches him for breakfast together.

As Alorian continued his relentless pursuit of knowledge, the pressure of mastering all he needed for the upcoming trials weighed heavily on his shoulders. Each passing day brought a barrage of new information, and he dedicated himself to absorbing it all, even though success was far from guaranteed.

His daily routine now revolved around stacks of books, and he spent countless hours within the hushed sanctuary of the library. The voluminous tomes lay in neat rows around him, their contents often a maze of complexity that defied easy understanding. Yet, during his fervent studies, Alorian stumbled upon a revelation that captivated his mind.

Hidden within the pages of an ancient text, he discovered the concept of human counterparts from various species. These beings existed to harmonize the intricate diversion of life, each contributing a unique role. And at the apex of this splendid design stood humans, the ultimate embodiment of this cosmic balance.

The Alvar, the first of these species, were revered for their relentless ideal of knowledge. Their civilization was the wellspring of a diverse collection of information, groundbreaking discoveries, and impenetrable mystical insights. Endowed with an abundant reserve of Prana, they stood out for their talent of magic, earning them the distinction of being known as magical superiors.

In contrast, the Delvar, the second species, provided the vital strength required to materialize the visions of civilization-building that the Alvar conceived. They were known for their impressive physical prowess and their intention to construct their homes underground, as the surface was inhabited by the Alvar.

Lastly, there were the Hilvar, the humans, occupying the final link in this chain of species. They embodied the flawless equilibrium between the intellect of the Alvar and the material abilities of the Delvar. The Hilvar has the advantage of somewhat rapid reproduction compared to their counterparts, but their lives were marked by shorter lifespans.

There were times when these species coexisted harmoniously, working together to advance their shared civilization. Yet, there were also periods marked by division and conflict, which led to devastating wars. These wars pushed both the Alvar and Delvar to the brink of extinction due to the formidable accordance of the Hilvar. With their superior numbers, humans almost annihilated their counterparts.

Alorian buried his head in his folded arms on the table, utterly exhausted, and his head felt incredibly heavy. To make matters worse, night had fallen, and the soft lantern light cast a drowsy haze over his weary eyes.

"Shouldn't you take a break?" a voice made Alorian lift his head and turn to the source to find Althea beside him, cradling a thick book against her chest. "You've been here after breakfast, you know?"

Alorian, with a disheveled face and hair, could offer an awkward smile before letting out a chuckle. "What can I do? The trials are held two months ahead."

"I understand," she took out a chair next to Alorian and sat down, opening the pages of her book. "But isn't it counterproductive if your exhaustion hinders your comprehension?"

What Althea had said held true. Almost none of the recent knowledge he had read had registered in his mind. In fact, he felt like he was scanning words on a page without understanding their meaning. The exhaustion was rendering Alorian unable to gain anything significant, only diminishing his time.

"You're right; I should take care of my well-being before the trials," Alorian closed his book and placed it on top of the others. "Oh, Althea, what brings you here?"

"Just searching for some books on alchemy," Althea exclaimed, her expression brightening suddenly. "I've been concocting some elixir with Master Indari these days." She then opened a small bag slung over her right shoulder and drew something out. "This one is suitable for you."

In her hand, Althea held a reddish tonic, causing Alorian to feel nervous. "What is that? It seems dangerous."

"Not at all! I've tried it, and its effects are quite remarkable!" She opened Alorian's palm and placed the mixture in it. "This elixir is meant to replenish your stamina."

Still uncertain, Alorian responded with hesitance. "T-Thank you."

"And the reason I came here is that I want to ask you something," Althea said and lowered her head. "About the case in front of the hall."

Alorian fell silent for a moment, torn about whether to reveal this to Althea or not. However, it didn't take long for him to respond, "You know that my vision showed my father tried to kill me, right?"

Althea skimmed at Alorian, growing more intrigued, then nodded in response. Alorian continued, "I was training with Master Vedana by the waterfall. I couldn't overcome my fear until you came."

"For some reason when I heard your voice, knowing that someone was beside me, made me feel relaxed." Alorian unintentionally left Althea frozen in the spot. "At that moment, I realized... maybe you're more than someone who appears without reason."

"So, thank you so much, Althea," Alorian turned towards her, though Althea still couldn't bring herself to face him. "It means a lot to me."

"Also... since we're having this moment," Alorian continued, his initial hesitation evident as he swallowed hard. "I wanted to know if you have someone special in your life. Besides your mother, of course."

The question caught Althea so off guard that she turned back to Alorian, her demeanor flushed with embarrassment. She stammered, unable to find her voice. Blushing all complexion, she whispered, "No, I don't."