Another Test!

Archie tried to push harder, but the door just would not budge. At this point, he was extremely annoyed with this realm and his circumstances of continuously receiving obstacles after another.

Archie faced the door with concentration and tried to push the door with brute force.

A few moments later, he gave up, turned around and was ready to leave this place.

The feeling of disheartenedness, abandoned and defeat crept into his mind.

When he attempted to leave, a force prevented him from doing so.

Archie yelled, "What is the meaning of this?"

The hallway was silent. He knew now that the only way for him to go was through the golden door.

A slight breeze travelled through his right cheek and landed on his shoulder, whispering, "Archie."

"Sid?"

"Archie, you need to go through the golden door."

"How? Its lock."

"It isn't. This door requires spiritual energy to open. The more physical force you exert on the door, the more it stays put.

Because this door reflects the amount of physical energy you have and returns it to you fivefold."

"What? What kind of place is this?"

"This is Astral, a place where the God's Folk gathered and lived as a community in harmony, secluded away from the evils and dark creatures, like the phantoms and wraiths.

The high priest just invited you to dine in the Academy Hall. This building is the academy for you to learn how to control your mana."

Archie's anger subsided a little upon listening to Sid's explanation.

"Aurelia could have mentioned it."

"She was just following orders, because they cannot just recruit or invite anyone into Astral."

"So, when did she abandon me at the cliff?"

"It was the preliminary filtering defense mechanism of this place, to make sure not only the being that enters has mana, but also has light mana."

"Light mana?"

"Well, mana is neutral; it is the intention of using the mana that determines if you use light or dark."

"Sid, this is the longest you have ever spoken to me."

"Indeed, because I am one of the founders of this place, and my astral form manifests more concretely here than anywhere else you have been. You also became more powerful, so it helps in the manifestation."

"Tell me, Sid, why was I being pulled into this realm?"

"I think the high priest can answer that. I would say this; it has something to do with the watch you are wearing."

Archie stared at the watch that his grandfather gave him, and it gleamed with gold that he had never noticed before.

He mistook it for an antique heirloom that his grandfather had left behind all this time.

Then an ethereal form of Sid manifested on his shoulders, small and transparent, like a guardian angel.

"Use the watch and channel your mana into it to open the door. You have mana within you, but this watch helps you control it."

Archie took a deep breath and concentrated on the feeling he had when he created the mana cyclone.

His emotions were overwhelmed and filled with negativity and destruction. Then he heard Sid's whispers in his ears:

"Let go of the emotions and embrace the energy within you."

Archie tried to let go of the anger and frustration he had boiling in him. He was confused and lost, but he had a hunch about getting the right answers that he was seeking and it was beyond the door.

He imagined himself opening the golden door with ease and walking straight through. His palms rested on the doors, filled with anticipation and wonder. He made a mental note to keep this energy and channel it into the door. 

A quick flashback occurred once more, continuing the interaction with his mother on the bed, with him reading a bedtime story.

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"But not all human beings are evil. Some were extremely loyal and devoted to the Savior.

For a thousand years, peace was maintained on the lands as the four races lived together in harmony.

However, darkness grew and slowly began to pollute the human race with the seven vices, especially pride, anger, greed, envy and lust.

Human beings who, under the mentee and guardianship of the elves, phoenixes and dwarves, began to despise these races due to envy for power and immortality.

They tried experimenting with ways to gain power quickly and the sound of their greed echoed into the netherworld.

Samael, one of the seven devils, responded to the cries of the humans and impersonated himself as the angel of light. He thought humans should scheme against the elves and phoenixes.

He bestowed upon them the abilities and immortality that the God of Light and Order had not.

The humans went berserk and began to transform into dark creatures. Some humans became vampires and were creatures. 

Their powers of immortality from Samael transformed them into chaotic beings that once again plagued the realm of Elysium.

Not all humans were against the other race. The ones that stayed to protect them battled against the dark creatures that had fallen into the temptation of Samael. Even though they are immortal, they are not invulnerable.

The humans that were loyal and devoted were secretly bestowed the power by wielding a timepiece that cast the dark creatures away into the far west of the realm. But the aftermath had taken a toll on them as their numbers dwindled quickly.

The ANU sanctuary was entirely destroyed and only dark magic lingered upon the lands.

After the battle, the God of Light and Order created a new realm in between Elysium and the Netherworld called the Middle Realm, also known as Earth.

There, the humans were separated from the three races and banished to Earth. Their memories of Elysium were wiped off and what once were legends and myths told by human beings during bedtime stories remained until this day."

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"Finally, you managed to open the Golden Door. Welcome, Archibald."

Archie was released from his reverie as he entered the dining hall. There was a group of people sitting around the rectangular table.

"Welcome to the council of Astral." Athan Blaise sat at the middle with the rest of the council members, all facing Archie expectantly.