Chapter 4: The Foundation
On the second morning, sunlight slipped through the window as if searching for something.
Arner woke from his sleep, his eyes carrying the weight of the world, and his face showing traces of excitement resisting rest.
He walked toward the bathroom, modern in design, with narrow walls that made the space feel small.
He brushed his teeth, washed his face, and showered.
Kard called from outside.
"Arner, hurry... hurry. Someone's about to explode from waiting."
Arner replied from inside.
"Alright, hold on... I'm almost done."
Kard thought to himself.
"Last night, when Father told us that story, I kept wondering.
If our power comes from Lord Ombrial, then where did Ombrial's power come from? And his wife Ivera's too?"
Arner opened the door.
"Done. I feel refreshed and alive."
He looked around and saw Kard's forehead wrinkled with frustration.
Kard shouted.
"Move! I'm going to explode! Go, go, go!"
Arner thought.
"Didn't he mean he was going to explode from impatience? But it looks like he meant it literally.
Anyway, I need to ask Uncle about the Patris test.
The past two days have filled me with more information than I've ever received.
But something about the governor's story feels off.
Karahard's motives don't make sense. They felt too familiar, like fantasy clichés."
—
Elsewhere...
In the gray skies of Korhait, a city wrapped in gloom, people felt uneasy and afraid.
A man appeared, clearly not ordinary, sitting on a throne that seemed to rise with authority. He spoke.
"I am Caprice, head of the Kotarwa Council. I declare myself the new owner and leader of the council, succeeding Lord Arbit, whose life was taken by illness.
He was one of the greatest figures in exposing the corrupt parties tied to the High Assembly, also known as the Parties of Obsession.
I hope we live up to the expectations of the late Arbit. Thank you."
His aide Dan said,
"Lord Caprice, congratulations. A first step toward salvation."
Caprice replied,
"Thank you. Yes, this is the first step toward what we want. And what we want can only be achieved through this decisive plan."
—
At the breakfast table
Uncle Datian said,
"Your question about the Patris test shows you understood what I said yesterday.
The Patris test is similar to military training. It lasts two years.
Six months of intense physical training and hardship.
Six months of mental and psychological development.
And one full year of cognitive formation."
Arner thought,
"Isn't that strange? The test relies more on mental ability than physical strength."
Datian continued,
"You probably haven't heard this before. It's exclusive to the Patris."
Arner asked,
"Patris? Is there a difference between that and the Baropatris?"
Datian nodded.
"Yes. Patris are those who passed the test but haven't absorbed the energy yet.
Baropatris are those who passed and successfully absorbed it."
"And what's the purpose of the test?" Arner asked.
Datian replied,
"Power requires understanding, and understanding requires intelligence.
This test measures your intellect and your absorption rate.
If your absorption exceeds 60%, you're eligible to enter the crystal fissures—six gates that allow you to absorb energy.
This is known as the Crystal Domain System."
Arner thought,
"That makes sense, but I still don't understand much."
Then he asked,
"How does it work?"
Datian thought,
"I'm tired of explaining. This boy is too curious. Why doesn't he ask Kard instead?"
Then he said aloud,
"The six crystal domains are located in the Castle of the Granting Governor.
Each gate represents a category, and each category has seven specialties. The seventh is the strongest.
From weakest to strongest, the categories are:
Stranger, Warrior, Killer, Truthful, King, and Noble."
Arner thought,
: "What a complex system. Lord Ombrial was truly a genius."
Datian added,
"Power is made of techniques you create, but its strength depends on your category and specialty."
Kard interrupted sarcastically,
"Father, Arner... we're at the breakfast table. That means you should be putting food in your mouth, not nonsense."
Datian ignored him.
"Let me explain it simply.
Imagine power as words thrown into your brain.
A huge number of words. You must arrange them into meaningful sentences and coherent texts."
Arner asked,
"And then?"
Datian replied,
"If you can organize them, you'll release smooth, controlled power.
But if you can't... Boom!. Your mind explodes.
That's what happens when someone tries to absorb power they're not qualified for—or from a category beyond their capacity."
Arner paused, then asked,
"So power depends only on intelligence and understanding?
And... what is the Castle of the Granting Governor?"
—°•°
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