Chapter 5 - Chapter Five: The In-Depthness of Commands and the Testing of Will

After facing the shadows in the floating arena, Cale Oren felt physically and mentally exhausted like never before, but he was more prepared. Acreon was no longer just a strange world, but he now saw it as a page he could read and learn from. Everything he had experienced thus far, every test and every opponent, was the first step to a greater understanding: the orders, the power, and the will that govern this world. Ensu Varys stood beside him at a new gate, smaller in size but radiating with powerful energy. "Kyle," she said seriously, "this place is the learning center, where you will begin to understand the nature of commands. Each command is linked to an aspect of yourself, and every misuse could lead to your breakdown or loss of control." Kyle nodded, feeling that this time would not just be a test of strength or confrontation, but rather a test of understanding, of awareness, and of his ability to distinguish between force and temptation. When he passed through the portal, he found himself in a huge library floating in space. The walls were made of books suspended in the air, each book pulsing with a different energy, each page glowing when his hand passed over it. The ground was transparent, moving like reflective water, and each step released waves of energy that interacted with his intentions and thoughts. "This place is called the Heart of Akryon," Insoo said as she pointed to the floating library, "Here you will learn orders, but not in the traditional way. Every book here holds a test, and each test is linked to an inner power that you will need later." Kyle approached one of the books and touched the cover. His hand felt a strange energy, as if the book was reading his thoughts before opening the pages. Suddenly, the pages of the book opened as if they were moving in the air, forming ever-changing light patterns. Strange sounds began to fill the place, sounds as if they were whispering the names of the four basic orders: light, shadow, sound, and thought. Ensu whispered: "Start learning, Kyle. You can only master it if you understand how to balance it with yourself. Every test here is related to your mind, feeling, and will. If you fail one of them, you will face a reflection of your inner self, and your opponent will be stronger than anything you have ever seen." Kyle felt a coldness run through his body, but he remembered everything he had learned from the first and second tests. He took a deep breath and focused on the energy within him. He tried to feel the mysterious pulse he had discovered since The Last Earth, and connect it with the energy lines surrounding the books. Suddenly, one of the books began to shine brighter, and a page of the book rose to form a small portal. From it came a being that was half metal and half pulsing light, but this time it had strange symbols glowing around its body. "Your first test here is to control it using only concentration," the being said in a voice that seemed to echo inside Kyle's head as well. "You will not be allowed to use blind force, but rather to think, to perceive, and to be fully aware of every movement you make." Kyle felt nervous, but he raised his hand towards the object. He remembered every moment of fear he lived, every test he went through, and every feeling of weakness he controlled. He tried to connect the energy within him with the internal pulse, and send signals of concentration towards the object. Suddenly, the being began moving at tremendous speed, attacking him from multiple angles, but it was no longer just a physical attack. Every movement of the object was a test of Kyle's intelligence, his concentration, his ability to predict. He had to read the movement pattern before it happened, and react in the right way. Kyle took a deep breath and began to analyze his every move. Use the energy within it to create a soft light grid that mimics the movements of the object, acting as a wall and a mirror at the same time. With each movement of the object, the network began to adapt, repelling attacks, and redirecting energy towards the object in a balanced manner. After minutes that seemed like hours, Kyle felt the power within his body begin to harmonize with the environment around him. It is no longer just a reaction, but a conscious interaction with everything around him. The creature began to slow down its movement, and was gradually retreating. Then, suddenly, one of the other books opened, and out came a mysterious shadow that seemed to be a reflection of Cale's past weakness and fears. "For every strength, you have a weakness, Kyle Oren," the shadow said, "If you don't face it, you will fall sooner or later." Kyle was terrified, but he remembered what he had learned: control fear, and turn it into strength. He focused on his feeling of fear, turned it into light within his body, and directed it toward the shadow. The energy exploded, and the shadow disappeared, but Cale felt that this was not just a test of strength, but a lesson about his inner awareness and understanding commands. Insoo approached him and said, "You passed the first test here, but this is just the beginning. Everything in this world is related to a part of you, and every test will reveal a side of yourself that you did not know. Control is not only by force, but by awareness, concentration, and full awareness." Kyle nodded, and felt a new feeling: Power does not mean complete control, but a deep understanding of what surrounds you and what is within you. Suddenly, a new portal appeared, larger and brighter, as if inviting him to move on to the next part of learning. Kyle felt that every test, every encounter, and every step he took, brought him closer to understanding the secret of the prophecy and the Thirteenth Order. With one step towards the portal, he took a deep breath, and knew that the journey within Acreon would not be easy, but it would be the path that would reveal to him his true power, the secrets of the Orders, and the greater truth about all the worlds. And so, as he learns the Orders and tests his will, Kyle Oren begins a new, more complex, and more challenging journey, where he will face a mix of friends and enemies, and realize for the first time that Acreon is not just a world, but a school for all that is to come on his journey between worlds.