"If I could just travel between earth and the void. All my problems would be solved."
He pictured the colorless cafeteria and the bland slop which he had consumed just the day before. Eating just before turning in for the night meant he still had time till the threat of starvation or dehydration was overwhelming.
However with the changes of the serum still affecting his body, it was fighting to recover itself. On top of that if the dilapidated wall of Androphera stood within his void.
That meant escaping the massive crater would be a very long and arduous journey.
This deduction helped him come to the conclusion that his only chance of survival, was to find a way to travel between the two realms.
"Maybe it's like breathing or making sounds with your voice. Something no one teaches you but your body knows how to do."
Callum closed his eyes and put his hands out in front of him. "Open."
He felt a slight tingling feeling in his hands and opened his eyes with hope. In front of him nothing has changed.
Callums mind started playing with different theories and ideas. Closing his eyes again, this time he tried imagining the two worlds colliding together. Still nothing happened.
"How do you work you damn thing" Callum was staring at his hands quizzically.
Then he came up with an idea, why not just go ask someone who already knows how to use their abilities.
With that thought he closed his eyes and began to focus on astral projection.
Rather than focusing on the strongest sensation this time, he focused on where the largest cluster of small ones were coming from.
Just like before he found the void pulling the massive chunk of land towards him. As intimidating as watching a landmass approach you could be.
It was also comforting in a strange way because it made Callum realize. He wasn't as alone as he first thought when waking within the empty chasm.
The cluster came closer until finally he floated at the entrance to the parliament building. A rampant mass of people stood there demanding answers from the Lord.
Panic consumed the masses as they had their entire world swapped out. The once blue sky and rolling clouds.
Sunsets and sunrises, the moon and the stars. All of it was gone. In the place of it all was a white expanse of nothingness.
The Lord stood at the top of the stairs leading into the building. Large columns of white marble supporting the grand entrance way in a Roman architecture aesthetic.
Lord Dextrus stood in the door way. His usual velvet, royal blue mantle draped down his back with the white fur collar meeting his long gold hair.
His blue gambasson cover a golden cuirass. His voice echoing over the panicked mass as he address the situation.
'I won't lie to you all, I am no wiser than any of you are as far as the new situation we're currently facing. However the one thing I know for certain is that humanity has survived this long. Not by being the most indomitable species but by being the one that continuously shows the most adaptability.'
'Even in these times of uncertainty, I have full faith that once again we will rise and survive.'
Despite the proud words of the Lord's announcement, the unrest of the crowd didn't change. Until the first person caught a glimpse of Callum.
Callum descended from the sky. His body gracefully afloat as he took place above the unsettled mass.
One person's pointing finger and shout of notice created a wave of attention. The crowd stared in awe.
With the abilities of the umbral realm, flying was not an ability out of reach for humanity anymore. Some possessed flight within their new skills.
Yet it was still uncommon enough of a sight to gather a mass of attention. Especially when doing so above a crowd of people in a frenzy from the upheaval of their homes.
Lord Dextrus was the first to speak.
"Callum Corseid, we figured this entire mess had something to do with your awakening. The guards told me about the scene of the black vapor pouring out of a cloud above your sleeping body."
With those words the crowds glances quickly shifted from that of admiring a potential savoir to disdain towards the cause of their problems.
The Lord drew his blade pointing it into the sky directly at Callum. A brilliant white light ignited across the the blade. Catching the attention of the crowd.
Not even half a second later the Lord was floating in the air with the blade inches from Callum's throat, he was leaning towards the stunned boy.
"Just play along." The Lord stepped back, keeping the blade out stretched. Half an inch from Callum's neck.
Lord Dextrus was a legend among the guards. Stories of how he brought down hordes of nightmares by himself.
A shining light among the hell scape of the initial invasion. He was known as the beacon of hope and Callum was given front row seating to the reason behind the name.
"Now I'll leave the decision to you, submit and come along quietly to answer my questions or answer now with your blood." A proud smirk lit across the man's face.
To a level head the theatrics seemed rash but to a Lord attempting to retain peace among a crowd of panic bordering on riot. It was the exact show of dominance that was necessary.
Callum's hands raised into the air. "I submit, I'm not here to fight."
Lord Dextrus's face turned serious. "Good, you should remember the interrogation room from when you first arrived from Androphera."
The Lord returned to his place a top the stairs in a flash of light once again. With that Callum began to pull the world towards him in the direction of Lord Dextrus.
Raphaelia stepped in behind the Lord and Callum. Answering the questions of the public and calming the rest of the crowd as the two made their way into the building.
Still awkwardly floating right above the ground, Callum did his best to move inconspicuously with his newfound powers.
"Just move the best you can" the Lord gazed at him with a knowing look.
"I can tell you're not really here. As a master of light, it's easy to tell you're just a projection."
They arrived in the interrogation room, the small well lit room with a table and chairs. Lord Dextrus stood on one side of the table while motioning to the other side for Callum to stand.
"So tell me what happened boy."
Callum went on to explain including the deal with Verotide. Lord Dextrus never asked any questions or even held any reactions.
He listened to the full story before finally responding.
'I see, so this is the void realm. We can use that to our advantage." Lord Dextrus looked at the ceiling. However Callum could tell his gaze sat far beyond it.
Lord Dextrus lowered his gaze back to meet the eyes of Callum.
"Let's start your ability training. The more you master, the more we can build the ideal world here." Intensity burned in the Lord's bright eyes.
"Follow me, I'll take you to the training grounds and have Raphaelia personally train you" Lord Dextrus gave a grin in Callum's direction.
"It won't be easy training under her. Are you ready?"
Callum steeled his resolve and nodded.
"Let's do this!"