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Chapter 16 - The Reflecting Abyss.

I'm willing, so please accept me, Master".

Alexander didn't stutter, his eyes didn't flinch, he knew what this meant, but more so, he knew just how valuable she was to him and his future, if he ever got to have one.

The sacrifice lady's expression stayed the same, her serious expression was supposed to show Alexander that the decision he was about to make, can not be taken back.

"If you become my disciple Alex, you must abandon your past, and embrace a future of sorcery and you must never accept another, even in my death".

Alexander went silent, he thought of the hell he went through for the last ten years of his life, he could barely remember his mother now.

But he knew one thing, she was the heartless woman that chose death over her own flesh and blood, Alexander wasn't sure if she was actually dead.

She simply walked into the hollow on his fifth birthday, that was the last and most clear memory of her that he has.

He remembered it like it was yesterday, it was a cold day, the light at the top of the tower went dim for some unknown reason, and like possessed by a wraith she left his bed side and walked out of the house.

He followed after her, but no matter how he screamed, pulled and punched her, she didn't react to him, it was like he didn't exist to her anymore.

He tried following her into the hollow, but old man Jerry swooped out of nowhere and pulled him back, the old man was stronger than he looked, Alexander couldn't escape his grip.

Ever since then, he's been surviving of hatred and rage, hatred for the city of new vale and its heartless people, rage for his mother, and that same rage is the driving force that brought him to where he is today.

And now she's telling him to abandon it all, Alexander wasn't sure if he could, he needed strength, not only to prove he was not a worthless devil child, but to explore the hollow, he was going to see her again, even if it's the last thing he ever does.

The sacrifice lady nodded lightly. "I see you've made your choice, that's fine as well… I'm sure whatever your reasons maybe…".

"I accept". Alexander suddenly interrupted.

"But there's one request I would like to make". He added.

The sacrifice lady shrugged indifferently. "You may speak".

He settled his beating heart, then raised his head. 

"If I one day surpass the present you, can I then be allowed to renege on my vow, not on the vow of taking another master after your death, but the promise of forgetting my past… there's something I need to do".

"Does that something involve you diving headfirst towards certain death?".

Alexander didn't know how to answer that question. So she continued.

"Alex, I can sense a powerful will inside you, but if you don't give yourself time to grow, you will die before reaching your full potential".

He smiled derisively at himself. "I don't have much of a choice. I can't live with myself if I don't even try".

The sacrifice lady went silent for several moments, then she spoke, her voice cold and brisk. "There are nine ranks to the path of sorcery, you are currently at rank one, I'm rank five and the monarchs are all beings at rank six…

Rank six is the limit of mortals, if a mortal somehow transcends it, then he will be considered a half deity, and beyond that is not within our present Comprehension".

Alexander nodded, the ancient system was easier to understand in comparison to the present world.

"If I survive this mystery and make it back, then I can be considered a Caller. Beyond that are eight other realms that determine the power of a pathseeker, and they are…

Seeker, Oracle, Watcher, Harbinger, Ruler, Paragon, Divine Venerable, and Transcendent…

She said she's rank five, so that will make her a Harbinger, back in the real world, a Harbinger is the master of a great clan and can not only stand on their own, but also freely explore the tower and hollow, they are not restricted by laws and governments . The only beings in New Vale powerful enough to threaten them are the Rulers, and one hasn't been seen in decades…

Although there have been rumours that those first generation clans still have them…

That means to be able to explore the hollow, I will have to become a Ruler, even the monarchs at this time are just Rulers, they haven't stepped into the path of divinity yet, rank seven or Paragon is an entirely different concept on its own".

Alexander bit his lower lip, and said. "Thank you for accepting me Master".

He started to arch his back, to show his respect, but she raised her hand.

"You don't have to bow, and don't call me Master, I don't like how it sounds".

Alexander was at a loss. "Then what should I call you? I still don't know your name".

The sacrifice lady blinked twice, Alexander had a point there, she rested her back on the cold wall, her hand on her chin. 

"I don't really like the name that woman gave me, so I guess this can be my opportunity to change it… why don't you call me Elaine, noo. Too girly…".

Alexander ignored the fact that a woman just said a girl's name was too girly and kept on waiting patiently.

"Yeah, I got it. Call me Elandor…".

Alexander didn't really think much of it, but the name seemed fitting, it even reminded him of a certain monarch, so he said reflexively.

"Elandor Veyne, the name is great".

Elandor's eyes opened wide. "Yeah, Elandor Veyne sounds perfect".

Alexander was taken aback, he only said it because it reminded him of the monarch of falsehood, Elandor Veyne, The Reflecting Abyss was a powerful monarch in his times history books, she stood toe to toe with the other monarchs of humanity, the missing fifth monarch.

"Could it be?".

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