Hearing Ethan's answer, Mystic Kaelen was inwardly shocked. *Without awakening his Soul Body, it should be impossible for someone of this rank to consciously use soul energy. What's happening here?*
"All three of you, come with me," Kaelen spoke, drawing their attention.
"I summoned you all here urgently because something big is coming. I don't know precisely what it will be at this moment of course.. but that doesn't mean it's any less true."
As they followed him down the stairs, Gwain asked, "And how do we know this?"
"The Fate Temple sensed a massive shift in the world's fate about a year ago," Kaelen explained, his voice grave. "Of course the Order Council has called for all ascendants to prepare for war. The threat could be a demonic invasion or an invasion from another race. Every time a major shift in fate happened in the past, millions of lives—both mortal and ascendants—were lost."
Soon they entered a wide dining hall dominated by a long stone table and matching chairs, all seemingly sculpted from the tower itself, creating a noble, ancient aesthetic. Kaelen took his seat at the head of the table and gestured for his disciples to sit.
"Tower Spirit, notify Ria that I require her presence on the fifth floor," he commanded.
"Right away, Master," responded a female voice, slightly stiff but clear.
Ethan and Alan were visibly shocked by the artificial intelligence.
"The Ascendant Tower has an artificial spirit integrated with its control system. It's a highly efficient assistant," Kaelen explained, quelling their curiosity.
A moment later, a female attendant named Ria entered. "Sir, you called for me?"
"Thank you, Ria. I'd like to have lunch with my students. Please make the necessary preparations."
"Right away, sir." She bowed and exited through a door at the end of the hall.
Once the door shut, Kaelen's expression turned serious again. "Gwain, Ethan, and Alan. Something is coming, I'm certain of this and as my students, your primary task, whatever happens, is to avoid losing your lives. The last prophecy, a century ago, predicted a 'Month of Blood.' In the following two years, we endured an invasion from the Blood Race and lost a quarter of our total human ascendant population. This time, the Fate Temple's prophecy is a single word: 'Blood.' Anything more was beyond their reach to scry without severe backlash."
The three disciples wore grim expressions. Ethan's mind raced. *The prophecy emerged a year ago—the exact time I arrived in this world. Leo said something significant would happen in two years. Is what I'm preparing for the same thing my master is warning us about?*
"I hope you can understand the gravity. If the Fate Temple's words were not to be trusted, I wouldn't have gathered you here," Kaelen continued, his fingers tapping a rhythmic echo on the stone table. "With your current strength, you have no chance of surviving the first wave of any war—with the exception of Gwain, who has reached the peak of Rank 4."
The statement made Ethan and Alan, especially the proud Alan, flush with embarrassment, but they knew it was the truth.
Kaelen continued. "I've acquired passes for you to stay in my tower temporarily. Remember that nothing here is free. My policy is this: each month, you have a five-book allowance from my personal library. At the end of each year, you must contribute a book of your own to my shelves. That is your only payment. The book must contain knowledge reflective of your rank."
He paused, letting that sink in. "Secondly, I planned to wait until you both acquired your first spells before helping you awaken your Elemental and Soul Bodies. But with the storm coming, the earlier, the better. You both have five days before we perform the awakening ritual.
The second and third floors will be your place of residence during your time here, and if you need anything from the Outer Order, you may use the teleportation circle on the first floor, but remember the cost is yours to bear."
Gwain finally spoke. "Do you have the materials prepared for their awakening, Sir? I would like to take care of Alan and assist him."
Kaelen nodded. "I was going to ask you regardless. The only change will be the blood essence: you will no longer use a Rank 2 Lightning Kirin blood essence. His bloodline density might be higher than I initially anticipated."
This shocked Gwain. Higher bloodline density meant a higher potential ceiling. "What rank of blood essence do you suggest, Sir?"
Kaelen thought for a moment, accessing the vast archives of his soul. He had been analyzing this since they descended. Both of his youngest students had broken free from a fraction of Gwain's will, a feat that was not trivial. "An early Rank 3 blood essence should be sufficient."
Gwain's voice rose in concern. "And if his bloodline can't refine it? Sir, do you truly believe his potential is high enough?"
Kaelen's gaze was unwavering. "Gwain, if he cannot defeat the weakened will of an early Rank 3 essence, then I might as well throw him into the coming battle now. If he cannot awaken his bloodline against this, how will he fight what is to come?" His eyes remained on Alan, who kept a brave face, though Ethan could see his clenched fists.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I got a little excited," Gwain conceded.
"It's fine. I'm glad you care for your junior. But if you want to protect him, don't coddle him." Kaelen turned to Alan. "Look at me, Alan Umbra." Alan who was a little spooked looked up at his master "Do you think you will lose to a measly fraction of a Rank 3's monster brute will?"
Alan tightened his fist and nodded. "I can handle it, Sir."
Kaelen smiled. "See, Gwain? 'This' is your junior's resolve." Gwain smiled as he nodded toward's Alan out of respect still listening to Kaelen speak. "Or have you forgotten who took the most risks for strength in his early days?"
Gwain smiled, embarrassed. Despite his youthful appearance, he was nearly eighty and considered his past recklessness a phase of youth.
"Alan, you needn't worry. You're not the only one receiving a challenge," Kaelen added. "Ethan will also be using higher-quality materials for his awakening, possibly even higher than yours."
Before Ethan could process this, the food arrived. A team of perfectly coordinated servants laid out the meal and swiftly departed, leaving only Ria.
"Sir, your meal is served," she said with a smile. "Do you require anything else before I return to my duties?"
"Ah, yes. Prepare the second and third floors for our guests. Arrange their control cards to connect with the Tower Spirit so they'll have access to the teleportation circle and my Library."
"Right away, Sir." Ria bowed and left.
"Thank you, Ria." Kaelen clapped his hands once. "Alright then. Ethan and Alan, welcome to the Inner Order and my tower. Let's eat, shall we?" He paused, noticing Alan's expression. "Uhhh, Alan, what's wrong?" It was the second time he'd seen the frown.
Caught, Alan smiled wryly, avoiding his master's gaze. "It's just... Sir, you've said our names in the same order twice now. First, it was 'Elder Gwain, Ethan, and Alan.' Just now, it was 'Ethan and Alan.'"
Kaelen couldn't hold back his laughter, lightening the hall's sober mood. "*That's* what you're worried about, amidst everything I've said so far?"
Alan nodded with utter seriousness. "Yes, Sir. Does that make me the last disciple?"
Gwain, sitting across from Ethan, first twitched at being called 'Elder,' but then burst out laughing at Alan's concern. He'd never worried about such a thing.
Kaelen forced himself to stop laughing. "Or perhaps it's because you worry about things like this that makes you the third student."
Alan deflated. His master had just confirmed his position as the youngest student. Putting the thought away trying not to ruin his appetite. Nothing would stop him from eating, not today. Especially when he'd been in a financial rut lately and this was the perfect opportunity to get back all the energy he lost, while staying hungry. He waited for his master to take the first bite, ready to dive in right after.