As the sun stretched its golden fingers around the world of dancing shadows and silent light.
There stood a being.
His appearance was far beyond understanding; like, the only way to describe it was like watching the Cosmos from below the skies – we can see it, yet we can't describe it.
Thar being stood there watching from far away, far away from the realms of light and shadows, far away from the endless cycle of birth and doom, far away from the very thread of existence woven by the gods.
He stood in a void, a dimension untouched by space and time. His gaze tore through dimensions and crossed realms, yet despite all of this, he just stood there, watching...just watching, watching the world of Eclypsera.
As the author, do I know why he is watching? Nah! I don't know (JJK Reference).
And then the void shook, time bent, space distorted, and then he spoke.
"Do you want to know about me? Then have the courage for patience; just wait, and time won't lie."
Then the realms shook, and the scene drifted to Valmire Village.
As the dawn of the light stretched its golden fingers, the dawn of light reached the house of Alderwoods and reflected on the eyes of Valen and Marcus, waking them up.
Both of them rubbed their eyes and yawned and spoke in unison.
"Man, someone tell the sun to wake up late; it's such a pain to wake up early."
Hearing the laziness in their voice, Ellara, who had woken up before the morning star, walked up to them and said.
"You should get dressed soon, as both of you will train under Grandpa today."
As soon as both of them heard about training, they went to get dressed and cleansed their mouths with mana.
Soon they both got ready to train with Aurelius.
They both walked out of the house with their training gear on and saw Aurelius warming up. Seeing them there, Aurelius got excited and shouted.
"So are both of you ready to train? Say Aurelius is the greatest Imperial knight if you are ready."
Hearing his demand, both of the boys frowned and said in a unison yet provoking tone.
"Like we will ever say that."
Valen stopped at that line, but Marcus continued.
"Still, I can say you are the worst imperial knight in history."
Both of them started laughing after that line; Aurelius was seemingly annoyed by that line, so he spoke in an enraged voice.
"We will see whether I am the worst or the best in the training, so are both of you boys ready?"
Valen and Marcus spoke again in an excited voice.
"Yes, Gramps, we are ready."
Upon releasing their worst, they raised their swords and rushed on Aurelius, at which point he hurried and stopped their blades.
"Idiots." He hit them hard on the head and continued.
"WE are going to The Grassfield to train, not outside our house."
Both of them sighed and picked up their stuff and started walking with Aurelius to the Grassfield.
Upon reaching the Grassfield, Aurelius dropped the bag carrying his gear on.
Then he started speaking.
"Allllllllllllright! How much do you youngsters know about the Path of Cultivation?"
Both of them raised their hands and said.
"Aren't we going to train? Why are you asking questions?"
Aurelius said in an arrogant voice.
"Of course you younglings won't understand the mind of the Great Sage Aurelius Alderwood, but let me enlighten you. You see, cultivation is a path, and you can only walk on it properly if you know how to read the direction signs on the path."
Both of the boys didn't understand a thing he said, so, looking annoyed, he said. "Let's just start."
"So first of all there are seven main paths of cultivation, but they aren't the only ones; they are subpaths of cultivation as well. One could create his own way if talented enough, but the subpaths are derived from principles of the main seven paths, and tell me what those main seven paths are."
He asked Marcus to answer his question, so Marcus replied.
"Those seven paths all have Eight realms of cultivation
Path of the Sword
"The sword is simple. It cuts lies, it cuts fate, and it cuts the weak who cling to power. Its realms rise like ascending strikes."
1. Iron Realm
2. Silver Realm
3. Crimson Realm
4. Phantom Realm
5. Dragon Realm
6. Sovereign Realm
7. Celestial Realm
8. Eternal Sword Realm
Path of the Spear
"The spear is the weapon of tanks; they are scary-looking people like Brother Flion."
1. Stone Realm
2. Wind Realm
3. Storm Realm
4. Lightning Realm
5. Titan Realm
6. War God Realm
7. Void Realm
8. Eternal Spear Realm
Path of Sorcery
"Magic is for the smart, so I will learn it later."
1. Initiate Realm
2. Adept Realm
3. Grandmaster Realm
4. Archmage Realm
5. Sage Realm
6. Heavenly Magus Realm
7. Celestial Sorcerer Realm
8. Eternal Mage Realm
Path of the Bow
"I hate bow users; they are scared cats."
1. Feather Realm
2. Hawk Realm
3. Skyfall Realm
4. Zephyr Realm
5. Piercing Moon Realm
6. Starshaper Realm
7. Horizon Realm
8. Eternal Marksman Realm
Path of Alchemy
"It is said that the 8th realm alchemist can bring anyone back from the dead, but they can revive all the beings in the universe that have fallen, even the gods."
1. Herbalist Realm
2. Catalyst Realm
3. Transmutation Realm
4. Goldfire Realm
5. Runesmith Realm
6. Philosopher Realm
7. Sacred Elixir Realm
8. Eternal Alchemist Realm
Path of Godai (Elemental Path)
"Man, I always wanted to be an elemental master, but I have aptitude in swords; they are just so cool."
1. Ember Realm
2. Flow Realm
3. Gale Realm
4. Terra Realm
5. Aether Realm
6. Primordial Realm
7. Elemental Monarch Realm
8. Eternal Element Realm
Path of Spirit (Soul Path)
"Path of spirit is a tricky one. I can't remember. Oh, I remember it now; it goes as follows."
1. Whisper Realm
2. Echo Realm
3. Soulfire Realm
4. Eidolon Realm
5. Astral Realm
6. Spirit Sovereign Realm
7. Ethereal Lord Realm
Eternal Spirit Realm.
End of Chapter Seven