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Chapter 703 A Shard Holder

　　The last trial had a giant gate representing the only Lands of Trials' exit. Layla stood in front of the towering gate, feeling her existence insignificant by comparison. Ai stood beside her, not hiding her awe of the giant gate.

　　"Oh ho?" Ai tilted her head to the side as she looked at the symbols lining the gate. "This feels similar to some of the runes I witnessed. However, these symbols are less organized."

　　"These are not runes, but an ancient language that can be used to communicate with the astral beings. No rune in this world can send a soul to the stars without damaging the body."

　　"I know of someone who did the opposite," said Ai while walking toward the gate. "In any case, we don't have much time left. There is an hour left until the reset time. After that, this place will be infested with these monsters, right?"

　　Ai was referring to the corpses of monsters surrounding the gate. They were long, lanky creatures that looked like giant matchsticks. In essence, they did not seem to belong to this world. Their skin looked like a stary night, and they had no face.

　　"These are the gate's guardians, and the rest will bring them back. I don't think we can stand a chance against them if we fight again since we spent several hours just luring them."

　　"Then, let the Stars Gate open!" said Ai as she pushed the giant gate, but it didn't budge. The healer was frozen as she tried to open it, but it was futile. Layla stared at the comical scene and snorted before she burst out laughing. "This is such a faulty gate!" Ai stomped angrily.

　　"It is just unique. We need to use our spiritual energy to open it. Only those who awakened spiritual energy can pass this trial. After that, our minds will connect to the stars in that single moment. We need to be acknowledged by an astral being to pass this trial."

　　"If an astral being doesn't acknowledge you, then I'm going to beat them," said Ai flexing her arm. Layla smiled and patted her shoulder, making the healer turn toward her.

　　"This might be the last time we meet each other. Those who fail this trial don't simply get trapped here but suffer a great backlash. A blessing would protect us against this backlash. However, spending too long inside is damaging to the soul. Therefore, not obtaining a blessing quickly means…."

　　"Are you trying to bid farewell?"

　　"I am."

　　"Then shut up," said Ai as she held her hand. "Instead, let's promise to meet again. I don't get this, but it sounds to be about mindset more than anything. I will be waiting for you on the other side, and I'll believe the same with you."

　　"…this is…" Layla hesitated before she gave a smile and nodded. "Then, I will see you later, Ai. After we get out of here, I will take you to the best restaurant in the city."

　　"I can't wait. Now, let's get out of here together." Ai pulled on the warrior's arm as she walked toward the gate. The two of them placed their hands on it, allowing their spiritual energy to flow into the gate.

　　"We will meet again," the two said simultaneously. Then, a light shot from the gate toward the stars, connecting their minds to the astral realm. At that moment, their consciousness was pulled toward the stars.

　　***

　　Ai opened her eyes after her consciousness was transported elsewhere. She saw the starry sky in front of her while floating inside the infinite space. Her body was not hers but an image of what she believed it was. However, she could tell that this was not her physical body. This one had a faint golden color.

　　This place was dark and desolate, with no sounds to make her believe something was out there. However, she knew there was something or someone out there. She could feel their presence like knives stabbing her heart. Each of them was an overbearing and crushing pressure, but she somehow held on against them.

　　"And where am I supposed to go now?" wondered Ai aloud as she looked around. She could see several stars and constellations, but trying to reach them was impossible. "Spiritual energy might be the answer."

　　Ai used her spiritual energy and approached the first star. It was red, and she had to stop moving a fair distance away from it. She could feel a presence within the star, like a child in his mother's womb.

　　"Who goes there?"  a deep, booming voice talked in her mind. Ai could feel her consciousness fading but losing it wasn't to the point.

　　"I am an astral seeker of the human race, here to ask for your divine blessings," replied Ai. "Am I worthy?"

　　"Interesting indeed. I can sense a shard within you that belongs to an old friend. You are worthy, but sometimes worth does not mean compatibility. Seek others, child, until you can go no further. Then, you will find one that is meant to be your ally."

　　Ai thought this was their polite way of rejecting her. However, mentioning the shard belonging to an old friend reminded her of the Seika of Living Beings. Her time was limited, so she sought the next star. However, he said the same thing.

　　Each astral being she sought rejected her, saying the same thing as before. All of them mentioned the shard within her, and some mentioned that it wasn't their right to grant a blessing to a shard holder.

　　The more astral beings she met, the more she understood the reason that these astral beings didn't want to grant her a blessing. It was when the Seika pulled her from death's jaws and brought her back to life.

　　Ai thought she returned Seika's powers. This happened when she and the Princess of Ice and Fire brought him back to Alka. It might be a different matter, but Ai still felt like it was related. However, she couldn't give up.

　　"…our stars don't align…."

　　"…I seek no conflict…."

　　"…a shard holder is a risk we cannot take…."

　　The reasons were different, but it was all rejection one after the other. Ai almost lost consciousness as her spiritual energy dwindled, but something within kept her afloat and awake. The many astral beings she visited came in all shapes, but none wanted to make a friend out of her.

　　It was a long while later that she met a different astral being. As she was floating while using her spiritual energy, Ai heard a call. There were no stars around her, as she was visiting a different one, but Ai was sure that something called for her.

　　"Here."

　　It was a distant call but desperate still. Ai looked around for a long time before she managed to find the source. It was a small light in the distance that she mistook for a faraway. Ai approached the human-sized star without any problem, and the presence within it was faint.

　　"Is there someone here?" asked Ai the small light as she tried to touch it. An aura reached out from the small star and touched her as well, and it was then that she was able to hear it.

　　"I am here, as I always have been and will forever be," said the childish voice from inside the star. "I am the eternal and the immortal, the one who is everywhere but at nowhere."

　　"I guess that means no one is here," Ai retracted her hand and wanted to leave, but the sphere of light reached out toward her in panic.

　　"No, wait! Please don't leave!"

　　"That's a better attitude. Are you an astral being? Your presence is so faint that I can't feel it." Ai stared at the light with confusion. Finally, the childish voice within it regained his calm.

　　"I'm an astral being, but I have lost all of my powers. I waited for a thousand years for the day of your arrival, creational shard holder."

　　"I don't need a powerless astral being," said Ai with a frown. "I don't have a lot of time left. I need a blessing to pass this trial."

　　"I can grant you a blessing, and it will be the one you want the most," said the astral being. "However, it will serve no purpose in your combat and won't make you any stronger."

　　"That doesn't sound very compelling. What would it do?"

　　"It will guide you to the creator we both seek." The light sphere began to shine, as it began to morph into a humanoid form.