Chapter 158: Step into the portal, a step between life and death

Seeing Allan's quick motion with his hand, Sarey backed away, surprised by his quick change of reason. Allan's courage was apparent, and she understood it more than enough. Grabbing the Diary of the Body from her bag, she tossed it down to the ground.

Then, she took a knife from her pocket that she kept for this special occasion of slicing into Allan. Glancing at it in her hand, she watched Allan's oblivious face for a second. It was the face of the forced face, yet being eyeless lacked any significant punch. She never knew what to expect from it because of it.

“What's wrong?” Allan asked, unaware of Sarey's wonders.

“Nothing…” Sarey said, grabbing his hand and cutting into the open palm with a quick motion of her knife. It was plenty sharp since good cuts healed the best.

Blood appeared from a small cut, unfollowed by the usual scoring feelings that Soul Fire caused. Allan turned his hand, and drop by drop, the blood dripped onto Diary of the Body's leather cover. There, it stained it for a couple of moments before disappearing inside within a minute.

It was a regular procedure that Sarey already watched quite a few times. Every time, she also recalled the very first time she met 36 and the situation as a whole. It made no sense back then, yet it ended up in the present time.

This whole blood and this Immortal mysterious Book was the start of a whole new ordeal for herself and Allan. Albeit, it should be the case for Allan alone, but she had no choice but to mention her involvement in his future and potential.

With 36 already becoming her de-facto teacher, it was obvious that a new fire in her heart was raging fiercer than with Terg. An ego, hope, dreams, and motivation that only mortals can have. That was Sarey's hope. The opportunity that can come from this, held a certain meaning to her since her future was always important.

Thus, a door into the land of legends and Immortals was open. Through the peculiar work of fate, callings, and the otherworldly effect she had no idea about, nor she could guess them.

Without this Diary on the ground, and even with her teacher Teg's involvement, she would never do what she wished for. Disappointment and her lack of luck were the reason for everything as grasping what she wished for was only a puny dream, but what if a change was given?

She would never let it go. Never!

Sarey will discover her new path along with Allan on her side or vice-versa. Well, she was certainly glad for everything, while unraveling her own path into a better future that will come at a better time.

“I…” Sarey tried to mutter something, but Allan stopped her by jerking his hands away. Blood dripped for enough time, so he took the bandage from her hand as usual and wrapped it around his left hand.

“I will look for your opportunity.” He said with a firm tone. “It was a promise so of course, I will follow through with this. No worry.”

His words left a slight smile on Sarey's face, causing her to remain silent until the start of the vortex, appeared. Light and wind, emerged from the Diary of the Body as a whole, enveloping both of them with unnatural force.

It wasn't like a storm, as it wasn't like one, to begin with.

The light and wind led to an energy vortex right beyond the Diary, creating a portal to the unknown. It stretched further and wider until it closed after the thud of a familiar wooden figurine. Something unordinary happened with this extraordinary sight that would shock a normal mortal. Yet, Allan thought nothing of it, as he never saw it, while Sarey wasn't one to be shocked by something she saw dozens of times in recent days.

“Hello there, kids.” 36 casually greeted.

“Do we look like kids?” Sarey calmly asked.

“Like teenagers? Sure. Both in appearance and personality Heheheheh.” 36 laughed, joking around as if nothing mattered. “What else do you expect? Being called something more decent than the truth? Do you hope to grow up without having time to grow? Hilarious. Heheheh.” 36 joked again, forgetting that the present situation wasn't all that good. His own time was quite diluted from the initial shock of Wisher's discussion, so it was no wonder.

“Then what a wooden figurine is like? Hard, dull, cold, and stubborn to the fists. You are a fool for thinking like that about us since you can't grow yourself. Is that also how you were like when you were alive? Dull, cold, and unkept like some drunken bastard?” This time, Allan talked, giving him his cold shower with some quality insults.

“HA! Hahhhaah. Right! Perhaps it has always been that way. I am jsut an old fool. A thing that shouldn't exist and should move to the encompassing darkness of the Underworld. Is that it?” 36 paused, hearing and watching the pair of mortals to see their reaction. “Hell no. You don't know shit yourself. I thought you both would take this more nervously, but I was mistaken. No… Wait. Should I even talk like this?” 36 said, sounding quite unsure at the end after his last words made sure he went back to the present. He recalled things he remembered and should tell and explain.

“What is it, 36?” Sarey asked with worry as it was obvious from his words that something went wrong.

“What is what? Indeed…” 36 sighed as if recalling something from the past that posed him some trouble. “I don't think it is a good idea to take the rewards at all. I discovered quite bad topics and answers along with this Trial. It's still something that may provide huge benefits, but it's way too questionable and hard. It's simply not worth it to force it.”

“Why not? You started it yourself, mister 36. If it's valuable, then one must try hard to make it work. Nothing is free? Is that also a saying in Immortal Lands? My father used to tell it when I was young.” Allan explained.

“Nothing is free? That is jsut a wordy effort of business. True Immortals are nothing like that. Free? There are countless things in the world that lays free to be taken. So many, that I can't count them all. Don't take it that seriously, boy. Especially the world of Immortals. You know so little about it.”

“Then why not teach me about it yourself?” Allan told, clutching his staff as he got to his feet. “I don't feel fear. I don't want to feel it again. That helplessness enveloped my heart when I fell through the darkness. It all made no sense, yet it may. I want to see it 36. Clutch it with my hands. Carve it to my bones!” Allan said with unnatural resolve. He suddenly seemed larger than usual. At least from 36's perspective.

His words made a certain impression for sure, but to an old fool as 36? Not so much.

“Teaching you may become interesting… That is only possible, as I never was a teacher. I never had a need or knack for that, Allan. If you trust me with teaching you, then you are a naive mortal as I believe.

“Then you are quite lackluster Immortal…” Allan sighed, letting his grip loosen as if an immeasurable disappointment. “I imagined immortals to be much more than this… An old fool that is long fed up with everything, that he can't even grasp his own fate? It almost feels stupid when I think about it. Why am I even trying to learn from you when you gave up? How stupid of me!” Allan slapped his hand, shaking his head afterward.

“What the hell do you mean!” 36 shouted angrily, wishing that his body wouldn't be immovable, so he would punish this crazed bastard that insulted him.

“Oh, have a dropped a rake and you stepped on it?” Allan smirked, walking closer to 46 without fear. “I hold a certain understanding already. mister 36. I don't want to appear like some stupid boy in your eyes. That is the first step to getting over this difference in status, isn't it? To make you quench this inner demon from yourself, and work for what you can and wish for? Freedom? Help? I damned fish I could help you achieve it all, but for that, you need to give something in return.”

Allan's words hit a bullseye, yet 36 was having none of it once again. He seeped in anger. “As if you understand what I went through you shameless bastard!” 36 shouted again. “Just the damned research for your future costed months of unending reading and willful attention. I have done that because I could but none would do it crazy like me! Training mortals from this structural Immortal training is nothing that you are even aware of, so stop spouting nonsense. I wish so damn hard to help you. Moreso than you even care, or believe yourself.”

With that, 36 audibly calmed down. At least from Allan's perspective.

“That's why I want to proceed with this Trial,” Allan said, still calm and collected.

“Tsch… this and blabrhbrbblalala…” 36 snorted, mumbling something inaudible for Sarey and Allan. “I know! Screw this! I will talk, so you will get it to your thick skull, stupid boy. While the benefits from Trials are more understandable to me than before, some hefty negatives are also clearer. There are rewards, of course. They are there as the course of the progression of your power. It's a benchmark for the Trial for the rewards. A test to see the worth of the student so they can take not their desirable wishes, but what they deserve from their progress. It's how Immortals do this stuff. It's a damned Trial. Get it?”

“So it's not like going inside the book, grabbing a piece of the scroll for the martial arts, and going out?” Allan asked.

“Damned right it's not like that. You will have to fight for it while figuring out the way to get martial arts what you want. It is… the worst possible way. At least for the current you.”

“Why? Am I weak? Why would I get this chance then? I struck you to get a chance for this trial, so that means I should be able to have some chance at it. Am I wrong?

“No… No…” 36 sighed, unwilling to feel the degree of the bad news in his voice at all. “You are good, but who knows… Perhaps there is a huge problem you have? I wonder what it is, hm?”

“Problem?” Allan frowned, thinking deeply as his mouth contorted while the bandages hid his eyes and the majority of his upper face. “Because I am blind, is that right? I can't see the other reasons…”

“Damn right! And here I thought the things would get pushed by moths forward.” 36 sighed in displeasure. “Everything went to shit since the Trials aren't the simple thing. Of course not. I didn't take proper notice of your issue… It's also not an issue that can be easily solved, so my apologies. Your eyes aren't easy to fix. It's that simple.”

Allan fell with his ass down, accepting that his condition made the worst of his predicament once again. If only he wasn't blind.

Sarey watched his unhappiness, thinking of some way to solve this. “36, You can't go with Allan inside? Solving some blindless can work when he has a mentor on his side.”

“Heh. As if it would be that simple, and no. I can't come inside with him. It's one of the things that I was aware of from my prison information. Assholes made it quite bad. The way the Trial will work is following. The start will leave me out of the picture. I will open a portal while a student will go there by himself. Rest is unclear to me, while the rewards themselves are also unknown. I don't know where the Trial is, nor how hard or specific it will be. All I know is that choosing rewards is done physically. Hence, eyes are quite important. Be it in the premise of the trial itself, or when it comes to the rewards as well. Got it?” 36 explained.

“I got it.” Allan nodded, retaining his calm once more. “Do you have something prepared for this? You did consider something, have you not?

“Sometimes, giving up is the best option.” 36 gave a simple excuse.

“That's so weak… I am sure the rewards are not just for the teaching materials, but some of them must be quite specific, aren't they? The kind that you can't get for me since you don't know them, am I right?” Allan assumed.

“It's reality, and yes. It's the Library of the Ones I speak of. It's a big deal, but I don't know the degree of clearance those assholes give to the students. Manuals could be of variable value. They can include Immortal Ranked ones as big as middle grade. Martial arts that I knew about could be copied with almost full clearance but they shouldn't be helpful for you. Any person works with too many variables and specifics. Your path is not mine. Thus, what I can give you aren't useful things, since I was a demonic cultivator. It won't be all helpful for you.”

Alan nodded, understanding it as best as he can. “What about the Martial Arts? Things around the weapons should be similar to each other?”

“I know no staff, nor glaive arts at all. There are only a few spear techniques that I trained myself but those aren't usable for the current you. They have high skill and understanding ceiling. They all involve a high grade of energy and plentiful control over it. It all comes from within, so sorry. I know you would ask this sooner or later.”

“It's fine…” Allan sighed, wanting to hear more of what he may tell.

“What is general knowledge about Immoral Cultivation Manuals, is following. They all revolve around the bare minimum of the Spark so that is simple enough. I bet rewards will include them also. As for martial arts, they are a much vaster topic than cultivation manuals. They form a tool for cultivation, while the cultivation manual forms the most basic structure to wield martial arts. They are considered to be starting before the Spark itself. Thus, even a mortal can start training in Immoral grade martial arts, but it would be like wanting to wield a mountain. It could be questionable, but possible. Albeit, like a tossing rock to a mountain and want to shatter it.”

“Oh, that is interesting. I finally see the end light at the end of the tunnel.” Allan commented, almost whispering to Sarey. “Seeing him talk like that is almost the end of the world.”

36 didn't hear him, so he continued. “Body forging and martial arts are both things that go hand in hand. There is nothing within my hands that are currently good for such a start. The Body Whip technique is considered a middle-grade mortal martial art. The Unmoving body is something like Cultivating manual for Body forging. And both don't need a Spark for training them, albeit Unmoving Body has a section around Spark like many peak mortal grade body manuals.” 36 ended his long strange of talking, figuring he told what he had to.

“Hm. Hmmm…” Allan hummed, thinking a lot about his words. Scratching his head, with his left one, and holding a staff with the other, he was at the end of it. “So, the only chance I have is to get inside, and get what I need, but be unable to even know about it? I will be like a fish in the black sky. Unable to see a thing, nor be able to choose?” Allan asked.

“Yes, but how could you even accomplish it? See why I was hesitant?” 36 said. “Also, it stated that is no danger involved in the trial for the student, so… I don't know what to make of it, but I fear myself why am I even talking about it right now. Shit.”

“Why not involve The Wisher?” Sarey suddenly asked.

“Wisher? That one…” 36 said, not hiding his reluctance to talk about him. “I was considering him, but I fear it's not a good thing to do. I don't trust anyone within that place. No one.” 36 firmly said.

It was true that he involved him a lot, but only for himself and his talks. 36 can't see a good reason to involve wisher with Allan. 36 only involved him in the parts where he could get used for his own benefit. Whether Wisher thought he would save him from his prison or not, was not 36's problem. Even if he would not get his own freedom in the process.

“Wisher? What is this about?” Allan asked while not following the topic. It seemed he forgot about him since his mind was full of other things all the time.

“It is an opportunity, but I am unsure if it's a good or a negative entity within my prison.” 36 clarified. He was completely unsure if the Wisher would do something within the book for Allan or not. He was a huge variable in terms of rules and things around The Ones.

36 or Allan could not figure out if he would be sincere about helping or not. Even when he talked with him face to face the last time, he wasn't sure. Emotion, as well as truth within the humanoid being, could not be read at all.

“I will go. I still chose to go.” Allan said, hearing his words with a clear resolute answer. The bad news outweighed the possibility, and if it won't include life-endangering stuff, why not try?

“NO! Think about it twice. If you try this, this won't come a second time. The next bracket could have the same issue, or be as higher in terms of difficulty.”

“I am blind nonetheless, this won't change overnight, nor will time wait for anything.” Allan tried to reason with unwilling 36. yet, for once, Allan was an unreasonable one.

“Calm down, both of you.”Sarey jumped between them.

“I know this is not good news, but it is realistic to approach this problem.” 36 said.

“When did you become a realistic person, mister 36? For all I care about, you are just a dull piece of wood.” Allan sneered at his words.

“You… If you want to try, go for it, but don't cry about your misfortune afterward! You won't be able to get a thing from this thing, but waiting for a better time won't come itself either. In fact, it may be all wasted not to do them, but I am conflicted. Conflicted…” 36 mumbled.

“I decided to give it a try,” Allan argued as if he already decided on it. “It's worth it, as you said. A better time won't come any time soon.”

“I know, but do you see my point of view?

“Somewhat,” Allan said, shrugging his shoulders.

“ And you? Are you fine with it as well, Sarey?” 36 changed the flow towards the second somewhat reasonable person of the two.

She was quite hesitant to talk all that much because this wasn't something that she was willing to decide.

She clutched her first, appearing quite agitated because this Trial and everything seemed incredibly enticing to her.

“I trust him that he will figure something out. There is still a variable of the Wisher and his help, is it not wrong? The second bracket could all be different, since you don't know it yourself, 36.”

“It is two words against yours. Let me go inside the Diary.” Allan decided.

“Hmh! As if voting matters. Fine. Fine. It is not like I have a life to lose, nor you.” 36 gave up and began explaining the process of the summoning.

Allan had to recite a few strange syllables of an unknown language, putting an arm on the figurine's chest while holding the Diary of the Body. Blood in his palm acted as confirmation, which should lead to the opening of a portal from the Diary.

Allan did as he was told, holding the diary in his right hand and left resting on 36's wooden surface.

He said the world, while 36 also uttered something similar. A gust of wind led from him, and the book, forming beyond the figurine, right above the ground.

One could walk inside since it appeared like a door. A rather intricate a mysterious opening, but it was not a bad analogy. The shimmering vortex energy appeared similar or the same as the portal 36 appeared from. Sarey could tell it, as the unknown light and place beyond intrigued quite a bit more than usual.

Allan retrieved his left hand, while Sarey took care of the Diary. With a staff in his hands and two intricate weapons of high grade, he felt much more confident. He was ready to get his fear to be the past.

Letting it go like everything else in the real world seemed like the best idea.

Clutching it, he didn't tell a word before disappearing to the portal in a step that he was fearful of but expectant of as well.

He was gone like that. Gone from this realm and from this reality.

Sarey clutched the Diary of the Body, hesitantly skimming left and right before 36.

Nervousness got hold of her, because such a mysterious place such as a portal to the unknown may be dangerous. Why shouldn't it be like that? 36 spoke of it, yet she still agreed to let Allan inside.

Since he was already gone, she got second thoughts, and it was the worst kind of feeling. Guilt and fear that she pushed him beyond that thin edge were in her mind.

“What if… What if everything was a huge mistake?” she thought.

This could be a mistake on her part as well. She could not imagine what she would do if Allan would never come back from this portal.

“Are you thinking of going inside?” 36 asked, with an already-given-up voice.

“I wish. At least I would be of some help, but I can't, can't I?” Sarey barked at him, uncaring to show her annoyance at him.

“You can try for all I care for. I have no idea how the world is even working anymore. You are that… A piece I can't point at, so don't care. Don't care.” he said in the same bored and given-up voice.

Sarey was inclined to punch him herself, but instead of that, she walked to the portal.

Stopping just a step before it, she watched and felt the coldness and mysteries right before her face. It was cold for some reason, and it was sending shivers down her spine.

Watching the light and the magical way the matter flowed mesmerized her eyes.

It was her hope and a shimmering feeling of a world beyond. She wanted to step forward but was unable to finish her last step.

She chickened out. She couldn't take it.

Taking a step back, she began stepping left and right, as if deciding on something. Biting her lips in unwillingness, she stepped back further, while kicking a few rocks in the way.

She took a seat on a boulder with a bothered expression tossing the Diary of the Body onto 36's face.

“Good idea.” 36 added while Sarey could not be less bothered to reply to his remarks.

Yet, before she wanted to tell a thing, a clutter appeared from the portal, falling to the rocky ground.

They were weapons. Allan's weapons. Both spear and glaive went back to reality without Allan.

Sarey jolted up, appearing behind 36 who didn't see behind his back.

“What was that? That was quick, even with time dilation in place,” he asked.

“Shut up…” Sarey punched his face, checking the weapons herself. “They are fine… Spear and glaive went back, so…”

“Those two? Shit…” 36 cursed. “It seems there were some rules to this Calling… No edged blades are permitted, it seems.”

“No blades?” Sarey asked, appearing worried as she glanced at the portal.

On the road towards the Unknown. A road to a place in the Diary was rather peculiar, yet it was nothing like that for Allan who couldn't see the distorted space around himself. But he could feel it. Wind and pressure moved around his body, molding it like a kneading hammer. It was uncomfortable, but not unbearable.

It was as if he was traveling through space and the powerful storm itself. A gust of wind moved against his skin while he gripped his staff in his right arm in fear to lose it. He didn't even notice the time when his spear and glaive disappeared from his back. Only clustering cloth remained.

In a bit, the wind subsided, and the floor was below his feet, until his body jolted upside down, falling hard onto the wall and floor. It wasn't the finest landing, which was unsurprising, considering it was his first travel with the portal.

It felt strange traveling like that. Almost as if he was skipping something important. A few steps along the way, feeling like he was falling from the sky, and suddenly, he was on a firm wooden floor.

The travel turned his stomach upside down, and his head felt the worst. Headache enveloped his mind for a good minute, as the tried to get on his feet. A terrible feeling fell over his body. His hands and feet ached, but the warmth from his chest subsided those effects.

“Well, thank you, little guy,” Allan said, stabilizing himself by feeling the wooden wall. It was regular wood from the touch. A bit old under his fingers. It was apparent from the texture of the wood. It had more distinct spaces between the rings, and the softness wasn't as firm as the floor.

“Wow… This felt nothing like the ride on Skoll's back, but somewhat similar.” Allan recalled one good memory of his, trying to listen to his surroundings. The floor felt like regular wood, but with a stench of old, dried food of archaic age.

“Where the hell am I, and how to do this?” Allan wondered and began to have a strange feeling that he decided on something terrible.

Suddenly he began to hear low-sounding steps in the suroudnigns. They came from beyond. Probably another floor of this prison. Allan felt right, and so he decided to hear it more. It was turning clearer in the upcoming moment,s until it became clear. Something entered this hallway that he figured with his touch. It wasn't too wide. Around 4 meters, which wasn't large or too big.

He was standing in the same hallway which was firmly memorized by the 36 in his moment of life, death, and pinch of strange luck.

This was the place that was on the lower floors of the ancient ship.

“Is there someone?” He asked out loud, hearing the continuous steps.

Steps were still continuing, coming closer toward him in an unnaturally steady manner. No one walked like this to his knowledge. It felt and sounded too perfect.

Allan chose to wait it out while preparing his staff to intercept any danger.

Thud. Thud.

Steps stopped around 2 meters in front of him.

“Student number 35. Follow me in the process of the first Trial according to the first bracket.” a voice without emotions said. Did it come from below, indicating either a small person or something… else? It came from close proximity as if someone lay on the floor, or somewhat above the knees. Yet, the steps?

Right, they returned, and this time moving in the direction they came from.

Allan did not hesitate since he hope to have this form of guide. In this matter, it made things clear to him. This went as he hoped for, albeit with a sliver of oddness.

Following the steps which continued onwards, Allan kept his left hand on the wall. It was something he was used to, yet suddenly, thanks to his senses, he started to smell a burning unpleasant smell of scorched meat.

Grimacing, the smell was quite bad, making Allan unable to walk properly. He stepped on something and fell to the ground.

In the midst of no blood, but a helpless expression was a pale woman laying on the ground. A lost look was in her eyes, while an otherwise pale expression of pain and denial made much to be desired from her exposed chest.

Within it, was still a lit candle. It had a few centimeters of its mass left.

Murai stumbled by her leg, so he involuntary fell on top of her body. “A w-women body? Is there someone?” Allan muttered, noticing the tight body of a clear-lying person.

Suddenly, a light crept into her eyes, becoming clear as she recalled a lucidity within her mind. She kept her senses dull, to work against the pain of her burning heart and the immense pain from the biased punishment.