"Hey, my Deviant," a soft yet commanding voice echoed directly in Cedric's mind. An ethereal vibration accompanied Ivy's every word, as if her voice didn't come from ordinary vocal cords, but from the pure resonance of energy itself. "I am your Viriant, Ivy. You can call me Ivy."
Cedric jolted backward, his back hitting the cold wall of his bedroom. His heart pounded wildly, its thumping deafening in the silence of the night, as if it would leap out of his chest. The old book he had been holding now floated gracefully in the air, opening itself in mid-air. From the pages that shimmered with silvery light, a tiny, fairy-like creature with transparent wings that twinkled like morning dew and a soft aura floated elegantly before him. Her large, sparkling eyes gazed at Cedric with wisdom far beyond her size.
"W-what... what do you mean?" Cedric stammered, pointing at Ivy with a trembling finger, his eyes wide in disbelief. "Viriant? Deviant? What is all this? What's happening to me? Are you real?"
Ivy smiled faintly, the aura around her softly flickering, emanating a calmness that slightly eased Cedric's panic. She floated closer to Cedric's face, her gemstone-like eyes gazing deeply into his. "I know this is confusing for you, my Deviant. Too much information coming all at once. But trust me, everything will become clear in time." She tilted her head slightly, her movement graceful like a dancer. "Viriants are entities bound to Deviants. And Deviants... you are individuals who awaken with a special energy, an energy that flows through every corner of this world, the energy of Neva."
"And why do I know nothing about this?" Cedric asked, his voice slightly rising, a note of frustration mixed with shock in his tone. "I've never felt Neva energy or anything like it in my entire life. I'm just a regular student."
"Of course, you haven't consciously felt it yet. You've only just awakened, Cedric," Ivy replied softly, her voice soothing. "We Viriants... when we first awaken, there's a name that keeps rattling in our minds. A name we must seek, a destiny we must fulfill. That name belongs to the Deviant we are bound to." Ivy paused, her gaze fixed on Cedric, as if implying that the name was Cedric Glensrevins de Ans.
Cedric shook his head, pressing his temples, trying to process information that felt like it came straight out of a fantasy novel. "Neva energy? Awakened? But why me? And you... why are you here? This makes no sense!"
"I don't know exactly why you were chosen, Cedric," Ivy answered honestly, her voice remaining calm and patient. "When Viriants awaken, we are bound to a Deviant. My task is to find you, guide you, and form a contract. If not, within a certain period, both of us will perish, reabsorbed by the flow of Neva itself, as if we never existed."
Hearing the words "perish" and "never existed," Cedric's expression turned serious. He recalled all the strange events he had experienced over the past few weeks: dreams about an ancient library, a book that suddenly appeared on his desk with strange patterns, and now this winged creature speaking directly in his mind, no longer just a disembodied voice. In particular, the memory of nightmares about the destruction of the universe that had haunted him for years flashed back. Those dreams, which he once considered mere sleep-induced fantasies, now felt like warnings.
He clenched his hands, feeling a strange cold energy in the air. "The dreams... those dreams... none of this is a coincidence, is it? Fate... is fate orchestrating all of this?" The murmur was more a rhetorical question to himself, a confirmation of an intuition he had already felt. Ivy nodded subtly, as if confirming every premonition Cedric had.
Cedric looked at Ivy again, now with a calmer gaze, though still filled with a thousand questions swirling in his brain. "So... this world has secrets, huh? More than what we see, more than what's taught in these elite schools?"
Ivy floated slowly, circling Cedric, her wings producing a soft rustle. "I don't know for certain, my Deviant. My knowledge is limited to what is essential to guide you. But I sense this world is full of mysteries, layers hidden from ordinary human sight. Moreover, the existence and origin of us, Viriants and Deviants, are unknown. We simply exist, bound by destiny."
"Are there many Deviants out there besides me?" Cedric asked, his innate curiosity peaking, pushing past his initial shock. If this was a phenomenon, there must be a pattern.
"Of course," Ivy replied. "I can sense a Deviant's Neva energy, wherever they are, though how strong and where exactly they are, that takes time and practice. There are Deviants who use their power for good, and some who fall into darkness, using Neva for selfish or destructive purposes." Ivy continued, her voice sounding a little somber, "Sometimes there are also those who want to forget their status as Deviants and return to being ordinary humans. But that is very dangerous, because their Neva energy can become unstable and rage out of control. If the Neva energy within a Deviant is unstable, there is a possibility that the Deviant will lose control of themselves, mutating into a mindless, monstrous creature that we call an Avenger."
Cedric's expression hardened at the word "Avenger." "What happens if a Deviant becomes an Avenger? Can it be cured?"
Ivy looked at him with a serious gaze, a faint sadness in her eyes. "In essence, they are already dead the moment they mutate. Only their bodies still move, controlled by chaotic Neva rage. Nothing can be cured from that condition."
Cedric fell silent for a moment, absorbing this heavy information. Thinking of the terrifying risk of becoming an Avenger, the idea of ignoring this power felt incredibly foolish and dangerous. He had to take control, to learn it. He had to protect himself and those around him. With determination rising from the depths of his heart, he decided to proceed with the contract. "Alright, Ivy. I'll make this contract. How do I do it?"
Ivy did not answer with words. She suddenly vanished in a flash of silvery light, and the ancient book that had been floating now gently descended, opening precisely in the middle. The mysterious pattern Cedric had once seen in the library now reappeared in the center of the blank pages, glowing softly. On the adjacent page, one by one, red letters with black gradations gradually appeared, forming clear writing: "Drip your blood on that pattern and the contract will be forged."
Cedric immediately grabbed the cutter from his writing supply box on his desk. With a slight hesitation, he cut his thumb, feeling a faint sting. He then dripped his blood onto the glowing pattern. Surprisingly, the dripping blood moved on its own, spreading and filling the entire pattern with a deep, dark red color. The pattern then glowed blindingly bright for a moment, then slowly faded and completely disappeared, as if absorbing Cedric's blood into its essence.
Ivy reappeared before Cedric, floating gracefully in the air.
"I don't feel any changes," Cedric said in surprise, checking his thumb which was now bloodless and scar-free. "Did it fail?"
Ivy smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling with secrets. "No, just wait a moment, my Deviant. You will know, because everything will now appear different to you."
Suddenly, in Cedric's vision, the world around him seemed overlaid with another layer. Strange writings appeared that he could not understand at all. Unfamiliar symbols and rows of unknown letters filled his sight, as if superimposed over reality, floating in the air between him and Ivy. This was a different kind of confusion, no longer shock, but a burning intellectual curiosity.
"What is this writing?" Cedric asked, now with a tone more of enthusiasm than panic.
"Try to read it," Ivy replied, her voice full of encouragement.
Instantly, as if his brain performed an incredibly fast recalibration, the writings changed. The foreign symbols disappeared, replaced by lines of words he could read and understand in human language. Before him, floating like a transparent screen or holographic interface, it displayed:
Name: Cedric Glensrevins de Ans
Vital: Perfectly Healthy
Physique: Ordinary Human (High Potential)
Affinity: Light (Newly Awakened)
Key: Fluxbringer
Affiliation: Empty
Neva: Dark Green (Tier: High Lower Deviant)
Cedric read the text quickly, his eyebrows furrowed, processing each data point. He understood most of the information like name, vital, physique, and light affinity. However, some terms felt alien and caught his attention. "Affiliation? Key? Neva? What does all this mean, Ivy? And what is 'High Potential'?"
Ivy floated closer, her eyes sparkling as if ready to explain every detail patiently. "Affiliation indicates the group or organization a Deviant belongs to, if any. For that, there are several categories: Servant (those bound by strong contracts to individuals or entities), Familiar (those closely bound as partners), and Ally (temporary or permanent alliances). Yours is currently empty because you've just awakened. For 'High Potential,' it means you have an extraordinary Neva capacity, Cedric. It's not common." Ivy paused, observing Cedric's reaction, before continuing to more complex matters. "As for 'Key'..."
Ivy continued her explanation, "A Deviant does not necessarily have a Key. If a Deviant has a Viriant—like you with me—that means they have a Key. A Key is the core of a Deviant's unique abilities." She floated around Cedric. "Keys are given randomly, by whom or what, I don't know their origin myself. The name of a Key is the concept of the Key's ability itself. So, you must understand the meaning of the word Fluxbringer to use the power you comprehend. Bear in mind, a Key's name often has nothing to do with the abilities it possesses."
"Then, Neva?" Cedric asked, pointing to the text 'Neva: Dark Green'.
"Neva has different colors, corresponding to a Deviant's tier," Ivy explained. "Deviants are divided into three main tiers: Lower, Middle, and Upper. And each tier is further divided into three sub-tiers: Low, Mid, and High."
Ivy moved closer to the transparent screen in front of Cedric, pointing to the 'Dark Green' text. "Seeing your Dark Green color, it means you are currently at the High Lower Deviant tier. This is a very good start, Cedric. Many new Deviants begin at much lower tiers."
"So, I'm still the lowest in the High category?" Cedric murmured, his thoughts already focused on potential advancement.
"Not entirely," Ivy corrected. "There are nine tiers of Neva colors, corresponding to the Deviant tiers I mentioned earlier. The brighter a person's Neva color, the closer they are to advancing to a higher tier," Ivy explained. "Oh, and I forgot to mention, ordinary people cannot see Viriants like me. Only high-tier Deviants and above, or some rare entities, Cedric, and also... some other special individuals can see us. But high-tier Deviants themselves are very rare in this era."
Cedric wasted no time. With his brain continuously processing every word spoken by Ivy, he immediately absorbed all the information. He sat on his bed, crossing his legs like someone meditating. He closed his eyes, trying to focus his mind and gather the Neva energy he felt around him. It was a strange sensation, like drawing in air that was much denser and alive, feeling every Neva particle dancing around and flowing in.
After a moment, Cedric opened his eyes and focused the Neva in his hand. Slowly, a faint, dark green glow emanated from his palm. The light flickered, as if still new and unstable, but it was clearly pure energy that followed every small command from his mind. Neva energy.
Ivy, floating beside him, looked surprised. Her large eyes widened. "You... you can do it right away? Incredible! It usually takes days, even weeks, for a new Deviant to be able to manifest their Neva like that!"
Cedric looked at the light in his hand, then at Ivy with eyes full of questions, satisfaction at mastering something new clearly radiating from his face. "How can I level up, Ivy? I feel I can master this faster than you think."
Ivy smiled faintly, proud of her Deviant's potential. "If you want to level up, then your Neva energy must become more abundant and more concentrated. That is the main path."
Cedric frowned, processing the information quickly. As someone who enjoyed thinking and theorizing, his brain immediately searched for patterns and efficiency, and shortcuts if any existed. "Alright, Ivy. If Neva needs to be increased, what are the sources or methods that allow me to accumulate this energy efficiently, besides this basic meditation?"
Ivy floated slowly, circling Cedric. "Of course. First, you must continue to train and try to understand your Key, Fluxbringer. The more you master and use it, the more stable and stronger your Neva will become. Your Key has unlimited potential, Cedric." Ivy stopped in front of Cedric, looking at him seriously. "Additionally, when a Deviant dies, their Neva energy will disperse. And more importantly, they will also leave something behind... what we call Elysium."
Ivy's eyes gleamed meaningfully, conveying the importance of this information. "This Elysium is the purest essence of power, a noble remnant of a deceased Deviant originating from their Neva core. They never disappear; they simply wait to be found and absorbed by other Deviants. If you can access it—or be near it—it can be used to strengthen affinities that match yours, and even drastically increase the power of the same Key. This is a dangerous shortcut, but a very effective one."
Hearing Ivy's explanation, Cedric's eyes lit up. A new, more complex and fascinating hypothesis quickly formed in his mind. If Neva dispersed, and 'Elysium' was left behind, it meant there were resources that could be processed, even acquired.
Cedric crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze fixed forward, as if seeing complex diagrams and formulas floating in the air. "So, dispersed Neva after a Deviant's death and Elysium left behind after another Deviant's death are forms of energy that don't vanish, but can be accessed. This means they can be a very significant source of Neva accumulation. If Elysium can specifically strengthen affinities and Keys, then understanding how to access and utilize these primordial residues will be a crucial key to accelerating my development. The question now is, what is the most efficient mechanism for extracting or drawing dispersed Neva from the environment, and what is the safest and most effective way to directly utilize Elysium?" He muttered to himself, his brain working hard to analyze the potential of this information, already imagining algorithms and strategies to optimize the absorption of this power.
Just as Cedric's thoughts drifted far into planning and analysis, a sound interrupted him. The loud and insistent ringing of the doorbell broke the silence of the night and Cedric's musings about the new world that now lay open before him.