9:50 IST, Sixteenth day, eighth month, 3078 PV | Kalvax System / Risia orbit / Clack Battleship / Hangar
The entire crew has assembled in the hangar. Many of them have very nervous expressions upon their faces. Which makes sense, after all, I am about to take part in a trial of convergence.
Since hearing of my intention, many of the crew have come forth with stories that they have heard about the trial. Apparently, it is legendary across the universe. Very few people outside of Itokin have ever been invited to participate. Of those that did opt to undergo the trial, less than 5% succeeded.
However, those that did succeed, went on to become legendary figures in galactic history. We are talking about famous generals, politicians, leaders of revolutions, and even some famous entertainers. The mere presence of these figures in a room will draw much attention.
While nothing is known about the trial to those other than those that have succeeded and their close circles. The benefits that the trial clearly brings can be clearly seen, often by everyone in the universe.
So yeah, the crew are obviously very nervous. This trial could very well give me access to knowledge that will allow me to become one of the most well recognized figures in history. Ray in particular is standing close near my side. She is trying to hide it, but I can sense the mix of anxiety and jealousy within her.
Liaison informed me that a shuttle will arrive at 10:00 IST to pick me up. It is currently 9:56, meaning that it should be arriving any moment now.
Ray seems to be inching ever closer to me. Suddenly, she jumps and wraps me up in a large hug. We stay like that for the remaining time. The Itokin shuttle silently glides into the hangar.
Once it is fully docked, the side panel opens and a large group of very dangerous looking Itokin exit and fill the hangar space. They appear to be combing it for traps and ensuring that it is secure.
Once they have ensured the safety of the area, a very regal looking Itokin steps out of the shuttle. They are wearing a long cloak that obscures most of their frame aside from their head and hands. It is very black, so black in fact that it appears to absorb 100% of light that enters it. On Itokin's forehead, I notice a strange insignia, to me it looks very strange, almost as if it should not exist. There is an identical insignia on their left hand.
Immediately, all of the Itokin kneel (well, in a way that they can with their 4-6 legs). I feel a strange presence in the air, almost as if there is a command that is reaching into the very depths of my soul. Moments later, Ray and the rest of my crew all fall to a kneeling position.
It is I and the high-ranking Itokin alone that remain standing. However, I can feel a sort of tugging on my consciousness that seems to urge me to kneel. It is very strange, for some reason it reminds me of the phenomena inside a massless field.
The high ranking Itokin slowly moves forward until it is about ten meters away from me. In front of it, appears a projected text box.
[The Itokin speaks through text]"Greetings Contestant Kovon Ducker. I am known as an overseer, it is my responsibility to proctor your trial of convergence today. It is with great honor that I offer this chance to you, Kovon Ducker. Ever since you were first identified as a potential candidate for the trial of ascension, we, Itokin, have known that you possess a great deal of potential.
We fully admit that we heavily influenced the IEC's contestant selection in your favor. All so that we could invite you to partake in the trial of convergence all the sooner.
If you are still in doubt of whether or not you have potential. Note that you are the only one in the room other than myself that remains standing. A typical candidate for the trial of convergence would at least be showing some signs of struggle, or even be in a partial kneel.
However, you, Kovon Ducker, remain fully upright even while all of your comrades are stuck kneeling on the ground. This is proof that you have great potential, far surpassing that of our average invitee."
As I process these words, I am left stunned. I cannot speak, although this may be due to interference. I can definitely notice some form of command that is trying to pull me into a kneel, but I don't seem to have any issues in resisting it, the words that the Itokin speak resound through me.
I have always thought that I was in some way different than those around me. I never really liked following orders or blindly following crowds. But now that this being of undoubtedly supreme power stands before me. I am being told that I am, in fact, different from the vast majority of beings in the universe.
"Now, Contestant Kovon Ducker, if you would please follow me into the shuttle, we shall head down to the planet and start your trial of convergence."
With these words, the overseer walks back into the shuttle. I quickly follow behind. Once we are both seated in the shuttle (which comes with a fancy looking throne and a luxury interior), the Itokin outside stop kneeling and begin filing into the shuttle.
As the door of the shuttle closes, I can see my crew start to stand up, likely freed from Itokin's strange influence.
The shuttle quickly undocks from the Clak and begins its journey down to the planet. As we approach our destination, which is in the center portion of the Itokin-human embassy complex, I can start to feel that strange presence hanging in the air. It doesn't seem to have any intention or force behind it this time though, rather it is simply there.
The closer we get to the destination, the stronger the presence grows, until it feels as though the weight of several billion people's hopes and dreams are pressing upon my brain. The sensation is highly unpleasant, but not intolerable.
Once the shuttle lands, the Itokin guards quickly exit. Overseer indicates for me to stand and exit first. Which I do so promptly. When I exit the shuttle, I am greeted with a scene straight out of some story book.
The shuttle has landed at the end of a long walkway. On either side of the walkway, stand the guards in a ceremonial salute position. Following my gut, I proceed across the walkway. Overseer exits shortly after me, but takes a different path off to the side.
As I walk the pathway, which is about 50m in length, I feel as though I am being monitored and judged. Not only by the rows of guards that line each side, but many prying eyes that are unseen to me.
It takes me about a minute to walk to the other side of the pathway. When I do, the guards move and form a file that walks behind me. On the other side of the pathway is a large monolithic structure. Strangely enough, I do not remember seeing any such building from orbit or in any pictures. It must be hidden by some form of camouflage.
The structure towers over me, easily five kilometers tall and has a base of around five hundred meters. Running up the side of the structure appears to be some form of channel, with large circular indents spaced every one hundred meters or so.
At the top of the structure, it narrows down to a point. All around me, the area seems to be completely permeated with the feeling I have previously noticed.
At the foot of the building is a large doorway, and standing next to it is the overseer, as well as one other similarly dressed Itokin. Beyond the door I think I can sense something. Whatever it is it must be insanely powerful for its energy to be noticeable this significantly.
As I approach the overseer, a gigantic text window appears in front of the door. It reads;
"Welcome initiate, you have been personally selected by the order of convergence to partake in a trial of convergence.
Before you proceed further, we require full acknowledgement of your decision to partake in this trial. Past this point, you will not be able to turn back and you will be considered a full initiate. You will be exposed to many highly guarded secrets. Should you fail the trial, you will lose all memories of this place and the experiences you will have. Should you succeed, you shall be welcomed into ourranks."
As I finish reading, a strange pedestal with four prongs at the top rises out of the floor. The ends of the prongs are very sharp, and under them lies a bowl-like indentation.
The feeling that permeates this place suddenly changes. I feel as though it is reaching into my very soul and asking me a question. DO YOU ACCEPT THESE TERMS? PRESENT YOUR DEDICATION, OFFER YOUR LIFEBLOOD. These words resound through my very being.
I can feel a tug, as though reality itself is urging me to comply and spill my blood into the pedestal. Having already decided to succeed at this trial no matter what, I insert my hand between the prongs on the pedestal.
The prongs instantly contract, slicing deep into my palm. My blood starts to pour out of my wounds and into the bowl. As this happens, I notice the presence surrounding me intensifying drastically. Almost as if It is invading every aspect of my soul and consuming me entirely.
What feels like a few seconds, but could have very well been a few hours passed by. All the time, I can feel as though something is both invading me and being removed. The sensation is unlike anything I have ever experienced. It strangely feels excruciatingly painful but also pure ecstasy.
The prongs retract from my hand and I am free to move again. The bowl is filled with my very blood. I now notice the pedestal has similar markings as those on the tower. Now that it is filled with my blood, I can see a faint 'glow' in the markings. However, it is unlike any glow I have ever seen, it is as though it is radiating darkness and light simultaneously.
The text upon the display changes, it now reads:
"Your offering has been received. We permit you entry into our sanctum. Enter. Initiate Kovon Ducker. May the truths impress themselves upon your Inae."
After this ominous text appears, the glowing of the pedestal seems to intensify. The door on the monolith opens.
The massive door opens with a great resounding hum. I can feel the presence in the environment intensify as the strange energy spills out from whatever lies inside. The further the door opens, the greater the light of the pedestal intensifies.
I start to notice that my blood, which is resting on the pedestal, is starting to ripple. Almost as if it is being shaken by something. Once the door is about halfway open, the presence in the air has grown thick. It is starting to get hard for me to think properly, I seem to be having problems with remembering to breathe.
My blood within the pedestal starts to float into the air. The thousands of my droplets of blood start to surround my limbs and head. Circling in orbits at rapid speed. I can feel a sharp tingling on my face and the palm of my left hand.
Once the door is about 75% open, my blood starts to glow with that weird light-yet-dark-glow. Moments later, my blood turns black, the infinitely dark black that is the same color as the cloak of the overseer. The tingling sensations intensify into an excruciating burning.
Once the door is just about open. The pain sharply spikes, far more painful than anything I have ever experienced. Moments later, the door fully opens.
The blood that has been circling around me now stops moving and hangs in rings around my limbs and head. After a few moments, the rings start to contract. As they approach my skin, I can feel an intense heat, almost as if that glow is heat itself.
Once the blood contacts my skin, the pain stops. My mind reels from the absence of pain and I am completely stunned.
The door is now fully open, but I am too busy adjusting to a strange sensation to pay attention.
It feels similar to the vertigo of hyperspace acceleration, but different somehow. Rather than spacetime around me folding, it appears as though every fiber in my being is folding outwards. I feel this sensation of expanding for an unidentifiable amount of time.
Once the sensation stops, I feel as though my mind is running far quicker than it did before. All my senses are highly attuned to what is around me.
As I take a look at my arms, I notice something strange. My exosuit seems to have retracted itself into its core at the center of my chest.
But that is not the most shocking part. All across my body are now markings, in that familiar infinitely black shade. They run in complex patterns across my chest, legs and presumably back. They connect to markings that run down my arms to my hands.
There are rings of markings around my wrists. But the bizarreness doesn't stop there. On my left hand there is an insignia (the exact one that is on the observer's forehead), it seems to radiate some of that wrongness that I have been feeling.
The marking has a star shape similar to the one on my forehead from the Ascension Ritual. However, surrounding it are two intertwined circles, looking like a series of strange loops.
After I am done examining my body, I notice strange sensations on my face. Somehow I know that there are markings on my face as well. It appears that a marking similar to the one on the overseer's forehead has fused with my ascension marking. It still has the star and the eight dots, but the ring is now looped similar to the marking on my hand.
Running down my cheekbones are also markings, they run all the way down to my chin and end in half-points.
It appears that whatever has happened to me, I now have a lot of markings on my body that obviously carry some significance. I can only conclude that below the cloaks of the overseers lie similar markings across their bodies.
It is now that I look through the now open door for the first time. Inside the massive structure is an altar of some kind.
There is a massive circle, with a diameter of around two hundred meters. On sixteen points around the circles, rise curved prongs, reaching towards a point above the center of the altar.
The altar is also covered with strange markings similar to the ones on my body. An intricate design that must have some inherent meaning even though it looks like chaos to me.
But what sticks out most, floating above the center of the altar is a cube. However, it is not any ordinary cube. This cube radiates a ridiculous amount of that earlier glow. It also seems to be the source of the immense presence in the air I am feeling.
This entire process, from the initial text to the reveal of the altar is now over. The overseers that have been watching me from the sides seem to be trying to tell me to enter the chamber.
As I begin walking, I start to think about everything that has happened in such a brief period.
First I met with a strange Itokin that seemed to have an unimaginable presence. Then my comrades were forced to kneel by some unknown command, while I alone resisted it.
Then, I was informed I was extremely special and had been specially selected by Itokin to undergo this trial of convergence.
I was then taken to this strange monolith and required to make an offering showing my dedication in a strange ritual.
A lot has happened. But I'm sure this is only the beginning. So whatever may come in the future, I say, bring it on.
End of Chapter 16
A/N: Greetings dear reader, author again. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, there is a lot of information to process within it. Don't worry, there is plenty more to come in the following chapters, so stay tuned!
As always, if you are enjoying, follow/favourite/rate/review/leaving a fun joke is always appreciated. Until next time, dear reader.
Cathrix