The street is busy and loud cheering could be heard from mortal folks as we
were guided by the elders through the street of Pei village, similar to a Chinese
festival such as on Earth, we were heading to the ritual ceremony to awaken our
gate.
A familiar voice can be heard from the distance calling out to us "Brother Zi
Han, Brother Yi Han!" with excitement.
"Its you! Sister Mei Han" our childhood friend who always had our backs
when trouble came upon us. She has white hair that reaches her just below the
chest, and with white pupils as white as her dress.
Growing up, i was always favored by the elders and could sense the jealousy
from my brother, he secretly envies me but i've never told him that. he's my
brother after all but this isn't not Earth where empathy can lead to bond, in this
world, empathy is seen as a weakness used for manipulating other people, you
could say its the same on Earth but here… its a different story. the difference is
like heaven and earth.
"Mei Han, what do you think will be your pathway?" said with a curious
smile by Yi Han.
"I don't really have any expectations in which pathways i would awaken but
if i were to say… a high priestess!!" with a tint of hope.
High Priestess, second of the major arcana, a powerful only some has
awakened, about 2 in every 20,000 population in a village, and only 50 ever being
awakened in 100,000 sized population village. with this pathway, you are able to
have clairvoyance, it is the path of secrets and intuition.
"Don't get your hopes up, that pathway is very rare and only some has
achieved it, one of the easiest if you ever one to cultivate to immortal realm" a
sigh of pessimistic tone coming from Yi Han.
As we head to the chamber of awakening, a giant door with gold tint and
made of hard wood, inside we are greeted by mortals called awakeners wearing
a robe that covers their eye some what like a mystic from the pervious world,
only the lips could be seen and there were about 10 of them.
"this is starting to look suspenseful" as i speak my mind, they look like a cult
who's about to sacrifice us to a God.
about 50 candidates have attended, while the elders left the room, ages from
15-20 years old, if i recall correctly i'm about 17 human years but in this world,
there is no dedicated calendar, time flows differently in some part of the regions.
After about 40 failed candidates who did not get awakened, these younglings
are good as dead from their guardians, what is a mortal in this world without an
awakened gate?
A man who looked like a cult member called upon me "Zi Han, its thy turn,
step in the amidst, to see what fate has destined upon you, will you be a failure
sheep or an awakened one" smile as scary as a clown, with a tint of horror
flooding throughout my body.
"Yes, i'm right here" i stepped on the circle which was colored white, candles
and awakeners surrounding me. a suspense of thrill rushes upon my body, it
takes a heavy toll on my Zan, the spiritual force than connects heaven and earth,
i sit upright in a meditation form to control it.
"Mortal of the Zan World, May your fate be chosen by the righteous Gods,
Awaken thy gate!" The awakeners enchant this 3 line honorific, to awaken my
gate and here i was tested, i experienced some sort of out of body experience,
here i see everything and nothing at the same time, then i was met up by the
three Gods, Sun, Moon, and Space.
"Why do you choose to awaken mortal one?" asked by The Sun God, with a
hint of curiosity, i cannot perceive what these beings are, i am still a mortal after-
all.
"Your honor sovereign of all existence, i wish to awaken my gate so i can seek
the truth of this world" i opened my eyes and there it was the sight before my
OBE.
"You have awakened your gate and will walk the path of THE LOVERS" as
the awakeners enchant, with heavy tone. Me, the first to awakened their gate!!
The Lovers Pathway, 6th of the major arcana that focuses on choices, duality
and resonance. with this, you are able to see what choices are the greatest for
your own benefit as a starter Zan. in a way that it wields Good-luck but its not
always certain the path is the right choice. this pathway in terms of cultivating is
faster to ascend, just behind the wheel of fortune. The Zan formation is an angel
like image with black wings on the right and white on the left. Awaken 1: The
lovers.
"Brother Zi Han awakened his gate!" "Wow this mortal is truly chosen by the
three Gods" "This brother will for sure bring wealth and Good luck to our clan!"
shouts of happiness are heard across the room from the remaining 10 that still
needs to awaken their gate.
"Mei Han, step in the amidst" called out by the awakeners, as she starts to sit
upright and meditate, and her body weakens from her Zan draining, she opened
her eyes.
"You have awakened your gate and will walk the path, THE CHARIOT" the
awakeners enchant, as their lips curls up with a tint of smile.
The Chariot, 7th of the major arcana, that focuses on willpower and
momentum, with this pathway, you are expected to persevere on every
encounter that is bound to head your way, through this, the pathway to immortal
realm will be rough. its Zan formation which depicts a horse like image has
entered her Gate. Awaken 1: The Chariot.
"Not bad! though i expected so much this should cultivate me greater than
most awaken ones have!" enjoyment filled her as she steps back to join the other
ten.
"Yi Han, Step forward" called out by the awakeners, he collapses to the
ground with barely holding on while his eyes are close, the blue robe touching
the dirt from the ground is seen clearly.
Yi Han opens his eyes and the awakeners enchant "THE FOOL!!!!! we have
never seen The Fool's pathway in this small village!!!" the awakeners couldn't
hold their excitement from this clear miracle.
"YOU! you are the chosen one!" "our village is safe!" "Wealth and Fortune
must come to our village!!" loud shouts heard from inside the chamber, that
elders came rushing in.
"Yi Han! you will bring good fortune to this village!" "what of your brother?
he is a useless cultivator who only amounted to the 6th of the major arcana"
coming from the elders, praising a clear blessing from the Gods.
I can't say i'm jealous but The lovers Pathway is not half bad, what of the
elders? the people? the mortals? in this world, only perseverance remains, in this
world, the number one priority is to achieve immortal realm, even if one must
betray his colleagues, the praise of the elders does not mean anything to me in
the end of the line….. only perseverance remains.