436 Observers in the World (1/2)

The sun was setting, but the looming dark clouds continued to swirl in the skies above the Royal Palace with Aria seated at its center, eyes closed.

Many hours have passed, but the process of Transcendence did not seem like it would end any time soon.

Clouds gathered, and white lightning crackled with streaks of blue and purple. The power accumulated in the clouds was ever-rising, but without its descent, Aria cannot be baptized and complete her Transcendence.

Heinrich and Elizabeth shortly returned after tending to matters in the east, helping with the railway construction that would connect the Capital to the World Tree—only to be surprised by the scene before them.

”How much time has elapsed since Aria started sitting here? Her Transcendence hasn't ended yet?” Elizabeth said, taken aback before her brows creased with worry.

Heinrich frowned.

”We were gone from a whole day, but Aria has still been sitting here. This is probably the longest Transcendence in history. There won't be any problem, would there?”

”Why are you asking me? I should be asking you!”

”How would I know? I don't know everything.” Heinrich responded dumbfoundedly.

Shortly after, Elizabeth pulled over a palace guard and queried, ”Anything happened while we were gone?”

”None, Your Majesty.” The palace guard answered, honestly.

Heinrich and Elizabeth fell into silence.

After a moment, Heinrich softly said, ”Well, let us hope nothing goes awry. This Transcendent Phenomenon is rather different from previous ones, after all. Perhaps, it has something to do with Aria's unique attributes. Maybe something good will come out of it.”

”Un, maybe you are right. We can only hope and pray that things go well.” Elizabeth nodded, but she cannot hide the concerns in her heart.

They both gazed into the whirlpool of dark clouds in the sky worriedly.

Suddenly, the whirlpool of dark clouds began to spin with increasing velocity, forming a clear eye at its center.

The entire sky was blotted out by the clouds. But at this moment, a clear glimpse into the void was projected through the eye. However, this void did not seem to come from their world.

The starry eyes depicted was different. It did not match the same constellation they usually see in the sky at night. It was as if the eye was a portal, leading to a different world.

It was not long before a few sprinkles of soft glittering light particles fell from the eye of heaven like falling stardust. They landed gently on Aria's head before disappearing like melting snow.

Deep in her consciousness, Aria fell into a dream. The dark depths of her sea of consciousness fade as she was pulled into another world—a world of snow.

'This place…'

'I've seen this place before…'

'In my dream.'

Below was the kingdom belonging to the said palace, flourishing in the grassland with fresh air, which was contrary to the coldness of the tall mountain peak.

A plethora of herbs could be seen in every household, some of which were built grand and impressively, only slightly inferior to the palace on the snowy mountain peak.

She glanced down at her own hands and feet, waving them in doubt before her eyes gradually widened with please surprise.

'I can move on my own this time.'

Aria concluded.

She resumed observing the world in her surroundings.

It was beautiful beyond belief, thriving with life and fantastical elements she had not seen in the Human Domain.

Distant mountain peaks surrounded the kingdom, and floating islands could be seen high in the skies amongst the clouds while flowing water poured down from them ceaselessly like waterfalls.

Rivers of clear water ran through the heart of the kingdom and spread to every direction. These clear waters seemed to possess magical properties that nourish the plants and herbs it touches, allowing them to proliferate and bloom with wonders.

Beyond the sky, was the heavens.

It was filled with large celestial bodies, both close and far like distant stars. However, the close ones were bigger and brighter than the moons in her memory.

They appeared so closely; it gave her the illusion that they were only a short flight away as long as she could have the ability to traverse amongst the stars.

Walking around, her feet were bare. The snow was soft and cold, but not to the point of freezing. Instead, it was cool and refreshing, like the ocean breeze in spring.

Even so, her footsteps in the soft patches of snow left no footprints. When she reached for a few glacial flowers growing in the snow, her hands phased through it like trying to touch an illusion.

However, she knew that the world was not an illusion. Rather, she was the illusion in this unknown world.

'How did I come here?'

'Why am I brought here?'