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Following her down the long corridors which comprised this level of the tower, he then watched as it gave way to a spherical atrium that had a circular hole at the apex. However, instead of being a passage for sunlight, a floating platform descended from it. They then stepped on to it and levitated to a new level while surrounded on all sides by blinding radiance.

[Host, are you not going to address her searching through your memories?]

"Since I did the same even though she was not my vessel, I'll allow it. She didn't tamper with my mind and I regard my past as merely a stepping stone", Atlas said to his System.

'Besides, I'm far more interested in her connection to this tower. Judging from what I know, she seems to be the once naive type that matured due to hardship'

Her greatest hardships were recorded in the memory. However, it did not reveal much about who she actually was. On the outside, she might have been the Sage of Detha but she was not from Detha and clearly had origins that were far more esoteric.

The desperation she exuded when entering his memories. The disappointment upon realizing it was another person. The clarity through which she perceived his past. It was not her first time going through the memories of others.

The platform finally stopped ascending and the light dissipated to reveal a verdant meadow brimming with an intangible energy that seemed to sharpen the mind.

'Is this magic?', Atlas thought with widened eyes as the intangible energy occasionally coagulated to form fluorescent mirages.

"As expected, you're shocked. Magic is rarely this concentrated", she said with a slight smirk and walked towards the center of the meadow.

Atlas swiftly followed her as she led him to an altar with what looked like a mirror imbedded on a pedestal.

"Place your hand on the altar", she beckoned softly.

With great anticipation surging within, he slowly reached towards the pedestal. A pillar of light shot towards the sky and then began to expand. The light then enveloped him and brought forth a hall filled to the brim with transcripts, tomes, and lexicons.

'The room from the memory', he thought.

Taking a book from a random shelf, he flipped through the pages to find it completely blank.

'Is there no writing or has it been hidden?'

He then took another book that seemed to be of higher quality to find it also empty. And then another from a different shelf. And then another from a different room.

Sighing in defeat, he then decided it was better to ask the System for help. He then felt it. That prickly feeling which takes hold of the mind when someone is looking directly at you. The feeling then intensified as if a crowd had gathered behind him without him hearing them. Following the psychic sensation, he swiftly turned around. What greeted him was a dark door which seemed to ooze with malice. It then creaked open slightly just enough to reveal the silhouette of many eyes. Both entities gawked at each other with equal levels of intrigue.

In a celestial residence beyond the reach of mortals, a female stood. She was smirking as something completely unexpected happened. Pleasant yet uncontrollable laughter then entered the ears of the one passing by.

"Is something wrong?", the person asked in a concerned tone. Her Master was not someone that laughed very often. In fact, if one asked her to be described, they'd describe her as imposing, relentless, and quite formal. In this place devoid of any laughter, she actually mistook it for coughing.

The female immediately stopped laughing.

"Oh, you were here, Serithea?", she asked in an indifferent tone.

"I was stopping by to check up on you", Serithea replied in a dutiful tone.

"It's unnecessary", she retorted.

"But-", Serithea started but was immediately stopped by her.

"Serithea, are there not more important tasks to busy yourself with?", she stated in a frosty tone.

Serithea inwardly sighed and bowed to her Master before leaving. As she was about to close the door, she then remembered and hurriedly said, "Some of the Deities are planning another Trial and are requesting an audience with you"

"I will get to it", she briefly stated before returning to spectating her new entertainment.

'To think that someone could actually resonate with that twisted abomination', she thought greatly amused.

____

Once again, an archway appeared near the entrance of a particular wooden lodging. Throwing the gigantic manticore to the ground, he then wiped the blood and sweat from his body.

"It seems she hasn't given up", he said while sighing deeply.

Playing with the unique sword which seemed to contain great power, he pondered whether or not to visit her again.

Tossing aside the insecurities, he then assumed a smile and decided to pay a visit.

_____

Eliza stood calmly on the other side and patiently waited. The pillar of light then started to lose intensity and began to shrink until it completely disappeared. From it, Atlas emerged with a completely befuddled expression. One could not tell he previously had a stoic expression on and Eliza slightly chuckled.

"Which branch did you resonate with?", she asked.

"Invocation", Atlas responded after shaking out of his stupor.

"That is quite unexpected", she blurted out while one of her eyebrows raised upwards in confusion.

'People that align with invocation usually rely heavily on others. He doesn't seem like the type to and given his past, he might be reclusive or even misanthropic', she thought.

"Is there something wrong?", Atlas asked hesitantly.

She then slightly grimaced and apologized. When Atlas' expression darkened, she then explained, "It's impossible to explore the depths of magic with invocation because invocation is essentially borrowing the strength of others. However just because you only resonate with invocation, doesn't mean you can only use invocation. Other magic will be harder to master but it's possible"

"Then-!", Atlas began but was interrupted by the shriek emitted by the altar.