Chapter 46: Heart Of Neba And Zeten
Damion concluded his class with an air of finality, leaving the room and his students in deep thought.
As the door closed behind him, it reopened almost immediately, revealing another teacher.
She stepped gracefully into the center of the room, her presence commanding attention.
This was Beth.
Her black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, contrasting strikingly with her luminous green eyes. She wore the Bloodrose Academy uniform with an elegance that made her stand out.
The uniform was tailored perfectly to her slender figure, the black and red accents complementing her dark hair and eyes.
A delicate necklace with a red rose pendant rested against her collarbone, adding to her charm. Every movement she made was fluid and confident, exuding a combination of grace and authority.
"Hello, everyone," Beth greeted, her voice warm and inviting, yet carrying a hint of the discipline she intended to instill.
"I am Beth, and I will be teaching you how to correctly use your Neba, control it, and eventually master it. In essence, I'll guide you through the practical applications of your abilities, while Damion will handle the theoretical aspects."
She paused to let her words sink in, her eyes scanning the room to ensure she had everyone's full attention.
"However, there are a few students who will not use their Nebas during our sessions. I will read their names now."
The students exchanged curious glances, wondering who would be singled out. Beth's eyes returned to the list in her hand.
"Alice Quinn," she called out. A girl with striking red hair stood up. Dune recognized her immediately.
She was the one who had confidently answered Damion's question earlier. So her name is Alice? he thought.
"Second, Hazel Amelia," Beth continued. Another girl rose from her seat and bowed.
Hazel had mesmerizing green eyes and black hair that framed her beautiful face.
Beth moved on to the next name. "Atlas." Atlas was taken aback.
He stood up and bowed, aware of the many eyes now fixed on him. He could sense the confusion and disappointment among his peers.
People without last names were often not from noble families, which led to them being looked down upon.
Beth nodded at Atlas before reading the final name on her list. "Dune!" she announced with a hint of excitement in her voice, her eyes lighting up as she looked at him.
Dune stood up slowly and bowed, feeling the weight of every gaze in the room.
His distinctive appearance, long white hair, a scarred white eye, and an air of quiet strength, drew even more attention.
Beth smiled, her curiosity about these students evident. "These orders come directly from the king himself.
These four will have their own personal trainers for Neba. They will still participate in our lessons but will not use their own Nebas."
The classroom buzzed with whispers of disappointment and speculation. Beth, though maintaining her composure, shared their curiosity.
Why were these four chosen for such special treatment?
Beth continued, addressing the class with a renewed sense of purpose.
"Despite these exceptions, our goal remains the same: to harness and refine your abilities. I look forward to seeing all of you grow and excel in your unique ways."
Her words were met with a mix of reactionssome students still murmured among themselves, while others seemed more determined than ever to prove themselves.
Dune, standing beside Atlas, felt a mix of relief and trepidation.
The path ahead was uncertain, but he was determined to uncover the mysteries of his Neba and the reasons behind these royal directives. The journey at Bloodrose Academy was only just beginning.
Dune and the other selected students followed Beth into a different room.
This room was even larger than the previous classroom, yet completely empty, except for circular platforms spread across the floor. Beth gestured for them to take their places on the circles.
"Each of you, sit on a circle," Beth instructed. "I will teach you how to connect fully to your own Neba. Just follow my words, and you will achieve good results.
This process is easy."
Dune sat on his designated circle, observing the others as they did the same.
Suddenly, a barrier formed around him, isolating him from the rest. He heard Beth's clear voice through the barrier.
"There are five steps that you need to complete. Let's start."
Step 1: Calm Your Mind"Sit and close your eyes. Don't be too worried; just calm down and rest."
Dune took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He tried to push aside the anxiety gnawing at his mind. His breathing slowed, and he felt a semblance of peace wash over him.
This first step was a challenge in itself, as Dune's mind raced with the recent trials and tribulations. But he forced himself to relax, to let go of the tension that had built up over time.
Step 2: Focus Your Neba
"Now, I want you to focus on your Neba and feel it. And then destroy your Neba Core
Feel Neba in your body, how it travels and moved in your Core. I need you to focus your Neba in your Core. Try to burn it and then destroy your core."
Dune concentrated on his Zeten aura, attempting to direct it towards his Zeten Core.
He visualized the energy coursing through his veins, moving towards the center of his chest. As he did so, his chest began to burn, sweat trickled down his forehead, and pain shot through his body.
His breath hitched, and he gritted his teeth against the agony.
The barrier around him was a blessing, as it shielded him from prying eyes.
He knew that if anyone saw him like this, his true nature and his Zeten aura would be exposed. Despite the searing pain, Dune persisted, finally managing to destroy Zeten core in his heart.
Step 3: Burn Your Neba
"Next, you need to burn your Neba. Let it flow around your heart but also let it consume and fuse with it. Let it fuse with your blood."
Dune felt a chill run down his spine. This was going to be the hardest part. He visualized his Neba flowing around his heart, merging with it.
The pain intensified, and he had to clamp his hand over his mouth to stifle a scream. Blood trickled from his lips, but he couldn't let anyone see his struggle.
With every ounce of willpower, Dune forced the Neba to blend with his blood.
His heart now beat faster, and it felt different, cold, yet intimately connected to his consciousness. It was as if he could feel every beat, control every pulse, like he controlled his limbs.
Step 4: Fuse with Your Whole Body"Now, you need to repeat the same process with your whole body.
Some of you might already be trained in this, so it might be easier for you. But I recommend doing one part after another instead of trying to fuse your Neba with your whole body instantly."
Dune focused his Neba on his stomach first, then his hands, legs, neck, eyes, nose, and mouth. Each new area brought fresh waves of pain, and he nearly passed out several times.
He could hear thousands of different voices whispering in his mind, almost losing control a few times. Even his godly blessings seemed ineffective against the excruciating process.
When he finally managed to fuse his Neba with his brain, he was shocked to see his reflection in the barrier, his entire body was glowing with a white aura.
Quickly, he deactivated it to avoid drawing attention. Despite the pain, Dune felt lighter, more alive. His body breathed easily, and he felt purer, stronger.
Step 5: Activate Your Neba"The final step: you need to activate your Neba in every part of your body instantly, but only for one second.
If you do more, your body might explode or receive heavy damage. Be careful; you are still new to this. You just need one second."
Dune steeled himself, focusing on his entire body.
He failed the first few attempts, the energy dispersing chaotically, leaving him gasping in pain. But he persisted, each failure teaching him something new.
Finally, he managed to activate his Neba in every part of his body simultaneously for one second.
The surge of energy was overwhelming.
For that brief moment, Dune felt invincible. His senses heightened, his body felt like a conduit of pure power.
As the energy dissipated, he collapsed to his knees, panting heavily but filled with a sense of accomplishment.