'Certainly not'. Luck thought to himself.
"Ill take that as a no then, you must be shocked as to how youve arrived here huh?", Valderi asked while displaying that playful deceitful smile.
"Do you perhaps know how I got here", Luck asked.
Valderi studied him for a bit, her long her swaying in the air. "I think i know what happened to you although I'm not entirely sure. My best guess is that your'e a victim of Draemon's Downfall"
Luck, his heart still thrumming a frantic rhythm, looked at Valderi, his mind already racing. He quickly processed her words, discarding the fantastical elements for a moment to focus on the immediate implications.
He wouldn't correct her assumption about his origin; it was a small detail that could buy him time, allow him to gather more information without revealing his true, disorienting predicament. His calm exterior belied the whirlwind within.
"Draemon's Downfall," Luck repeated, his voice surprisingly steady. "You mentioned it caused... rifts. Is that why I'm here?" He deliberately kept his question open-ended, allowing her to elaborate on the nature of the catastrophe rather than focusing on his personal displacement.
Valderi nodded, her expression shifting from playful amusement to a more serious demeanor.
"Precisely. Draemon's Downfall was an event of cataclysmic proportions, a cosmic unraveling of immense power. Draemon was an Archon, a being on the precipice of true divinity, attempting his apotheosis – the ultimate ascension to godhood."
"But he failed," she continued, a faint tremor in her voice. "And his failure wasn't just a personal setback. It ripped holes in the very fabric of existence. Think of reality like a finely woven tapestry. Draemon's failed ascension was like a tearing claw, shredding threads, leaving gaping holes." She gestured with her free hand, illustrating the concept. "These are the rifts I speak of. They're unstable, unpredictable tears, connecting disparate places, sometimes even different worlds, though those are exceedingly rare."
Luck listened intently, filing away every detail. "So, these rifts... they just appear and disappear?"
"For the most part, yes," Valderi confirmed. "They're transient phenomena, often fleeting. That you were pulled through one and landed here, in a relatively safe zone within the human domain, speaks of an almost unbelievable stroke of luck." Her jade eyes seemed to pierce him, as if searching for something. "Most who stumble into these rifts are far less fortunate, finding themselves in territories overrun by the creatures of corruption, or simply lost in the void."
"And these 'creatures of corruption'?" Luck inquired, remembering the Abberant. He needed to understand the threats of this world.
Valderi's playful smile vanished completely, replaced by a grim set to her lips. "They are the inverse of us, born from the raw chaos and instability of the void. The one you just fought, that Abberant, is a low-tier example. There are far worse things lurking in the shadows, things that can shatter the mind as easily as the body."
"You're in the human domain now," she said, sweeping her gaze across the glowing landscape.
"It's one of the few bastions of relative safety, but even here, vigilance is key. We divide it into five subcontinents: the Southern, Eastern, Northern, Western, and Central." She paused, studying him. "You don't strike me as someone from the Eastern reaches, nor the Northern. Perhaps the Central continent? Your attire is... unusual for our lands."
Luck offered a noncommittal shrug, maintaining his composure. "I've traveled a bit."
"Regardless," Valderi continued, seemingly accepting his vague answer, "the good news is that your arrival, despite its chaotic nature, suggests a certain inherent resilience.
And the way you handled that Abberant... it was clumsy, yes, but effective. You possess a nascent potential, a spark of something extraordinary." She tapped the hilt of her sword. "You have the capacity to become an awakened."
"What does it mean to be 'awakened'?" Luck asked, steering the conversation back to the core of his potential survival.
"An awakened individual is someone who has, through various means, unlocked their core essence," Valderi explained, her voice now filled with a quiet reverence.
"It's an intrinsic power, unique to each person, a reflection of their true self. Once awakened, you can consciously draw upon this essence, manifesting it in ways that defy normal understanding. It allows us to perform feats that would seem impossible to the unawakened."
"There are nine ranks among the awakened," she stated, "each signifying a deeper connection to and mastery over one's essence. From the nascent abilities of a Rank One to the near-cosmic power of a Rank Nine , it's a journey of self-discovery and immense personal growth." Valderi met his gaze, a hint of challenge in her eyes. "You have taken your first step, boy, whether you realize it or not. The question is, are you willing to take the next?"