Iridescent rays of light continued to fluctuate in an unpredictable sequence. Lucian couldn't fathom how Resonance could influence something that appeared so uncontrollable.
He attentively observed the movement of his frequency in an attempt to grasp some form of repetition, or even a hint of understanding its chaotic flow.
After failing to understand his fluctuating frequency, Lucian shifted his gaze and began searching. Aurora previously mentioned that he should find the tower's frequency after he located his.
In the void of absolute darkness, the frequency of the tower wasn't a tedious task to locate. High above Lucian—like a flying dragon made of pure radiance—the frequency of the Tower of Desire flowed.
'Epic…' Lucian marvelled at the magnificent sight.
The curves of the tower's frequency were smooth and flowed endlessly in ideal formations, compared to Lucian's frequency, which was sporadic and untamed; the tower's frequency appeared orderly and divine.
Lucian's eyes creased at the thought of needing to make his frequency match the tower's.
And that's when he encountered a significant problem…
How does one achieve Resonance?
Lucian faced the wild beast that was his frequency with a nervous glance. What he understood about frequencies was that they were vibrations, and now, it was a special form of communication with the tower.
The jagged rays of white light were his frequency, meaning he should have the means to adjust it, but he currently lacked sufficient knowledge to do so.
'Just think outside the box, Lucian. See your frequency as an extension of yourself—another part of your body or even a sixth sense. Yes. I should try that.'
Lucian concentrated on his frequency; the ever-expanding rays of pure light contrasted starkly against the darkness, making it slightly easier for him to focus solely on them.
He steadied his heart and tugged at invisible strings. It was there, in the back of his mind, like a muscle he had forgotten how to use. Once set his focus on that extension of himself, Lucian raised his arm and reached for his frequency.
With all his might, Lucian clenched his teeth as he pulled on nothing. Veins pulsed beneath his skin, and his eyebrows creased as he groaned, exerting all his strength.
Lucian's eyes flickered with a faint glow as the chaotic spiralling of his frequency shifted slightly.
Two seconds. In that brief span, Lucian's frequency bent; its jagged edges softened, and in that short moment, a distorted voice filled with divinity resounded throughout the dark void.
"Seek me again. Oh, Herald of—"
But Lucian's body faltered as those two seconds concluded. He couldn't withstand the obscure voice nor the concentration required to will one's frequency.
Lucian opened his eyes in a daze. This time, the familiar park came into view instead of a world of absolute black, and Aurora's youthful, smug face was inches from his, marker in hand.
After he adjusted to the sunlight, Lucian blinked and realized what the mischievous northerner had been up to.
"W-Were you drawing on my face?!" Lucian accused, pointing at her while scrambling backward.
Aurora hid the marker behind her and replied playfully, "Who, me? No, no, I was simply passing the time by releasing my artistic inclinations. By the way, have you ever thought about getting a mustache? Hahaha!"
"Miss Aurora!" Lucian raged, grabbing the stick she used against him earlier.
Hours passed with more futile attempts at Resonance, and eventually the duo left the park to ease their gnawing hunger with a hot meal of smashed burgers, a local delicacy in Stonekeep. Resonating was an exhausting process, so Lucian welcomed the respite.
Aurora went to the restroom, leaving Lucian to his own devices. While eating, he watched Stonekeep residents gamble against one another in various games, while others fixated on the projection screen broadcasting the news.
The news anchor caught Lucian's attention when he mentioned Ascender topics.
"On other news, the Trial of Ascension this summer is a little under six months away. Many major guilds are already preparing to induct a new influx of exemplary candidates into their ranks. Some already have their sights on gifted heirs of prominent families. Top guilds like the Star Sect, the House of Champions, and even the illustrious King's Covenant aim to recruit the Artemis heir, Kethan Artemis, known as the 'genius amongst geniuses.'"
The screen displayed an imposing figure with piercing blue eyes, curly dark hair, and sharp features. At a glance, Lucian understood that he carried an air of royalty.
'Genius amongst geniuses, huh? Don't piss me off? I also have a cool epithet! I'm the Herald of—yeah. Herald of something!'
Lucian took an angry bite of his burger as the news anchor continued.
"However, next year's trial will be even more exhilarating, as the great Kethan Artemis will be up against his childhood rival, Vylette of House Blackwell—the younger sister of the acclaimed Third World Ascender, Virgil, and the youngest person to become Gifted at the age of five."
Like Kethan, Vylette's image appeared on-screen. Lucian nearly choked on his food at the sight of her.
Vylette's ivory skin was fair, and the black-dyed ends of her straight white hair contrasted sharply. Her gray eyes looked bored and detached, as though her parents had forced her to pose. She wore an indifferent expression.
Her air of royalty was as palpable as Kethan's, making Lucian feel small in comparison.
He had been a genius among the kids in the orphanage, but the world held far more exceptional people. They were destined for greatness, while he couldn't even resonate with his frequency for more than two seconds.
The gut-wrenching feeling Lucian experienced then was frustration.
"Chin up, Luci," said a familiar voice—yet oddly different from the one he remembered.
Lifting his head, he saw a woman his age wearing a gray fur coat and cat-eye sunglasses atop her long, messy black hair. If not for her distinct brown skin and crimson eyepatch, Lucian wouldn't have pieced together that the woman was Aurora.
"Miss Aurora?" Lucian blurted.
Aurora tilted her head and chuckled, striking a cute pose, "Oh, I figured it would be more comfortable for you to be around someone your age in public. What? Don't I look pretty for an eighteen-year-old?"
Lucian blinked, wiping his hands with a napkin and adding frankly, "You play too much. Seriously, how old even are you?"
Aurora sat across from him and replied bluntly.
"It's rude to ask a woman her age, you know?"
The napkin crumpled in Lucian's hand as he forced a bitter smile, "Right. Right."
Aurora glanced at the projected screen, where the news anchor continued listing more prodigies slated for the Trial of Ascension. She shifted her gaze to Lucian—who refused to look—with her trademark smirk.
"So, that's why you're feeling down. Let me guess—you think you can't compare to those geniuses?"
Lucian didn't answer her question, prompting Aurora to sigh.
"Don't pay them any mind for now, Lucian. Comparing yourself to them will do you more harm than good. Their parents have trained them as political weapons since they could walk, while you're just beginning to understand Resonance. There is already a considerable gap in knowledge, technique, and power between you and them; however, they lack something vital that only you have."
Lucian paused before asking calmly:
"And what exactly do I have?"
"Me." Her orange eye flickered with light as she spoke. "As I said, I'm going to make you an excellent Ascender. Who better to speed up your ascension than a veteran Ascender like me?"
Her moderate words of affirmation meant the world to Lucian. He had always relied solely on himself in his pursuit of ascension, but now he finally had a chance—a trump card.
Lucian faced her with a confident smile.
"You're right."
Aurora leaned forward and slammed her arm onto the table.
"Alright, before we head over to Boneyard, what exactly did you experience when you attempted Resonance?"
Lucian took a deep breath and recounted his memories of the dark void, his chaotic frequency, and the magnificent frequency of the tower.
"I attempted Resonance. I could only resonate with my frequency for barely two seconds, but I believe in that short moment… the Tower of Desire spoke to me."