(Theron POV)
After leaving Kael's family, I headed back to my base of operations in Arthenos. I needed more time to prepare for my confrontation with Ezra at the port on the western side of the continent. First, I needed to get my nexus under control. Having two constellations does grant me access to immense power, but it takes a toll on my spiritual well-being. My nexus is in a constant state of destabilization because of the unharmonious sources of power within my celestial core. The closer I get to achieving the same resonance level with my second constellation as my first, the more confident I am that the instability in my nexus—and the cracks in my core—will fade.
Now back in my chambers, I entered my nexus. The sensation had always been strange compared to before. In my astral form, I watched as the two portals on my corresponding tattoos floated and bound together to form a portal of swirling cosmic energy, glowing in crimson red and bright orange light.
Once I stepped through, I saw the now-familiar sight of my nexus split in half. I saw two Orbs of Communion, two Pools of Reflection, two Stellar Pathways, and two Astral Forges. For most, the sight would have been overwhelming, but for me, it brought excitement and joy to my very being. This was something only a few could ever achieve. Soon, I would become the pinnacle of what a Starbound could be.
As I floated toward the Stellar Pathway of the Eclipse Serpent, I felt a pull on my spirit. It came from the other side of my nexus—the side that glowed with the vibrant colors of the sun. The side that exuded warmth and nurturing energy. The side that had rejected me. Ever since that day, I resented this power. I hated that I was forever connected to it. It was a reminder of my failure.
I rejected its call and continued toward the floating island of stardust where the Stellar Pathway of the Eclipse Serpent resided. I placed my hand on the node I had been working on previously—the one that translated to "Weak Points." This node was the final step I needed to complete in order to increase my resonance level, so I could take the next astral trial and reach the Empyrean Stage of the Eclipse Serpent.
But this resonance trial was by far the trickiest. It wasn't necessarily about the application of cosmic energy or imagination when building constructs. It was based on my ability to detect small, minute details in both living and non-living things. At first, I didn't understand why this would be relevant or how it meshed with my control of decay energy. But after my fight with the Moonhowlers—and especially my battle with Kael—it started to make more sense.
I had been under the impression that the Eclipse Serpent's power was rooted in attrition and methodical fighting. But I was wrong. I was supposed to break whatever—or whoever—stood before me as quickly as possible.
The first part of this trial was to spot weak points in the structure of non-living things. It started with rocks and different types of ores. It didn't take me long to figure it out. This node affected my vision, allowing me to see the flow of atoms. Where there was a large concentration of atoms, the object was strong. Where there were fewer atoms, that was the weak point.
The second part of the trial focused on living objects—like trees and plants. This phase was much more difficult. Things weren't so black and white anymore. When I used my new sight to observe a small tree made of stardust in the Pool of Reflection, the atoms appeared to move faster compared to that of rock. I could see everything moving quickly, in a frenzy, to maintain the tree's form by transporting energy from one point to another.
I wasn't yet accustomed to the pattern of how atoms moved. In truth, there seemed to be no pattern at all. I struck the tree several times, but nothing I did seemed to make a dent. It frustrated me that, even with the object standing still, I couldn't land a blow in the spot that would cause it to crumble.
After several more failed attempts, I was finally able to track the atoms, find a lull in their movement, and strike when the density was low. At last, I chopped a piece of bark off the tree made of stardust. I released a sigh of relief and watched the tree dissolve, signifying I had finished this part of the trial.
But to my surprise, a single body rose from the Pool of Reflection.
The body didn't resemble anyone I knew. It remained a silhouette—a lean humanoid figure. Unlike the tree, it did not remain stationary. It jumped out and lashed at me with explosive might, almost as if it intended to end me then and there. I parried the attack and spun around the stardust humanoid, retaliating with a strike to its back. The figure was unfazed and continued its relentless pursuit.
Activating my atom sight, I observed how the atoms within its body bounced everywhere—faster than what I'd seen in the stationary living objects. I struggled once again. The atoms were moving so fast that I couldn't focus on them and fight simultaneously. In the midst of trying to locate a weak point, my astral form was struck several times by the training opponent. Each hit jarred my mind, shaking my focus and breaking my concentration.
But I knew I could do this. I had already managed to keep a focused mind and handle two fate constellations. I was more than capable of passing this trial—or so I thought. Before I realized it, the stardust opponent had pressured me so hard during our bout that I was no longer standing in the Pool of Reflection.
"Did that bright little bastard just make me fail?!"