NOVEL WEB Chapter 31: Ezkaruun
Volume 1: Path – [Academy Arc]
Chapter 31: Ezkaruun
On the right page, there's a detailed drawing depicting seven individuals, two female and five male. Their facial features are obscured, leaving only their silhouettes and figures visible, creating an aura of mystery and reverence.
Countless humans are shown bowing before them, and behind the seven Apostles looms a divine image of the Gods, their forms hazy and indistinct, as if veiled by the fabric of myth and divinity.
--
'When all of humanity was on the verge of extinction, seven individuals from different civilizations emerged.
They were the first Awakeners and also the first Apostles of the Seven Gods.
They saved humanity and all living beings from the brink of annihilation.
Thus began the Era of Awakening. But it was kept hidden to protect ordinary humans from the fear of the Awakened and also demons in the dark.'
--
Caelus, having finished reading the passage, thought to himself, 'They didn't hide their awakening and superpowers just for those two reasons. There's a third reason: envy. Humans want everything: power, money, recognition. If someone is better than them in any way, they feel envy. Maybe not all, but most do. And it's not just humans, perhaps other living beings are the same. I don't know. I'm human, not an animal or a bird, so I can't speak for them.'
He flipped the page and saw a large inscription drawn in the middle:
𖼆ʮꖦ ꖦሸԎ ᭥ቻ Ҩʮᘮᖰ𖼆ꖦ𐑮 ꑓꖦ𐑮᭥
'The End of Chapter Zero'
--
Just as Caelus finished reading the final word of Chapter Zero, he felt a presence behind him. He only noticed it now that he was so deeply immersed in the book that the world around him had faded away.
He turned to see who it was and saw a woman.
She looked to be around eighteen years old, standing with a composed and poised demeanor. Her expression was unreadable, tinged with a quiet professionalism that gave her an air of authority.
Her hair was a vivid green, styled into a loose bun with soft, curled strands framing her face like ivy vines. Tucked neatly into the bun was a single white flower, its delicate petals offering a gentle contrast to her otherwise scholarly appearance. Her eyes mirrored the same vibrant emerald shade, sharp and intelligent, framed by elegant round glasses perched lightly on her nose.
She wore the academy's formal uniform: a tailored navy dress-coat adorned with an embroidered hourglass emblem over the chest, subtle geometric stitching tracing down the sleeves and hem. The design gave her silhouette a blend of grace and discipline. From her ears dangled a pair of green drop earrings, catching the light with each small movement like glints of jade.
It was Lily Ashford, the same girl who had placed the chronolink on his wrist earlier that morning at the academy's entrance. A third-year student.
"Hello there, Caelus," she said with a soft smile.
"Hello, Senior Lily," Caelus replied politely, closing the book with his right hand, which had been resting on the table. He turned to his left and rose from the chair.
Standing beside her, he noticed they were nearly the same height.
He addressed her as 'Senior' because he realized it was the appropriate way to show respect—and more importantly, to avoid any misunderstandings. Earlier that morning, he hadn't used the title. Not out of arrogance, but simply because he wasn't used to calling anyone that. Back in his old school, everyone treated each other casually, like friends. He had expected the same here, and besides, his mind had been too clouded to think straight.
But reality had hit quickly. He had witnessed how prideful nobles could be. Just today, while heading to lunch with Aiv, he saw a first-year student get penalized for not addressing a second-year as 'Senior.' The student lost merits, something Caelus couldn't afford to risk.
Even though Lily seemed friendly on the surface, he couldn't risk it. After all, no one truly knows what hides in the human heart and mind.
'She and Aeren must be related; they share the same surname,' Caelus thought as her name resurfaced in his memory.
"How have the classes been so far? Enjoying them?" she asked, her tone laced with genuine curiosity.
"Of course, Senior Lily. They're fascinating. Learning things like this, stuff that feels like it belongs in fantasy novels, is way more exciting than studying regular subjects like chemistry or biology back in a normal school."
"Hahaha, I know exactly what you mean. I was just like you when I first arrived here. It only gets more interesting as time goes on," Lily said with a nostalgic smile.
"I could see that, too, Senior Lily."
"I saw that you're reading the history book called The Stories Of The Seven Apostles. Do you understand the language in that book?"
"I don't know how to say this, but my mind instinctively generates the meaning of the words in my mind as if I know how to speak, write, and read the language, but I don't know what this language is? Can you tell me about this language, Senior Lily?"
"As your senior, it's my responsibility to guide juniors whenever I can. The language used in that book is called Ezkaruun. It was the very first language created by humans. The book you just read was originally written in Ezkaruun, but over time, historians began modifying it to make it more understandable for the current era. That's why Chapter 0, first page mentions the seven continents even though they didn't exist when the original manuscript was written."
"Oh, so that's the name of the language. Thank you, Senior Lily."
"No problem. As for your ability to understand it, based on what I know, it might be connected to your Awakening and the element you've gained. Some abilities manifest passively when someone Awakens. For example, I have a passive skill tied to my Nature element. I can store all the knowledge I have in seperate space in my brain and I can embed that knowledge I've learned into a plant, and then transfer that knowledge into someone's mind. Depending on how it's used, it can either overload their brain, causing death from the sheer influx of information, or serve as a way to share memories and data."
"That's an amazing passive ability, Senior."
"Hmm, hmm. No need to worry, you'll discover your own abilities in time. Either they'll reveal themselves naturally, or you can check within your core."
"Thank you for the information, Senior. I'll be sure to do that."
"No problem. I'm usually here around this time every other day, so feel free to reach out if you need help."
"I will."
"Alright then, I have to go now."
"Goodbye, Senior."
Caelus waved his hand and let out a quiet sigh as he returned to his seat. He glanced up at the ceiling, a plain white surface bathed in the glow of a tube light encased in glass. The harsh brightness hit his eyes, causing him to shut them briefly. After a minute, he opened them again, feeling the weight in his chest settle slightly.
'Gods, my brain feels fried. Talking to someone who's both a senior and from a noble family is like walking a tightrope. One wrong move, and I'm done for, long before I even get the chance to live my life to its fullest.'
He didn't bother reading the book any further; his mind was overloaded with information, and a dull headache lingered from all the conversation. All he wanted now was sleep.
Setting a 45-minute alarm on his chronolink, just enough to wake before the block ended, he lowered his head onto his crossed arms on the table. Within moments, he drifted off, his face buried, retreating into a moment of rest amidst the chaos of his thoughts.
--
An elderly woman observed Caelus as he slept at the table, his head buried in his arms.
She was Velan Rhime, the head Bishop of the Thalos Church.
'How intriguing,' she mused. 'Such talent and a genuine interest in the world's history. According to the reports, he hails from a small country named Kaelvara, located in the southeastern continent. A rather obscure nation, yet he's already been caught up in two major incidents. One was recent a clash between two powerful factions. The other happened three years ago, a mysterious catastrophe that claimed the lives of many civilians, including his own parents. Only a handful survived. He was one of them. Even the awakeners in that place don't have any information on this.'
Her eyes narrowed in contemplation. 'What business did Uriel have in such a remote place? For him to appear in Kaelvara... there's more to this boy than meets the eye.'
As the thought passed through her mind, she moved silently among the students. None noticed her presence, almost as though she were invisible, a phantom cloaked in divine secrecy.
She exited the library, still deep in thought, the shadow of Caelus lingering in her mind.
As she entered an alley, a shadow emerged from the darkness and knelt silently as the head bishop said something that didn't produce any sound, only lips moving. After that, the shadow bowed and disappeared into the darkness.