To avoid falling asleep, aware of how easy it can be to slumber and rot, she dives into the spatial memory of Shadeen's lesson.
"Divine energies exist everywhere. It has always been there, but we've been sheltered from it. However, just because we know this does not make the process any less challenging. People who forcefully try to use divine energy without the process of mastery of coexisting with it will die. No questions, no cure. Simply death. To avoid this, Lightless exists. Anyone can become powerful so long as they have the will and strength to step into this maddening fate, though if they survive is another matter."
She pauses before continuing in a soothing, kind voice.
"Because all of you have succeeded in the willpower and determination to achieve a zodiac path, you will be able to sense divine energies and eventually wield it more smoothly than an amateur."
"Zodiac paths can be described as gates connecting you to what already exists inside you; the threads link to a higher dimension. These threads are known as Animation Threads. Think of them as another set of veins in your body. Targeting an one's Animation Threads is one fatal flaw to divine power that everyone must know, for it is both an advantage and disadvantage—it is a weakness no defensive attribute can block. If you cut them from your opponent, they do not die but are instead doomed to a life of mortality and can never wield relics again."
"As simple as it may sound, removing Animation Threads is impossible, but it is nonetheless a possibility to wound them, therefore damaging an Ophanim's ignited status."
Shadeen shakes her hand, waving her hand downward.
"Do not ask me how to wound Animation Threads. You'll find out in the midst of battle in desperation or through igniting a relic. The lessons I teach are the spark of what you will be in the future. Knowledge is power, and power is your worth."
"Can someone tell us what type of divine energies exist and why it's so important you know the difference?"
After an entire minute of silence, no hands rise; Shadeen smiles.
"Now, that is a first. No one can answer? That's all right. Each power in the world, divine power or common power like magic or dark magic are all fueled by a source. We do not teach common power, so I'll skip those. If you are too curious, look it up on your own."
The pen stylus manifests between her fingers just as she lifts her hand in the air and brings it to the board.
"Stella, Solar, Spiritual, Aether, and Luna," she speaks the written words.
"These are the key divine energies that power the relics. Each zodiac path sticks to one of these five and it's important you understand them because if you absorb the one not fueling your zodiac path then you will die."
Shadeen lips thin into a solemn line, her voice still kind. "Lightless Institute has been around for a long enough time to solve this issue."
From her pocket void, she pulls out dozens of different color rocks and causes them to float toward the first years.
"With these Shred Star Rocks gifted by Heavenly Father, it'll guide you to absorbing the correct energy."
In her memory, Catalina picks up the rock, the warm surface heating her palm.
"The last thing for today's class is meditating. When activating divine power, it consumes your Animation Threads and if that runs out, it targets your mental vigor, stamina, body and then soul."
"To prevent that inevitable danger, as once it starts, it does not end until you are the end. Therefore, we always meditate, no matter how superior our mastery gets we meditate to make sure we never falter."
"Let's dive in. Calm your mind and let it descend into silence. Listen to the beats of your heart and flow of breathing."
With her eyes still shut in reality, she digs out the Shred Star Rock to practice alongside the memory.
Catalina's pulse is moderately high due to wandering for hours, added with her earlier classes, which exhausted her mentally more than physically.
The sound of her soft breathing fills all her senses as she concentrates on it, attempting to blend the sound with her heartbeat.
After a good moment, she does just that. Concealed inescapable air in the form of human flesh; that's what it feels like.
"Once you've successfully merged the sound, I want you to fuse all your senses with that one, both physically and mentally."
Her hand marked by Chronicle Points emerges from her flesh, surrounding her in a cocoon of dull pointed stars.
This is the physical proof of someone meditating and, in the future, will display the percentage of her ignited process, transforming from colorless to a vivid shade.
In under ten minutes, she gets her body thumping with one sensation. Her fingers, nerves and muscles tremor and pulsate.
"If you're still meditating, keep trying, just don't give up. For those who have succeeded in the few steps, you now must envision the veins in your body and imagine them splitting open, replacing your blood with that of divine energy. You can feel it, can't you? The indescribable forces around us exist as if entities themselves. Those energies are like rich blood only gods can afford to flow in their bodies."
An inexpressible liquidity gas like sensation drowns Catalina from within as she envisions a teal river of energy, feeling the power in her pores and flesh.
Her head throbs, aching in an unsteady rhythm, while her heart and organs tightens painfully.
She fears for a moment she might explode like the one seeker from class earlier when waves of tremendous energy rippled within the poor girl's body like desperate gasps of air, as if twisting a gift for her.
However, her fears morph into wonder, as a third eye seems to open in her perception, allowing her to feel the vitality of those nearby.
Their spiritual presence is like torches of flames.
Different from mana's perception that enables her to glimpse a person's presence, she feels the life force of those in the Heavenly Realm.
She can't yet discern them from each other, only recognizing that the ones with brilliant vitality belong to divine animals.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps manifests in her eardrums.
A cool pulsing aura laced the steps, enveloping her with a refreshing and fluid sensation.
In the next second, she gradually experience suffocation.
Her heart swells with panic as her eyes snap open to check if she's really drowning and is foolishly unaware.
Her concentration collapses, leaving her empty of power, but also unable to feel the strange aura.
'What was that? It was almost as if the air came alive.'
Ignoring her confusion for the moment, she lifts her gaze. A spark of surprise crosses her brow.
"What are you doing here?" she asks.
With his eyes hidden behind a gray blindfold, Ishaan stands before her, carrying a lunch box wrapped in a plain blue cloth with one hand. The other had a bottle of sweet raspberry tea.
His presence is commanding, like might of nature itself in the form of a human, with the same dignified air.
Instead of answering, he extends both items to her.
"I hope you like it," he says so casually that her nerves fade. "If not, let me know what you do like."
Baffled, Catalina blinks, staring blankly at the handsome young man.
And then, as she remembers their last interaction, the restless flutters dance once more in her stomach.
"You didn't have to," she mutters.
"I know."
Ishaan steps slightly closer, gesturing for her to take it. The simple action causes a thick musk cologne imbued in freshness comparable to soap to evade the air around her.
Catalina runs her tongue on the roof of her mouth. 'He smells good. Too damn good.'
Hesitating to take it, she ponders. Even if he was friends with her brother, she didn't know him personally.
'What if it's poison?'
Similar cases happened in the past at Lightless. Students will poison each other when their own survival is threatened.
One less student meant a higher chance of survival to them. Here, the weak know nothing but sidetracks. Tricks as power and deception as strength.
'Comrade in arms? More like comrades of blood.'
Upon noticing her caution, Ishaan offers gently, "I can taste test it. You can pick what I eat and then you'll know it's safe."
She regards him with an uncertain gaze.
He doesn't seem surprised or upset by her cautiousness. In fact, he sounded almost happy or maybe pleased?
In the beginning, Ishaan made the food with the thought of just helping her—goodwill goes a long way. But now, he realizes he wants something. A reaction. An emotion in her voice or light in her sad eyes.
Something that gives him proof of what he's doing brought good. Maybe it's because he hasn't been able to help her until now and that annoyed him a little.
She is very independent for someone with a holy status.
Something he's only seen in his group or his allies, while his sister, Nafre Iniko, is anything but independent.
Emris Iniko, Pillar of Sun Clan, taught him that women are only good for the creation of life, not the domination of it.
Ishaan does not agree. He believes in power over all else. Gender, race, status. All of it is a cover; the flesh of a body to the real strength that keeps all alive—a soul.
If a person is strong enough to stand on the same peak as a pillar, then they can dominate life.
'Besides, I owe Ziven a large debt, yet I can no longer pay,' he thinks, omitting any of his truth thoughts.
Ishaan pops the container open, revealing perfectly soft short-grain rice that holds the raw fish and cucumber in its delicious texture.
As she gets a whiff of the sushi, her stomach growls aggressively. Her skin prickles in embarrassment.
She's almost thankful that Ishaan can't see her blushing when she recalls he isn't blind.
In a surprising silence that's winded with soft tension, Catalina stands, taking the chopsticks from him and picking up the sushi with some difficulty.
She attempts to hand the chopsticks over to Enigmatic Poet when he suddenly steadily lowers himself, mouth parted.
She jerks in shock. Her heart skips a beat. 'He wants me to feed him? Why? Should I just shove it into his hand? No, I should be tender.'
After a moment of vicious contemplation, she swiftly and delicately slides the food into his mouth and takes a quick step back to hide her anxiety.
She's never fed someone and finds the action to be rather intimate, especially with someone unfairly intimidating.
As he swallows, she blurts out her realization, "You could have poison resistance."
He chuckles, a tiny curve curling his mouth inadvertently, resembling a smile but not quite one. "I am not, but I could be lying. If you're still hesitant, don't eat and wait until dinner. Your choices are always your own."
He leaves as quickly as he comes, not giving her time to respond.
She cast her eyes downward, her face a complex pool of emotions, reflecting the various shades of her eyes that shift from light to dark like a glitch.
Sitting back down, she places the lunchbox upon her lap, with the cloth under it.
She's never had sushi before, and starvation weakens her caution.
The bottle of tea is nestled between her legs. It was clear that it had been purchased from a restaurant, so she didn't have to be skeptical about the beverage.
After a few agonizing minutes, she finally gives in.