For the three weeks after the battle Heimer had searched all over the army.
He was looking for people that could wield aether, he found none.
He also ventured through the second and third sectors, he also found none.
Now at the capital he went straight to his younger brother; the king.
He told him about all that he had uncovered about the things the voice spoke about.
About aether, the commandment and it's sprout and told him to reveal the truth at a later time.
Someone was eavesdropping on them; Heimer noticed and found the person, the person's identity was the king's youngest son Caesar.
For the first time he had seen someone with potential for aether.
Though this potential couldn't be seen in the king's other children.
Then he went all around the capital and found multiple others, they were the children of nobles.
There was a recurring theme now, they were all of the marked bloodline and were between the ages of sixteen to twenty.
He went behind the backs of the children and met their parents, hiding the truth from them but promising to give their children high ranks in the army.
Naturally it worked since having high military ranks directly increased the influence of the family.
After he could find all he could, he announced the army recruitment.
***
With Clarence's salute they were done with the introductions.
"Good, It's time to get to the main point.
All of you here have passed the enrollment, and from this moment onwards are the special squad under my command."
They all became confused.
" 'What?'...
'what does he mean by special squad….'
'Since when…' " There were a lot of mumurs.
"I understand your confusion.
Let me explain it slowly…
Or it would be better to show you." Heimer let a deep breath out.
He walked to their centre and stood there, freeing his hands that were crossed together.
His eyes turned golden and a golden translucent ring formed around his head.
On the ring were four thorns, and a golden aura emerged from his body.
"Anytime I see it I still get shocked" Ren thought as he watched from the door.
The recruits were taken aback, it was hard to process what was going on.
"The rumours were true…" Rud murmured, he had eyes filled with shock.
Herra and Saul standing beside him overheard what he said.
And then it turned to a full blown gossip from Paul's end.
"He's really talkative" Rud thought.
With a wave of Heimer's hand a giant axe appeared.
They were all astonished, even Leo.
"His power is that of gold...
I wonder if I can do that with mine" Leo thought in his bewilderment.
"Silence.
[The noise died down]
I fought the sprout or what you all might call as 'beast' with this.
This power is known as aether." Heimer told them.
"Sprout? Aether?
Isn't that what the voice said?" Caesar asked.
Heimer looked at him and smiled.
Heimer had pieced things together through the three weeks, though most things were still beyond his knowledge.
"Yes it is.
An if it's as it said, then we must harness this power.
As for the sprouts they are that of the commandments.
That pillar of light outside.
It's the 13th commandment and we must approach it." Heimer swung his hand and the axe vanished.
"Huh…
Then why are we here, you said this already yesterday?" Karius asked in a tone that lacked respect.
"Because you all here are the main force for the expedition.
The others even the commanders are all but supports" Heimer ignored his harsh tone.
"Why?!
Why us and not the commander-" Karius's tone had begun to shift to rudeness.
[Thud!]
"It seems you've forgotten whose presence you stand before." That was the last thing Karius heard before his head hit the ground.
"Ouch!" He cried.
He opened his eyes, someone was on top of him pinning him down.
It was Ren.
"Tch!f" Karius fought back to no avail.
Ren twisted his arm, dislocating it easily.
Heimer now looked down at him.
"This will be your last warning.
Let him go Ren." Heimer's tone beared no malice.
Ren did as instructed, then went outside.
"I wish I knew why this power befell me.
What that voice is or who it belonged to.
I also don't know why that which they now call rain, fell right before the disaster.
Neither do I know why I can only see the embers of aether in all of you here, yet not in anyone else in the empire.
Or why all here are of nobility or royalty...well except him.
[He looked at Leo]
But in recent times it seems that we don't know much of our world.
All these 'questions' yet no answers, it's up to you all and I to find the answers.
And our first goal should be the light." Heimer created a chair of gold and sat on it.
He had successfully swayed them even if it wasn't fully it seemed to be enough.
It was noticeable with their reactions which had become looks of rationale.
Karius was grunting on the floor, the pain made tears flow.
"And how do we do that?
How do we utilise the so called aether." He held in the pain and asked.
"All you have to do is follow my lips.
Repeat exactly what I say.
One gift, seven paths, six rings and six thorns" Heimer got a headache as he said this.
"This happens anytime I chant it...since that day." He recalled.
"One gift, seven paths, six rings and six thorns" Leo chanted it alongside the others.
All who repeated the chant fell to the floor.
!
"Why do you two still stand?!" Heimer looked to be in shock.
"That didn't do anything, why are they all falling" Leo looked around to the bodies beside him.
He was still standing as upright as ever, then he looked over to his left.
"Is she still standing while unconscious?" He was looking at Fiona.
Her eyes were rolled up but her body was upright.
Leo finally turned to Heimer who was looking at him as if trying to assess him.
"Was I mistaken?
The chant had no effect on you, can you not use aether?
Or have you walked the paths before?" Heimer asked Leo.
"Paths?
Do you mean the different coloured doors?" Leo asked.
"Yes those, if you know them it must mean you've walked them.
Did you know of this chant beforehand?
Or does this mean it's not necessary…no!
He's an anomaly, he's not even of our bloodline." Heimer asked the unsuspecting boy.
Leo tried recalling if he had by moving his ires up.
"No, I haven't used it, was it necess…ary?" He dragged his last word as he remembered something.
"(He who entered the forgotten voids without the chant)
So this was the chant" He recalled the voice and pieced things together.
"If you've walked the paths then what door did you choose.
Show me your aether."
Leo's ires turned black.
He waved his palms and black flames emerged, with another wave they were gone.
He seeped out a very dark aura, as dark as that of the beasts.
"Black?! Was there a door like that?
And to use aether without a halo, try as I might I've never succeeded." Heimer let out a faint worried frown.
"Then did you also get a number engraved on your hands?" Heimer asked Leo.
"You mean this on my right hand?" Leo asked as he looked at the back of his palm.
Heimer walkeed towards Leo.
"Yes.
Let me have a look" Heimer grabbed Leo's hand.
"This is?!" A cold sweat ran through Heimer's face.
The number engraved was zero.