Amelia's thoughts swirled, racing as fast as the vortex before her. "But who could have created this formation? Who would have the strength to seal something so powerful?"
She struggled to imagine the kind of beings capable of such a monumental task. Her heart pounded in her chest as she considered the possibilities.
The idea of an entity so powerful that even these ancient figures couldn't grasp it was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
"That is the greatest mystery of all," the female figure said softly. "We do not know who—or what—created this seal. It was here long before we ever set foot here."
Amelia's breath caught as she considered the implications.
"Do you think it could be..." She hesitated, the words catching in her throat. The thought was almost too daunting to voice, but she couldn't ignore it. "Do you think it could be a god?"
The female figure turned to her, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on her lips. "What is a god to you?"
Amelia paused, searching for the right words to describe the reverence she had always felt for such beings.
"A god is a being who has reached a stage beyond Ethereal Manifestation," she replied slowly, "a being with no equal, unmatched in power and wisdom."
The female figure shook her head slightly, her expression softening with a touch of pity.
"I'm going to tell you something, and I hope your heart doesn't waver," she said gently. "The Ethereal Manifestation stage is only the beginning."
Amelia felt her world shift as the words sunk in. Her mouth went dry, and her hands trembled slightly at her sides. "The beginning?"
The figures nodded together.
The male figure spoke first, his tone calm and measured. "Yes. Where we come from, the Ethereal Manifestation stage is just a stepping stone. Beyond it lies Celestial Infusion, a stage where one merges with the celestial forces, drawing upon the very essence of the heavens."
"And after that," the figure continued, his voice almost reverent, "comes Void Ascendancy."
Amelia's shock deepened, her mind struggling to grasp the immensity of what they were telling her.
The Ethereal Manifestation stage, revered and sought after by all, was only the beginning. The very idea seemed impossible, yet the certainty in the figure's voice left no room for doubt.
It is a stage of immense growth but also great danger. For with the power of the heavens comes the risk of losing oneself to its vastness."
Amelia's mind raced as she tried to comprehend the concept. Merging with the heavens? It was an idea that seemed almost impossible, yet the way the figure spoke made it sound not only possible but inevitable for those who reached that stage.
"And Void Ascendancy?" she asked eagerly, desperate to know more.
The figure's expression darkened slightly, as if merely mentioning the stage brought a sense of sorrow. "That... we do not know. Even in our world, those who reach that stage rarely reveal themselves. We cannot say much about them."
Amelia's mind was still spinning from the revelations, her thoughts a chaotic mix of possibilities and fears.
She turned to Spark and Chaos, who had been standing quietly nearby, listening to the entire conversation.
Spark's expression remained calm and unbothered as ever, and Chaos, mirroring Spark's demeanor, stood with the same indifferent tilt of its head.
Amelia frowned in confusion.
She had expected Spark, of all people, to show some kind of reaction—a flicker of surprise, a hint of curiosity, perhaps even a trace of fear. But he seemed as indifferent as if they had just discussed the weather.
"Why aren't you surprised?" she asked, unable to hide the disbelief in her voice. The significance of what they had learned should have shaken anyone, yet Spark seemed utterly unaffected.
Spark slowly turned his head to her, his eyes half-closed in that familiar, detached way.
"Hm... why?" he responded, his tone light as if the question puzzled him more than the information they had received.
Chaos, mimicking Spark's movement, tilted its head too, adding a nearly comical touch to the situation.
Amelia felt a surge of frustration. How could he be so indifferent?
Before Amelia could respond, the female figure stepped forward. Her ethereal presence seemed to draw light toward her, her gaze soft but firm as she looked at Amelia.
"A mortal like him wouldn't understand the significance of this information," she interjected smoothly, her voice carrying an almost dismissive tone.
There was no malice in her words, just a simple statement of fact as if Spark's indifference was perfectly natural.