Upon hearing those words, Astra immediately thought back to the Demigoddess of the First Dimension. She wondered if She, or if some other existence, used an ERROR artifact to bring the humans from the previous Earth to this place.
"Perhaps the Demigoddess used an ERROR Artifact that corresponded to the concept of transportation? Not only that…these artifacts are dimensional anomalies. Just going based off of observation alone, those effects that happened on that night could've been a dimensional anomaly."
"Maybe this is why Kayla never ended up telling me the reason behind why I turned pale? I mean, she did say that I couldn't have known why and I wasn't strong enough. It completely lines up!"
"Could this mean that only I was supposed to be transported, and something went wrong in the process?"
"This also explains why the Demigoddess has been trying to message me in such strange ways. She has to message me this way because any other way can possibly kill me…?"
"Another way could be that She is weakened, and She had to use an ERROR artifact to transport us over. This also explains why She is messaging me in such strange ways. She literally has no other choice—exactly lining up with what Kayla has said!"
"Then, she has also said that the reason involves something that happened thousands of years ago. Could it be that some battle happened involving the Demigoddess, causing Her to be weakened, leading Her to call out for help? But why me specifically?"
"I doubt it's a coincidence. Could it have something to do with the 'do not look at the night sky' message? Could that be referring to something I'm not supposed to look at, like something on par with an ERROR artifact?"
"Could it be…that message was telling me not to look at a deity? What deity can represent the night sky?"
"The only one that comes to mind is the one who has the authority over the First Dimension…"
In that moment, she had a thought—a thought that almost felt blasphemous.
"What if the Demigoddess was defeated by a mysterious deity…and They took Her place?"
Narrowing her eyes to control her unease, she deepened her voice and said:
"What if the Dimension of Science and Physics has a mysterious God behind it?"
James chuckled softly.
"Heh, well the Dominions thought that a mysterious God was behind that dimension a few thousand years ago. However, they slowly began to accept the religion. I believe a treaty was made by the Saints of the main Dominions and that dimension, but I'm not sure. I have to confirm it in one of my readings…"
Astra noticed that her heat rate had calmed down as she heard him somewhat clear up the doubts of the mysteries of the First Dimension. Her unease had also left her body.
"I see…so that means that there is a chance that the Demigoddess still has Her place…" Astra still had her doubts regarding this conclusion.
"Regardless, I don't want to think about this anymore." Naturally, she tried to stop herself from thinking about these possibilities.
This was because she had noticed that the more she thought about these things, the more uneasy she felt, and the more her body was turning into something indescribable.
This feeling was only illusory, but it still felt so real that Astra had to stop her usual thinking process.
She didn't want to accidentally know about something she couldn't know about!
So, Astra had decided that she would have to wait until she gets stronger before she gets to know these things. Once she gets that level of strength, she would have to ask Kayla.
Or, perhaps even more unlikely, the Demigoddess.
Composing herself, Astra proceeds to ask another question.
"Do you know anything about Anomalies?"
James tapped his wrist once more, changing the information on the hologram.
"Yes. I was just about to explain it to you."
"Like the Strata and the Artifacts, Anomalies also have their ranks. As for what they are, they're simply threats caused by Ethereon or other supernatural related instances. Whether it be from people, beings, monsters, mutations or artifacts, it doesn't matter."
"Also, for our rank, we will mainly be dealing with Phantom-class anomalies with an occasional Specter-class. Though, we might have to deal with higher anomalies if there is a lack of information. This is rare, though."
James immediately tilted his head towards the contents that were on the hologram. Astra did the same. They read:
Phantom-class Anomaly: Subtle anomalies; often undetectable and has a limited range up to a few dozen people. Must be dealt with by a group of Awakeneds or one Ember. Ethereal Artifacts are not needed.
Specter-class Anomaly: Noticeable anomalies that can affect hundreds or thousands of people. On the smaller end, must be dealt with by a group of Embers or one Sentinel. On the larger end, must be dealt with by a group of Sentinels or one Vanguard. Ethereal Artifacts from Tier 8 to Tier 6 can be used, but usage must be approved by a Vice-Captain (Tier 6 and Tier 5) or a Captain (Tier 4).
Fracture-class Anomaly: Dangerous anomalies that can affect entire towns and surrounding regions. Must be dealt with by a group of Exarchs, a group of Vanguards led by an Exarch that has a Tier 3 Artifact, and/or one Pillar. Usage of a Tier 3 artifact must be approved by a Minister.
Eclipse-class Anomaly: Extremely dangerous anomalies that can span cities on the lower end, and countries on the higher end. For the lower end, it must be dealt with by a group of Pillars, and/or a group of Exarchs led by a Pillar that has a Tier 2 Artifact. For the higher end, it must be dealt with a Celestial on the level of at least a Paragon. Usage of a Tier 2 Artifact must be approved by a Vice-Leader.
Oblivion-class Anomaly: Danger level on this anomaly cannot be quantified effectively. The range of this anomaly spans a worldwide range at the minimum, and can affect interstellar civilizations at its highest end. For the lower end, it must be dealt with by a group of Paragons, each Paragon having a Tier 2 Artifact. This must be approved by a Vice-Leader, however this can be bypassed depending on the danger level of the situation. For the higher end, it must be dealt with by a Luminary using a Tier 1 Artifact. Approval by a Leader is not necessary.
Omega-class Anomaly: Danger level on this anomaly cannot be quantified effectively. The range of this anomaly spans a range that can end all life in the universe. This Anomaly must be dealt with by the Saints or a group of Luminaries led by a Saint—each Luminary wielding a Tier 0 artifact.
Reading attentively, Astra had a few thoughts.
"Heh. James says that I'll only be dealing with the least threatening anomalies for now, but who knows what can happen knowing my abnormality?" Astra almost gave a nervous chuckle.
"Heh, an Eclipse-class Anomaly is a lot more dangerous and terrifying than I thought…it's almost comical how I got caught up in the middle of that."
"In hindsight, it's also not that surprising why Kayla acted like such a matter was trivial for her…she's supposed to deal with anomalies on the level of Oblivion and Omega."
After less than a second of reading, Astra proceeded to ask a question.
"For the anomalies that are on the level of Oblivion and Omega, at what point do the Demigods get involved? I struggle to believe that they would just let the world, or even the universe, end just like that, right?" She asked, tilting her head to the side and raising an eyebrow.
James crossed his arms and locked his gaze with Astra's golden eyes. His expression was not tense, but it was serious.
With a deep voice, he muttered, "You are aware of why the Demigods and Demigoddesses aren't active in the world, right?"
Astra nodded.
"I'm aware."
"Yes, I've read up on that. They restrict Their presence to the point of silence in order to save humanity. But given that my Demigoddess is able to communicate to me—albeit strangely, I find it hard to believe that the Demigods who are at the pinnacle of the dimensions are truly unable to affect the real world." Astra added in her head.
"Where do they even reside in the first place?" She asked inwardly, knowing that James wouldn't give her an answer.
"In that case, the reason why the Demigods aren't active on the land is the same reason why they don't get involved in these Anomalies." James explained, his voice slower.
He sighed, casting his gaze to the side. Later, his lips curled up into a faint smile. It was not one of relief or happiness; instead, it looked as if it was out of accepted disappointment.
"I had the exact same question as you when I first joined here. No, I still have it…"
"In fact, I always wondered if the deities and 'Their' intercessors truly have to be silent…"
"That's why I've been trying to search for answers, for knowledge…"
Astra continued to look at James as her face twitched by a minute amount. Even though their motivations were somewhat different, she related to his desire to search.
Trying to connect with this, she asked a question.
"You've been trying to search for answers, even if it means trying to know about something horribly strange?"
James paused for a second, his gaze softening.
"Yes. Even if I have to pry into certain mysteries."
Astra's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"I see."
As she said that, she felt a strange feeling in her heart that softly and quietly resonated with James' words, despite her not expressing it properly.
The conviction to know more despite the latent dangers Ethereon possesses, no, despite the dangers that come about with just from the knowledge of certain things…
She knew that this conviction wasn't as simple as the pursuit of knowledge. Instead, it reflected a personal reason, one that stuck within his heart—one that drove his passion.
Though, while she could've related to it, it was only to an extent. Her expression quickly turned neutral.
This was because Astra also knew that the reasons behind their motivations were very different. While she had desired to connect with the heavens, James appeared as if he distrusted them to some extent.
It was a fascinating dichotomy.
After all, just because there is a common desire between humans, it doesn't suggest that the reasons for those motivations will agree with each other in the same way.
Astra had seen many of these cases in her life, and in the greater parts of the world.
As if the words they spoke were settling into their souls, the room fell silent for a few seconds.
James' expression looked somewhat depressing as his head was pointed towards the presentation.
Recollecting himself, he chuckled.
"Anyway, that was another tangent." James shook his head slightly as he looked toward the screen, his voice picking up.
"Hmm. Yes, I think that's all the information I have to give you on this presentation."
"Of course, additional information such as mission details, training details, Ethereon classes etc. will be provided to you as you progress as a Dreamlander."
James stood up as he pressed the button on his wrist twice, turning off the hologram.
The room instantly turned a little darker, with the only sources of light being the pillar of light in the center and the holographic chairs.
Astra continued to be seated as she patiently waited for instructions. Her skin was back to normal, like it had never slightly faded.
"Before we begin with the ritual, what scenery would you like? I can transform the walls of this room to any scenery to enhance your mental state. This will increase the chances of your ritual succeeding."
Astra didn't hesitate to speak up, as she already thought about this. She had known that this room would have transformed the scenery to that of the user's wish as evidenced by the room being drowned in darkness, and by the fact that a proper scenery to the user's wish would make the user's motivation greater.
"I'd like the scenery of the night sky." She said in a soft, almost ethereal voice. Her hands were on her lap.
"As you wish." With a thought, James had allowed the walls of the room to turn into a starry, enchanting, blue night sky.
Even the foggy ground was now covered in stars and nebulae, making the room feel as if they were on a spaceship traveling through the cosmos.
Due to this change in atmosphere, the illumination of the room came from this space ambiance, lighting up Astra's, Sonar's, and James' figure.
"Do you like it? I can change the colors of the night sky if you wish." James asked in consideration.
"I like it as it is." Astra didn't have any complaints.
"Okay, good."
"Before we begin, I must inform you of some things." James said, his voice getting deeper, serious.
"Ethereon is very dangerous. As a Celestial, you will feel different than how you were as a human. Again, it is always better to be cautious than to not be cautious, even at a low level when risks are relatively low."
"As a Celestial, and as a Dreamlander, you will experience horrors that most humans won't experience in their lifetimes. This will become increasingly prevalent as you get stronger."
"On that note, as you get stronger, you must always stay grounded in your principles. Not only does that make it easier for you to become stronger, it also makes you safer."
"Again," James said, his crimson eyes getting more intense as he locked eyes with Astra. "You will experience horrors, and you will experience deaths."
"After all, our motto is: 'Protectors of peace, destroyers of madness, savers of life, even when we face death.'" James spoke with a faint smile, his pupils getting darker as he glanced at Sonar.
Astra nodded. Even though she didn't fully understand what those words meant yet, she knew that she had to prepare herself mentally.
She knew that she would get to understand the full meaning of those words as she gets stronger—her experience with Mia was the strongest piece of evidence that continuously pierced her mind.
"With that being said," James continued to speak in his low voice. "Do you want to become a Celestial, Dreamer Sera?"
Astra stood up and walked closer to the pillar of light in the center. Her face remained expressionless but her soundless footsteps were heavy.
For some reason, she felt like she had the world on her shoulders.
She felt as if each step had carried countless purposes, aligning with her literal step walking over stars.
Her lips began to move as she thought about all of the people that had wished for her to become stronger.
Lucian, Loken, Kayla, Mia.
Even though she wasn't really close to any of them, she still felt a strange sense of responsibility. A responsibility that felt similar to that of proving that Polaris would shift.
She then thought about all of the people that she cared about—all of them who would benefit by her becoming stronger. Only by doing so can she find them again.
Xavier, Aria, her mother, Alexandria. Even the eccentric Himiko Tanaka crossed her mind.
Completing those thoughts, her mouth finally spoke out the words:
"Yes, I would like to become a Celestial."
James smiled as he walked closer to the pillar of light, approaching the same distance away that Astra was from it.
Then, James looked at the three orbs on the light. Astra followed suit.
James swept his eyes across the dark blue orb with blue velvet hues, the green and blue orb that looked as if it was alive, and the strange white orb that showed random scenes of possibility.
Intently examining the orbs, he said, "Each orb represents a dimension. The dark blue orb represents the Dimension of Dreamscape, the green and blue orb represents the Dimension of Consciousness, and the white orb represents the Dimension of Possibility."
"Choose an orb, and you will get the powers of the dimension it represents. However, do note that the ritual varies depending on the dimension. Don't worry about that though. I have the corresponding rituals that are needed depending on what you choose."
"Make sure to choose wisely, but don't do it based on how powerful you think it will be. All dimensions are equal, so their powers are equal. Instead, choosing a dimension should depend on your self-awareness, application and understanding. So it's best to choose a dimension that you feel would be best suited for you in checking those boxes." James explained.
He later sighed as he thought about something.
"Oh, and also. There was supposed to be an orb corresponding to the Dimension of Energy, but we weren't able to find it in time. So, we replaced it with the Dimension of Consciousness." He elaborated, since he felt that Astra would've been interested in that dimension.
Astra visibly frowned.
"Sigh, there is no Dimension of Energy. If that was one of the options, I'd choose that one in a heartbeat. It's the closest thing to the Dimension of Space, Time and Physics. Plus, it's a somewhat scientific dimension also…"
"Is it possible to switch dimensions after you become a Celestial?" She asked, trying to find another way to potentially use the Dimension of Energy.
"Well, you can. Though it is extremely dangerous. Once you choose a dimension, it slowly becomes a part of you. And, trying to insert another dimension inside of your subconscious can cause disastrous problems, leading to a loss of self. This risk increases exponentially every time you advance."
"So it is best to do so at the earlier stages if you have to advance, but it is safer not to do it at all." James calmly explained.
Astra listened attentively. She sulks inwardly, thinking, "Well, there goes my chances."
"I mean, I can always wait until an Energy orb shows up. But who knows when that's going to happen? Plus, I'm on a time limit…"
"I guess I have no other choice but to choose between these three."
"What would be the best? I feel as if all of them have their advantages when it comes to the criteria he explained to me."
"For example, for Dreamscape, I'm already in the largest country representing that dimension. This means that not only would I have a home advantage if I choose it and stay in Morpheus, but I would also experience better guidance. Plus, Mia is a Celestial from the Dreamscape…"
"For Emotion and Sentience, I would say that this one is perhaps the most beneficial when it comes to self-awareness and understanding. For example, couldn't you use the powers of emotion and consciousness to help your self-awareness and understanding of yourself? I'd say this is probably the easiest to refine for me…"
"For Possibility, I would also say this one suits me. I'm a divergent thinker after all! The only problem is that this dimension seems a little rare, meaning there might not be a lot of resources in Morpheus to give me guidance. It also seems the least straightforward out of the other two…"
Astra took a deep breath as she stared at the three orbs for a few seconds after thinking.
James continued to stare at Astra, occasionally glancing at the sleeping Sonar.
After more than 5 seconds of staring at the orbs, Astra spoke again.
"Okay, Captain Smith. I choose Consciousness."