Chapter 9: Awakening
"Yo!"
A tiny figure appeared in front of Ashborn, flashing a peace sign with a big grin.
"Haha... Finally! I can manifest myself!" the spirit cheered, stretching his arms as if he had just been freed from a long confinement. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment!"
Ashborn blinked in surprise. "Wow... that was quite the entrance."
The spirit puffed out his chest proudly. "Well, I guess I should introduce myself properly. I am a fairy spirit of the World Tree. The name's Alan!"
He floated around Ashborn as he continued, "There are three main types of spirits. First, fairy spirits like me, who mostly live with the World Tree. Then there are dead spirits, which are souls of powerful beings who refuse to leave this realm even after death. Lastly, there are elemental spirits, born from the condensation of pure natural energy, capable of controlling elements like fire, water, and wind."
Alan paused for dramatic effect before adding, "And then, there are the rarer unique spirits and the primordial spirits... but those guys almost never show themselves."
"Whoa..." Ashborn's eyes sparkled with fascination.
Alan glanced at the setting sun. "Hmm... the time looks good. Let's start training."
Ashborn sat up, eager. "Right now?"
"The time and place where you begin your training have a huge impact on your progress," Alan explained. "The best times are sunrise and sunset—when natural energy reaches its peak. The presence of both the sun and moon acts as a catalyst to speed up your growth."