The Fatebound Monarch

"What about the Hybrid branches then?" Anna questioned with a confused expression.

She had an idea about the hybrid branch, and if her thoughts on it were right, then the hybrid branch interested her the most.

'Maybe I can use different containers and infusions for better results?' she thought as her mind began to weave ideas about what she could do if her thoughts were proven right… the infinite possibilities thrilled her as a smile appeared on her face.

Yabin, seeing that smile, gave a hollow smile at her question and began explaining.

"Hybrids are just that Hybrids… you can not rank what has no real forms… In the hybrid branch, you can use any of the containers and infusions to play around with…However, it's one of the most dangerous branches out there because of the sheer unpredictability this experiment of runes holds."

Yabin finished and looked at her with a strict expression as she spoke.

"That is also why I hope you do not try to play around with them either."

Anna frowned at her warning.

'Damn it…' she cursed in her mind…she knew that Yabin was warning her for her own good, but… the allure of what she could do within the hybrid branch was much potent than the fear of what it could lead to.

Anna was already losing herself slowly due to that damned trait of hers… was losing more in search of what could be earned wrong?

She knew Yabin was worried for her, but… she would have to be a rebellious student this time. Outwardly, however, she was still an obedient student.

"Of course," she added with a smile.

Yabin also smiled as she thought,

'How obedient…'

She smiled inwardly and began speaking.

"I will be lecturing you about the Intent branch; however, we should check your talent with other branches first."

Yabin walked towards the dark walls of the empty and placed her hand on it, soon, dim runic figures appeared at he wall she had placed her hand on… the wall shifted and parted into two as it lead to another much wider room… at the centre of the room there was a thin book, a bowl with a blue liquid that was glowig faintly— it was refined beast blood —and beside them was a calligraphy brush.

Yabin stepped into the wide room and Anna followed behind her as she looked at everything with interested eyes.

They soon reached the centre where the set of brushes and ink was placed upon an altar of dark black stone. The altar appeared like it was cut from the night sky and mashed together to take the form of a stone altar.

Anna looked at the book, bowl and brush placed on the altar with raised eyebrows as Yabin walked towards the altar. She picked up the thin book and offered it to Anna.

"Read it."

Anna took the thin book from Yabin's head and began to read it. As she read the book, a frown appeared on her face.

The book… it had symbols which didn't make sense at all… it was like a child had scrobbled something and put it all together, she flipped through the pages and with each page her frown deepened… all of it had similar writing.

Seeing her frown, Yabin let out a chuckle and spoke.

"Those are the True Names known to us… to read them, you have to flow your spirituality into the symbols or words."

Anna nodded and questioned.

"And how do I do that?"

"Close your eyes," Yabin said in a gentle yet serious tone.

And Anna followed.

As her eyes were closed, she could hear the echoing of Yabin's words every time she spoke.

"Let your mind wander."

Anna nodded and let her thoughts roam free. She began to think about her friends, her life as a college student, her brother, her goals… her failures, her losses, her chains and much more.

Every thought that had plagued her mind till now reached her altogether, making her sink deeper in anxiety and fear… fear of losing, fear of never reaching her goals… fear of becoming something she did not wish to become.

Unknowingly, her body had started to tremble as she huffed and puffed for air; her breath was heavy, each breath was like a call to something or someone to pull her out of this quagmire she had found herself in.

Yabin looked at Anna's trembling body with a worried expression. Anna's forehead was covered in sweat, and her expression was hard…

'She carries many burdens… but they are weighing her down.'

The chamber was not ordinary… it helped one to wield their spirituality, but to do so, they must let go of the burden.

"You must let go of your burdens, Anna," Yabin suggested in a worried tone. Her words echoed within the dark walls of the empty chamber and entered Anna's ears like a divine command. Much to her surprise, however, it didn't work.

She had used her spirituality to wake her from the state of spiritual awakening, but… it didn't work.

'It is all up to her now…' Yabin thought with a sombre expression.

Anna had an indifferent expression as she stood in a dark sea; however, this place was not her mind plane. Within this place, she did not feel that familiarity she felt in her mind plane, nor did she feel any mystic presence of the golden egg.

Instead, she felt cold… she felt fear… she felt broken, as if everything she wanted not to become had suddenly become a part of her… or was she the one to become a part of them?

This stare was confusing… this state was dreadful, and at last this state was curious. So curious that Anna wanted to know more… to stay more, and that is what her burdens wanted… they wanted her to lose, to sink deeper into her own venom, to forget herself.

She was facing an opponent she never thought she would face… she was facing herself… no, she was facing her heart… her heart demon.