13 Dream

The river of time flowed unceasingly. Days became a week, weeks became a month, months became a year.

Aaron continued his rigorous learning of Array formations under Julia's guidance.

Since he could not make arrays on his own. Aaron would give instructions and Julia would perform those actions, in this way Julia could confirm that Aaron could easily create Array formations as soon as he met the basic requirements.

Three years passed by in a blink of an eye. Today was Aaron's fifth birthday. The day he had been waiting for.

However, in the middle of the night, Aaron woke up, sweat covered his body. His body shivering due to immense anger and hatred. His eyes were bloodshot. He looked ready to devour any Man, Demon and God alike.

Aaron had a dream, a dream which was too real to be called a dream. But the strange thing was he was a grown man in this dream.

This dream took place in a big hall that looked like a dwelling of the divine emperor. Pillars completely made of jades and decorated with crystals that looked like they could support and uphold the vast skies by themselves. With no particular source of light, the hall still remained as bright as being under a blazing sun.

Loud noises of explosions and collisions could be heard reverberating making violent shockwaves constantly collide with the walls of the hall.

Next to him stood a woman, this woman had a younger appearance than his. She looked absolutely stunning. She had creamy white skin, long black eyelashes that looked like silk threads. Her eye's colour was vague to describe. Her cheeks were rosy red and her lips tempting and luscious. Looking again he noticed that he could not make out her facial appearance clearly. But a gut feeling told him that he had seen her somewhere. Standing beside her seemed a natural thing to him.

Aaron diverted his gaze in front to see two more women standing while discussing something which turned inaudible as it reached his ears.

The woman on the right was also beautiful beyond measures. She, however, had airs of maturity and wisdom of countless experiences. She gave Aaron a very familiar feeling. The woman next to her was old. Her face was pale still no wrinkles on, her hair had turned grey. Although older than both of these women by his side she looked dignified and unwavering aura was emitted by her without restraint. Aaron had a great sense of respect for this old woman.

As their discussion, that seemed to have come to an end or conclusion. Both of them looked at him straight at him. Their eyes filled with reluctance yet determination.

They then gestured towards the young woman next to him. She walked towards them with heavy steps. The mature woman gave her a tight hug, then handed a sphere shaped orb to the young woman.

The Scenes changed, Aaron found himself in the arms of someone, but he could no longer open his eyelids wide enough to see who it was but he felt his body was that of a baby.

This place was a restricted area, in the middle of this room was a translucent stone it was the size of a big watermelon.

This person walked towards this stone that looked like a collector's item. Placing one hand on it which was followed by a long incantation. The stone glowed with dazzling light that covered heaven and earth. The blinding light continued for a long while during which he heard cries of pain and agony.

He didn't know who this voices belonged to but this made the blood in his tiny body to boil, his body steaming up with vapours. This feeling of boiling blood lasted even after he woke up from this dream.

After his body calmed down it shivered uncontrollably as sweat covered his entire body. The blood in his body rushed to his head, sudden anger and hatred filled his heart and brain. It was so strong that even after constantly trying to calm down it would not come under control.

After a period of a long struggle to get these emotions to subside on its own. Aaron looked at his face in the mirror not far from his bed. His current appearance scared him as if he didn't know who this person was in the projection.

This was the first time he had a dream that had influenced him so deeply. Aaron didn't want to be paranoid but he still felt that this was not a dream but a memory. A memory he should never forget but still could not get past that layer of mist and veil that obstructed his advances.

With his head hurting like he was hit by hammers, he slowly walked towards the bathroom to wash all the sweat that had made his body sticky.

After taking a bath in the middle of the night, his mind seemed to return to being sober. Aaron laid on the bed thinking of the dream but every time he tried to push further than what he had seen, piercing pain assaulted his mind.

He had completely lost his sleep, this dream made him uncomfortable beyond feeling creepy. This was not his memories yet they seem to stick to his head like being stuck with the strongest adhesive.

Hours went by, the sun rose with all his glory and majesty. The darkness in the sky retreated swiftly in its presence.

As Aaron slept on the bed with his eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling in a daze. He heard a knock on his door soon a few figures entered the room.

Two little kids ran and jumped on the bed to hug Aaron from both sides.

Being hugged by his two cute younger siblings a pleasant and gentle finally broke on his face.

"Happy Birthday! Big Brother!" chimed both of them at the same time as if it was completely rehearsed.

Aaron hugged both of them back and gave a peek on their forehead. Being hugged and kissed by their big brother, Alfie and Aoife giggled sillily.

Aaron sat on the bed while being hugged by his siblings. He looked at the people in front of him.

Four smiling faces, no three smiling faces. One of them had a cold and expressionless face.

She was Aaron's mother Rose, even during the period of three years Aaron had rarely seen her. Having a conversation was completely another story.

Rose had a very unique temperament, she gave others the feeling of being unworthy to even look at her. Her cold and distinct way of disregarding people made her even more mysterious and also less approachable. Hana and Julia had different personalities but they seem more approachable.

Aaron looked at his father, he nodded and smiled. Alan returned a smile back.

"Happy Birthday! It's finally time!" Alan said with a joyful voice.

"Happy Birthday! Aaron," Hana and Julia said.

Hana and Julia came closer and hugged him and blessed him for turning five. Both of them had stopped going to work. However, the academy was not will to let them resign so they allowed them to become a special lecturer at the academy. Once they decided to return to work they would only have to take a single lecture once a month.

"Happy Birthday!" A faint voice was heard as everyone looked in Aarons mother's direction. Aaron was surprised. This was not in his memories but he didn't dislike this change.

"Thank you!" Aaron said as he looked everyone in the eyes.

"Aaron, if you are ready then let's go!" Alan said looking at Aaron.

"I am ready!" Aaron said.

In the same hall where the naming ceremony for Alfie and Aoife took place, people from all over the Empire had gathered. Today, however, there was no fancy decoration like back then. The atmosphere today was less of a party and more of something more official or formal.

All these people where prominent figures of the empire. Representatives from the other Ancient Families, The state prince of the empire(Emperor's Brother), and other nobles were present.

Even young masters of these families were here today. The Avron Family had all ways produced outstanding geniuses, generations after generations. Everyone in the kingdom, therefore, kept a close eye on the talent assessment of the Avron Family. These young masters although more than a decade older than Aaron had still come just with the allure of this reputation of Avron family.

"My God! These looks more of a crowning ceremony of an Imperial Prince than a talent assessment of someone. Look at all the attention that this event has gathered. All these people who would be difficult to get a glimpse of, are present here today. What a great prestige and reputation the Avron Family has even among the other Ancient families. Truly marvellous!" A young noble said to his group.

"What do you know? The Avron family, since it's inception has never given rise to someone with mediocre talents. Especially, every new generation of the family would have a talent and affinity to swords like no other in the entire empire." other noble said.

"Yeah, there are rumours that claim that every Ancient family including the Imperial family have been passed down a strict order to never miss or disregard the Avron Family. You might have those rumours that claim that the Avrons have a special bloodline suitable for a swordsman. Previously, when Lord Alan's talent assessment was done, everyone had their eyes bleeding with envy for the kind of talent that he had revealed." another noble said.

"Every family has sent a representative today for the only talent assessment that attracts so many eyes. This is also due to public love and support that the Avron family has. The commoners love the Avron family to almost worship them. No one has more support like the Avrons have in the empire. Also being the son of the strongest swordsman of the empire has created a great razzmatazz campaign like scenario." said the noble.