Heaven's Greatest Professor

He sat cross-legged, his palms resting on his knees as he meditated in the early morning hours. The storm in the Elysian had calmed, but folded clouds still charged the air with an electric tension. He sensed Ariha's presence before she even spoke, her silvery burning hair illuminating the dimly lit surroundings.

"Are you prepared?" she asked, her voice cutting through the silence.

He opened his eyes and met her piercing gaze. "I am," he affirmed, his voice steady and confident. All the cooking and runesmithing had done great work to recalibrate his mind from the chaotic thoughts.

But Ariha shook her head, her eyes narrowing as she studied him intently.

"Close your eyes and sit with your palm on your heart," she instructed.

He did as she asked, his rough, calloused hand resting over his chest. He could feel the steady thump of his heartbeat beneath his fingertips.

"Do you know what distinguishes a transcendent from a regular ranker?" The Younger Ariha asked, her voice taking on a more serious tone.

He furrowed his brow, searching for the right words. "Power?" he ventured. "Rank and Skill?"

She shook her head, unsatisfied with his answer. "Truth," she said, her voice ringing with a quiet intensity. "A transcendent is very clear about what they are. They know exactly who they are, and establish it as a truth. A truth that can break any regular ranker."

He let her words sink in, his mind racing with the implications. He had always known he was different, stronger than the average person. But to establish something about him as a truth, to let it define him... that was something...

"I'm not asking you to step into transcendence right now," she said. "But knowing who you truly are... what is the defining feature about yourself will help a lot in finding your Way.

With his palm pressed against his chest, he delved deep within himself. Ariha's words echoed in his mind, urging him to discover his innermost truth. He focused on his breathing, letting each inhalation and exhalation guide him further into his psyche.

"Calm your heart," Ariha told him, her voice gentle yet commanding. "You may not have your memories of your past, but it should not stop you from understanding who you truly are as a person. Dig deep within yourself and find your essence."

He took a deep breath, trying to still the turbulent emotions swirling within him. His memory was a patchwork of fragmented experiences—a life lived, yet shrouded in mystery.

His mind wandered through the very essence of his being. He was a man of many talents and passions.

He thought of his insatiable curiosity, a thirst for knowledge that drove him to explore the intricacies of the world around him. From the delicate art of cooking to the intricate crafting of runes, his hunger for understanding knew no bounds.

Memories of his adventures flooded his mind, tales of dashing heroics and hard-won battles. He had mastered the spear, a weapon that had become an extension of his very being. His form appeared in his mind's eye with the mysterious form of a spear, its graceful arcs cutting through the air with lethal precision.

He was a master chef, a master Runesmith, a teacher, a Warrior, adventurer. His heart pounded. None of them was the single most important thing to define him.

He remembered saving the village, the faces of Xiv, Onia, Liam, and Kiara etched in his mind. Their gratitude and relief fuelled his sense of purpose. He recalled his audacious meeting with June, how she saw through his bravado to the genuine man beneath. Her insight had sparked a desire for self-discovery.

And he remembered the joy of teaching the children at the academy, and the pride he felt in building the massive Ward in the main camp. Jenni, Agnes, Caleb, all the other runesmiths— the lives he had touched, the people he had helped. Each memory was connected to his innate desire to shield others from harm

"Don't look back to what you were," June's words echoed in his mind as her sinuous high Elven form appeared in his mind. "Imagine what you can be..."

The phrase resonated within him, igniting a spark of determination. He realised that his past, though shrouded, did not define him. It was his actions, his choices in the present, that truly mattered.

For all his accomplishments and mastery, there was one thread that ran through them all, a common thread that defined the very essence of who he was – a Protector.

His drive to become a master chef, a runesmith, a teacher, and a warrior stemmed from a single, unwavering purpose: to protect those he loved. This burning desire fuelled his relentless pursuit of knowledge and skill.

He remembered the countless nights spent perfecting runes, not merely for the sake of perfecting himself, but because it may protect someone else in his absence.

As a teacher, he shared his experience not merely to impart knowledge, but to equip those around him with the tools necessary to protect themselves and others. Considering his circumstances, he hadn't done the best job of it, but his desire to teach them had been genuine.

In battle, his spear became an extension of his unwavering resolve, as he stood as a guardian wall.

He had a wide range of talents and accomplishments, but they were all just different aspects of a life committed to protecting those he cared about the most. It was this singular purpose that defined him, a beacon that guided his every action and decision.

His heart pounded as swirls of ambient energy churned around him. He could feel the power within, a tangible manifestation of his resolve. He opened his eyes and looked at Ariha, his gaze steady and resolute.

In that moment, he understood the core of his being, the driving force that had guided him through the trials and tribulations of his forgotten past.

"I protect," he told her, his voice firm and unwavering.

For him, being a Protector was not merely a role, but a way of life, a sacred duty that transcended any individual skill or mastery. It was the essence of who he was, a fundamental truth that echoed through every fibre of his being.

At that moment, he felt something change within him. As though all the pieces clicked right, and the way finally opened for him.

She narrowed her gaze and nodded. "I thought this would take you long, but perhaps having no clear knowledge about yourself helped in the way," she said. "Still, I didn't think it would be this easy. Untalented folks like you take ages to understand this simple thing.

He bit back the retort and nodded. "Thank you," he said and bowed. "I guess my foundation of a higher ranker before my memory was wiped out helped."

"What are you talking about?" she frowned.

"Oh, I thought you noticed already," he said. "Although I looked to be only Iron ranked, I had reached a higher station before... most of the memory has eluded me, and..."

"What rank were you?"

"Probably gold, or higher," he said, hesitantly. "My status page termed it as Broken Calamity, whatever the hell that means."

Ariha rubbed her forehead.