bookpower Chapter 21 Two years that passed like the wind.
Chapter 21 Two years that passed like the wind.
Elion's room was bathed in a soft golden light streaming through the linen curtains. The simple yet elegant furniture reflected its owner's personality: practical, with a touch of sophistication. Sitting on a carved wooden chair, Elion was at a desk cluttered with books, inkwells, and quills. Her hand moved fluidly as she wrote, but her eyes bore a weariness that was not physical.
The book—or rather, the diary before her—was nearly filled, its words laden with conflicting emotions. She paused, setting the quill aside and resting her chin on one hand, her thoughts wandering to everything that had happened over the past two years.
"Two years have passed since Kael revealed he was blessed by the World Tree. Since then, he has been an unstoppable force... in his stubbornness." She wrote, her lips curling into an almost imperceptible but tired smile.
Elion sighed deeply, her gaze drifting to a small window overlooking the garden. She knew Kael would be there, training as he always did, alone and determined. He insisted on learning magic, even against her will. The memory of his persistent arguments echoed in her mind.
"He doesn't take 'no' for an answer. Every time I try to divert his attention, he returns with even more determination. He has that... intensity in his eyes that reminds me of myself as a child. A time I'd rather forget."
Elion paused, biting her lip as she recalled the countless times she had denied Kael's requests. Yet he persisted. He studied alone, absorbed every fragment of magical knowledge he could find, and somehow made remarkable progress. It was both impressive and frightening.
"I see what he's becoming. And that's why I can't give in. No matter how much he asks, pleads, or even demands. Teaching him magic would be giving him the tools to delve even deeper into this dangerous path. He's just a child. My child."
The quill trembled slightly in her hand as she wrestled with her own emotions. She knew Kael wasn't an ordinary child, but that didn't matter. To her, he would always be the little boy who held her hand, even when the world around them seemed to crumble.
"He doesn't understand what he's asking. He doesn't understand the weight of wielding magic, especially the kind I can teach. There's a fine line between power and destruction, and I can't risk him crossing it. No matter how special he is. No matter how insistent he becomes."
Elion let out another sigh, closing her eyes for a moment. She remembered the look on Kael's face when she refused his requests. He didn't get angry; he became more determined. And that was what worried her the most.
"Kael is stubborn, more than anyone I've ever known. Well, he's made entirely of me, almost a clone... But he's young. He doesn't understand that I'm doing this for him. Even if he hates me for it, I won't teach him magic. No matter what happens."
She set the quill aside, running her fingers through her hair as the tension in her shoulders grew. The room was silent, but in her mind, the voices of the past two years wouldn't cease. She knew Kael would eventually find a way to learn. He always did. But she prayed, silently, that he wouldn't lose himself in the process.
Elion looked at the finished scroll, her eyes scanning each word. It was a reflection of her own fears and hopes. After a moment of contemplation, she rolled the scroll and locked it away in a drawer.
Rising to her feet, she went to the window, gazing at the garden below. There he was, as she had imagined, moving with a grace that didn't belong to a child. Even without formal training, Kael was becoming something extraordinary.
"But I can't let him see that. Not yet."
With one last glance at the boy who was both her greatest source of pride and her deepest worry, Elion closed the curtains.
"I can't teach him. Because what he wants... is something even I cannot control," she finished as she closed the diary.
The days passed, the seasons changed, and over time, Kael's curiosity grew into something much greater: an irresistible force, an uncontrollable will that consumed him entirely. He had to learn; he had to explore the secrets denied to him. Every "no" Elion said only fueled the fire in his heart.
It was this determination that led him to a hidden clearing in the forest, an isolated and tranquil place where he could embark on his own journey, far from his mother's watchful eyes. The gentle sound of leaves swaying in the wind filled the air, but the silence around him seemed almost to conspire with him.
[Intelligence]: 18
[Endurance]: 24
[Mana]: 70
[Blessing]: World Tree (SSS)
[Traits]: Charming, Universal Language, Enhanced Vision, Mana Sensitivity, Mana Core Blessed by the World Tree.
[Abilities]: Soul Absorption (Lv.1), Soul Hunter (Lv.1), Blade Instinct (Passive), Shadow Dance Slash (Lv.1), Elemental Manipulation (Lv.5)
"Considering how much I only train with Air... I'm surprised this hasn't progressed to Air Manipulation..." He murmured, reading the stats.
"Elemental Manipulation... which elements am I capable of manipulating?" He wondered.
[The user's knowledge is limited to Air Manipulation due to forced training. The Core cannot yet support more than one element.]
The message appeared before his eyes...
"So how can I manipulate more elements?" Kael asked.
[Unfortunately, the Mana Core is temporarily sealed by the entity "Yggdrasil," and the seal will only be undone with the user's growth.]
"I see... so let's say I start consuming souls, more and more souls... Can this be accelerated?" Kael inquired.
[Yes. Soul Consumption can supply the need for biological evolution.]
A wide smile spread across Kael's face.
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