I guess I should have expected this. There were some black veins left on my arms, I really expected all of them to revert during the night but I guess I’m not that lucky. When I looked in the mirror I noticed I had the” when you have miss universe contest at 8 but you gotta fight Obi Wan at 10” look.

Black veins or not I should go to the kitchen, apparently Kraft was supposed to cook something nutritious for me so I’m expecting to get poisoned. When I arrived in the kitchen they were already at the table waiting for me. Both Kraft and Ellen were looking away from me, something that I expected since I still have those veins. The only thing I don’t understand is why am I not freaked out. In my previous world I would have killed myself by know if I saw what I did yesterday and yet I don’t feel scared or uneasy. It might be my body telling me that this is something natural or maybe I became mentally stronger than I was in my past life.

On another note my powers tell me that the soup contained traces of different roots and vegetables which have healing properties and it tasted like a sweeter version of a vegetable soup. Something was different from yesterday, my head didn’t hurt even though I used my powers but I can feel a pulse in throughout my entire body and it feels natural, I really need to know what that is.

After I ate my breakfast I went outside to train. My body feels different: it feels lighter and stronger than before. Ellen told me that demons are often agile compared to how they look because of the magic inside them, it is possible that my body is changing the same way. I will keep observing the changes in my body and deal with them later.

I searched for Ellen and I found her in the bedroom sitting on the bed.

“Ali, come here for a second.”

I went in front of her then she told me to face the other way. When I did that she picked me up, put me on her lap and embraced me. I know from previous experience that she does this only when she is blaming herself for not helping me and I really don’t understand why. She knows she can’t do anything yet she is like this. Oh well, maybe I can convince her to let me go.

“Ali, do you remember the day I met you.”

“In the forest, five years ago, you and Kraft came and took me with you.”

“I will now tell you the whole story. You were the only survivor of an occupation force of a tribe of nomad warriors called the Kylls. The Kylls find a village, kill everyone in it then they live in it until it’s time to find another one. Kraft and I came here to save the village and were supposed to kill everyone including women and children. The two of us plus some local knights ambushed them in the forest and killed all of them including you. The plan was for you to die with the rest of them as a warning for other tribes or parties.”

“Before you say anything else, why the sudden confession?”

“Because I always go out of my way to help you even if I know I can’t and I wanted you to know why. After the party was eliminated we left but then I thought that taking you and raising you might be fun.”

“Why didn’t you give birth to a child if you wanted to experiment the life of a mother?

“I couldn’t, in my bloodline there is a disease that prevent women from getting pregnant. Some people said this was the work of a curse. Even black magic was powerless against whatever this is.”

“Why the sudden drama? It’s not like I’m dying, the veins will disappear and my body will grow stronger.”

“Did you know that Kraft was part of an ancient nomad tribe who is said to be able to fight demons barehanded? His body’s condition never deteriorates even if he is ill.”

“That is impressive, but what does it matter?”

Ellen extended her right arm and started moving her finger in the air like she was painting something.

“Do you want to hear a story?”

“About what?”

“It’s the tale of the Dark Knight. Back when the world was still undivided and the number demons outnumbered the other races a demon king waged war against the world. Forged by the flames of war a human capable of controlling dark magic lead the humans to victory in many battles. It was recorded in the ancient scrolls that he wielded a sword bigger than a man and heavier than a mountain. Until one day when he accomplished his biggest feat before he died.

One night the demons attacked his camp in a night raid. The Dark Knight fought battled the demons with his bare hands until the demon king arrived. The demon king was had a humanoid body, despite being 4 meters tall. His armor was made by the flesh and bones of his victims and he wielded a mace which is said to have the power to split the world.

The survivors of that day said that the Dark Knight fought the demon in his sleepwear, only using his fist and the dark magic, his troops said that it looked like the night was giving him power. Every time the demon’s mace hit him the world itself would shake. The Knight’s entire body was covered in a black aura and with each hit he landed on the demon he grew stronger. He was capable of injuring the demon faster than he could heal. It is said that he was set aflame by the demon’s black fire and extinguished a flame that was supposed to be impossible to put out. His strength was enough to bring the demon to his knees. The demon used every kind of magic on him but despite his wounds the knight survived each strike.

It is said that after weakening the demon the knight ripped the demon’s right arm and took the mace from him. Right before he died the demon casted a spell on the Knight. After the Knight killed the demon he was turned to stone. The last thing the survivors saw was the Knight shattered after the magic left his body and they understood that his body was destroyed during the fight and his willpower forced the magic to keep him alive.

After his death numerous mages and fighters worked together to create the body enchantment technique and understand it’s limits. They say that every piece of stone that was found from what remained of the Dark Knight’s body was actually petrified magic energy, containing a vast amount of magical power. By using those pieces the most skilled blacksmiths forged the weapons that destroyed the demon army and stopped the first demon war.”

“How old is this tale and how much of it is true?”

“This tale is the only tale that remained from before the second global war and it is said that the descendants of the Dark Knight are the rulers of Vollmond but not even direct descendants have the power to control dark magic to that degree. That’s why I want you to master the body enchantment technique and master the dark element.”

“Seems more like a dream than a goal.”

“The black veins are the evidence that your body is evolving towards permanent absorption of magic, now you must keep absorbing your magic. Kraft and I will teach you how to handle weapons and how to strengthen your body.

Since a journey begins with a single step I suggest you keep training with Kraft for the rest of the year and when you turn 6 we will teach you how to use your mind and body in a real fight.”