Book 1, Chapter 2 - Enlightenment (2.2/2.3)

"Hey, you're awake?"

The first thing that appeared in Synth's view was a violet-haired youth, looking worriedly at him. Getting up off the bed with a painful groan, Synth closed his eyes and began to probe the meridians and veins inside his body. Verain kept silent while Synth was doing this.

Inside his body, Synth could faintly see that his veins were pulsing with some strange power, and his body seemed stronger as well. Opening his eyes once again, Synth extended his hand outwards, and wisps of magical energy emanated from his palm.

Shutting his eyes, Synth began to probe the changes in his body more in depth. It appeared that his veins and meridians were stronger and fuller of life than they had ever been before, and they were even coated over with a faint layer of what appeared to be World Essence.

However, when he tried to sense what should have been the 'core' in his Origin region, he only found an empty expanse of space.

Huh? Shouldn't my 'core' be in the Origin region? Why is nothing here?

Bewildered, Synth probed again to see whether or not a 'core' of World Essence had formed or not inside his body. Once again not finding it, he could only give up and withdraw his inner gaze.

"This is interesting. You spontaneously broke through and became an Invoker and a Chevalier."

Verain's voice, carrying a hint of astonishment, reached Synth's ears and woke him up from his dazed state.

"What do you mean?" Synth was both worried and curious as to what had happened within his body. Naturally, as Verain seemed to know, Synth would grab onto the first opportunity to ask him.

"Well, how do I put it... somehow, you ended up absorbing the World Essence directly into your meridians and veins. I'm honestly surprised that you didn't explode and die from that. It's a wonder that you're still alive."

Ignoring Synth's shocked expression, Verain continued. "You basically created a layer of protection inside and outside the veins in your body, much in the fashion of a Chevalier. However, Chevaliers create this 'shield' on the outside of their bodies. Due to their latent talent, and also due to your method being somewhat counterproductive and extremely dangerous, they can only do this if they want to embark on the path of cultivation."

"You didn't form a core either inside your Origin, unlike Invokers. But, it is an undisputed fact that your body still contains World Essence inside it. I can sense the energy fluctuations inside you."

"This pretty much means that you broke through and became a Mind Invoker, as well as a Magic Fighter."

Seeing how Synth's expression had changed from a worried one into a happy one, Verain frowned, and paused for a brief moment. He had told Synth the good news. However, he still had to tell him the bad news.

"Don't get too excited yet. Even though this means that you can pretty much train as an Invoker and as a Chevalier much more easily than normal people, there is actually a con with your... energy formation."

Synth, hearing this, began to grow anxious, as a feeling of dread was gnawing at his heart. The next words that Verain was going to say, didn't require a genius to figure them out.

"However, this also means that your... growth as an Invoker and as a Chevalier will be impacted. As you probably have noticed, the energy formation that you currently have inside your body is basically a fusion of an incomplete Invoker 'core' and a Chevalier's 'protective battle-aura'."

Verain paused, to let his words sink in. Synth really didn't need that time to realize what Verain was suggesting at, however. He was already looking up at the ceiling with a depressed expression.

Smiling wryly, Synth relaxed the hand that he had grasped the crystal with, only to find that the wisps of energy had disappeared, and the crystal had turned milk-white.

I probably absorbed all the essence inside it, huh?

Tossing the crystal aside, Synth nonchalantly asked, "How long have I been out for?"

"You've been unconscious for roughly around four hours now. It's already 6'oclock."

Synth smiled lightly. "I'm glad that classes don't start until Tuesday. Anyways, we're allowed to go and get something to eat, right?"

"Yeah. We can go to the academy's cafeteria and get some food. Have any money on you?"

Synth pointed at the bag of Xena. Seeing this, Verain nodded, and waited for Synth to prepare all his items.

"Do you seriously plan to go eat in those clothes?"

Noticing the ripped and badly damaged uniform that Synth was wearing, Verain couldn't help but comment.

Scratching his hair with an awkward expression, Synth wryly laughed. "If I had a change of clothes, do you really think I wouldn't have changed by now?"

Casting a somewhat apprehensive gaze toward the articles of clothing that Synth was wearing, Verain lightly scoffed before tapping a mysterious-looking green ring on his index finger.

Just as Synth was about to retort towards Verain's rude action, a pair of clothes flew at him, and directly hit his face, knocking him back onto the bed.

Pushing the clothing aside, Synth looked at Verain with an angry scowl, who was currently smirking.

"Hey, what was that for?"

Verain laughed. "I don't want people to think that I have a peon as a roommate."

"..." Wordlessly getting up, Synth quickly donned the clothes that Verain gave him, while Verain quickly turned around.

This guy... he's seriously precocious. And who knew there was 'this' type of a side to him?

"Are you done?" Verain's voice woke Synth up from his thoughts. Synth nodded, grabbed one Xena coin, and headed out to door towards the cafeteria with his mysterious roommate.

*******************

"Wow... this place is huge!" That was the first comment that Synth made, as he stared at the building in front of him that was covered by what appeared to be a translucent dome, with wide eyes. The building was rather unremarkable in terms of design and architecture. However, the sheer size of the cafeteria would make one feel dumbfounded.

Verain, located at Synth's side, lightly chucked. "Of course it is. There are around two thousand students in the Magecroft Academy. If the cafeteria wasn't this large, then how would all of them eat?"

Ignoring Verain's annoyingly 'smart' remarks, Synth walked inside the double doors that led to the cafeteria.

What appeared in his view was the layout of a high-class restaurant, something that Synth was familiar with due to previously being part of the aristocracy. Many people were already occupying the tables, sipping fine wine and eating sumptuous meals. Overhead, one could see the clear skies, and the breathtaking view of the sun setting in the horizon.

Ignoring Synth, who was rooted in place admiring the view, Verain impatiently walked in front of him to the waitress at the front. "Table for two, please."

Verain walked over to Synth, and tapped him on the shoulder, and handed him a menu. They both then followed the waitress and sat down at a table.

Flipping through the menu, Synth was quite shocked to find the prices of the dishes that were served. Several of them cost a few dozen Gulo, and some even cost a few Xena! Not many people could afford this exorbitant price. Seeing this made Synth wonder how the commoners that got accepted in the Magecroft Academy got by without starving.

Shaking his head, Synth gestured at the waitress and pointed at a few of the cheapest dishes. In the end, he ordered the chef's specialty fish, light champagne, and also a light appetizer.

Surprisingly, Verain only ordered a glass of fine wine.

"You... you're not eating?" Synth asked, wondering why Verain had only ordered a glass of wine.

"Not hungry." Verain casually replied, before grabbing the goblet of wine and downing it in one gulp.

Turning back towards his own food, Synth began to vigorously eat. Although he had learned eating etiquette, he completely ignored those lessons now to avoid suspicion, and tore at the fish with a fork.

"Your manners are... rather lacking." Once again noticing the uncultured way that Synth was acting, Verain could not help but comment again.

Synth let out an awkward laugh.

The only reason why I'm behaving the way I am is to avoid suspicion. Haah....

"Oh? Verain, it seems as if you're enjoying yourself, eh?"

A group of three students walked over, all wearing the slick uniform of the Magecroft Academy. Judging from the badge that they were wearing, they were second year students. The leader of the group of students was a blond-haired youth with an arrogant expression on his face, one hand holding onto a staff. He was currently staring daggers at Verain. Noticing this, Synth could tell that Verain had some history between them.

"What do you want?" A voice passive, but having the undertones of hostility came from Verain's throat. It could be seen that he was not pleased at all with the appearance of these three people. The nearby students enjoying their meals also began to distance themselves from them.

Whispers between the uninvolved students could also be heard, spoken in low tones. Had a first-year student dared to offend a second-year student? If so, the consequences for such an action would truly be disastrous for the new pupil.

All three of the second-year students emanated the aura of a three-star Mind Invoker. However, the blond-haired youth's aura was a little bit stronger than the other two's. It could be seen that he was already experienced with this level of power.

"What DO I want? I wonder?" The blond haired youth snickered. "I think you haven't forgotten about that incident, right?"

Verain scoffed. "The Competition of the Lotus Blossoms? How could I have forgotten? If I remember correctly, that was the place where I beat you up so badly that even those two behind you couldn't recognize you."

Hearing this, the youth became enraged, and made a grabbing motion towards Verain's neck. However, strands of black energy formed a protective barrier around Verain, and blocked the youth's fist. The vial on Verain's waist began to glow a bright, purplish color. Wisps of black smoke began to emanate from the barrier of darkness, and they began to slowly drain the blond-haired youth's energy...

This was the Middle Coalescing Tier Spell, [Soul Leech]. It formed a ball of dark energy that could be manipulated to form many tangible objects, like the barrier that Verain had placed. The ball of darkness also had the effect of slowly draining the energy of whatever it came in contact with.

Noticing this, some of the second-year students and even some third-year students became shocked. A freshman actually was able to cast a Middle Coalescing Tier Spell? This was something that many first-year students found impossible to do!

Of course, one could dispel the negative effects of the [Soul Leech] if they had the methods to do so. However, the three youths that wanted to gang up on and harass Verain clearly didn't have the ability to do so.

*BOOM!*

Another burst of energy enveloped the area, and the blond-haired youth was sent flying away. With a cold, apathetic look, Verain turned around and began to walk the other way, a faint, ominous pressure enveloping his body.

"Don't bother me when I'm eating."

The blond-haired youth who had been knocked away painfully got up, while revealing an expression of astonishment. "Don't tell me... you've really advanced to a four-star Mind Invoker?"

"Four star Mind Invoker?"

These few words caused an uproar in the crowd of students who were dining in the hall. It must be known that many second-year students were only four-star Mind Invokers! For a first-year student to possess this level of strength... was truly terrifying! His growth potential would undoubtedly be much higher above ordinary people's!

Ignoring the youth who was lying on the floor and the two others that came with him, Verain quietly left. Synth hurriedly followed, somewhat troubled by the many apprehensive gazes that were shot in their direction.

The results of the clash left many stunned gazes and shocked expressions. One thought began to linger in the minds of the first-year students who had witnessed the spectacle of Verain effortlessly defeating the blond-haired youth: A monster has arrived at the academy...

*******************

"Hey... Verain... weren't your actions a bit brash?" Synth and Verain were currently standing on top of a ledge, directly overlooking the dorms. Synth had no idea why Verain had chosen to go there, but he had followed him nonetheless.

He was truly surprised at the display that he had witnessed earlier, having seen Verain beat up a second-year student. He was also curious about their past history, but decided not to question it.

"..."

Silence. Verain didn't reply, and Synth just kept on standing there, not saying anything else. This continued for what seemed like an eternity, before Verain turned around.

Casting his ice-cold gaze on Synth, he stepped forward, until the distance between them had shrunk to about a foot.

Noticing Verain's advance, Synth nervously backed away, until his back was pressed against the wall of the cliff.

Suddenly, a blade of darkness coalesced, and it rested on Synth's shoulder, right next to his neck.

What the hell is going on? Weren't we getting along fine just moments ago?

Worried about the situation that he was in and the increasing amount of dread that he felt, Synth said angrily, "What is this all about? If you kill me, I don't think the academy will let you off lightly, even if you're from the Li Family!"

Verain smiled, and walked back a few steps. However, the blade was still resting at Synth's neck.

"If you don't want to die, let's make a deal that benefits both parties."