“I see. So my predecessor’s experiences where also stored in my Void core.”
Kyran lowered his gaze and fell into contemplation. If the Dark Sage’s experiences were stored in his Void core, then there was a big chance that it also contained his ’emotions’. Kyran remembered his meeting with the Conclave. When they talked about the Founder’s last wish, and Kyran doubted his motive, his thoughts shifted to the Royal Family. He thought his magic was acting up again when he felt ‘angry’ at the idea of the possibility that the Royal Family might have controlled the information about the Dark Sage. It did not occur to him that he was unconsciously attracting the Dark Sage’s emotions stored in his Void core.
The man nodded, confirming Kyran’s thoughts.
“Correct. When your emotions resonates with an information in your magic core, your central core will be attracted to it.”
Kyran sighed.
‘This is really a problem,’ he thought and looked at his magic cores again.
While his magic cores’ arrangement was meant to help him, it could also lead to his body breaking if he was not careful.
“Now you understand the problem?” The man asked.
Kyran nodded.
“Basically, I have to keep my emotion in check. I should also avoid tapping into two magic cores at the same time, else my central core can’t take it.”
Kyran then stopped and frowned as a thought crossed his mind.
“Wait. It’s not that I can’t tap into two cores to my central core at the same time, because if I can’t, I will not be able to combine the Regis Defensive Technique and Void magic to form the Void Scales. So maybe…”
He stared at his central core. He thought his central core was at the ‘center’ of the four magic cores because it served as a ‘stopper’ of magic information, but remembering how he could create the Void Scales, could his central core have another purpose?
The man did not answer but only smiled at Kyran.
Kyran did not mind. He did not expect the man to answer him anyway.
After contemplating for a moment, Kyran smiled ironically and heaved a sigh.
His central core could accommodate all information entered into it, as long as it was in ‘harmony’. And as long as the magic information in his central core was in harmony, then he could combine it and even create new magic information.
But where would this information be stored?
Kyran’s attention shifted to the two transparent magic cores. The man mentioned that a person’s magic core that could not attract the surrounding energy would remain ‘unoccupied’.
‘So new magic information can occupy these two?’ Kyran wondered. He was partially excited at the idea. If he could do that, then would that mean he had two unoccupied magic cores to fill? How much new magic information would that be?
The man suddenly laughed while shaking his head.
“You are already thinking about that when you have not even resolved your current situation.”
Immediately, Kyran snapped out of his thoughts at the man’s reminder.
The man was right.
There was no point in him pondering the use of his transparent magic cores if he was stuck in this place.
Kyran vaguely knew that this place was his consciousness, and as for his real body, as long as he did not fall off the ravine, then it should still be fine.
Hopefully.
Kyran looked at the man and asked, “Can you help me?”
The man chuckled and said, “You know your ancestor never asked for help.”
Without thinking, Kyran asked, “Which ancestor?”
The man looked at him in surprise. He fell silent while staring at Kyran as if contemplating whether to answer or not.
After a short pause, the man finally said, “Who do you think it is?”
Kyran frowned. The man’s answer reminded him of Nolan again. It was similar to Nolan’s response when he did not want to answer.
Kyran felt a little annoyed. How come that guy kept popping up in his mind? Did he grow attached to that uncle?
The thought made him shiver.
“The annoying one,” Kyran replied in frustration.
The man chuckled and turned his back. He looked at the magic cores and said, “All your theories about your central core is correct. However, you missed one thing.”
“What?”
“About the stored experiences in your magic cores.”
Kyran felt uneasy. He had a bad feeling about what this man was about to say.
“You are too focused on your Void core, that you missed that your Draconic core can also affect your central core.”
‘I knew it,’ Kyran thought, his expression turning sour.
“Ahahaha.” The man suddenly laughed. “I can already imagine your expression. Why do you deny having the Draconic core?”
“Please. Having one forbidden magic is already a handful. If you tell me I have two forbidden magic-.”
“Forbidden magic?” The man interrupted and turned his attention to him.
“Well, right now. Void magic is considered forbidden magic. I guess… Draconic is not forbidden right now but if the Royal Family finds out then-.”
Kyran abruptly stopped as he saw the man’s expression turned cold. However, it only appeared briefly before the man’s expression turned sad.
“It doesn’t matter,” the man said and smiled. “If you don’t accept that fact, you will not be able to resolve your situation.”
“How is accepting it resolve my situation?”
“Because only when understand why both your magic is at odds, will you be able to stabilize your central core.”
Kyran frowned. Wasn’t his central core in that state because he was trying to suppress his Void magic?
“Feel your central core,” the man told him.
Kyran followed the man’s instruction and closed his eyes. He did not bother to argue because he needed to wake up as soon as possible. He was worried about the state of his body as well as what was happening in the forest.
Kyran concentrated on feeling his central core. The moment he did, the excruciating pain returned, and he wanted to crouch down.
However, he still could not move his body and could only endure.
“Argh!”
“Understand where the pain is coming.”
Kyran heard the man speak. He wanted to snap at the man and tell him that the pain made it hard for him to concentrate.
But.
Different emotions surged around him.
That was right. When Kyran’s magic went out of control, it was because of these emotions. He felt sad because of the state of the remnant souls. But he also felt grateful. Then there was regret, anger, and hatred.
It was only then that Kyran noticed that the sadness and gratitude he felt resonated with his Void core, but the regret, anger, and hatred resonated with…
Kyran’s eyes snapped open as he stared at the silver-gray core.
His Void magic was actually trying to soothe the negative emotions coming from his silver-gray core. But he was too afraid of losing control of his body that he wanted to suppress his Void magic. Could it be during the meeting with the Conclave, it was the same?
‘Why…?’
He lowered his gaze and immediately met the man’s eyes.
However, the man remained still and did not speak even though Kyran was looking at him questioningly.
Silence ensued between them.
After a long pause, Kyran finally spoke.
“My…” He took a shaky breath before he continued, “My Draconic core is the one out of control.”
The man smiled solemnly and said, “Now you accept having Draconic core?”
“But how? Why? Why does this negative feeling… why does my draconic core feel that way?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Kyran gritted his teeth. He glared at the man and said, “Why not?”
“It is too soon. You are not ready.”
“And when will I be ready?”
The man looked at the floating magic cores and said, “When you have a better understanding of your magic.”
Kyran frowned slightly and asked, “Can’t you just tell me?”
The man looked at him and smiled bitterly, “I can’t. Only when you find it yourself will you attain a deeper understanding of your magic.”
Kyran tried to clenched his fists but failed. It seemed he still could not move his body, and it was getting on his nerves.
The man suddenly chuckled and said, “This is your sea of consciousness. It’s not because you can’t move, but because you don’t have a body to move.”
“Don’t have a body to move?” Kyran repeated and immediately looked down.
Indeed. Kyran could not see his body.
“Now that you know why this happened, you need to be careful.” The man warned Kyran. “Your central core is still fragile. If you are not careful on how you draw the magic information from your two cores, this will happen again and when that time comes, I might not be able to help you.”
Kyran looked at him and asked, “Why not? If that happens, won’t I return to this place again?”
“Yes and no. Yes, you will return here, but I won’t be here.”
“Why?”
“I managed to appear before you because you met the requirements. Although, it is too soon.”
“Then tell me what are the requirements.”
The man did not answer and just smiled.
Kyran clenched his ‘fist’. He had the impulse to hit the man’s smiling face for trying to act cool and mysterious.
The man chuckled and just said, “You have to control your Draconic core now, and wake up.”
“I have tons of questions to ask you next time,” Kyran told him.
“I know.”
“You have to properly answer me. Don’t waste my time by answering with another question.”
The man chuckled and only nodded.
Kyran took one last look at his magic cores before he took a deep breath and started to feel his Draconic core.
After a few minutes, his Draconic core finally reacted and the silver-gray color inside his central core started to stabilize.
Soon, Kyran also felt that his consciousness was slowly fading. He knew that this must mean he was waking up soon.
However, before his consciousness faded completely, he looked at the man one last time.
The man also looked at him and smiled.
And in a voice Kyran almost failed to hear, the man said, “I hope you will find that Void Magic is not all about destruction. My young successor, let’s meet again.”
When the man said these words, Kyran felt an inexplicable pain in his heart. As if he was parting from a very dear friend.