Now that there were both parents at home and the kid started to heal himself Luke and Elizabeth could, finally, stay at easy. To Beth the most important thing is the facts proved the veracity of the information provided by her husband. They now could have a normal life again, at least normal in their way.
Beth used her name, the name of her grandpa Smith, the name of her clan, her contacts and everything she can to maintain her patent. Before being demoted she was a "captain of twenty" of a cavalry regiment. Because of the extended leave of seven months the colonel had to demote her, and, after all negotiation, she became "leader of ten".
Elizabeth's new routine became cultivate at morning, eat, work, cultivate the soul and sleep. Luke, retake his part taking care of the home and kid all day and cultivate his soul when he can.
Arthur (N / A: Our protagonist, if you couldn't remember) was elated. There were so many sounds and noises, so many colours, lights, smells, tastes... Many new sensations that he did not know or could feel in all his little lifetime. He can feel the wind blowing in his face and the majestic and comfortable wave of energy all around the place. Every second is a new discovery to the children ...
His development could be considered weird if you compare him with other kids. He is already older than a year, but he has not developed his senses before, so it is expected that Arthur could not associate any sounds to objects or differentiate colours. He started to show signs of feeling things that other kids can't. For example: he could notice when someone is trying to get near to him even when there was no noise at all.
The physicians, astounded for the unexpected improvement, started to think about ways to help the kid to heal faster. Like start to take Arthur to new ambiances and places to be exposed to most different kinds of knowledge. Their kid, by the physicians' verdict, will at most became a normal mortal if he can continue to improve.
To expose him to other places his father started to take him to kindergarten and, due to his problems, he was grouped with kids a year younger than him. This is a very expensive option but if it really could bring to the child chances to achieving a better future, his parents would not even think twice.
Now, with more time at hand, Luke could spend more of his time cultivating his soul. Luke's routine becomes a half-time work at a restaurant, to help with school fees, do the house's chores and cultivating his soul.
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Luke finally ended the third scroll. The first one establishes the foundation for the second one, that helped him break through to the first shackle of mortal soul. The third scroll prepares the soul power to make a second breakthrough, it is a shame that they did not get the fourth ...
When Beth finishes the third scroll she probably will become even stronger than in the past. If she comes back to her work at the army, even stripped from the patent, she will soar in her position there again. So, they could provide the best resources to help their kid become completely healthy, or even become a genius too.
They took an entire month to decide how to use the Dark Rite. At beginning Elizabeth wanted to share the burden with his husband, to prevent to lose him for ever. Luke didn't just deny her claim but refused to teach her the mantra used to start the Soul Transfer.
He did it because the cultivation of soul is the last one he can practice, and his lifespan is already shorter than Elizabeth's, if he could successfully study the three scrolls he could get his lifespan increased. She would lose more if she does it because she is the source of incoming of their family and their protection depends on the relation between her and her grandpa. And, if anything bad happen, she could take care of their son.
The other reason is about the nature of the Dark Rites. The Dark Rites are an uncommon source of power, that work in a strange but faster way. As opposed with the common way to cultivate, that consume time and effort and needs a bit of talent, the Dark Rites are too much unruly.
To become stronger with Dark Rites takes a tenth of effort and brings ten times of result, usually you don't need any comprehension. But there isn't free lunch in the world, to get power using this method the cost usually is extremely high. It can be your beauty, libido, sight, life and even the life of your loved ones.
With the intent to try to stop mortals and cultivators to use arts from the dark path a new religion was spread out in the world, that talk about the creation of this world and the devil who always wants to harm the good people who follow God. One of the most powerful weapons of the devil is the Dark Rites. And the person who uses Dark Rites to become stronger started to be called Demonic Cultivator.
Almost every powerful being of this planet studies and tries to identify the real source of the power of the Dark Rites, some searching for better stability, others searching for power and there some supposedly trying to eliminate it.
If they could control it, he would have no equal in the world, their power would soar. If they could destroy it, they will become hero of the world. But all that doesn't bring any result, the truth is that the dark magic really exists and as much as the mana no one ever found its origin.
Because of all that no outsider knew about Luke and Elizabeth's little private party tonight. They aren't a couple that neighbours invite to breakfast at their home. If was known that they are involved with dark magic the consequences will be dire.
Even so, as desperate parents, they simply ignored all that problems. Arthur is the most important thing in their worlds, Luke making this sacrifice is considered normal. In no time Luke started to chant:
"All the things in the world are how they are just because not one dared to defy the world. I, a mere human, merely a mortal, humbly bow in front you Baal to ask you to make a deal..." he continued to chant each word.