Giliath demands your power stones let's try to get over 500 this week!
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Valflame Palace. January 1st. 7:30AM.
Princess Alfin's Room.
Back on the inside of Valflame Palace on the upper floors where Princess Alfin's private quarters currently resided. A couple of maids could currently be seen standing outside on the door with their eyes shut, calmly waiting on Princess Alfin to leave her bedroom, acting as if they knew their job well while waiting on Erebonia's Treasure. As for inside the room, part of the large circular bed currently had its pearly transparent curtains partially open. Toward one side of the room where a desk and drawers lay sat a violet haired boy currently in a lotus position with his arms crossed, appearing very similar to a black spiky haired man from a different universe when he often meditated to circulate his ki.
Naoto, on the other hand, was seated like this, letting his mana roam free inside his body. It followed very similarly to how one circulates ki inside their bodies, which was present in battle aura when martial artists fought. An example of this is the earthen glow that would always appear around Sherryl's body when she activates her battle aura. If there was a difference, it was that Naoto's mana was currently interacting with the outside elements around the room he was present in. Ki was known as the breath of life, showing the significance of one's own vitality. One could easily tap into that energy of life, providing many benefits, such as prolonging their lifespan or even gaining power that could topple mountains down.
Mana worked in a similar fashion, and while the mana core was internal, it did not interact with ki at all. On the contrary, once a person circulates their mana in their body, outside phenomenon would start to happen, such is the present scene happening around Naoto. Many little balls of three different types of mana happily danced in unison around him. They appeared icy-blue, vermillion red and bloody crimson in color. If one had a closer look, two smaller elements floated around him, one being the color of an ocean, while the other was pitch black.
During this training period, aside from improving his foundations and swordsmanship, and improving his Endurance skill, he dabbled into the elements he was granted with so far. Naoto currently had five affinities he was affiliated with, which was Fire, Water, Ice, Blood and the latest one being Darkness. The larger elemental balls of light around him were the ones he had most proficiency in, which was Fire, Ice and Blood. The two smaller and hardly visible ones were Water and Darkness.
A clear azure color glow calmly wrapped around Naoto's entire body, letting it harmonize the five different elements. With each passing moment, Naoto's mana grew thicker and thicker while he continued his meditation session. At the same time, his mind felt free from any stress. He could feel his muscles scream in joy, ready to tackle whatever next that gets thrown at him. It was always a good feeling when both body and mind was approaching its peak condition.
Still, Naoto had his eyes remained closed with his arms crossed over each other, brought close to his chest.
And yet, before long, a soft yet firm voice reached out to Naoto, causing Naoto's mind to stir awake during his meditation session. Excluding last night, this voice was one Naoto had not heard of in the past few years.
"Umu. It looks like you haven't slacked off in the slightest during my absence. Your mana has grown splendidly, boy.", A familiar voice called out to me, causing my mind to stir awake during this round of meditation.
After hearing that voice, a single figure materialized with a flash of light not too far away, calmly floating downward beside me. Sensing this new arrival, I decided to continue circulating my mana, but ended my meditation. The elements still happily danced around me, but the blue number above my head that was constantly appearing vanished.
What replaced that was a very long golden-blonde haired girl that sported very similar colored hair to Princess Alfin. Yet despite the passage of time, this person seemed to not have aged a day. A smile crept on my lips seeing this person arrive in the room I was presently staying in.
"Well if it isn't Master. Have you grown shorter during our time apart?", I said, welcoming the short-statured girl whose age seemed endless. The moment she heard that, I heard a harrumph escape from her lips.
"Hmph. I'll permit that comment this time. Only taking into consideration how far you've progressed, boy. I can see your will is much more steadfast, unlike our begone times. I take it you are ready to take on the trials?", The girl asked, seeing me glance her way while still seated in my lotus position. She was of course Roselia, whom I've not personally encountered since my time spent in the caves, if we exclude last night. She only appeared for a brief time while we were down in the dormant Infernal Castle. She was of course Roselia, one of the only people who I have personally come to accept as my Master.
I happily nodded my head hearing her ask that.
"Yes. I feel much more ready, compared to how I was a year or two ago. The plan is already in motion. Considering the technicality of things, the Emperor doesn't want any implications on his citizens, so we will be using this next one to two months to evacuate them. Even if you bring the entire Hexen Clan together Master, you guys would struggle trying to transport over five hundred thousand people, right?", I said, revealing a playful grin. Yet it seemed Roselia was not disturbed by it, only nodding her head at my question.
"Umu. Fair point. Perhaps if you've reached out to the village a year ago, we could possibly attempt such an act, but thanks to you no less, I'm in my recovery period. Most of my mana has been drained since you wanted that forbidden incantation ready to be casted again, which by the way, is ready.", Roselia retorted with a harrumph, causing me to smile.
"Haha. I do have a bit of regret asking that of you though, Master. You should recall how much of a pivotal role HE has to the members of the SSS. But since I intervened during the DG Cult, it does make me wonder if that person will have as much influence as you've previously seen. His date is coming you know.", I said in a more tone, squinting my eyes at her. To my surprise, I saw Roselia reveal a playful grin herself, only to approach me. I saw Roselia do a gentle yet quick motion of her hand, reaching her small hand out and started to squeeze my chin.
"Oh do you now? We can't be having second guesses this late into the game, boy. For Aidios's sake you've even cut out an entire "game" in that series of yours, as you call it. Those memories still boggle me, but it's at least clear enough to see how much you've been changing with your existence. So what if you decide to save another person. We don't even know if that October War will even happen, or if it does, they will have an entirely new purpose to achieve.", Roselia retorted as she squeezed my cheeks a bit. Seeing this caused me to stare at her but I did find it pretty funny. As she did that, I tried to let out a laugh.
"Haha, it's actually reassuring hearing that from you, Master. Still, it is nice to see you again. But just seeing me isn't the entire reason you came, is it?", I said, seeing Roselia's gaze become softer.
"Well, it was for most of the reason why I came. Part of it was to check up on your progress, and seeing your will steadfast to take on the trials, it is time to teach you and Emma the forbidden incantation to make that Infernal Castle rise up from its ashes. I know it was Vita who originally cast it, but as you can see, she is currently preoccupied with the Azure Awakener. Emma has already decided on being your guide in the Vermillion Trials, so it will be up to you two to cast it, considering I presently lack mana to do so. And by the way, you probably know already, but the spell is indeed that Lucifen Lied. Testa-Rossa is already on its last strands of its own will, it will only be a matter of time before the woes of the past corrupt it. You best be ready to combat him head on.", Roselia explained to me in a much more serious tone.
Hearing that, I knew Roselia meant well and that she was looking after me. Still, to think she would let the two of us learn Lucifen Lied...
A look of anticipation appeared in my eyes. But a question or two also arose after hearing Roselia say that to me.
"I see. I won't go against what you want to teach us, but if you coming here to check up on me and to teach a spell was only part of why you came, then what was the other reason--?", I tried to say, only to get disturbed by a cheerful voice reaching our ears, causing us to get distracted.
"Master! We're back!", A happy voice rang out, only to see a quick blur suddenly enter the room not too far away.
"Sheesh you have way too much energy in the morning you stupid fox. Just what has Naoto been feeding you? I was ready to continue my catnap..", A second tired sounding voice said. The two of us blinked our eyes seeing two small figures appear. One was a small silvery-white fox that currently sported six tails around her, while the second figure was a small black cat with a cute blue ribbon tied around her tail. A sleepy look could be seen in the cat's eyes as she rubbed her paw against them for a moment.
Of course they were the two familiars that belonged to Emma and I, Tamamo and Celine. Tamamo's eyes immediately lit up seeing the mana balls swirling around me. But before she entered a crouching position to pounce my way, Celine was quick to stop Tamamo. Instead, Celine took a moment, realizing the position Roselia and I were in, considering she was still squeezing my chin with her small hand.
"...We weren't interrupting something, were we?", Celine, letting her expression turn deadpan as she did.