Meditation.
A technique imparted to the youths of the Empire to help them become more in tune with themselves and calm their minds.
However, that wasn't the only reason the Instructors in the Training Camps emphasised such an activity so rigorously. It had a hidden benefit that would only manifest after their students had embarked on the path to the divine.
…One that Nico was currently experiencing.
Entering a pseudo-meditative state, similar to the one he would use during battle, a sense of wonder bubbled up in the boy's chest. Not only was he becoming more in tune with his surroundings, but now that he had access to mana, his whole perception of the world had changed.
Nico focused, his senses spreading outward. All around him, the world swiftly lost its colour turning into a dull grey. Concentrating further, he noticed numerous amethyst particles swirling in the air, their concentration much greater near the egress and the window.
The other vibrant motes he had viewed earlier appeared to dim, trailing obediently behind the violet dot.
The brown-haired boy's curiosity piqued.
It was common knowledge that mana was the sum of all Fundamental Elements and Sub-Elements combined. This was the purest form the mythical energy would take. Meanwhile, impure mana involved the mystical energy being broken down into one of its many elemental constituents.
Awed by the spectacle before him, Nico realised that the meditation technique Instructor William had imparted served another purpose. A function that allowed him to sense the pure or untainted mana in the air.
'Blazing Fates…' he thought, full of wonder.
Breaking out of the pseudo-meditative state, Nico massaged his temple, a slight headache already starting to form.
'Looks like my mental endurance isn't that high.'
A wry smile split his face.
It seemed that was another thing he would have to work on.
Shaking his head slightly, Nico closed his eyes and turned his senses inward, inspecting his navel.
In his mind's eye, a dim orb the size of a tennis ball hovered silently in place, dull and appearing to lack the lustre and shine of the mystical. Its crystalline exterior fell flat, a stark contrast to the glowing crystal he had seen in the centre of the Dungeon Core.
Numerous veins snaked from the lacklustre orb like a spider's thread. The brown-haired boy traced them along and found to his wonder, that they travelled all across his body, not leaving a single body part untouched.
'How cool!'
…Nico's wonder did not cease.
He examined his core with further scrutiny and discovered some of the vibrant motes that had been dancing in his vision earlier were now nestled within its lacklustre confines. The particles squeezed together in the tight space, forming another kaleidoscope of mesmerising colour.
It was as if a rainbow was shining softly inside, gently illuminating the interior of the orb.
Curious, he focused on the crimson mote and attempted to draw it out. He willed the fiery particle forward with his mind and found the process easier than he imagined.
'I could get used to this!'
When the crimson mote finally left his core, a deep, blazing rage, furious and immolating sparked to life in his heart.
He felt as if he could burn down the heavens with his towering rage alone. Strangely, the anger he had felt when losing Cedric appeared in his mind, further stoking the roaring fire.
Nico blinked and shook his head.
The sensation swiftly died down.
A shiver instinctively crawled down his spine.
'Strange… very strange.'
He decided to change his focus to a different mote and picked the light blue particle.
The same thing occurred.
This time, instead of fury, a serene calmness spread through his heart.
It was reminiscent of the Zen he experienced when achieving inner peace, only multiplied a number of times, as if the whole world had engulfed him in its soothing embrace.
Nico blinked again, shaking off the odd sensation.
With his curiosity greatly piqued, he investigated the rest of the motes.
The grey particle made him feel empty and hollow like he was nothing more than a desolate shell—the embodiment of a realm where everything ceased to exist.
His grief over losing Henry resonated greatly with this.
Nico had to bite his tongue to stop from being lost in the bleak emotion.
He barely escaped.
'That… that was dangerous.'
He inhaled sharply, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his back.
He then shifted his attention to the next mote.
The earthy brown particle… was perhaps just as chilling as the previous one.
It evoked a sensation where his heart seemed impenetrable and rock-hard. Nothing could reach it, forever distant, like a heart of stone.
In this state, his emotions seemed dull and meaningless, serving no other purpose than to get in his way.
He felt the need to discard them…
Nico shuddered as his concentration broke.
'How frightening…'
He shook his head furiously, deeply uncomfortable at being so indifferent and out of sync with his emotions.
Gritting his teeth, the boy continued.
Similar to the earthy brown mote, the silver particle made him feel extremely impenetrable.
However, where they differed, was that instead of his emotions, the mote seemed to affect his body, shaping, morphing, and perfecting it… until he became the impregnable manifestation of a heavenly alloy.
One that refused to be bent.
Blinking, Nico marvelled at the sensation of boundless security.
It was much more comforting than the other, more harrowing feelings.
Next, was the penultimate mote which invoked a warmness that permeated his whole being. It was as if he was being bathed in holy light, free of worry, and free of pain.
It was such a gentle, tender and benign sensation that it almost lulled Nico to sleep.
A content grin graced his face.
He softly shook the drowsiness away.
Finally, the time for the last particle came.
It evoked a blistering feeling as if he was unrivalled under the heavens. No one could touch him, for he was too destructive, too blinding, and too irate.
A savage sense of exhilaration roared to life in Nico's veins. The boy promptly broke his focus and pinched himself.
He panted slightly, his gaze wild and pupils narrow. A few moments later, the lingering effect retreated.
Nico released a turbid breath, his mind struggling to make sense of the different emotions the vibrant motes had evoked within him.
He bit the inside of his cheek, deep in thought.
He intuitively understood that the six different particles nestled within his core represented each of his elemental affinities.
The red, blue, silver and gold motes were self-explanatory.
The first three depicted the Fundamental Elements of Fire, Water and Metal, while the fourth denoted the presence of the extremely rare Sub-Element, Light.
A bittersweet feeling welled within his chest as he recalled Henry's wish to be a Light Element wielder. Nico silently offered a brief prayer, hoping the young farmer could now rest easy in the Great Beyond, free from the shackles of society's judgment and scorn.
Turning his attention back to the mesmerising particles, the brown-haired boy frowned. He struggled to discern the nature of the last two remaining motes.
His mind focused on the grey speck.
'Empty… what Element could be the embodiment of emptiness?'
After some more thought, Nico's eyes lit up.
The greyish mote probably represented Space, or more accurately, the tenebrous Void and its deep, dark, and everlasting emptiness. Indeed, within this realm, very few creatures, if any at all, called it home.
It was just vacant, unoccupied and void...
Now, only the purple particle was left for him to figure out.
Nico racked his brain, searching for an answer. He recalled the sense of exhilaration, the sheer potential to destroy, and the intense irateness which bloomed in its wake.
An irritation that seemed similar to the rage of Fire at first glance, but as the brown-haired boy scrutinised the sensation further, he inevitably thought of the Sea Temple.
A sudden click resounded in his mind.
The worshippers of the Queller of Planets all had at least some power to control storms.
So, since he already had an affinity for Water, that meant there could only be one other conclusion…
…The purple mote was symbolic of his affinity for Lightning.
'Surely this is all a dream…'
Nico blinked, struggling to process what his senses were transmitting to him.
There was just absolutely no way he could be a hepta-elemental mage, right?
Staring at the colourful motes dancing joyfully in the corner of his vision, the boy's anxiety deepened.
'How? How is this possible?'
Why did he receive such insane luck?
Instead of being happy, Nico only felt dread.
On the one hand, the ceiling for the cap on his potential was almost limitless - if he did not make much progress on comprehending one Element, he could always switch to another.
On the other, more chilling hand though, this colossal advantage gifted to him automatically made him one of the most important people in Crelerath, based on value and worth alone.
The War against the Demons aside, someone like him could win a conflict all on his own. In fact, if he so wished, he could usurp one of the Monarchs and take their place.
…Provided he received enough time to grow, of course.
Still, that didn't make Nico's potential any less terrifying. As time passed, and his strength and versatility certainly grew, there would be less and less chance of anyone being able to defeat him.
If his future enemies learned of this secret, the brown-haired boy was sure they would no doubt do everything in their power to stop him from growing.
Nico's determination to prevent that from happening strengthened.
He did not want the fact that he had six elemental affinities to come to light.
He would do his best to guard this secret with his life!
And while it pained him to keep another secret from his family, the young ascender consoled himself that this was the correct course of action.
What they didn't know could not harm them.
Moreover, Nico imagined his mother would fret endlessly if she learned of the true depths of his powers. Behaviour that could potentially tip someone off that all was not as it seemed.
'Forgive me, guys. But I must keep this a secret. Our safety hangs in the balance if I don't.'
Nico released another turbid breath, his thoughts continuing to revolve around the necessity to keep the nature of most of his affinities hidden.
He shivered, imagining the uproar that would occur if such news were to be leaked to the public. As far as he was aware, most people would only have an affinity for a single element, two if they were lucky, and three if they were Heaven's Chosen.
But six?
Six was unheard of!
That was why he decided he would only reveal that he had control of three Elements. The rest he would leave as an ace up his sleeve for when things got harrowingly dire.
Just then, a knock from the door broke Nico out of his musing.
He tensed, a sudden paranoia overcoming him.
Who could that be?