"Oh my. That's quite the response. Speaking like this, you have no qualms about killing to get your way. Don't tell me that this never bothered your mental state? More often than not, non-mages and Mages would want to be good people or at least a better version of themselves." Cyan curiously asked.
For a moment, Ervin genuinely thought about all of his actions so far. How he felt was still the same as he felt from the very day his graduation occurred.
"Not really, no. I just never really cared about getting close to others when Magic is far more interesting. And I guess I just never cared about having morals or whatever. I just live how I want to enjoy. Even as my thinking makes me isolated from others, I never cared about maintaining a relationship, fitting in with other people, or trying to be some good person." As Ervin spoke, he didn't realize it, but a slight smile curled his lips.
"Is that so?" Cyan gave Ervin a thorough look over from top to bottom. "You seem well put together. Those on your team placed a considerable amount of trust in you. And you are a part of the Enforcers. Every step you take, you're quite mindful of it, right?"
"I guess you can say so." Ervin casually shrugged.
That was all Cyan needed. A change began to suddenly take hold of him. Gleaming crimson Mana glistened across his entire body. His wound suddenly vanished, showcasing a body that was completely healed.
But at the same time, his body became translucent!
Quite literally, Cyan's body began to take the shape of a ghostly form. His legs became a ghostly tail as he floated off the ground.
A true spirit was right in front of Ervin's face. Cyan faintly smirked as he said, "Feeling shocked since I'm not actually a human. At least, not anymore."
"That's..." Ervin couldn't deny this surging surprise rising up within him.
He only read about tales of other types of beings such as ghostly spirits, different kinds of bloodline people, or species that have mixed race bloodlines from higher evolved people. He had fantasized that one day he would be able to encounter such a mystical meeting.
Now, long and behold, on the day they were looking for valuables, Ervin was the only one to witness a true spirit.
"Before my death, I was actually a human with a bloodline many others consider to be too demonic. Not wanting me to rise up, the higher powers used a plan to have me killed while taking every little thing I had. I had a feeling a day like this was soon, so I managed to hide my most valuables across the entire continent. I was once a Nirvana Mage who had failed at reaching the depths of Magic. But perhaps someone like you can make it past numerous other famous legends in history. Here, take this." As Cyan spoke, his hand clenched.
The small reb orb lying by the cave wall was suddenly pulled into Cyan's hand.
The connection between the orb and Cyan radiated a skin-crawling sensation. Ervin couldn't suppress a pang of fear from the sheer force of the magical fusion.
Without any warning, Cyan tossed over the small red orb, forcing Ervin to catch it.
"Hm?" Ervin felt quite strange touching this orb.
The texture was like he was holding onto a force of unfathomable Magical Energy. It wasn't like he was carrying something heavy, but rather holding a mystical amount of power the world had rarely seen before.
Ervin wasn't even sure if this was heavy or not. Only that this orb was giving Ervin's mind a breathtaking magical feeling.
Cyan began to explain, "This right here would be useless to most average and even cold-blooded killers. But I can tell you can use it to a greater potential. This is a Demon Orb, something once very useful for me and will be useful for you."
"For me?" Ervin curiously curled his brows. "Before any of that, just who are you? To not die and stay around as a spirit, to have such unfathomable Mana...you can't just be a simply human, right?"
"Indeed. My bloodline is along the human path, but as I said it's what many others considered as 'demonic.' Despite the infamously of my bloodline, it granted me powerful abilities and played an immense part in helping me reach the Nirvana Mage realm. Perhaps I could've reached far longer in my Magical Path, but I was ultimately killed in the end. And now, I'm standing in front of you, seeing a hope that can actually push the entirety of Magic beyond anything I or anyone else had ever seen before."
"I see..." Ervin calmly murmured.
For all intents and purposes, he is in front of what should be a massive red flag. That giving even an ounce of trust to this being would lead Ervin to the depths of hell.
All those thoughts seriously swirled around Ervin's mind.
However, at the same time, this demonic person clearly would've long since killed him if he truly wanted to.
Ervin also knows himself very well. Furthering his path of Magic was the highest goal he ever hoped to achieve. It's what gives his life that enjoyment most, if not all other humans can't give.
If there's something he wants to do, then he will do it. If there's something he does not want to do, then he'll find a situation to avoid doing it.
A small calm smile curled Ervin's lips. He stared directly into the demon spirit's eyes. "Alright. Then, what does this orb do? I want to know everything before doing anything."
"Of course you would." Cyan gave a knowing smile. "The orb you holding was once created by a Perfection Stage Holy Mage. This Mage was an extreme genius, being able to advance deeply into the path of emotions and by extending the very soul itself. This orb can only be activated and continually fueled by the extreme emotions of others. That little partner of yours needs to be awake for this. If you can find the right opportunity, then kill your partner by plunging this core into his body. When he is warped with intense emotions, the orb will do its magic so to speak."
He paused at this point. Gauging Ervin's reaction for any sign of disgust or recoil.
But things went as expected at this point. Ervin only had a deeply pondering expression. Simply thinking about how he can achieve this task while also getting away with the crime without drawing any suspicions onto himself.
Cyan silently nodded at his reaction. He continued to say, "You can figure out how to accomplish this. Once you do it, this orb's abilities include being able to directly absorb the magical veins of a person, taking their blood which will allow the orb to have a direct link to a Mage's Magical Space. Once the link has been established, the orb will directly absorb the Mage's Magical Core completely, including the essence of their talents and all that they studied about Magic. You won't be able to absorb this essence immediately, but studying their magical principles will be completely clear as if you were simply reading a book. Your own comprehension of Magic will increase far faster than any Noble Mage or greater Mage Art. And if your body can withstand it, you will be able to retain a Mage's Innate Ability if they possess one."
"That's..." Ervin sucked in a cold breath. His body shivered, feeling the trembles of anticipation spiked within every inch of him.
All of those abilities seemed tremendously overpowered!
Granted, it came at the cost of needing to take other lives in such a gruesome fashion. But while Ervin knew the kind of effects his actions had and how much this could affect the city in the long run, he did not mind taking the cruelty route in the slightest.
Still, Ervin had to ask Cyan, "Just who was this Holy Mage? I can at least tell that the Nirvana Mage realm comes after the Spirit Mage realm. Are the higher realms that much more powerful?"
"Much more powerful is simply an understatement. The power coursing within even a Nirvana Mage would seem like a god to all you lower Mages. But that's something you'll need to think about in the far future. For now, just know that this Holy Mage was an extreme genius nearly close to reaching higher realms. He extensively researched the Emotion Magical Path which allowed him to deeply study the soul. It was through combining emotions and the soul that this demon orb could exist."
As Cyan finished explaining, he suddenly turned behind him. His gaze seemingly intently focused on something in the darkness before turning back around to Ervin.
He simply said, "And when you grow stronger. Preferably at the Advanced Mage realm, come back here. When the Heavy Black Mist strikes, I have no doubt you will grow far stronger from it."
With those final words, Cyan's spirit instantly vanished. He didn't want a second longer, not even wanting to give final farewells to Ervin.