Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: A SPARK WITHIN

Hours bled into hours as Aether relentlessly pushed the boundaries of Dual Cognition. He was a man possessed, his eyelids glued open, his focus a laser burning into Lumi's every action. Each iteration, he observed the way Lumi manipulated the golden mana – the pull, the push, the intricate dance that formed the magnificent arc. It felt like a language slowly unlocking within him, a code whispering secrets to his attentive mind.But a gut feeling roared within him, a nagging suspicion that this wasn't the full story. This was just a glimpse, a basic maneuver in the grand symphony of mana manipulation. He yearned to push past it, to explore the uncharted territory beyond Lumi's demonstration. With gritted teeth, he pushed on his mental command, trying to force his way deeper, further.The response was swift and brutal. A searing pain lanced through his mind, tearing him from the ethereal plane. He crashed back into his body, a puppet cut from its strings, and tumbled into the unforgiving embrace of the water pool. The icy chill was a harsh slap of reality, momentarily dispelling the haze of his ambition.As the cavern's luminescence began to dim, signalling the descent of the subterranean night, Aether knew he had to retreat. His body, a battered vessel, refused to comply with his desperate pleas for another foray into Dual Cognition. The cave would soon be shrouded in a bone-chilling embrace, a risk he couldn't afford to take.With a sigh that echoed in the vast chamber, Aether dragged himself out of the water. A meager silverfish, scuttling across the damp stone floor, became his meager dinner. He cleaned it with practiced efficiency, then fetched a pouch of water – a hint of a hidden beauty beneath the harsh surface. Finally, he made his way back towards the slumbering dragon, seeking solace in the colossal creature's silent presence.A fire crackled merrily in the cavern's heart, its playful flames licking at the sizzling fish skewered on a makeshift grill. The aroma that filled the air was a symphony to Aether's famished stomach. After a grueling session with Dual Cognition, the prospect of a decent meal was pure bliss.Finally, with a flourish, Aether declared, "Done!" He carefully lifted the steaming fish, the heat sending wisps of smoke curling from his mouth as he devoured the first bite. Each mouthful was a burst of savory satisfaction, a testament to the unexpected culinary bounty this cavern offered.Belly full, Aether cast a contemplative gaze at the slumbering dragon. "Hey, Zephyr," he called out, a question stirring in his mind. "How long has it been since you last tasted a meal?" The vast stillness of the cavern offered no answer, only the echo of his own voice bouncing off the walls.A playful grin spread across Aether's face. "Well," he declared, "once we break that Inconvenient seal, I promise you a feast fit for a king… or a dragon, in this case." A sudden prickle ran down his spine as a new thought struck him. Exactly how much did a dragon eat to qualify as a feast? He vividly recalled seeing Zephyr in a humanoid form, but did that translate to a human appetite?Pushing the unsettling thought aside for now, Aether grabbed his water pouch and lumbered towards the colossal creature. Thankfully, after the restorative power of his meal and a short rest, he was able to tap into Dual Cognition once more. With practiced ease, he channeled his mana, suppressing the malevolent influence of the devouring seal within Zephyr. The familiar wave of exhaustion washed over him as he deactivated his ability, collapsing onto the cold stone floor beside the dragon's massive form."Zephyr," he murmured into the vastness of the cavern, a desperate longing for a response warring with the crackling silence of the fire. "You're one of the strongest beings I've ever encountered," he continued, a note of awe in his voice. "To endure such pain for so long… it takes an unimaginable willpower."A fleeting thought flickered across his mind. "That strength is what I yearn for," he confessed, a hollow ache settling in his chest. "This pain, this grief I carry… sometimes it feels like it'll consume me." He let out a shaky breath, a single teardrop tracing a path down his cheek. "But being here with you, somehow… somehow, I feel a flicker of understanding. Like a shared burden, that I wish to carry and fight for...with you ."Aether chuckled softly, the sound swallowed by the cavern's silence. He was alone with his thoughts, with the crackling fire, and the slumbering dragon. Yet, in this strange companionship, he found a sliver of solace.****The next day, Aether stood by the water ledge, a warrior readying for battle. He had memorized Lumi's movements – the pull and push of mana that manifested as the golden arc. But replicating them was like trying to tame a raging storm with whispers. Sweat beaded on his forehead, a testament to the exertion within. Something, a single crucial piece, remained elusive, like a word caught on the tip of his tongue.Frustration gnawed at him. He slumped down on the ledge, replaying the movements in his mind, dissecting each nuance. Was it his form? Or perhaps his will, not strong enough to bend this tempestuous mana to his command? But no, a deeper certainty bloomed within him. Dual Cognition wasn't just about simple mimicry. It was a bridge, meant to grant him understanding, to transfer the intricate analysis of mana manipulation to his subconscious. Yet, the raw power, the shaping and direction of this beast within him, remained a challenge."Dual Cognition!" he barked, his voice echoing in the cavern. The world dissolved, his consciousness tethered above his own body. Lumi stood there, a blank slate waiting for his command. But this time, Aether wasn't focused on giving orders. He was a detective in his own body, his mind a whirlwind of questions. A curious habit, one where he touched his brow in deep thought, manifested before him as he observed himself.An idea, a spark, ignited in his mind. "Wait!" he thought, watching the gesture play out. He silently instructed Lumi to walk back to the water. Taking a deep breath, he commanded Lumi to move his arm and control his mana. As Lumi began the familiar pull and push, Aether interrupted the flow, attempting to hold his arm in a fixed position.That's where he felt it – a flicker, a connection. As if he were the puppeteer of his own body, a sly grin tugging at his lips. Lumi, he realized with a jolt of revelation, was just an extension, a tool. He was the true conductor of this wild orchestra.Letting go of Lumi's influence, Aether took control. He wasn't just replicating the movements now; he was mimicking them while feeling the raw power surge through him. It was like two entities, his conscious mind and his subconscious, working in tandem to manipulate the mana. A flood of information washed over him – the subtle nuances, the pressure points, the language of his own power. This wasn't just about replicating Lumi's feat; it was about unlocking his own potential, about becoming the master of his own raging storm. The sweat on his brow wasn't just from exertion anymore; it was the baptism of a conductor finally wielding his mighty instrument.