The magic ball rested once again in Lucas's hands, its smooth surface cool against his palms. Unlike the last time, Lucas wasn't holding his breath in anticipation. After discovering such a rare and powerful element like Void, he wasn't expecting anything more. Frankly, he didn't feel like he needed another element—what he had already seemed more than enough.
Still, the possibility lingered in his mind. What if?
Eldric stood across from him, arms crossed as he watched Lucas with a calm, composed expression. "Alright, then," he said. "Let's wait and see."
Both of them turned their eyes toward the magic ball, patiently awaiting a sign of something—anything—happening. Yet the air between them was far less tense than before.
After a few moments, Lucas broke the silence. "Eldric, don't you think this is pointless? I mean, I've already got an element. Shouldn't we just call it a day?"
Eldric glanced at a small clock on the wall, his gaze flicking back to the magic ball. "It's been almost a minute."
Lucas sighed. "Yeah, I think we should just give it up."
Eldric leaned forward, reaching out as if to take the magic ball from Lucas's hands. But just as his fingers brushed the surface, the orb began to tremble violently.
A strange, resonant hum filled the air, low and vibrating like the strings of a massive instrument. The sound sent a shiver up Lucas's spine as he tightened his grip on the ball, his eyes widening in shock.
Both he and Eldric stared at it in stunned silence.
Eldric was the first to speak. "This… this is the Sound Element!"
Lucas blinked, his mind struggling to catch up. "Sound Element?"
He looked down at the trembling orb, his heart racing. 'I seriously have another element? Is this even real? First Void, and now this? It feels like a dream!'
Before he could fully process the revelation, the magic ball gave one last powerful vibration—and shattered into countless fragments.
Lucas and Eldric could only watch as the shards fell to the ground, glittering like tiny crystals in the faint light. The hum dissipated, leaving the room in an almost eerie silence.
Lucas let out a slow breath, staring at the fragments. A part of him couldn't believe what had just happened, yet there it was—irrefutable proof. He not only possessed one extraordinary element but two.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. 'Maybe this is a sign. A sign that I still have hope. That I can find the answers I've been looking for.'
Meanwhile, Eldric seemed equally stunned. Though the Sound Element wasn't as rare as Void, it was still far from common. He shook his head in amazement, his gaze fixed on Lucas. "You're becoming more of a mystery every second, Lucas."
Lucas frowned slightly, raising an eyebrow. 'Here we go again.'
Still, his eyes lingered on Eldric for a moment. For someone who had just witnessed a rare and supposedly divine element firsthand, Eldric seemed surprisingly composed. Lucas couldn't help but wonder.
'Is he really this calm, or is he just good at hiding it? Void magic is supposed to belong to a god, right? You'd think someone would pass out seeing it up close. But Eldric acts like it's no big deal—kinda.'
Lucas sighed, deciding to change the topic. "So, uh, Eldric. Do we need to do another magic ball test after this?"
Eldric scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Well… no. I'm all out of magic balls. And even if I had more, I wouldn't be able to teach you much. My elements are Water and Ice, and neither of those will help you learn Void or Sound magic."
Lucas tilted his head. "Then how am I supposed to learn?"
Eldric perked up, his tone brightening. "Books! That's how I learned my magic. There are plenty of books with step-by-step instructions. Well, for most elements, anyway. Void magic? You're out of luck there. I doubt there's a single book in existence about it, considering you're the only person other than Nyxarion who can use it."
Lucas frowned. "What about Sound magic? Are there books on that?"
"Of course," Eldric said with a nod. "Sound magic isn't unheard of. If you're serious about learning, you'll need to head to the main city. That's where you'll find the largest libraries—and the best resources."
Lucas blinked. "The main city?"
Eldric smirked. "I figured you wouldn't know. Let me explain. This land is primarily home to elves, but we're outside the main city right now. That's why you haven't seen many people around."
Lucas's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind piecing something together. "Wait… Eldric, does that mean you're an elf?"
Eldric raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by the question. "What?"
Lucas's gaze shifted to Eldric's ears. They were pointy like Sebastian's, but much shorter. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning.
'How did I never notice this before? Sebastian's an elf, and Eldric's his grandson. Of course, he's an elf too! But I totally thought he was human when I first met him. His ears are shorter than Sebastian's, though. Is that normal?'
Eldric crossed his arms. "What are you staring at?"
Lucas shook his head quickly, trying to hide his embarrassment. "N-Nothing. Just… thinking."
Eldric gave him a skeptical look but didn't press the issue.