[Light and darkness, born as rivals yet destined as kin, are threads woven into the same eternal tapestry.]
James read the first part and his gaze turned to the large pool, 'Light and darkness, huh?'
It wasn't such a profound thing he hadn't heard before, but the pool was definitely novel. If what the inscription was saying pointed to the black and white pool of water, then this could be more than meets the eye.
Returning to the tablet, he continued.
[Alone, light blinds; alone, darkness consumes. Together, they forge clarity, strength and purpose.]
[Beware, seeker: those who chase only light will shatter under its weight, and those who embrace only darkness will drown in its abyss.]
'Abyss… Hmmm….'
Again, he recalled the words of Thalia. Something was happening to him and he could tell it resonated with whatever was written on the tablet and the pool a few meters away.
Yet, that was not everything on the tablet, only he would not have access to those last words as they had been eroded with time.
The only thing he could make out was, [Only…]
"Doesn't matter… I have all I need to know about the pool."
He walked forward as he slowly took his shirt off. The water was calling him and he instinctively knew it wouldn't harm him in any way. If anything, it will increase his strength exponentially.
Standing at the edge with a naked upper body that showed off its fitness, James stared at the water with a profound gaze lingering at the point where the two waters met and then dipped his left leg in.
For a brief moment, he felt charged as a small influx of energy entered his body. But what shook him a bit was the feeling of freedom he felt in that moment; like a part of him was being freed from its bondage.
"Good stuff… Should be able to increase my level a bit." He flashed a grin in excitement.
James then inserted the whole leg inside and was soon joined by the right with the water reaching just his right below his knees.
"Excellent..."
Slowly, he ventured deeper into the pool until he was at the very centre, and even then, the waters still reached just below the knees.
He sat with crossed legs and then closed his eyes. Almost his entire body disappeared in the pool, leaving only a smaller part of his shoulders above water.
'This pool is basically condensed celestial energy. I was wrong, this should be enough to rise to the peak of Stellar Attunement!'
He was excited about the fruitful encounter. Thus, he planned to take his time to complete the formation of his energy pathways.
With in entire body in, he circulated his energy from his astral core, pushing it through the existing framework of his energy pathway.
Along with the circulation, mor energy was drawn from his environment, and in this case, from the pool of light and darkness and since it was condensed celestial energy, it was more than enough for James to use.
......…
Slowly, the energy pathways changed from ethereal to almost physical; his core supercharged with energy as it too slowly expanded and while he didn't know how long he'd been immersed in it, he could tell at least a few hours had passed.
The energy flowing through his body was insane; almost intoxicating. Every cell in his body was drunk on celestial energy and gradually, his mind began to grasp some intricate concepts on the use of celestial energy.
And in all of that, he could feel something within him become free. As if something that had held him back for so long was finally being chipped away. He felt the same fire that burned in his chest burn again yet he felt no discomfort from the sensation.
And in all that was happening, he was unaware of what transpired in his surroundings.
The moment he began absorbing the condensed light and dark pool to increase his level, the pool swirled around him continuously until it became a vortex around his body that siphoned the water like no tomorrow.
Around his body was an intense, overbearing and murderous red and black aura that filled the entire cavern with an almost crushing pressure.
The face-changing spell he had on dissolved as his golden hair returned in all its glory. Yet that too changed as they gradually became a raven black colour with dark red touches.
It gave him an almost otherworldly look that blended with his aura. It would have left anyone who witnessed it shell-shocked and grounded. However, they didn't have to as some people were already feeling the effects of whatever was awakening in him.
......…
In the space Thalia and Sylvara occupied.
A few minutes earlier…
The two had completed harvesting as many natural treasures as possible and stored them in their storage rings. All that was left was for James to return.
While they waited, a certain sleeping elf finally woke up with a groan.
"Sister!"
Sylvara heard her sister wake as she left Thailia's side and rushed over to her. She gave her a hand helping her sit up, making sure she was okay and had no hidden she missed.
"How are you feeling? Do you feel pains anywhere?"
She asked with concern etched on her face. Liraeth on the other hand, was confused and looked around for a bit before everything came rushing back.
"The ADDER!"
She yelled and swiftly got to her feet and looked around with caution but found nothing.
"Where is it?"
She turned to her sister who remained in her sitting position and just smiled.
"Everything is fine, sis. Look over there"
She pointed at the bloody spot left after James finished slicing the monster. Liraeth took it in and slowly breathed out a sigh.
"Thank the heavens. And I'm guessing she had something to do with that?"
Liraeth hadn't missed Thalia who slowly approached the group after Liraeth pointed her out.
"Not exactly. Her partner who the one who took care of it."
"Her partner?"
Liraeth tilted her head slightly and then looked around again, finding no one else around. Thalia was the only other person in here.
"Hello,"
Thalia waved at Liraeth when she got a bit close. She didn't want the elf to feel her space being invaded.
"Hey."
Liraeth replied, entirely turning to face Thalia.
"It's to my understanding that your partner saved me and my sister's life. Thank you very much."
She gave a deep bow to express her sincerity. She knew how dangerous of a situation she and her sister were in when she was knocked back and passed out.
'At the very least, I would have been dead. This is the least I can do.'
"No worries. J-Jay was the one who did the saving, you can thank him when he returns." While she didn't reject the thanks, she didn't accept it fully.
"I see… and where did he go?"
This time, it was Sylvara who stepped in.
"Oh. He went that way, not sure what he was searching for though."
Hearing her sister's words, Liraeth felt a slight pang in her chest.
'My treasures!'
But there was nothing she could do. It wasn't like she was the owner of the place. She looked over to Thalia who remained standing with a gentle smile on her face.
'Her partner must be human.'
She sneered inwardly. And while she didn't hate humans, she didn't like them very much, particularly, the males. Their lustful gaze was always irritating.
'I can at least tolerate him for what he did for us.'
"My name is Liraeth—" She began but Thalia cut her short.
"Don't worry about it, your sister already did the introductions. I'm Thalia Silverbrook by the way."
"Well then, Thalia. Nice to make your acquittance."
Sylvara smiled in delight seeing how her sister was being grateful. She knew her sister very well and the fact that she acknowledged a man; human no less for saving her life showed real maturity.
After all, they owed Jay their lives.
Sylvara turned to Thalia to say something when an overbearingly strong and sinister pressure washed over them, making the very air tremble.
"AH!"
All three women went down on their knees as they struggled to remain kneeling. Standing was out of options at that moment as Sylvara and Liraeth hadn't felt anything so horrifying!
"Haa… Haa…"
But that wasn't all.
'What's happening?!'
Liraeth had a flushed face as she panted. A fire lit up in her and burned with a desire she never felt before. Her body craved something she didn't even understand.
With some effort, she looked towards her sister and Thalia and noticed the same thing. What was worse was that Sylvara was almost drooling.
'!'
The sinister aura was completely forgotten as their bodies burned with desire so strong they could devour any man they found around.
'What is happening to you, James? ~'
Thalia was the only one with a clue as to what was happening and while she didn't fight the sensation, the pressure still kept her kneeling.
The sensation continued to grow so much that all three women felt their inner thighs grow wet.
'What?'
Only then did Liraeth understand what was happening to her body.
'Damnit! Is someone using a spell on us?!'
She gritted her teeth in anger, swearing to the heavens to make that person pay. 'It must be Thalia's partner. I knew the human male would be despicable.
'Ugh!'
The pressure wasn't dying down and eventually all three women fell on their faces and passed out, the overwhelming sensation making them orgasm.
Fortunately for everyone else, the cavern they were in was very deep underground, sparing anyone else from feeling the overwhelming and deadly pressure.
A pressure with two effects…
On one end, it's domineering and oppressive; on the other hand...