In that place, the surrounding walls felt like part of an ancient cave, while the floor was covered with soft black carpet that stretched around a confined space. The only light in the room was faint, as if it existed solely to highlight that woman.
She stood there with unmatched majesty.
Her dark black dress was like a veil wrapping smoothly and gracefully around her body, blending seamlessly with the carpet beneath her feet.
There was no clear distinction between where she began and where the carpet ended.
And the room was filled with silence.
Everything revolved around her, or perhaps around the two children sitting before her.
The two children sat on the same carpet, surrounded by old, open books before them, their eyes immersed in the pages. The quiet sound of page-turning filled the air. The woman observed their faces, finding herself drifting back to years gone by, of silent giving and watching. She admired their unwavering focus.
Their faces frozen in time, free of any turmoil, she thought.
In that moment, the background of the cave and the room faded away completely.
There was no one left but her and the two children.
I would be grateful... I would be grateful... I would be grateful only if time would wait a little longer...
In her right hand, she held a glass clock, transparent and pulsing with a faint glow, and the hands, strange as they were, declared that time had run out.
The children's attention steadily shifted toward the clock, then toward her. Unspoken questions appeared in their eyes, but their gaze was heavy with the weight of impending understanding.
"Is it over?" one of the children asked softly, his voice carrying a mix of wonder and worry, as if he feared the answer he knew was coming, yet was eager to hear it all the same.
"Time is up," the woman replied, then continued, "Shin, from today onward, the books will stay with you."
"The books will stay with us?!" the child next to Shin shouted, his voice filled with joy and astonishment, unable to believe it.
It seems this is alright... I'd like to try it... at least this, she thought, moving slowly toward Shin and the other. She reached out and touched their faces, and they shivered slightly at the unfamiliar touch, but they did not pull away.
Shin's eyes sparkled as if they were made of gleaming obsidian stones. As for the other child's eyes, they were adorned with a shadow of black.
The woman marveled at the mysteries and complexities that lay within them, at the wonders and secrets they might hold and the stories they could tell. The emotions and transformations she witnessed felt like an unwritten language, emerging naturally from their interactions with each other, as if they were guided by a deep, instinctual intuition.
Like small creatures acting purely on their innate instincts, they explored a world of emotions and experiences, each reflecting a part of the other in a way that cannot be taught but only discovered.
And thoughts crashed against her mind like turbulent waves.
What kind of chaos could these two kids cause?
And seeing them now is different from any time before. The children are no longer as innocent as she once saw them.
The power that the books hold in their hands, a power whose depth they have yet to understand.
That unique Ability... it will only bring chaos..., the woman wondered in her fevered silence, each new thought burning her further. Will it reach... the Great King?
And in her heart, she knew the answer.
Time flies, and every moment brings us closer to the point of no return.
She has to make a decision—a decisive one.
She stopped feeling their skin and said, "After this, you'll have to train with (Otura) and (Inura). Understood?"
Shin looked at her in confusion, but the other child answered without hesitation, "I understand."
But Shin didn't understand. He knew well that (Otura) and (Inura) were advanced skills in internal energy control, and they had trained in them for a long time without mastering them. The reason was their lack of understanding of how Otura worked, which involved pushing energy from the inside out. They could let Otura flow for hours, but true mastery was something like letting it happen without the effort of concentration.
Then he asked, "Does that mean we'll continue training on Otura and Inura for a longer time?"
The other looked at him in surprise, then turned to the woman and asked, "Is that what Shin means?"
"Rhys...," she said, then paused for a moment to study him. He tilted his head slightly and waited intently. "As I see it," she continued slowly, "your progress has stalled recently. Not only slowed down, but completely stopped... You haven't fully mastered the previous stages yet, and it's essential to elevate your efficiency to a higher level in Otura and Inura for what lies ahead for both of you. Do you understand?"
Rhys answered first, "I understand."
Shin nodded, then raised his small hand, saying, "I have a question."
The woman replied, "What is your question?"
His eyes sparkled with a glimmer of joy and childlike curiosity, while Rhys's eyes shone with the same eager light. How could these two be so innocent, yet hold so much potential?
He said, "Is it possible to rebuild (the Parhelion) from the heart to the brain?"
The question struck her like a bolt of lightning. Rebuild the Parhelion? The idea had never crossed her mind, despite all the experiences and studies she had been through.
She pondered and delved into the complex nature of the question: How can the different energy systems within a living organism intertwine with the idea of reconstructing something of this magnitude and capability? From the heart to the brain...
And she asked, "Do you know what a parhelion is, its role, and its significance in terms of energy?"
Shin nodded first, followed by Rhys.
She knew they understood. After a brief moment of contemplation, she began to speak: "Although you both grasp the importance of the parhelion for inner energy, it's essential to delve deeper into its connection with outer energy."
She paused briefly, letting her words slowly seep into the minds of the two children. Then she continued, "Do you know when and where the Parhelion forms?"
Rhys rushed to answer, "The Parhelion forms at the age of three, and in the heart!"
And the woman continued after him, "The Parhelion forms in the heart, and that's no coincidence. The heart is not merely an organ that pumps blood; it is the center of emotions and feelings... which illuminate (the Koda), the first stage of the art of inner energy."
As the woman began to delve into a profound explanation about the dwelling of emotions within the heart of the soul, linking it to the realm of imagination and will—(Awira) and (Koda)—within the mind of the soul, she noticed a slight confusion in Shin's eyes. Nevertheless, she continued speaking.
"The heart and emotions... just like the brain and memories, which shape our imagination and perception."
The woman saw the questioning expressions that lingered on their faces, especially when she spoke about the "heart of the soul" and its connection to the physical heart. But instead of stopping, she decided to try simplifying the concept: "What I mean is that the physical heart and the heart of the soul aren't just separate things. When it comes to controlling emotions, that's where the Parhelion comes in—it allows us to manipulate energy efficiently."
The two began to grasp the complex ideas. They both nodded in understanding, even if it was only partial. The woman concluded her talk, knowing that the explanation she provided was enough for them to comprehend the gravity of the question at hand.
She said, "The answer is no. The Parhelion cannot be manipulated once it has formed. And if anyone dares to try, it would place immense pressure on the brain, possibly leading to death… or at the very least, madness."
With growing concern, she thought, Why are they seeking knowledge that should not be crossed? What are they hiding within the depths of their curiosity that might destroy them?
She regained her composure and gave her orders calmly, "You must now focus on the Otura and the Inura. Is that understood?"
Rhys nodded quickly, "Understood."
And without any further fuss, they both took their positions and closed their eyes with evident discipline.
The woman felt the presence of their energy, and the space around them sank into a serene peace.
After that, her steps were silent as she moved to leave, the soil beneath her feet glowing with faint lines of light, like fading footprints dissolving into the air with each step.
Then she withdrew, like a ghost fading into the shadows of time.
After hearing the sound of the heavy door closing, Shin and Rhys exchanged silent glances.
In their eyes was a conversation no one else could understand, a form of telepathy between them that required no words.
Through this mental link, Rhys asked Shin: "{Should we train?}"
There was no audible voice, but it flowed into Shin's mind as if it were a gentle whisper in his ear.
He replied, "{Yes, we'll enter the stages of outer energy.}"
After a long silence, Shin asked again, this time with a tone of curiosity tinged with confusion: "{What did you understand?}"
Rhys hesitated for a moment before daring to answer: "{I understood… that the Parhelion cannot be rebuilt.}"
Shin looked at him, eyes filled with frustration, and then replied: "{It seems pointless… as long as transferring the Parhelion leads to death.}"
Then they fell silent once more.