The book states that one must link themselves to a close friend or brother before using the manual.
"Why don't you use crimson?" Zin asked, his brow furrowing.
"The boy is still insecure about the throne," Leo replied, glancing away.
"Who wouldn't be?" Zin shot back, frustration creeping into his voice. "I 've told him so many times that I don't want the throne. You could just let it go."
"You can't choose to compete; it was originally yours," Leo insisted, his tone firm.
"But it's now his father's own," Zin argued, crossing his arms defiantly.
"It's like you haven't heard the rumors going around," Leo said, lowering his voice as if the walls might have ears.
"What rumors?" Zin asked, genuinely perplexed.
"Sometimes you need to come out of that castle and listen to the streets," Leo advised, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"So what does the rumor say?" Zin probed further, his curiosity piqued.
"It says that you have the highest talent since the founding of the kingdom. It's only natural that when you mature, your brother steps down for you," Leo explained, an edge of disbelief in his voice.
"That's stupid," Zin scoffed, shaking his head.
"Tell that to the people who keep repeating it," Leo challenged.
"Who started the rumors?" Zin inquired, his expression turning serious.
"I don't know," Leo shrugged, though his eyes hinted at something more.
"You know," Zin pressed, not willing to let it go.
"Do I look like some street intelligence officer to you?" Leo shot back, though a hint of embarrassment flitted across his face.
"Yeah," Zin answered with a smirk.
"Fine, it started from House Syerus," Leo admitted, his reluctance evident. "That witch has been eyeing the throne."
"Forget about that," Zin said, waving a hand dismissively. "How do we form the link?"
"I don't know," Leo confessed, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"That's why I brought the book here," Zin reminded him, a hint of urgency in his voice.
"Where?" Leo asked, looking around as if the book could magically appear.
"Here," Zin said, flipping the book out of his ring.
"But we can't read it here," Leo stated, glancing towards the door as if someone might burst in at any moment.
"Let's go to my house; no one is around," Zin suggested. They both knew that his elder brother often kept watch over Leo's affairs, making Zin's house the safer option.
They decided to sneak through the back gate to ensure no one saw them before proceeding into his room.
"So it's safe here?" Leo asked, scanning the empty space.
"Yeah, nobody's disturbed by the time of the day," Zin affirmed with a nod.
"Okay, let's read the instructions," Leo urged, excitement bubbling under the surface.
**INSTRUCTIONS**
1. To form the link, a close friend must be used—someone trusted to hold you when you lose control. Your only attachment to your morals and beliefs.
2. Must be of the same age grade.
3. To start, both parties must cut their fingers, and a drop of blood from both parties is to be placed on top of this page.
4. Done.
"Wish you well as you start your cultivation," Zin read aloud, the weight of the words suddenly sinking in.
"Before I forget, immediately after this ritual, you will lose all your emotions, starting from love for others except for the following party," Leo added, trying to recall the details.
"Also, the second party's talents will be upgraded to some extent to at least match that of the first party, for a fly can't stop a lion," Zin read, his voice filled with incredulity.
"Leo, wait, aren't you supposed to do this with your girlfriend or wife or something?" Zin asked, a teasing lilt to his tone.
"I don't have those, and it's not like I'm into boys. Hahaha," Leo laughed, but there was a nervous edge to it.
"It's not funny; aren't you supposed to be engaged?" Zin countered, his tone more serious.
"True, but who can force me? After all, I am the useless prince of the palace." Leo sighed, frustration evident in his voice.
"The second part talked about upgrading my talent. Hahahaha," Zin chuckled, his spirits lifting.
"Come on, let's do this," Leo urged, grabbing Zin by the shoulders.
They both found a razor blade in the room and, with a mix of excitement and trepidation, cut themselves. It stung for a moment, but they quickly pressed their fingertips together, letting the droplets of blood fall onto the page of the book.
The book suddenly lost its ordinary appearance; it dimmed the whole room, as if it absorbed all the light, leaving them in a surreal twilight. Both Leo and Zin collapsed, their senses pulled into a shared void where time seemed to stand still.
Hours passed in silence, the room cloaked in a mysterious aura.
"Uhh…" Leo groaned, the sound echoing against the stillness.
"My head aches," Zin murmured, trying to sit up.
"Didn't work?" Leo asked, the panic rising in his chest.
"I don't know," Zin replied, touching his temples as if willing the pain away.
"Check any difference in your status," Leo urged, his heart racing.
"Cool," Zin said, his eyes widening as he pulled the manual closer.
**STATUS**
Name: Zin de Clemont
Age: 12 years
Gender: Male
Race: Demon
**Stage:**
**ATTRIBUTES**
Strength: F
Agility: F
Endurance: F
Intelligence: D
Vitality: E
Charm: B
Mana: F
**BLOODLINE:** Fallen Angel
**AFFINITY**
Darkness: SSS+
Mystic: SSS+
**SKILLS:** None
"It worked! My talent is now a grade below yours. Hahaha," Zin exclaimed with a mix of disbelief and excitement.
"Yeah, congrats, man!" Leo returned, trying to mask his own mounting anxiety.
"Are you okay?" Zin asked, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.
"I don't know," Leo admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
"How's your body?" Zin pressed, studying Leo's expression.
"It's like a piece of me is gone," Leo replied, his heart racing.
"We need to experiment with this thing very well," Zin suggested, his youthful determination shining through.
"Maybe later; it's already late. I have to start going home," Leo insisted, glancing nervously at the window as night settled outside.
"Should I walk you out?" Zin offered, concern etched on his face.
"No, I'm fine. Goodbye," Leo replied, forcing a smile as he turned to leave.
"Goodbye," Zin echoed, the weight of the moment settling heavily on both of their hearts.
Leo stepped into the cool night air, his mind racing with thoughts. As he retraced his steps through the alley leading back to his palace, he felt the lingering effects of their decision. The whispers of power resonated within him, but so too did a sense of loss.
He slowly made his way home, knowing that he had paid the right price for power but also questioning what that truly meant. The shadows in the alley seemed darker than before, as if to remind him of the changes yet to come. Emotions bubbled beneath the surface, fighting to escape, but he resolutely pressed them down, knowing that it was too late to turn back now.
In the distance, the palace loomed, its majestic towers silhouetted against the starlit sky, a stark reminder of his responsibilities and the choices that lay ahead. As he stepped through the gates, he felt the weight of destiny pressing down on him, forever altered by a ritual meant to bind him to his fate.