After meeting with the team, I was finally back on the road, heading toward the estate. The day had been hectic, and though my body didn't feel the strain, my mind was utterly exhausted. All I could think about was my bed. The lure of a long, uninterrupted sleep was too tempting to resist.
As I approached the estate's towering gates, a sense of relief washed over me. The estate stood as a symbol of safety and comfort, a stark contrast to the chaotic events of my recent adventures. Ignoring everything else, I headed straight to my quarters, nodding briefly to the staff who greeted me.
My mother intercepted me before I could vanish into my room. Her face was a mix of concern and curiosity, though she seemed to hold back her questions when she saw the weariness in my eyes. I gave her a brief recount of what had happened during my first trip outside the city, leaving out any overly concerning details.
She sighed, her motherly instincts clearly urging her to dig deeper, but she let me go with a tender smile. "We'll talk tomorrow," she said softly.
I didn't need another reminder. The moment I reached my bed, I collapsed into it, surrendering to sleep as the world around me faded.
---
When I woke up, the sun was already high in the sky, its light spilling into my room through the large, ornate windows. I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and glanced to my left. As expected, the maids had left breakfast on the study table. The aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread greeted me, stirring my appetite.
I shuffled over to the table, picked up the plate, and began eating. As I ate, my thoughts wandered to the day ahead.
The first item on my mental agenda was finding someone who could teach me the intricacies of conceptual arts. While I had some basic knowledge, most of it was fragmented and unreliable. To truly master the art, I needed proper guidance—someone who could provide a structured path forward.
Finishing the last bite of my meal, I made a note to myself: learn properly or risk wasting valuable time unlearning bad habits.
As I cleaned my plate, I couldn't help but critique the food. It was good, but it lacked the flair I'd grown used to lately. Maybe Greg's cooking had spoiled me. Despite his unassuming demeanor, Greg was an exceptional cook. His meals carried a depth of flavor that even the estate's professional chefs struggled to replicate.
I wondered briefly about his past. How did someone like Greg, who wasn't formally trained, develop such skill? Perhaps it was a story worth exploring someday.
Then, my thoughts shifted to something more ambitious—magic in cooking. Theoretically, creating food directly from mana should be possible. Mages could conjure weapons and barriers, after all. Food should be no different, provided the right spells or conceptual applications. It would take time and experimentation, but the idea intrigued me. Perhaps it could even lead to an entirely new form of magical cuisine.
---
After breakfast, I sought out my mother. I found her in her study, surrounded by glowing runes and shimmering threads of energy. Her hands moved with practiced precision, weaving intricate patterns of power into what I recognized as runic sorcery.
"Mom, do we have anyone in the family who could teach me about conceptual arts?" I asked, stepping into the room.
She glanced up from her work, her expression softening. "Beautiful, isn't it?" she said, gesturing toward the runes. "What divine magic can accomplish is limitless. Its only constraints are those of our imagination."
I watched as she directed the magic toward a table covered in magical flora. The plants, which had appeared ordinary at first, began to glow faintly. Under her spell, their properties visibly changed. I could feel the energy radiating from them, far more potent than before.
"Divine magic allows me to alter things at their very essence," she explained. "At the atomic level, these plants are being enhanced and optimized. What was once mundane is now extraordinary."
I nodded, awed by the display. Divine magic operated on a level far beyond conventional mana-based arts. It was no wonder her family, the Godsky family, was so renowned.
"Divine magic truly is incredible," I admitted. "But it makes me wonder—if the angels and the Creator had such power, why did they commit such atrocities?"
Her expression darkened momentarily. "That, my son, is a question even I cannot answer. Perhaps they believed their actions were justified, or perhaps their motives were beyond mortal comprehension. But let's leave that discussion for another day."
She set down her tools and smiled. "As for your question about conceptual arts, I know just the person to help you—my younger brother, your uncle."
"Uncle?" I asked, intrigued.
"Yes, your Uncle Kael. He's one of the best when it comes to conceptual arts."
"What rank is he?" I asked, my curiosity growing.
"He was at Rank 6 the last time I saw him," she said thoughtfully. "Though it wouldn't surprise me if he's grown stronger since then."
Rank 6. That put him among the elite of the elite. Most practitioners never broke past Rank 3, and those who did were often affiliated with powerful factions or hailed from extraordinary bloodlines like ours.
My mother's family, known as the Blessed Family or Godsky Family, had earned their reputation through their mastery of divine magic. Divine magic relied on a unique resource called divinity, which could only be cultivated by those with a divine core. These cores allowed their users to channel divine energy, which was far more efficient and potent than regular mana.
"Since I share your bloodline, does that mean I can transform my cores into divine cores?" I asked.
"Of course," she replied. "But it's a path that requires dedication. Divine energy is powerful, but cultivating divinity takes time and focus. It's not as straightforward as strengthening a mana core, but the results are worth the effort."
She explained that divine magic's efficiency made it highly desirable, though its cultivation requirements deterred most. Divine energy could replicate the effects of mana but at a fraction of the cost and with far greater potency.
Her explanation also touched on humanity's Devouring System, a unique method of achieving apotheosis. By consuming the essence of powerful beings, humans could strengthen their mana cores and ascend to higher ranks.
The system had been humanity's saving grace in its early days, allowing them to stand toe-to-toe with other, more naturally powerful races. Over time, it had become the cornerstone of human advancement.
---
"So, when can I expect my uncle to arrive?" I asked, eager to begin my training.
"He should be here in a day or two," my mother said with a reassuring smile.
The prospect of training under someone as skilled as Uncle Kael filled me with anticipation. I had much to learn, and this was the perfect opportunity to deepen my understanding of conceptual arts and divine magic., maybe even somehow combine the two creating some sort of ultimate Art.
For now, though, I had a day or two to prepare. The path ahead would be challenging, but the path to ultimate power is never an easy one.