*Thalassian Concord's Capital- Royal Palace*
In the bustling heart of the capital, the air buzzed with the murmur of crowds as the marketplace thrummed with life. Rumours swirled like autumn leaves, fueled by tales of mischief and mishaps surrounding the Duke's children, captivating everyone with intrigue and excitement.
Duke Larousse's search team found the belongings of Elara and Cassius and announced that they were both dead. However, Duke Larousse's search did not stop. He was summoned by the Emperor to the royal palace for a discussion.
"It's time to stop, Duke Larousse." The Emperor sat on the throne. A few feet away from Duke. His voice was low but firm. Symbol of empire the blond hair, piercing pink eyes. His aura was commanding. He is one of the best emperors in the empire and the father of the Thalassian empire.
The Duke's fits clenched. "I cannot. They are my children… and it's only one mon—"
"Yes, one month is enough for finding someone; you searched all over the empire, is there any place you have not searched?" The Emperor interrupted, his gaze unwavering, "You have two children too, and yet you refuse to accept reality."
"If they meant to be returned, they would have by now."
The weight of those words pressed against the Duke's soul. But his gaze shifted toward the princess and Crown Prince Keal, who was beside the Emperor's side.
"I have questioned, Your Highness,?" Duke Larousse's voice tone changed and was continuous. "What if that happened to Your Highness, Princess and Prince, too? What would you do then?"
"Duke Larousse… watch your words!" the Emperor bellowed, his voice echoing through the grand hall.
At that moment, a realization washed over him—the depth of the Duke's love for his children was undeniable. The effort he had poured into finding them shone through every fierce glance and every desperate plea.
Despite the swirling rumours that surrounded the Duke and his daughter's relationship, the raw emotion displayed before him painted a different picture altogether. The Emperor couldn't help but feel a surge of respect for the man standing in front of him; there was more to Duke Larousse than the whispers of the court suggested.
The duke's voice resonated through the room, sending a hush over the crowd as his words lingered like a haunting melody. The atmosphere thickened with anticipation, each person holding their breath in the wake of his proclamation.
"Then, I'll leave Your Highness. I found my answer."
And that Duke Larousse left the hall; his words hurt the emperor's pride but the Duke didn't care.
"One day I'll find them."
====
After three month's
Elara was reading a book in her room. The air around the room was cold and fresh, typical of winter or rainy days. Orian cast the spell three months ago, Icy Veil. This spell creates a thick barrier of ice that blocks heat and protects against fire attacks. However, Orian is different; he uses his defensive spell to cool his tower.
Elara learned a lot about when she was bedridden; Orian sent a forbidden book for Elara. They discussed a lot about how dark magic comes into this world, and how she has to master this magic. in a mean time Orian teach her mana manipulation. Controlling her mana.
Elara first doubted herself but once a divine tree said that she had power, but she failed to awaken, but one day her power suddenly awakened. She couldn't believe that. She is a girl who was born without power, despised by the Larousse family, and everyone calling her, but not that doesn't matter to her.
Elara found out why in past lives, her body didn't have a mana core; after the death of her consuming poison, she went once again to eternity, but this time, she didn't meet with the Divine tree; she opened her eyes to a place where a thousand of books storing, a silent place, no one there, and then suddenly books popped front of her, a blue golden colour book, books cover was amazing.
Elara took that book; The book's names were, 'A Forbidden Truth: The Soul Merge' and 'The Awakening of Mana.' the two books, part 1 and 2, appeared.
[In the world, whispers of an ancient truth circulate among the long-forgetting magicians and scholars—Mana does not imply something one is born with. Mana's connection to the soul is incomprehensible to most. And it is only when the soul and body truly merge that the long-dormant power of magic can awaken.]
[When a soul shifts from one world to another, it does not immediately regain the power it once had. The body it inhabits while it may carry traces of latent magical energy—cannot fully harness that magic unless the soul merges completely with its new form. This sol body merger is the catalyst for awakening the dormant mana.]
"Just like my soul?"
However, if the merging does not occur as should, because of external interference or a shattered connection between worlds, the awakening may never come. A soul wandering too far from its original body remains in limbo, unable to activate the Mana Core that binds it to its true power. Even if the body contains immense potential, without the soul's full embrace, the magic remains locked, waiting for the right moment to awaken.
In Elara's case, when her soul crossed into another world, it became disconnected from her original body. A girl in the took her form, but the girl's soul could not awaken the mana of Elara's body. It wasn't until Elara's soul returned to the body in a new timeline after her soul had fully merged with the form once more that her mana was finally released—triggered by the deep connection between the soul and body.
'So that means my mana core was awake when my soul and my body fully merged, then the carriage accident that was triggered and manifesto my power.'
'But for those who haven't awakened their power? Is their soul also….?' "Let's read the next part of this book."
[Others disagree, claiming that the Mana is not reliant on the soul. According to this theory, the power within is always there, hidden deep in the body, awaiting the right conditions to awaken.]
"Right Condition to awaken? What does that mean?"
Elara's mind is racing; in the last three days, she has only read books. She suddenly remembered that she also had books she had taken from that empty place.
[The soul does not trigger magic, but by the body's innate potential. A lack of manas core or unawakened power doesn't make one a victim of lost souls.]
"So that's the meaning."
They may simply be individuals whose magic has never fully manifested because of force, a curse, or even the nature of their bloodline.
The theories of both books are different; Elara was confused, but in her bloodline that must be not the case, nor a curse. She believed theory one is right for her.
"I'm tired of reading so many books; let's take a walk around the garden, Lily."
With a knowing nod, Lily slipped out of the room, and together they made their way down the corridor, the excitement of the moment carrying them forward. As they stepped into the garden, vibrant flowers greeted them, the air filled with the sweet scent of blooming petals.
The enchanting fragrance of blooming flowers filled the air, while melodious songs of birds danced through the trees, accompanied by the playful sounds of tiny animals nearby. It was a scene bursting with life and harmony.
"Rrrrroooarrr"
As Elara gazed up at the vast expanse of the sky, a magnificent bird soaring gracefully at its zenith caught her attention. Suddenly, it appeared to be descending, its powerful wings cutting through the air with effortless beauty. That was not a gigantic bird; Elara cleared her eyes, and that thing came near her; a roar came into his mouth.
That was a dragon, a golden dragon. The dragon's voice began with a loud growl when stepping into the ground.