"Now, about your primitive abilities," she said, her gaze shifting back to me, "you should touch the chrysanthemum resting above your essence pond. Only then will you begin to understand."
"My primitive abilities?"
I approached the essence pond, my eyes scanning the surface.
Three chrysanthemums floated delicately on the water, their colors faintly glowing with an otherworldly sheen.
I reached for the nearest one, and the moment my fingers brushed its petals, my mind flickered.
[Reaction Time - Origin 2]
"What the—?"
After lingering a moment to gather my thoughts, I reached out again, determined to make sense of it.
Once more, the same inscription materialized in my mind.
[Reaction Time - Origin 2]
Wait is this….
My gaze shifted to another chrysanthemum, and I carefully plucked it from the water.
[Creativity - Origin 2]
Finally, my attention settled on the much larger chrysanthemum, its radiant form almost beckoning me.
I hesitated for a moment, then reached out and grasped it.
[Adaptability - Origin 5]
"Are these... human innate abilities?"
She hummed softly, the sound light and faintly ambiguous, as though in confirmation.
"What is this? Origins with a sequence of numbers?"
I already had an idea—it clearly indicated the differences explicitly.
"Touch this cute tiger, and you'll see for yourself."
Cute? It was headless, you know.
I walked toward the creature and hesitantly reached out.
The headless azure tiger's fur was unexpectedly soft and soothing, almost comforting. The moment I made contact, my mind flickered.
[Willpower - Origin 7]
[Title: I Will Be the Strongest of Them All!]
[Passive Skill]
► Upon death, this willpower activates Life Invincibility but does not confer Immunity. The duration of Life Invincibility is determined by the amount of essence in your reservoir; as it drains, if the reservoir falls below 10%, the effect will be nullified.
Note: After activation, you cannot use primal essence for a 3 days.
"What the actual fuck?!"
She looked at me incredulously.
"Ahem… I'm sorry."
Wait a minute... I think I'm starting to understand.
If she said primitive abilities could evolve through primal essence, does that mean one could become something akin to a superhero? Like Superman or the Flash?
Could it be possible to upgrade an innate ability like 'Agility' through various stages, starting from Ordinary, to Athlete, to Ferrari, to Jet, and finally to Flash?
That's utterly insane. Ancient Humans were practically Supernaturals!
"You catch on quickly, but there are thresholds to consider."
What— is she a mind reader?
"I'm not a mind reader."
Yes, you are! How else could you possibly know what I'm thinking?
"I'm not. Your expression gives away your thoughts as easily as breathing. Be that as it may, thresholds exist because they could only focus on a single pathway in their lifetime, while you… you are limitless."
"Without limits?"
She hummed softly, an ambiguous sound carrying both confirmation and mystery.
"You will understand soon enough."
I nodded slowly, accepting that the answer would reveal itself in due time.
Yet, a lingering question clawed at my mind.
"Why do I only have four primitive abilities? And… why is there a tiger, and why are those flowers?"
"Primitive abilities will naturally sprout over time. It's something you'll come to understand on your own." She gestured vaguely before continuing. "As for the cute tiger and the flowers, they probably stem from your crude foundation."
So, it probably came from book narratives.
"Now, onto your flaws. Primal essence is already scarce in this ever-changing world, after hundreds of thousands of years have passed. If you remain mediocre, your essence pond will not endure for long. Naturally, it will be consumed along your journey, not to mention the continual sustenance required by your Immortal Core."
I can already sense it clearly, the Immortal Core is subtly absorbing the pond's essence at a rate far greater than the self-sufficient flow can replenish.
It's as though the core consumes ounces, while the self-sustaining essence provides droplets.
I nodded thoughtfully as she continued.
"The most viable solution is to kill and absorb cores, the other is to increase your self-sufficient essence."
"Increase my self-sufficient essence? How?"
The obvious answer was to rise in rank, to grow stronger, but the way she spoke made me feel there was more to it than that.
She merely smiled, enigmatic as ever. "That is a discussion for another time."
A thick silence filled the air before she broke it with a question of her own, one I hadn't anticipated.
"Do you know how long you've been unconscious?"
I shook my head. Honestly, it only felt like a day, maybe two at most.
"It's been a week."
"WHAT?!"
Damnation!
The entrance exam for the lowest class had already closed, but there was still a chance with the special exam, hopefully. Atticus wasn't a student there, I had already left the school where he currently resides.
However, there was something far more pressing, something I had overlooked from the very beginning.
"Wait—who are you? What are you? And why are you helping me?"
"My, such a flurry of questions. Perhaps we should begin with my name, don't you think?"
With an elegant curtsy, she lifted the hem of her shadowy dress, exuding an air of otherworldly grace, she looked like a mademoiselle from some forgotten era, a princess cloaked in darkness and mystery.
"Hesperia,
The Primordial Moon long forgotten,
A resplendent jewel adrift among the stars,
Veiled in the mysteries of time,
Its light both a beacon and a secret,
Whispering tales of a bygone age to those who dare listen."
I blinked, stunned by her poetic entrance.
What with this dramatic recital?
Surely, she must be some ancient old hag.
Without warning, a cold shiver ran down my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
Was it just my imagination?
"I suppose you already have an idea why I've been helping you."
Of course, nothing comes free.
The incessant chatter and her willingness to provide information—there was always a price.
From the moment I first asked a question, it had already become a negotiation. If I were to turn hostile after gleaning what I needed, misfortune would surely find me, to her vast experience, her archaic knowledge, and the enigmatic air she carried.
Yet, despite it all, she had guided me in establishing my foundation, giving me a deeper understanding of what I lacked.
For now, my stance remained neutral. I'm a distrustful person. I needed time—to think, to prepare, and, most importantly, to craft a plan should things take a turn for the worse.
"I reside here now," she remarked with effortless nonchalance. "As for answering your questions, consider it a transaction. I'm entitled to a fee... let's say fifty percent of your primal essence."
"What?! You're worse than a capitalist overlord!" I shot back, wracking my brain for a counteroffer. "How about ten percent?"
"Deal." She smiled, far too quickly.
Wait… did I just get manipulated? Damn it, I'm terrible at bartering.
Hold on—did she intentionally throw out an absurd number just to distract me from her first statement? That she's living here now? This ancient hag definitely knows what she's doing.
Never mind. It's a win-win for me—I have a living questionnaire.
Still, wouldn't my essence drain faster this way?
"Don't worry, I only plan to absorb three percent... for now."
Really? This woman could read me like an open book.
But there was still one last question lingering in my mind.
"Can I attend Aurelian Academy with my foundation? I won't be experimented on by Old Wizards, right?"
I hesitated. I felt as though I could manage, but I needed reassurance—something certain.
Class S was filled with anomalies whose prowess defied explanation.
From my perspective, I was just another anomaly among many, but still, there was the very real possibility of being kidnapped when I got there, since I had no backing.
"Don't worry," she replied with a serene calmness. "Ordinary people won't be able to perceive what you truly are. And—" she paused, her gaze unfathomable, "you possess a Noble Soul."
With that, as if dismissing the conversation entirely, her dress vanished, leaving her form indistinct.
She descended into the pond of primal essence, submerging herself as though it were no more remarkable than a mere hot spring.
"Noble Soul?"
For what felt like an eternity, she seemed lost in her own world, as though I no longer existed.
At last, she glanced at me with faint irritation.
"Don't bother me."
My mouth twitched.
Wow, this ancient hag has become so entitled.
"Then farewell."