Chapter 26: Corruption
The warm glow of the sun had moved across the sky, painting faint golden streaks on the garden floor where Aiden and Elizabeth stood. The soft sound of rustling leaves filled the still air as the breeze brushed through the trees.
Aiden's black hair swayed a little. His dark eyes showed quiet determination. Elizabeth stood a few feet away. Her elegant posture was still, her sharp brown eyes focused completely on him.
Elizabeth continued, her voice soft but firm. "Light mana can also be used in battle. Different spells can help in a fight. If your enemy has evil desires or dark thoughts, then light mana will be even stronger against them. It can burn people with evil hearts. And if any part of your body becomes corrupted, you can use it to remove that corruption."
Her words held both wisdom and warning. She paused for a brief moment, letting the weight of her statement sink in. The stillness of her gaze made Aiden straighten his posture without thinking, his eyes never leaving her face.
"There are different light mana spells," she continued, her tone now instructive, steady, and careful. "But right now, you can use only a few. The first is **Purify**." She raised her right hand.
Faint light began to gather around her fingertips, shining like a tiny sun in her palm. "This is used to remove any corruption from the body. But remember, Aiden, it can also be used in battle. If your enemy has a pure evil heart, you can use this spell to cleanse them from the inside out—completely vaporizing them."
Aiden listened closely. Every word entered his mind as he memorized it. He could almost feel the aura of the spell as faint waves of energy brushed against his skin.
Elizabeth continued, her tone growing more intense. "Then, there is **Flash**. It is a useful spell, something every light mana cultivator must learn early. You can use it to light up darkness, but in battle… it is far more useful."
"You can blind your enemy, stealing their sight, stunning them for a few seconds—and that short time can decide victory or death. It is also called a stun in battle."
She took a few steps closer, her boots pressing softly against the earth. The faint smell of morning dew still hung in the air.
"After that," she said, her gaze locking with his, "comes **Self Purify**. As the name says, this spell lets you cleanse your own body. It is extremely strong against parasitic mana cultivators. If a parasite ever tries to put itself inside your body, you can use this spell to clean the infection and destroy it."
"This makes being parasitized impossible. But remember this—it only works against those who are equal to or below your stage. A Stage Two light mana cultivator cannot purify a Stage Three parasite."
Her face grew serious as she spoke those words. Aiden could sense the weight behind them, the unspoken memories of people who had failed to cleanse themselves in time.
Elizabeth paused for a moment, her eyes showing a deep, old anger, perhaps memories of the past.
Then she said in a heavier tone, "And finally, there is **Light Ray**. It is the most powerful attack spell for light mana cultivators. A beam of light so thick and compressed that it moves at the speed of light.
It can pierce through a human body instantly—a single strike, clean and final. It is not an easy spell to learn, but once you do, it will be one of your greatest weapons."
Aiden listened with full attention, his heart calm. He was memorizing every word she spoke, as if carving it directly into his mind.
Elizabeth stood there quietly for a few seconds, watching him with careful eyes. The boy's focus reminded her of Jonathan—disciplined, unyielding, and sharp beyond his years.
Then she said, "Now, I will teach you how to use Purify. If you can use it successfully, then that means you truly are a tri-elemental mana cultivator. So listen carefully."
Aiden nodded once. "Yes, Aunt Elizabeth," he said in a serious tone.
Elizabeth breathed out softly and began to explain. "To use Purify, you must have a pure and clear heart—without any evil thoughts. Your mind must be calm, without hatred or greed."
"Then, while holding that clarity, you must think about purifying all corruption in the air, in the world, and in the person or thing you are trying to cleanse. Only then will your mana respond."
Her eyes turned toward him sharply. "After that, release your mana into the air and point it toward your target. For your training, you will purify a dog that I caught in the jungle. It was corrupted by an unknown dark force. If you can purify it, the dog will live. But if you fail, it will die."
The last sentence hit Aiden hard. His black eyes widened a little. His expression became solemn.
Elizabeth then raised her hand. The earth under her feet rippled faintly, as if it were alive. Before Aiden could even react, she sank into the ground and vanished completely.
A moment later, she came back up. The soil parted like water as she resurfaced—holding a black dog in her arms.
The animal looked pitiful. Its fur was tangled and dirty. Its body trembled weakly. There was a large black wound on its back, oozing thick, dark black pus. The smell was foul, unnatural, and choking.
The dog's eyes were bloodshot. Its face was twisted in pain and madness. It whined in agony, low and pitiful. Each breath was shallow and shaking.
Aiden felt his chest tighten at the sight. His hands clenched a little at his sides as sympathy filled his heart. "Can you not just purify the dog?" he asked softly, his tone filled with pity. "I can train on other animals that are less infected—ones that can live even if I fail to purify them."
Elizabeth looked at him with calm eyes and shook her head as she replied. "You cannot get a better infected animal than this. The black force inside this dog's body is unknown—and it has already killed thousands of people and animals. Compared to this dog, the others were in even worse shape. They suffered even greater pain and died quickly."
Her tone grew colder, more determined. "If you cannot heal it or practice on him now, there will be no other infected animal for a long time. Do not hesitate. I know you have a kind heart, Aiden… but in this world, sometimes you have to put your morals aside to grow."
Her words struck him deeply. Aiden stood there in silence for a few moments. His young face was calm, but his mind was conflicted. He did not want to hurt anything—especially something already in pain.
Yet deep down, he knew Elizabeth was right. The world was not kind. Being merciful without strength only led to more suffering.
After a few seconds of deep thought, Aiden slowly nodded. His eyes hardened with resolve. He stepped closer to the dog, his heart firm.
The dog growled weakly, its voice filled with pain, as black smoke began leaking faintly from its wound. Aiden closed his eyes, breathed out softly, and steadied his breathing.
He focused inward—on the purity of his heart, the calm flow of mana inside his body, and the silent will to cleanse, not destroy.
His voice was steady as he whispered, "I have to completely purify this dog… so I can save him."
He had no hidden motives, no secret desire—only the will to save a suffering creature. As he concentrated, he stretched his right hand forward.
Mana began to gather in his palm. It was calm at first—faint ripples of energy forming around his hand—but within seconds, it grew brighter.
The air around him shimmered faintly as a warm golden glow wrapped around his arm. Then, with a deep breath, he released it.
The moment the mana left his body, it turned into pure, blinding light. The beam of light gently struck the dog's wound.
A sharp, echoing hiss filled the air as the black pus on the wound began to bubble and turn to vapor. The foul smell vanished, replaced by a faint, clean warmth that filled the garden.
The dog whimpered in pain, but slowly, the trembling stopped. Thick black smoke escaped the wound, swirling upward like dark mist dissolving under sunlight.
Aiden's eyes were closed, but his face stayed calm. His mana flowed steadily, unshaken, as if guided by instinct. His body glowed faintly, and the air around him felt peaceful—pure.
After a minute or two, the black wound vanished completely. The corrupted flesh was gone, replaced by fresh red tissue. Clean, bright blood oozed out slowly—a sign of normal healing.
Aiden opened his eyes and looked at his mother. "Mom," he said softly.
Sara, who had been watching silently from the side, moved forward at once. Her long silver hair swayed as she crouched beside the dog. Her hands glowed with healing mana as she gently placed them over the wound.
The light mixed with Aiden's faint golden glow, and within moments, the wound closed completely. The dog opened its eyes slowly, breathing steadily once more.
Elizabeth stood still at the edge of the garden, her expression frozen. Her sharp eyes showed disbelief as she whispered faintly to herself, "He really did it…"
For a few moments, she could not speak. Her thoughts were racing. The boy before her—her nephew—had truly used Purify on his first try. She stared at him, her expression complex, a mix of shock, admiration, and faint unease.
Aiden turned toward her, his expression calm but tired. His breathing was a little heavy. Sweat glistened on his forehead, yet his eyes were steady and pure.
Elizabeth's lips parted slightly as she whispered under her breath, "He truly is a tri-elemental mana cultivator by nature…"
Her heart trembled faintly as she kept thinking. *He is a true genius… not like those spoiled nobles who grow up in high mana zones, forcing their bodies to adapt artificially.*
Her hands tightened a little at her sides. This boy was born in a countryside village with barely any mana density—and yet he achieved something even the noble prodigies could not. *Even when Jonathan and Sara told me he was a tri-elemental, I thought they were exaggerating… just boasting about their son.*
She took a slow breath, still unable to believe what she had seen. *But it is true. Everything they said… is true.*
For the first time in many years, Elizabeth felt real awe.
Sara looked at her son with soft eyes. Pride and warmth flowed from her expression. "You did well, Aiden," she said softly, placing her hand gently on his shoulder.
Aiden smiled faintly, though exhaustion weighed heavily on him. "Thank you, Mom."
The faint sound of the healed dog barking softly echoed in the garden—a sign of its new life, pure and untainted.
The golden light of the afternoon sun filtered through the trees, lighting up Aiden's calm face and Elizabeth's still-disbelieving gaze.
Author's Note: Aiden's first use of pure Light mana is a stunning success. But the "unknown dark force" that corrupted the dog is a terrifying warning. What is this spreading corruption, and is it connected to the Aiden? As Aiden's power to purify grows, so too does the shadow he must one day face. To discover the source of this creeping darkness, make sure to add this to your Collections!