After the dust of the final battle settled and the "Crystal Guardian" shattered, I picked up a mysterious purple gem from amidst the rubble. It pulsed with a raw, dense energy that filled me with awe every time I touched it. I tucked it into my pocket without much thought, for something far greater had opened before me: "The Library of the Twin Kings."
I entered the towering hall, which breathed the scent of ancient parchment and concentrated mana. I glanced through some of the manuscripts and found they held secrets regarding the use and development of the "Dual Core," explaining how to merge Aura and Mana and develop methods to wield them together. But before I could drown in this sea of information, my heart cried out for my family.
I found a translucent gem known as the "Soul Link." It was a communication tool that required knowing the target's appearance and the nature of their aura. I channeled my dual energy into it, conjuring the image of my father and the warm aura I had memorized while watching him train in the past. The gem vibrated, emitting familiar sounds, and I couldn't restrain myself from speaking:
"Father! Can you hear me?" I called out longingly.
"Kayan?.. Is this an echo from the grave? Have I finally lost my mind?" my father's voice came trembling.
I replied quickly, "No, Father, it's me, Kayan! I am speaking to you through a voice-communication gem using mana."
"My son! Is it truly you? Oh gods, are you alright?" my father shouted, his tone a mix of terror and joy. "Where are you? What happened to you?"
"I am fine, Father, don't worry. I fell into a trap in the Black Mist Forest while I was gathering some herbs due to a mana imbalance there." I didn't want him to know I was training at the age of six; he would have found it incredibly strange.
My father replied in astonishment, "Herbs? That doesn't matter now! But I've never heard of such a thing happening in that forest before!"
I continued, "I don't know, Father. I lost consciousness and found myself in a strange place full of monsters, but I found a way to protect myself. I can defend myself now, believe me." I did not wish to reveal the Dual Core or the details of the ruins; the time was not right.
At that moment, I heard my mother Layla's voice in the background, pulling at my father and rebuking him bitterly: "Dear, stop this! This is no time for jokes, you are tearing my heart apart by talking to the air!"
"Layla, believe me, it's our son! He's communicating with me through a strange gem!" my father shouted, trying to convince her. Meanwhile, she was trying to call out to me: "Kayan, my son, are you alright? Where are you? I thought you were dead... I missed you so much!" I knew she couldn't hear me, as the gem was programmed to receive only one person's frequency at a time.
My father said, calming her down, "Wait, Layla, he is fine, but it seems you cannot hear him. Don't worry, I will talk to him and ask him." Then he addressed me: "So, when will you return to us? Your mother is very worried, and your younger siblings miss you too."
I replied, my voice straining to remain steady, "I don't know for sure, but I want you all to rest assured; I will return no matter what it takes."
"Then we will wait for you until you return, but I must tell you something... we have moved from our old home."
I asked in surprise, "Huh? Why? And where are you now?"
My father sighed bitterly and said, "Son, we left Oakhaven days after your disappearance. We are now in 'Iris, the City of Clouds,' that floating kingdom. We came here because it has advanced centers for searching for missing persons, and thanks to some of my old friends from my soldiering days, we were able to settle here hoping to find news of you."
My mother screamed in the background, crying, "Ask him! Can he contact us again? Don't leave us like this!"
I answered my father with a heavy heart, "Father, tell Mother that I won't be able to contact you again anytime soon; this gem runs on mana and needs a very long time to work again. Take care of yourselves... I will find you later."
The connection suddenly cut off, and a desolate silence loomed over the library, but this time it was a silence charged with hope.
I settled in the library for a time I could not measure. My body changed significantly; I grew taller, and my facial features became sharper and more mature. I lost the innocence in my eyes, replaced by a sharp, piercing gaze. I spent my time studying the "Core Interference" manuscripts and discovered a secret only Dual Core users could realize: that when Aura reaches a certain purity, it can change the nature of Mana. I learned how to turn my wind into fire, ice, or lightning by changing the frequency of the Aura surrounding the Mana. I applied what I understood to my wind, making it sharp enough to cut through steel, and I memorized the other elemental laws in my mind with microscopic precision.
As for the manuscripts I didn't understand, I imprinted the images of their pages into my mind, word for word. On one of the shelves, I found a strange book with a black cover—it was the greatest mystery. I understood nothing of it, neither its power nor how to master it; it was entirely beyond my current reach. The book contained drawings showing the eye's focal field and its transformations, but I didn't grasp it well. Nevertheless, I memorized every drawing and symbol, believing the time would come for me to master it.
My core ascended during this isolation, until my aura transformed from Light Green to Medium Green.
I looked at the exit of the hall, which began to open. I didn't know how many years had been stolen from me, but I emerged from the darkness with a solid body, a mind stuffed with secrets, and the purple gem in my pocket, heading toward the light... and toward "Iris" hanging in the sky.