Legacy of the forgotten soul

Kael felt a chill run down his spine as he stared at the carvings of the corrupted beings. The darkness that twisted their forms seemed to reach out from the stone, a lingering malevolence that defied the passage of time.

"Nereia, what do you mean by 'that's when everything changed'?" Kael asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

Nereia's tone shifted, a mixture of sadness and hatred filling her words. She chose her words carefully. "Kael, me telling you this information right now could lead to many scenarios. The main two would be that your soul becomes twisted and corrupted, and it slowly perishes, or your soul survives but becomes tainted with forbidden knowledge. And when it does, 'IT' will know of your existence. And I'm telling you right now, both options are a fate worse than death."

Kael felt a shiver run down his spine as he absorbed her words. The very mention of 'IT' filled him with an indescribable dread, an icy grip that wrapped around his heart.

Kael couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as he stared at the carvings. The images of the nine great beings and the four corrupted ones weighed heavily on his mind. He could almost hear whispers in the shadows, as if the darkness itself was aware of their presence and waiting for the right moment to strike.

In his past life, Kael, known as Nate, wasn't that into the lore. He only knew what happened in the game's storyline, To know more about the lore, one would have to read the in-game books provided or explore the game's fan lore forums. Nate had never been interested in that at all. Thinking back now, Kael realized that no mention of 'IT' had ever appeared in the game itself, the scattered lore he skimmed through, or even the fan theories he had briefly stumbled across. The very existence of 'IT' was an unknown that had been carefully hidden, even from the most dedicated players. Standing in this ancient cave, Kael was grateful for his ignorance—because if he had ever stumbled upon what 'IT was even unknowingly, he shuddered to think what the repercussions might have been.

After exploring the cave a little bit longer, Kael found no more useful things or information. He decided it was time to leave the cave and went back to the inn.

As Kael made his way out of the cave, the cold, foreboding air seemed to cling to him, lingering like an unwelcome guest. Each step echoed through the dark tunnel, the sound amplified by the hollow silence that surrounded him. He kept his hand on the wall to guide him, feeling the ancient, weathered stone beneath his fingers. The weight of the knowledge he had gained and the lingering threat of 'IT' hung heavy on his shoulders.

Emerging from the cave, Kael took a deep breath of the fresh night air, feeling a small measure of relief as the oppressive darkness released its grip on him. The moonlight illuminated his path as he made his way back to the inn, casting long shadows that danced in the gentle breeze. With each step, he couldn't shake the feeling of what might happen if Nereia had told him the forbidden knowledge. The malevolent presence of 'IT' would be unleashed, waiting for the right moment to strike.

As Kael approached the inn, the warm glow of the windows and the muffled sounds of life inside provided a comforting contrast to the eerie silence of the cave. He entered the inn and was greeted by the innkeeper, who noticed his troubled expression.

"Good to see you back, Kael. You look like you've been through quite an ordeal. Everything alright?" the innkeeper asked with genuine concern.

Kael managed a small, weary smile and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a long day."

The innkeeper nodded in understanding. "Well, if you need anything, just let me know."

Kael thanked the innkeeper and made his way to his room. Once inside, he took a moment to collect himself. The familiar surroundings of the inn provided a sense of comfort and normalcy, a stark contrast to the dark and foreboding cave he had just left.

He quickly freshened up, washing away the dirt and grime from his journey. The warm water felt soothing against his skin, helping to ease the tension that had built up over the day. After drying off, Kael changed into clean clothes and sat on his bed, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and unease.

Kael reached into his pouch and pulled out the two crystal essences he had taken from the beasts he killed. He held them in his hands, studying their vibrant glow. "A Shadowfang," he muttered, recalling the fierce battle he had with the Rank 5 beast. "And a Frost Claw," he added, remembering the cunning and ferocity of the Rank 6 creature.

As Kael prepared to absorb the crystal essences, he suddenly heard Nereia's voice in his mind, stopping him. "Kael, wait!" she exclaimed. "Don't absorb them yet. There's a technique you need to know first."

Kael hesitated, looking down at the crystals in his hands. "What technique?"

Nereia's tone became instructive. "To properly absorb the essence of these crystals, you must align your mana with theirs. This is not just a matter of drawing in the energy; it requires precise control and synchronization. Here's what you need to do:

Focus on your core: Sit in a meditative position and center your mind on your mana core. Visualize it as a glowing orb of light within your chest.

Channel the energy: Hold the crystal essences in your hands and slowly channel your mana into them. Feel the energy within the crystals resonate with your own.

Harmonize the frequencies: Gradually adjust the flow of your mana to match the frequency of the crystal essences. This requires patience and a delicate touch. Imagine tuning two instruments until they are perfectly in sync.

Merge the essences: Once the frequencies are aligned, begin to merge the essence of the crystals with your own mana. Visualize the energies intertwining like threads of light, becoming one cohesive force.

Stabilize the fusion: As the energies merge, stabilize the fusion by creating a protective barrier around your mana core. This will prevent any backlash or instability during the absorption process.

Kael followed Nereia's instructions meticulously, closing his eyes and focusing on his core. He felt the energy of the crystals resonate with his own, a harmonious connection forming between them. As he continued to concentrate, he felt his mana flow more smoothly, becoming more attuned to the essence of the crystals.

With Nereia's guidance, Kael began to absorb the crystal essences, feeling a surge of power coursing through him. The energy of the Shadowfang and Frost Claw crystals merged with his own, enhancing his abilities and pushing him to new heights. As the absorption process completed, Kael could feel himself evolving, his tier advancing from 5 to 6.

He opened his eyes, feeling a newfound strength and clarity. "This technique is incredible," Kael said, amazement in his voice. "It's way better than any other method I've used so far. Usually, I wouldn't even be able to progress 75% of my tier with just these crystals, but now I just leveled up an entire tier."

Nereia's tone was light and playful. "Oh, you're welcome, Kael! See, I'm not just a pretty face—I come with all sorts of useful tricks up my sleeve!"

Kael chuckled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Nereia. He nodded, determined to face whatever trials awaited him. With the power of the crystal essences and Nereia's guidance, he felt ready to take on the world.

That night, Kael finally allowed himself to drift into a much-needed sleep, the weight of the day's discoveries and battles still heavy on his mind.

days passed as Kael and Nereia ventured deep into the forest, facing countless beasts and overcoming numerous trials. The battles were relentless, each one pushing Kael to his limits and forcing him to grow stronger. With every victory, he felt his mana tier increase, his powers becoming more refined and potent. Through their relentless journey, Kael's tier grew exponentially. By the end of their time in the forest, he had reached the high 7th tier, a level of growth he could scarcely believe. The essence absorption technique Nereia had taught him proved to be far more effective than any method he had known before, allowing him to harness the full potential of the crystal essences.

Now, as Kael stood at the edge of the forest, the sun rising on a new day, he felt a mixture of anticipation and dread. Today was the day he would return to the Draylen estate, back to his cold family and the life he had once known. With Nereia by his side and newfound strength within him, Kael steeled himself for the challenges that lay ahead.