Spero, now almost completely healed, can stand and walk around for short periods.
“I knew you were faking your injuries.” the voice taunts at him.
Spero turns to see Nazanin entering with a freshly baked loaf of bread in hand. She playfully tears off a piece and offers it to Spero.
“How’d you know I was here?” Spero inquires.
“I ran into Cyrus a day ago. After his rant about how you’re careless, and you never ask for help, blah blah blah, he told me where you were.”
Spero gives an embarrassing smirk as he bites into the bread. They both sit on the edge of the bed.
“How are you feeling?” Nazanin voices softly.
“I’m almost healed, I should be out of here pretty soon.”
“I can see that, but I mean, how are you actually feeling?”
Spero looks at her with puzzled eyes, “I don’t understand.”
She scoots closer to him “You were hurt pretty badly; I mean you almost died. Someone as strong as you -”
“I’ve been close to death before…”
Nazanin, sees Spero’s hand slightly tremble as he goes for another bite. His gaze tilts away from her. She gently places her hand over his.
“This time seems different, right?”
Spero sighs a bit. “You’re right, this time…I actually…felt, afraid.”
Spero straightens his back. “Of course, I’ve felt fear before, especially when I was a child, but… I’ve never truly felt the fear of potentially dying. I’ve always known that I would make it out alive, this time, I wasn’t so sure.”
Nazanin leans her shoulder against his. “I’m glad you’re back”
Spero’s ears and cheeks flush as his body gets tense. He glances at her and relaxes. They finish the bread together.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/af74074dfa123bbfee032c562347e145c283d279/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7857756d5039714d345f303842513d3d2d313530303438393738352e313830653036386239636439323337373535313037343039343035372e6a7067]
Spero, having finally recovered from his injuries, is training in a vast field. As he gazes down at his hand, the memory of his intense fight with the Nephilim flashes before his eyes. He extends his hand, seeking to replicate the powerful attack he unleashed in that fateful confrontation. Focusing intently, Spero taps into the Vita energy coursing through him, channeling green light to his fingertips. The light envelops his hand as he unleashes a slender beam of energy into the distance.
“You gained a new energy type. Congrats” Astral voices uninvited.
“You always come and go as you please huh?” Spero challenges.
“What number is that now?”
“Well, I have Onyx, Azure, Crimson, Gold, and now Verdant”
“Yeah, but this one is Vita correct? Your other abilities are variations of Aura and Mana?”
With a nod of acknowledgment, Spero launches another burst of energy, the raw power crackling in the air around him. Astral materializes beside him, observing the pulsating energy with keen interest.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“You were born with red, blue, and black; gold was given to you, but this green energy, how did you obtain it?”
Spero halts and replies slowly. “I took it.”
Astral's visage darkens with concern. “How?”
“I absorbed the energy out of an assassin.”
Astral ponders, “Have you ever heard of the ancient being Volcar?”
Spero looks at Astral with a hefty smile. “Of course, a mere human who mastered all forms of spirit energy, controlling all the elements. Who gained the respect of Cosmic Entities, the Elementals.”
“Yes, as you know there are three energy types in our universe, Aura - also known as spirit energy, Mana - magic, and Vita - the energy within.”
Astral projects a holographic diagram. “All these energy types consist of ten color variants, each representing a form of energy that is used by those who can control it.”
Spero stares at it. “I know all of this already.”
“But you don’t know how Volcar mastered his powers”
Spero stays quiet and focuses on Astral’s words.
Astral continues, “When Volcar was studying magic he failed time and time again to conjure the simplest of spells. He studied desperately and learned all he could about energy transfer and manipulation. However, one day he realized he was attuned to Aura, and he was able to slightly move the current of a nearby stream. With this, Volcar mastered the element of water. But he was not content with this. He wanted to control more elements but failed again and again. He observed the way water moved, the way it, flowed, and how its form changed shape. A bright idea popped into his mind. He decided to restudy the basics of magic, alchemy. What if he used the same steps of alchemy to convert, generate, and control the energy? He focused on his Aura and went through these steps, using the energy to transfer it to other elemental types. Finally, Volcar was able to master all elements. He was able to control all of the elements at once, using all energy variants simultaneously is almost an impossible feat for a mortal. His power rose significantly that the Elementals sought him out. They asked for him to become a deity, but he refused to join their ranks. This caused conflict with Volcar and they battled. Able hold his own for a while but ultimately was beaten. The Cosmic Entities made a deal with him however, they will all provide him a source of their power as long as he became a guardian of the elements.”
image [https://img.wattpad.com/1d6411da8c035f8683e5ee0d56a8d86c7032189f/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f573061574d4774426355782d49773d3d2d313530303438393738352e313830653036393465646262656565353530393035353131343738322e706e67]
Spero frowns and his eyebrows pinch together. “So, the deities gifted him golden chains.”
Astral ignores his comment. “If you were to implement these same steps Volcar did, perhaps you would also gain more energy types.”
Spero stares intently at his hand as he absorbs this information. The ability to harness multiple energy types simultaneously could be the key to unlocking a multitude of new powers and abilities, propelling Spero towards a realm of strength akin to that of the gods. Spero attempts to use his Verdant and Onyx energy, but the power dissipates before he can fully activate them.
“I’ll let you get to it,” Astral says.
“Wait.” Spero stops him.
“Who is Aka Manah?” Spero questions.
A hush falls over the surrounding environment, the tension palpable in the stillness that descends upon the scene. The only sound that dares to break the silence is the whispering breath of the wind.
“How do you know that name?”
“The Demon God of the Evil Mind, he visited me when I was healing, he trapped me in another illusion. Why did you hide his identity from me?”
“He who says his name will be found, he who calls for him will be lost.”
“What does it matter? He already knows how to contact me”
“You need to push him back, do not engage with him when he interacts with you. The more you let him in, the higher chance he has to control you.” Astral reveals.
Spero calms down a bit. “Are they just toying with me? They can take me at any time”
“There could be a chance that he doesn’t know your exact location, only that he can simply connect with you. Daevas are selfish creatures, they will do everything their way, Aka Manah especially enjoys long torture, he hates taking the easy route.”
Astral vanishes leaving Spero to contemplate his next move in solitude. Gathering his thoughts, he materializes before Chronos.
“Timekeeper, it seems what we feared has come. Spero can steal energy and make it his own.”
Chronos settles into his chair, his hand gently stroking his beard in a contemplative gesture.
“He has joined the other anomalies. Keep a close watch, and mark down every variant he adds to his collection. We can’t risk another irregular in this timeline.”
image [https://img.wattpad.com/4e27f8383c998678ccc7ea7227fb89d0dcebcb1e/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f2d745469737937576f75754643673d3d2d313530303438393738352e3138306530363964393165393462373032393730343139393635302e6a7067]