Ripples. Gurgling. The sound of turbulent water surrounded him. It was cold. Kael was plunged into the depths of darkness. The water buried him to itself, not letting him go up. He kept on going down, drowning, in the verge of his second death.

But, arriving to his end, what he felt was not dread, it was calmness. The water comforted him. The cold embrace calmed his agitated heart. He doesn’t feel the fear anymore, as if he is ready to die. He accepted his fate, thinking that the world was claiming him for trying to break its rules. He doesn’t mind, his demise is a price he wants. There’s nothing above the surface that he can call his home. And so, he let the deep claim him, going down further as the time passed.

The only thing he had in mind is defeat, something he never experienced when he was still Lucien. It’s unfortunate. He was trying to live anew, forgetting the retribution he desired, but, the world didn’t accept him. He thought that it was what he deserved, being a person violating the importance of life.

If he could do it again, he will let the world claim him without resistance. He’s greedy, too arrogant as to acquire a second life for himself. He released his final sorrow, his tears mixing with the water conquering his body.

But, as he was about to die, he fell all of a sudden, slamming against a dry, stone floor. He woke up, spewing out the water in his lungs. He cough hard that he felt like he damaged his throat. He was wet, and he was cold, but most importantly, he was well. Too well than he should be.

After regaining his full awareness, he found himself in a wide, rectangular room, well lit by multiple torches attached to the walls. He looked up to where he came from, and see an opening filled with water. The water from the circular opening leveled to the stone ceiling, not falling down the rectangular chamber where he found himself in. Instead, the water acted like a mirror, revealing his unusually pristine body. There’s no wound on his skin, and the mark of any exhaustion doesn’t exist.

At first he was confused, trying to understand what’s happening to him. He looked around the chamber, and felt a sense of familiarity. This is not a new place, he knew it from his mind. As he looked around, memories of the past came up. He remembered, and soon, he realized where he was.

Of course he will know, the place should be too familiar to him. Of all the people in the world, he should be the only one that knew about this place. After all, he was the one that created it.

He looked at the end of the chamber, and there, he saw a shining green crystal guarded by a knight-like figure. There’s no time to continue remembering the past. He knew what was the room for. He knew, the figure will come to him.

----------------------------------------

‘What’s that? Is that… my mana vessel?’

Not too far from their house, under a young tree, Lucien was deep in meditation, seeing by feeling his mana vessel. He was focused enough that he saw the physical vessel, a shell of highly condensed mana, enclosing his usable mana.

He saw the channels of mana extending from his mana vessel, scattered throughout his body, iridescent and bright.

“…cen”

It was beautiful to his sight. The thing that made him special, the thing that gave him power.

“…cen!”

He wanted to hold it, thinking of extending his hand without actually moving his physical body. He reached for it, and he felt it.

“Lucen!”

Transcendent. The warmth of the vessel was tranquil. Serene. Such peace, although filled with an insane amount of power. Although Lucien felt that he heard something, the experience locked him in his trance-like state.

“Hey!”

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He can manipulate the dense shell, it flowed like a viscous liquid. He held it, attempting to use the highly dense mana. He created a green crystal manifesting in his physical hand. He wanted to test it, but he couldn’t continue. A single slap woke him up.

“Oww! What was that about?”, Lucien looked up. He saw a little girl standing in front of him. “Del!”

“You’re sleeping, ‘erp”, Cordelia, his little sister said.

“You.. who are you calling twerp?”, Lucien stood and chased after Cordelia. “Come here!”

“Mama! Lucen is chasing me!”, the little girl called to their mother.

Cordelia tried returning home quick, but her brother caught up to her, grabbing her up. She was tickled, and couldn’t get away from her brother. She squirmed around while Lucien was dodging her head going on random directions.

“What are you two doing? We’re going to eat”

Their mother stopped their horseplay. They pointed at each other, blaming the other for their antics.

“Papa is waiting for you two, come inside”, their mother said.

After the meal of the family, Lucien was called by his father. Cordelia taunted him, moving her index finger back and forth.

After messing around with his little sister, Lucien went outside to his father. The breeze was calming, apt for a sincere conversation. As he was near enough his father, his father looked at him and started talking.

“Lucien, son, are you sure about what you told us yesterday?”

He didn’t answer immediately. He thought deep about what he decided to do, and answered his father. “Yes Pa, I will accept King Lihtven’s invitation”

Lucien was expecting for his father to feel worried, but his father paused for a moment, and a genuine, warm smile appeared on his father’s face.

“You’ve grown stronger, Lucien”

Lucien nodded with a smile. His father hugged him, and continued speaking. “Be careful, the demons are dangerous”

“Yes Pa, I will bring your counsel along with my journey”

“That’s my son”

Lucien’s mother went outside as well. She heard their exchange, and was adamant, refusing Lucien’s departure.

“No, I told you already Lucien. You’re not going”

“But Ma, I’m-”

“No.”, his mother snatched him from his father’s hands, and hugged him too. “Why are you giving me so much worry?”

At his mother’s words, Lucien felt a sting in his heart. His mother’s embrace was tight, as to not let him go any further. It almost crumbled his conviction, but his father stepped in.

“You should let our son find his glory, my dear”, his father said. “Besides, Lucien is the greatest among the king’s mages”

“Papa..”, Lucien chuckled a bit.

“Be quiet, Hananel”

“she’s mad..”, his father said almost whispering. “Well, I feel like Del is calling me. Lucien, I should leave you with your mother”

His father’s amusing conduct eased Lucien’s doubts. He gently pushed her mother from him, and opened his palm.

“Here mama. I hope this will give you peace of mind”

A green crystal glowed from his hand.

“Did you create another magic again?”

Lucien nodded. “I call this ‘Late Cost’. This will help me fight off demons”

“I told you, you shouldn’t go”

Lucien returned to his mother’s embrace.

“Sorry Mama. Let me disobey you, just this time”

His mother shed tears, hugging him tighter than before. She knew her son. She knew, Lucien will not back down from his decision.