The days leading up to Lucas's awakening ceremony felt both slow and swift, as if time itself was conflicted. He had pestered his grandfather with endless questions about magic, but each time, Silas's response was the same: "Magic is not that simple, Lucas. If someone without a mana seed awakened if tries to learn or use magic, they either go mad or worse—they die. Knowledge is powerful, but patience is essential. Once you've completed your awakening, I'll tell you everything I know."

That was how it always ended. Silas would pat his shoulder and leave, disappearing for hours at a time. Lucas wondered where his grandfather went and what he did, but more than anything, he felt the weight of guilt. The old man loved Lucas deeply, and yet here he was, an intruder in his body, filling the shoes of someone else's grandson. "I'll repay him," Lucas promised silently. "Somehow, I'll make this right."

In those restless days, Lucas established a routine of physical training, pushing his young body to its limits. He knew that a healthy body was essential for a strong mind. Silas observed with amusement, one day asking, "Where did you learn this?"

Lucas's mind raced for an excuse. "I, uh... I thought of it myself," he mumbled awkwardly. Silas said nothing more, just giving one of his knowing nods before leaving once again.

Despite the questions, Lucas could never bring himself to ask where his grandfather went. Some truths were better left undiscovered—at least for now.

During this time, the innkeeper's two daughters, Aline and Betha, had grown fond of him. Aline, the older one in her twenties, teased him often, insisting he call her "sister."

"Come on, Lucas! Call me sister!" Aline would say, ruffling his hair as if he were a child. "You're part of the family now."

Betha, the younger one, would always chime in afterward. "Hey! I'm your sister too! You'll call me sister as well, right?"

Lucas sighed, nodding with a grin. "Yes, yes, I'll call you both my sisters."

"Good!" Betha giggled, giving him a quick hug before darting off to help their mother in the kitchen.

Aline smiled at him warmly, a familial look in her eyes. "You know, Lucas, we're happy to have you here. It's been livelier since you came."

Lucas felt a strange warmth in his heart. This family, though simple, had welcomed him so easily. They treated him like one of their own.

"I'm happy to be here too," he replied softly, meaning it more than they could ever know.

The days continued like this—quiet and comforting, with Silas occasionally taking Lucas out for sightseeing. They shared peaceful moments in the bustling city, walking past street vendors selling delicious food. Silas would look at his grandson with a wistful smile, as if cherishing these fleeting moments of calm.

At last, the fateful evening arrived. Silas led Lucas back to the black market, their footsteps echoing through the labyrinthine streets. Once again, they reached Marona's shop. The bell jingled as Silas pulled the rope, and soon, Marona appeared, her sharp eyes gleaming as she greeted them.

"Ah, Lucas! Ready for your big day?" she asked with a grin, her voice dripping with amusement. Lucas, feeling anxious and overwhelmed, managed only a nod.

Marona led them down into the shop's basement. The room was dimly lit, but Lucas could see the intricate rune circle carved into the stone floor, glowing faintly with an otherworldly blue light. Silas moved forward, producing the lower beast's mana heart from his bag and placing it at the center of the circle. Instantly, the rune lines flared to life, humming with raw energy.

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"Don't be nervous," Silas said softly, his voice calm but commanding. "Just keep your mind steady. Now, step into the circle."

Lucas took a deep breath and lay down in the center of the rune, his heart pounding in his chest. The room felt thick with anticipation, and then... Marona leaned over, her ample figure casting a shadow over him and her bosoms saying hello to him as she handed him a vial filled with a blood-red liquid.

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"Drink this," she instructed, her tone now serious.

Lucas gulped the potion down in one swift motion. The taste was so acidic and bitter that he nearly gagged, but what followed was worse. A fiery heat erupted inside him, starting from his heart and spreading through his veins like molten lava. Sweat poured down his face as his muscles tensed painfully, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Marona quickly grabbed a mana herb paste she had prepared earlier and forced it into his mouth. As the paste dissolved on his tongue, a cold, soothing sensation fought against the heat, creating an intense internal battle within him. The two forces—heat and cold—warred in his body, until finally, his temperature began to stabilize.

But just as Lucas thought the worst was over, something else happened—something far more powerful. A sudden, overwhelming force crashed into him like a tidal wave. His vision turned white, and then... total darkness.

He drifted in that darkness for what felt like days, lost and weightless. Time had no meaning here. Then, without warning, warmth enveloped him. It was unlike anything he had ever felt—comforting, compassionate, as vast as the cosmos yet as gentle as a mother's embrace.

This power wasn't just a force—it was alive. It filled him with a sense of belonging, of purpose. The darkness gave way to light, and before him appeared the largest planet he had ever imagined. Blue and vibrant, teeming with life and energy. It was as if the world itself was speaking to him, its consciousness reaching out with an ancient, primal love. He realized, in this moment, he was connected to the world consciousness.

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"Grow in power," the voice whispered in his mind, "and protect this world."

Suddenly, his vision shifted. He saw swirling vortexes inside him—chaotic forces of fire, water, lightning, air, earth, and darkness. The dark vortex was the largest, its shadow engulfing the others. Fire raged beneath it, while the smallest vortex—a swirling chaotic energy—seemed almost fragile by comparison.

As Lucas stared at the vortexes, everything around him began to shake violently, pulling him back to reality. Distant voices broke through the haze.

"Lucas! Lucas, can you hear me?!" Silas's voice echoed, filled with urgency.

Lucas opened his eyes slowly. The world was blurry at first, but eventually, he saw his grandfather shaking him awake, concern etched deeply into his face.

"What happened?" Lucas asked, his voice weak.

Silas exhaled, his tension easing slightly. "You were unconscious for ten hours," he said gravely. "The awakening should have taken half an hour at most. What... did you see?"

Lucas's throat was dry, his body exhausted, but he forced the words out. "It was dark... and then... there was this immense power. Something gentle, something vast. I... I think it was the world itself."

Silas's eyes widened. "The world consciousness?" he whispered, incredulous.

"What in the name of the great Magus...?" Marona's voice broke in, shocked. "The world consciousness? That's only spoken of in legends. No one's felt that for centuries, if ever."

Silas looked down at his grandson with a mixture of awe and fear. "Come, Lucas. You need rest. We'll talk about this later."

Marona, still buzzing with questions, tried to press further, but Silas waved her off. "Let him rest, Marona. This was... more than we expected."

As they left the basement, Lucas could barely keep his eyes open. His body was beyond exhaustion, and yet, just as he was about to drift into sleep, a familiar beep echoed in his mind.

"New energy source detected. System requires an update to sync and utilize this power. Please confirm: Yes or No?"

Without hesitation, Lucas focused his mind. Yes.

"System update initiated. Estimated completion time: 12 hours."

And with that, Lucas succumbed to sleep, the events of the day swirling in his dreams.