Entry #15

By the time I write this, I'm already on my deathbed. I wish I could walk to see Vander in his bedroom achieving the very first spell he mastered. But humanity has finally caught up to me.

Ah, I wish I could inherit the demon's immortality. But my experiments to transform myself from what Vander called me "Jekyll" to "Hyde" seemed a failure. Despite the transformation being a success, it appears that it remained incomplete. If I tried to figure out what was wrong right now, I could have figured out the shortcomings in my hypothesis. But in the end, I cannot conquer the hubris that destroyed my original identity and reputation in the kingdoms before I moved here.

Casia, if you read this, I hope you won't repeat the mistakes I made in my research of light and darkness and humanity and demonic. I entrust my guardianship to you. Please take care of him and tell him I'm sorry for leaving.

Vander, if you read this when the time is right, you are more than an experiment. You were the son I never had. The son I truly cared more about in the world when it betrayed me for the sins I've made for science.

I wish I could see how much you have grown after my passing. I wish I could have met your other self and treated him as my other son.

All I can say now is to be who you want to be. But do not make the mistakes I did. The world is unknown to all of us in this household. I want to discover what's beyond the knowledge and discoveries we already found. I can see you have the potential to finish what I started. But I will not force my future onto you. You are you and with your other self, I know you two will become something greater. I will be proud if I learn of your future endeavors.

One last thing. I read the novella you treasured from the world you forgot. I know how you felt reading it and I have to admit I may have some similarities. However, unlike the main character whose name I shared ended in tragedy, I feel like the moment I met you and Casia was the happiest of my life. I couldn't turn back time to stop the experiment that ruined me and my reputation. But I couldn't exchange it for you as my only son. No, my sons. So all I can say left is this:

As I lay down my pen and seal this journal for the final time, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll...

No, a happy Edward Hyde to an end. And the life of his son, Vander, and his "Hyde" to a beginning.

A life that will change the world for the better.

- "Dr. Henry Jekyll"/"Mr. Edward Hyde"

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I almost teared up reading the final entry of my Master's journal. It's only half an hour since Casia and I found it in his old lab. It took a while for me to read the whole journal and despite not knowing Vander's master very well, I can tell how much he cared for us and Casia.

"Are you okay?"

Hearing Casia's voice made me wipe my tears before I turned to him without showing the remaining ones in my eyes. "Y-Yeah. I just wish I would have met Vander's master. I know it didn't tell most of his past, but he seemed very dependent and kind despite his dark past."

"Well, I can't say he's a "kind and trusted man" in life. But I agree that he's dependent on himself. Whether it's dealing with the [Wild Demons] or the maintenance around the house, he's the reason why the House of Lavender remains standing till this day."

I hummed as I imagined how he even did all of that despite his ailing health. "Did he tell you his real name?"

Casia shook his head. "All he told me was that he made a grave mistake that turned him into a half-demon. He didn't give specific details, but it seemed like he didn't want to for a good reason."

I raised my eyebrow when I heard his answer. "Why not? I know that lying is bad and keeping secrets is even badder." I know there's another word for "badder", but I can't tell what it is.

"It's more than that. The kingdom he once lived in has a dark secret that no Demon Lord doesn't want to touch. I can't say which one until you've decided your place in this world, but all I can say is that the Demon Territory is not the only darkness you can find here. You will find out when the time comes."

I guess I have to wait if I want to find out, then. But I have one more question.

"Why did you choose to tell me all of this right now?" I asked. "Why did you show me Mr. Hyde's journal while I was barely born here a few days ago?"

I stared at Casia for answers, thinking that he would lie again despite our promise since I was too young anyway. But he sighed and said, "The Master explicitly told me to show it to you when you're ready. He didn't say anything about how long you will wait until you're older. You possess a heart that Vander lacks and I feel you need to know the basics before you agree to his plans. Your strange powers are not strong compared to the Heroes, but you can change the world if you put your mind to it. I'm not going to put any more burden than I say. You have a choice on how you want to live and what kind of person you want to become in life."

A person, huh? Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde reference cheesiness aside, he trusted us with everything including his home. Despite this, I didn't feel any burden placed upon my shoulders. Is it because he doesn't place any burden of his reputation on me at all? Or is it because he wants me to choose my own life this time?

Regardless of his true intentions, I understand what Casia said. No one but me can dictate my life and I live what I want. What Vander wants.

We are our own people.

"Casia," I said while still holding Mr. Hyde's journal. "Thank you for showing me all of this. Now that I know Mr. Hyde... No, what Master's final thoughts to us are, I feel like I'm ready to face the world together with Vander."

Casia nodded and gently patted my back. "Whatever you and Vander want, I will follow you till the end. He saved my life from my unending suffering. Now I wish to use the final gift he gave me to restart it."

Yeah. He gave me a reason to restart mine. Regardless of my initial first impression of Master, I'm not going to waste it.

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A few days have passed since I learned of my Master's past with Vander. I've been working hard with my lessons lately and thanks to Casia, he lent me some books from the basement lab with my other side's permission. Some of them are about Mana Crystals and some of them are related to our [Talents]. I want to know more about the crystals I ate along with our new powers and abilities. Yeah, I feel like I should have chosen other books than these. But I already vowed that I want to be more useful to them and that means I have to learn everything I know of this world. Of the magic surrounding us. Of ourselves.

Man, thinking about the possibilities makes me feel excited for some reason. I don't have a clear goal other than helping them in return for their hospitality, but Casia has encouraged me to do whatever I want since I was still a kid. I want to find out what I want to be in the future, but what's the harm of rushing into my life? I want to enjoy everything and relish what I have as a kid.

I'm still smiling at the thought of being a kid for once. But I realized two things.

1. I don't know how to enjoy it as one.

2. The water in the crystal faucet is cold.

Right... I almost lost myself in my thoughts again and I almost forgot that I was wasting the power on the [Water Mana Crystal]. I tapped the crystal before it happened and I shook off the excess water. Yet as I dry my hands with a towel nearby, I stare at the faucet and sink for a while.

"What's the matter?"

Finally, something to stop thinking about for once. Though I can't say if this counts as one. "Oh, it's just that the crystal faucet's water is a bit cold lately."

"Lately?"

"Well, it's a bit of... What did Casia call it again? Um..." I hum while scratching the back of my head. But I sighed in dismay. "The point is that I thought the water here could change from hot to cold. Unless I might have only seen it in my dreams..."

"I did complain to Casia that the water is cold. But I never recall the water in the [Mana Crystal] can change between hot and cold."

My eyes widen at this sudden revelation. "Never? Not even showers and soaps?"

"Oh, you can make the latter through [Alchemy], which Casia said I need to be older if I want to make Master's creations. But what do you mean by "shower"? As in a [Water] spell that creates a shower?"

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

I sighed. "Never mind. It's a dumb question related to my dreams."

I guess those stuff doesn't exist in reality. Which means dreams are dreams. I don't know if it came from my past or not, but I'm a bit disappointed about it. Although, there's something on my mind the moment I think about the stuff in the bathroom.

"So who made these faucets anyway? Does it exist in this world?"

"Nope! Casia came up with it and Master built and did all the do-hickeys inside it."

Huh... I never knew. "So does that mean that the [Mana Crystals] on the faucet is the Master's idea, too?"

"Yeah. I'm still studying the basics of magic, though. So I don't know more about them."

"I see. I'm currently in the same boat as you, too, Vander."

I recalled from one of our lessons that [Mana Crystals] comes in two versions. One is the [Pure-Type], which are the ones Vander and I are eating. Another is the [Impure-type], crystals that we can't eat because the taste is terrible. I learned that the hard way. Despite that, [Impure-type Mana Crystals] can be used with other stuff like making crystal lamps that power the lights around the mansion and the faucets in every sink and bathtub here.

"Why do you ask all of those strange questions, Aster? Even if there are no showers or hot water here, we can use magic to replace it."

"Easier said than done. We both know we can't use [Water] magic and using [Fire] magic inside the house is a big no-no for us. If we do, Casia will have our heads. I mean, head."

"Well, I have no idea how faucets exactly work. I know you just tap the crystal and make the water flow."

True. Not to mention it will run out of water if the Mana inside runs out. "Did Master try to redirect the water from a nearby lake or river with some kind of a special tool or something?"

"Casia said that while the water of this territory is safe for us demons to drink, we can't bath or wash with black murky water created from the [Darkness Mana] mixed into it."

Man, that sounds like complicated stuff. Looks like getting a hot and cold shower might not be easy after all.

...Or does it?

Looking at the faucet again, it's only powered by a lone [Water Mana Crystal]. So why not other crystals that may change it to hot or cold?

I smiled again. Maybe there is a way to make hot water!

I quickly rushed out of the bedroom and started to call out for Casia around the mansion. Well, both of us are the only ones who are living in it, so it's not that hard to find him.

"Hey! What gives, Aster? What's with the energy boost?!"

I wish I could think any more about it, but I don't have time as I find Casia in the gardens.

"Casia, Casia! Can I make a request?" I quickly asked, not wanting to waste one second of this opportunity.

"Huh? You're awfully cheery today, Fledgling," Casia said with the old nickname I have for some reason I can't remember. "What is it?"

"Can I borrow some Water and Fire crystals? I want to make something by combining them together!"

I'm hoping he would say yes. But he suddenly drops his watering can and has his eyes widen. "Combine them? You know you're not old enough to handle such a task, Aster. Not to mention you have been awakened from your slumber for two weeks now."

"But I want to make something amazing, Casia. I want to prove to you I can contribute something to the mansion," I begged. "Please... I don't want to stay like a kid who never does anything at all. I don't want to be useless to you and Vander."

Yeah, I'm desperate. But I want to see if I really combine them without any spells. If he says no, I'm gonna sneak into Master's lab and do it without his permission!

"You do realize I can read your mind."

Oh, crud.

"Still, I commend your dedication to your theory. I have a good reason to say no. But..." I see him reach into his pocket and my eyes widen to see several familiar red and light blue crystals in his hand. "If you're willing to throw yourself with more lessons under my tutelage, you may do so as long as I have my eyes on you."

I'm speechless. He said I'm not old enough, but I never expect him to give in like this. "T-Thanks, Casia. I-I promise I will be careful."

But just as I accept his gifts, I suddenly feel a shot of pain in my head. It turns out it's actually Casia smacking my head with his hand transformed into his true draconic form.

"It's not only a promise because of your future. You have to be mindful of your surroundings. The [Impure-type Mana Crystals] are not as strong as the [Pure-types], but they are still dangerous if you're not careful. You not only bear the new Master, but you share it. You are family to us. Fate will say otherwise, but we rather not lose you to your recklessness than lose Vander himself."

Once more, I am speechless. He didn't say all of that because I'm Vander, but because I was worthy in his eyes. They treat me as their equal. So I understand why they are worried about me.

"I will. I'm not going to risk my life because of my stupid idea."

"Assurance isn't the only thing I accept," Casia countered. "No one, even the humanoid species is unable to combine [Impure-type Mana Crystals'] powers without risking their lives to test it. Some lost their limbs, others... Let's just say Master Hyde told me of those stories you rather not know. Are you willing to make that chance to fulfill it?"

I closed my eyes to make that decision. I already did, but if it means becoming useful.

No, I don't want that. I want to become something more. To "change the world". A world that may move forward instead of backward...

I opened my mouth. "I'm willing to take those risks."

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After a few lessons that were doubled thanks to my dumb request, I was now sitting in front of a table. However, instead of a lab or a study room, I'm sitting outside the gardens where I see a gated entrance into what Casia calls the "Forest of No Return". Yeah, I rather not go there until I'm strong.

"So why are we doing this experiment outside the garden and mansion?" I asked Casia. "I'm only combining the crystals and should the lab supposed to be strong enough to not make a mess of it?"

"I said it can only withhold the explosions from the potions, not the magical recoil of magic and [Mana Crystals]," Casia answered. "If we do so, then Vander will not forgive you for destroying his favorite room."

Oh, I see. I don't want him to be angry either way. So I decided to take his word for it. "Okay. I understand." I take a deep breath as I turn to the crystals Casia gave me on the table. "Here goes nothing."

With Casia's help, we broke the crystals into two pieces each as a way to "minimize the power that might have been released by accident". At least that's what he said.

The first experiment I want to try is simply sticking both the [Fire] and [Water] together with something that Master called "glue". Once it's dry, I test it out by using a bit of my [Mana] to activate both of them.

The result? It creates fire, but it ends up splitting it off from the [Water Mana Crystal] before it activates.

That's not supposed to happen, I thought. That is until Casia told me that fire and glue don't mix very well and the latter melted off from it. I tried repeating the experiment with a bunch of rope Casia gave and I tightened them together while I tapped the crystals.

So the results this time: A loud explosion of fire and water that spread everywhere.

Let's just say Casia gave me a light punishment putting out some of the flames that almost spread into the forest and garden.

The second experiment involves inserting a small shard of [Fire Mana Crystal] into the [Water]. When I activated it, the shard inside somehow melted inside the crystal and I got the hot water pouring on my hands like I wanted. The problem is the melting part. I guess that it's because of the elemental relation Casia mentioned that caused the [Fire Mana Crystal] to melt inside, so I can't use it on a faucet.

The last experiment I made revolves around doing the opposite. Putting a small shard of [Water Mana Crystal] into [Fire]. I activate the combined crystals and all I get is a bomb that Casia quickly throws away before it explodes into steam. Seriously, what's with these crystals exploding right in front of my face?! I thought water beats fire and vice versa. That's what I learned from my magic lessons.

I wish I could continue, but I should stop for today. If I overdo myself I promised, then I might make my mansion explode by accident. Yet, I discovered a lot of interesting stuff from those experiments.

Inserting sharts into [Mana Crystals] somehow creates some interesting effects that I never imagine before. And that's only using [Impure-types]. Although, I still need to work on the melting [Fire Mana Crystals]. Using a [Pure-type] might make hot water for longer periods, but since it's also the strongest of the two, I'm worried it might make another explosion like that last experiment. Though I hope it might not be the case.

Either way, I learned why nobody tried to combine [Mana Crystals]. It's a shame I can't figure out how to make it permanent. I really want to have hot water in my sinks and bathtubs.

"Aster, it's almost evening. Hurry up before the [Wild Demons] get here."

Man, I thought I was so close to being useful for Vander and Casia. Either way, I return to the mansion and rest up for the rest of the night.

If only there was a way to combine the crystals properly... If only I could fuse them into one single crystal...

I wish there was some kind of spell that I can realize that idea. A spell... A [Talent]...

A [Talent]... That's unique only to me...

If I have it...

Maybe...

I kept those thoughts alive as I went to sleep.

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> [Aster gained a [Talent], [???].]