The world was at peace.
The war was over and many have been recovered from the pain and suffering caused by the battles.
Many have cheered over their heroes. Some have cried from their losses.
A bittersweet ending. Yet it was something to achieve from all of those sacrifices.
...As if I accepted that!
It's true that they achieved peace, but that damn war was born from envy, greed, pride, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth. All of the seven deadly sins that some humanity has wrought upon this world.
I, Umbaria, the [Goddess of Darkness], have observed this world for eons. In exchange for my contribution, I am willing to be named as the vilest god that has plagued it.
[The Evil Witch]
[The God of Evil]
Say whatever they want. But there are two things I loathed about the world I genuinely cared about.
Stagnation.
I want what is best for humanity, so I created the monsters they despised. However, when I created them, I felt guilty. A sense of betrayal would come against me when I unleashed them. But how could I not? Without risk, there is no reward.
Many desired a utopia where no conflict and monsters exist. But they failed to believe that there is no such thing as utopia. And there is my second disdain:
Sloth.
If they desire no conflict, they won't grow stronger. If they hesitate, they won't grow. If they wish for something they want to be rather than earning it, they won't learn from the hardships of their dreams.
It is made worse when they dare to summon everyday Otherworlders from their homes who have no experience with combat and monsters they have never seen before. None of the gods would oppose it and nobody would dare to examine their character beyond their abilities. It would only breed more pests who would corrupt the world's hope.
Most importantly, if they dared to do everything to deny reality, there would be consequences to others. That was the fate of one continent that dared to use my name and power against the world.
So despite my attempts to stave off stagnation, corruption still exists. I don't care if it's my fault it happened because of my creations. But I feel like I couldn't stop it even with my role as the goddess.
In the end, I rely on you to change the fate of this world. There is no need for bloodshed unless it is necessary.
I rely on you to weed out the pests of Monochroma, Vander and Aster.
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"...and that's all the basics I know, Master Casia."
I gasped in relief and collapsed on my chair in the study. If I thought practicing my spell incantations was bad, trying to orally recite the basics of Alchemy is even worse! I know Casia said this is another way for me to practice memorizing incantations and info without going through my books and tablets, but this is too much for me to handle! How long will I have to do this until I can get used to this?!
"Good job, Aster. It's not perfect, but I'm glad you haven't slack off from your studies." That's because you're gonna punish me with more homework if I don't! "Hey. At least you learned something, right? That's the point of "homework"."
I groaned. "I still have vague memories, but I don't think that's what homework is, Casia."
Casia chuckles as he approaches me. "Regardless, you didn't give up. You persevered through your difficulties and you managed to make it through until the end. Don't put yourself down because of the challenge that everyone deemed "impossible"," he said. "Greatness can come if you set aside your doubts and let the impossible turn into a wall you can break through your determination and actions. That's what the old master said to me before you two came into the picture."
I guess he's right. I really want to learn more about Mana Crystals and Alchemy in general. But I only did it because I wanted a hot and cold bath in our bathroom. But as I read more about the latter, the more I slowly realized one thing about this world.
Their magical items are not as useful compared to some of the ones the former Master made here.
How could he abandon his work in the first place? If he continued, he would have made some awesome items such as a tool that help you clean the mansion by sucking up dirt and dust or another that can wash your clothes for you. I'm guessing it might be the incident that caused him to take his new identity here, but I'm still not understanding everything in this world. I want to ask more about Hyde, but I don't know if I can find more answers here. Not even Casia knew more about him before he passed away...
I want to know more about the outside world. Yet I'm scared of what lies beyond the Demon Territory. At my current age, we're still not strong enough.
"Okay, eyes up, Aster!"
There goes my thought session. I quickly snap out of them and turn my attention to Casia before he scolds me for thinking too much about off-topic stuff.
"Now that you know about some Alchemy basics, let me ask you this: In this world, there are many kinds of alchemists that perform several variants of the art. Some are alchemists who used knowledge of [Magic Crafting] and [Machinery] and some are mechanics and crafters who used knowledge of the former. Do you who they are?"
This again? Thank the Graceful Darkness that I managed to study this one, too.
"They are [Mana Machinists] who created magic-based machines including the [Mana Artilery], [Enchanters] who focused on enchanting equipment and accessories, and [Magic Blacksmiths] who specialize in making [Magic Weapons] for the kingdoms," I recalled. "There are also [Mana Pharmacists] and [Holy Exorcists], but they are not considered alchemists. The same can be said with Pharmacists, who tend to mistake them as [Alchemists] due to their similar methods along with [Synthesis] and Alchemy steps."
"Very good! Looks like you also point out a few obscure facts as well. I guess you are on par with Vander when it comes to your studies."
I sheepishly chuckled again. I feel like I'm doing all of this just to satisfy his ego. But I feel like that's not the only reason why I need to learn Alchemy.
"Casia, why are you suddenly teaching me Alchemy next?" I asked. "I get this is part of my magic lessons, but I don't know what's the point of learning it for seemingly no reason?"
"Right... I should tell you before you start getting more suspicious."
Seriously, why are you still hiding stuff from me, Casia?! I thought we promised we're not supposed to keep secrets from each other?!
"Okay, I'm sorry for breaking our promise again! But I feel like you need to know all of this before you can try to follow the former Master and Vander's footsteps. Because of all those occupations you learned from the book, there are a few of them who dare to go beyond the objects and Mana to achieve their goals."
Beyond? Is this connected to what Vander said yesterday?
"Tell me, Aster. Of all the occupations I mentioned, what's the one thing in Alchemy that they never dabble in?"
One thing that alchemists never dabble in... I know that they can create Mana Crystals, but it drains their own Mana as a result. "Um... Is it something that is not really allowed?"
Casia then sighed. It felt like a wrong answer, but he never hit me whenever I'm wrong. "...It's life itself."
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"Life?"
His expression grew grim and pointed at himself. "Yes. How we live and die and vice versa. To everyone, manipulating life is considered a heresy. A betrayal of what the gods have created in this world. There is a reason why life and death exist. For the humanoids, it's to remind them that cannot waste precious time and life in this world. For us, demons, we lived in a world of survival. We are ageless in exchange for isolation in darkness. We are immortal in exchange for our endless desires for power. We are more powerful than the monsters and humanoids who dared to hunt us out of envy and discrimination. But in exchange, we are not unkillable and we have been living in fear since the day we existed."
Life and death... I thought demons were the exception because of our power. But instead, we're not as powerful as gods.
"So why are you telling me all of this? Is it because of Vander?"
Casia nodded. "He should have told you his current goal by now."
It seems like he has the same idea as me. "Yeah. "How demons were born"," I said. "He told me all about it yesterday. Don't get me wrong, I have no doubts about his goals. But the question is "why". Why is he studying it? And what does it have to do with how messing with life through Alchemy has to do with it?"
My magic teacher hummed while he stared at me. "In all honesty, most of the Sentient Demons along with the Drago Nox don't know our true origins. We mostly follow what the legends say about us. How we were born as humanity's opposite and how we existed as a species that can also die despite our near-immortal states. Despite everyone's complaints about our current lives here, it's because of our lifestyles that we were about to progress more than the kingdoms outside. And because of that, we were able to evolve beyond what we were capable of."
I understand what he meant by that. If they don't know much about their origins, then there is a good reason why Vander wants to know more about them.
It's not only that. I wasn't born into this world normally. Casia said my rebirth wasn't like the ones many demons experienced. I'm too curious to ignore what lies beyond our simple knowledge of demons.
My rebirth...wasn't normal? I turned to Casia again. "So how do demons... come into existence normally?"
"I can't say they came in normally as would any normal humanoids. While most of us were born in the darkened Mana Mines, some were partially created from them."
"Partially?" I repeated.
"They are born as spirits first. They only exist in their mana bodies and cannot interact with the physical world of the Demon Territory or outside of it. If they tried to leave this territory, they would simply fade away," Casia explained. "Now I toss to you a simple question. What is a common myth behind most demons that many humanoids believe?"
A myth behind most demons...
"Is it demons possessing humans?"
Casia snapped his fingers with a smile. "That's right. But the one the demonic spirits used is much more permanent than most stronger demons have. You must have heard those legends of how a Human adventurer entered our domain and returned as a lesser fiend, right?"
Oh yeah... I read it in the book once when Master was alive.
Huh, I remembered that, too. When I was browsing through some books in the library...
> [You used [Synchronization].]
Huh? What was that? I don't know why, but I feel like I want to agree with Vander's thoughts the moment I recalled that legend as well. Was that the effect of that [Twin Minds] skill?
...Wait a second?! Forget that for a while, I realized what Casia was trying to say!
"Are you saying...that he was transformed into a Demon because one of those spirits possessed them?!"
"That's correct," Casia answered. "When a spirit possesses a humanoid, not only do they transform the bodies based on their potential evolution, but they will overwrite their identity in the process. In other words, if they completely possess them before exorcising them on time..."
"T-Then the original person would die afterward?!"
I didn't want to believe it was true. Yet Casia nodded again, which almost made me lose my breath from this awful fact. "I'm afraid so. To become a true demon, they must sacrifice a body to call their own. Note some possess no identity the moment they are born. So there is a chance that demon would retain their identity, but with their personality altered."
"That doesn't justify why demons have to be born that way! How could our Grace let this happen?!" I demanded.
"If I only knew," Casia said. "Although it may have to do with a continent that once stood in this very territory. Unfortunately, if I tell it to you right now, we would go off-topic with this lesson, aren't we?"
"I-I guess..." I should ask about it after I learn everything I need to know first. "So the reason why Vander is researching the demon's birth..."
"Is to figure out how to defy or mitigate the possession of them. It's one of the subjects Master Hyde researched before he moved on to you and Vander," Casia answered. "He believed that there is a way new demons can exist without sacrificing another. However, he was stuck on one aspect of it and was on the verge of giving up. That is..."
"That is until we were reborn. Isn't that right, Casia?"
Once again, Casia nodded. "When the former Master was dying, he wished that Vander would have chosen a different path. But he decided to follow his original research instead. I don't know another reason behind it. But I trust you that you can steer him in a direction where he won't violate your morals."
I see. That explains why he suddenly gave me this Alchemy lesson in the first place. If I want to help Vander while not letting him stray from his intended path, then I have to walk on the same path as him.
Plus, you get the bonus of getting that hot and cold shower you wanted!
Hehe... I guess that's another benefit to dealing with Vander's antics.
"Alright. I'll help him as much as possible. If I scratch his back, I'll scratch his. I don't know why I said that or what it means, but I want to become as useful to him."
"Not just useful. You're not a servant to Vander. To me, you're more of his partner, a teammate. A brother of his."
A...brother...
"Yes. While you are born at different times, you are born from the same body and mind. You may follow different mindsets, but walk on the same path. If this is what our Grace has gifted this continent, then I feel like you two are the ones who will make a change to the world's stagnation."
I see. That's...what Vander is to me. I don't know what Casia said yet, but I know what he said is true. Vander are two minds in one body. We are brothers not by blood but through our uncanny birth.
"Brothers... I like that. Does that mean you're our uncle, Casia?"
"U-Uncle?!"
...Is he offended by that?
"Can't you call me something than that? Do you realize I'm your guardian that your former Master entrusted to?!"
"Well, if Vander is my brother and our former Master was our father, then we're thinking that you're our uncle.
> [You used [Synchronization].]
"Come on! At least call me something else! I don't want to be reminded of my age with that name!"
I laughed at the fact he is still worried about his age. He might be a scary black dragon, but he's a big ol' softie on the inside.
"I heard that!"
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After my Alchemy lesson, it's now time for the exciting part of it. I'm now in my former Master's lab where I'm sitting at the desk with Casia nearby.
"So to review the basics, Alchemy is derived from magic itself. By concentrating your Mana into an object, you can take it apart or renew it into a new form," Casia explained. "Since you insisted on making your own Mana Crystal out of two, let's try to create one through Synthesis first. Now, focus on your hands first. Never break your sight from it until it's fully complete."
"I understand, Casia." I cupped my hands as I stared at the palms with full focus.
"Now for this exercise, you need to create a small Mana Crystal without any element. Start with Conceptualization. Imagine the mana gathering in your hands and forming into a solid object."
Right. I've been practicing that part through his image training. It's the only easy part of my lessons and I continued it outside of them as well. It's even easier if I close my eyes and clear my head before starting my training. Because of that, it became a habit of mine to imagine before casting a spell, which is way easier than chanting its long incantation.
"Once you found its desired shape, manipulate your mana while keeping your focus on your hands."
So this is like another exercise where I create elements by controlling my Mana. It felt the same, but it was different at the same time. It might be because I'm making a real crystal instead of objects made of mana. I guess that's the reason why he doesn't want to make me break my focus. I took a deep breath before I opened my eyes again. When I do, I start focusing on the palms of my hands while trying not to get distracted. My aim is to create a non-elemental crystal, so trying not to think of other elements is much more difficult than not breaking my concentration. I release some of the mana in the right amount and mimic the image in my head as best as I can.
I didn't hear anything else from Casia while I was shaping my Mana. It probably makes sense since practicing Formation is the second most difficult thing I have ever done in my training. Thankfully, forming the shape is much easier because I'm only making a small crystal. I keep shaping the Mana for a few more minutes until I'm satisfied with what I want. All that's left is...
"[Synthesis]."
Once I uttered the skill's name, I saw a white light flash before me. When it disappeared, I saw a small crystal sitting on my hands. I feel a bit exhausted, yet I can't help but smile at my new achievement.
"M-Master... I did it," I muttered. "I made my very own [Mana Crystal]!"
I hand him the crystal to Casia to see if it passes the test. "Amazing. Of all the crystals Master Hyde made, you managed to create a normal Mana Crystal perfectly on your first try. It seems you've managed to keep up with your training as we promised."
I chuckled as I had some mixed feelings at Casia's compliment. "I did spend my time training every day as you said. Seriously, can't you give me a break for once? And I mean a real one."
"Come on. Why stop now? Besides, we're not stopping there. Don't worry, I'll make sure to choose some items for you to work on easily for this exercise."
I'm a bit mixed about what he has in store for me. But now that I'm learning something new, I'm confident this will be my first step to get out of my forgotten past.
Whoever I was doesn't exist anymore. I am Aster and I am Vander.
And the first step of my new life is breaking the limits of this world's logic.