The dark forces were so hated by humans not just because the dark creatures killed and destroyed the human realms, but also because they brought along a kind of energy that could pollute and corrupt this world. The term “Dark Energy Pollution” was used to describe such incidents.

Unlike places with high salinity, high heavy metal content, high acidity, or any areas with extreme conditions where some microbes and plants could exist and thrive, land polluted by dark energy was dead – nothing could live on this kind of land.

No matter how fertile the soil was, plants would die, even though nutrients were still detectable in the soil. Animals refused to stand on the polluted land, and if forces to stay, they would gradually corrode and die, even though their body contained all the elements vital for their survival. Buildings would soon become ruins in polluted land, and all that remained were sand, pebble, and rocks, a dead land with no sound of life.

Bahyun could confirm this fact, as he had been to these lands many times. According to his investigations and experiments, he concluded that the land would only recover when the dark energy in the land was minimized to its original state. Chasing away all the dark energy would do the land no good, as the balance would be askew; a mana storm would arise, and no life could exist in a world with not a single drop of energy. The land could thrive again only when the balance of Yin and Yang of the land returned to it’s original state.

However, there weren’t many Mages who held the ability to purify Dark Energy Pollution. That’s why the recovery progress was slow, slower that the pace at which the dark beast invaded. Even after a few centuries, nearly one seventh of the land of the world was still polluted – this included once glorious and lively cities from history, but their ancient remnants were no longer able to recover. Only books and recording could prove they once exist.

And now, Bahyun and Almandine stood in such polluted land.

After briefly explaining what dark energy pollution had led to, Bahyun looked at her and asked, “What do you think? Do you have any comments to share?”

A tool crafted with only one aim like Almandine lacked this kind of mindset. She wouldn’t say “I think” or “I consider”, and she wouldn’t even understand “I’m curious”, “I like” and “I dislike” if Bahyun hadn’t taught her to think so. Though Bahyun wished to know her perspective, he also hoped that by prompting these kind of questions, she could become more self-conscious and not bound by thought of “I solely belong to my master”.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Almandine gazed at the land after looking at him. This land is too quiet; not a single sound could be heard. No bugs, no birds, not even a cricket. She then remembered the sounds from downstairs that she could hear when she opened the window in her room and realized: she love those lively sounds.

So she said, “I don’t like this place.”

Bahyun was surprised, “But it emits the same energy as yours.”

Almandine didn’t answer, but Bahyun thought of one himself and explained, “Well, you have FayOra as your core, and FayOra is the light forces hated in the dark realm. So even when the dark energy functions like blood flowing in your body, you still don’t prefer the dark side because you have light in you core…Maybe that’s the answer.”

With FayOra Stone as core and dark energy as her blood, and all sorts of magic circuits complexly joined to form her body…This could probably be considered the magical world’s version of Artificial Intelligence.

Bahyun shook away his thoughts and held Almandine’s hand in his palm, “Ever since I learned about the conditions of dark energy pollution, I’ve tried to find a way to solve this problem. So, I often came to these wasteland and tested out the purifying runes that I had modified and enhanced. From what I have observed, they work pretty well, and it’s a nice way to release my stress. Come, walk with me, and let’s see if there will be any changes with the runes with you along.”

Under the moonless night, Almandine was led by a silhouette faintly lit by her glow, and together, they marked the land with their feet slowly, painting the land with a complicated yet invisible rune by strokes of their footsteps.

As they took the final step, a gust of wind blew from the center of the rune, stirring up the sand, and they had to close their eyes to avoid it. Almandine was shocked when the wind had stopped – the sound of the land had returned, but when she tried to listen again, the sound disappeared…Was it just an illusion?

“Seems like the purification process works better when you’re here.” Bahyun remarked, gazing at the land that appeared unchanged, with a smile on his face. “Would you like to come with me next time? To another polluted wasteland?”

Almandine remained silent, but Bahyun took it as a yes.

The rune drawn with footsteps that seemed like a walk ended after five hours. With a blink of eye, the two silhouettes disappeared, leaving no evidence that anyone had been there, just like countless night before.