Joseph drew a deep breath before he began his explanation. "The agency we work for is officially called the 'Department of Supernatural Suppression and Protection.'" He paused briefly, allowing Charles to absorb the information. "But among ourselves, we just call it the 'special unit.'"
Charles nodded slowly, genuine curiosity shining in his eyes. "So, what exactly does this department do?"
"We're split into three main divisions," Joseph said. "Everything is kept secret from ordinary folks."
He held up one finger. "First is the Suppression Division. They handle dangerous supernatural threats—whether these arise naturally or are caused by humans."
Charles furrowed his brow, attempting to imagine what sort of perils those might be, though he still could not fully grasp it.
Joseph raised a second finger. "The second division is Technology. They collect, study, and keep watch over magical apparatuses and cursed artifacts. They also invent and repair the gear we use—like that watch and the handkerchief you received before."
"Magical items? Cursed artifacts?" Charles asked, puzzled. "What do those entail?"
Joseph allowed a slight smile. "I'll get to that in a bit," he replied, then continued. "The third division is the Investigations Division, led by my uncle Edward. We basically handle detective work, much like the city guard—except we focus exclusively on cases involving the supernatural."
Charles listened intently, doing his best to remember every detail, even though much of it remained unclear.
"So why keep it all under wraps?" he asked, genuinely uncertain. "Wouldn't it be better if the public knew about these things so they could protect themselves?"
Joseph sighed quietly, his expression growing solemn. "That's a good question, but the answer is complicated. Some parts I can tell you, and others… you'll have to see for yourself once you're working alongside us."
Charles nodded, though traces of doubt lingered on his face.
"All right," Joseph went on, his voice turning more serious, "let's get to the core matter: magic."
At the mention of "magic," Charles felt a quiver of anticipation. He sat a little straighter, eyes fixed on Joseph.
"Magic is an ancient art," Joseph explained. "To wield it, two things are required. First, you need the correct method—rituals, incantations. Second, your body must possess a special constitution that can transform life force into outward phenomena."
He paused briefly, then uttered strange words: "Nur Kalla!"
Instantly, his voice shifted, as though multiple voices—both male and female—were speaking in unison. A chill raced down Charles's spine; never had he heard anything like that. At the same moment, a flame the size of a human arm flared up in front of Joseph. It flared for an instant before winking out, leaving only a lingering warmth in the air.
Charles gaped, eyes wide with awe. "So… that power you used against me yesterday—was that also magic?" he asked, voice trembling. He had experienced Joseph's power the day before, but never so vividly as this.
Joseph shook his head. "No. What I used on you yesterday was the ability of someone known as an 'Ascendant.' It's different from magic."
"An Ascendant?" Charles repeated, baffled. "How's that different from a magic user?"
"That's rather complicated," Joseph said. "I'll explain soon enough. For now, I want to see if you can use magic yourself."
He proceeded to teach Charles the same spell he had just spoken. Charles tried multiple times, but nothing happened.
"Your intonation is off, and you need to concentrate more," Joseph advised. "Try again."
Charles shut his eyes, focusing. This time, he felt something within him—an energy coursing around his body. "Nur Kalla!" he incanted.
Suddenly, a small flame flickered into existence in front of him, burning just long enough for him to feel its heat on his palm before it vanished. Though brief, it was unmistakably real.
"Well done," Joseph exclaimed. "You did it. That means your constitution is capable of using magic."
Charles stared at his hands, equal parts thrilled and stunned. He felt pride, excitement—and a faint sense of unease.
"But remember," Joseph cautioned, voice turning grave, "using magic too often has its dangers. Overuse can lead to what we call 'arcane cancer.'"
Joseph's tone became more somber as he elaborated. "Arcane cancer starts with numbness of the skin. If that's all, you can stop using magic and recover. But if you keep pushing it, your skin turns pale as ash and begins to crack… until, in the worst case, you die."
Charles swallowed hard, the warning sending a chill through him. "Why did you have me try it, then, if it's so dangerous?"
"Don't worry—light usage is fine," Joseph reassured him. "But if you start experiencing those early symptoms, you have to stop immediately. Once you've triggered the initial stage, even quitting magic entirely can leave you at higher risk for developing arcane cancer in the future."
Charles nodded, trying to process it all. Yet more questions brewed in his mind.
"All right… so how is an Ascendant different from a magic user?" he asked, pressing for clarity.
Joseph fell silent for a moment, his expression darkening. Then he continued, "Ascendants… are those who have surpassed normal human limits, wielding power that goes beyond even magic."
He paused, weighing his words. "Unlike magic users, Ascendants don't need incantations or rituals. They can summon their abilities as easily as breathing—and that power is far greater than anything standard sorcery can achieve."
Charles looked uncertain. "But… that's not really explaining how it's different from magic."
Joseph sighed. "Magic still relies on certain rules and procedures, even if they're somewhat flexible. But Ascendants can violate the laws of nature at will—like moving at bullet speed without harming themselves, or creating objects from nothing."
He studied Charles's bewildered face. "But there's a cost."
An uneasy hush settled in the air. Charles's chest tightened. "A cost?"
"Abandoning one's humanity," Joseph said quietly. "To become an Ascendant, one must inherit power from an existing Ascendant, absorbing it into their body. The process is fraught with danger."
Joseph elaborated in a solemn tone. "When you accept another's power, it tries to devour your identity completely. If you fail to withstand it, your fate will be worse than death. Some lose all sense of self and become mindless husks. Others mutate into monstrous creatures driven only by bloodlust, or dissolve entirely into nothingness."
Charles's imagination struggled to picture it.
"Even if you survive that rite," Joseph continued, "it doesn't guarantee safety. You must fully integrate the new power into yourself. Otherwise, it will erode you from within—driving you to madness, weakening your body gradually, or causing you to slowly fade away to nothing."
Charles exhaled, rattled by the grim possibilities. "Then why would anyone want to become an Ascendant if it's so risky?"
"Because the power is immense," Joseph replied in a subdued voice. "Some believe it's worth the risk. Others are coerced. And still others… simply have no other choice."
"Then how does the government handle it?"
Joseph said, "We have special medicines that can mitigate certain side effects, but they're only available to Ascendants officially registered with the authorities. That's one reason we crack down on rogue Ascendants—they're like unpinned grenades."
"What you must understand," he continued gravely, "is that Ascendants who aren't properly cared for can become grave threats to human society. The power inside them may drive them to crave the flesh and blood of others, or to steal life force from victims to alleviate the side effects of their abilities."
Charles sat lost in thought, torn between fear and sympathy for these mysterious beings.
"Any more questions on Ascendants?" Joseph asked.
After a moment of reflection, Charles asked, "What happens to an Ascendant's power if they die?"
Joseph's face grew darker still. "When an Ascendant dies… it's unlike a normal person's death," he began. "The energy coursing through them doesn't simply vanish. It remains."
Charles straightened, listening closely.
He continued, "Usually, we must perform a ritual called the 'Spirit Crystallization' right away. This ritual transforms their power and spirit into a tangible object, which can then be passed on to another Ascendant candidate, or stored away safely."
"And if no ritual is performed?" Charles prompted, uneasy.
Joseph shook his head heavily. "That's where problems arise. If an Ascendant dies without the crystallization ritual, there are two possible outcomes—both dangerous."
And with that ominous warning, Joseph's explanation hung in the air, leaving Charles uncertain but grimly aware that he was stepping deeper into a world far beyond anything he had previously known.