"Adrian," Morris said gently, his hand firm on the boy's back, "come sit with me. It's time to unlock your first seal."
A thrill shot through Adrian, chasing away the lingering unease from his awakening experience. He eagerly sat cross-legged on the worn floorboards, mirroring Morris's posture. He closed his eyes as instructed, feeling the familiar warmth of Morris's palm settle against his back. Once again, the world dissolved into the misty expanse of his seal space.
He stood before the luminous white sphere, but this time, the swirling energy around it seemed calmer, more defined. The sphere itself appeared brighter, less hazy.
"Adrian," Morris's voice echoed from outside, grounding him, "I believe you've entered your seal space?"
"Yes, Uncle," Adrian replied, his voice a mere whisper in the vast emptiness.
"Listen closely, Adrian," Morris's tone was serious now. "I will guide you on how to unlock your seal energy in this first stage. Remember this method, for it will allow you to unlock future seals on your own. Are you ready?"
A surge of determination filled Adrian. "Yes, Uncle. I will."
The next moment, a greater influx of Morris's warm zin energy flowed into him, accompanied by a subtle mental guidance – a map of energy pathways. This… this is how the energy should flow, Adrian realized, his mind instantly trying to trace the intricate network. Zin circulation. It felt like trying to follow invisible threads weaving through his very being.
Surprisingly, Adrian grasped the method quickly, the pathways resonating within him. He began to consciously direct his own zin energy, mimicking the pattern Morris had shown. A faint warmth emanated from his hands, spreading rapidly to encompass his entire body. Suddenly, his senses sharpened. The distant echo of birdsong outside the Haven became clearer, the subtle scent of dust motes in the air more pronounced. He could feel the thrum of his own zin energy moving within him, drawn inexorably towards the white sphere.
The sphere began to pulse, greedily absorbing his circulating zin energy. But this time, the initial gentle pull intensified into a searing pain that ripped through Adrian's body. He gasped, his knees buckling beneath him. It was a thousand tiny needles pricking him from the inside out, each second amplifying the agony. Tears welled in his silver eyes, tracing hot paths down his cheeks.
"Damn it," he whispered, his voice trembling, "the pain… it's only getting worse." At this rate… I might pass out. A fierce resolve bloomed within him, fueled by the memory of Morris's unwavering belief and Chief Zidan's unexpected encouragement. No… I won't give up. If I give up now, I'll disappoint Uncle Morris and the Chief… but more than that… I'll disappoint myself. I have to hold on… until it's over.
His vision swam, the edges blurring. His hands clenched the unseen floor of his seal space, where luminous trails of his own zin energy snaked towards the pulsating white orb. Uncle said it's normal… the body and seal… bonding… The agonizing minutes stretched into an eternity.
Then, as suddenly as it began, the sphere's frantic absorption ceased. A faint, ethereal ring of pure white light began to form around the sphere, like a halo.
What's that…? A… ring? The thought barely formed before darkness claimed him. The sensation of falling, of being pulled back, was the last thing he registered.
Outside, Morris smiled, a hint of pride in his blue eyes. "Adrian, you amaze me. And congratulations on unlocking your first seal." The boy lay still in his arms, his breathing shallow but steady.
A few minutes later, Adrian's eyelids fluttered. He blinked, his vision slowly focusing on the familiar wooden ceiling of his small room.
"Oh, you're awake," Morris said, his voice gentle as he entered the room. "Congratulations on unlocking your first seal. Quite an experience, wasn't it?"
Adrian pushed himself up, sitting on the edge of his bed, a weak smile gracing his lips. "Yeah… quite an experience."
Morris offered him a steaming bowl. "Here. My special hot chicken soup. It will help you recover much faster."
Adrian gratefully took the bowl, the warmth seeping into his chilled hands. He took a large spoonful. "As usual, your soups are the best, Uncle."
Morris chuckled. "I know, you don't have to say it."
Adrian's expression turned slightly serious as he continued to eat. "Uncle… I have a question."
Morris's brow furrowed with a hint of concern. "What is it, Adrian?"
Adrian looked up from his soup. "The thing is… Uncle, I didn't get a single chicken piece in this soup."
Morris stared at him, dumbstruck for a moment, before a wry smile touched his lips. "Is that so? But I added plenty… seems like you were just unlucky this time."
Adrian offered a less-than-pleased smile in return.
Two days later, Adrian had fully recovered. Morris gestured towards the door. "Come, Adrian. Let's go to the grove, just a short walk from here."
In the dappled sunlight beneath the trees, Morris instructed, "Now, Adrian, focus. Sense your first seal, the one you unlocked during your awakening. Bring forth its energy."
Adrian closed his eyes, concentrating on the faint connection he now felt within himself. Slowly, a soft white light began to emanate from him, coalescing on his forehead between his eyebrows. A small symbol formed: a delicate white circle outline with an empty space within.
Morris observed it, his expression thoughtful. Just as I feared… as plain as any other basic seal user's initial manifestation. A fleeting shadow of his earlier disappointment flickered across his mind before he masked it with a firm resolve. He had to focus on what Adrian could do. "You have. Now listen carefully, Adrian. A seal user must possess courage and strength of spirit. Whatever situation you face, never lose hope. That is the first principle."
Morris held out his palm, a minuscule portion of his blue zin energy flickering to life, tiny sparks of flame dancing on his fingertips. "Look at the trees, Adrian. I will show you the raw power of a seal technique." He murmured, "Flame Seal: Flames of Spark!"
A minuscule spark of flame shot from Morris's fingertip with astonishing speed, striking a nearby tree. Instantly, the tree, and the three or four trees surrounding it, erupted in flames, burning fiercely. Adrian stared in disbelief as the five trees were reduced to smoldering ashes in mere seconds. It was the first time he had witnessed such destructive power firsthand. Can I… can I do that too? he wondered, a mixture of awe and apprehension swirling within him.
Morris looked at Adrian, his gaze intense. "I could burn this entire grove to ashes, Adrian, but what I wanted to demonstrate is the focused effectiveness of a seal technique. Spreading your energy over a large area weakens its impact. Precision is key."
"Ah… I understand," Adrian said slowly. "That's why you focused the flame on just one tree."
"Exactly," Morris replied. "Your seal is of the basic type. It has the potential to learn many other seal techniques, though its limitations in that regard are significant. You might think that the ability to learn other techniques makes it overpowered, but that's where the core weakness of a basic seal lies. Basic seal users can primarily learn beginner-level techniques from other seal types. As other seal users unlock more stages, they gain access to intermediate and advanced techniques of their own seal type. This advantage is largely denied to those with basic seals, no matter how many seals they unlock. The best they can usually manage are beginner techniques, which are often outclassed by higher-level abilities."
Adrian's gaze fell to the ground, a familiar pang of disappointment echoing within him. "Oh… that's why." But then, his small hands clenched into fists, his silver eyes hardening with determination. "But I will change that. I will prove them all wrong."
Morris chuckled, a genuine warmth in his voice. "That's the spirit, kid. Since you only have your first seal unlocked, you can only learn beginner techniques for now. But your Uncle has picked what I believe to be the most potent beginner fire seal technique available. Learn it quickly, Adrian. No more than a week." Morris handed him a piece of parchment, the intricate symbols of the technique etched onto its surface. The title read: "Palms of Flare." As Adrian began to read, Morris's thoughts drifted back to Chief Zidan's suggestion. Yohan Rosen… a peculiar individual. Perhaps soon, this boy's path will lead him to that strange man.
In a beautifully crafted house stood amidst manicured gardens, its white paint gleaming in the sunlight. The structure was elegant, with arched windows and a gently sloping roof, painted a pristine white that contrasted with the vibrant greenery surrounding it. Though clearly the residence of someone of considerable means, it lacked the ostentatious grandeur of a noble's main estate. A butler, impeccably dressed in a black tailcoat over a crisp white shirt and a neatly tied black tie, entered a lavishly appointed room, a sealed letter held carefully in his gloved hand. The room's décor was minimalist yet luxurious, dominated by white and cream tones, with plush furniture and strategically placed pieces of art. Sunlight streamed through a large window, illuminating swirling dust motes in the air and highlighting the numerous stacks of books and scattered papers on a polished mahogany desk.
A young man, appearing to be in his late twenties, was reclining in a plush armchair upholstered in white velvet, his long legs casually propped on the edge of the desk as he intently read a thick, brown-covered book. His long, loose black hair cascaded over his shoulders, framing a face with light brown skin, sharp cheekbones, and intelligent, slightly amused brown eyes. He wore a long, flowing black cloak made of a rich, velvety material, its edges embroidered with subtle silver thread patterns. Beneath the cloak, glimpses of dark, intricately stitched robes could be seen.
"Sir," the butler announced respectfully, "a letter has arrived for you from Chief Zidan."
The young man glanced up, a hint of amusement in his brown eyes. "Chief Zidan? Is that old geezer still kicking? Alright, Darnel, give it here."
Darnel, the butler, with his neatly combed black hair and unwavering professional demeanor, presented the letter. The young man took it, broke the seal with a flick of his wrist, and scanned the contents. A sudden laugh escaped him. "Is he for real? He wants me to take a random kid as my disciple? But… the kid's case is interesting. Darnel, look at this!" He tossed the letter to the butler.
Darnel read the letter, his brow furrowing slightly before returning to a neutral expression. "Sir, this child's situation is indeed as you say. A basic seal with abundant zin energy is highly unusual. But still… it's only a basic seal. What extraordinary feats could such a combination truly achieve?"
The young man rose from his chair, his movements fluid and graceful. "Darnel," he said, his voice carrying a note of philosophical contemplation, "in this world, every moment is a surprise. Nothing is truly predictable. I won't dismiss this child's potential outright. Besides… he will likely be looked down upon by many. In a way… he and I are two sides of the same coin."
Darnel's gaze sharpened. "So… are you considering taking him as your disciple, sir?"
The young man looked down for a moment, his expression unreadable. "I don't know, Darnel. I will have to meet him first. I need to see if he possesses the spark… if he is worthy to become Yohan Rosen's disciple.