Nightshade City was being illuminated by the golden light of the sun at its peak, and it stread through the windows of Jaden’s room, brightening it with a golden warmth.
Jaden lay sprawled in the velvet bed, asleep. The warm light fell on his face and woke him up.
He moved his hand towards his eyes and rubbed them groggily before letting out a yawn and sitting up.
A month had passed after his chat with Navin, and various things had happened during that ti. Others had entered the arcane library after him and learned or mastered whatever spells they wanted.
All of them had also started to train harder to get stronger as fast as they could, and at the sa ti, Jaden had finished mastering all of his 2-star spells and martial arts.
’Picturebook.’
A blue screen appeared before him.
————[Picturebook]————
Entries Catalogued: 7
Sections: [Summons] [Spells] [Arts]
[Summons]
Mistwraith – [E]
Description: A being of flowing mist and a glass-like body.
Abilities: Mist Form, Wraith Claw
Summon Cost: 30 Mana
Galewolf - [F] - [7]
Description: A swift wolf wreathed in slicing winds, its fur rippling like a living gale.
Abilities: Wind Magic.
Summon Cost: 10 Mana
Umbralfang – [C]
Description: A being born from the tiny fragnts of the Shadow God and Moon God.
Abilities: Shadow Magic, Death Magic, Lunar Magic.
Summon Cost: 70 Mana
[Spells]
[1-star spells], [Firestorm Slash ★★], [Blazing Cyclone ★★], [Lava Burst ★★], [Storm Splash ★★], [Dust Cyclone ★★], [Earthen Wall ★★], [Shard Barrage ★★], [Twilight Veil ★★], [Umbral Chains ★★], [Soul Bind ★★ - Unmastered], [Mournful Wail ★★]
[Arts]
[ Iron Body Form ★], [Shattering Fist ★], [Dashing Step ★], [Basic Sword Forms ★], [Falling Petal Sword ★★], [Gale Steps ★★]
————[Picturebook]————
He flatly looked at the screen as he mumbled.
"I still have to master soul bind, but it requires to part my own soul and implant it in others."
[Soul Bind ★★] could be one of his greatest spells, but it was simply too dangerous to use because it was the soul he was talking about; one small mistake and his soul could be wounded far more significantly than he could tolerate, so he had delayed mastering this spell.
"I also have to try summoning the umbralfang..." he mumbled while rubbing his face as he stepped down from the bed to get ready for the day.
Jaden could summon the galewolves and the mistwraith, but the umbralfang was simply too big to summon out of nowhere in the city; it would’ve created too much trouble for him.
"Lastly, I have to talk with the mayor before eting others at night."
Jaden clenched his fist and muttered to himself.
"It’s ti to escape this damned city."
He left the room and got ready for his talk with the mayor in the afternoon. He took a bath, wore the set of clothes he had worn for the dinner—a tailored black coat with golden embroidery, a black shirt with dark trousers.
After checking himself out in the mirror a few tis, he made his way to the garden in front of the mansion.
His steps echoed within the hallway as he walked slowly, taking his ti to look at everything, as it would be his last day here.
’Why am I feeling emotional?’
A few monts later, he exited the mansion and spotted the mayor, who sat in a white wooden chair placed within the garden with a wide, round table filled with plates covered with a cloche.
Shelly and a few other maids stood near him with their hands clasped at their abdon.
Jaden stepped forward with the usual playful smile as he made his way to him. After reaching him, he glanced at Shelly before greeting Theron.
"Father."
Theron regarded him with a short nod and gestured at the chair before him.
Jaden understood his gesture and took a seat in the chair.
Just as he took his seat, the maids moved and uncovered the plates before bowing to both of them and leaving.
The father didn’t say anything, and the son continued to look at him with his usual smile; however, both of them knew that they were nothing more than strangers forced to play their respective roles.
Theron took the cutlery placed beside his plate and pointed at the al with his fork before adding.
"We will talk after eating."
Jaden nodded and picked up his cutlery, and both of them began to eat. Ti passed, but none of them spoke and just ate in silence.
A few minutes later, they placed their cutlery down on the plate at nearly the sa ti and looked at each other.
"What is it that you wanted to ask ?" Theron questioned with an unreadable look on his face.
Jaden gave him a faint smile and responded.
"Nothing serious, I just wanted to know what a great man is?"
Theron’s expression turned serious at Jaden’s question. He leaned forward and looked into the eyes of Jaden as he spoke slowly.
"A great man, you ask? I don’t know... each person describes a great man based on their own values, those who value strength the most consider the strong as the great, those who value morality and honesty the most consider the man who treats everyone fairly and follows the ethical code as the great, so even consider evil acts as great by painting them as freedom... each being holds different values and opinions so may have similar views but at the very core everyone is different... for , the person who doesn’t bend even when presented with impossible challenges is a great man and... I do not consider myself great..."
He paused for a mont and let his words sink in before continuing.
"But, I wish you would prove yourself to be a great man... I wish you would break the chains instead of becoming a slave to them."
Jaden’s expression had already turned serious as he listened to Theron, and finally, he responded.
"I may not beco a great man, but I will not beco a slave to so insignificant chains or anything at all... I would be the only one deciding my destiny."
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