Chapter 12

Chapter 5. Departing from Storm Castle (1)

Another six months had passed.

On March 12, 1790, spring was slowly approaching the Mittel Kingdom below Storm Castle, and Jin planned to leave Storm Castle after his tenth birthday, which would be in six months.

Luna did not inform her family of his existence, as Murakan had confidently bet 100 apple pies on it.

However, Jin couldn't receive the apple pies because, at the time, he had also bet on Luna not informing her family.

The past six months.

For the guardians and servants of Storm Castle, it was a quiet and boring time, but for Jin, it was a period of rapid growth like the wind.

"I'm tired, tired of it."

Murakan stared at Jin and clicked his tongue.

"Reducing the magic transfer time from ten minutes to five seconds in just a year, and now, after another six months, you can open your magic power as easily as breathing. Even seeing it with my own eyes, I find it hard to believe."

Jin had completed the magic transfer, which Murakan had expected to take two years, in just one year, and during the six months after Luna left, he had mastered the magic opening.

Jin had also successfully controlled his progress. However, it wasn't just about controlling his progress.

In his previous life, he had rushed to reach the fifth rank in just three years, leaving no time for such training. Starting at the late age of twenty-five, he had no choice but to move quickly.

However, by slowly and repeatedly practicing magic transfer, he felt he had reached a new realm. Just as the scenery seen while driving at full speed differs from that seen while walking slowly.

"Every time I meet you, I'm always impressed, but this time, it's especially so."

Additionally, the magic opening he started right after Luna left.

Like the magic transfer, it was already an easy task, but it served as excellent review over the six months. In his previous life, he had discovered that his fundamentals were quite weak.

"You should be grateful that this is Storm Castle, kid. If you were at the Viment Empire Academy, you would have been quite disliked for your lack of talent."

This was a story Jin had heard a few times from his 'master' in his previous life.

'What is my master doing now? He's probably still sniffling.'

Suddenly, the face of his master, who had reminded him of his talent for magic, came to mind. The mage who taught Jin was two years younger than him.

'And yet, he was at the seventh rank, aiming for the eighth. There are too many naturally gifted people in this world. I mustn't be swayed and must always strive. I can't afford to miss anything.'

Jin shrugged and smiled.

"Then, from today, we're really going to learn the true spirit opening, right?"

"Right. I'll tell you after you finish copying."

"Murakan, aren't you too uninterested in me? I finished copying the secret texts a week ago."

He had completed the copying of the secret texts, which were only allowed to be copied by the head of the house, excluding unnecessary parts.

Although he still couldn't fully understand the secret texts, the copied notes would prove valuable as his sword skills improved.

Now, before leaving Storm Castle, all that was left was to master the 'spirit opening.'

When Murakan first mentioned the spirit opening, he didn't think the serious training would start at Storm Castle.

He had only said it to boost Jin's enthusiasm, but from now on, he would be stuck with Jin until they left Storm Castle.

"Right, that's true. It's not that I'm uninterested in you. Let's start right away."

Murakan, feigning a serious tone, made Jin sit in a formal position.

"Let me tell you in advance, the spirit opening cannot be completed in a short period like the magic transfer."

"I understand."

"Don't be impatient. It's a fundamental and crucial skill. First, I'll show you a demonstration."

Whoosh!

As soon as he finished speaking, a black aura began to rise like smoke around Murakan.

This was the spirit. While fog merely obscured the view, Murakan's spirit was a deep and dark form that seemed to absorb light.

It was the first time Jin had seen such an aura since their formal introduction.

'Much thicker and heavier than my spirit.'

Huuu... Jin focused on the dancing spirit.

It felt as if the spirits were beckoning him to come closer. He almost reached out his hand into the spirit without realizing it.

"The only difference is the color of the power, but it looks almost the same as when you open your magic power, right?"

"Yes, it looks much more mysterious, though."

"The magic opening of mages is the act of connecting their own magic power to the magic power that exists in nature. What did I say I pursued through this?"

"Magic recovery and magic enhancement."

"Right. Using the power of nature to replenish depleted magic and increase the power of the next spell. The spirit opening is the same, but there are a few differences."

"What differences?"

"The spirit opening is not about connecting your power to nature. It's about connecting nature to you."

"Connecting nature... to me?"

It was a concept hard to grasp immediately.

The aura and magic power possessed by humans are like rivers.

Rivers always flow towards the sea. And rivers are never larger than the sea; they are merely branches of the sea that extend onto the land.

In the case of the spirit, it was the opposite.

"Shadow."

Murakan, while dispersing the spirit that partially covered his body with his hand, said.

"The spirit ultimately derives from the shadow. Then, where does that shadow start?"

It was a simple and short question, but it was also a profound one.

"From Solderet, I guess."

"It's not a guess. All shadows in this world are clearly born from Solderet's wind. Solderet is the master of all shadows in the world, and you are his only contractor."

Murakan emphasized the latter part of his statement.

"In other words, it means you can also become the master of all shadows in the world."

Pulling countless streams of shadows towards himself, their source, and himself, who was like the sea.

That was the spirit opening.

Murakan's spirit began to form small whirlpools. Although they were slightly larger than plums, thousands of them quickly gathered to create a dazzling and colorful pattern.

"Watch carefully what happens now."

Jin heightened his senses and observed Murakan. The moment of observing how the spirit opening would change him seemed to pass endlessly slowly.

'What is this!'

As the significant changes became visible, Jin couldn't help but gasp.

The glass tube behind Murakan.

The candlesticks and torches near the glass tube.

The shadows of these objects, which were faintly cast in the dark basement, transformed into long streams and flowed into Murakan's whirlpools. Turning his head reflexively, he saw that the shadows of the bookshelves were doing the same.

A sudden dizziness overcame him.

An extreme sense of disorientation, which he had never experienced before, was overwhelming his body. His tightly clenched fists were damp with sweat, and he felt like taking a step back.

Was it an optical illusion?

Thinking it might be, Jin quickly regained his composure. But it wasn't an illusion; it was a misconception. The shadows of the objects were indeed heading towards Murakan.

It was ghostly.

The oppressive aura emitted by Murakan, who was gradually enveloped in darkness, made his hair stand on end.

It was as if there was nothing in the world that he couldn't kill... such was the oppressive aura.

And Jin instinctively realized that he must not be overwhelmed by this aura. If Murakan was right, shouldn't he be afraid of the shadows instead?

That dark and terrifying power.

Would ultimately be wielded by him.

As the fear in Jin's eyes dissipated, Murakan's lips curled into a smile.

"Indeed, an attitude befitting the contractor of a thousand-year-old contract."

Sssss...

The thousands of whirlpools made of shadows stopped moving. The shadows of the objects, which had stretched out like streams, gradually returned to their original positions.

The scene after the intense revelation gave Jin a sense of stability and peace.

It was as if the night had ended, or the festival had concluded.

The shadows that had fallen returned to their places.

Jin was drenched in sweat, but he pulled off his shirt, which was stuck to his chest, and wore a refreshed expression.

"How was it?"

"Amazing."

"Is that all? After I showed you this ultimate technique of mine."

"The day and night in this basement felt like they changed according to your will."

Jin's quick expression of what he felt seemed to satisfy Murakan, who nodded.

"Day and night. It's a phrase I haven't heard in a long time. People have always liked to associate those who handle spirits with such words. Rulers of the night, or beings who create darkness in the middle of the day. A bit childish, though."

"Yeah, it is childish."

"Right. Moreover, 'ruler of the night' is a nickname that invites misunderstanding. People about two thousand years ago called me that. Hahaha, thinking about it, it's not entirely wrong."

What kind of low-quality joke is this crazy dragon making in front of a kid?

Jin suppressed such thoughts and chuckled.

"Well, anyway. Do you get the feeling? I thought you would understand it, as it's not much different from the application of magic opening."

"I get it very clearly. Give me an hour, and I think I can do the same."

"Is this little brat trying to be cocky again? I already told you, the spirit opening cannot be completed in a short time..."

"I know. I mean, I can perform the spirit opening, but I can't achieve the same power and effect as you. Just like a regular sword technique, the level differs between a master and a beginner, right?"

"Exactly! That's why I said the spirit opening is the beginning and the end."

"Then, what level was what Murakan just showed?"

"Intermediate. Or slightly above intermediate."

Intermediate.

Jin was confident that even if the great mages of Zephl demonstrated a ninth-rank magic, it wouldn't surpass the spirit opening he had just seen.

Although Murakan didn't show the destruction of something using his spirit or the full power, the superiority of the spirit as a force could be easily felt without seeing it with his own eyes.

"When you reach the peak and complete the spirit liberation, it's possible to annihilate a million troops in an instant. The disappearance of shadows from living beings signifies death."

Crack!

Suddenly, a couple of candlesticks hanging in the corridor broke and fell to the ground.

"And the disappearance of shadows from objects signifies destruction."

Jin couldn't hide his shock and stared blankly at the fallen candlesticks.

"Damn it! I tried to control my power so as not to break anything. Why did the candlesticks fall? Now I have to fix them before we leave. It's annoying."

Crack, crack!

The damage wasn't limited to the candlesticks. Large cracks were forming in the stone part of the glass tube where Murakan had been sleeping.

"Damn."

Murakan sighed and rubbed his forehead. While waiting for Jin to come to the basement, this was the moment Murakan had to deal with.