"Hi, Miss Elizabeth. I've come to take a look at your collection again." Ethan said as he approached the library's entrance.
Elizabeth, a Rank 4 Lightning affinity ascendant who had retired to library work after a trauma on the demon battlefield years ago, looked up with a warm smile. "You're welcome, Ethan. It's been a while. How has your 'retreat' been?"
She had grown fond of the young man. While other ascendants spent their time in the Battle Realm, Ethan was a constant presence among the bookshelves. She'd even discovered, through one of their chats, that he hadn't known the Battle Realm existed, which had deeply intrigued her. She never pried into his life, but she always enjoyed their brief interactions.
Ethan also found her presence refreshing. In a world of grumpy, aloof, and proud ascendants, Elizabeth felt like a sanctuary. Talking to her reminded him of his mother back on Earth, making every library visit feel like coming home. Her casual comments always contained nuggets of incredible knowledge, and Ethan was always attentive, though he never initiated conversations just to extract information. The passive pressure she always had around her reminded him that despite her harmless smile, she could always kill when she wanted.
"I'll be checking history on the second floor today, Miss Elizabeth," Ethan said with a smile, holding out his soulband to pay the 100-point access fee.
After the gate scanned his band, he stepped inside, glancing back at Elizabeth, who sat on a bench in the library's mini-garden. The Order library was a true haven for study, a place Ethan would have loved to live in if not for the strict prohibition against meditation or energy use within its walls.
"You can use the teleportation portal to the second floor, but you know you'll be charged for it," Elizabeth reminded him. Then she patted the spot beside her. "Come here for a minute. Sit with me. I've missed you."
Hearing the offer, Ethan beamed, rushing over to the bench. He gave a slight, respectful bow before sitting down.
"First, congratulations on your breakthrough," Elizabeth said, her eyes twinkling. "I can sense you're already Rank 2."
Ethan perked up, surprised. This was the first time anyone had sensed his rank without him demonstrating it. Before he could ask, she sensed his curiosity.
"Yes, I can sense your rank. Don't be so surprised. When you get to my level, it's easy to do something like that."
Ethan mouthed the word, "How?" He was almost scared to ask, but he needed to know.
She laughed, the sound like soft bells lighting up the silence. "Don't be so tense, Ethan. After a breakthrough, you're supposed to grow more confident, not the other way."
She leaned forward slightly. "The word you're looking for is 'Will.' It's a form of energy. There's no known way to awaken it, but the most effective method has been to train your human body to its absolute limit. If you're lucky, you'll eventually comprehend it. I awakened mine when I killed a Rank 3 demon and almost lost my life in the process. So, who knows what actually triggers it?"
Ethan was shocked. This was entirely new information. So far, he had only trained his body to perfect his sword art. "Wow, that's something I would have to spend points on," he muttered honestly.
Elizabeth laughed, enjoying his company. "Consider it a gift. You just broke through."
"First Sansa, now you, Miss Elizabeth," Ethan said absently. "Even my parents didn't give me this much."
"Haha... Tell me, though, why history this time? You don't want your usual dose of spells and monsters? I thought that was going to be your next focus."
Ethan nodded, his expression turning weary. "Unfortunately, I might have been a little too optimistic about my spell..." He was quiet for a moment, contemplating whether to share his struggles. Deciding it didn't matter in front of someone so powerful, he continued, "I was able to capture a Phantom Wolf from the Mist Mountains, but I've been stuck. I'd at least like to know if I'm doing something right or wrong. Either way works."
Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. "The Phantom Wolf, hmnnn... They're pretty rare. Hardly ever seen outside their packs deep in the mountains. It seems you were really lucky. But the Clone spell?" Her tone held a note of concern.
"Is there something wrong with it?" Ethan asked, his curiosity piqued.
Shaking her head, she explained, "I know of some illusion ascendants who have set their sights on that ability, but I only know three who have something close, and one with the true Clone ability. They are all far above my rank, Ethan. I think you chose a very hard task for yourself."
Ethan deflated at her words. He had really liked the idea of cloning himself to distract enemies; combined with his sword skills, it would make him a menace in one-on-one battles.
"I'd advise you to pick something easier, maybe 'Camouflage,'" Elizabeth suggested gently. "I remember fighting an Illusion ascendant who mastered that ability. He chased me for three days before I finally lost him. I couldn't kill him—I'm not proud of it—but he played to his strengths and attacked me whenever I tried to rest. It was an annoyingly effective battle, I tell you."
Even with this compelling story, Ethan wasn't motivated. He was close to giving up on the Illusion element altogether. Yes, it was deceptive and evasive, but its offensive strength was unbelievably low, and the path to mastering its high-tier abilities seemed impossibly long.
"I'll think about it," Ethan said weakly, his resolve was weak but not yet broken. "I just don't want to give up on the clone spell yet."
Elizabeth admired his tenacity, even after she had laid out the difficulty involved. "Ethan, I have to warn you," she said, her tone softening into something more serious. "You don't know nearly enough about the Illusion element. I can't tell you much, but unlike the others, its origin makes it somewhat... 'different.' Don't worry too much about its combat effectiveness. Trust me, it's plenty scary; I've been on the receiving end too many times. I'll only tell you to be careful about anything related to the Mirror Realm."
Ethan was taken aback. Of all the things to worry about, he'd never considered his own elemental affinity could be a source of danger. "This is... it's a lot."
Elizabeth laughed gently. "You think it's a lot?"
"I mean, don't you?" he countered, feeling overwhelmed. "Being an ascendant seems more dangerous than it's worth."
"Certainly, it is," Elizabeth agreed, a wistful smile gracing her features. "No one can truly tell you the dangers involved in this world of... 'mystery'. But when I look back at the amazing sights I've seen, the answers to questions that would have been left to speculation if I'd stayed a mortal... it feels worth it."
Ethan noticed her smile again, and it immediately soothed him. In that moment, with that longing in her eyes, she looked more like his mother than ever. The sheer depth of her knowledge was both intimidating and comforting.
"Ethan, I need a favor from you," she said, her voice pulling him from his thoughts. "Consider your answer to my next question a down payment for an answer to any question you have."
He nodded immediately, curious what he could possibly know that would interest a figure of her stature. "Please, you can ask me."
Elizabeth seemed pleased by his eager response. "Do I remind you of someone important?"
Ethan was instantly stunned. *This* was what she wanted to ask? It seemed so trivial compared to the cosmic mysteries they could be discussing. "Uhhhh... well, this is a little embarrassing, but yes, you do," he admitted, his voice softening. "You look a lot like my mother."
Elizabeth had noticed the way he always looked at her. Unlike the gazes of awe, fear, or respect she was accustomed to, Ethan's eyes held a profound sense of longing, as if he were constantly being reminded of a profound loss. The question of who he saw in her had distracted her for days.
"Thank you for your answer, Ethan," she said, her own heart feeling a little fuller. "So, what's your question? I don't think it's fair to hold you here for too long."
"Of course it's fair," Ethan thought, though he didn't say it aloud. "I have nothing to do. Absolutely nothing." His crooked smile, which clearly said, *"Are you kidding me? I'd stay here all day,"* was not lost on her.
He fell into deep thought. What should he ask? History? Spells? Will? Soul power? The secrets of his Creation affinity or the slumbering Godly Essence? The possibilities were endless, and he had just one question.