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"Huh… where-am I?"
Oh that right me and master was at that training hall.
I feel lighter than before, and my sensing increased. Maybe that's why I was able to notice him... A not too old looking man with beards, if at all he should be in old enough to atleast have a grandchild
"You must be the child my incarnate brought"
Well that scared me a bit…. I thought to myself
"Who are you mister" looking at him with suspicious eyes, he looked right back at me and smiled
"You could say I'm just an old man passing by. What's your name kid?"
"My name is Gray."
i replied, although i didn't really know why..
The old man came closer to me as if inspecting me, looking at my face, i was nervous because i didn't know him and tried shifting backwards but he was persistent….
"Hmm....what made my incarnate choose someone with a cute looking face as her disciple" the old man said with curiosity
"Incarnate?
"That word made me rage instantly, i clearly remembered that demon was called an incarnate
"By incarnate do you mean master Aris?" I asked calmly, though the anger leaked through my voice.
The old man looked at me with a smile on his face as if satisfied. he knew i was filled with rage
"I know the anger you hold towards an incarnate, and the suffering you had to endure.
But don't let anger consume you, Use that anger to become stronger. so you can repay what he did to you, besides your master Aris is not like that
How did he….
"Speaking of getting stronger, let me see your core…"
The old man placed his hands on my back, it was a tingling sensation.
He then drew something at the center of the room, symbols i have never seen before, it was like an ancient language,
written in a circle, I felt suspicious at first but since he knew my master i decided to trust him, i sat down in the circle and the old man placed his hands on my back…
and then the circle turned crimson, at the same time, it was as if the old man placed something inside of me, no it wasn't something, I don't know what it was, but it was warm
The crimson light engulf my body, as if sinking into it.
"Close your eyes and feel the energy" he said
the old man tought "So this is the seal Aris was talking about this is going to be quite difficult even for me , I see, he gave the first seal a great damage, when he was with Aris, this kid might be interesting"
"Energy was rushing through me, i felt a sharp pain but the pain reduced immediately, maybe it was the effect of the circle… but my heart raced faster, and sweat dripped down my face, i could feel my veins trying to get through my flesh.
"Open your eyes" the old man said,
When I did, I saw it energy flowing around me like mist.
White… but mixed with blue and faint dark colors. it was beautiful
"It's this my soul energy"
"Oh, so you know know that much. Yes. you have a unique soul energy, most people do have one color, but you got three which means you might be a dual essence user
i clenched my fist and thought
I can now use essence… this the first step to get stronger, for my goal….
"But" The old man continued "there is a problem"
"A problem" i asked
"You have a low soul energy reserve, the seal in you is preventing your soul energy from reaching your essence,
there are seven powerful seals placed inside you,with the help of Aris you managed to give one a serious damage, but even with my power i was only able to break the second seal…..
"I don't understand why is there a seal placed in me in the first place, i know you and my master know each other but you still haven't tell me who you are, and why you are doing this, are you a member of the eclipse?"
"An eclipse huh... You could put it that way"
"I am the one who trained your master.."
"you trained my master?....
I was about to question more when the door opened. it was master who entered
"Gray you are awake, how are you feeling? She asked
"better, but this old man helped me and i feel lighter, and different, also i could see my soul energy leaking out of me
"Well that's because you haven't learn the art of containing your soul energy yet.. get ready now we are going to train"
Are you going to pretend you didn't see me, Aris?" the old man interrupted.
"You bastard old man! I've been looking for you everywhere! After twenty years you call me back, send me on a mission, don't even greet your own disciple and how did you even know about Gray?!"
Her voice was loud, but strangely refreshing.
"That's your punishment for disappearing for twenty years," the old man said, pouting like a child. "And it was Eryth who told me. Haha."
"That bastard demon Eryth… I'll kill him when I see him."
I chuckled. Master looked at me and smiled softly.
"Well, I'll be on my way. Aris, make sure you train that kid the same way I trained you," the old man said while leaving.
"Will you look at that… Seems he's taken a liking to you, Gray."
"Master… who is he? He refused to tell me. Who exactly is that old man?"
"That man… is the head of the Eclipse.
He is my master.
And he is also the"
She paused.
"Sword Demon."
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The sky darkened. Trees swayed below the high hill near the Eclipse base. A lone figure stood there, coat dancing with the wind.
He watched Aris and Gray prepare to train.
Another figure appeared behind him.
"My lord, you called for me….."
"Eryth , how is oric?"
"My lord… he is receiving care. That attack caused severe damage to him."
"Hmm…"
His gaze returned to Gray watching from above.
"Eryth, that kid… watch him closely with your eyes. A strange seal was placed on him, that even i wasn't able to break it"
"imposible!, your power can cut through any curse, seal, and even concepts " Eryth said confused and shocked
"Strange isn't it, it turns out there are things i can fail to cut... not even the sovereigns will be able to place a seal like that, that seal is out of this world"
"But My lord… that child is Lady Aris' disciple. Shouldn't she be enough to watch him?, you know Aris is quite troublesome"
"The reason i said you should watch him, Eryth. That boy possesses fragments of His power."
Eryth's eyes widened.
"By 'Him'… do you mean"
"Yes. So i want you to watch over him from the shadows"
His tone deepened.
"He might be the one who caused… that Ripple."
"Gray might be his incarnate....."