The air in the black market seemed to thicken as Kael stood facing the Mysterious Old Man. His profound gaze seemed to pierce Kael, demanding an exposure that Kael had tried to conceal for so long. Lyra stood beside him, her hand clutching her cloak, filled with worry.
"You wish to see the purest essence of Primordial Energy," Kael repeated, his voice calm, though a storm raged within him. "Then, I will show you."
Kael took a deep breath. The silver ring on his hand seemed useless before the Mysterious Old Man's eyes. Kael no longer felt the need to hide. He channeled his entire concentration into the flow of Primordial Energy surging through his veins.
Without incantation, without hand signs, Kael extended both hands forward.
Instantly, a brilliant light, belonging to no known color, erupted from his palms. It was a blend of all things: the blue of the ocean, the fiery red, the golden yellow of earth, the verdant green of plants, and even the mysterious hues of the void. The light wasn't dazzling, but soft, ethereal, as if a miniature galaxy was dancing in his hands.
In the bustling black market, all activity seemed to cease. Merchants, assassins, dark mages—all looked up towards Kael, their eyes wide with astonishment. They had never seen such energy. It carried no aggression, no defense, but was purely life, the very source.
The Mysterious Old Man smiled. It wasn't an ordinary smile, but one filled with understanding and satisfaction. "That's it... The primal beauty... the transformation of all things..."
Kael began to control the Primordial Energy. He didn't create an explosion, nor did he form a shield. Instead, he allowed the Primordial Energy to transform freely.
The orb of light in his hands began to spin, changing form. It contracted into a translucent crystal, then expanded into a shimmering stream like water. It turned into a flickering flame, yet it wasn't hot, then transformed into a gentle breeze. Finally, it became a miniature image of the ancient relic he had found in the abyss—a small stone pillar enveloped in shimmering light.
"Primordial Energy... it can transform into anything," Kael whispered, as if speaking to himself. "It is everything, and everything is it."
Lyra stood beside him, utterly astonished. She had seen Kael use Primordial Energy, but never had she seen him display it so purely and beautifully. She felt a strange sense of peace from that energy, a deep connection to the world.
After a few minutes, Kael recalled the Primordial Energy. The light vanished, leaving an unnerving silence in the black market. All eyes remained fixed on him, but now there was not only curiosity, but also fear and greed.
The Mysterious Old Man clapped his hands slowly, the sound echoing like thunder in the silent space.
"Magnificent," he said, his voice now full of solemnity. "You have shown me what I needed to see. You are truly the inheritor of the Primordial Era."
He placed his hand on the Void Bloodstone and the unnamed book on the table. "As promised. The Void Bloodstone will help you delay the curse for a time. It will absorb excess Primordial Energy from you, converting it into its own energy, helping you regain balance. But do not overuse it. Each time the curse flares up, you will have to use it. It does not cure the curse, it merely buys you time."
The Mysterious Old Man pushed the unnamed book towards Kael. "And this is the key. It is no ordinary book. It is the 'Compendium of All Transformations'. It will guide you to fully master Primordial Energy, to achieve 'the harmony of all things,' and to purify the curse."
Kael took the book. Its cold touch was different from the Bloodstone. It carried a mystery, an ancientness even greater than Eldrin's library.
"But in return, I want a promise from you," the Mysterious Old Man said, his eyes looking directly into Kael's. "When you are strong enough, when you have mastered Primordial Energy and the curse, you must come find me. Arcania is about to face a danger far greater than anything you can imagine. You... are the only hope."
Kael nodded. He knew this promise was not light. But he had no other choice.
"Let's go," Lyra whispered, pulling Kael's arm. She sensed the dangerous attention now focused on them.
Kael took the Bloodstone and the Compendium. He and Lyra quickly left the Mysterious Old Man's stall, blending into the chaotic crowd of the Underground Black Market. Eyes still followed them, whispers rippled everywhere. Kael's display had created a wave of shock.
When they returned to the Academy, Kael immediately began studying the Void Bloodstone and the Compendium of All Transformations. The Compendium had no ordinary writing, but complex symbols and moving images, like an extension of the knowledge from the ancient relic. Kael felt a deep connection to it, as if it were made specifically for him.
The curse was still there, hidden in his veins, but Kael knew he now had the tools to fight it. And more importantly, he had a new goal, a promise to the Mysterious Old Man about a greater danger yet to come.