Veil of the Twin Realm

After Mika woke up, Azrael and Carl helped her downstairs to the second floor, seating her comfortably while Carl prepared their meal.

"How are you feeling, Mika?" Azrael asked, concern evident in his tone.

"Much better now," she replied, though her gaze shifted to the herbs wrapped around her arms and legs. "Where did you get these herbs?"

Carl glanced over his shoulder as he worked in the kitchen. "Caroline Mountain is full of medicinal plants. Some of these herbs are rare, ones I thought didn't exist anymore. I was surprised to find them growing here."

Mika raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you were skilled with herbal medicine."

Carl smirked. "Not just herbs. I'm pretty good at anything related to healing."

Her skeptical look made him chuckle, clearly enjoying the moment. It wasn't every day Mika seemed surprised by anything he did.

Soon, Carl placed steaming plates of food in front of them. "Alright, dig in!"

Mika decided to let the topic go and focused on the meal. She hadn't eaten properly in days, and the aroma alone was enough to make her mouth water.

As they ate, the group began discussing their next move now that they were halfway through Caroline Mountain.

Carl leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Should we head straight to Tancki Valley, or stop by Aoyu Village first to stock up on supplies?"

"We've already spent days here recovering," Mika pointed out. "I think it's better to head directly to Tancki Valley and avoid wasting more time."

"She's got a point," Azrael agreed. "But do we really need to rush? What matters most is that we return safely to the South Continent."

Carl nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Safety first. That said, stopping by Aoyu Village could be beneficial. We might find things we need there, like I suggested."

Azrael furrowed his brow, catching an odd tone in Carl's words. "Wait. When you say 'get supplies,' you mean…buy them, right?"

The two exchanged guilty glances, avoiding Azrael's gaze.

"Ah… well… depends," Carl muttered, scratching the back of his head and giving him a weird smile.

"Depends?!" Azrael exclaimed, pinching the bridge of his nose as realization dawned. "You're not planning to steal them, are you?"

Neither Carl nor Mika could meet his eyes, their ashamed expressions confirming his suspicion.

Azrael sighed deeply, muttering to himself, "What am I even doing with you two?"

*

Another day passed, and Mika and Carl decided they would head to Aoyu Village to gather supplies while the rest of the group recovered. Azrael disagreed with the plan but had no choice but to let them go.

The two left early the next morning, leaving Azrael behind with Carl's two guardians in the vast castle. Bored and restless, he decided to explore the upper floors.

On the fourth floor, he discovered the castle's library. Wandering between towering bookshelves, he stumbled upon a large wooden box tucked in a corner.

Curiosity ignited, he got it open and found it filled with old books. Intrigued, he lugged the heavy box down to the first floor, where a cozy sitting area with sofas and a glass coffee table awaited.

Azrael placed the box beside the table and carefully pulled out five books. Two of them were traditional books: 'The Way of Ancient Swordsmanship' and 'Secrets of the Angel Ring'. The other three were journals titled 'Seven Deadly Sins', 'Mana Flow', and 'Spells of Fungee'.

"Secrets of the Angel Ring?" Azrael murmured, running his fingers over the embossed title.

The name reminded him of the battle with the cannibals, where their leader had possessed an Angel Ring. His curiosity grew, but with so many books, he couldn't decide where to start.

He sought the help of the two guardians, asking them to eliminate two books from the selection. They chose The Way of Ancient Swordsmanship and Seven Deadly Sins.

When he asked them to narrow it down further, they removed Spells of Fungee and Secrets of the Angel Ring.

Left with 'Mana Flow', Azrael took it as a sign and thanked the guardians before returning to the sitting area. Settling on the sofa, he cracked open the journal and began reading.

The journal detailed methods for controlling mana with precision, offering techniques that allowed a wizard to conserve mana without sacrificing power.

It explained how wizards who used Elderstaves often expended large amounts of mana to create stronger attacks.

However, the journal revealed a secret method to minimize mana usage while achieving equal or even greater attack potency.

Azrael's eyes widened as he absorbed the information, his heart racing with excitement.

He closed the book abruptly, glancing around the room as if expecting someone to appear and snatch it away. After ensuring he was alone, he reopened it, his hands trembling slightly.

Sweat trickled down his forehead despite the chilly air. 'This can't be real. Is this knowledge even possible?' he thought.

The secrets in the journal seemed too good to be true, yet he couldn't ignore their potential. Even if it was risky, he decided it was worth believing.

*

After several minutes of reading, Azrael finished the journal. Fascinated by its teachings, he decided to put its methods to the test. According to the journal, one needed an Elderstaves and a Magic Orb to attempt the technique.

The process began by focusing on channeling mana throughout the body.

The journal explained that mana flowed through a person's veins from the heart, enabling the release of magical spells from various body parts—eyes, mouth, hands, or even fingertips.

To enhance this process, one had to draw all the mana in their body and concentrate it in their heart.

This technique required exceptional focus. The heart, overwhelmed by the condensed mana, would react by beating faster. The sudden rush of mana could simulate an explosion, causing temporary pain and shock.

Many who attempted the technique often mistook it for a literal heartburst, but it was merely the mana dispersing evenly throughout the body.

Once successful, the caster would gain a higher mana pool, no longer limited to storing mana in the heart or circulating it through veins. Instead, the mana would flow through their entire being, allowing for more powerful spells and greater endurance.

The journal claimed this was a closely guarded secret taught only to wizards born in the North Continent.

Azrael decided to try. He closed his eyes, relaxed his body, and focused on controlling the flow of his mana. His first attempts failed, his concentration faltered, and the mana slipped from his control.

Frustration crept in, but he refused to give up. Time passed unnoticed as he devoted himself to the practice, determination burning in his heart.

Finally, after hours of effort, he succeeded. He felt all his mana gather in his heart, only to be followed by a sharp, sudden pain. It was as if his heart had exploded, the agony so intense that he doubled over, clutching his chest. Sweat drenched his face as he gasped for air.

"I think...hah!...I did it," he muttered, his breath labored.

Recovering, he moved on to the next step, placing the Magic Orb into his Elderstave.

He examined the stave, spotting a small hollow near the base. Carefully, he inserted the orb, which fit perfectly. As it settled into place, glowing purple lines spread across the stave, pulsing with energy.

The journal's final instruction was to store mana within the Magic Orb in advance. While many believed the orb was only for emergencies providing backup mana when a caster was ran out of mana, the journal revealed a hidden use.

The Magic Orb could work in tandem with the caster's own mana. By using a small amount of personal mana alongside the orb's stored reserves, the caster could unleash spells with increased power.

The combination allowed for stronger attacks while conserving energy, because the Elderstaves and the magic Orb also increase the power of the attack.

Moreover, if the user pushed their mana output further and drew more from the orb, the spell's potency could increase exponentially.

Azrael amazed at the possibilities. Holding the Elderstaves, he felt its newfound power coursing through his hands. This was more than just a tool, it was a key to unlocking strength he hadn't known was possible.

*

After successfully implementing the techniques outlined in the journal about mana flow, Azrael let out a deep sigh of relief, a clear sign of victory. The process had been difficult, but the results were worth every ounce of effort.

Satisfied, he carefully stored the journal into his empty space, a magical dimension where he could access items at will. It was a precaution in case he needed to revisit the information or share it with someone in the future.

By the time he looked outside, the sky had already turned dark. He realized how much time had passed and decided to check on his companions.

Climbing the staircase to the upper floors, he peeked into the rooms where Jarred and Kyle rested. They were still unconscious, their bodies yet to recover from the past incident.

With a soft sigh, Azrael made his way back downstairs to the second floor. His stomach reminded him of how long it had been since his last meal. He busied himself in the kitchen, preparing something simple to eat.

As he ate, he pulled out another book from the collection he'd discovered earlier. The soft glow of the nearby lantern illuminated the pages as he turned them.

His mind, now refreshed, eagerly absorbed the knowledge, his curiosity driving him forward despite the late hour.