Primordial Power and Secrets

The room was still, lit only by the soft flicker of candlelight. Valen lay quietly, his body still recovering from the Transcendence Ceremony.

His muscles ached, and his bones felt like lead, but beneath it all, he could feel it—the Primordial Core. It pulsed within him, like a second heartbeat, strong and relentless.

"I've done it," Valen thought, his mind sharp despite the exhaustion. The pain had been overwhelming, and even now, faint echoes of it rippled through his limbs, but it was nothing compared to what he had gained.

The Primordial Core—a core of myth, thought impossible to achieve. Yet here it was, his.

The core thrummed with power, drawing in mana from the air around him, more than Valen had ever imagined possible. Even in his weakened state, he could feel it surging through him.

He shifted slightly in his bed, testing his body's limits, and each movement seemed to draw more mana into him, as though the world itself bent to his will.

Closing his eyes, he reflected on what he knew from Echoes of Eternity. In the novel, Kael formed the Primordial Core much later in his journey, after countless trials and battles.

But at just one month old, Valen had already achieved it. It set him apart from everyone, even Kael.

The original Valen, destined for greatness but ultimately defeated, had formed the Celestial Core—an extraordinary feat in itself, but nothing compared to the power Valen now held.

He had absorbed all the ancient blood during the ceremony, something the original Valen couldn't manage. That had changed everything.

The levels of Mana Cores came to mind, each marking the talent and power of the individual:

The Common Core, the weakest of all, offered minimal control over mana and was often found in those of ordinary talent. It was a mark of mediocrity, and most people possessed this core.

The Advanced Core, more powerful than the Common Core, allowed for enhanced mana control and stronger abilities. It was common among nobles and those with some degree of training in magic or combat.

The Sovereign Core, rare and highly sought after, granted its bearer control over much larger forces of mana.

Those with this core were considered exceptional, possessing heightened abilities that made them stand out even among the elite.

The Divine Core, nearly unattainable, granted immense power. Those who formed it were often leaders, rulers, or great mages, able to command dangerous and complex forms of magic with ease.

The Celestial Core, almost mythical in nature, allowed its bearer near-divine control over mana. Those who possessed it were unstoppable, their strength far beyond most others.

Kael had been destined to form this, and the original Valen had done so as well, but it had not been enough to secure his future.

But the Primordial Core—the pinnacle of all cores, thought impossible to achieve—represented absolute mana control, the purest form of power. It was a core of legends, and now, it was Valen's.

He understood that this core would allow him to slowly break free from the fate that bound him. The process would take time, but the first steps had already been taken. His future was no longer written in stone.

In a room nearby, Marcellus and Isolde stood with several trusted elders of the Aetheris family. The air was heavy with the weight of what they had witnessed.

The ceremony had gone beyond anything they could have imagined. Valen had not only survived but had absorbed all the ancient blood, forming a Primordial Core.

"He absorbed all of the ancient blood," one of the elders murmured, his voice tinged with awe. "I didn't think it was possible. Not even our founding ancestors could manage that."

Marcellus stood tall, his silver-white hair catching the light as he kept his expression composed. Inside, however, his thoughts churned. Valen had done the impossible, and while it was a victory for the Aetheris family, it was also a danger.

"We need to be cautious," Marcellus said, his tone firm. "No one outside this circle can know the full extent of what happened today."

Isolde, standing beside him, her amethyst eyes shining with quiet concern, nodded. There was a softness in her gaze, the tender care of a mother who had just witnessed her child go through an unimaginable ordeal.

"We must protect him," she said gently, her voice carrying warmth. "He's so young, and this power... it will change everything. We cannot let anyone—no matter how loyal—speak carelessly."

Marcellus turned to the elders, his deep blue eyes hardening. "Even within the family, we need to be careful.

Servants may overhear, and though most are loyal, we cannot afford any chance of this getting out. For now, we'll limit who interacts with Valen. Only those in this room will know the truth."

The elders nodded, murmuring their agreement. Though the Aetheris family held unmatched power in Ethyros, even they understood the gravity of what Valen had achieved.

Power like his would draw attention—not just from rivals but from forces far beyond their borders. If word of Valen's core leaked, even by accident, it could attract the wrong kind of interest.

"We'll tell the rest of the family that the ceremony was successful, but nothing more," Marcellus added. "No one must know the full extent of his power."

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Back in his room, Valen's senses were still attuned to the Primordial Core pulsing within him. He could feel it drawing mana constantly, without effort, making him stronger with every passing moment.

It was as if the very air around him bent to his will, eager to be absorbed into the core. The power was raw, unshaped, but he could feel its potential.

"This is only the beginning," Valen thought, a small smile playing on his lips. "With this core, I'll rise far beyond anyone's expectations."

The first of the two great opportunities he remembered from Echoes of Eternity would come when he turned eight.

That would be the moment that changed everything. Until then, he would grow, train, and learn to harness the power of the Primordial Core.

The original Valen had fallen short, but not this time. Kael, the protagonist, had yet to realize that the tides were shifting.

His destiny, once so sure, was no longer written in the stars. Valen's rise would alter everything.

"Kael... your story may have unfolded one way, but this is my story now."

Valen closed his eyes, letting the mana flow through him. He would wait, bide his time, and when the opportunity arose, he would be ready.