Ras-Ir Raheb

On the other side of Malta, Leonardo also sat cross-legged. Yet, unlike his carefree sister, he couldn't spend his days on mastering music. Whether the Daedalus workshop or the Manus Umbra, he had plenty of responsibilities.

While he off-loaded most of his duties to Fino, Sana and Yuki, there were still matters they couldn't possibly handle. As such, he always had to be within reach, and it was fairly rare for him to seclude himself in meditation. Whenever he had a large pocket of time available, he would roam Malta's depths.

Over the years, he discovered that he knew too little about his surroundings. Much to his surprise, there were several dozen remnants of temples and constructs from prior eras. Millennia old relics, long since buried by vegetation or rocks, they carried forgotten legends lost in time.

Currently, he was exploring Ras-Ir Raheb, where he inadvertently stumbled on a pair of megaliths covered in runes. Majestic stones weighing hundreds of tons, mysteriously carved parallel to each other and vested with various arcana symbols.

Leonardo was no archaeologist, and would generally gloss over historic remains. These esoteric stones, however, kept him here for the better part of two weeks. Despite erosion over time, these stones still carried obvious resonance of old magic.

He couldn't understand enough of what remained of the symbols to draw a coherent meaning, but he vaguely identified this place as the Fanuum Iunonis. Leaving myths about this legendary temple of Juno aside, there was much he could gleam from the scraps left behind.

Drawing inspiration from these insights, Leonardo stood entranced for three whole days and nights. His body braved the humid salty breeze as if not knowing discomfort, ignored the chill of the night and the scorching presence of the sun. Faintly resonating along with the monoliths beneath him, he forsook mortal sustenance and nourished his body with pure energy.

Meditating for days on end, he gradually grasped their meaning and became even more detached from the world. His psyche gradually left his body and once more appeared the top of the barren dream mountain. The boundless temple stood lonely on the peak, without any sign of time passing — spotless as the first day he had seen it.

Disregarding the sudden surprise, Leonardo floated inside. Throughout the past 5 years, he had only managed to enter 5 times. It only happened during the winter Solstice, granting him a chance every year to enter and browse through Muchen's memories. Even so, that short time was very inadequate, and he could at most sift through a few 'books' worth before being ejected.

This time was different, but he didn't seem overly joyful. Despite achieving a momentary connection through meditation, time was short. Instead of blindly relying on instinct, he slowly closed his eyes and evoked Fortuna, allowing that sense to take over and guide him.

The books he chose quickly built up a stack and Leonardo couldn't help but grimace in lack of anticipation at the sight of it. Knowing full well that there was no avoiding this pain, he steeled himself and braved through it.

As his psyche was sapped amidst agony, he finally faded from the dream realm and returned to his body. Previously weakened already from his impromptu fasting, he almost fell off the monolith as a major headache threatened to burst his head like a melon.

It was already past midnight, and he didn't feel like going to find food. Steadying himself on the monolith, he drew his canteen and greedily emptied it. Only then did he take some time to study his body's condition.

To his dismay, other than being a little sore — his body was in fairly great shape. Rather, it was better than excellent.

A deluge of primal energy coursed through his veins, practically overflowing through his body. As he instinctively tried to control it, he found that he could do it with great ease.

Smiling broadly, he couldn't help but praise the intricacies of fate once more, for most of the books he read in the Demesne touched upon primal energy control and infusion.

'Second stage of Primal Dharma… how thrilling.'

Joyfully jumping up from his seating, he once more glanced at the mysterious rocks that pushed him through the gate. The eroded engravings seemed to have served the purpose of drawing energy from nature, acting as an artificial node of chi. These wellsprings were invaluable to mages, and even wars were fought over some of the most powerful ones.

Alas, time took its toll and the stones weren't functional anymore. It was already impressive they carried a hint of resonance. Even so, this flash of insight propelled his understanding of energy forward.

Bowing solemnly in gratitude, whether to the deity known as Juno, or perhaps an ancient Magus who dwelled here, Leo finally set to return home.