Unknown

Right behind the book, floating in the air, slightly smaller than the average human height, was a ring identical to the one he had seen on the black page of the book, from which black smoke was emanating.

Inside the ring, his essence, gently rippling like calm water, swayed delicately.

His essence filled up to a quarter of the ring.

Surprised by what he saw, Teyat walked slowly and hesitantly towards the ring that held his essence.

The book, with its pages facing a dark void, turned and floated after Teyat.

When he reached the ring that held his essence, Teyat, with eyes wide in astonishment, slowly extended his hand towards the inside of the ring.

He inserted his hand into the ring, which was filled with his essence up to a quarter.

At that moment, the only thing he felt was as if his hand was submerged in water, yet there was also an inexplicable pleasant sensation.

Savoring this strange and pleasant feeling, he slowly withdrew his hand from his essence. As he pulled it out, black droplets, almost like mercury, clung to his hand and dripped to the ground.

Teyat looked at his hand in bewilderment and quietly murmured:

"So this is my essence, huh... it looks like mercury."

He waved his hand back and forth, shaking off the essence into the dark smoke rising from the ground.

Turning to the book, he opened his mouth to speak.

"And yes, this ring I see is my essence ring, right? I understand. So, what's next?"

Upon hearing this question, the book displayed a word and three question marks in white letters on the page next to the 'Soul and Essence' chapter.

[Chapter=???]

•

The only thing Teyat saw on the black page was a single word and question marks in white.

"Huh? Why are there question marks, Mr. Book? And why aren't there any white smoke rising from the letters and marks to explain things? Or is no explanation necessary?"

Surprised, Teyat asked the book, but it gave no response.

No diagram appeared, nor was there an answer.

"No need to repeat the question, I guess? Will you answer, Mr. Book?"

But the book still offered no response. Upon this, Teyat took a deep breath, releasing his inner anger, sighed deeply, and shook his head in frustration.

"Got it, fine, okay. Is there anything else you'd like to say or perhaps show me, you worthless... thing, Mr. Book?"

Just in time, he narrowly avoided a sharp blow from the book and humbly asked the book that had just beaten him

.

In response to his question, the book displayed the same diagram on its black pages, where words in white letters appeared.

[Answer=Yes, Master Teyat, you can summon me whenever and wherever you want. Just wish for my presence and call for me. The moment you call me, no one but you will be able to see me. I will personally inform you of the things you have gained and lost, so you may know what you have gained and lost. I, the Book of Darkness, am ready to serve you on your journey, my lord.]

'Yes, absolutely, the very one who just got beaten by you is now telling you it will serve you... Are you mocking me, damn it!'

These angry thoughts passed through his mind, but outwardly, he just smiled warmly at the book.

"Thank you, Mr. Book. I can't wait to embark on this beautiful and peaceful journey with you."

And suddenly, the memory of the child's body, melting before his eyes with wide eyes staring at him in shock, unconsciously rushed into Teyat's mind.

As soon as the memory flooded in, Teyat felt a wave of nausea.

He placed one hand on his stomach and the other on his mouth.

But to be honest, that scene was indeed a disgusting and nauseating one.

Teyat had experienced and caused many revolting scenes, but this was something else.

Imagining himself in the child's place, seeing the body melting before his eyes in a blue liquid... it was truly nauseating.

With a nauseated expression on his face, he thought to himself:

'Yes... a peaceful and beautiful journey... damn it.'

After a while, the nausea passed, and he turned back to look at the book.

However, the white letters on the black pages were no longer visible as the book had closed.

Wiping the saliva that had escaped from his mouth due to nausea on his sleeve, Teyat sighed as he looked at the book.

"So, that's all you have to say."

After this sentence, the dark area around them suddenly began to rush into the book, forming a vortex-like shape.

The Book of Darkness quickly pulled the dark area towards itself, swallowing it into the vortex at its center. The dark area was slowly disappearing. During this time, different things came into Teyat's view as the dark area was drawn into the book.

And after swiftly swallowing the entire dark area, the book appeared right in Teyat's view, floating just above the bed where he lay face down.

As soon as it appeared, a small dark rectangular shape resembling a portal opened in the middle of Teyat's chest and drew the book into it.

Once the book was pulled in, neither the book nor the dark rectangle that had opened in the middle of his chest remained.

Teyat opened his eyes, not by the riverbank, but in a bed covered with white sheets.