11 Light? Impure!
Carol wanted to introduce the whole house to Ozul. But before she could say anything, Ozul found a room and just collapsed on the bed.
Other things could wait.
When he woke up, it was midnight. He couldn't just go back to sleep. So, he started to check out his surroundings.
Checking out the house, he could see that there were only two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living room. The living room had a fireplace. The whole house was kept clean and moderately decorated.
He quietly opened the other room to check that Old Carol was sleeping peacefully. He closed the door and went out of the house.
It was the first time he had seen night. In his warehouse, there was no night and no day.
Ozul only had one word to describe what he felt.
"Peaceful..."- Ozul said out loud.
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Ozul's POV.
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I went out of the house. Night huh... It was the first time I had seen one.
It is beautiful. Darkness everywhere; there is serenity in the atmosphere. There is a unique feel to it; a feeling that you would not get in the daytime.
No annoying noises, no humans, and most importantly, no Sun. That Moon was beautiful but the sunlight ruined it when it was reflected on it.
Only the occasional buzz of insects could be heard. At least, they were tolerable. How good it would have been if I was whole.
No matter how peaceful the darkness is, there is always this feeling of emptiness.
Sooner or later, I will get back my self. But first, I have to become stronger. I can feel that my 'parts' are still alive.
Dibly had explained that Mages and Fighters had ten ranks. Fighters at Rank-10 are rare, but with a little effort, you may find one. But a Mage of Rank-10? They are hidden powerhouses. Only Rank-9 Mages are enough to rule as a Monarch.
After probing a bit further, I concluded that my father should be a 7th or 8th Rank Mage. Probably, the latter.
He had crimson red hair. Dibly said that only the Abilon Family matches the description. The Abilon Family is a family of a Duke. He said that all the dukes in our kingdom are Rank-8 Mages.
Why would people in essential positions even reveal their power? Idiots. Well, it's my good fortune if they are idiots.
Hmm... now, how do I improve my abilities? It's funny how the only other ability I have other than Ball of Purity is eating darkness.
Hm... Dibly said that there are cores generated at the hearts of magical beasts above Rank-2. It contains pure mana. Maybe I can try eating them? I mean, if raw shadows can replenish me, Refined mana should only be better, right?
It's only a guess, well more like intuition, but I can only test it later.
Increasing the size of the Ball of Purity could also help.
Ah... thinking so much is harmful to my health.
I sit down on the grass, resting my back against the apple tree.
Gazing at the sky, I see some annoying twinkles, but the only word that escaped my mouth was,
"Magnificent."
Those twinkles are annoying, but the thing between them! Just so... so admirable.
Pure void. Just a look at that, and I feel my non-existent heart pounding.
At the same time, it was so confusing. Why does even the pure void feel like a part of myself?
Even if I was somehow related to it, shouldn't it be the other way around?
Shouldn't I be feeling like a part of it instead?
*Sigh* I will just find out later. There's nothing I can do at the moment.
This helplessness is just as annoying as that Sun.
It's also a mystery as to why I know so much common knowledge. Even before birth, I had consciousness.
I don't even have a heart. Like physically. No blood, No heart to pump it. I don't need any more reasons to believe that I am, in fact, not a Human.
*Yawn* hmm. Sleep huh? Well, it's a cozy place; darkness is always intimate with me. My only beloved. I hope the Sun just never rises tomorrow.
Yawn...
. . .
I open my eyes to find myself covered with a sheet.
Mm.. Carol truly is a kind lady. Maybe I should just call her grandma Carol from now on.
I rub my eyes to clear away the blurry vision. With my sight now clear, I saw Grandma Carol watering her plants. I cannot see the Sun right now. So, it must be pretty early.
Sun will be showing any minute now; I should go inside.
I stood up as Grandma Carol noticed me. She came towards me and said,
"Young man! Why did you sleep outside? What if you catch a cold?"- Grandma Carol. Carol was really worried as Ozul was just six years old, and now it was her duty to teach him.
Mhm... I don't think I can ever get sick. But I can't just tell her that. She may even freak out. Although he doubts that she would be as heartless as his 'father', being careful does not hurt.
"It's comfortable watching the night sky."- Ozul answered after thinking for a while. Any other answer would just come out as rude.
"It's okay to watch the sky at night, but you should still sleep indoors. Remember that from now on."- Grandma Carol just advised me and went to do her gardening.
I nodded and quickly went into the house. Slumped on the bed after closing the curtains of the window. I don't want that annoying light here, now do I? Not being able to sleep, Ozul started contemplating on his Ball of Purity.
Mana, as it is known, is the natural energy present in the atmosphere. Mages refine this energy and then use it to store it inside themselves. The stored energy could then be used to cast various types of spells. Some of them could even strengthen their bodies, causing them to be just as strong as a Fighter. Hence, Mages are deemed better.
People who create a Core inside themselves are considered as Rank-1 Mage. With each improvement, the Core inside them not only gets bigger but also stores the mana in a purer form, which increases the output of the spell.
All of this aside, Ozul did not want to become a Mage or a Fighter.
My instincts keep telling me not even to consider taking in that unclean 'thing', Mana in the atmosphere just felt dirty, Hence the reason that it was needed to be refined.
Although not as impure as the light itself, I still won't take the impure mana inside myself.
I can just test to eat the Mana Cores of the Magical Beasts or even... of some humans. If this does not work out, I will just wait it out. No one is stopping me from spending my days while only sleeping.
Light is an impurity. I have at least understood that much.
Only the void is pure. While the darkness at night may not be the most absolute; it is a hundred times better than when the light is present.
Hence, I feel the need for more effort when controlling my Ball of Purity in the day time. That impure thing obstructs its path.
After thinking for a while, I was starting to lose myself to sleep. Just then, I heard Grandma Carol's voice.
"Ozul! Come wash your hands; the breakfast is ready!"- Carol.
Hm... I didn't really need to eat. Like the way I ate darkness was the most nutritious. What it does is simple, just like how only the void existed before some of the pure emptiness broke down into impurities—creating that light and other filthy energies. I just convert some of the darkness into my food.
Darkness is also emptiness. Emptiness is the void. It may sound confusing, but my body just breaks some of the pure darkness and get energy.
Anyways, Even though I do not need to eat the food physically, I have to be polite towards Grandma Carol. She has already been so kind to me. Listening to her is the least I can do.
I do not like the feeling, though. Dibly had given me some food, but the taste was awful!
Ozul gave it a second thought before he washed his hands and moved towards the dining table.
