Learning more about Apex Conduits

Days had passed since their arrival at the Central Manor. Azrael and Uriel had been given time to rest, bathe, and recover from their arduous journey.

Now, they stood in an open space near a tranquil lake, the cold morning air clinging to their skin,the sky was pale and overcast, with faint streaks of light breaking through the low-hanging clouds.

A gentle mist hung over the water, and the faint ripples of the lake seemed to mirror the soft rustling of the surrounding trees.

"Azrael, focus," Haniel's voice echoed, snapping him out of his reverie.

They were currently learning how to properly harness their Apex Conduits and wield them effectively. Azrael already knew the theory behind it, but now, everything relied on execution.

Azrael closed his eyes, taking a steady breath, and with a calm yet commanding tone, he spoke:

"Emerge End Requiem."

"Emerge Pure Seraph," Uriel added, following suit, her voice flowing smoothly with his.

The twins felt a spark ignite within their sea of consciousness as fragments of an unknown, otherworldly force began to materialize from their chests.

Azrael's weapon took form first,blocks of shimmering essence coalesced around him, connecting with eerie precision as a pair of crescent-shaped blades emerged, linked by a pulsating, ethereal chain.

The edges exuded a sharp Aura , faint whispers and cryptic markings flickering across their surface before stabilizing.

Uriel's greatsword followed,pieces of this enigmatic energy fused and expanded, shaping into a massive blade with sleek, angular designs.

The hilt formed with a single, resonating pulse, completing the weapon as it radiated an unplaceable, commanding presence.

The process concluded in silence, leaving the twins standing with their weapons in hand, their forms glowing faintly in the wake of its manifestation.

"Phenomenal. To get it on my first try—it's given, considering my combat experience," Uriel said with a proud smirk, effortlessly swinging her greatsword in a fluid arc.

It wasn't just the weapons,gauntlets of their own design now covered their hands, seamlessly complementing the unique aesthetics of their armaments.

The craftsmanship of the gauntlets mirrored the cryptic allure of their weapons, adding an undeniable sense of completion to their forms.

Azrael silently looked at his crescent blades, channeling massive amounts of Qi into them.

As soon as he noticed the weapon did not break, he began to swing it around and took a battle stance, seeking to connect with End Requiem even more.

"It feels alive... like we're connected in ways I can't describe, ways above my comprehension. Is it because it's quasi-sentient and can self-actualize?" Azrael murmured, feeling the flow of Qi coursing through End Requiem. Slowly, he turned to his mother, looking for clarification.

"Yes, the Apex Conduit's growth relies on its host. If you grow stronger, it will follow suit; if your growth is stagnant, it follows suit... Despite its immense versatility, it won't carry you," Haniel clarified with a commanding tone as she silently approached her children.

She raised her hand. With a deliberate motion, she pointed her finger, and two streaks of light shot forth, weaving through the cold air with radiant precision.

The lights entered the glabella of twins and rested in their sea of consciousness.

"This!"

The twins simultaneously turned their focus inward, delving into their respective seas of consciousness.

Within the vast depths of their inner sea, they noticed something extraordinary two radiant inscriptions, glowing with enigmatic Aura.

Azrael observed his, a fiery script burning with intensity. Its title was unmistakable:[ The Will of Agni]

Uriel, on the other hand, found hers radiating a serene brilliance. The inscription before her read: [The Will of Luminous]

The realization hit them both: they had received cultivation techniques, yet their contents left them perplexed in their simplicity.

"What??? Not every technique needs to be complicated.

Although they are both Earth-grade and not combat-oriented techniques, [The Will of Agni] purifies your flames, and [The Will of Luminous] purifies your light," Haniel added, turning aside and gazing at the lake with a profound expression.

Azrael squinted at his mother, his expression perplexed. "That... doesn't make sense. Why are you being cryptic instead of straightforward?" he asked bluntly.

For a brief moment, silence filled the space, creating an awkward tension among the trio.

Cough! Uriel cleared her throat.

"I took most of your primitive years of development due to my selfish desire to make you strong and due to that you could have died in the Ebonhold—but my belief in you never faltered," Haniel suggested with a profound tone, her gaze briefly lifting to the sky. She continued,

"If I give you techniques based on my desires, then personal growth is not truly yours.

Any parent paves a path for their children to walk on, but that is never truly theirs. I simply gave you the necessary tools to pave your paths.

Therefore, through this, you may understand the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall."

Haniel didn't elaborate further, simply waving her hand as a door manifested in the sky.

With a snap of her fingers, it opened, revealing a garden where Elder Yang and Alaha sat gracefully, their new attire indicating they were prepared for departure.

Without hesitation, Uriel rushed to Haniel, giving her a quick goodbye hug before darting away, leaving her alone with Azrael.

Azrael looked at Haniel with sorrow in his eyes. The lack of parental care in his past life made the love and care he received from her all the more precious, leaving him deeply attached. Reluctant to leave, he longed to spend more time with her.

"Come on, a mother's love is boundless, but true love lets her children find their own path beyond the nest," Haniel said, her gaze soft as she looked at the hesitant Azrael.

She walked towards him, offering a heartfelt hug that lasted minutes before he finally let go.

Haniel looked at him with a loving gaze as he approached the door and said,

"Things will get confusing along the way, so I will give you three pieces of wisdom.

First, take care of yourself and your sister. Second, the cultivation world is ruthless; people are always scheming, so stay alert.

And lastly, and most importantly, authorities fall into two categories: Primal Authority and Aperture Authority. You possess the latter, so proceed with caution."

Instead of asking many questions, he simply nodded and left, knowing he wouldn't get the answers he sought.

...

"When should we leave?" asked Azrael as he stepped out of the door and approached Elder Yang slowly.

The elder simply looked at him with an expressionless face and replied,

"Right about now."

At that moment, Uriel entered the garden, Alaha following closely behind her.