Chapter 6 : Dual Core

The morning sun bathed the clearing in a soft golden glow as Ray awoke, feeling a surge of energy coursing through his veins. Something had changed overnight, something deep within him. Without thinking, he grabbed his wooden sword and walked outside, eager to begin his morning practice.

As Ray swung the sword, his body moved with an effortless grace, each movement precise and fluid. He felt more in control than ever before, as though the sword was an extension of his very being. Unbeknownst to him, a faint silver light began to radiate around the blade, pulsing with each swing. The energy felt natural, yet unfamiliar, a part of him, yet something entirely new.

Eldric, returning from gathering firewood, stopped in his tracks the moment he saw Ray practicing. His eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the young boy, now six years old, move with the skill of someone far beyond his age. But what shocked Eldric even more was the energy. The silver aura surrounding Ray's sword was unmistakably primal energy, but it was too controlled, too refined for a child.

Ray's movements slowed as he finished his practice, unaware of the awe he had just inspired. Breathing deeply, he turned to see Eldric watching him with a strange, intense look.

"Eldric," Ray said, surprised. "I didn't see you there."

Eldric approached, his gaze fixed on the boy. "Ray, what happened last night? Something's... different."

Ray hesitated, unsure how to explain. "I don't know. I was practicing, and then I felt this strange energy. It... pulled me into a trance. And inside, I saw two balls of light, two sources of energy. They felt...."

Eldric's expression darkened with curiosity. "Two?!!"

Ray nodded. "One felt calm like it's always been there. The other... it was stronger, more intense. I could feel both of them inside me."

Eldric knelt down and placed his hand on Ray's chest, closing his eyes to sense the boy's energy. What he felt sent a chill down his spine. After a few moments, he stepped back, his eyes filled with both wonder and confusion.

"You've formed two cores," Eldric said slowly, his voice filled with disbelief. "One is a mana core, though it's not like any I've seen before. It has a greenish hue instead of the usual blue. But the other... it's something else entirely."

Ray blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Eldric's face was serious. "It's a primal core, but it's purer, more refined—something superior. And it's twice the size of a normal core. Even your mana core is unusual. Most people don't form a core this early, let alone two, and especially not a core of this nature."

Ray looked down at his hands, trying to understand. "Is that... bad?"

Eldric shook his head. "No, not bad. But it's unprecedented. People train for years to form a core, and you've done it at six. Not only that, but this primal core... it's unlike anything I've ever seen."

Ray felt a mix of pride and uncertainty. "Does that mean I'm stronger?"

Eldric smiled softly, though his eyes held a trace of worry. "Yes, Ray. You are. But strength isn't everything. You need to understand what this power means and how to control it."

Ray nodded, though his mind was still racing. "I'll keep training."

Eldric's smile faded as he stood up, his tone growing more serious. "Ray, there's something else you need to know. The energy you saw while practicing... it's primal energy, but you've already skipped a step most people spend years trying to master."

Ray looked up at him, curious. "What do you mean?"

"In swordsmanship, there are stages, Apprentice, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, King, Saint" Eldric explained. "You start as an Apprentice, learning how to resonate with your sword, becoming one with it, which elevates your senses. From there, you move to the Expert stage, where you form a primal energy core and learn to control the flow of energy. Ray, you've already reached that stage."

Ray's eyes widened. "I've... skipped the Apprentice stage?"

Eldric nodded. "Most people spend years trying to resonate with their sword, and even longer forming a core. But you... you've done it in less than a year. That energy you're using, it's the sign of someone who has already reached the Expert level."

Ray stared at his hands again, feeling the strange energy pulsing within him. "So I'm... an Expert?"

"Yes," Eldric confirmed, his voice filled with both pride and caution. "But that doesn't mean you're ready for what comes next. Each stage comes with its own challenges, its own risks. You've formed a core, but now you must learn to control it, to understand it. If you don't, it could overwhelm you."

Ray nodded, determined. "I'll keep practicing. I want to learn everything I can."

Eldric placed a hand on Ray's shoulder, his expression softening. "You've come so far, Ray. But remember, strength without control can lead to disaster. You need to be patient, even though you've advanced so quickly."

Ray smiled up at him, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "I will. I promise."

As they walked back to the hut together, Eldric couldn't help but glance at Ray with a mixture of admiration and concern. The boy was a prodigy, there was no doubt about that. But the power within him was unlike anything Eldric had ever encountered. It was raw, untamed, and if Ray wasn't careful, it could become more dangerous than either of them realized.

Yet deep down, Eldric felt something stirring, a sense that Ray's journey had only just begun. Whatever these cores were, and whatever power they held, they were the key to something far greater than either of them could imagine. Eldric know Ray needs to leave this place and go to the kingdom after he taught him everything...