Chapter 4: Conversion

He thought that he could finish everything but it took them an entire day to review the artificial warrior.

"So much for helping"

He couldn't help but sigh that his free time was only limited since their tower's next project would start next week.

"I will be busy again"

[Creator while we stayed inside The magic examination and testing area. I have gathered the essence of the dying beast there]

"Good at least our trip wasn't a waste so how much did we get?"

[45]

"I think that's a good start so shall we start the conversion?"

[I shall start although the process might take me at least up until tomorrow]

"Go ahead I won't mind"

[Jeremiah won't be able to speak to the creator for a while so if you may have any questions please wait for me tomorrow]

"I will"

[Then I shall start!]

While walking towards the black tower Apollo stared at the setting sun. His smile disappeared and was replaced by a cold stoic face. He hated the colour of the sky whenever it was about to get dark. The colour of red and orange mixed together as darkness began to come, and he hated it. And he hated how he had the same colour in his hair. The color of the setting sun was a mark he wanted to erase after all members of the Lionheart family had this same blazing hair colour.

"I wish I had my mom's hair color instead"

He suddenly felt his chest hurting but he decided to ignore it.

"It's no use feeling pain"

He breathed slowly then his eyes grew even colder.

"Once you have the power you can erase that pain"

He walked with even more conviction until he arrived inside the black tower.

"Hey Apollo"

Greeted the man who was at the front desk he was the head of the administration office.

"Evening Grandpa Jer"

The old man just smiled before giving Apollo a poach.

"Here I got you some beast core play with them"

Receiving the heavy poach of beast core the previous cold expression of the boy turned into a child who just received a toy.

"You like it?"

Apollo just nodded enthusiastically seeing his reaction the Oldman urged him to head inside.

"By the way your mother still has a meeting until this morning" he added before letting the child leave.

"Got it Grandpa Jer"

He used the tower's teleporter to get to the residential floor of the tower. Arriving on his floor he ran excitedly towards his room.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't talk to Jeremiah right now but I should first check on this"

Opening the poach he was amazed with the beautiful beast core he received.

"Hmmm?"

Amongst all the beast cores something is really different, unlike the others. Typically beast cores have colors that correspond to the beast's element. Sometimes some beasts have multiple elements so their beast cores also have multiple colors.

Air is green, blue for water, red for fire, yellow for earth, purple for thunder and black for dark elements.

"I have never seen a grey before"

He paid more attention to it than the other ones, like the other core it has a color although it's grey and the image of the beast it came from.

"Hmmm..."

Studying it he realizes where it belonged.

"This is a demon beast core"

He mumbled feeling happy with the gift he received.

"I should wait for tomorrow Jeremiah should have good news for me"

Happily, the boy left for dinner wanting to sleep early so that he could see tomorrow fast.

Arriving inside the dining hall he immediately picked the food he liked then he ran towards a vacant table.

"Slow down a bit Apollo"

One of the mages eating there said.

"Sorry big sis I was just in a hurry"

"You might choke if you eat like that, here have some water you might need it more than me"

"Thank you"

"You are welcome"

Then the young mage left as she finished her meal leaving Apollo alone to finish his.

...

While Apollo happily takes his meal the people inside the conference hall still debate whether or not they should search for Akashic.

"It's only been weeks we shouldn't give up easily"

"Can't we just focus on other things, not this myth"

"We all know that Akashic is no longer a myth"

"But we have tried but we still can't find the gate towards the enlightenment"

"Not even the most intellectual being in this tower can access that place and just like what the journal said the gate will only appear once someone reaches enlightenment"

"The question is how and what kind of enlightenment "

"It was never specified what kind of enlightenment would trigger the gate to Akashic"

"Let us all remember that there is another thing that the journal said 'Akashic won't appear to those who seek for it, just like magic it will choose who and where to appear"

"So are we giving up?"

"Can't we just reach enlightenment?"

"Yeah how about you try it then since you make it sound so easy"

"We can't fake it! enlightenment should come naturally"

While the other senior mage and high mage argue the archmage and the head of the wizard tower was silent.

"Isabella, how is your son?"

Out of all the topics Alger the head of the wizard tower started with this question.

"Sir why suddenly?"

Flustered due to the situation she can't help but ask.

"Well because if I ask you about your son surely there is an answer but if I ask about the Akashic no one could give me a proper answer"

"Here's my decision we will put the search for Akashic on hold. This doesn't mean we are giving up but we shall focus on the things that we have control over"

"We will focus on further developing our knowledge about magic. If Akashic wanted enlightenment we shall give it to him"

With those final words from Alger, the meeting was finally ended.

"Isabella" Called Alger.

"Yes sir?"

"Have you told the boy about the imperial banquet?"

A sigh escaped from her lips making Nicholas worried as well.

The imperial banquet is celebrated once every 5 years to celebrate the reign of the imperial family. Every aristocratic family under the empire is obligated to come. Since the Lionheart is a ducal family every member is required to come.

"I'm going to prepare Apollo for this"

"How about letting the boy stay here until the day of the banquet then we will escort him once we come to greet the emperor. After that, we will bring him back here not letting him meet any single member of your family"

"Can I really do that?"

"Of course Isabella I insist since every time he goes to that place his expression is often cold and murderous"

"Thank you very much sir I would tell this to Apollo"

"Alright you may leave"

After leaving the conference room she went straight to her son's room where she saw his peaceful and happy expression.

"It seems my son decided to sleep early"

Gazing at the sleeping boy she thought about how her son used to look at her indifferently.

Isabella wasn't the best mother but she tried her best despite being extremely busy due to her duties inside the tower. When Apollo was born she had taken care of him for two years before returning to the tower. Every once in a while she would return to visit her children. She gave the attention she could give and gave the love she had, thinking it was enough.

At first, her boy was treated the same way as the others not until the duke decided to test Apollo's attributes. That's when he realized his son had an ordinary talent. The duke thought it was unacceptable thus from a loving father he switched to an abusive father who only knew how to hurt his son. Isabella didn't know any of that not until she saw how broken of a boy Apollo had become.

"My sweet little sun I hope you forgive Mommy for not being able to protect you"

She whispered while gently caressing her son's face.

She still remembers how he used to treat her indifferently, how he never recognized her as his mother and how his eyes told her he was planning to kill her. The way those orange eyes looked at her, was never how a son should look at his mother. It was more like a killer towards his victim.

"What on earth did your father do to you and you turn like that" She continues to say.

Then she decided to sleep beside her son making sure no nightmares would follow the child.

"Sweet dreams Apollo"

In her hand is a magic spell that can make beautiful dreams, she hopes that by doing this it could stop the traumas that haunt in his dreams.

As the hours pass stars slowly disappear and the sun begins to rise. Apollo woke up feeling refreshed as he tried to get up he felt a weight around his body. Confused he looked up and saw his mother sleeping peacefully.

"Mom?"

Looking at his mother who still wore her black robe Apollo realized she must have gone to him as soon as the meeting ended. He was thinking of letting his mom sleep more when a voice rang inside his mind.

[Creator conversion is finished you have 22 stat points that can enhance all of the attributes in your statistics]