Embracing the Desire of the Heart, Mind, and Soul

'Wilhelm, can you explain some of Roy's stats?'

[Of course! The grade of a summon is generally common, uncommon, rare, etc. As Roy was summoned in such an unusual and miraculous manner, his grade was classified as "unique".]

[Another point to take into consideration is that he is a chimera, a creature that can always mutate and strengthen its potential further beyond its current capabilities.]

[Aside from giving him a broad grade as unique, no other classification would be accurate enough to classify his potential.]

[Following that, we have the topic on contracted summons' cultivation stages. Contracted summons are only able to wield so much power, having their power limited by your own cultivation sta]

[This system prevents the balance and harmony between the realm's laws of summoning and contracting from breaking natural order.]

[There's no need to worry however, as a summons' cultivation stage is able to pass your cultivation stage by two stages, excluding sub-stages like Affinity Foundation stages 1–9. For example, let's say you are at the first cultivation stage, Affinity Awakening. Your summons can still reach Core Formation.]

'So, my summons wouldn't be able to reach a cultivation stage above Core Formation unless my cultivation increases? Why is that system even put into place?'

[Correct, the laws of the realm would seal their cultivation bases at the peak of Core Formation, preventing them from going any further. If you made a contract with a summon already above stage three, their cultivation base would then be sealed and their power would be limited as well.]

[This is to protect the natural order and flow of cultivation. Otherwise, even the youngest of summoners could get lucky and contract a powerful beast, causing the realm to turn chaotic and fall into turmoil.]

[The seventh World Tree, titled Quiescent, had been an example of such turmoil. It had fallen into turmoil after a young summoner ignorantly contracted a heaven defying existence, an existence that had been sealed during the Corrupt War.]

[The World Trees and laws of the realms were recovering at that period in time and no one had expected such an event to occur, bringing forth even more chaos for the seventh World Tree.]

[Luckily, an exception was made from those "beyond" who normally watch from the sidelines as they sent an emissary to handle the situation. Afterwards, the seventh World Tree was given their support to recover.]

[Even so, the seventh World Tree fell into a period of dormancy in which it still remains, recovering from the consistent troubles it had encountered.] Wilhelm rambled on.

Rentaro couldn't help but note the tragic tale regarding the young summoner and strange existence, as he spoke absentmindedly, 'Oh... so, uh, what about the "Bloodline Prime" skills?'

[Oh. Haha. My bad! Bloodline Prime skills are very interesting, in fact, it's even more useful as you have access to the system shop. When in his chimera form, he isn't able to bring out all the skills and power of a specific bloodline. However, ‘Bloodline Prime’ let's him take on a specific bloodline's true form.]

[If Roy had a dragon bloodline, per se, he'd be able to transform into said dragon. In that form, he'd be able to use any of the abilities specific to that dragon bloodline, bringing out its full power.]

'Amazing! But, how would the shop be useful in this situation?'

[Well, regardless of what you summon, the shop will be especially useful. In the shop, you can purchase a variety of medicines and materials. If you summon a spirit weapon, you can purchase materials to strengthen it.]

[And if you summon an elemental, you can use elemental essences to improve its grade. If you summon any type of beast, you can purchase different vials from the shop that are filled with refined bloodlines to mutate their original bloodline and increase their potential.]

[For Roy, refined bloodlines mean giving him more forms to take on and more abilities. Naturally, refined bloodlines aren't easy to get and are rather costly, so you'll have to wait until the future for that.]

[As for ‘Obsidian-Scaled Armor’ and ‘Skeletal Control’ having their bloodline prime forms sealed at the moment, they will naturally unseal as Roy's cultivation stage increases or he awakens more of his bloodline's origins.]

[Even though Roy doesn't have any other bloodline skills or prime forms unlocked at the moment, he is still fairly strong, especially for his current cultivation stage.]

[Roy's innate talent, ‘Black Flame Embrace’ not only gives Roy the ability to control the yang elements of darkness and fire, but also the primal chaotic combination of the two, black fire. Not to mention, his body was constructed by the two elements, and so he formed a Primal Chaotic Physique.]

[And if you looked closely enough, you'd see he is at Affinity Foundation — Stage 2, not Foundation Establishment. As Roy is a chimera, he is compatible with the Scripture of the Elementalist, which he has already learned about through your memories.]

[Remember, your foundation is currently a mess and fixing that mess is your primary objective. If you wish to get stronger, fix your foundation first. Only after going through Affinity Awakening will you be able to fully enter Affinity Foundation.]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Resuming a meditative position inside the small guest house, Rentaro closed his eyes that had burned with fiery flames of resolution. He sunk deep into thought as all the recent events came to mind.

Slowly, he was overtaken by a strange feeling as he closed all of his thoughts off, not paying any thought to the system, to Wilhelm, to Roy, to the village, to anything around him.

It was as if he entered his own world, sinking deep into his memories.

He thought of the last moments of his previous life where he sacrificed his life, saving the child from his own fate of becoming an orphan.

Following that was a feeling of shapelessness—not being dead, nor alive. A sense of emptiness as his five senses seemed to simply not exist... aside from his thoughts, he didn't seem to exist... but isn't it one's thoughts that makes one truly exist?

Gradually, a sense of solitude and bitterness as there was no one else around interrupted his train of thought.

But then, there was a voice. A voice which he so desperately sought, a voice he desired to hear more than anything else.

He felt reassured, as if he wasn't alone and had someone who'd accompany him… He was happy.

At first, the voice addressed him merely as "Host." But, such a manner of addressment was not what he desired.

He desired a companion, and so he gave the voice a name, something the voice didn't even know it desired.

Together, they realized they desired more in life—they desired individual meaning. And for that, they were willing to follow their own heart, their mind, their soul, all of which was a part of their dao.

Strange thoughts bubbled inside of the boy's head, reminding him of his earlier questions.

'Affinity Awakening... am I stuck with a specific affinity my whole life? I'd rather choose which one I like the best, if that's possible of course.'

'Why can't I choose which element to embrace in the deepest part of my existence, my soul?'

In confusion, he couldn't help but ponder over his earlier questions. Why had they suddenly invaded his mind? What was going on exactly?

No matter what, he couldn't awake or break out of his current situation, it felt as if he were trapped in a strange space, the same situation he was in when his body was under reconstruction.

His current situation left him in a state where he could only ponder and sort out his inner-thought process, as his questions streamed out... Questions he already knew the answer to.

'Roy was created from the elements of darkness and fire, elements which supposedly came from the depths of my soul. Wilhelm presumed that I still have another element in the depth of my soul, a depth that "Soul's Calling" had been unable to reach.'

'However, what if fire and darkness came from not only the core of my soul, but also my heart and mind? What if we've been looking at Affinity Awakening the wrong way this entire time? Maybe... Affinity Awakening is a combination of the three concepts: the heart, mind, and soul.'

'My heart desires warmth in the form of fire, my mind desires companionship forged by traveling alongside one another through the darkness, but what does my soul desire?'

'The purest of sincerity... Does that not take on the form of light? Maybe I have long chosen which elements to awaken innately, huh?'

'Roy was formed by my heart and mind's desires, desiring both warmth and companionship. I had already embraced both of those desires at that time, but had never taken into consideration the idea of embracing my soul's desire, sincerity.'

'Just because I can make contracts with summons doesn't mean we'll automatically have the sincerest of feelings towards one another. And so, I need to accept that bonds can only truly be forged with time, building trust and loyalty.'

'Only by experiencing the best and worst of moments together will we have a genuine companionship, learning about each other's earnest desires and wishes in life, accepting one another for who we truly are.'

'My soul's desire, sincerity, a genuine companionship with true acceptance towards one another... I have already felt that it can only be represented by the element of light.'

Rentaro thought steadily and resolutely, clearing his mind of any muddled thoughts.

He had realized that the experience of Affinity Awakening was unique for each individual and that his awakening required the synergy of the heart, mind, and soul.

Suddenly, numerous system notifications resounded in his mind.

[Elemental Affinity Obtained] [Light—Assimilation Stage]

[Elemental Affinity Upgraded] [Fire—Assimilation Stage]

[Elemental Affinity Upgraded] [Dark—Assimilation Stage]

[Completed Affinity Awakening] [Reached Affinity Foundation]

[New Sub-Mission System Function Unlocked] [Cultivation Milestones & Achievements]

Acknowledging the system notifications, a sudden stream of gentle heat coursed along his veins, prompting Rentaro into opening his eyes.

His sight was filled with a resplendent golden aura that surrounded his body, followed by a warm, yet seemingly shy red aura, and lastly a dark purple aura that gave off an intimate feeling.

Rentaro's heart thumped louder and louder, his pulse beating like a storm, as the auras continued to flow around him like a gentle stream.

And a strange connection, a synergy, gradually developed between Rentaro and the auras.

Before long, Rentaro's surroundings were suffused with strange murmurs, as if the auras were whispering towards him, until they gave out sighs as if saddened their voices couldn't reach him no matter how far they reached out.

Rentaro asked, 'Wilhelm, what's going on? These… these "voices," and this aura? Are they mere auras of the elements?'

[Rentaro, what did you just experience? You had been sitting down in meditation when all of a sudden these three spirits surrounded you in unison.] Wilhelm teased, astonished by the current situation just as much, if not more, than Rentaro.

'I-I know even less than you!' Rentaro fumed in a childish voice under Wilhelm's teasing.

[Alright, alright. Neither of us know what's going on, so just try establishing a mental connection with them by using your Spirit Whisperer talent. Genius idea, if I do say so myself.] Wilhelm seemed to wink suavely at the end.

Focusing his attention on the three auras in front of him, Rentaro focused his mind in the same manner he used to open the system interface.

Suddenly, he felt three auras mentally connect to his mind.

'He-Hello? Can you three hear me?' Rentaro questioned in a wary tone.

'What's up?'

'He-Hello!'

'You're the inheritor?'

Three voices rang out simultaneously, immediately sending pain throughout Rentaro's consciousness as his mind was overwhelmed.

As Rentaro grabbed his head, the voices abruptly quieted down, seemingly realizing their overlapping words caused Rentaro to undergo a bout of pain.

The three spirits stopped jumping around him, standing still with what one could only guess to be expressions of concern as they watched Rentaro, who was gritting his teeth and enduring the splitting pain.

The pain eased away shortly thanks to the previous soul bindings strengthening his soul and tempering his mind.

'I'm alright now, who are you three exactly?'

Rentaro asked only one question, hoping to maintain the situation in a calm and orderly fashion.

The three spirits appeared to look at each other before nodding to the spirit covered in a golden aura.

The spirit moved forward and spoke up, 'I am Auron, the spirit in charge of the Grimoire of Twileigh; I'm also a spirit of light. The red spirit is Eremic, a fire spirit, and the dark-colored spirit is Anu, a dark spirit. The three of us are elemental spirits who were contracted with Master Twileigh.'

At mention of their master, Twileigh, the three couldn't help but choke up in sorrow as they looked towards the distant sky.

Rentaro didn't speak as he watched quietly, feeling empathy as he too knew the feeling of being alone in solitude, let alone being in a state of deep sleep for fifteen thousand years before remembering their current situation.

As if time was caught, the four of them didn't speak and acted as if they were in their own worlds, their individual thoughts unknown to one another.

They continued to watch the clouds drift by and the sun slowly set on the horizon, changing the scenery around them as the moon set and stars arose, a true cycle of the passing of Twilight.