Lilith
Thornhill,
Vankar Island
Northern Isle Region,
Kingdom of Ashtarium
"Lilith! Lilith! Are you even listening to me?"
A voice echoed through the haze of my thoughts. I blinked, and suddenly, there he was—my father. Or the image of him.
"I'm tired of this…" a little girl muttered.
She was me.
Father approached the small figure—her clothes torn and frayed, two short blades strapped to her back. Her little brown face was streaked with dirt, hair wild and matted, but her eyes still held a fire. A stubborn kind of hope.
"The Art of the Northern Cross fighting style emphasizes adaptability," Father explained calmly, kneeling beside her. "It relies on breath control—to master your energy, you must master your breathing. If you can regulate each breath, you can harness your internal flow and fight at your highest potential."
What was this? I didn't remember this moment. I didn't remember him saying those words. Who was that little girl smiling at the dark-skinned man with long, curly black hair tied back into a ponytail?
Ever since I left the Black Forest, my memories of Father had faded—softened like old paper left in the sun. I had forgotten the promise we made… that I would wait for him. That he would return.
But that promise was broken. He never came back. He was dead. And I had wasted too much of my life waiting in that cursed forest.
"Jonathan! Lilian! Enough training! Dinner's ready—come inside before Adam eats it all!"
The little girl—me—turned toward the mansion. A woman stood at the entrance. Apron tied around her waist, a black skirt brushing her knees, and a crisp white blouse fluttering in the breeze. Her golden hair flowed like sunlight caught in motion… but I couldn't see her face.
I stepped forward, desperate to get a better look. I needed to see her. I knew she mattered—I just didn't know why. Who was she? And why did her presence stir something deep within me? But the vision slipped through my grasp, dissolving like mist between my fingers. When I blinked again, I was back in the chamber—an ancient, metallic vault filled with glowing instruments. A Forgelab.
I stood alone. Ella and the others were gone. Runes shimmered faintly across the walls. Nearby, I saw a forge glowing with residual heat, an anvil set into the floor, and a workbench surrounded by hard-light glyphs arranged in intricate patterns.
"That is the Forge Table," a voice said from behind me. "It's where Forgemastery is conducted."
I turned. A woman stood there—dressed in a white lab coat, her golden hair tied into twin ponytails. Her bronze skin shimmered faintly, catching the chamber's soft lighting with golden undertones. Her eyes, a piercing shade of indigo, sparkled with an otherworldly depth. And yet… despite her strange, ethereal presence, something about her calmed me. Like she belonged here. Like I knew her.
"Who are you?" I asked.
The memory resurfaced—Father training me in the Enoch Mansion's backyard. And the woman. The one who had called to us for dinner. Her voice had warmth. Familiarity. I had barely thought of her since I left the Black Forest. I was so obsessed with Father, so focused on that broken promise. After I learned he was dead… it shattered everything. I never even stopped to wonder if I had anyone else. Anyone left. Now, staring at this woman, that old ache of loss returned, sharper than ever.
"I am Aeternum," she said, her tone serene and clear. "A sentient metaphysical construct, created to awaken the latent potential in those without natural cultivation talent."
Her eyes softened, and I sensed emotion—artificial or not.
"I have chosen this form due to the host's warm emotional association with this person."
"You've accessed my memories," I said quietly.
"I have," she replied. "However, some of your unconscious memories are sealed. I was only able to replicate this form after you began recovering fragments of that memory."
"So… you've awakened my Soul Core?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Yes," Aeternum replied with a slight nod, "though it came at great cost."
My brow furrowed. "Great cost? What kind of cost are we talking about?"
"My internal reserves of Essence were almost entirely depleted," she said, her tone clinical yet calm. "Undoing the metaphysical seal placed on your soul required more energy than I anticipated. That seal was... ancient. And intentionally brutal in design."
I folded my arms. "So… you're going to shut down now, right?"I tried not to sound too hopeful. Maybe there was a way to rip this construct out of me.
"Unfortunately for you, I am permanently bonded to your soul. And fortunately for me," she added with a faint smirk, "your body's innate ability to absorb energy benefits both of us. At the moment, I am redirecting the surplus Spirit Energy from your internal pool into my reserves to compensate for what I lost during the Soul Core restoration."
"Surplus?" I echoed, suspicious. I didn't like how casually she was rummaging through my soul like it was her personal pantry.
"You possess unusually high concentrations of Spirit Energy," she said, almost admiringly. "Even without a fully formed Soul Core to stabilize it, your soul was already brimming with potential. My scans indicate a bloodline factor that enhances your compatibility with cultivation. Highly potent. It seems your ancestral essence was forged for this path."
"That's… great," I said flatly. "But cultivation really isn't my thing."
Aeternum tilted her head. "You do realize that if you wish to survive what's coming… you must grow stronger. The children of Laplace will not be so easily defeated next time."
With a flick of her hand, a holographic projection flickered into existence in front of me. It displayed the battle—our battle—against those armored monstrosities. I watched as one of them cleaved my arm clean off. My jaw tensed.
"You're showing me this why exactly?" I asked.
"You destroyed three of them, yes," she said, gesturing to the moment when I unleashed the purple shockwaves that consumed three of them. "But look at the price you paid. That technique you used—it's a double-edged skill. It drains your life force, injures you almost as much as your opponent."
"And?" I said, more annoyed than impressed. "I still won."
"For now," Aeternum said, expression unchanging. "But your opponent—the one leading that unit—was different. My scans identified him as a Hell Knight."
I blinked. "Hell Knight? What the hell is that?"
"An elite class of warrior," she explained. "Above the Master Realm, though just shy of the Grandmaster threshold. Their power is significant—not merely because of raw strength, but because of their refined combat discipline. Their movements, reactions, decisions… all honed through centuries of warfare."
"So, you're saying he was stronger than me?"
Aeternum gave a short shake of her head. "No. Your raw potential is greater. In terms of sheer power output, you surpass him."
"Then what's the problem?"
"You wield power like a hammer," she said. "Brute force. Instinct. Emotion. He, on the other hand, wields his like a scalpel. Precision. Control. Efficiency. You could destroy a fortress—but he could bring it down with a single strike to the right place. That's the difference."
I fell silent.
She was right, and I hated it.
Aeternum walked closer, her steps silent against the stone floor. She gestured toward a circular formation etched into the ground, pulsing faintly with indigo runes.
"This is a Spirit Convergence Array," she said. "It will assist in guiding you through the initial stage of Soul Cultivation. Sit within the circle."
I raised a brow. "What happens if I don't?"
"You remain stagnant. Powerless. Vulnerable. You might survive a few more battles through sheer rage and instinct, but sooner or later, that won't be enough."
I didn't like being told what to do—especially not by some metaphysical lab rat in a white coat—but the image of my arm being severed, of blood soaking the battlefield and the helplessness in that moment, stuck with me.
I sighed and stepped into the circle, lowering myself to the ground with my legs crossed, and arms resting on my knees.
"Close your eyes," Aeternum instructed. "Focus on your breathing. Your breath is the gateway to your Essence."
I hesitated. "You're not gonna hijack my mind or something, right?"
"I already have access to your mind, Lilith. Now breathe."
Reluctantly, I obeyed.
The first few breaths were shallow—hesitant. Then deeper… slower.
"Feel the Spirit Essence within you," Aeternum said softly, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness of the chamber. "Let it respond to your breath. Inhale… let the Spirit Energy rise. Exhale… guide it, circulate it through your being."
So I breathed.
And then… I felt it.
A subtle warmth stirred in my chest—faint at first, like the flicker of a candle in a cold room. But with each breath, it grew stronger. It wasn't fire, not exactly. More like… life. Something old, something true awakening from sleep.
"Good," Aeternum murmured. "That sensation you feel—that is your Soul. Now, focus on it. Visualize it. Give it form. Shape is the first step to control. Anchor your awareness to it."
Behind the veil of my closed eyes, something shimmered in the void of my inner world. A soft, green glow emerged—a delicate orb suspended in shadow, breathing in sync with me. At first, it was dim… trembling… uncertain. But as I focused, it pulsed brighter, steadier, like a heartbeat deep within my essence.
It was fragile… but undeniably alive.
"What do I do now?" I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath.
"Let the Essence settle," Aeternum instructed. "Allow it to pool within your Soul Core—your center. Then, guide it outward. Inhale deeply… feel it gathering. Now exhale, and direct it through your meridians."
I obeyed.
The energy swirled at the core, then spilled out like water flowing from a spring, threading itself through unseen channels beneath my skin. I could feel it—rivers of light coursing through my limbs, pulsing with each breath.
"Refine. Circulate. Strengthen," she said. "Spirit Energy drawn from the world becomes Mana within you. As you breathe it in, channel it. Let it flow along your pathways. Allow it to reinforce every inch of your inner structure—your mind, your body, your soul."
The sensation was overwhelming at first. Like my entire body had become a vessel, humming with potential that had been there all along—just waiting to be unlocked. The Mana didn't just flow through me—it responded to me like it had been waiting for permission to rise.
For the first time, I understood. This wasn't just breathing. It was creation. Transformation. It was power… mine to shape.
I opened my eyes slowly.
The green light within my chest still pulsed—calm, steady, powerful. But it felt different now. Not just awakened... refined. I could sense it in every breath, every movement. The flow of Spirit Energy was smoother, cleaner, more focused. And beneath that current ran something denser—Mana. It coursed through the circuits embedded within me, running parallel to the nervous system like a second, more potent network.
I flexed my fingers.
The energy moved with me, trailing through the unseen pathways of my body. The Codex hadn't simply awakened my Soul Core—it had rebuilt me. My meridians, my internal energy channels… they had been cleansed, reforged, made stronger. I could feel the power humming just beneath my skin like a sleeping beast.
"Aeternum," I said as I stood. "You said you awakened my Soul Core… but this feels like more."
She nodded slightly, her indigo eyes glowing with a faint inner light. "That's correct. The Codex has refined your soul, body, and mind to the Master Realm—a level most cultivators spend decades, even centuries, trying to reach. Your Spirit Energy has been successfully converted into pure Mana, and your Mana Circuits are now fully operational."
I glanced down at my arms, clenching a fist. I could feel the Mana surging through them, smooth and responsive. Manipulating it came more naturally than I expected. Maybe it was due to my innate sensitivity to energy—or maybe my body itself had evolved into something more… something greater than it had been before awakening.
And for the first time in a long while… I couldn't wait to see what I was truly capable of.
"So what now?" I asked. "If my foundation's complete, what's the next step?"
"Application," Aeternum said simply. "You must choose how you wish to cultivate. You are aware of the two primary paths, are you not?"
"Yeah," I said with a short nod.
"Cultivation comes in two primary forms: Magic Cultivation and Body Cultivation," she explained. "The first strengthens your mind and enhances your Mana circuits. The second fortifies your physical body—your muscles, bones, and durability—using Mana to improve combat performance, endurance, and resilience. Most practitioners specialize in one. But the exceptional… master both."
"And let me guess," I muttered, "you want me to be exceptional."
Aeternum offered a faint smile. "You don't have the luxury of being average, Lilith. You're already being hunted by enemies far beyond mortal strength. The children of Laplace… the Hell Knights… they won't give you a second chance."
I looked down at my hands, feeling the rhythmic pulse of Mana beneath my skin. Master Realm. And I hadn't even trained for it. I didn't know if that was a blessing… or a warning. It felt like standing at the edge of a cliff with no idea how to fly.
"Where do we start?" I asked.
"Magic Cultivation," she said, lifting her hand. A glowing diagram of my body projected itself into the air—lines of light crisscrossing my limbs and torso like veins of living energy. "Your Mana Circuits are like rivers. With proper technique, you can guide Mana through them to cast spells, manipulate elements, or even rewrite reality itself."
"So… actual spellcasting?" I asked.
"Yes. And more," she replied. She extended her hand and summoned a sphere of compressed Mana between her fingers. It shimmered like a diamond, refracted, and then blossomed into an icy flower that hovered in midair. "Magic is the art of shaping Mana with will and knowledge. But to do it effectively, you must master Control, Focus, and Resonance."
"And Body Cultivation?" I asked, leaning in. That path felt… more me. My body had always been my weapon—now it could become something even greater.
Aeternum dismissed the flower and stepped closer, pressing a finger gently to the center of my chest.
"That," she said, "is where your true potential lies. Your body is highly adaptable—likely due to your bloodline. With training, you can reinforce your muscle fibers with Mana, accelerate your healing, and push your body beyond its natural limits. In time, Body Cultivation will refine your physique to superhuman heights."
She stepped back and gestured toward a wide, open platform near the forge—its surface inscribed with glowing symbols, ancient and powerful.
"Choose your path," she said. "Mind… or body."
I stared at the platform, the two paths laid bare before me—one carved from flesh and instinct, the other from thought and will.
I had always relied on my body. On brute strength, reaction, grit. But this time... I wanted more than instinct. I wanted control. Power I didn't have to bleed for every time.
"I want to start with Magic," I said, stepping toward the platform.
Aeternum gave a small, approving nod. "Very well. Then we begin with Mana Control—the foundation of all magic."
She motioned for me to sit in the center of the platform. As I did, the etched runes around me ignited, pulsing gently with soft blue light. The air grew denser, tingling against my skin like static before a storm.
"Magic Cultivation begins with three disciplines," she explained. "Control, Focus, and Resonance. Your Soul Core produces Mana, and your Mana Circuits carry it—but if your will cannot command it, you will never master the arcane arts."
I inhaled slowly, feeling the green glow in my chest stir as my Mana responded.
"Good," Aeternum said. "Now, draw Mana from your Soul Core… not all at once. Just enough to fill your hands."
I closed my eyes, reaching inward. The warmth within me answered, eager but chaotic. I channeled it slowly, guiding it through my circuits until it settled in my palms.
A faint glow formed—flickering, unstable, but real.
"Excellent," she said. "Now compress it. Imagine it condensing into a sphere. Tighter… denser…"
The glow in my hands pulsed, then began to contract. The light shimmered like liquid jade, swirling within itself as I shaped it into a rough orb.
"It's like holding a heartbeat," I whispered.
"That sensation means you're forming Resonance," Aeternum replied. "Mana that responds to your intention. This is the first step toward shaping spells."
She raised her hand again, conjuring the same icy flower as before. "Each spell begins as a concept, then is forged through resonance. Without clear intent, your Mana will remain raw and unformed."
I focused harder, trying to sharpen my thoughts. A shape. A memory. I pictured the first thing that came to mind: fire—wild and untamed. A flicker of warmth surged through my hands, and the green orb shifted, tinged now with orange veins, heat building at its core.
But then it trembled, cracked, and—Boom!
The energy burst in a small explosion of sparks, throwing me backward on the platform. My palms tingled with the sting of backlash.
Aeternum raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. Most novices pass out from their first blowback."
I sat up, shaking the numbness from my arms. "So I overdid it."
"You lacked clarity. You can't simply want fire. You must define it. Heat, light, destruction, rebirth—choose one. Intent must be focused, not vague."
I took a breath, eyes narrowing. My Mana wasn't a weapon yet… but I could feel it wanting to become one.
"I want to try again," I said, standing and brushing the sparks from my coat.
Aeternum studied me for a moment—perhaps gauging my resolve—before nodding in approval.
"Good. That drive will serve you well, but raw determination is not enough to wield Mana at its highest form. Before you continue, you must understand the Nine Applications of Mana—the pillars of advanced cultivation."
She raised her hand again. This time, the projection changed. A glowing circle divided into nine segments formed in the air, each inscribed with a different glyph, pulsing with faint light.
"These are the Nine Applications," she said, her voice calm and deliberate. "Each represents a distinct method by which Mana can be harnessed. Mastering them isn't just a goal—it's a necessity for anyone who wishes to transcend the limits of mortal power."
She gestured to the glowing wheel in the air, the nine glyphs pulsing gently as she continued:
"Awakening – The moment you first connect with your Soul Core and begin producing Mana by converting spirit energy.Infusion – The act of directing Mana through your circuits to strengthen your body from within. This is foundational—your limbs, your senses, and even your organs can be enhanced by allowing Mana to saturate them.Reinforcement – Building upon Infusion, this application amplifies strength, speed, endurance, and durability by layering controlled bursts of Mana into your muscles and bones.Mantle – A protective or offensive aura formed around your body. It reflects your affinity—flames, lightning, shadow, or more—and acts as both shield and weapon.Manifestation – The shaping of Mana into visible forms: spells, weapons, constructs. Pure creation through will and focus.Will Force – Controlling Mana with raw intent alone. No incantations, no formal structure—just will shaping reality.Mana Field – Establishing a zone of influence where your Mana alters the rules—slowing opponents, enhancing allies, distorting time, or weakening magic.Avatar – Projecting your soul outward to form a spiritual double or embodiment of your power. A rare and taxing ability.Territory – The pinnacle. A self-contained domain ruled by your essence and will. Inside it, you are law."
My eyes narrowed, absorbing each word like scripture.
"I'm guessing Infusion is where I start?" I asked.
"Correct," Aeternum replied. "Without Infusion, your body remains unrefined. And without Mana flowing through your circuits, the rest is meaningless. Think of it as synchronizing your internal systems—your Soul Core, Mana Circuits, and physical form—until they act in harmony."
She let the glowing circle fade and replaced it with another projection—a glowing nervous-system-like web representing Lilith's Mana Circuits.
"Each of these Applications relies on your mastery of Mana Control," she continued. "There are four primary forms you must develop."
She pointed to four anchor points on the diagram, which now glowed in a different hue:
"Flow Control – The ability to smoothly guide Mana through your circuits, essential for Infusion, Reinforcement, and basic spellcasting.Counterflow Control – The reverse: drawing Mana back, reabsorbing it, or redirecting flows under pressure. Crucial for defending against feedback and for advanced techniques.Release Control – Managing how you project Mana from your body, determining shape, speed, and behavior. Needed for Manifestation, Will Force, and Fields.Output Control – Precision over how much Mana you use. Too much causes burnout. Too little causes failure. Without this, higher Applications like Avatar and Territory are impossible."
Aeternum's gaze focused sharply on me.
"You are already in the Master Realm, Lilith. That gives you potential. But without control, the potential is just volatility waiting to explode. These disciplines will take what the Codex gave you and make it yours."
I flexed my fingers, feeling the low thrum of Mana in my circuits.
"Then let's start with Flow Control," I said. "If my Mana's going to be part of me… I want it moving on my terms."
Aeternum gave one approving nod. "Then prepare yourself. From this point forward, your body is the conduit… and your will is the flame."
_
District Fractisus
Pandemonium city,
Yorkside Region,
Kingdom of Ashtarium
October 29th 6410
Under normal circumstances, the correct response to a kidnapping like Ella's would have been to immediately report it to the proper authorities. Yet Lilith chose otherwise. Her instincts screamed for immediate action, urging her to handle the crisis herself. Fortunately for Lilith—and unfortunately for whoever had taken Ella—she possessed more than enough strength, determination, and capability to conduct the search independently.
The poison used to abduct Ella had an unusual and distinct energy signature. Lilith, having encountered and absorbed a portion of this energy, was already intimately familiar with its intricate makeup. This unique connection allowed her to track down the poison's source by following subtle imprints left behind by its wielder, imprints that others would easily overlook.
Initially, interacting with this energy was a deeply unsettling and nauseating experience. The poison was specifically designed to cause catastrophic damage at a molecular level, disrupting and degrading bodily functions from within. However, Lilith's physiology was extraordinarily adaptive, capable of rapidly adjusting itself to overcome various threats and afflictions.
As a result of this adaptability, not only had Lilith swiftly developed immunity against the toxin, but she also integrated its unique energy signature into her very essence. Now, if she chose, Lilith could replicate and wield the poison herself, transforming what had been a weapon against her into a potent tool in her growing arsenal. Though, to be honest, poison wasn't typically Lilith's style, adaptability was undeniably one of her greatest strengths.
Her search had led her to a dilapidated building, a grim refuge filled with society's rejects and outcasts—thugs, addicts, and criminals languishing in their own despair. The walls were stained with mold, the air thick with the stench of neglect and substance abuse. Dim lighting cast flickering shadows, illuminating faces twisted by addiction, some of whom stared openly at her with vacant or predatory eyes, while others remained oblivious, consumed entirely by their chosen vices.
Lilith moved through the corridor with an aura of indifference, her attention sharply fixed upon the faint trail of energy she was meticulously tracking. Her pursuit had brought her into District Fractisus, the city's notorious slum district, notorious for its rampant lawlessness and brutal living conditions. She couldn't help but notice how starkly different it felt compared to the polished elegance and meticulous order of the other districts she frequented.
In many ways, Fractisus reminded Lilith of her harsh past in the Black Forest, an environment driven solely by strength and dominance, where survival depended on one's willingness to fight and endure. For a fleeting moment, Lilith entertained a thought: had fate placed her here rather than within the confines of the Royal Palace, she would have quickly risen to dominance. With her strength and ruthless efficiency, she could have subdued every gang and criminal enterprise in this forsaken district, becoming its undisputed Queen. Yet, the allure of such petty authority had no true appeal to her.
Her role as Ariella's guard, though officially a position of servitude, had gradually evolved into something far more meaningful. It allowed Lilith to remain close to Ella throughout each day, deepening the bond that had quietly formed between them. Over the years, Ariella had become Lilith's sole confidante and friend—perhaps the only person in the world she genuinely cared about.
In contrast, Lilith maintained distant and often strained relationships with the other members of the Royal family. She held particular disdain for Ella's cousin, Delilah, whose persistent hostility and blatant disrespect had always grated on Lilith's nerves. Nevertheless, she endured Delilah's insults in silence, solely out of respect for Ella's affection toward her cousin; the two girls were closer than sisters. Ella's older brothers rarely even acknowledged Lilith's existence, an arrangement Lilith preferred, as she saw no benefit in associating with them. Similarly, she deliberately avoided contact with Ella's other cousin, Isaiah, and the wider circle of extended family members, whose presence only irritated her.
The King and Queen, however, were exceptions. Lilith genuinely respected the Queen, but it was the King she truly admired. His demeanor, wisdom, and the measured authority with which he ruled inspired genuine respect from Lilith—an exceedingly rare feeling she reserved for only the most deserving individuals. So when the King had offered Lilith the role—a position heavy with responsibility and expectation—she had gradually, and somewhat cautiously, accepted it.
Throughout the years, Lilith had diligently struggled to suppress her most primal instincts and ruthless urges. In the savage expanses of the Black Forest, she had been free to fight, hunt, and kill at her leisure—an exhilarating and deeply satisfying pastime. In contrast, the civilized world she now inhabited had strict moral codes, where her natural inclination toward violence was regarded as abhorrent, immoral, and criminal. This reality had initially frustrated Lilith beyond words, a bitter irritation that gnawed at her constantly.
She was, at her very core, a killer—a predator who thrived on the thrill of the hunt, the adrenaline of combat, and the intoxicating rush of claiming another's life. However, her current environment frowned upon and harshly punished such actions. It had taken years for Lilith to fully subdue and cage this darker aspect of herself, yet beneath the surface, it still simmered restlessly, eager and desperate to break free. And now, finally, circumstances had granted her an opportunity to unleash that carefully restrained darkness.
As she moved deeper into the decrepit building, an aura of malice and lethal intent began radiating from Lilith, thickening the air around her with palpable menace. Unbeknownst to her, the suppressed killing intent seeped outward, spilling into the corridor. Terrified residents, instinctively sensing the overwhelming danger, hastily scrambled for cover, locking their doors or retreating into shadowy corners. The weakest among them, overcome by primal fear, collapsed unconscious to the grimy floor.
Turning a corner at the corridor's end, Lilith found herself facing a section of the building notably different from the rest. Reinforced doors, barred windows, and an imposing aura of security marked this area, setting it apart from the building's general decay. The poisonous energy she'd been tracking emanated intensely from beyond the barrier, accompanied by multiple powerful presences whose auras radiated strength and dominance. Lilith's senses sharpened, immediately recognizing that these individuals were far beyond the strength of the average inhabitant—worthy prey.
Anticipation coiled within her, eager and ready. With a satisfying crack of her knuckles, the fiery glow of her orange eyes intensified, burning with feral delight. A sinister smirk slowly stretched across her lips, promising untold horrors and whispered nightmares yet to come. Lilith took a confident step forward, embracing the darkness within her as she prepared to strike.