Currently both brothers sat in a lotus position as they conversed with each other.
"Davi, it's not just working. How do you do it?" Russell complained as he tried controlling the nen energy for the umpteenth time.
"That I do not know," Davi responded.
"There is absolutely no way I will tell you it is due to the 'system'… Absolutely no way!" Davi thought inwardly.
"But wait a minute, are you sure that liquid of unknown origins really helped you awaken?" Davi asked on a second thought.
"Ayo! Brother, how can you say this? I already explained this to you over and over again…
It didn't feel like an awakening… It felt more like the magic energy in me that was previously sealed had broken away.
That day, I sat under the apple tree and the nen surged towards me like it wanted to swallow me whole.
It was indeed overwhelming… Not gonna lie, but I truly felt like some overpowered magnus. Well… although this was for only a few brief seconds before everything returned to normal," Russell responded.
"Hmmm…" Davi thought after hearing what he had to say.
"Similar cases like this one had occurred countless times in his previous world… Normally the root cause would be clans sealing the younger generation's bloodline or cultivation in an attempt to either protect them or a form of punishment.
The second would be that an enemy did this to them… But we don't look like people who would attract enemies unless…
It is related to our family… Yes!!!
That must be it, otherwise why would an enemy provide a solution to unblock your sealed magic when they did that to you in the first place?
Logically, it means that their family was trying to protect them from something or someone for them to seal off their magic energy… Who knows if they sealed off our bloodline?
Of course, that is if we have any in the first place," Davi thought.
Sharing his reasoning with Russell, he narrowed his eyes deeply.
Davi's hypothesis made absolute sense… But then one thing came to his mind…
"Davi… the truth is that potion is from mum… I'm sorry I hid this from you," Russell said after a huge debate within his heart.
"Ohh! Finally it makes sense now… By the way it's no biggie. I already suspected that whosoever dropped us off in that slum probably left us that.
Besides, wasn't I right previously when I said that you needed it way more than I do?
I mean, what could the blind possibly achieve?" Davi said lying through his teeth as he tried to act cool.
Of course, Russell noticed it but paid no attention to it. He was rather happy that the burden of lying was finally lifted off his shoulders.
Regaining his decorum, he asked.
"But now we know that it is mum that left that for us, the question remains…
Why did she seal my magic?
From what or whom was she trying to protect us against?
Lastly, what really is our origin?" Russell asked.
Sigh
"That is definitely one question we would not be able to answer now, at least not yet.
For now, let's focus more on what's in the present," Davi said, agreeing completely with what he said.
Russell thought, maybe I would not be able to find our origins all on my own; but perhaps together we could.
Sigh
"I am tired," both Davi and Russell said.
Laughter followed soon after.
"But Davi, even if we keep matters of our origins aside, you have not yet explained in detail how you managed to control the nen so perfectly.
I mean, if I could gain even the tiniest bit of control, perhaps then there could be a difference," Russell said.
"Hmm… How about while I try to absorb the nen, you try as much as possible to familiarize yourself with it? Perhaps then you could gain insights on how to control the nen," Davi said after further thought.
Smiles
"What can I do without you, brother?" Russell asked.
"Ughh, gross, don't say that near me," Davi reacted.
"Hahaha…" both brothers laughed.
"Can you for once stop being a drama king or queen and behave normally?" Russell asked.
"Of course I am normal… are you normal?" Davi responded.
"Fine! You win… I am not normal; now can you get on with it? The faster I gain control of nen, the higher my chances are of passing the exam," Russell said.
Soon the brothers calmed down as they focused on their respective tasks.
Davi activated the first of the Nine Hells Scripture… The Hell of Torment. Quickly, a surge of nen energy seeped into him through his pores as he cultivated.
With the breathing pattern, he slowly guided the nen in an anti-clockwise direction in his body as it was slowly being compressed to astral qi, before slowly being absorbed by his skin
His first organ for body refinement.
Soon notifications started to buzz in his head after every three drops or thereabout approximately.
[Ding!]
[Host has leveled up!]
[Exp +1]
[Exp +1…]
While this was going on, something different was going on for Russell.
After countless hours had gone by, Russell slowly began to feel the essence of what truly nen was.
Like the world itself, full of life and vitality yet totally different.
Although he did not notice this as his eyes were closed, the transformation he had when he had awakened slowly started to take place.
While this happened, he naturally started to understand nen more clearly.
Each mage had an affinity toward each element, and all elements that could possibly exist were all contained in nen, which itself was the vitality of life.
Russell's hair slowly started to change to shades of light blue. As time went on it gradually darkened over time.
Davi was completely oblivious to this. His focus was on reaching the next minor realm in body refinement. Russell, on the other hand, didn't even seem to notice that he had gained insight with a particular affinity.
Two to be precise; however, for now he could feel one a lot more than the other.
It felt like the nen that was completely devoid of colors gained light and danced in these spectral colors.
Even though Russell had his eyes closed, he could feel a warm blue-colored energy of nen slowly flowing towards him.
Although he could notice some faint green lights, they would just blink and in the next few seconds completely disappear like the fireflies in the middle of the night.
As soon as the stream of blue-colored nen energy seeped into Russell, it felt as if something broke inside him.
Completely releasing a wave of intense nen outwards like a raging tsunami.
This instantly disrupted Davi's cultivation, making him almost suffer from qi deviation as blood drained from his nose as a side effect for losing control amidst cultivation.
But Davi didn't pay any mind to this. Rather, he focused all his attention on Russell who had reached some form of understanding.
Although Davi had stopped cultivating, Russell never stopped absorbing, or rather controlling the bluish nen (which only he could see) to revolve around him at unimaginable speed.
***
While this happened, deep in the palace of the king, the Grandmaster's eyes snapped open as a pleasant smile appeared across her face.
"This year's recruit would be interesting… So another has awakened an elite ability?"
The Grandmaster looked in a certain direction. Although she could not sight Russell, she could feel the strong waves of nen coming from that distance.
"At least even though the hunt for the treasure ended up in a massive failure, I can console myself with a new batch of top talents for the academy.
Hehe, I can't wait to see the look on his face when I show him the recruits I managed to find this year," the Grandmaster thought inwardly.
Who knows the shock people would have when they see this 'infamous' Grandmaster?
***
Russell was oblivious to this.
The revolving nen of blue light slowly condensed bit by bit slowly it condensed into a drop of water.
As soon as this happened, a smile spread across Russell's face.
"Brother! I did it! I condensed a water ball!" Russell said in excitement.
"That's not something to be excited about… I bet most mages can do the same.
From this, I can deduce you have a strong affinity with the water element. This shouldn't be the limit to your power.
Besides, we are looking at you obtaining an elite ability… I doubt condensing a water ball would pass such requirements," Davi said.
His harsh critique completely destroyed Russell's enthusiasm. Although he could not deny… there were truths in what Davi said.
Regaining his focus, he studied the water ball intently.
The greenish-colored light of nen continued to appear and disappear, except this time way more frequently.
Until something unexpected happened… the green nen energy collided with the water ball.
The water ball swallowed it as if it gained intelligence, completely surprising Russell but that was not all.
With time, it felt as if he had gained more understanding about life, most in particular how fragile it was.
Immediately the ball of water started to glow, slowly turning whitish then pale green.
BOOM!
The nen energy exploded outwards before Russell collapsed on the floor.
"Russell!"
"Russell!!" Davi called out but got zero reply.
Panic set in… "Now what should I do?" he asked himself in worry.