Descending Into A Novel-Chapter 75:Rayleigh Von Mez (5)

Rayleigh still hadn’t formed his core yet. But it was for a good reason that he delayed such an important event.

He was planning on forming two cores. Thus, two different mana attunements.

If Rayleigh formed only one core, the chances his mana attunement would be useful for casting healing spells was low. Forming two cores helped him to increase the chances of forming such an attunement—life, light, he would even be willing to accept a blood-attunement. Despite all the negative reputation around it.

Anything that would help his brother to recover

He took a deep breath, closing the thick book shut.

The process of forming two cores was already well known, but knowing something and doing it was different.

Compared to the regular process, in which an individual would continuously cycle mana throughout their bodies, purifying it until it was slowly converted into the mana attunement of the individual. Before condensing it in an area to form a core.

To form two cores however, required one to essentially repeat the same process twice throughout the body. Ensuring that neither cycles touched each other at all. The difficulty was massively increased. Like trying to draw with one hand and write a novel with the other.

If either cycle even made the slightest bit of contact, then the process of converting would immediately be disrupted. The user would be able to only form one mana attunement rather then two.

The only downside of forming two cores was the smaller size, as the mana used to form the cores was essentially cut in half. Causing the speed of mana conversion and storage to be reduced.

Forming a core wasn’t something you could just cancel either. It required your full focus, messing up here would kill your future.

Once you started, you couldn’t go back. This was the true boundary that separated mortals and the ascended.

And today, Rayleigh was going to become one of those ascended.

He ran through the entire manual in his head again. Remembering the exact path each cycle should take. Following his natural veins, arteries and blood capillaries.

Rayleigh had been practicing his own multitasking skills, practicing something with one hand and something else with the other for months now.

He had even been focusing on improving his own mana control skills. Creating patterns in the air with his mana, constantly discharging it to train his output. Added on top of his already extreme talent for it, sage Kristen had remarked that he possessed the same skills as a mage who had formed their first circle.

The room was completely silent, encased with thick soundproofing material. Guards waiting outside protecting him and preventing him from being disturbed.

Sitting in a lotus position, he ran his senses over his body. Doing a final check of everything.

With a thought, he mobilized the mana stored in his body. First sectioning it into two equal half’s, one in his upper body and one in his lower body.

The upper half soon started moving, forming a cycle that ran continuously. Occasionally, it would discharge any impurities as it passed through certain regions. Causing his upper body to be shrouded in a blue light.

Making sure the upper cycle was stable, he gritted his teeth. Straining his mental power as he forced the lower half to start cycling as well.

Feeling the two smooth flowing cycles, he breathed a small sigh of relief. The hardest part was over, now he just had to maintain the current two cycles until they were fully converted into his own unique attunements. Afterwards, he would condense it in the region next to his heart. Forming one core with one cycle, then the other core with the other cycle.

Rayleigh’s lower body was now covered in the same blue light, the mana flowing through his upper body turning into a deep shade of purple. The few bits of his mental power that he could still conjure up struggling to find out his mana attunement.

’Purple?’

He could only think of a few possible mana attunements—from what he remembered, necromancy magic was a darker shade of purple, so it was unlikely. Poison or flower attunement seemed unlikely as well. Amethyst? But it looked too...mystical to be amethyst. It had a dark, yet sparkly color. He removed that possibility as well.

Ignoring the upper half for now, he focused on his lower half. Seeing a deep golden amber color. Confusing him even further as well.

Gold-attunement was much more shiny and bright, same thing with light and he was using mana so holy energy was obviously out. Amber or topaz? He had never even heard of such attunements before.

He ignored that as well, he had now fully converted both cycles into his unique mana attunement. Now he had to actually form a core with them, with his skill. He still had a decent amount of mana for both cores—meaning he could slightly mitigate the main downside of forming two cores.

His posture stiffened slightly, now was the crucial moment.

Rayleigh’s upper cycle stopped moving. The mana slowly coagulating into a single area next to his heart. With his control, the mana slowly condensed more and more. Becoming denser as it turned more solid and spherical.

Repeating this process with his lower cycle, two small spheres. The size of baby mandarins. Both located next to his heart.

He exhaled, before inhaling deeply again. Thin streams of mana entering through his skin and breath, travelling to his cores—where they would be converted and stored there or saturate throughout his body in a several hour long process.

Raising his left hand, he controlled some of the mana to leave his cores and exit through his fingers.

Two thin streams of mana, resembling water flowed out of his fingertips. One a deep, mystical shade of purple and the other a rich, golden amber color.

He quietly pumped his fist in the air, successfully forming two cores was a feat that put him on the same level as the ascended who were remembered throughout Erde.

Standing up, he stretched his body. His legs sore from sitting for so long, before leaving the room. Only to be immediately met nearly face-to-face with a messenger, telling him the moment they made eye contact.

"His Majesty wishes to meet you."

***

"Greetings your Imperial Majesty."

Raymond knelt down on one knee, his father had always been a legendary figure. His very presence was enough to cause most knights to falter. His deeds were known throughout the whole world. Becoming feared even among the other races.

But now, he seemed so much more impossibly unfathomable. His golden hair that shined lustrous, a living God of War. His very existence protected the Virex Empire from the other races.

His deep eyes stared at him kneeling. Rayleigh felt scared to even look at him. He could barely even keep himself from collapsing now.

"How disappointing."

Rayleigh stiffened, his father’s disapproval clear for him to see. His deep voice holding a tone that expected everyone and everything to obey him, with no question.

"A mage, all because of a worthless brother. I expected better. "

"I d-dis-disagree. W-William i-is not w-worthless. Your Imperial Majesty."

He looked up slightly, making eye contact with his father. He could feel his own body shaking. Every cell in his body screaming at him only one thing: He would die, and he could do nothing about it if his father wished for it.

"At least you have enough nerve. Fine. Study your magic all you want."

"But know this boy."

He stood up from his throne. His crown glittering and his cape bellowing slightly as he left the throne room. Not even looking back at his own son as he continued.

"There is no place for a mage in my empire."

Rayleigh could only laugh to himself. Muttering.

"Ha. I never wanted to be part of your damn empire anyways."

He left the throne room as well. His resolve burning as his mind replayed the conversation he held with his father. His first talk with his father in seven years, and his first words were ’How disappointing’.

So what? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Reaching his brother’s room, he rapped his knuckles on the door. Waiting for a reply from his mother or one of the servants inside.

...hearing no reply, Rayleigh felt his heart sink. Opening the door, he saw a red-haired man standing over his brother. An ominous feeling arising from him.

"...Who are you?"

His mother and the servants assigned to his brother were gone. Something that would never happen, his mother would never leave William alone. Even going so far as to move into the room next to his, and eating every meal with William. Let alone her mother, the servants entire duty was to accompany his brother 24/7 no matter what.

"I asked. Who. Are. You."

The man turned to him, a sickening grin on his face as he recognized the second prince of the Virex Empire.

"Greetings, Prince Rayleigh. You came here at a very unfortunate time you know?"

"If you recognize me, then answer my question. Who are you?"

He raised his hands, revealing a small dagger in his left hand. Causing Rayleigh to clench his fists tightly.

He had only learnt a few basic white magic spells. None of which could help him in a fight right now. He also lacked a longsword, making him unable to use the Von Mez Sword Style. He could use the Von Mez Fighting Style, but against someone with a larger build—the chances of defeating him were low.

Setting that aside, Rayleigh doubted he could do anything. This man gave off the same aura as the knights which had undergone seven temperings or more. Against such a foe, Rayleigh was nothing more then an ant.

"I’m your father’s secret right-hand man you see. I’m in charge of the...less then glorious deeds that must be committed. Your father isn’t exactly the saint that the commoners think he is."

"So? What do you want?"

His grin got bigger, causing Rayleigh’s heart to start beating faster. The ominous feeling taking over every part of his body.

"I was recently ordered by your father. Your mother, Lucille Seraphine de Valois. She tried to run away you see. She, the servant and that healer, grabbed your brother here and tried to make a run for it. Ahh! How noble your mother is! She even tried it while you were forming your core so as to not implicate you."

"So. I was ordered by the emperor."

Rayleigh’s heart was pounding, his thoughts racing before the man could even say the next line. But it didn’t matter whether he said it or not. Rayleigh already knew what was coming next.

"Bring back the empress consort and the crown prince, kill if necessary."

He licked the blade of his dagger, it was only now that Rayleigh could see small red stains on it.

"It’s such a shame! Such a shame! After I killed that mage and the servant right in front of her, she screamed at me. It was so loud I had to cover my ears! So I cut her head off before I went deaf."