Breaking Seals I

"It is exactly as she says." The figure pulled back their hood and revealed their face. Kies was shocked to see how different the person had looked compared to how they sounded. Ammine, on the other hand, was unfazed since it wasn't her first time seeing something like this.

The figure was a handsome man with the same black hair and gray eyes as Kies. They looked like they were in their early twenties but for some reason sounded like someone that was several times older.

"Are you male or female? I can't seem to tell with your race," Ammine asked, which made Kies even more confused. The person in front of them was a man. They did not even remotely resemble a woman at all.

The figure noticed Kies's confusion and explained to him, "Our race is genderless. But, if I had to choose which better fits me, I have to go with male, and in case you ask for my name as well, it's Tonahl."

Kies had many other questions but before he was able to ask them, Tonahl stopped him and said, "Let's not get off-topic. As I said, I'm poisoned and I don't have much time to speak with you both."

"I still don't understand how you would be poisoned," Ammine asked again.

"Our race's meaning of poisoned does not mean literally to be poisoned. As you know, we are small crystals that require magic energy to survive. My crystal was damaged and magic is leaking out of it faster than I can gather it back. Once our crystals are damaged, there is no way to repair it, and in a way, it can be considered as being poisoned," Tonahl explained.

"So, you have been like this for years now?"

"Yes. It looks like I can't say much anymore. All the magic in my crystal will soon be gone."

"Is there a way to add more to it?" Kies asked. He wasn't sure why but he suddenly came up with the thought of Aeos being able to add magic to their crystals, somewhat like adding fuel to a fire.

"Do you see all those small pearls over there?" Tonahl pointed at a table beside them. It was littered with black spheres. "They're magic cores. They have the ability to act as catalysis and absorb magic from the surroundings, similar to what we do. In a sense, we can consider them as smaller versions of our own crystals."

Tonahl extended his arm towards them and opened his hand. A single core floated to him and landed on his palm. "I have been pouring their magic into my core for years. That is how I am still alive right now. But, everything has a lifespan. Those magic cores have been overused and can no longer collect magic."

Tonahl placed the core on the table for them to have a better look. It was gray and indeed looked like it was out of energy. Kies looked at the table next to the one with the exhausted magic cores and saw that there was still an entire pile that was glowing brightly.

"Aren't those magic cores as well?" Kies asked. Couldn't Tonahl use those? There were about twice as many cores in that pile compared to the one that he had used up.

"Those aren't for me," said Tonahl.

"Then who are they for?" Tonahl got up from his seat and motioned Kies to get up too. Kies did so and Tonahl directed him to an open area in one of the corners of the room. Ammine got up as well and followed.

"What are we doing?" Kies asked as he stepped into the center of what looked like another magic circle.

Tonahl started chanting something and the magic cores from before all flew towards the circle. They spun around and all dropped down to certain points in the circle. "Wait, what's going on? What is this?"

Tonahl snapped his fingers causing the magic circle to start to glow, and said, "These are for breaking your seals."

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