Chapter 4

Ralf wanted to leave. He knew that he could leave this place and go back to the real world at any time., leaving this world made from the power of enlightenment ceremony. The altar had fulfilled its purpose to allow someone with talent to grow clear about their abilities and carve their future paths.

On the other hand, this place was not completely virtual. The floating altar was filled with the aura of magic and all the six abilities were present. The voice and the unknown statue overthrew everything Ralf knew, making him feel a devilish temptation.

'But how could the power of a devil appear in the altar? He truly hesitated as he looked at the seventh statue. Two voices fought in his head for dominance, but to no avail. "Take it, or no?"

Despite his internal struggle, Ralf's body was honest as it walked toward the statue. "The world is balanced, everything comes at a price." Balance was one of the core laws of the nature and the magic doctrine enforces the same, so what would he have to pay for this second ability?

This was the first time Ralf have ever falled into a confused struggle, but he ended up sticking his hand out anyway. His mother had told him to choose as he please, and he didn't want to give up on the opportunity despite the price.

Little Ralf was a brave boy, willing to fight for unexpected yields. He was also smart, knowing that his mother truly hoped for him to be a hero, a really great and important person.

A greater person that Bellborne.

As Ralf's little hand touched the seventh statue, it scattered into shadows that bore into his body. For a moment he felt like he was on fire, his whole body burning with soul-shattering pain that kept him awake but drove him insane.

An icy sensation shot forth from his body to collide with the flames, making him feel like he was about to be torn apart. He ground his teeth, exercising his tenacity and resolution to persist till the entirely of the shadow entered his body.

Only after the last bit of it was absorbed did he relax, the altar in front of him started to fade. His vision blurred, he saw the beautiful worried face of his mother before he lost consciousness. "I got two abilities, Mother will be so proud of me!" he exclaimed within the darkness.

A large crack appeared in the attic, the very fact that such a rare place could be damaged being appalling. Ellia didn't look good at all, blood dripping from the corners of her lips, but she could care less as she searched Ralf's body, only calming down when she saw no harm was done to him.

However, she then saw a shadow looming between her son's brows, something neither the lamp nor the moonlight could cast from their position. It was like a fog that moved across his forehead, not in a hurry to leave.

Ordinary eyes would not be able to see it, but under the power of the fourth moon Ellia trembled as she reached out for it. She felt cold twinge of pain upon contact, the result between dark energy and the magic aura.

"Nightmare creature?" Ellia screamed. She clenched her teeth and jabbed her fingers right into Ralf's temple, starting to chant the spell for prophecy from distant memories. It was a spell that she had never been able to grasp, but right now it was her best shot at freeing Ralf from menacing creature.

Ever since she lost her position as an official in the altar, Ellia had forgone all her power and the spells of power. Still, her desperate actions proved fruitful as a picture scroll flashed before her eyes.

It showed a never ending void of darkness, with no moon, no stars, only a chaotic energy pervading the universe. A large shadow loomed within the chaos, the originally messy trajectories of the energy ultimately being aimed at one position, her son.

The scroll flashed across her sight, the brief vision exhausting her energy until she couldn't even lift a finger if she tried. Still, even if she was full of vigour the image would have left her in a different position.

Nightmare creatures were different from the darkness, their energy not part of nature. Many species wandered aimlessly between the planes, feeding on the chaos of different worlds. They were cunning, dangerous, and powerful, making them loved and hated alike by various mages.

Shadow summoning was ancient, mature art. There were many spells used which were slightly higher level. These spells could give control on the powerful creatures. The chance of failure was minute, but once out of control a shadow creature would devour its summoner like it was the most delicious food they had ever seen.

Every year there was news in the mainland about accidents where mages were devoured by shades. The nightmare creature looming between Ralf's brows seemed to have some indication of life, but it was not complete.

The dark energy it possessed was not significant, able to be cleansed by a common shaman, but Ellia saw in her prophecy that it was beacon for various dark beings, summoning them to this particular plane.

Even if the shadow was cleansed it would be too late; the various dark being had already set out, and Ralf would be anchor they used to infiltrate this plane.

Once a large number of creatures attacked this plane, Ralf would only be met with two outcomes. He would either be killed in the violent collision of energy, or become possessed by the strongest of them and lose control of his body forever, becoming a vessel for the creatures of the dark.

Nobody could comprehend the laws of the plane; these creature could take a few centuries to arrive, or they could come here next month. It was all related to the power and the ability of present level. Also how they would control the boy for this purpose.