Prince of The Abyss

Aether looked at Kade, confused. Was the boy trying to say that the book was not empty?

That would be bizarre, after all, the book was clearly empty, there was no ink on its pages, there was only paper, pure paper.

But at the same time, why would Kade lie about something like this? Not only did it not help with anything, but he was also not someone to joke.

This was something he would do.

So, unless the student decided to give his teacher a piece of his treatment, there was something weird happening.

”You mean you can see its title and author?”

Kade quickly nodded with a small smile on his face.

”Alright, what is it?”

Aether quickly added to his question from earlier.

Kade looked down at the book once more, examining its cover.

”Awakening the Will of fire... By Luxious, the Fire master.”

Aether’s eyes widened. A master of a Will had written a book, and one like this one... but of course, he had written it!

It made sense... actually, it didn’t.

He wanted to argue that because a Will user had written the book, he could have made it so that only Will-less can read it, or the opposite, only those with Will’s.

Yet at both of his theories, it didn’t add up.

If it was for the Will-less, then why couldn’t he see it? He was also Will-less. Did he have powers, yes, but those were from the Codex; a Reader isn’t a part of the world power system, even more when it’s Trials, and you don’t take over someone.

And while this worked for the second, it wouldn’t make sense why Kade could see it. The boy didn’t have a Will, so he wouldn’t be able to see the ink.

Except he could, so what was up with that?

”Can you read some of it?”

Kade looked at Aether and nodded, quickly opening the book and starting to read.

”Awakening a Will... is truly magical, the power going through your bones... It’s like you are reborn, like a whole new world you couldn’t see before, awakened just in front of you. Depending on an Element, you feel more relaxed around. How much I feared fire when I was a small child... and look at me now.

Ironic, isn’t it?

But who could have known that a Will-less boy would awaken a Will, since they’re usually given at birth? How could I have gotten one... many said I was lying, some even saying I should get executed for lying, about something so... pure and divine.

It was as if I was disrespecting their God... but that’s how it is. Will’s have truly transcended powers, their higher being that people look up to. If you hold one, your life is suddenly worth more than one without a Will.

I guess I was lucky.

Even more after the previous Master of the Fire Will took interest in my story, deciding he wanted me to be his successor... at first I was hesitant, after all, born a Will-less, I hated the Will-masters for what they did in the war...

But in the end, I gave in.

Knowing that once that old man dies... I wouldn’t... be him.

Even if it had taken his role, I never became him, nor did I want to be who he was.

With my power and name... I wanted to do something great.

...

If you are reading this... then praise me, I succeeded.

My child self would be proud.

...

My goal was to help other Will-less awaken... hard to do, when I didn’t even know how I magically awakened... how my Will manifested... so you could say I experimented on myself.

I was always someone with... a deep pride, a strong Will, strange that I wasn’t born with powers, huh?

Yet at the same time, that strong Will was the reason I awoke.

A Will is born with the human... but creating one is still possible even after birth... it just needs the one doing so to have a Will strong enough to compete against those born with it...

The book I wrote this in, specifically, specificaly the ink was modified so only those who can awaken can read it.

...

...

So if you are reading this... awaken.”

...

...

Aether stared at Kade in confusion, the boy staring back at him even more confused than he was.

He had no idea what the guy had written in the book...

At first, he starts with his childhood... yet it’s also where the first thing happens, that should not happen.

A Will can’t be created, or at least that was what everyone knew. But then, how had he been able to give birth to one?

It was true that he didn’t understand every single bit of the power system in this strange world, but he at least knew the basics, and this was the most basic thing out of all of it.

So was he wrong about it?

The Master of the Fire had explained it, but very vaguely so, saying that it needs a strong Will, just like Kade had, hence why he was able to read the book. Because he had one of the brightest embers in the whole book. Many Will users he has seen have a weaker fire inside their eyes.

Yet at the same time, it’s all he says... the requirements, not how to do it.

He just says to awaken, as if it can be done through reading some words inside a book.

But... what if the author knew that?

Aether’s eyes widened at that thought... since it made sense.

Funny enough, it was something he also did... making others do the work.

It might sound bad, but it isn’t.

If they had to say, the master was trying to spark hope in the reader, which is why he first shared his story, so the reader can relate to him and see themselves in them. So when he reveals that they can also awaken just like he did, hope is born.

That hope is used to make the readers try different things to awaken, to try their best. There isn’t a clear instruction because awaking is probably something each has to do on their own, and in their own way.

So in a sense, it was just like his training.

The Fire Master lets the reader awaken by themselves.

”Is there something else written in the book?”

Aether questioned.

Kade looked back at the book, scrolling through the pages. ”Its just the word awaken written over and over again...” But then he stopped. Stopping at a specific page, as if he had noticed something.

”The basement may hold something interesting.”

’Hell no!’

It did hold something interesting, a dead trap.

...

...

But... something was off.

Why would the book be telling them about the trap? After all, it activates the moment you step into the tower; you never get the chance to get up first. So why is it? There was no reason for him to mention it.

Also, why would he be trying to trap someone who could read the book, someone who can awaken, if he wants to help others do so?

It was as if two different personalities were overlapping each other.

Aether rubbed his chin... before rushing to climb down the ladder.

Kade had been caugh of guard, putting the book in the backpack, he followed Aether down the ladder.

Climbing down as fast as possible, Aether felt as if something was wrong, which is why he was in a rush. And he was right to do so.

As reaching the first floor, the floor was still gone, yet at the same time, below, in the basement, the dirt was gone, with only bones remaining on the ground... and a passageway in the wall.

’What? How did this place shapeshift?’

Aether squinted his eyes before looking back at Kade and signalling for him to stay where he was, as he let go of the ladder, falling back in the hole.

And fortunately, the skeletons didn’t awaken. He was a bit worried they would still attack, but no.

Seeing this, he quickly signaled to Kade to jump down with him. It was a risk, after all; he wasn’t fully sure they could get back up.

...

But at the same time, they would be stupid not to go inside the passageway.

Inside was pure darkness, no light.

Which wasn’t a problem, due to Eden, but at the same time, he was a bit sorry for Kade, after all, the boy had walked in the darkness so many times, not knowing where he was going, just following him and hoping that he knew what he was doing.

Relying on his words to make up for his surroundings.

Maybe when they got back to the city, he was going to have to buy something to make light.

...

Though if they had money for it, he still had to somehow get himself a blade.

...

”Whatever, let’s just see what this thing is.”

He muttered under his breath as he took the first step inside the dark passageway.