Ronan sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, his breathing slow and steady as he focused on stabilising the flow of magic within him. The lingering pressure on his soul had diminished, but a dull ache remained—a reminder of the strain he had endured. He clenched his fists, feeling the trembling subsiding as his breathing evened out.
"My soul's still hurt, but it's not too serious," Ronan thought, his gaze lowering. "I'll recover."
After a few minutes, he pushed himself to his feet, his eyes scanning the dimly lit chamber. The walls, lined with ancient carvings, whispered of forgotten times. But it was the imposing statue of the Light Goddess that drew his attention once more. The carved figure radiated an ethereal glow, her serene face filled with both grace and authority. Glowing runes engraved around the statue pulsed faintly, emitting a lingering force that made Ronan's chest tighten.
"Those runes," he muttered under his breath. "They're the source of the soul pressure. No doubt about it."
The sensation gnawed at him like unseen hands pressing against his very spirit. Ronan's brow furrowed as he studied the runes, curiosity and frustration mingling.
"I'll need to ask Mr. Alden about these. Maybe he can tell me more about it."
Shifting his focus, Ronan's eyes landed on a large metal door embedded into the floor, partially concealed by dust and debris. It bore intricate patterns and arcane symbols, radiating a strong magical barrier. His hands brushed over the cold surface, feeling the faint pulse of restrained power.
"A magical seal," Ronan murmured. "There must be a way to break it."
A determined glint flickered in his eyes. He had no time for puzzles or complexities.
"If it's sealed with magic, then I'll break it with fire."
Ronan took a step back, summoning crimson flames that ignited around his hands. The flames twisted and crackled, the air growing hot with their intensity. Without hesitation, he thrust both palms forward, sending a stream of blazing fire directly at the seal.
The flames collided with the door, causing the intricate patterns to glow in defiance. Sparks scattered, but the seal held firm. Ronan gritted his teeth and poured more mana into his flames, the heat warping the air around him.
"Break, damn it!"
Another surge of fire roared to life, the door trembling under the relentless assault. But even as the runes flickered and dimmed, they stubbornly clung to their purpose. Ronan's arms burned with exertion, sweat dripping from his brow.
He paused, panting heavily.
"Not enough… I need more power."
Drawing upon the core of his magic, Ronan's flames shifted. Crimson embers darkened to an ominous Silver, tendrils of the Ghost Flame weaving through the blaze. The unnatural flame pulsed with soul energy, and the pressure in the room seemed to recoil in response.
"This will work."
With a fierce shout, Ronan unleashed a final burst of combined flames. The ghostly fire twisted around the seal, devouring the ancient magic. Cracks spiderwebbed across the door, glowing with an ominous light, before the seal shattered with a resounding crack.
The door groaned, the embedded stone shifting as it slid open to reveal a set of narrow stairs descending into darkness.
Ronan exhaled sharply, his hands trembling as the flames extinguished. "Got it."
Without wasting time, he cautiously made his way down the stairs. The cold air below carried a strange stillness, the stone walls lined with faint blue veins that pulsed dimly. When he reached the bottom, a second door awaited him—thicker and even more stubborn.
He tried pushing, pulling, and even searching for hidden mechanisms, but it remained unmoved. Frustration burned within him.
"Fine," Ronan growled, conjuring a thin, concentrated flame at his fingertip. The fire burned white-hot, sizzling through the air.
He traced the flame along the door's edge, the intense heat cutting through the thick metal like butter. Sparks flew as molten droplets hissed upon the stone floor. After what felt like an eternity, the door finally gave way, creaking open to reveal a chamber unlike any Ronan had ever seen.
The room was filled with glowing, light-blue stones stacked in piles, their soft radiance illuminating the chamber. The air itself seemed to hum with an ancient presence.
"Soul Stones," Ronan whispered in awe. "They… they contain Soul Energy."
Without warning, two flames emerged from Ronan's chest—the Crimson and Silver Flames flickering anxiously. As if drawn by instinct, they surged forward, greedily absorbing the energy from the stones. Ronan watched, the soul stones gradually lost their glow as the flames consumed their essence.
"What are you two doing?" Ronan murmured, the question lingering unanswered.
He gathered several stones into his storage ring, the weight of their significance bearing heavily on him. There had to be more to this chamber—a deeper truth hidden within the walls.
But despite his efforts, nothing revealed itself.
"Damn it!" Ronan cursed, kicking a nearby pile of stones. "This only gives me more questions than answers!"
A cold, heavy voice echoed through the chamber, sending a chill down Ronan's spine.
"Here is nothing more," it spoke, ancient and commanding. "This history belongs to a forgotten world. It has nothing to do with your current world history. I am grateful for what you did. But a fair warning… do not become obsessed with history. Obsessing will only bring misfortune."
Ronan's heart pounded as two lights—one blue and one yellow—emerged from the void and surged into his chest. He stumbled back, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of energy.
"If you find it difficult to understand what you have received," the voice continued, "seek a man named Alaric Viridion. He will help you. And one more thing, you said your name is Ronan? I will remember that. In the near future, we will meet again. A word of advice: Those two flames are unique; don't let anyone see those flames, and don't allow anyone to enter your inner world. I hope you understand what I am saying. See you again, Ronan."
"Wait!" Ronan gasped. "Who are you? How do you know Alaric Viridion? What about my flames? I have so many questions!"
The voice ignored his pleas.
"Enough. Eventually, you will know what I am saying. Don't worry, we will meet soon, and then I will answer your question. And go now."
In the present time.
Aria and Sylphie arrived at the left part of the rune and started to call Ronan.
"Look here," Leon said, pointing at the underground stairs. "Ronan must be inside."
Amelia crossed her arms and mocked, "I didn't, I tell you he is good for nothing."
Before anyone could respond, a sudden scream echoed through the ruins.
"AAAAAaaa!"
A portal burst open, swirling with unstable magic. Without warning, Ronan was spat out of it, tumbling to the ground with an ungraceful thud.
"Ahu, Oahu! This hurts!" Ronan groaned, clutching his side.
Darius burst into laughter, doubling over as he pointed at Ronan. "That landing… that was priceless!"
Sylphie hurried to Ronan's side, helping him to his feet. "Are you hurt? What happened?"
Ronan winced but gave a reassuring nod. "I'm okay. Just triggered some traps in the cellar and… well, here I am."
Darius's laughter only grew louder. "You flew out like a sack of potatoes!"
Ronan shot him a glare. "Oh, you think that's funny, huh?"
"Hilarious," Darius replied, barely containing his laughter.
"We'll see about that!" Ronan lunged at him, fists playfully swinging. Darius dodged with ease, his grin never faltering.
"Too slow! Come on, is that all you got?"
The two friends continued their playful brawl, laughter echoing through the ruins. Sylphie tried to interject, her voice firm. "Okay, that's enough."
But the two ignored her, too caught up in their antics.
"Enough!" she repeated, her patience thinning.
Still, they went on, bickering and sparring like children.
Sylphie's eyes narrowed. Without another word, she stepped forward and delivered a swift, controlled head bump to both of them. The dull thud was followed by twin cries of pain.
"Ohu! Ohu!" Ronan and Darius clutched their heads, tears threatening to spill.
Garrick, who had been watching the scene with amusement, chuckled softly. It was an all-too-familiar sight. Ronan and Darius never learned.
"You think this is funny, Garrick?" Sylphie turned her glare toward him, playfully shaking her fist. "Want to join them?"
Garrick's grin faltered, and he held up his hands in surrender. "No, no. I'm perfectly fine right here."
"Oni", Ronan and Darius whimpered, rubbing their forehead.
Slyphie growled at Ronan and Darius, "What did you just say?"
Darius says with fear, weaving his arm, "Nothing! Nothing! Absolutely nothing."
Ronan says, "Wait! Wait, look what I found." Ronan extended his arm, and a few glowing crystals appeared on his palm. "I found some Soul Stones inside the cellar, and after collecting them, I set foot on a trap, and it teleported me here."
Ronan hands over eight crystals to Aira and says, "You can distribute these as you like with your team. Aira, do you have a magical flying boat with you?"
Leon replies, "I have one big enough to carry us all."
Ronan says, "Then, let's go to the academy as soon as possible. I hope you don't have anything else to do."
Leon says, "Okay, then let's head back to the academy."
Leon takes out the Flying boat from his storage ring, and everyone goes on board to the academy.