Morgan didn't show the slightest disappointment after hearing Boulder's conclusion. In fact, this was precisely why he had gone through the trouble of inviting the Grandmaster to his manor.
The inheritance had provided him with knowledge, methods, and records that should never have existed, but knowledge alone did not make someone a master. Morgan had spent years following instructions left behind by someone else. Compared to the man standing before him, whose understanding had been built through decades of study and countless failures of his own, he knew there were still flaws in his approach. He simply hadn't known where those flaws were until now.
With a slight motion of his hand, he signaled for the experiment to stop. The servants reacted immediately. The glowing inscriptions engraved across the platform dimmed one after another as the formation shut down. The countless metallic wires slowly withdrew from the subject's body before retreating beneath the platform once more.
Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. Although the transformation was nowhere near as severe as the previous subject, the man's body had already begun changing. His muscles had swollen unnaturally beneath his skin, while veins bulged across his chest like tangled roots. His breathing became shallow before he finally lost consciousness.
Boulder stepped forward, a pair of black gloves materializing around his hands as he placed two fingers against the subject's forehead. He remained silent for several moments. Morgan watched patiently, allowing the Grandmaster to perform his examination without interruption. A faint stream of energy flowed from Boulder's fingertips into the unconscious man. His expression gradually became more thoughtful before a quiet sigh escaped him.
"I see," Boulder said.
Morgan waited.
"The process itself isn't the problem," Boulder continued, withdrawing his hand. "The awakened are. The moment the procedure begins, an awakened core instinctively resists the foreign energy entering the body. The stronger the core, the stronger the rejection."
Boulder looked down at the unconscious man.
"Their own power tears them apart before the experiment has a chance to stabilize."
Morgan lowered his gaze toward the platform. "So that's why."
For years, he had assumed awakened individuals possessed stronger physiques and would therefore survive longer. Instead, their greatest advantage had become the very thing that guaranteed their deaths.
Boulder nodded. "Unawakened bodies have no core to interfere with the process. Ironically, they stand a better chance of surviving."
Morgan slowly absorbed the explanation. The inheritance had told him what to do, but Boulder had explained why it happened. The difference between the two was enormous.
After a moment, Boulder removed his gloves. "Your foundation isn't wrong. You've simply been solving the wrong problem."
Morgan allowed himself a faint smile. "That's exactly what I hoped you would tell me."
Boulder chuckled. "If I had told you everything was perfect, you should have questioned whether I truly deserved the title of Grandmaster."
Even Morgan found himself smiling slightly as the atmosphere inside the chamber eased considerably.
Boulder rubbed the ring on his finger, and a small object appeared in his palm. It was nothing more than a black metal bar, roughly the length of a man's forearm. Its surface was smooth and completely ordinary at first glance, lacking the intricate inscriptions normally found on forged treasures.
He handed it to Morgan, who turned it over several times. "It looks rather plain."
"It should," Boulder replied, folding his arms. "Try understanding why."
Morgan examined the bar once more but found nothing unusual, no inscriptions, formations, or visible craftsmanship.
"Exactly." Boulder's smile widened slightly. "The greatest creations rarely announce themselves."
Morgan remained thoughtful as he continued studying the metal.
"I'll leave it with you for a few days," Boulder said. "Understanding that bar may help you understand where your experiment is failing."
Morgan nodded. "I'll study it carefully."
"I know you will."
The Grandmaster glanced toward the now-empty platform.
"For today, we've learned enough."
Morgan agreed. Rushing forward after discovering such an important flaw would only produce more corpses.
As the two men prepared to leave, Boulder suddenly stopped.
"One more question."
Morgan looked back.
"You mentioned earlier that this isn't the final subject."
Morgan's expression remained unchanged. "It isn't."
"So you truly intend to use the perfected process on that individual?"
"I do," Morgan said.
Boulder studied Morgan for several moments before giving a slow nod. "I suppose that person must be very important."
Morgan's eyes remained calm. "You could say that."
He offered nothing more, and Boulder understood that the conversation had reached its end. There were some secrets that even an oath could not force someone to reveal.
.....
Meanwhile, several floors above, Shawn was preparing to leave his room.
A small smile rested on his face as he finished straightening his clothes. Eva, who had been unusually quiet all morning, finally spoke.
"You seem happy today."
"I am."
"Why?"
"Because today's my last lesson," Shawn explained.
Eva tilted her head inside his mind. "Does that mean no more studying?"
Shawn laughed. "I wish."
He doubted Morgan would ever allow him to stop learning, but finishing the tutor's introductory lessons felt like completing an exhausting marathon.
For the past two weeks, he hadn't missed a single lesson. Morning until evening, the old tutor had drilled raised letters into his fingertips until Shawn thought he'd start dreaming in dots and lines. Yet, despite all the complaints he made in his head, he couldn't deny how much he had learned. He could now slowly read entire pages through touch alone. It was far from fast, but compared to the day he had first entered the library, the difference was astonishing.
More importantly, Morgan hadn't appeared once. For Shawn, that alone was worth celebrating. He still hated the man with every fiber of his being, but that didn't mean he would waste the opportunities placed before him. Knowledge belonged to whoever possessed it, and whether it came from a friend or an enemy made little difference.
One day, he would leave this place. When that day came, he intended to take every lesson, every piece of knowledge, and every advantage he could carry with him. After all, there was no reason to leave Morgan's house empty-handed.