As they finished eating what was left on their plates, Kharon and Aidan looked at each other before they cleared they table and kept the remaining food in an aetheric cooling chamber. Aidan proceded to wash their dinnerware before putting them back in the cupboard.
As he did this Kharon was busy having a shower and changing. As he closed the door to his room, Aidan walked up to him.
"Here is your cloak. It's of really good quality by the way."
Kharon accepted the neatly folded cloak as he answered back, "It's a tier 4 cloak of the path of darkness. It's called the Stalker's Cloth."
As the two men walked through the house, they continued to talk about several more things before they walked out of the door and into the noisy neighbourhood. As Aidan closed the door with several patterns, Kharon watched as several people walked around. They all wore dark clothing which made them blend in with one another.
The giant rift in the sky stood menacingly while emitting a faint glow which was reflected everywhere in the bustling area. Once Aidan was done with the door, he stood next to Kharon before giving him a light nudge.
"Are you ready?"
Kharon took a short glance around before saying, "I think I am."
They both started to walk down the crowded street. The path was illuminated by aetheric streetlights, the signboards of several shops shone with multi-coloured lights, attracting several customers.
Aidan pulled Kharon towards a small stand and bought two small frostfang popsicles before offering him one.
As Kharon stared at the cold, blue solid he looked at Aidan who was busy savouring the treat as he copied his actions. He was surprised by the sweet taste of the popsicle and quickly finished it in a few bites. But as he did this, a strange sensation suddenly came over him. He could feel a cold, unpleasant sensation in his head as he let out a slight yelp as he clutched his head.
Aidan looked at Kharon before smiling and placing his free hand on his head. A warm sensation passed over Kharon as the pain quickly subsided.
"Thank y-"
Kharon stared at Aidan who was looking at him with a smug expression as he took a small bite of his popsicle before his face frozen and he let out a yelp.
'Idiot...'
Kharon mockingly looked at him before laughing and pointing at Aidan. Aidan nudged Kharon before a small smirk crept onto his face. He then offered the remaining popsicle to Kharon who warily took it.
As the pair continued down the street, Kharon watched as children ran around holding brightly coloured swords with wide smiles on their faces and their parents walked behind them chatting and smiling with each other.
Kharon looked at all of this with a slight smile.
"Tell me Aidan. How can people walk around with such happy expressions without worrying about the possibility of an essence beast or a powerful arcane phenomena attacking them? Are they even aware of the danger that the zones pose? Isn't it possible that the zones could shift?"
Aidan scratched his head with a thoughtful expression before looking at Kharon with a bright smile.
"Some of these people know the danger that zones and essence beasts pose while others don't. However those who do know smile regardless. Not because they are fully sure of the safety provided by the city, but to reassure the younger generation that there is nothing to fear. As long as beast hunters hunt and kill essence beasts and the arcane association continue to power the city's aetheric barrier columns and record arcane phenomena, they will be safe."
As Aidan looked wistfully at the people around them, he said, "I want to protect this people no matter what. That is why I chose to be a beast hunter, I don't want to be sheltered from the dangers of the real world. I will become a tier 1 wielder and stop anything that threatens my city... No. Not just Lunaris Haven, but the whole human race; I want to protect everyone."
As Kharon looked at him, he thought, 'He is very ambitious and determined. And his goal his so selfless... I feel guilty for selfishly wanting to get stronger for myself. But that doesn't diminish my goal. Does it?'
Kharon stayed quiet as he finished his popsicle before saying, "I will make sure you accomplish that goal. If you die before then, I will kill you... So don't die and become the strongest beast hunter in the world."
Aidan beamed at Kharon, revealing rows of straight, pearly white teeth as he said, "I guess I will hold you to it. I also expect you to become a poweful tier 1 wielder, regardless of your goals. But I wouldn't be able to protect the whole world alone. So will you share this goal with me...?"
Kharon stood still for a few seconds, stunned by what Aidan had just asked him.
'He wants me to share his goal...? I'm not even a beast hunter. And I don't have a deep connection to humanity as a whole...'
As Kharon thought about what Aidan had asked him, he noticed Aidan scratching his head as he said, "Forget what I just said, it was selfish of me to ask that..."
"I don't think I am worthy of pursuing that goal. I am not the strongest nor am I the most moral person. I would end up hurt more people than I save..."
Aidan looked at him with an unreadable expression as he said, "Do you really believe that?"
"Yes. But anyways, to get to tier 1 you need to go through the other tiers first. So how close are you to completely assimilating your essence core?"
"I have completely assimilated with my core. I just need to get the instructions for the tier 4 ritual and carry it out."
Kharon's eyes slightly widened to hear that Aidan's essence core was fully integrated with his being. As they continued to walk, Kharon asked, "How long did it take you...?"
"Just over six months. My mind was already aligned with the path of radiance. You know, there is a belief that you don't choose your path, but your path chooses you. Sometimes it makes a lot of sense and sometimes it makes no sense."
"I... I think I agree with it somewhat."
Aidan took a short glance at him before asking, "What about you? How close are you to assimilating with your essence core?"
"I have just over fifty percent done."
"Didn't you become an arcane wielder yesterday?"
"Yes, but my essence core half merged with me after I ascended. I still don't know why though, it's like my soul was already predisposed to it."
"That is possible. From what I know, the children of arcane wielders tend to assimilate quicker with their essence cores. But it depends on if they go down the same path as their parents. The higher the parent's tier, the quicker the assimilation."
'So is it possible that my parents were powerful arcane wielders? That would explain my vision, all those powerful arcane wielders in that war. Maybe my parents were also a part of that war...'
Kharon took a while to order his thoughts as Aidan pulled him into a dark alley. As they continued to walk, the surrounds became a lot different. The once bright and noisy scene was replaced by broken, decrepit buildings with thin, sickly people all around.
As Kharon saw the scene before him, he decided to hold off on asking Aidan another question until they were back to the bright, bustling part of the city.
The sickly figures followed the pair with their eyes, which begged for anything that could be given which would help them. Some women in revealing clothing winked at them and signalled towards the building they stood next to.
Kharon looked away and continued to walk next to Aidan. He had nothing to offer these people; the only things he could offer were his mystic constructs. But he didn't plan on giving them away.
Aidan led him to a dark, run-down building which towered over the others. Once he reached the door, he rhythmically knocked on the door. After a while the door swung open and the two went inside before the door quickly closed.
The inside of the building was very different to the outside. Though it was still dark, it wasn't as dirty or pitiful and there were even a few expensive looking decorations. Several figures stood imposingly next to the walls, sharpening weapons and looking at the intruders with fierce gazes.
Aidan walked nonchalantly with Kharon at his side. As they made their way to another section of the building Kharon tripped but was quickly saved by Aidan. After this display of weakness, the fierce stares started being aimed mainly at Kharon who seemed to shrink under all the attention.
They went through several corridors until the reached a large door. Aidan knocked on it but this time he used a different rhythm before the door was opened. As they steps through, Kharon noticed the carcasses of several arcane creatures and even humans which hung from the wall. They all looked menacing, except for the fact that they were all dead. Probably killed by a powerful wielder; mostly a beast hunter. At the end of the room, sitting on a type of throne was a figure who was surrounded by guards.
As they walked up to the figure a deep voice could be heard.
"I guess you are here for the instructions to the rituals. Right Aidan?"