Kharon's eyes slightly widened as he heard Aidan's answer. As Aidan continued his explanation, Kharon thought about the changes brought about by the arcane obelisk.
'This room is possibly as durable as a pre obelisk continent? And the tier 4 iron-tusked boar gravity manipulation, would it be able to destroy this room if it went all out? I think I understand why it underestimated me now...'
"Kharon are you listening to me?"
Kharon slightly flinched before focusing on Aidan's inquisitive gaze.
"Yeah sorry, I was just thinking about something. You should go and carry out your ritual, the faster you ascend to tier 4, the less time it will take for you to fully assimilate with your core."
"You are telling me this as if you aren't coming with me. Unless you don't want to..."
Kharon slowly shook his head as his eyes met Aidan's.
"I will definitely be there, if you want me to be."
"Great! Then let's start going. We need to hurry before it's too late."
"Before we go, I just want to ask. Why did you come here in the first place if your ritual is going to happen outside?"
Sweat began rolling down his face as Aidan nervously answered, "This is a room you can use to try out your abilities. You haven't been a wielder for very long, so this is the perfect place for you to learn how to utilise your powers to the fullest. I will be able to help you heal..."
Aidan then quietly whispered, "If I make it..."
The pair then quickly ran up the stairs before making their way outside. Aidan didn't take cover himself like he usually did and went out without any protection to his arms or face. Kharon looked at Aidan before dismissing his question.
'Maybe he usually doesn't wear his cloak outside...'
As they stepped out into the bright, sunny street, some heads turned towards Aidan. They all stared at him with a mix of emotion as he walked past them indifferently. Kharon quietly watched with a blank stare as the passers-by looked at Aidan.
'Nevermind, this must be his first time showing his face in public. I don't see anything wrong though, shouldn't the ladies be swooning over him. Unless they find the lighter parts of his face and hands unappealing...'
Kharon's face remained unchanging but his eyes betrayed the disdain he felt towards the onlookers.
As they continued to walk, Kharon decided to ask Aidan a question.
"Is this the first time you are walking without your cloak in public?"
"Yes, I usually have my cloak on when I am not at home. It makes me feel more comfortable, atleast it was comfortable for me before. Now I don't feel like I have to hide myself. And that is thanks to you Kharon."
"Me? But I haven't done anything, except get in your way and cause inconveniences. You would be better off without me."
Aidan's eyes swept through the busy streets before falling on Kharon as he said, "You can't say that, because it is a lie. You have allowed me to truly come out of my shell. I have a good relationship with several people. But I have never truly been honest with them about myself. I have secrets that I hide from people, even you..."
"So what? I have secrets aswell, it doesn't mean we aren't friends or that we aren't close. I trust you and I think you trust me, that's enough. We don't need to know everything about each other. If you never want to share something with me, that's fine but if you do, I will be here."
Aidan's face softened as Kharon gave him a bright smile.
"I thought your emotions were gone, you didn't lie did you?"
"You know it's still possible to smile without emotions right? And I never outright said my emotions are gone. I only said that I think they are gone. But I currently think they are repressed as they keep fluactuating. Maybe they will get more stable with time or maybe you are the one who draws them out. Who knows?"
The pair walked in a comfortable silence as they soon reached their destination. A giant building which towered over the whole city was right infront of them. Kharon stared in silent awe at the grandeur of it while admiring it's architecture.
"Sometimes I forget we are in a world full of monsters and arcane anomalies. The level of development humans have reached in two centuries is quite outstanding."
"You shouldn't forget that we have runic magic and other mystical powers. Buildings like this will probably be obsolete in a few decades. Replaced by spatial dimensions which don't occupy as much space. As soon as the runes for grand spatial spaces are developed."
"What about your wardrobe portal?"
"It isn't made with runes, but from a tier 4 essence core of the path of cosmos. It isn't easy to obtain essence cores from essence beasts due to how rare it is for a physical core to form. It's easier to get essence cores from humans; however it's obviously unethical and inhumane. Researchers still don't know why humans have a higher chance of forming essence cores after their deaths."
Kharon listened intently to Aidan while the reached the doors to the grand building.
"Tell me, what is this building?"
"It's the headquarters for the arcane association, the main governing power of the cities. Their reach spans over the whole continent, which is why the cities don't fight for resources. Their main headquarters are in an unknown location. People say they are situated at the Shattered Core. But that's just a rumour, most researchers think they reside in a pocket dimension."
"And how do you know so much about researchers?"
"It's... Nothing, I don't like talking about it."
Kharon shrugged as they made their way inside the building. As they stepped through the doors, the first thing that could be seen was a massive insignia on the wall. It was silver in colour and showed a wide tower with several stars floating above...
'So that was their symbol on those uniforms... Makes sense, if the arcane association are in control of almost everything, then they would definitely be responsible for the city's protection. But what exactly don't they have control of?'
As Kharon continued to stare at the emblem, he felt a tug on his arm. Aidan pulled him towards a long queue as they waited for their turn to be attended to.
While warily looking around, Kharon whispered, "Why are we here? Do you need authorisation to become a tier 4 wielder?"
"We are here because I need a place to attempt the ritual. It isn't mandatory to ask for permission before ascending. Unless you are attempting to become tier 3 or above, though that is very rare. Being a wielder is already very profitable due to dangers surrounding the rituals. With a population of about fourteen million in Lunaris Haven, only about fifty thousand of those people are wielders."
As the pair slowly moved up the line, Aidan continued to explain the benefits of being a wielder until they were called by young women with fair skin and pale blonde hair.
"Hello, what can I help you with today?"
"I am here to request a space for my ascension ritual."
"State your name, path and current tier please."
"Aidan Brighthart, path of radiance, currently tier 5."
The women stopped typing on her device while looking at Aidan in awe.
"You are the scion of the Brighthart family? Sorry for keeping you waiting sir, right this way."
Aidan chuckled uncomfortably as the lady stood up from her post and escorted the pair to a private room. She frantically ran around as she offered them some snacks and refreshments before leaving to find her manager.
"You didn't tell me your were such a big deal. Scion? I don't think your family is just well off anymore. But I understand that you don't like sharing things about your family. I am here if you ever want to talk."
"Thank you Kharon."
Kharon tilted his head as he asked, "Thank you? I haven't done anything that deserves a thank you."
"Being my friend is enough... You would expect the scion of a prestigous family to have a lot of friends and connections. However I don't have any. Well I don't have close friends who I actively interact with and my connections are... Let's say not the best, if you know what I mean."
Kharon's lips curled up as he began to laugh. At that moment the door to the room swung open, revealing a man who could not be over thirty walking into the room. His mere presence felt both calming yet suffocating, his large robes flowed in the air and his emerald eyes met Kharon's then flickered onto Aidan. Kharon visually tensed as the man took a sit opposite Aidan.
"Well, well, well if it isn't my favourite beast hunter. I hear you are here to attempt your tier 4 ritual."
"Yes sir."
"Good, good I guess that means you have completely assimilated with your essence core. And in just over six months. Very impressive young Brighthart. Your mother took a year to completely assimilate with her essence core, but you completely shattered her record. I am sure she will be proud and surprised."
Aidan's face slightly twitched as he said, "I guess she will..."
"Well, I guess we'd better get you ready. But before that, tell me. Who is your friend over there."
"This is... Raven. Raven Duskveil."
At the mention of the name Duskveil, the man's presence seemed to be amplified several fold. Kharon and Aidan felt a crushing force on themselves as the man looked at Kharon with clear malice.
"Well, I guess your friend will have to die then..."