With the concentrated sunlight on the small pot, black fog intensified and I know the time has come.
Putting on my mask, I walked towards the pot with a jar full of light yellow liquid.
When I was a safe distance away, the pot vibrated, and then…
-Booooooom!
With an enormous boom, the black smoke cleared up and vanished into the sky.
After waiting for a moment, I walked forward towards the now calm pot.
Checking the state of the core, I poured the liquid into the burning purple pot.
The previously black and burned core started regaining the shine it had when it was filled with demonic energy.
The black turned lighter and then slowly turned white.
The white one exuded a powerful light and started changing colors.
A faint purple-colored core then went darker and darker. It stopped on the majestic purple and then the process stopped.
Turning off the heat, I made a hole in the pot and collected the final liquid that came out of this process.
We can use it in some other experiments so I should store it.
It might come in handy in the future when I needed to do high-level enchantments on non-conductive materials.
Taking out the core with a gloved hand, I looked at it thoroughly.
It was my first time seeing an energy core, and it was a purified demonic core on top of everything.
Its round surface was shining with purple light and small white particles like sand danced inside it.
‘Let’s start,’ I nodded after admiring the core. 𝗼𝐯𝗹．𝐞𝘁
I walked inside after clearing everything outside.
My closed training would start after today and I had prepared everything for this.
Closing and sealing the cave with whatever Mana I had, I walked back inside.
Standing in the middle of the huge magic circle that I finished with much difficulty, I placed the core on the (eye).
Taking a few steps back, I waited for the reaction to start.
The magic circle started lighting up in purple, then it turned into white.
Watching this unfold, my heart beat in excitement.
The density of Mana inside the room started going up as I felt everything around me more clearly.
I had already stockpiled food, so I was really ready for this.
“Let’s breakthrough to (tier-2)!” I shouted in excitement and worry.
The time I would be in this cave, the beasts outside might pass through the webs and probably… I can get cornered in this cave.
I can only pray nothing like that happens while I am in here.
After that, I can go more deep inside this great forest.
***
“Havi? Let’s take a break now. You are working too hard. I know how you feel, I do.
But… working like this is just foolish.
What do you think Eon would say if he sees his grandfather like this?”
A middle-aged yet beautiful lady with sea-blue hair and beautiful brown eyes walked into a room filled with piles of papers.
The room was very large and beautiful, but the floor was filled with all kinds of bundles of paper.
They were the reports from every search party, and individuals hired by Nolen and him.
It has been a month since we lost Eon and he has been working like this every day, blaming himself.
Unlike Brian, who was devastated at the start and didn’t leave his room, he was working too hard to find him.
He was doing his work properly on top of going through the reports filled with unnecessary details.
Brian was able to recover after some days, but there was still a void left in him.
He started training so that he could be stronger and help in finding Eon.
But thankfully, he wasn’t overworking himself.
Nolen was being stronger than ever right now and we knew that was only because Eon asked her to.
As his grandmother, she was proud beyond joy, but… she didn’t have the luxury to overwork like these fools.
Just like Nolen, she had to stay strong.
Even though she had shed tears in the agony of this situation, she had to stay strong.
Strong enough to at least support this fool before her.
He was someone many people looked up to, and many people idealized him. Not only in this capital or empire but the entire continent.
If someone like him does something like this, how would I feel?
The dark circles under his eyes were dark, clearly visible, even though it was dark in the room.
Under the dim light of the large ceiling lantern, his blond hair and bright face were glowing.
Still dignified and simple expression overwriting the tired blue eyes.
Looking up at me, he smiled.
“Griz, I’m fine~. I will be aright even if I don’t rest,” he said in a confident voice.
And… I knew it was true.
He wasn’t someone some mere paperwork or sleep could hinder. He was above those common things.
But that didn’t mean he could ignore me.
“It won’t do~! You haven’t slept for a week now! I’m to even telling you to sleep. Let’s go for a walk~,” I wasn’t angry, but I was still worried.
Not only he but my whole family was in a similar situation.
Everyone was worried and everyone had to be strong for as long as required.
Nolen was there for Brian, El and Aug were supporting each other. Though Carla was doing more training than usual, she was fine.
Theo was supporting Hazel and Alf.
And… I have to do everything I can to support my beloved husband.
Carefully walking through the piles of paper, I stood beside him.
Extending my hand, I asked in a low voice.
“Let’s go~,” I smiled, and… he sighed.
“I have won wars, destroyed enemies, obliterated demons but… winning against you, my dear, doesn’t look possible in this life~,” he smiled warmly as usual and held my hand.
“That is indeed right, my beloved~,” smiling brightly, we started walking.
We walked outside in the garden and spotted Theo with Haze and Alf sitting under an umbrella in the garden.
Haze was making something from flowers with her usual cheerful and beautiful smile.
Theo was looking at both of them warmly while disturbing them with the wind. Playful as always.
Alf was reading a thick magic tome, as usual.
He really wanted to be a Mage and <Awaken> as fast as Eon.
But he had to wait a bit longer.
Unlike Eon, he didn’t have any [Auxiliary] skill related to Mana to help his Mana grow.
But… he didn’t need that.
He was already a genius with these magic spells and tomes.
He understood them as Carla understood her sword.
Eon, Carla, Alf, they were all… amazing.
Each one was a genius in their field, different from normal children of their age.
This definitely made their mothers worry.
I could understand the worry and joy of their mothers and… I strangely enjoyed it.
They were better than many parents, and that meant that we were successful in teaching them properly as parents and as guardians.
We will have another member in this big family very soon and the joy of this whole situation might have been much greater.
But… we lost a part of our hearts.
We lost a rope connecting every one of us.
But we still had hope.
We at least knew he wasn’t dead and… I hoped we were right.
We were right that he was alive, well, and healthy.
He had to be alright or else… there might be many things even I can’t imagine.
Sitting down on the bench beside the fountain, I put my head on his shoulder.
“He will come back. I know he will,” I whispered, closing my eyes.
Putting his head on my head, he grabbed my hand not saying anything.
The sun was warm, and the shades of the surrounding plants were great.
The cool air which was bathed in the cool water of the fountain was soothing.
This spot was set to enjoy things like this particular feeling.