Lucavion watched in quiet awe as the two Nyxaliths hovered in perfect balance, each representing their respective forces yet unified in their purpose. There was no need for a fight here—only understanding.
Vitaliara, sensing his thoughts, spoke softly. [Back when I was younger, much younger… these two benefited greatly from me. I was different then, more… whole.] Her voice was tinged with a rare sense of nostalgia.
Lucavion glanced at her, intrigued. “What do you mean?”
She turned her head slightly, the moonlight reflecting off her white fur, which seemed to shimmer faintly. [In the past, I was much more than what I am now. My connection to life energy was vast, and I could grant or take vitality as I saw fit. Tiax and Laxa were drawn to that power. They learned to thrive because of me.]
Her words painted a picture of a time when Vitaliara’s abilities had been even more formidable than they were now. A time when her mere presence could alter the very balance of life and death itself. The Nyxaliths, ancient though they were, had once relied on her.
At the very least, that was how it would look if Lucavion did not know Vitaliara.
For some reason, he felt a little bit different. From the gaze that the two monsters were showing to Vitaliara, while there was undoubtedly respect and reverence, there was also something different, something else.
Fear.
These creatures undoubtedly feared Vitaliara, as if they had seen a ghost. Even now, while he was here, the one who had slaughtered all those monsters, they did not pay much attention to him and rather were focused on Vitaliara, who was in her weak state.
He muttered to himself, “Why does it feel like there’s more to this? It’s not just reverence…”
Vitaliara, hearing his words, glanced back at him, her expression as calm and composed as ever. [What’s important is that these younglings are willing to give up their lives,] she said smoothly, her voice carrying an air of finality. [That’s what truly matters.]
Lucavion’s gaze flicked between her and the Nyxaliths, the unease still nagging at him. But Vitaliara, in her usual way, acted oblivious to the deeper emotions at play. She stepped closer to the water, preparing for the moment of her recovery, as if the tension in the air was nothing but a fleeting detail.
He sighed softly, pushing the thought aside. For now, what mattered was allowing her to regain her strength. Whatever strange history lay between her and these ancient creatures, it was something that would have to wait.
Lucavion studied the Nyxaliths for a moment longer, understanding the sincerity behind their actions. Despite the fear they clearly held for Vitaliara, they had chosen this path, showing their willingness to be part of her recovery. If they had truly wished to resist, they could have attacked him and continued the fight. But they hadn’t.
This was their way of showing respect, even if it was laced with fear.
“If that’s what you want,” he muttered under his breath, his gaze softening. “I’ll honor your wish.”
Seeing his resolve, Vitaliara turned her attention fully toward him. [Good. Now, listen carefully. Because of the unique nature of these two, the balance between life and death is delicate. When I absorb the life energy, the death energy around us will become unstable—rampant, even.]
Lucavion nodded, already understanding where this was going. “And I’ll need to absorb the death energy to keep it in check.”
Vitaliara’s tail flicked in acknowledgment. [Precisely. If you don’t, the imbalance could cause chaos, not just here but in the entire forest. You’ll need to draw in the death energy and contain it within yourself, like you’ve done before with your Flame of Equinox.]
Lucavion smirked, already feeling a surge of confidence. “I figured it would come to something like this. I’m ready.”
[Good,] she replied, her tone firm. [Focus, and don’t let the energy overwhelm you. Once I begin, it’ll all happen quickly.]
Lucavion nodded once more, his confidence unwavering. As he prepared himself, Vitaliara gracefully leaped onto his shoulder, her presence both reassuring and commanding. The two Nyxaliths, Tiax and Laxa, moved with a slow and deliberate grace, signaling for them to follow.
Their glowing forms lit the way, their tails rippling through the water with elegance, parting the lake’s surface with effortless precision.
Without hesitation, Lucavion took his first step onto the lake, and to his surprise, it felt solid beneath his boots. The water, instead of giving way, held firm, rippling gently as if acknowledging his presence. Each step was measured and calm as he followed the Nyxaliths deeper into the heart of the lake.
The once still waters now seemed alive with energy, swirling beneath him, guided by the ancient forces at play.
As they progressed further, the lake’s surface began to shift, revealing a faint glow ahead. In the center of the lake, Lucavion could see something taking shape—a formation of mana, delicate and intricate. It resembled a yin-yang formation, a symbol of balance and harmony, just like the very forces they were dealing with now: life and death intertwined.
The two Nyxaliths swam in unison, their movements slow and deliberate as they encircled the formation. The air was thick with energy, and Lucavion could feel the pull of the death energy intensifying, as if responding to his presence. His Flame of Equinox stirred within him, ready to act.
Vitaliara’s eyes gleamed as she watched the formation take shape. [This is it,] she whispered, her tone serious. [The heart of the forest… and the center of their power.]
Lucavion stopped at the edge of the formation, his gaze fixed on the swirling energies before him. The balance was delicate, but it was clear that this was the place where Vitaliara would recover her strength and where Lucavion would need to hold the death energy at bay.
“It’s beautiful,” Lucavion murmured, his voice calm.
He had seen countless different scenes, but none of them seemed to be this benefit as the intricate balance of the life and death energies right here.
Vitaliara’s eyes gleamed softly as she observed the delicate interplay of energies before them, her white fur glowing faintly in the light of the formation. [It is beautiful,] she agreed, her voice quiet yet filled with the weight of her ancient understanding. [No matter where it is, as long as there is balance, everything can exist in harmony.
But when one side tilts too much—whether it’s life or death—that’s when problems arise.]
Lucavion smiled at her words, a rare expression of quiet amusement crossing his face. “True. When there is no longer death, what use is it to be alive?”
His words hung in the air, resonating with the very essence of the place they stood in. The yin-yang formation before them seemed to embody the truth of his statement—life and death locked in eternal balance, each one necessary for the other’s existence.
Vitaliara nodded subtly, acknowledging the deeper truth in his words. [Exactly. It’s a cycle, one cannot exist without the other. To live eternally without the concept of death would strip life of its meaning.]
Lucavion’s gaze remained fixed on the swirling energies.
Vitaliara’s tail flicked in agreement. [Let’s begin. I’ll absorb the life energy, and you’ll take care of the death energy, just as we discussed.]
Lucavion nodded, his focus sharpening as he prepared himself for the task ahead. This was no longer just about power—it was about maintaining the balance of the forces that governed this ancient forest.
Vitaliara closed her eyes, her body shimmering as she began to draw in the vitality of the forest. The vibrant life energy surrounding the area pulsed and flowed toward her like a gentle stream, drawn into her being as if she were an ancient conduit of nature itself.
The flowers and plants surrounding the lake seemed to respond to her, their brightness intensifying, as if willingly offering their essence.
Lucavion stood beside her, his focus sharp as he, too, began the process. His connection to the death energy surrounding the area grew stronger, and his core, the [Flame of Equinox], stirred within him, ready to absorb the dark, cold force that hung in the air. He drew in the death energy with precision, careful not to let it overwhelm him.
It flowed into him like a dense fog, filling his core, and as it did, the flame within him burned brighter, stronger, fueled by the very essence of decay and stillness.
Around them, the two Nyxaliths, Tiax and Laxa, swam in slow, deliberate circles. Their graceful movements caused the energy to swirl faster, feeding the flow of life and death energy into Lucavion and Vitaliara. The ancient creatures, who governed the balance of this forest, now played their part in assisting the process, their presence stabilizing the delicate equilibrium between the forces.
The mana formation, glowing faintly, responded to their efforts. It pulsed with energy, as though recognizing the harmony in their actions. Streams of vitality and death flowed toward Vitaliara and Lucavion, as if the forest itself was supporting them, pushing the energies directly into their beings.
Lucavion’s core surged as more death energy poured into him, filling the [Flame of Equinox] to its brim. It burned hotter with every passing second, a perfect reflection of the balance between life and death that surrounded them.
Just like that, the two, the master and the contracted familiar, started their harmonious cultivation.