"Did Brilnia fight against me using anima to empower her?"

"Obviously."

"No wonder her attacks hurt like hell."

"If she could, I don't doubt that she would have dissipated her enshroudment, but once you grow accustomed to it, removing it becomes a challenge in of itself. Although, you'll be glad to hear, she didn't boost her weapon with anima."

"Is that what it's called? Enshroudment?"

"When a layer of anima covers your body? Or when you wish to use anima to empower your attacks?"

"Either one. I was just wondering about the terminology of application."

"There are no official names. Everything to do with anima just falls under anima manipulation."

"Fair enough. Makes it easier on me not having to remember ten different names that all equate to slight variations of the same thing. And you said she didn't enhance her weapon with anima, right? Would the other reason besides her honour be because transferring anima is difficult?"

"It's difficult at first, but once you understand what you're doing, its simple. The problem is applying anima to most objects, including weapons and armour, will destroy them. The creator needs to construct their equipment with anima enhancement in mind."

"Huh. I didn't realize how vital anima really is until now."

"It only gets more complicated from here on out. In fact, why don't you try to inject your anima into that white box of yours."

He nodded and summoned the white box into his hands. He didn't know how to control anima quite yet, but he assumed that the anima was simply just a part of him, like another limb. Only, he could only feel it, but not see it. The white box infused with the anima in his hand. The top part folded over and revealed a blank black card.

Aleister flipped the card over. Number Zero: The Fool was inscribed on the very bottom of the card in an almost illegible text. The only illustration was a circle with a diagonal line crossed through.

"A tarot card?"

"I didn't take you for one so interested in such things," Syn said with a raised eye.

"I didn't think I was either, but I think I just forgot about their existence." He smirked. "I just remembered how Serene used to enthrall me with her tarot readings when I was a child. Never thought about them until now."

Aleister wanted to add some anima into the card, but the box was a vacuum. It uncontrollably absorbed anima from him. He suspected it would only stop after it exhausted his entire reserve.

During this time, the tarot card in his hand shifted between each of the major arcana in an endless cycle and eventually transformed into the full set of twenty-two cards before vanishing. The deck also stopped its absorption and, just like he expected, it had drained him of all the anima he collected.

He emptied the box and held onto a set of blank cards. Except for one. The information just popped into his head, but he knew he could attune himself to one of the major arcana once per day. For some reason, he was forced to start with the fool arcana and could only learn a new major arcana every time he increased his step's stage. Well, actually it does make sense why I started with the fool arcana. But, what is the purpose of them?

Syn stood up and did some stretches, breaking the silence. "I'm surprised that the purified anima seemed to have worked, although, maybe I shouldn't be."

"Can you explain what purified anima even is?"

"Anima produced by a soul is composed of anima of every type which is colloquially referred to as raw anima. The majority of raw anima consists anima that correlates to each school of magic and each element."

"Sounds like a lot."

"It is which is why most Weavers, usually not even by choice, only specialize in a select few schools and elements. And I say not by choice, because your soul classification makes that decision for you. It will just refine that raw anima into the ones you're the most compatible with. So when I refer to purified anima, I'm generalizing all of those specific anima's, because well, raw anima doesn't exist in the world."

"So the anima I absorbed, what exactly was it?"

"You should—just know."

"But I don't."

"I can't help you there, but the surrounding anima is ever shifting according to the environment you're in. So since we're in this castle where the Vitreus was, I would expect an abundance of crystal anima at the very least."

Aleister closed his eyes and tried to focus on the anima he absorbed, but still couldn't quite place his finger on it. He opened his eyes and shrugged. "It should come with time. I hope."

"Most things will."

"Like what kind of magical abilities I can use? Because I still have no idea what my card does."

"Yes. You haven't been a Weaver for a full day yet. You should obtain a greater grasp by the end of the week."

"Fair enough." Aleister grabbed the spellbook from the desk Syn sat on and tossed it into his bag. "I'll take a look at that later. But before I go eat, how about I take a look at that contract?"

Syn grinned. The edges of her mouth seemed to reach the sides of her face. "I thought you would never ask."

The surrounding scenery transformed into Syn's reading room as she placed an ethereal scroll in his hands. Aleister scrolled it open and a supernatural force pulled him in.

If you are reading this, then one of my children has contracted you. You might wonder who I am, but you need not wonder, for who I am is of no consequence to you...unless you break this oath. I do not ask you for anything vital. I require not your prayers nor devotion. I require not sacrifices nor deeds of epic proportions. All I require of you is to increase your strength to unfathomable limits. My contract will aid you in this process. The stronger you get, the more boons you shall receive. You are the vessel for my contract, and my child shall act as the vessel for my power. Why do I wish for this? You cannot dare to comprehend. However, even with my power, I do not expect you to accomplish anything. I don't even know nor care about your existence. Just the mere fact you are now a vessel is satisfactory. When you are worthy enough to increase this oath's bond, a new message shall appear.

Aleister gasped for air as he returned to his body. The scroll in his hand vanished. A green aura surrounded Syn as she lay still, spread across the floor. He reached out, but the aura engulfed him and transported him back to the bed he sat on.