The next day was spent trying to get Jon to familiarize himself with his newfound powers. I wasn't sure whether or not it was right to call him talented, as I did not have any previous instances to compare his progress with. Still, I did feel like his progress was relatively slow. Or perhaps, his affinity with mana only amounted to this much.

He was unable to do anything besides summon a small rock and make it float about for a few seconds. Still, I kept my hopes high. It was too fast to judge him. And so I sent Jon down the platform and gave him his first task, and that was to carve his name on the giant pillar and write "The first Earth Mage." under it.

The group from the church made way and watched him with bated breaths. Most of them still could not believe the miracle that had just occurred before their eyes. I was honestly quite surprised, myself. A part of me thought that none of the current volunteers would make it.

Instead, with Jon's success I glanced at the remaining nine people with renewed hope in my eyes. Perhaps one, or maybe a few of them would be able to awaken their core as well, perhaps they might even surpass Jon.

Still, it was too late to continue for the day, so I sent them away. After they left, the only ones that were left behind were me, Lana, and Jon, who was struggling to make a dent in my pillar.

I approached him silently and watched as the strands of earth mana he commanded clashed with the pillar only to be sent back. Perhaps it was due to the difference between us, but the earth mana seemed reluctant to change something I created. This brought a smile to my face. Still, it was a good method to let Jon train his control and get used to the mana flow.

"What do you think?" I turned to glance at Lana who was standing by my side with a curious gaze.

"I- I also want to try, to be honest. Though I'm not sure I'll make it out alive, but I do want to try. Seeing him succeed just ignited something inside of me, haha." She chuckled with a silly smile, but I could see how serious she was about the whole ordeal.

"Hmmm."

Jon continued with his attempts until the sky turned too dark, and the sea of stars hung visibly from the sky.

"Okay, get some rest. That's it for the day." My voice broke him out of his trance as he rubbed his eyes tiredly and stood up.

"Well then, I will go first. Good night, my lord." Saying that Jon gave me a deep bow and walked back to the church.

"You should get some sleep as well," I said to Lana and turned away.

"En, thank you. Good night, my lord." She bowed before making her way to her tent at the foot of the platform. Her brows frowned along the way.

****

Ari's eyes were bloodshot as he glanced at his reflection in the lake. He almost did not recognize himself. His hair was disheveled, and thick dark circles were visible under his eyes. The most concerning of it all, however, was the grin that extended across his face.

His hands extended to touch the corners of his face with a shaky breath. He was really grinning... Ever since that strange encounter back in the cave, Ari slowly felt himself losing his mind. He took a few commissions, hunted a few bandits, and defended another village, but every time he started fighting, he would lose himself.

He could barely remember fragments of what happened. What he does clearly remember, however, was the bloodlust and rage that fills him every time he fights. This wasn't him. He wasn't one to lose himself to rage while fighting some bandits, at least not anymore. And he certainly never found joy in the battles he fought.

Now, however, he relished in the bloodshed he caused and took his time toying with his opponents. This scared the living daylight of his employers as well, but Ari himself was unsure of what was going on with him.

He immediately linked his sudden change with the encounter at the cave and constantly wielded his aura to search for anything wrong in his body, only to find none. There were no whispers either, no maddening calls of temptation. Only when he started a fight would he slowly lose himself.

It was a truly maddening experience. He glanced at his bloodied hands and then turned around to scan the dozen maimed corpses behind him. He did not remember killing so many people. Why did he do it? Who were they? Did they deserve it?

Such questions hammered at his mind as he numbly washed his hands clean of the blood. After he finished he sheathed his sword and moved toward the dead bodies. He circled them for a few minutes in an attempt to recall something, anything, only to find none.

His heart thumped loudly in his chest as all sorts of scenarios spun in his mind. 'What if they were innocent people? What if they didn't deserve what he did to them? What if he was the one that started the fight? How was he any different from a beast, a monster? How was he any better than that dragon…?

"What am I supposed to do, Jana... I miss you... I don't think I can handle this any longer..." Saying that the knight unsheathed his sword and pointed it at his neck.

"What's the point of living if even my body is no longer mine?" Tears streamed down his face as he decisively stabbed himself— only for his hand to freeze. A strange dark sinister aura seeped out of his head and forced him to stop.

"There you are, I finally found you, you fucker!" Ari gritted his teeth as struggled against the foreign power.

"What, you only show yourself now? Does that mean you'll die with me if I kill myself? Hahaha. What a joke!" Saying that; Ari's arms bulged as he fought against the invading force. The sword in his hands trembled as it approached his neck.

"Stop!" It was then that an ancient voice as clear as day suddenly boomed in his mind.