The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 302: The Dark Energy (Part One)

Chapter 302: The Dark Energy (Part One)

As the sun set over the Secret Realm, Annalise and Esmeray sat in the dimly lit room of his house, surrounded by the clashing light and dark energies that were actually calm and at ease.

Despite it being several days since she last saw him, he was still as ethereal as ever before. There was no denying that Esmeray was likely the most handsome man in all four realms.

But his beauty wasn’t the reason that had pulled Annalise to seek his company, instead, it was the vast knowledge that he possessed. She knew that he was likely the only person who could give her the much needed answers.

That’s why she decided to look past their history and their differences, and befriend him. She wasn’t really sure if she would regret her decision in future of not, but for the time being, a friend like him was much-needed.

Surprisingly, Esmeray agreed to her proposal almost immediately. However, he had a condition which almost made Annalise change her mind about this friendship thing with him. His condition was that he would only help her when he believed she needed it and what he believed she needed.

That’s why, despite her initial plan of seeking some information from him about the Primordial Realm, she was currently working on mastering some really ancient and powerful light magical spells that had been forgotten ever since the downfall of the Seelie Realm.

He was really patient but precise with her. He taught her every single spell by himself and explained to her their mechanism while also helping her with the postures of hands that were needed in some of the spells. While Annalise had her doubts about her ability to learn even one of those spells, Esmeray was fully confident that she could master all of them.

"Esmeray, I must admit, these spells are incredibly complex," Annalise said, frustration evident in her voice. "I’m not sure if I can ever master them all."

Esmeray smiled reassuringly. "Patience, Annalise. Mastery of light magic takes time and dedication. Remember, I only agreed to teach you because I believe you can do it."

"I know," Annalise replied, looking down at her hands. "But sometimes I doubt my abilities. Despite what you all believe, I’m having a hard time seeing myself as more than just a normal person."

Esmeray leaned closer and gently lifted her chin to meet his gaze. "Do not let past failures define you. Embrace your potential, and you’ll find the strength to overcome any obstacle."

Who would have thought that someone like him could be this encouraging.

With renewed determination, Annalise nodded. "Alright, let’s continue. Teach me the next spell."

Esmeray picked up an ancient parchment and unfolded it. "This is the Incandescence Invocation. It harnesses the light of stars and channels it through your very being."

Annalise took a deep breath and focused her mind, trying to connect with the celestial energies around her. She raised her hands as Esmeray demonstrated the intricate gestures needed to cast the spell.

"Repeat after me," he instructed, and they began chanting in a language long forgotten by most.

Time seemed to blur as they practiced the Incandescence Invocation. Annalise could feel the power surging within her, though she struggled to control it fully. Esmeray was patient, guiding her every step of the way.

After what felt like an eternity, Annalise finally managed to cast the spell, a soft glow emanating from her palms. She looked up at Esmeray, excitement and pride filling her eyes.

"I did it! I actually did it!" she exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and delight in her voice.

Esmeray smiled warmly. "See? I told you that you have the potential. Now, let’s move on to the Luminescent Barrier. This one requires precise control and focus."

As time passed, Annalise’s skills grew exponentially. With each new spell she mastered, her confidence soared.

Esmeray’s guidance and support never wavered, and they began to develop a deep understanding of each other.

They only stopped after three or so hours of constant practice. The two of them sat by the fire and Annalise couldn’t help but ask, "Esmeray, why did you agree to teach me? And why are you so invested in my progress?"

Esmeray’s eyes softened as he replied, "You must already know the answer, Annalise. If there’s any person out there whom I will ever want to help, then it’s you."

Annalise wasn’t sure how to respond to him. She knew exactly what he was trying to say but she also recalled the message that mysterious woman gave her in her dream.

Taking a bate against her luck, she finally asked the question she initially planned to enquire about. "What is the black energy?"

Esmeray immediately looked up at her but his expression was hard to read. He just stared at her for a while without responding. Only after certain long moments had passed, did he finally spoke - "What do you wanna know?"

It wasn’t exactly what she wanted to hear but it still made her feel happy since he was allowing her to get the answer she had been searching for the past couple of days.

"Just like I asked - what is the black energy? All we know is that it came from the Primordial Realm along with Light and Darkness, but what exactly is that?" She repeated her question but also elaborated it while waiting for him to answer.

Esmeray didn’t respond immediately and as he stayed silent for way too long for it to be a normal pause, Annalise almost thought that he won’t be telling her anything. However...

"At first, there were only two things that existed in the Primordial Realm - Light and Darkness. Both these magical energies cultivated for thousands of years to achieve the highest level of power, but in order to do so, they needed to get rid of all the bad energy they must have inside them. So... that’s exactly what the black energy is... the combination of bad energies of both Light and Darkness."