The core leaders of the Dragon Roar Faction rarely gathered like they were today. After all, each of them had responsibilities beyond just sitting around and running a base.
However, today was different. In just one day, they had gathered twice, and it seemed to be about one person.
Right now, Elder Rooney, Stan, Peter, Theron, Caspian, and Cressida—the only female among them—were seated around their usual table. Each of them appeared deep in thought, as if pondering something important.
"I know you're all waiting for me to explain what happened," Elder Rooney began, his gaze now fixed on Stan. "But first, I want to ask you a question, Stan."
Stan raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden attention. "What is it?"
Rooney's eyes narrowed as he asked, "The boy, Alex. What I saw in him... was that the reason you chose to make him your direct student?"
At the mention of Alex, the entire room turned to look at Stan. Everyone had expected an explanation for why Elder Rooney had used his bloodline power on Alex, but instead, he was questioning Stan.
Stan's expression showed confusion. "What are you talking about?" he asked, glancing around at the others before focusing back on Rooney. "I only took the boy because I could sense an enormous amount of qi in him, despite something inside him blocking it. That's why I brought him in—I wanted to figure out what it was."
Stan paused, then added, "Did you find something else?"
Elder Rooney's lips curled into a slight smile. He had asked the question to confirm something specific, and from Stan's response, he realized that the others had no idea what truly lay within Alex.
'It's best I keep this to myself for now,' Rooney thought, his eyes drifting briefly to the table. 'After all, Alex is here, and we can nurture him properly.'
Clearing his throat, Rooney looked up at the others again. "I'll tell you what I discovered about Alex and what path will be best for him."
The room fell silent, everyone's attention now focused on Rooney.
"First of all," he began, "the boy does indeed have an extraordinary amount of qi, just as you mentioned, Stan. There's no doubt that he's suited for the warrior's path. However, there's more."
Rooney paused for a moment, letting the tension build before continuing.
"He also has a mana core."
Hearing Elder Rooney's revelation, everyone raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"A dual path? When was the last time we had one among us?" Cressida, the only female in the group, said with a small smile.
Rooney sighed before responding, "Unfortunately, the mana core has no mana in it—it's completely empty. But we all know something can be done to allow him to follow both paths."
Peter, still looking confused, shook his head. "Is that it? Is that the reason he should become Stan's direct student, while the direct descendants just sit back and watch?"
At Peter's words, a smirk crossed Elder Rooney's face, a small gesture that didn't go unnoticed by the others. Naturally, they could sense that he had more to say.
"Like Stan said from the start," Rooney continued, "Alex has an abnormal amount of qi inside him. How he came to possess such an amount, I can't say for sure. Maybe it's a family trait, or maybe it's something his body naturally produced for him. But that's not the point."
Rooney paused for a moment, making sure he had everyone's attention. His eyes moved slowly around the table.
"The point," he said firmly, "is that something strange is blocking that qi. Or, should I say, something inside him is helping keep it calm so it doesn't harm him. Now, do any of you know what can do that?"
Rooney's gaze shifted from one person to the next, waiting for an answer. But no one spoke. They all sat in silence, unsure of what he was getting at.
Seeing their blank expressions, Elder Rooney shook his head. "It seems none of you are interested in real knowledge anymore. All you care about is getting stronger and fighting." His voice had a slight edge of disappointment.
Without waiting for a response, Rooney raised his hand. Slowly, he started moving his fingers through the air, as if writing on an invisible board. A faint yellow trail of light followed each movement of his hand.
The others watched closely, their eyes glued to the glowing symbols he was tracing. Bit by bit, the light grew brighter, and soon the symbols became clearer.
After a few moments, everyone around the table could finally see what he was writing.
"Peace energy," Elder Rooney said.
At first, the term didn't seem to mean much to anyone around the table. They all stared at him blankly, trying to make sense of what he had just said. Then, suddenly, Caspian's eyes widened in shock as a realization hit him.
"Wait... Peace energy? Isn't that the energy you once said had gone extinct? And isn't it also the same energy capable of helping Stan with his situation?" Caspian asked, his voice rising in surprise.
As Caspian spoke, the others began to understand. They had heard of this energy before, though they hadn't fully grasped its significance. Slowly, the pieces started coming together in their minds.
Elder Rooney nodded. "You see, most people believe that when someone wants to become a Paragon, there are only two possible energies to use. But in truth, there are three: Qi, Mana, and Peace Energy, even more."
Rooney paused, letting his words sink in. The group remained silent, their focus now completely on him.
"Qi is the life force used by those who choose the path of warriors," he continued. "It strengthens the body and gives them the power they need. Mana, on the other hand, is a mystical energy. It allows mages to cast spells, shaping the world with magic."
Rooney's voice grew more serious as he moved on to the last point. "Then there's Peace Energy. This energy is different. It's versatile and can be used in different ways depending on the person's base. In some cases, it can increase both Qi and Mana. But those who wield it also gain a natural effect—an ability that comes with the energy."
Rooney looked at each of them, making sure they were following. "People with Peace Energy can heal from nearly any wound, and they can adapt to almost any situation. I believe that's what Alex's Peace Energy is doing. It's helping his body contain the immense amount of Qi within him without causing harm."
As Elder Rooney finished explaining, the room fell quiet. Everyone was processing the information, trying to comprehend the full extent of what this meant for Alex—and for them.
"Then...?" Peter asked, his tone more polite this time. "If the energy only gives him the ability to adapt to every situation, that means there's still no way for him to help Stan, unless he has the healing power of the ability," Peter reasoned, a bit more thoughtful now.
Elder Rooney smiled, reached into his robe, and pulled out something. It was a book. It was as large as a textbook, but what stood out was its cover—a strange, textured material resembling the scale of some unknown animal.
"The Pendragon Diary," Cressida said, recognizing it immediately.
"I hate it when you call it a diary," Caspian cut in, clearly irritated. "This is more than a diary. It holds all the knowledge of our ancestors—their powers, the beings they encountered, and how to use those powers. So, this is not just a diary."
Caspian's tone made it clear he wasn't happy with the casual reference to the book. His eyes lingered on the strange, scaled cover as if it held the weight of their entire history.
Elder Rooney nodded and looked at the book with a sense of reverence. "This book, as you all already know, contains a wealth of knowledge about the past of our ancestors. In fact, it's because of this very book that I learned about the existence of Peace Energy in the first place."
Rooney's hands gently flipped through the pages, his fingers moving with care as if he were touching something sacred.
"With the knowledge in this book, it is stated that there is always a way to enhance Alex's Peace Energy so that it becomes capable of healing. However," Rooney paused, looking at each of them, "if we choose this path, it means Alex won't be trained as a warrior. Instead, he will become more like a doctor or a physician."
The room fell silent as everyone took a moment to process what Elder Rooney had said. Each person seemed lost in their own thoughts, carefully weighing the possibilities.
Peter was the first to break the silence. "Do you mean if we train him in the right way, he'll be able to heal Stan and restore the family bloodline to its former glory?" he asked, his voice hopeful.
Elder Rooney nodded in confirmation, and a spark of excitement lit up in Peter's eyes. "Then let's bring him in! This is what we've been waiting for," Peter said, the excitement clear in his voice.
"No," Stan suddenly said, his voice firm as he looked around the table. His tone was calm, but there was a quiet intensity behind it.
Peter frowned, clearly taken aback. "What are you talking about, Stan?" he asked, confusion creeping into his voice.
Stan glanced at Peter, then the others. "I brought Alex here to be trained, not to be used."
Peter's frown deepened, still not understanding Stan's hesitation.
"What nonsense is this?" he said, shaking his head. "Just moments ago, you were against taking him on as my student. Now you're saying something completely different. What's changed? Why did you suddenly flip?"
Stan stood up slowly, his chair scraping against the floor as he did. His eyes swept across the faces around the table before settling on Peter. "I've decided to take Alex as my student, and I'll teach him what he needs to know. If cultivating Peace Energy suits him best, then we'll teach him that. But we're not going to force his path to suit our needs. If, in the future, he chooses to help us, then fine."
The room grew tense as Stan finished speaking. His voice was resolute, and it was clear he wasn't backing down. After delivering his words, Stan turned and began walking towards the door, his steps slow but deliberate.
However, just as he reached the door, Peter suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path. His face was tense, and his body rigid with frustration.
"What's wrong with you, Stan?" Peter nearly shouted, his voice trembling with emotion. "We've been searching for a solution to revive your Qi core for so long. And now, when we finally have a chance, you're going to let some stupid moral code stop us?"
Peter's frustration was palpable, his voice rising as he spoke. He couldn't understand why Stan was turning down what seemed like their best shot.
Stan turned back to the others, his expression shifting as he spoke. "You know what? Now that you've said that, I've changed my mind. I know you all will still try to find a way to make him do what you want," he said, his gaze sweeping over the group. His eyes now seemed different.
His once dark pupils suddenly glowed with a golden hue, not shining brightly but giving off a slight glimmer that caught everyone's attention.
"You are not to try to change Alex's mind in any way," Stan began, his voice steady but filled with authority. "Even if he decides not to help us, you will treat him as you always have. Do whatever he says, as long as it doesn't harm you. And you are not to hold back any knowledge about being a Paragon from him. Lastly, you are not to go after his family, trying to find out if they also have this Peace Energy."
After delivering his commands, Stan walked past Peter, who stood frozen at the door, unable to react.
"Well, at least he didn't tell us to become the boy's slaves," Theron, who had been silent for most of the discussion, remarked dryly, leaning back in his chair.
Meanwhile, Peter was grinding his teeth, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "Did he just use his influence on us?" Peter muttered under his breath, his frustration evident.
On the other side of the room, Elder Rooney couldn't help but smile. The situation was unfolding exactly as he had anticipated.
'With these commands in place, I wonder how long it will take them to truly understand this boy, Alex,' he thought, his smile growing wider.