Elder Rooney led Alex out of the library, their footsteps echoing through the quiet hallway. Together, they headed to a place only known by Elder Rooney, leaving behind the comforting scent of old books and parchment. Alex couldn't help but feel a tinge of nervousness, unsure of where they were going or what they would find.
"Just like you were told," Elder Rooney began, his voice calm yet authoritative, "one needs qi or mana to unlock their path of evolution. However, what most people don't know is that there's a third energy capable of setting someone on the path of evolution."
Alex glanced at the elder, curiosity sparked. "A third energy?"
"When I entered your sea of consciousness, I discovered something rare—this third energy inside you," Elder Rooney explained, his tone growing more serious. "What makes this strange is that those who have been known to wield this energy have long been believed to be extinct."
Alex furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of what he was hearing. "What kind of beings have this energy?"
"There are three known beings capable of wielding it," Elder Rooney continued as they walked. "One is the unicorn, a horse-like creature with a single horn on its head. It's a peaceful yet immensely powerful creature, tied closely to this mysterious energy."
Alex's eyes widened. "A unicorn?"
"Yes, a creature that symbolizes purity," Rooney nodded before going on. "The second is known as the Pain Witch, a sinister being, often female. Their way of using this energy is unique and horrifying. They enforce pain onto others and draw power from the suffering they cause. The more pain they feel themselves, the stronger they become."
Alex shuddered slightly at the thought, his steps faltering for a second before continuing alongside the elder.
"And then there are the Peacemakers," Elder Rooney added. "They are like a tamed version of the Pain Witches. Instead of drawing strength from pain, they harness their power by creating peace and harmony around them. The more peace they bring, the stronger they grow."
"So… where do I fit in?" Alex asked, confusion seeping into his voice. He felt lost in the conversation, unsure of what any of this meant for him.
Elder Rooney paused for a moment, glancing sideways at Alex as they turned a corner. "You have this energy, Alex. And from what I've observed, perhaps due to your nature, or maybe the way you've lived your life so far, it seems you have traces of the Pain Witch's effect within you."
Alex felt his heart sink. "Does that mean I'll have to make people suffer to grow stronger?" He hated the thought, a deep unease stirring inside him.
"Not exactly," Elder Rooney replied, shaking his head. "There seems to be a gender-based distinction in how this peace energy is used. It's not that one gender is completely restricted from using it, but rather, one gender seems more naturally attuned to certain aspects of it than the other."
"What do you mean?" Alex asked, genuinely puzzled.
"For males, they can never fully tap into the power of the Pain Witch or the Peacemakers," Rooney clarified as they stopped in front of a door. "They can train their peace energy to a high level, perhaps even rivaling these beings, but they'll never be able to wield it in the same way."
Alex's brow furrowed as he pieced it together. "So, if causing pain is the Pain Witch's effect, and bringing peace is the Peacemaker's… does that mean I can't fully use either?"
"Something like that," Elder Rooney said with a sigh. "But understanding it this way might make it easier for you. The Pain Witch causes suffering, and the Peacemaker brings peace. You fall somewhere between these two, but the full depth of your abilities with this energy is something you'll have to explore for yourself."
Alex was silent for a moment, absorbing this new knowledge. "Then… how can this energy even help me?"
"That's for you to figure out," Rooney answered, pushing open the heavy wooden door in front of them. "Perhaps by learning more about the other effects of this energy, you'll come to understand just how powerful it can be for you."
The two appeared in the usual open space, but this time, people were around. They sat at various tables, doing all sorts of things like passing time, chatting, and more. Alex scanned the area, noticing something odd about the scene.
What Alex found particularly strange was that the people were talking, but no sound came from their mouths. He could see their lips moving, but silence filled the air.
"Are they using telepathy in some way?" Alex asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Not at all," Elder Rooney responded calmly. "That's how this room is built. Once both of us sit down at a table, our conversation will be cut off from anyone not sitting with us."
Alex nodded, taking in the explanation. Together, they walked over to an empty table and sat across from each other, their chairs scraping slightly against the floor. The moment they sat down, the atmosphere around them felt different, more intimate, as if they had stepped into a private bubble where no one else could intrude.
"Alright," Elder Rooney began, placing his hands on the table, palms up, inviting Alex to take them. "I will transfer everything I know about peace energy to you. While I'm here, feel free to ask me any questions you might have."
Alex hesitated for a second but then reached out, grasping Elder Rooney's hands firmly. The moment their hands connected, Alex's mind buzzed, and a familiar system message flashed before his eyes.
[ Knowledge is being shared ]
For several moments, neither of them moved. Alex sat there with his eyes closed, absorbing the flow of information. Elder Rooney remained still, allowing the transfer to continue uninterrupted. Time seemed to stretch, but eventually, the link between them was broken as Elder Rooney gently pulled his hands away. Alex remained in place, his eyes still shut, as if processing the vast amount of knowledge that had just been implanted in his mind.
Slowly, Alex opened his eyes, blinking as he adjusted to the sensation. His gaze locked onto Elder Rooney, and there was a flicker of disbelief in his expression.
"What... what is the meaning of this?" Alex asked, his voice low but trembling with shock. "Is this even possible?"
Elder Rooney nodded reassuringly. "Trust me. The knowledge you have now was written by someone long ago. That means it happened, and I can assure you, it's true."
Another system message flashed across Alex's vision, providing more detailed information:
[ Peace Energy: Known for its wide use, this energy allows the wielder to perform any techniques, skills, or spells of their choosing. It is said that with the right imagination, one can even create a new skill or technique. With peace energy, one's energy reserves are considered limitless, and there is no backlash from any skill or technique used. ]
Alex read the message carefully, his mind racing. The potential of this energy seemed boundless. Unlimited energy, no backlash—it sounded almost too good to be true. His mind struggled to grasp it all.
"This is still just the basics," Elder Rooney added, interrupting Alex's thoughts. "There are reasons why this energy was considered extinct at one point. It was because of something called the Reflection Effect."
As Elder Rooney finished speaking, another screen materialized in front of Alex, displaying a new message.
[ Reflection Effect: This occurs when the body is placed in a difficult or dangerous situation. The host will experience a boost in power relative to the level of difficulty. Note: there are limits to how much the host can endure at one time. ]
"This?" Alex muttered aloud. "I've seen this before..."
"Yes," Elder Rooney said, leaning back slightly in his chair, his eyes never leaving Alex's face. "That's what saved you when you went up against Gwen."
Alex's mind raced. He remembered the fight with Gwen, how he had felt a surge of power when things had seemed impossible. Now it all made sense—this mysterious peace energy had triggered the Reflection Effect, giving him the edge he needed to survive. But something still didn't sit right with him. For power like this to exist, there had to be some kind of cost, some consequence that made it less than perfect.
'There has to be a high price for something like this,' Alex thought to himself, his brow furrowing once more.
Elder Rooney seemed to read Alex's thoughts effortlessly. "I know what you're thinking," he said, his voice calm and measured. "You're wondering if there's a price to pay. And you're right—there is. But I can promise you, it's nothing you can't handle. It's just a matter of making a few sacrifices, depending on the path you choose."
Alex stared at him, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities and uncertainties. Could he really trust what Elder Rooney was saying? The power of peace energy was undeniable, but the mention of 'sacrifices' gnawed at him. What sacrifices would he have to make, and how far was he willing to go to unlock the full potential of this mysterious force?
"For instance," Elder Rooney began, "there are two paths. One is that you give up your dream of fighting and become some type of doctor. You'd use your power to heal people and do all sorts of things that aren't related to fighting."
He paused, giving Alex a moment to absorb the information before continuing. "The second path is the opposite. You fight. You'll be thrown into difficult situations, like facing tough opponents. With each battle, your power will grow by a large amount—far more than it would through the normal process."
Alex listened closely, taking in every word. It felt as if the choice now lay squarely in his hands. Would he use this newfound energy to fight or to help people?
'My mom is a doctor,' Alex thought. 'If I ask for her opinion, I already know what she'd say. And since I already have a healer, maybe I should choose the path I don't already have.'
With that, Alex made his decision. He would learn how to use peace energy, but he'd focus on becoming a fighter.
Elder Rooney nodded as if he could sense Alex's resolve. "Now, like I said, there won't be any special moves. You'll learn to use your qi in your own way. But before we move forward, there's something I need to check first," he said, standing up from his seat.
Alex followed as Elder Rooney led him through a long hallway. Their footsteps echoed lightly against the stone floor as they walked. Soon, they arrived at a familiar room. Alex recognized it right away.
Inside the room, there were all sorts of equipment lining the walls—weights, targets, and training dummies. In the center of the room, Gwen, Merrick, and Tamsin were already there, engaged in some sparring. The sound of their strikes and movements filled the air, but as soon as Alex and Elder Rooney stepped in, everything stopped.
Merrick was the first to notice them. "Oh... the next boy," he muttered with a sly grin as he and the others paused their sparring.
Gwen had already started moving toward Alex, her expression sharp and determined. When she got close enough, she raised her hand and pointed directly at him, her finger shaking slightly.
"You... I need a rematch!" she demanded, nearly shouting.
Alex blinked, taken aback by her intensity. He hadn't expected this kind of confrontation so soon, but it seemed Gwen hadn't forgotten their last encounter. She was clearly determined to prove something, and her fiery gaze made it clear she wouldn't back down until she got what she wanted.