sound not by force but by permission
Beyond it was not a simple room but a vast open space covered in faint mist the mana inside was so dense it was almost visible the ground itself felt unstable not physically but structurally as if the concept of "solid" was not fully fixed the air carried a cold that slowed perception rather than freezing the body
"Once you enter…" Darius said "…there will be no interference no guidance no correction"
Neuro stepped forward without hesitation his figure slowly fading into the mist the moment he crossed the threshold his presence was swallowed completely as if the space itself had consumed him the gate closed behind him and the formations returned to their silent rotation
The corridor fell into complete silence
Darius remained standing in place his gaze fixed on the sealed gate
…then his thoughts began
"Six years…" the number repeated in his mind not as time but as intention
The problem was not the isolation
nor the danger of the field
but the reason behind the decision
"A child…" he thought slowly "…at five years old… choosing six years of complete isolation without hesitation"
He closed his eyes briefly recalling every observation he had made of Neuro
Control beyond natural growth
Stability beyond logical limits
Analysis that did not belong to his age
"Power can be explained…" Darius thought "talent bloodline environment… all of these are variables"
But one thing remained outside all explanation
"The decision…"
He opened his eyes again slowly
"This is not the decision of a child"
It was not ambition
not excitement
not even desire for strength