The pills…

This was the first time that he'd been able to communicate with his soul—to understand it on a deeper level. And right now, the desire he felt from it was almost overwhelming.

It had been three years since he last experienced this feeling.

I'm scared…

What if something goes wrong?

He tried to convey his feelings back to his soul, but as he expected—it didn't react—didn't respond. Michael let out a small sigh, resigning himself. His soul was not a separate entity, it was himself, there was no way that it could speak to him.

Should he trust it? Should he take the risk?

If taking one of the pills could awaken his unique soul trait, he would not only gain an ability—he would be able to garner the support of the headmaster. This was something that he desperately needed, especially after the recent events.

Suddenly a wave of determination swept through Michael, filling him with confidence.

My soul saved me from that violet mana back in the mana-scarred lands… It also helped me purify the chaotic mana when I was only a white-ringed mage, he thought, clenching his fists.

In comparison, the ancient pill seemed much safer.

Before he could change his mind, Michael's consciousness returned to the present. He glanced at Rudy to ensure that he was still sleeping before summoning the familiar and ancient looking pill bottle from his storage ring.

The weight of it in his hands was far more significant than its actual mass. It signified lost knowledge, an ancient art that all of the top families would fight over.

But more importantly, it was Michael's opportunity to strengthen his soul.

He undid the stopper, his expression resolute. In an instant, the familiar scent of magical herbs assaulted his senses—filling him with a pleasant sensation.

Michael could feel it almost instantly, his soul stirring within his inner palace with anticipation. It was as if he was in the desert dying of thirst, only to come across an oasis.

Tipping the bottle slightly, a longan sized pill fell onto his palm. It was rather plain in appearance, but the medicinal energy made it clear that it was not ordinary.

Replacing the stopper back on the pill bottle, Michael placed it back into his storage ring and brought the pill closer to inspect it. But as he lifted it, his hand seemed to move on its own—placing the pill directly into his mouth—as if someone had taken control of his body.

Michael's eyes widened in panic.

The moment the pill touched his tongue, it began to dissolve. It melted, giving off a strong aroma of magical herbs that filled his senses, causing tears to form in his eyes.

A wave of translucent energy spread out from his mouth, entering his meridians at once. It passed by his crimson mana which remained dormant, clearly not perceiving the newcomer as a threat.

This new energy was warm, yet mysterious. It surged through his meridians, performing a complete circulation before changing its course—heading towards the inner palace.

An intense feeling of elation filled his mind—but it was not from him. The version of himself in his inner palace stood up with excitement, spreading its arms wide—as if gleefully awaiting the energy that now coursed through his body.

Then it happened.

The energy and his soul met.

Michael expected pain—expected an explosion of power, or something mystical.

However, the reality was much different.

There was no noise, no flashy spectacle at all. The transparent energy was simply absorbed by his soul, disappearing into nothingness as if it was never there in the first place.

Michael blinked, his attention never leaving his soul. The figure stood sentinel for a moment before returning to the lotus position—as if nothing had ever happened.

For a moment, he thought he saw a look of satisfaction appear on the figure's face, but it quickly passed by.

What?

He had been so worried about taking the pill, vowing to only do so after learning more about them. But driven by the circumstances, Michael felt he was left with no choice but to take one.

Michael had braced himself for pain—pushing through the uneasiness that sat heavy upon his heart. But as he stared at his soul seated in the same position as usual, he felt a mixture of emotions.

Relief, confusion, disappointment.

Wasn't the pill meant to unlock my unique soul trait? He thought, trying to remain calm.

As he stared at his soul, he tried to see any differences. But apart from the concentration on its face—everything remained the same.

After a few minutes of watching and waiting, Michael finally accepted the fact. Either he had to wait for the results to show, or the pill was far less effective than he had expected—perhaps it was even a dud.

That shouldn't be the case, otherwise my soul wouldn't have reacted so strongly to the pill in the first place, he told himself, letting out a small sigh.

He gently closed the barrier to his inner palace before his consciousness returned to the outside world. The soft snores of Rudy greeted his ears, pulling him back to the present.

Michael stared at the ceiling for a while, feeling exhausted. The mental gymnastics he'd just gone through had been taxing—adding onto the long and eventful day he'd had.

He thought back to what had happened, thanking his lucky stars. If professor Stark hadn't found him in time—if the headmaster had not used a precious healing potion on him, he could very well have lost his life today.

While the pill might not have worked out just yet, Michael didn't lose hope. If one wasn't enough, he still had many more in his storage ring. He would continue using them—until he was able to unlock his unique soul trait.

With this in mind, Michael slowly drifted off to sleep—exhaustion finally claiming him.

All the while, his soul began to glow within his inner palace, still in the lotus pose. An ancient, almost primal aura emanating from it.

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