The statue's eyes grew brighter, and an orange aura surrounded Metsuen before entering his body. He immediately felt such an intense pain that he collapsed to his knees, hands clutching his head.
The pain was so overwhelming that his pupils vanished. The veins in his body began to throb and turned orange, becoming visible beneath his skin. They glowed with a deep, vivid hue. Metsuen felt as if he were being pierced from all sides, like invisible blades stabbing him relentlessly. He had never experienced such agony.
***
While Metsuen endured the ritual, the Archmage's voice echoed once more:
—You surely can't speak, but you can certainly hear me. So listen carefully.
After the ritual, go to Gatsuen, the academy I founded 10,000 years ago.
With the Original Ryoku, you won't yet be able to create new forms or manipulate it freely. That level of mastery is beyond you for now. If the Prophecy is true, the kingdom will soon collapse. It also says that the heirs of the Grand Duchies will all come to Gatsuen.
Copy the variants of their Ryoku there. Become the most powerful.
I would like to tell you more about the Prophecy, but time is short.
. . .
My ancestor's eyes focused one last time on a single point, intensifying my already unbearable pain. I gave everything to resist and let out a scream so loud it seemed to tear my vocal cords apart.
The orange glow slowly faded from my body, which returned to its normal state.
—The heavens… finally grant me respite…
I collapsed, motionless, onto the stone floor, and lost consciousness.
***
The stone of the statue began to crack slowly. Its eyes lost their glow.
—It seems my consciousness is fading… My task is done. Good luck, my child.
I, Archevaldr Schattenkrieg, wish you success in your quest.»
A final laugh, heavy with nostalgia, escaped from the Archmage's last fragments of consciousness.
—Hahahaha… Go now, my child… Fulfill your will…
Then everything went dark.
Only an ancient silence remained in the room, and Metsuen was its sole host.
A few seconds later, an orange magic circle appeared beneath his lifeless body.
Metsuen vanished from the chamber.