Spectral Regalia

Ch 87: Bad Intentions

Kael was a little stunned and pouted a little as he rubbed the back of his scaled hand. "Well, Master, I still can't find these particle things you're talking about... All I can feel is dark matter holding me together... and little sparkling specks within it, like the stars of the night sky."

Avrin listened and nodded. "It's better than before. You will spend tonight trying to make that breakthrough. Are you taking the advice I gave you to heart?" Avrin asked, to which Kael replied. "I am, Master... You told me that it would take me at least a year if I'm lucky, but I'm starting to feel like that won't be the case..."

Avrin nodded. "Don't feel down. In fact, it can't be helped. Our progress was focused on reshaping the body. Why are you in that from still? If someone sees you, it will be trouble." Kael nodded as he stood still and emitted a black Nebula Mist that spread over every inch of his body.

Within 2 minutes, Kael's figure had shrunk somewhat. His tail had vanished and his scales, horns and large build had turned normal, revealing a slightly less muscular, but still considerably well-trained, human boy.

Avrin looked and nodded at his progress. "Before, it had taken you 10 minutes to revert back to your human form. I didn't think it was possible without control over particles, but you have proven me wrong."

Kael smiled softly and rubbed the back of his head. His appearance, although human, was much more masculine than his former self. He had a look of confidence, and the nervous and fearful look had all but vanished. "Master, you are too much. You can do it in a few seconds, I'm still far behind."

Avrin chuckled softly. He had indeed developed this reshaping ability himself, painstakingly focusing every day while training Kael to reshape the body. Of course, he was sure to not neglect his own training.

He would often venture into the center of the Twisting Lands while he and Kael traveled and would combat powerful creatures no weaker than the Draconians he had faced. Of course, over time, he had managed to accumulate many valuable Dark Cores that helped improve him, but he wasn't so quick as to absorb them all.

When he and Kael would venture off to find and convert creatures, after allowing Kael to fight, he would convert the creature to a Dark Core and accumulate it. He had taught the technique to Kael, but the best he could do was convert creatures at Intermediate level and lower. It seemed that despite Kael's uniqueness, he wasn't as good as Avrin when it came to freely controlling Nebula Mist and dark matter.

So whenever Kael would venture alone, he told him to convert any creature he could get and put the dark cores away for later use. Avrin felt that he may find a way to use these Dark Cores for something else, and he wouldn't want to rush him to absorb things and miss something. He had made many errors in judgement by rushing and not exercising caution, so stockpiling a valuable resource may prove handy.

As Avrin and Kael, who was reforming his former chest plate using Nebula Mist, were making their way toward a small stream, Avrin glanced around and lowered his hood to reveal short black hair and a casual looking head with a face hidden behind the mask.

Despite being able to change his appearance and reform himself into a human, this was a habit he hadn't grown out of.

Kael glanced at Avrin and laughed softly. "Master, you look silly still wearing that mask when you can reshape yourself." Avrin frowned as he removed the mask, showing a face resembling a 30-year-old male with average features.

Reforming himself was one of the largest discoveries he had found and would save him the trouble of being discovered by someone he knew.

"Oh? Teasing me are you?... Would you like me to crush you into the ground like yesterday?" With a taste of words to show that Avrin had indeed fought with harshness to train him, Kael had turned somewhat pale and gave a nervous laugh.