That evening, the atmosphere around the Jonester Household's dinner table was warm and friendly. Old Buck had prepared a lavish meal, and Leo joined them at the table for the first time in a while.
"Soup's here!"
Old Buck carried over the soup pot and set it in the center of the table. Rising steam immediately veiled the tabletop in a thin mist. He picked up bowls and ladled soup for Mulan and Leo, whose plates were already laid out with steaks and vegetables.
"Smells wonderful. Mulan, eat up. You won't get this once you're in the Imperial Capital."
At Leo's remark, Mulan replied somewhat exasperatedly.
"I'm going there to study this time, not to serve in a war like last time. I'll have holidays, and it's only a day and a night by train. Instead of worrying about how long I'll be away, think about this: even the queen is going to receive me!"
Mulan kept the mood light at the table, and Old Buck smiled too.
"Young Master Mulan, you're the pride of the Jonester Family. So are you, Young Master Leo."
"That's right. Without me, how would we ever have enjoyed a decent life? I am Valentine's finest elite detective, after all. Ah, you little brat. Before I knew it, you'd become just a little more impressive than me. If Father and Mother were still here, they'd be very happy."
Mulan teased Leo.
"Look at you, getting all sentimental. Even Grandpa Buck isn't as wistful as you. It's not as though I'm never coming back. Are you going to crawl under the covers and have a good cry later?"
"You little brat!"
Normally, Mulan went straight to bed after dinner, but today he stayed at the table and chatted with his family. Only when it was about time did he head upstairs.
The cane containing the Silver Sword lay on the table in his room. Mulan had not touched it since returning last time. Now, he gently drew the sword. A few tiny nicks remained on its gleaming blade. They were not very obvious, but they were definitely there, and he could feel them with his fingers.
"I wonder if there's a craftsman in the Imperial Capital who can repair this sword."
Not only had this sword saved Mulan, it was far from ordinary. Another sword might well have snapped under impacts that powerful, while this one merely had a few rough spots along its edge.
Mulan gently ran his fingers over every part of the blade, recalling each time he had fought with it-especially when it had first appeared abruptly in his hand during his confrontation with the Killer, and when it had absorbed the Killer's soul at the Count's Estate.
"Where did it come from, and how was it made?"
Mulan tried to imagine the sword's origins, and also tried to resonate with it. His previous attempt had produced no results. He wondered how it would go this time.
Thump.
His heart seemed to pound suddenly. Mulan seemed to see himself fighting enemies with this sword, a craftsman hammering and grinding its blade, and the moment it absorbed the Killer's soul. A tremulous sensation connected Mulan to the sword.
Sword name: Fang. The great master Mulan Jonester bestowed his will upon me. My edge is peerless; nothing can withstand me. I thirst for slaughter and blood.
A line of text appeared on the blade amid sparks. The word could mean a sharp tooth or a venomous fang.
Merely holding the blade gave Mulan a sense of exhilaration. A faint desire to kill filled his heart-a desire to slice open flesh and cleave living beings apart.
Mulan shook his head hard, suppressed the feeling, and thrust the sword back into the cane.
Compared with the brightness and ardor of the Ring of Light, this sword clearly exerted a greater influence on Mulan. Although it did not seem particularly intense, he had to keep it under control. There was something sinister about this sword.
At the same time the next day, Dolly and another man arrived at Mulan's home. Mulan's farewell to his family was brief. He said a few words, picked up his luggage, and left. After all, this was not a final parting. There was no need to make it too sad.
Mulan had intended to stop by and say goodbye to Evan on the way, but learned that Evan had left for the Sacred Mountain with the Holy Relic yesterday in recognition of his great achievement. Mulan could only grumble that the fellow had no loyalty, leaving without even coming to tell him.
With a rhythmic clanking, the train slowly began to move.
The three of them were in a private compartment, but they were not its only occupants. The boy and girl from the steamship were there too. They were surprised to see Mulan and rather ill at ease. They only dared to say, "Hello, Mr. Jonester," before shrinking back to either side of Dolly.
Mulan could do nothing about children not liking him. Once they had boarded, closed the compartment door, and the man had told him they could speak freely, Mulan's questions never stopped. The man kept answering them.
"Oh, so Dally is actually a newcomer like me?"
"Yes. Miss Dolly was also discovered by Lord Walton when he came to Valentine."
"It's Dol-ly!"
Mulan laughed. From yesterday until now, this girl had been putting on airs in front of him, acting like a veteran looking down on a novice.
"Of course, Dally."
"You!"
The boy and girl beside them both laughed. Dolly simply stopped talking to Mulan, while he moved on to the crucial question.
"Now I know the Otherworld exists, but where does Sir Walton's miraculous power come from?"
"That's an enormous field of study. Although mystical power has only begun growing more abundant in recent years, it has actually existed since ancient times."
The man uncrossed his legs, took out a notebook and pen, and began to write.
"Beyond the Otherworld and Surface World you already know about, those who have gained an understanding of power can also divide the world into three categories in academic terms. The first is the material world, which I imagine needs little explanation. But the matter you see may not be its true essence-the essence of a holy relic, for instance. The second is the archetypal world, which represents the essence of things to a certain extent. And the third, which is also the most important to us, is the formative world!"
"The formative world?"
Dolly frowned, while Mulan waited for him to continue.
"Exactly, the formative world. In abstract terms, it represents our view of things, a world that forms resonance with the self. It is also the key to obtaining power. My teacher once said, 'You are as powerful as you believe yourself to be.' Although that isn't entirely accurate, it sums up the formative world's influence on oneself quite well. Of course, the correctness and distinctiveness of one's formative world are also very important."
Resonance?
Mulan's heart gave a jolt. He was certainly familiar with that word. In fact, he already understood that he was very good at it.
Seeing Mulan sink into thought, the man continued with a smile.
"Of course, that's only the broad outline. There are certainly more details. Power doesn't come from nothing. Aside from training, special aids are also required. In formal terms, there are five major elements. The primordial element relates to one's innate talents. The basic element represents matter. The transitional element represents the influencing factors of things such as magic potions. The special element relates to the mind and totems, and is rather intangible and remote. The sacred element represents influences from gods or great beings."
"Holy relics, for instance, are a source of the sacred element."
The scenery outside the window rushed backward, and the rumble of the train filled their ears. Mulan frowned and looked at the speaker.
"In my view, these so-called holy relics are extremely dangerous."
"They certainly are dangerous, but they are also sacred. Using a holy relic as a guide makes it easier to perceive the world, and can also grant you a god's blessing. Of course, certain cults can use holy relics as well. Research indicates that the presence of holy relics can increase the density of the mystical element. Some advocate sealing holy relics away, but ultimately, more people choose to use them."
Mulan thought for a moment, then spoke.
"That's very dangerous, isn't it? It amounts to changing the world."
"It certainly is dangerous. The world will become increasingly unfamiliar, but there's no way to put an end to the current situation. Even if we don't research it, plenty of others will. Those cults and madmen are terrifying too. Besides, even without the influence of holy relics, the great vortex is continuously affecting the world. Rather than sit and wait, we might as well try to understand and control it first."
Mulan could understand that. In his previous life, everyone had known nuclear weapons were dangerous, yet many countries had still done everything they could to develop them. Once several countries possessed nuclear weapons, wars had actually become less frequent.
"All right, there's too much theoretical knowledge to explain easily. Let me talk about the stages of increasing one's power."
Dolly and Mulan, along with the boy and girl, all sat up straight.
"First comes the physical awakening stage, which can be considered breaking through the limits of an ordinary person. Anyone who has not awakened is one of the 'people under the king.' Generally, mental power evolves at the same time, making one more sensitive to the Otherworld. The second stage is 'reality.' Once you have established an initial formative world, you can even influence the Otherworld. But remember, resonance at this stage is not just about increasing your own power. You also need to create your own totem. After that comes the abundance stage. In fact, starting from reality, you already need a suitable theory and direction for resonance. You can think of it as choosing a profession and a sequence of advancement."
"For example, Lord Walton can be called a wraith mage. He is an extraordinarily powerful and wondrous being."
PS: My gums are inflamed, and the toothache has brought on a migraine. It hurts so much that neither lying down nor sitting is comfortable. Sorry, this is the only chapter for today.