"That was very encouraging. Thank you."
Kane laughed when he heard Neo's reply.
He stood up, stretching his arms above his head before rolling his shoulders.
"Percival, I don't know how, but make your breakthrough today. I will start training you and Neo from tomorrow.
"Chances are low that it will be enough to prepare you two for the Grand Expedition, but we need to do our best."
Kane stretched again, letting out a tired yawn.
"What about the rest of us?" Olivia asked, her arms crossed.
"Do whatever you want. Just don't get eaten by some hungry monster. We have a lot of those here." Kane said before making his way toward the door.
After a moment of contemplation, Percival decided to go out and make his breakthrough.
Olivia and Nicolas followed him, intending to protect him during his breakthrough.
Neo was the only one left behind.
He focused on creating Essence.
Time passed slowly, and soon the deep orange of the evening arrived.
Kane returned, holding two steaming cups of coffee. The rich aroma filled the room as he placed one beside Neo and sat behind him.
"Can I be a bit rude?" Kane asked, taking a sip from his cup.
"How are you using World Energy?"
"You can tell it's World Energy?"
"I can. It's not like you are trying to hide it, and it's too pure to be the energy of an Awakener." Kane stared at Neo, his expression unreadable. "What are you?"
"I suppose you wouldn't answer me so easily." Kane exhaled through his nose, then reached into his coat and pulled out a thin book.
He placed it on the table between them.
"Energy Concealment Spell. It's useful for you since you are going to join the Grand Expedition soon.
"You wouldn't want to reveal you can use World Energy to countless Darkness users, would you?
"Who knows, they might attack you to devour whatever is allowing you to use World Energy."
"I thought the Expedition was made up of righteous people," Neo asked with furrowed brows.
Kane laughed, shaking his head.
"You make good jokes.
"The people here work together in only three cases: Their interests align, the top brass of the Dragon Clans are forcing them, or they are planning to backstab someone."
He leaned forward, his fingers drumming lightly on the wooden table.
"The Expedition members are all from the Seven Dragon Clans, but you can never be too safe. Anyone can be overtaken by greed."
Neo looked at the spell book, then back at Kane.
After a moment of contemplation, he picked it up and flipped through the pages.
He confirmed that the Spell was genuine, and stored the book in his Shadow Space.
"I'm a Heavenbreaker."
"You don't look surprised."
"Well, I expected it the moment I saw you using World Energy. Something like that is only possible if you are a Heavenbreaker, or if you have the blessing of a World directly.
"Your World Energy felt different from Moon's, and Earth would never give its World Energy's direct access to anyone. The only choice left was you being a Heavenbreaker," Kane explained.
"You are quite knowledgeable about Heavenbreakers."
"Of course, I am. I've been trying to become one for ages. Never succeeded until now though." Kane chuckled bitterly. "You satiated my curiosity, so ask anything you would like to. I know you must have a lot of questions about this place."
Neo stared at Kane for a few seconds.
There was a lot he wanted to ask.
How was life treating Kane?
Why was he on Tartarus?
When did he marry and have a kid?
However, Neo was not someone who had the right to ask such close questions anymore.
Neo took out the Everwitch Violet from his Shadow Space.
The dark petals of the flower caught Kane's eye.
"That is?" Kane questioned.
"A flower with powerful healing nature. It needs Death, Darkness, Time, Life, Holy, and Void Elementals to bloom. Until then, it can't be used."
"You want my help to make it bloom? I guess Sphinx told you about my trait."
He rubbed his chin with furrowed brows, then shook his head.
"I can't help you with that."
Before Neo could say anything, Kane raised his hands and pulled his sleeves back.
His hands were covered in black sigils.
"My trait has been sealed by these. I can't talk with Elementals or use my sword."
"What? Who did that to you?"
Kane was surprised when he sensed the suppressed intensity behind Neo's words.
"Calm down. It's not permanent. I can deal with this myself. Only it will take time.
"Since you need the flower, I think you need it urgently to heal someone?"
"Yes, you are right."
"Then, you can't wait for my trait to be unsealed. You will have to bloom it yourself. Of course, I will still help as much as I can."
He walked toward the door.
They entered deep into the house.
The air grew colder as the night arrived.
Kane brought him to a room filled with safes.
The metallic scent of stored artifacts lingered in the air.
He looked over all of them and stopped in front of the safe at the end of the room.
After entering the password, he opened it.
Inside, several vials of blood were placed.
"You have a Darkness element, right? Can you use it?"
"Good. Among the Elements you need for the flower, how many do you have and how many can you use?" Kane asked as he looked through the blood vials.
"I have all of them, but I can't use Void," Neo answered, although he didn't understand Kane's intentions.
He turned around to look at Neo, his expression shifting from curiosity to something more intense.
"I don't think Earth had Void affinity?"