Unbothered by the lack of immediate use, he stored the powerful legs in a box under his bed with his two other materials.
Then, he opened Elena's book again, remembering something.
"We walked to a hidden corner of the cave, using a magic circle to teleport to an elegant building established on a circular platform in the mountain's belly."
"Bingo. We need to find the magic circle and pray it's still working. That's our way out." Adam said, crossing his arms and taping his index on his cheek pensively, a deep frown etching itself on his face.
Elena's grimoire offered a whole new option to resolve his situation. If he learned the grimoire's secrets, couldn't he create a body of flesh and blood from minerals for himself?
But to do that, he had to become an archmage first. Sadly, it wouldn't happen anytime soon. Then black lines appeared on his forehead as a detail he almost forgot caught his attention.
Who was the man, sharing his features from Earth and hiding in Julius' soul sea? Why was he connected to him by an ethereal chain? Would that connection compromise his plan to go for the puppets if he chose to?
"So many questions and uncertainties... I only have one chance to recover my body. Will I gamble it away because I discovered an old grimoire?" He voiced his doubts, his gaze so intense that it seemed to drill holes in the grimoire.
Then, he made a choice. "I'm sorry, Julius..." He muttered, shedding a single tear. After twelve years, the emotions and incertitude he bottled up broke free like a raging storm as he fell on his bed, hugging his legs, his stifled sniff echoing amidst the room.
How cruel was this discovery, offering him an alternative he longed for but realistically couldn't take? The risks were just too high. After all, he still didn't know why his soul was damaged. Were his theories twelve years ago true? Was it because existing as a ghost, without a proper shelter for his soul, slowly eroded it?
That was why he tried to distance himself, going as far as spending his time alone in this place, focusing on magic and progress. He didn't want to think about the fateful day that was inevitably approaching.
He clenched his teeth. "If not for Gaston and his four-year deception." He said hatefully. Despite the staggering progress he made, be it in fighting style, body control or mana control, he lost four valuable years, during which he could have searched for an alternative.
"Even after your body turned to dust, your soul was destroyed, and consciousness dissipated, you're still as annoying as ever," he said in a low voice, remembering his formidable nemesis, his attempts to absorb his soul and take Julius' body.
Resolving himself, he stood up, determination burning in his eyes. "I still have around ten months. I'll study Elena's work in depth during that time and ask whoever is interested in me to help find a solution. I can't accept that we can't live in this beautiful world together. After all, everything is possible." He said, quoting Elena's words with a bright smile.
Her writing truly struck a cord in him. He really wished he could meet the kind and amazing woman. She lived her whole life to achieve her goal, a true lesson of resilience and improvement.
Upon reaching this thought, he couldn't help but ponder. What was his goal? Learning magic? To what end? Recover his body? To do what?
He frowned deeply at the questions. He never really thought about them, focusing on improving himself because he ended up enjoying magic and recovering his body because it was supposed to be his in the first place.
His goals lacked meaning compared to Elena's. But again, was it a problem? What was wrong with doing something because you found it interesting?
"Are my choices motivated by my own free will or influenced by outside sources?" Doubts filled his heart as he thought about the mysterious system and its annoyance when he deviated from the traditional path.
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Was it created by the magus?" He theorised, unsure about the implications. Why would he create it only to give it to him? Or were they other possessors?
Then, his eyes widened. "The dream place! Yes, that place is surrounded by buildings. But why am I the only one outside? Are there actual people in them? Do they also have a system?
Fighting against his questions and doubts, he couldn't help but thank Elena. His unbottled emotions allowed him to think at a much deeper level and raise proper questions, even if he didn't have answers. Then, his eyes brightened as he realised something.
"I found it! My aspiration in this world. I'll uncover its genuine history and reach the legendary ninth tier. To have my own body. To understand the true depths of magic. To confront the mysteries that have plagued me for years." He declared solemnly, his hands raised, challenging the sky, the magus, or whoever to stop him in his path.
"I know I can become the best historian if I set my mind to it," he declared, his laughter echoing in the empty, gloomy dream place.
After his solemn declaration, his eyelids drooped, surrendering to the embrace of sleep. As he drifted into slumber, a quiet determination filled his being, anchoring his newfound goal in the depths of his consciousness.
In the realm of dreams, his mind soared unburdened by doubt or fear. Guided by the beacon of his unwavering resolve, he journeyed through the ethereal landscapes of his subconscious.
Then, like a lantern in the darkness, a glimmer of awakening pierced the veil of dreams. He opened his eyes back in the real world, his spirit rejuvenated and his purpose clear.
"Let's get out of this place. We have much to do," he said to Julius, his luminous eyes burning, mana echoing his firm emotions and enveloping his being like a soft, transparent mantle.
Gazing back at his big brother in confusion, Julius nodded, wondering what happened and by what mechanism Adam made the items disappear, unaware that his life was hanging by a thin thread lying in his brother's hands.