Ceres

71

"Those green speckles surrounding you... What are those?"

Back then, inside the carriage of Leona and Lennard, this question stunned the latter.

"Wha-what do you..."

Leona tilted her head; seemingly puzzled by her brother's words. She was seeing green speckles of light that are surrounding her brother. However, aside from seeing it, she cannot touch it nor feel anything from it. This is what confuses her the most. She can see a lot of these things in the surrounding. All of them are green speckles of light. Sometimes, these lights are alone while other times they would congregate. It differs from time to time. It would sometimes even go near her as if wanting her to play with it.

Currently, Lennard's spiritual essence was full. He also wasn't cultivating so there was no need to gather spiritual essence. But based on her sister's statement, he was surrounded by spiritual essences. And, it was a different kind of spiritual essence from what he usually senses.

In this world, spiritual essences are energies in the surrounding used by people in different ways. It is gathered and converted by one's body depending on one's magic attribute. This was the theory made by countless people regarding these spiritual essences. However, this is only true for most of the people. Those who are well-versed and fortunate enough to comprehend the peaks of magic knew that there is more to spiritual essence than what meets the eye. Hence, those theories about normal speckles of light are only applicable to those with low magic level and comprehension.

The green speckles of light surrounding Lennard are also spiritual essences. The only difference between it and the ones that is usually gathered and absorbed by most magic practitioners is that... The former are pure. The green speckles do not need any conversion but instead, only needed to be absorbed. But, do not be fooled by such things. Even though one only needed to absorb such pure spiritual essences, one must first be able to sense them. The reason is that, these pure spiritual essences are different from what normal people gather and absorb in many ways. Hence, these pure spiritual essences are difficult to sense much more to see.

As such, those who can sense these things and use them have far more stable foundation and stronger magic than those who cannot. Also, those who can sense these things normally are either those with special attributes or those with far higher magic level and comprehension. As to how high it is, perhaps, nobody might be able to guess.

This is also the reason why Ceres' spiritual essences are numerous and her foundation is much more stable compared to those of the same level as her. Ceres absorbs pure spiritual essences and not only that, she absorbs all types of it. But the major spiritual essence she uses is that of something that this world's people cannot yet comprehend. Thus, what she sees and senses are much more profound than those of others.

Although this kind of phenomenon is rare, Lennard is someone from the Fay kingdom royal family and he goes to a top school in this continent. Therefore, his knowledge is more extensive than others and it's no wonder that he would naturally have heard of pure spiritual essences. However, his knowledge on this topic is limited and he, therefore, doesn't want to jump into any conclusion.

"You are seeing green speckles of light? When did you start seeing them?"

Leona didn't think much about what her brother is asking because she is also curious as to what those are and how she can suddenly see them.

"I only started seeing them when I woke up from being poisoned. I didn't mind them since we were all focused on Cerio and Gil."

True enough, the moment she woke up was the moment her vision of this world changed. She started seeing green speckles of light but because she was more absorbed with what her brother is saying, she didn't dare ask him about it.

Lennard, on the other hand, was bothered. Something like this should be said the moment it happened. He couldn't help but furrow his brows and place one of his hands on his chin.

Just when she woke up? What did this mean? It means that something must have triggered her spiritual body to be able to see such pure spiritual essences. As to what triggered such phenomenon, Lennard is still thinking about it.

What puzzles Lennard is that, all of them in the Fay kingdom and in other kingdoms knew that Leona is someone who cannot sense any spiritual essence at all. If she cannot even sense spiritual essences, it is natural that she cannot see it. It is one of the reasons why she doesn't have any distinguishing features or abilities aside from her mesmerizing beauty. Moreover, this is precisely why even though she has a beauty that could wage wars, she wasn't someone who is desired among the noble and powerful forces of the continent.

To suddenly be able to see such pure spiritual essences, isn't this a huge news that could shock everyone? Their father may even visit their ancestors earlier than when it's supposed to be if he hears about this news.

Is it the poison? No, because the poison is not even potent to cause drastic changes in one's body. If it's not the poison then, what could it be?

"If you can see it, can you try absorbing it?"

"Do you mean..."

She doesn't know that those green speckles of light were actually spiritual essences and by hearing her brother ask such thing, she concluded something. It is spiritual essences; the essences one needed to use magic. And so, what does his mean?

She is able to see spiritual essences and probably soon, be able to practice magic, too.

Leona couldn't help but cover her mouth with both her hands. She was surprised but more than ever, she was happy. She was so happy that tears started forming in the corner of her eyes. Before those tears fall, she wiped them and suppressed her urge to cry. If she cries, who knows how long will she be able to calm down?

Lennard noticed her actions and also, knew what Leona was thinking. Somehow, he looked sideways and smiled faintly. He was also suppressing his urge to tear up.

Leona is a princess of a well-known kingdom. She is beautiful without a doubt and not many can contend against her beauty. But, more than anything in this world, she wanted to practice magic. Her beauty may be unparalleled in the eyes of most people but it is nothing to her.

She doesn't want to be the damsel in distress all the times and that fragile princess who needs protection from others. In addition, she believes that she can help their kingdom more if only she can use magic.

But the truth is not as sweet as it sounds like. She, herself, knew that there are a number of other ways that she can help her family run the kingdom or even, protect herself from harm. And so, why does she use magic as an excuse for such things?

This is called deceiving one's self.

She absolutely wants to be able to practice magic... For only her own selfish reasons.

No matter how much she excels in other areas, without the ability to practice magic, she is still useless in the eyes of other people.

She has a kind heart that understands what other people may want or need, a brain that can compete in different fields of literature as well as to help in their kingdom's affairs but because she doesn't have a talent for magic, she is still a worthless princess of a kingdom.

This is the reason why she can only smile when others praise her.

Behindthat smile lay all the grievances that only she herself knows. -tbc

A/N: I thought I wouldn't go online this week since I don't have anything to do that needs the internet. Haha! But since I suddenly got called to participate in a research, I need to get some documents online. And, tada~! Here's an update! :D