Actually, about that... you could say I learned it while resting in bed earlier After I finished practicing the technique, I was exhausted. When I closed my eyes, I saw a dream. But was it really a dream?
That place… it was vast, endless, and filled with darkness. The land beneath me was black, the soil itself dark as if it had never known light. As I wandered, unsure of where I was, I eventually reached a unique place one unlike anything I'd ever seen.
It was a field filled with swords. Every single one of them was black, covered completely in darkness. And among them stood a lone tree. It was also black, but what made it creepy were the unusual white cracks running along its bark. It felt different, as if it had been there since the beginning of time.
As I observed the area, I heard a strange sound. Curious, I followed it.
When I finally arrived at the source, I saw something in the sky—dark orbs, each the size of a small mountain, floating in the air. And beneath them… an old man, clad in black robes, floating in the air.
He was vanishing and reappearing from one place to another. It was similar to what I could do but it wasn't the same. He was moving across distances too great for my technique to reach.
I watched him for a while. Then, suddenly, he stopped, as if sensing my presence.
Even though he had halted, he was facing away from me, so I couldn't see his face. Time passed, and he just stood there, staring at the floating orbs above.
I hesitated, but eventually, I called out to him.
No response came my way
I took a few silent steps forward.
But just as I was about to take my next step
He vanished.
And in the very next moment, he was right in front of me.
Thdd
He moved like air itself, faster than thought. And even though he was so close… I still couldn't see his face.
What I did see was the hollow void where his eyes should have been.
Yet, I knew he was looking at me.
Then, without warning, he raised his hand and touched my forehead.
His voice cracked , as if his throat had long forgotten how to speak resonated in my mind, sending chills through my body.
"Oo...seed..of.....Fa...ll...e.n... one."
And with those words—he vanished.
Upon that single touch, memories that were not mine flowed into me like a flood. That's how I learned it.
But even then… I couldn't wake up from that dream.
So I rested there.
And as I sorted through those memories, I realized something
I didn't learn the technique just because I had his memories.
No.
I already had something similar something that resembled it.
As I pieced together the essence of those memories, I began to understand. This was the first time it had ever taken me so long to learn something. Slowly, I grasped its basics.
And then… I practiced it.
All in my mind.
Jaipa stared at me with a thug-like expression on his face. Then, in a flat voice, he muttered
"What's with this new nonsense of yours?"
I looked in his eyes
A second later, he burst out, his voice loud and disbelieving.
"Are you actually saying you learned it in your mind?! A technique like that?! Not even a normal one at that! Do you take me for an idiot, expecting me to believe this?"
I turned to him and replied coldly, "I don't care whether you accept it or not. What I'm telling you is the truth you are witnessing it yourself."
"This technique… it consumes a lot of energy from me, both mentally and physically. Even my key energy it drains too much. The strain on my brain from constantly calculating the shifting distances…the stress on my body from performing it… it's enormous.
Right now, I can only use it three times before my key energy is completely drained."
That old man…
I knew his name.
"Hey, Jaipa… do you know a man called 'The First Heaven'?"
Jaipa stared at me for a while, then shook his head in " no "
I studied his face, then simply said, "I'm going down now."
I moved closer to the bed, hovered just inches above it, then—
With a soft thud, I fell onto the mattress.
Sweat drenched my body. My chest rose and fell in heavy breaths.
I closed my eyes for just a second And then
"Rudra."
A voice called my name.
I opened my eyes again.
Ray stood there, his face twisted in anger.
"What the hell were you doing all this time when I wasn't here?"
I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Ray's anger flared.
"Didn't I tell you not to move from the bed?! Can't you follow even a single thing I tell you to do?!"
He paused, then his voice dropped, frustration and something elsebconcern seeping into his words.
"Do you even realize… what we went through because of you?"
A moment of silence filled the room
"I don't get you at all. How can you be this careless? Just a day ago, you were almost dead and now you're jumping around without a care in the world?!"
I tilted my head slightly, my expression blank.
"Jumping around? I was actually trying to fly."
Ray's face twitched.
Then
"DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!"
His voice exploded in frustration.
"Didn't I tell you not to move out of bed?!"
"Okay, okay, I get it. Can you stop nagging now?"
Ray exhaled sharply, taking deep breaths to calm himself.
Silence settled between us.
But in my mind…
If I told him now that I was going to vanish for a long time, it wouldn't be good for me.
Still, I needed to prepare for what was coming.
With my current self, I wouldn't survive outside in that forest, I had to prepare.
I made up my mind.
"Hey, brother."
Ray looked at me, his face still holding traces of frustration.
"Hm?"
"I have something to tell you. It's important so just listen."
I studied his face carefully, trying to read his emotions. He was still mad about earlier, which wasn't ideal. But I couldn't avoid this.
So, for just a moment, I dropped my usual act.
"I'm going to vanish. Like before."
The room was like listening to me in silence
Ray's frustration faded. His expression turned grim.
I continued.
"This time, it won't be for just 15 minutes. I don't know how long I'll be gone… but I will come back."
Ray gritted his teeth.
The sound of it was loud in the silence.
I waited.
Then, in a cold voice, he spoke.
"When were you going to tell me that?"
I remained silent for a moment, then put my usual mask back on. With a soft voice, I said
"I only just found out."
Ray's eyes narrowed.
"Why are you going to vanish? And where?"
My thoughts ran wild, searching for the perfect lie.
After a moment, I spoke.
"It's because of this cursed mark, brother."
Ray frowned, waiting for more,But I didn't say anything else ,He pressed further.
"Where are you going?"
Instantly, I replied
"I can't tell you that."
Ray was about to argue, but I cut him off.
"If I tell you, I'll die on the spot."
Ray's face twisted, concern replacing his frustration. He swallowed his words.
Then, with a serious voice, he asked
"Is it a dangerous place? How much danger are you facing?"
I nodded ,"It's quite dangerous."
Ray didn't hesitate.
"How much time do you have left before you vanish?"
I glanced at the clock.
"…About eight hours."
Ray's eyes widened "Only eight hours?!"
Without warning, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me up.
"Let's hurry."
I took a moment and asked to where
Ray glanced at me and said "To meet father"