Code stepped into the room, his gaze sweeping across the space with a mix of curiosity and caution. The air was heavy with the scent of old books and dust, and the flickering candles cast eerie shadows on the walls. Van, seated on a worn, velvet sofa, raised his hand, beckoning Code closer. His face was hidden behind his black, silk mask, its edges intricately embroidered with silver thread.
"Here, take this," Van said, his low, gravelly voice sending a shiver down Code's spine as he passed him a thin, golden thread. Code took the thread, his eyes fixed on it in confusion, his fingers wrapping around it with a mix of fascination and trepidation.
"Um...so what do I do with this?" Code asked, his tone inquisitive, his brow furrowed in concentration. Van let out a loud yawn, his jaw stretching wide behind the mask. "Oh...yeah, cut the thread..."
Code's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Cut the thread?" he repeated, a hint of humor in his voice. He glanced at Van, expecting some further explanation, but Van's masked face revealed nothing. After a very short while, Van dozed off, leaving Code to his mystery.
Code looked at the thread, and smirked.
'It's just a piece of thread,' he reassured himself.
As Code tried to cut the thread, he realized it was unlike anything he had ever encountered. It felt stiff, like pulling a string of steel. Code's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in concentration. He tried stretching it again, but the result was the same.
Code's frustration grew as he attempted various methods to cut the thread. He tied one end to the wall, placed it in his mouth, and even tried to snap it with his bare hands. But the thread remained stubbornly intact.
Just as Code was about to give up, an idea struck him. He decided to place a part of the thread on the candle flame, hoping it would weaken and snap. The candle flame danced on the table, casting flickering shadows on the walls.
As the thread began to burn, Code's eyes widened in surprise. The fire spread rapidly, consuming the thread, but to Code's amazement, the thread itself didn't seem to be affected. The flames danced across its length, yet it remained intact.
Before Code could react, the fire spread to the surrounding papers, engulfing them in a warm, golden glow. Code's eyes widened in fear as he grabbed a cup of water to extinguish the flames. But just as he was about to pour, Van suddenly woke up, his masked face turning towards the fire.
"No, no, don't pour it!" Van screamed, his voice muffled slightly by the mask. Code hesitated, and Van appeared beside him, catching a single drop of water mid-air. Code's eyes widened in awe at the sight of this incredible feat.
Van stared at the fire, his masked face expressionless, before turning to Code. "Good griefs, you could have killed us all," Van said, his voice stern, but a hint of amusement dancing in his tone.
As Van collected the thread and snapped it effortlessly, Code's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you do that?" he asked, his voice coated with awe. Van chuckled, his masked face glinting with amusement. "That's basic sorcery, I'm surprised you couldn't do that."
Code felt a sting of embarrassment, and Van's teasing didn't help. "How did you become a sorcerer when you didn't even know the simplest basics of sorcery?" Van asked, his laughter echoing through the room.
Code's face burned with embarrassment, but he retorted, "I'll have you know, I'm a great sorcerer. I've just...uh...been having a bad day." Van's laughter subsided, and he sighed. "Alright, let's get back to training. Maybe we can teach you some basic techniques."
As Van walked back to the sofa, Code couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and determination. He was ready to learn, and he hoped Van could teach him the skills he needed to become a true sorcerer.
"Alright, let's get started," Van said, handing Code another strand of thread. Code collected it and raised it, mimicking Van's earlier action. When nothing happened, Code's face turned worrisome. "It's not working," he exclaimed.
Van's tone turned humorous. "What are you doing?" he asked, his laughter echoing through the room. Code gave Van a look, grabbed the thread with both hands, and asked, "But seriously, how do I do it?"
Van's expression turned serious. "Infuse the thread with tenzen until it's super saturated, then it snaps." He demonstrated, raising the thread, and in that instant, it snapped. "Easy-peasy, right?" he added, chuckling.
Code's confusion was evident. "What's tenzen?" he asked, his tone inquisitive. Van's tone turned mocking. "What? You don't even know what tenzen is? Really, whoever registered you as a sorcerer just sent you on a suicide trip."
Code retorted, raising his brows. "Very funny... are you going to tell me or not?" Van composed himself and began explaining the concept of tenzen.
"Matter, time, space, gravity, life, and death are all interconnected by a fundamental force known as tenzen. Tenzen is an omnipresent energy that permeates every aspect of the universe, from the smallest subatomic particles to the vast expanse of cosmic space. It's the underlying fabric that weaves everything together, governing the intricate web of relationships between all things. Think of tenzen as the resonance that harmonizes the universe, allowing particles to interact, forces to exert influence, and life to emerge."
Van's words painted a vivid picture, and Code listened intently. As Van demonstrated his control over tenzen, the bottle on the table began to quiver, and the water inside churned and foamed. Code's eyes widened in surprise as the bottle exploded, its glass shattering.
"Woah...crazy!" Code exclaimed. Van's shoulder shrugged slightly. "Impressive right? I know." Code asked, "How did you do it?" Van explained that every form of matter has a unique tenzen signature, determining how much tenzen it can absorb and emit.
"When you infuse matter with tenzen, you're essentially filling its container. If you overfill it, the container bursts, releasing the excess tenzen in a burst of energy. That's what happened to the bottle - its tenzen signature was exceeded, causing it to shatter."
Code's enthusiasm was palpable. "So, how do I get tenzen?" Van's tone turned grim. "You have tenzen, but you can't manipulate it." Code's face etched with worry. "What do you mean?"
Van's words hung in the air like a death sentence. "Tenzen has a counterpart, a mirrored force known as anti-tenzen. Anti-tenzen is the absence of tenzen, and yet, it's not just a void - it's a presence that can exert its own influence. Anti-tenzen mostly exists in the absence of tenzen, and vice versa. This delicate balance is what governs the interactions between tenzen and anti-tenzen."
Code's skin crawled as he grasped the magnitude of the risk. "So, uh... how does that relate to me?" Van's eyes narrowed. "Normally, being a Zero would imply that you're unable to manipulate tenzen... but I believe there's more to it. Your possession by Aidra is probably the key. Aidra's anti-tenzen concentration is unparalleled, and the fact that you're still alive suggests that your own tenzen concentration has adapted to balance it out."
As Van finished explaining, Code's determination surged forth.
"So..." Van continued. "Do you want to become stronger?" He asked.
"Yes!" Code exclaimed almost immediately, his enthusiasm unwavering. He was determined to seize this opportunity to grow stronger, no matter the challenges that lay ahead.
***
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