19 You look lovely. (1/2)

Opening his eyes again, It was dark. Ozul stood up and wanted to check on Grandma Coral.

Walking into the living room, he saw that she was again sewing a white shirt. She kindly smiled at him when he sat next to her.

”You seem down. What happened?”- Grandma Coral was the only person who, even from his expressionless face, could tell that he not in a good mood.

”It's nothing.”- Ozul did not want to worry her.

Ozul did not say anything else and just sat in silence while Grandma Coral kept stitching.

After a while, Ozul quietly stood up and again went outside. Outside in the garden, Raven was again meditating next to his usual spot.

He sat down while he gazed up in the sky. Ozul started thinking, but sometime later, he shook every thought out of his mind.

'I can't gain anything by thinking. I can't do anything right now. It's better if I just wait it out.'- Ozul did not want to think about things that he could not solve.

It was at this time that that Raven opened her eyes and smiled beautifully, seeing Ozul beside her.

”Hey! Ozul, Which element do you think I should focus on?”- Raven asked as she couldn't think of any element that she especially wanted to concentrate on.

”Darkness.”- Ozul said. He knew all other things were but impurities. Only the emptiness had no filth.

”Eh...?! But isn't it like... evil?”- Raven was confused as it was just common knowledge that darkness was an evil Element.

”Evil? Why do you think it's evil?”- Ozul wanted her to realize things on her own.

”Um... Many Evil Mages used Darkness Element in the past?”- Raven nervously replied.

”Evil Mages used Darkness Element. So, did the Evil Mages not wear clothes? Did they not breathe air? Did they not use Mana in the atmosphere? Why are all those things not evil?”- Ozul calmly explained to her.

”But if you're afraid of being judged... judged by some sheep, it's your choice.”- Ozul gave her a simple choice.

Hearing Ozuls earlier words, Raven was stunned. It was true; all those Evil Mages also breathed air. Yet no one calls it evil!

But hearing that she was afraid of some sheep judging her, Raven did not hesitate anymore and decided that Darkness Element will be her path!

Seeing her resolve, Ozul said the last part.

”Besides, in this world, nothing is pure—a contradicting sentence...because only Nothing 'is' pure. Only the absence of all is genuine. Darkness is the closest thing to the emptiness that you can wield.” Ozul explained Raven his insights on this 'filthy' world.

But it shook Raven! Raven did not doubt any word that Ozul had said, but it was just too shocking for her to hear that Ozul considered anything that existed to be impure!

Ozul just closed his eyes as he had nothing more to say.

Raven took some time before she could digest the words. She then stood up and went inside to sleep as Grandma Coral will just worry about her.

. . .

The next day went by, and nothing unusual happened. Ozul did not go hunting today, either.

He only slept and helped Grandma Coral in minor tasks.

Night came, and Ozul again went to the living room and sat near Grandma Coral as she was still sewing a white shirt, albeit it was not Ozuls size but bigger.

Ozul did not say a word, and you could only hear the sound of fire burning at the fireplace until Grandma Coral spoke.

”You do not go to the forest because of me, right?”- Grandma Coral could observe that Ozul was not going to the forest because of her. She then continued without waiting for his reply.

”Be yourself, Ozul. Don't worry about my health.”- Grandma Coral said with a weak smile, and continued,

”And start smiling a little more. You look lovely, smiling.”- Grandma Coral patted Ozul's head and then turned her focus into sewing.

Ozul listened to her quietly and took his time until he left for outside.

He saw that Raven was meditating at her usual spot near the tree. Just as he laid, Raven opened her eyes and looked at him with a smile.

”I keep getting a feeling that the Core will emerge any minute!”- Raven excitedly told Ozul. If she becomes a Mage, Ozul will definitely take her with him!

”Slow.”- This time Ozul actually said a little bit of harsh truth. Raven had told him that she was training for three years!! Only now was the Core near the completion!

Talented people will only take one year! Three years was only above average. Besides, Ozul required more than just above ordinary people!

Raven hearing that her progress was slow became downcast until she again resolved herself and decided to work harder next time.