Chapter 77 What I truly am
ANGELICA'S POV
“Look straight at the tree before you and tell me what you feel,” Alchemist said, and I followed his orders before shifting my gaze and concentration completely on the Bodhi tree.
It was big. Enormous, one would say. The sudden lack of wind around us made its leaves still, and its branches breathed calmly.
The more I looked at it, the stranger I felt, as if something was bubbling inside me. Was it anxiety? Nervousness?
After what felt like an eternity, the tree that I had been looking at suddenly felt like it was looking back at me, as if trying to communicate with me.
My right hand moved on its own towards it.
I took a step towards it. The tree was calling out to me.
I took another step. And then another and then another, until I stood right before it.
Its brown trunk suddenly appeared black and dark, like full of unattended emotions. And I know it was ridiculous to feel that a mere tree on top of the hill had any feelings, but what I was feeling wasn't…
I swallowed hard and extended my hand towards it, wanting to feel it.
My heartbeat picked up its pace, the fast pulse unnerving me a little.
My inner voice was quiet, probably waiting, anticipating my next move herself.
I tilted my head when I saw a little movement on its trunk and directed my finger in that direction.
I was about to touch the little insect with my index finger when Alchemist held my hand, snapping me out of the daze.
I felt a weird haze move away and looked around in surprise.
What the hell?
In reality, I never moved from my place. Then that feeling, those steps, everything…
I looked at Alchemist for answers, knowing all too well he must've known something.
“How did you do it?” He asked me.
“What?” I asked.
“Your soul like magna left your body and—” Alchemist suddenly stopped and shook his head with a chuckle.
“Like father, like daughter. Why did I even think I had to start from the basics?” Alchemist said to himself, his words a little confusing to me.
“Alchemist, I don't understand—” I started to speak, but he raised his hand, and I stopped talking immediately.
I saw him walk to the tree and bow to it in respect.
“This tree is not just a tree. They say our ancestors didn't want to leave the magna to one person only to follow hierarchy.,” He said before he explained how the ancestors transferred their magna into this tree to guide our clan through difficulties.
Being able to even look at this tree for five minutes without getting distracted is considered passing your first level as a mage.
And according to him, not only did I stare at it for over an hour, but I could even transfer my soul magna out of my body to touch it.
It meant I was already on the 5th level.
“But if they are our ancestors, why didn't you let me touch it?” I asked to understand the dynamics better.
Alchemist chuckled.
“You want to see why?” He asked, and I nodded.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the tree before holding my index finger.
He lifted my finger and let me touch the trunk of the tree.
As soon as I touched the tree, I felt an indescribable force and pain in my body that almost made me gasp and scream.
My body was suddenly thrown backwards towards the cliff, and I widened my eyes when I realized I was going to fall from the mountain.
However, something soft bumped into me from behind, and I fell on the ground on my knees, tasting the familiar taste of the metallic liquid in my mouth.
I coughed blood before spitting to the side, my eyes brimming with tears.
“Now you know. Only a person who is level nine or above and has the capability of touching our ancestors' magna. They already went easy on you because you lived your life as a human. So be grateful,” He explained.
“And for some reason you couldn't tell me? Must you make me suffer?” I asked, wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth.
The man shrugged.
“Something's better demonstrated. Besides, I had confidence they wouldn't harm you too much. Ummm… just think that this blood is your offering to our ancestors,” Alchemist said, and I gritted my teeth.
I knew this was his way of humbling me and my powers, or whatever it was. But I just couldn't prove it without any evidence.
With clenched jaws, I took his extended hand and stood up before dusting my clothes.
“What level are you?” I asked.
“Ten,” Alchemist said.
I nodded in understanding.
“One month. That's all I will take to touch this tree,” I declared with confidence.
The man chuckled at me, his green eyes squinting into crescent moon shapes as he ruffled my hair as if I said the most childish thing.
And maybe it was childish because I didn't even know the dynamics of my species or what I was and how things were done here, but for some reason, I was confident in myself.
“People take decades, sometimes centuries, to even reach the eighth level. What makes you think you can do it in one month?” Alchemist asked.
“My faith in myself and my bloodline. I am my father's daughter after all,” I said.
The man didn't say anything for some time before he smirked.
“Is that so? We'll see that. Since you want to go to the ninth level so quickly, let's start your training already,” Alchemist said before he extended his hand and gave me the leaf that he plucked from the tree.
“Burn it,” he said.
Okay. This was easy. I mean, all I needed was a spell to go ahead, right? I licked my bottom lip before grabbing the leaf.
I looked at him, and he arched his brows at me.
“What? Do it," he ordered.
I narrowed my eyes.
“What do you mean? Give me the spell I need to use at least," I said.
The man looked at me for a solid few seconds before bursting out laughing.
“What kind of spell, princess? There is no spell. You have to figure it out yourself,” He said.
I looked at him before taking a deep breath and then looking at the leaf.
“Burn,” I said to the leaf.
It didn't move. Nothing happened.
“I said burn,” I furrowed my brows.
Nothing happened.
“It's not happening. There has to be something.” I looked at Alchemist, annoyed.
He nodded.
“Here,” He took the leaf from my hand and just looked at it with concentration. The leaf burst into flames, and I looked at it wide-eyed.
“Your desire should align with your magna. And when that happens, you won't have to say a word. Your eyes would be enough. Even blind and mute people do magic. How do you think they do so? In fact, the greatest mages of all time are blind and mute,” Alchemist said.
I rolled my eyes at that statement.
It was just like the human world. The comparison was everywhere, and if an underprivileged person can do it, you are treated as if you are a useless piece of shit who can't do anything.
I have nothing against the underprivileged. They struggle and work so hard and deserve praise when they achieve something, but it doesn't mean the other person deserves taunts and insults because they couldn't.
“I have been living like a human all my life. Cut me some slack, will you?” I scoffed.
The man flicked my forehead, making me scowl.
“I am already cutting you some slack, princess. This is the best hint you can get from me. Take this leaf home and practice. This is your first lesson,” Alchemist said.
Before I could even protest about how I didn't even learn anything apart from the fact that the Bodhi tree could've killed me if it wanted, he took me back to the pack house.
I looked around with a sigh.
“Fine. I'll try my best,” I said to him, and the man smiled before ruffling my hair one last time as he vanished into thin air.
I looked at the green leaf in my hand and glared at it.
Burn. I said in my head.
And?
Nothing happened. I huffed before walking to my room, exhausted.