The idea that the Evolved were so close made Kaito intrigued and a little nervous.
"That's really surprising," Klaus murmured, lying down on his bed and covering his eyes. Gradually, however, a smile appeared on his face. "I always thought that the Evolved were like inaccessible gods, living on a pletely separate plane, but all they have going for them is their strength and the possibility of traveling between worlds? Puahahahat!"
Emma laughed softly on the other end of the line at Klaus' reaction. "Why are you so happy about this news?"
"It's just that if they choose not to get involved in anything in the world and history of Rise Online of their own free will, they're dumber than I thought."
"Do you think the Evolved will be interested in a newly created Guild like mine?"
"I think so. You have a name, strength, power and something most of them don't have: influence within the game world. Some of them may not care, while others may see it as an opportunity. Either way, be prepared to have their attention, Klaus."
*
When Kaizen logged into Rise Online, he felt nostalgic. The time he hadn't played felt like a century. He saw his hand materialize before his eyes and a strange sensation ran through his body as he looked around him and remembered that he was in the Library of the Magi, a majestic place with endless stacks of books and shelves filled even with parchments. The smell of old paper hung in the air.
He walked down the main corridor, where the shelves stretched to the ceiling, and finally, in the center of the library, he found Alina, the librarian. She was sitting in a cushioned armchair, seemingly absent-mindedly reading a leather-bound book. Her beauty was unusual, with glorious golden hair that fell softly to her shoulders and skin so white that it seemed to be made of quartz.
Kaizen approached with a bow. "Greetings, Alina, guardian of wisdom. It is an honor to be in your presence." He joked.
Alina looked up from her book and smiled, a little surprised. "You're back!"
Alina's smile was warm, and without hesitation she threw the book down, got up as quickly as she could from the armchair and ran towards Klaus, in his long, elegant gold and white dress.
"Oh, how I've missed you, I thought you'd been killed or something!" She replied, hugging him affectionately. Alina's embrace was gentle, but it conveyed a forting warmth that dispelled any remnants of nervousness Kaizen might have been feeling.
He returned the hug and said with a sigh of relief:
"Don't be so exaggerated. I was only away for a few days. I was training."
Alina let go of the hug and, holding Kaito's shoulders, assessed his physique. "Indeed, you look different, Kaizen, but your body hasn't changed at all. What happened?"
Kaizen sighed, looking around at the bookshelves full of old books and ancient secrets. "Many things, Alina. But if you don't mind, I don't want to talk about it. How about you tell me what you've been studying?"
Kaizen's suggestion seemed to have sparked a thought in Alina's head, and she raised her eyebrows, seeming to remember something.
Alina let go of Kaizen's shoulders, looked at a nearby bookshelf, held out her right hand and a book quickly flew into her possession. She flipped through it quickly and, with a determined look, came to a particular page, yellowed and aged. With delicate hands, she began to trace the symbols of an ancient language as she explained:
"Kaizen, you reminded me of something." She began, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "For years, I've been studying the ancient manuscripts and artifacts left by the ancient mages in this library and, finally, I believe I'm managing to fit everything together."
"And what would that be?" Kaizen asked, interested.
"Chaos, mana and magic, Kaizen, are interconnected in a way we never imagined. Chaos is the primordial essence, the source of all the energy in the worlds. Mana is raw energy, and magic is the controlled manifestation of this energy. Without chaos, there is no magic, without magic there is no chaos."
She approached a floating globe that seemed to contain a miniature nebula. It was a symbolic representation of chaos.
"You see, Kaizen, chaos is a constant, uncontrollable and infinite flow. It's like a turbulent ocean. Mana, on the other hand, is like channels we can create to channel some of that chaos, roots, branches. But the most interesting thing is magic. Magic is the art of shaping mana, molding it according to our will and intentions, in other words, magic is the condensation of mana, which is the control of chaos."
She raised her hand and, with a graceful gesture, shaped the mist on the globe to form a symbol, a magic circle.
Kaizen watched with fascination as the mist rearranged itself in response to Alina's gestures. "Are you saying that magic is the ability to tame mana and, indirectly, control chaos? That would be like being a conductor conducting a cosmic symphony." He deduced. "But what about the Eye of Hermodr? They want chaos to reign, right?"
Alina nodded gravely, her eyes still fixed on the magic circle she had shaped in the mist of the floating orb.
"You're right to worry... If all this theory of mine is true, it could be that they don't just want to destroy everything, they want to achieve unprecedented power, which explains why there are so many adherents to this cult. They probably believe that magic as we know it is only a fraction of mana's true potential. And, in fact, they're not entirely wrong."
Kaizen frowned, confused. "What do you mean, Alina?"
Alina looked at him, her clear eyes full of concern. "Kaizen, imagine chaos as an uncontrollable storm. If we allow it to reign unrestrained, mana will flow like a flood, inundating everything. Mages can gain immense power, but at a terrible cost. Reality itself could unravel, worlds could collide and be destroyed. It's a risk we can't afford to take. It would be the end of everything as we know it."
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