Only Wisdom Awakened - Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Change of Heart
[title: Magic Genius]

‘So I finally got a title huh?’

Thought Hans while watching his status Window.

‘What use does it have tough?

There doesn’t seem to be any change in me.’

‘Mhh… is this thing just for decoration?

Well, I will figure it out eventually, there is no need to rush things’

His gaze switched to the sea below him, watching through the window of the plane.

It had been an hour since his Jett had taken off from Greenland’s airport, and they were now making their way towards New York.

With four hours of flight ahead of him, Hans wanted to get back inside that strange plain of darkness and ask Caelan many things, but his mana had not completely recovered from the battle of the previous days, and he could not allow himself to arrive at his destination without much mana.

It was not just in case of unexpected troubles, but because the person he was about to meet was not exactly what one could define as ‘safe’

That’s right, the reason he wanted to stop by New York… was because he intended to meet with Elijah, and based on what he had been told the last time he had met him, for this meeting the man should’ve been on the verge of exploding.

In case Elijah did fail to control that ‘seed’ inside himself, Hans could not have done anything, the only hope he had was to escape, but even that required mana.

“I don’t know why, but I look forward to this meeting and don’t at the same time….

Whatever, I will meditate to restore my mana till we get there, it will be good to enjoy all this silence.’

Four and a half hours later, Hans’s plane landed in New York, and a black car was waiting for him just as he stepped down the jet’s stairs.

Thinking about many things, and asking himself many questions as always, Hans remained quiet for the whole ride, just thanking the driver when they arrived in front of the association.

Many floors below the surface, someone perceived his arrival.

“From all the people I would expect a visit from… he certainly is not the first one.

Has he… finally understood the weight we are tasked with?”

The white-haired man picked up a little circular object from beside his bed before speaking to it:

“Please, bring the teenager that is currently entering the building to my lodging, and don’t be rude to him”

A few seconds later a reply came back:

“Yes sir, I’m on it right now”

Not much time passed before a woman introduced herself to Hans, who had been waiting beside the entrance for the time being, knowing that Elijah had already recognized him.

“Nice to meet you, I am Elijah’s helper.

He asked me to invite you for a meeting.

If you would like to follow me”

She then escorted the young man to an elevator before leading him to where he was called.

“Now, if you would excuse me”

The woman left, leaving Hans alone in front of a door.

This was a different place from where Elijah was resting last time.

Not only was it higher up in the earth, but it was also more habitable.

He walked forward and the door opened, the room revealed to his eyes had many furnishings, contrary to the hospital-looking one he had seen the previous time when visiting the man.

Seated on a cozy-looking armchair, Elijah greeted his guest with a calm smile.

“For such a celebrity to come

To me personally…

What do I owe the visit to?”

“Your mana…”

Whispered Hans in shock.

“That is right, you can feel it too right? It’s more stable, I am now back to how I was about a year ago”

“Have you found a way to reverse the growth of that seed?”

Asked Hans, who was still standing in front of the door.

Seeing him like that, Elijah invited him to sit on the little sofa beside him before continuing.

“That would be great, but if I really had found something like that, I would not be trapped here doing nothing”

“Your attitude has changed.

Last time you were threatening me and my niece, even wishing for my head to roll on the ground”

“I did not know any better at the time.

I did not know anything about the responsibilities that came with these powers.

That day, in Manhattan…

I lost my family.

So when I came to know they could’ve survived if you had just put more effort into it I blamed you.”

“That is the normal reaction people have, and it is also the reason why all these powers are not as good as they may seem.

Sure someone can do whatever they want with them.

They can become rich, live the life of their dream, and even order others around.

But at the end of the day, when the powers you possess are overwhelmingly strong, like mine and yours, they end up choosing your path for you.”

“I can understand what you are trying to say, whenever someone has the power to save millions of people there are only two outcomes, either they live their whole life to keep them safe, until their actions are taken for granted, or they end up being labeled as evil because of what they did not do.”

“It seems like you really understand it quite well now”

“I’ve had a lot of time to reflect”

“It’s not only that, I think you might be facing this issue more and more as your powers are growing.

I have seen you on the news, you sure have advanced a lot since the last time you came here.

If I remember correctly, last time I saw you you were still a fifth-class mage, now I can’t even read your mana anymore.

Have you already surpassed the seventh class?”

“No, I am still not quite there yet, why do you ask that?”

“I can usually read the mana of seventh-tier mages, it’s strange I can’t comprehend yours”

“I am not a normal mage tough aren’t I?”

“I guess so”

“Also… what is this thing you’ve been going on about?”

“This thing you mean…

“What do you mean ‘mana reading’?”

“Oh, that? It’s simple, high-class awakened can usually read the aura or the mana of their opponents to at least figure out their style or their element.

For example, based on aura I can tell if someone specializes in agility or strength.

last time I could feel that your mana was chaotic, but this time I can’t feel anything at all.”

‘Is it because I have finally managed to find a way to utilize this power?’

Thought Hans to himself.

“Well, apart from the small talk, why have you come here? I doubt you have any time to waste by talking with a middle-aged man on death’s doorstep.”

“First of all, I wanted to ask for some advice about how to handle this responsibility situation”

“I don’t think asking me is a good idea, you’ve seen how I ran away from it, you better think up a better idea if you don’t want to end up just like me.”

“No.

I came to ask you exactly because you did that.

I’m sure you must’ve never forgiven yourself for what you have done in the past, replaying the events in your head thousands of hours closed inside that chamber below our feet, I’m sure that something must’ve come to your mind.

The man hesitated for a few seconds before answering.

“I may not be right, but there is one way to get out of everything unscathed….

Grow your powers as you would to save the world, and then help everyone, after a few years, choose someone to take over your place and retire, that is the only thing I could think about.

It doesn’t matter who you choose, what does matter is how many you choose.

You should choose at least five people so that your burden will be lightened when divided evenly amongst them.”

“I thought the same, there have to be other people who will emerge with powers equal to ours, and we should lead them the right way before they end up becoming…

“…Before they end up becoming just like me”

Completed the phrase Elijah.

“I agree”

He then added.

“The second reason I wanted to come here was to check on you, how much time do you have left?”

“Strangely enough, I think I can hold on for at least a year and a half or so”

“You said that you could not figure out a way to heal yourself, so what changed”

“I didn’t do anything, it was someone I had never met, she came here and did something strange to my body.

When I woke up, just as if it had disappeared, the contamination of the ‘seed’ that was slowly engulfing my body was greatly reduced.

I do not know who that person is, but she saved many lives.”

‘Could it be…

… Emma?”