After reading the glowing words, Axelius took a deep breath and said, "Calm down, Owen, okay? No need to freak out."
He looked around at the floating words and asked, "But… what is the difference between this Primal Veil Core and regular mana? Are they not the same?"
Owen sighed heavily, Just then, more glowing letters appeared in front of them, slowly forming clear sentences in the empty black space:
"Mana is the common energy source for most living beings in this world. It is the basic life force that allows people to use magic and powers. However, the Primal Veil Core is different. It is a rare and ancient energy, a mixture of aura and life essence that goes beyond normal mana. It is stronger, more stable, and less limited by the usual rules of mana---"
"No, I mean is what the difference between Mana, Aura and Life essence?" Axelius asked,
"Mana is magical energy. It can come from the environment or inside a person. It is the energy used to cast spells, make your body stronger, or call magical creatures. Think of mana as raw magic fuel, the basic power for mages and magic users."
Aura is different. It is the spirit and soul's power. It shows a person's will, fighting spirit, and strength. Aura is like the pressure or force of a strong warrior on the battlefield. It is not pure magic but more about power of the mind and spirit."
Life Essence, or Vitalis Core, is the energy of life itself. It is in all living things—plants, animals, even the earth. It is not magic like mana, but a primal force that keeps living things alive. Think of it as the life force or spirit energy that sustains all living beings."
After a moment of silence, new words slowly appeared in the air.
"You must learn to control this power carefully. It can make you very strong, but if you lose control, it may harm you or those near you. The Primal Veil Core also gives you the ability to sense life energy around you, even in places where magic does not work."
Axelius thought deeply. This was new and strange to him, but also exciting. He asked, "Is there anything else I need to know about this power or my body?"
The words appeared again, "Your body may change over time as the Primal Veil Core grows. You might feel pain or strange feelings when it moves inside you. This is normal but can be difficult."
Axelius raised his finger and pointed directly at Owen, who was still floating beside him. "Hey, what about this guy?" he asked with a wide grin. "If I'm the successor, what is he doing here?"
The words began to shimmer again, forming slowly in the void with a gentle glow. "The slime known as Owen is now recognized as your first tamed creature."
Owen's eyes widened in disbelief. "W-What?! T-Tamed?! Me?!" he shouted, bouncing wildly in the air. His entire gelatinous form jiggled with outrage.
Axelius's grin only grew wider, his eyes sparkling with pure mischief. He crossed his arms and leaned back as if savoring the moment. "Then...that means you're my pet now, huh?" he teased,
"Pet?! PET?! Are you out of your damn mind?!" Owen screeched, practically vibrating with fury. He bounced higher, clearly wanting to smack Axelius right in the face. "I'm no one's pet, you idiot! I'm your guardian! I'm the smart one here! You can't just—"
But Axelius wasn't listening anymore. He floated backward, just out of Owen's reach, still laughing like he'd heard the best joke of his life. Owen attempted to slam into him, but Axelius just twirled away effortlessly, his grin never fading.
"The bond is mutual. Control and understanding will grow as the Primal Veil Core matures."
Axelius scratched his head, still chuckling. "So, how does this Primal Veil work, huh? I can't wait to make this little slime bow to me," he said, voice full of wicked glee. His grin turned a bit too sharp, his eyes glimmering with playful evil.
Owen's form almost exploded outward as he bounced even higher, his translucent surface rippling with rage. "Over my dead slime body! I swear if you even try it, I'll—I'll—"
Axelius interrupted, flicking Owen on his bouncy surface, making the slime wobble and flail in the air. "You'll what? Jiggle at me harder?"
Owen screeched, "I'll suffocate you in your sleep, you fucker! Just wait! You'll be covered in slime, and you won't even be able to breathe!"
Axelius only laughed harder, floating away just far enough to dodge Owen's furious attempts to hit him. "I'd like to see you try, buddy," he teased, eyes shining with excitement.
"Now, let's figure out how to use this Veil power. I have a slime to train!"
Owen groaned, bouncing in frustration. "I am not your damn pet!"
But Axelius only laughed louder then stretched his arms above his head, his grin still plastered across his face. He floated lazily backward, dodging Owen's furious bounces with minimal effort.
"Alright, alright, enough playing around," he said, finally catching his breath from laughing. "If I'm gonna train you, I gotta know how this whole Primal Veil thing works."
Owen bounced aggressively in front of him, his surface shimmering with irritation. "Train me?! I'm not some stray dog you picked up off the street!"
Axelius raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. "I mean...you kinda are," he teased, shrugging his shoulders. "I didn't see you with any other master. You were just bouncing around with me this whole time."
"Because I'm your guardian, you idiot!" Owen snapped back. "Not some pet! And besides...you're not even qualified to train me! You barely know how to put your own shoes on the right feet sometimes!"
Axelius chuckled, completely unbothered by Owen's outburst. "You're not wrong...but that just makes this even more fun," he replied, crossing his arms. He then looked up at the words still floating in the air. "Hey, words! How do I use this Primal Veil Core thing?"
The glowing text shimmered again, and new words appeared in smooth, fluid writing:
"To access the Primal Veil Core, you must first synchronize with its essence. Unlike mana, which is channeled through mental focus and incantations, Primal Veil requires emotional resonance and intent. Feel it, command it, and it will respond."
Axelius blinked a few times, scratching his head. "Emotional resonance? What does that even mean?"
Owen groaned, his slime form sagging slightly. "It means you have to feel something! Like...focus your emotions or whatever. You can't just wish it to happen, you have to actually mean it."
Axelius rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So...like getting mad? Or happy?"
Owen bounced impatiently. "Yes! Exactly! Maybe for once you're actually getting it!"
Axelius smirked. "Alright then. Let's try it out." He cracked his knuckles and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Owen floated back nervously. "You! Don't try it on me!"
But Axelius had already clenched his fists, a sudden rush of energy flooding his veins. He focused on the excitement bubbling in his chest, the thrill of adventure, the adrenaline that had been pumping since he first fell through that hidden passageway. He could feel something shift inside him—warm and powerful, like a fire waking up after a long sleep.
Suddenly, the black void around them began to shimmer with light, streaks of violet and crimson swirling through the darkness. Sparks flickered along Axelius's fingertips, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. His grin stretched wider. "Oh...this is awesome!"
Owen, now bouncing frantically in midair, shouted, "Okay, okay! That's enough! You're gonna blow us up, you lunatic!"
Axelius ignored him, eyes wide with excitement. "I can feel it! It's like...I don't know, like a heartbeat! But stronger!"
Owen groaned. "You're gonna make it explode! Stop! I don't want to get blown into slime bits because you don't know how to control yourself!"
Axelius just laughed louder, hands sparking with raw energy. "You wanted me to learn, right? Well, I'm learning! Let's see what else I can do!"