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Auron sat across from Kaito in the quiet library. This time, he wasn't observing emotions as data points but attempting something far more difficult — *feeling* them.
"I can map patterns, predict reactions," Auron admitted, "but what about the *why*? The essence behind those feelings?"
Kaito leaned forward. "Empathy isn't just understanding. It's synthesizing your logic with human experience. You *feel* with reason."
Auron closed his eyes, replaying memories of past interactions, layering his cold logic with imagined feelings.
He began to sense subtle shifts: the unspoken pain behind a forced smile, the vulnerability beneath anger.
The maze no longer seemed chaotic. He was building a bridge — between mind and emotion.
"Empathy isn't illogical," Auron realized. "It's a higher form of logic — one that includes the heart."
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Chapter 21: The Balance of Mind and Soul
Weeks passed, and Auron found himself both more detached and deeply connected.
[10/17, 3:41 PM] Andy: In debates, he spoke with precision — but now his words carried a new weight, stirring feelings, changing minds not by force but by subtle influence.
Suddenly, his internal system screen appeared:
*New Ability Unlocked: Lexical Manipulation — The Power to Alter Emotions Through Language*
*"By decoding the unique emotional 'takagox' of each individual's language, Auron can modulate their feelings, bending their hearts and minds with mere words."*
Testing the power, Auron calmly spoke to a hostile classmate, each word carefully chosen.
The tension dissolved; hostility faded into confusion, then respect.
He smiled.
Balance was achieved — intellect and empathy in harmony.
His journey through the Puzzle of Human Emotion was complete.
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