Chapter 117: Cha.116 Irada (1)

After Qasim got his lantern, he and Yasmin officially became members of the Light Warriors.

Cici took over as their guide and led them on a tour of the city, allowing them to see the daily lives of the survivors.

“Currently, there are only three cities still alive, while the rest of the empire has fallen into darkness and turned into either monster nests or more crimson forests,” Cici explained as the three of them walked through the city.

Qasim could feel the strange and curious looks from the people wherever they went. Cici noticed his confusion and explained.

“Please don’t be mad. We’ve lived here for so long that we basically know each other very well. Seeing new faces here is something that almost never happens, so people are curious.”

She then smiled gently.

“But don’t worry. They’re all sweet and caring.”

Qasim gave her an awkward smile as he scratched his head.

He then glanced at the different buildings and people around him.

This looks very similar to what old empires on Earth built.

The whole thing looks and feels like something out of a historical novel.

Most of the houses were constructed from thick, polished gray limestone. They showed visible signs of wear, with cracked mortar and invasive ivy weaving through narrow, grimy windows. Heavy oak beams supported perfectly arched slate roofs, creaking faintly under their weight.

The people themselves were majestic. The men had sharp faces and athletic builds while wearing simple, light clothing. The women reflected the light with their healthy, pale faces, and their bodies looked amazingly attractive despite wearing heavily covering clothes.

Just like old fantasy…

Qasim zoned out in his thoughts before shaking his head.

This kind of thinking is what made me so reckless back in Corwata.

He then slapped himself in the face to fully wake himself up.

Focus! This is real life!

“Are you okay?”

Cici asked the boy who had suddenly slapped himself.

Qasim gave her an embarrassed laugh while scratching his face.

Cici then started writing in her notebook.

“Well, since you two are with us now, you’re both expected to join the next expedition in three days.”

Qasim raises an eyebrow and asks .

“Three days?” He looked at the dark sky above .

“But it always looks like night here…”

Cici adjusted her glasses before answering.

“We have established a new time counting system with the help of Princess Light …”

She then pointed at the lighthouse.

“You see the light rotating , right? Each rotation means one minute, and the rotation speed is always the same, so it’s a good way to calculate time.”

She raised her head and adjusted her glasses while looking at Qasim.

“You’re not expected to do much this time since you aren’t fully recovered, but you still need to attend and watch us work.”

Qasim gave her an excited smile and suddenly grabbed her hand.

“Yes! I will do my best!”

His sudden burst of energy surprised Cici, but her eyes were filled with excitement as well. She nodded before leaving.

Qasim waved goodbye while watching her walk away.

Once she was completely out of view, he stopped waving and turned to face Yasmin.

“Let’s start the lesson… teacher.”

He said it in a serious tone, and Yasmin nodded.

…

Using the map of the nearby forest, the two of them went to a safe place without monsters and far from any humans.

Yasmin ordered him to sit down and cross his legs, which he did.

Then, in her usual cold voice, she asked,

“Do you remember what I told you about Irada last time?”

Qasim put his hand on his chin and started recalling that moment.

“You said something like destroying my own heart and recreating it with willpower?”

Qasim was nervous as he spoke. He still felt that the idea of destroying his perfectly functioning heart just for power was ridiculous.

Yasmin nodded and raised a finger.

“That’s right. When I was seven years old, the Shadows had us train night and day through life-and-death situations just to build enough willpower to survive. Then…”

She hit her chest with her fist near where her heart was before continuing.

“They put a dagger against your chest and gave us a choice. Either we destroy our heart and rebuild it with willpower, or they kill us.”

Yasmin then looked at her fist with a cold expression.

“This technique worked well. Only a few were killed, while the rest managed to create what we call the Irada Core.”

She lowered her fist and stared at Qasim, whose face had gone pale and whose eyes were wide.

“Don’t worry. Since I became Hilal-Awal, I’ve managed to understand more about this power, and I think I can help you create your core with much less risk and in a shorter time.”

Qasim’s face brightened when he heard her words.

“Yes! Teacher Yasmin, I won’t disappoint you!”

Yasmin simply stared at him before ordering him to turn around.

Qasim did so.

Yasmin sat behind him and placed her hands on his back.

Suddenly, Qasim felt an overwhelming power travel through his body.

It spread through his skin, muscles, bones, and veins, filling his entire body until it finally reached his heart.

A sharp pain shot through his chest.

Qasim started coughing blood as his teeth began shaking from the unnatural coldness of the power.

But Yasmin didn’t stop.

Instead, she spoke to him.

“You have to keep resisting the pain. No matter how much it hurts, you need to focus on your willpower.”

She narrowed her eyes as she continued.

“Remember when I told you that you have a killer energy around you? I’m pushing that energy into you right now. I just need you to focus on fighting this power!”

Qasim couldn’t answer her, but he heard every single word.

He was surprised by the feeling of what he assumed his life energy was supposed to feel like.

His breath began disappearing, but he forced himself to keep breathing.

His heart started slowing down, but he grabbed his chest and focused on keeping it beating.

Each time something in his body started slowing down, he had to focus on that part and protect it from the overwhelming coldness inside him.

It hurts so much, but…

His eyes filled with determination.

It’s nothing compared to that hell when I died!

For hours, Yasmin pushed her aura into his body while Qasim fought against the power trying to kill him, until eventually, both of them were drenched in sweat.

Yasmin was finally the first to stop.

She couldn’t continue pushing that cold energy any longer.

She looked at her hand, which was covered in black spots similar to burn wounds. But instead of flames, they had been caused by the cold energy.

She quickly hid her hand behind her back as she heard Qasim take a deep breath before collapsing sideways onto the ground, struggling to breathe.

“How do you feel?” Yasmin asked.

“Well… I’m still alive, at least.”

Qasim joked with a mocking smile on his face.

Yasmin nodded with a serious expression.

“Good. Keep yourself alive for the next two days.”

“Instead of training your willpower to live and then building the Irada Core separately, we’re doing both at the same time. We’re forcing you to endure that energy while forcing your heart to accept it.”

Qasim rolled his eyes and asked in a tired voice,

“Then what?”

Yasmin paused for a moment before answering.

“Theoretically, that will give you basic Irada powers. Think of building a core as something like owning a bird. You, on the other hand, will have an egg instead. Then…”

She narrowed her eyes and gave him a small, dangerous smile.

“Then you still have to die and rebuild your heart to create a true, complete Irada Core.”

Qasim’s face went pale.

Not because Yasmin had mentioned death so casually, but because of something else he had never seen before and never thought he would see.

*DID SHE SMILE…?*