"First thing, I am clueless about how to do that. And second thing, I am injured and drowning. With the way things are, I am pretty sure I will meet Bookman soon," I said. My tone was casual since my consciousness was not in my body. If it was there, I would have probably been in too much pain to even speak.

I wonder if that was why he pulled just my consciousness to 'The world of darkness'. With my body in such a messed-up state, I would probably never have been able to hold a normal conversation like this.

"Who is this bookman?"

'So, even he doesn't know him? Well, you need to be dead to see him, so it was obvious.'

"Let's just say he is an old man who likes reading books and hates questions."

"This isn't the time to be joking," he said in an annoyed tone. I had forgotten the fact that he could read my loud thoughts. But he probably took that thought of mine as a joke too.

"Okay. So, what do you suggest I should do now?" I asked. I could have told him about the Bookman and how I met him, but that would take a lot of time to explain. And right now, we didn't have time in abundance. We had wasted a lot of time already, so I moved right into the important part.

"Well firstly, you are lucky. The lake where she threw you can heal anyone if it accepts them. And considering the purity of your mana, it will probably accept you. The second thing, it may be too soon for the moon spirit, but the sun spirit is probably ready. Try sensing her thoughts, it is somewhat similar to how you communicate with each other telepathically. And when you are able to do that, try feeling her as a part of your own body. Imagine her being some kind of extension to your body. Like a tail maybe."

"Probably?"

"I am somewhat sure it will."

'That 'somewhat' still doesn't make me feel any better.'

"If you ask me, the surviving part is easy. But I am not sure if she will be kind enough to throw you in the lake next time too. So, better focus on trying to acquire the spirit magic."

The process to activate it was simple enough, but the question that came to my mind was 'will I be able to do it?' It was perfectly normal for that question to come. No matter how obvious the result, being positive in this kind of situation was hard.

"Thanks, old man.. Before you send me back, are you still stalk— I mean, keeping an eye on me?"

"Well, isn't that obvious. If I wasn't how would I have been able to pull you here in the nick of time."

'Damn old man, you make it sound like you are doing something noble. But well, he did save my skin several times.'

As I was thinking that, I found myself drifting in the gap between the spaces. And before I could even observe it carefully, everything turned dark.

I could sense the water touching my skin. My body no longer felt tired.

By what the Black dragon king told me, this water must be the cause of it.

I slowly opened my eyes and found myself at the bottom of the lake. And as I did, I realized that I was out of breath. I pushed the ground and swam towards the surface.

"Buaa!"

When I reached the surface, I breathed heavily and inhaled as much air as my lungs could hold.

"Master, are you alright?"

"Nara, are you okay?"

Both Flare and Yoru came rushing towards me. It didn't look like a lot of time had passed.

"Yeah, I am fine. No need to worry."

After taking a few deep breaths, I raised myself back in the air and looked towards Zagan. He was lying on the ground under the big crack on the wall.

"So, you are still alive huh? I didn't expect the lake to accept you. But well, I promise you won't be that lucky next time," Olive said when she saw me raise myself up.

"I'll see what I can do about that," I replied. My intention was to engage her in a conversation and use that time to communicate with Flare telepathically. That way I would be able to tell her about a plan moving ahead.

[Flare, I will try to sense your thought. That way I will be able to use your power directly. Is that alright with you?]

[Huh?! Sorry.. I mean, it's alright. If that is what you wish, master.]

"Getting cocky, aren't you?" Olive said in an angry tone.

"Ha-ha! Wait, let me show you what I can really do," I replied. This was part of my strategy to buy time. I wasn't sure if this would work or not, but it was worth a shot. If it didn't work, I would look like a fool who doesn't even know what he was talking about. But if it worked, I would get something that could really help me in this situation.

"HAHAHA! Then show me, I am waiting," she said in an excited tone. Considering her personality and her goal in doing all this, I was pretty obvious that my strategy would work.

I closed my eyes and tried tinkering with the telepathic link between me and Flare. I tried going deeper towards her subconscious and unconscious thoughts. But that didn't feel like what I was looking for.

'It feels warm.'

As I was trying to find what I was looking for, I came across something that was even deeper than her unconscious thought. I could sense kindness and positivity from it, but that wasn't all. I could also sense a violent rage and strong sense of justice when I looked closer.

'Is this what I think it is.. her soul.'

As the Black Dragon king told me, I tried feeling her—in this case her soul—as a part of me myself. But as someone who had always been human, it was hard for me to imagine something as an extension of my body. So, instead of the physical body part I imagined something else.

I slowly opened my eyes, and when I did, there was a collared cloak made up of golden flames on my shoulders. I could feel something in my head too, so I looked at the water on the lake to find what it was. It was a crown made up of golden flames.

I could sense the warmth coming out of my chest. When I closed my eyes and tried looking at what it was, I realized it was Flare's soul. It felt like she was a part of me now.

'So, this is the spirit magic.'

This was my first time using this technique, but it made me realize how basic elemental magic was. I opened my eyes and looked towards Olive, who looked intrigued by watching what was happening in front of her.

"Hey Olive, was this worth your wait?"

"Ha-ha! It indeed looks flashy, let's see what you can do with this."