Power of Zero

Cipher's evenings were always a strange mix of relief and discomfort. When the blindfold was removed, he was given a brief respite from the darkness that had become so familiar to him. The first few moments after the blindfold came off were always disorienting. His senses, once finely tuned to the darkness, were now bombarded by the harsh light. It felt almost painful to transition, but it was always worth it. The lessons with Axel never ceased to excite him, even as they sometimes dragged on into late hours of the night.

Axel's teaching was thorough and methodical. Cipher quickly realized that the myths he had heard as a child, stories of gods and monsters, were not just tales—they were the foundation of this world's history. One of the first shocking revelations was that Neverland, a place he had always thought of as fictional, was real. But what surprised him even more was learning that Peter Pan was not some playful child. He was a Knight of Light, one of the strongest warriors in the world.

As Axel explained these things, Cipher felt his perception of the world shifting. This new world was both familiar and foreign at the same time, like a dream that was just out of reach. The myths of Earth were not entirely wrong, but they had been twisted and adapted to fit the needs of this place.

One of the more fascinating myths Axel shared with Cipher was the story of the Greek gods. On Earth, the gods were painted as capricious and powerful, their personalities shaped by their actions. But here in the Land of Dreams and Legends, the gods were more nuanced. Hades, for instance, was often portrayed as a bitter god who resented being banished to the Underworld. However, Axel explained that Hades had willingly chosen his fate. Hades, the strongest of the brothers, had decided to take on the role of the warden for the Titans, keeping them in check and maintaining order in the underworld. The role of each god was more a matter of choice than fate.

Learning about these gods gave Cipher a sense of peace, a feeling that this world was not just filled with chaos and destruction, but also with purpose and intention. However, that peace quickly evaporated when Axel shifted the discussion to the Darkness that permeated the world.

Axel explained how the Darkness was comprised of four main groups: Rogue Gods, Terrors, Dark Lights, and Nightmares. Each group was terrifying in its own way, with different creatures and entities that Cipher would eventually face. The Rogue Gods were gods who had fallen from grace, corrupted by their power. Terrors were beasts capable of wiping out entire cities—hydras, leviathans, and even corrupted dragons. The Dark Lights were former Knights of Light who had fallen to the Darkness, and Nightmares were the creatures of pure fear, ranging from goblins to dragons.

Cipher felt a cold chill run down his spine as Axel explained these dangers. To face such powerful enemies was terrifying, and the thought of battling creatures like these sent a wave of dread through his chest. But Axel seemed unfazed by Cipher's reaction. He placed a hand on Cipher's shoulder and spoke calmly, "It's okay to be afraid. If you weren't afraid, I'd be worried. Fear can be a powerful motivator, but it can also cloud your judgment. You'll need to understand the Darkness if you want to defeat it."

Cipher nodded but still felt a growing sense of dread. He had already faced so many challenges—how could he possibly take on these monstrous beings? Yet Axel's words kept him grounded. Fear was a natural response, but it could be overcome with knowledge.

The Foundations of Magic - Part 2: Magic and the Void

As Cipher began to digest the lessons on Darkness, Axel introduced him to a more immediate subject—magic. The subject was vast and, at first, overwhelming. There were so many different schools of magic, each with its own intricacies and rules. The elemental magics—fire, water, earth, wind—were the most common, and they were the easiest for a beginner to understand. But even these simple magics had layers to them, and Cipher found himself fascinated by the ways each element interacted with the world.

However, it was the Void magic that truly captivated him. The magic of the Void was rare, and only select Knights of Light were able to wield its power. Axel spoke of it with reverence, explaining that it allowed the user to manipulate the fabric of reality itself. Cipher couldn't help but feel both awe and fear as he imagined the possibilities. Yet, Axel assured him that he would not be expected to wield Void magic, at least not yet. For now, his focus would be on mastering the basics.

Reinforcement magic was the first magic Cipher learned to harness. The concept was simple in theory—enhance the body to make it stronger. But the execution was far more difficult than Cipher had anticipated. How could he make his body harder than it already was? How could he change the structure of his bones and muscles to make them stronger? It took time for Cipher to wrap his head around the mechanics of the magic, but with Axel's help, he gradually began to understand it. Soon, he was able to use reinforcement magic to strengthen his body temporarily, making him faster, stronger, and more resilient.

Sound magic, however, was a different story. It was one that Cipher picked up quickly. The ability to manipulate sound—to distort it, amplify it, and even use it as a weapon—was both exhilarating and terrifying. Cipher learned to twist sound into powerful forces, using it to create barriers of noise or to strike at his enemies with a blast of pure sonic energy.

But the most difficult magic by far was dimensional storage. It wasn't an elemental magic or a force like sound—it was a manipulation of space itself. Axel warned Cipher that this spell was not for the faint of heart. It would take time and dedication, but it was a vital skill for the journey ahead. Cipher practiced diligently, always searching for ways to make the spell work. It wasn't easy, but with Axel's guidance, Cipher's control over the spell slowly began to grow.