Chương 8: WHISPERS OF THE FLOW

That evening, Elias had snuck out of bed and sat nestled amidst towering bookshelves in Lord Alaric's expansive private library ignoring the call of servants who were out looking for him. The scent of aged parchment and polished wood filled the air, a stark contrast to the sterile white room of Deus or the frantic desperation of his first life. Outwardly, he was a child of privilege, a curious young lord absorbing the world around him.

Inwardly, the calculating mind of Ethan persisted, meticulously observing, learning, and never forgetting his ultimate goal. His tiny fingers, surprisingly nimble for his age, turned the brittle pages of a leather-bound tome. Its title, emblazoned in ancient script, translated roughly to 'The Rhythms of Life: An Introduction to Flow'.

He couldn't yet read, not truly, but his memories from his previous life, coupled with an uncanny intuition, allowed him to roughly decipher the complex diagrams and absorb the fundamental concepts through sheer force of will. He couldn't read all of it but he was able to figure some things out. He saw illustrations of the human form, intricate lines tracing circular paths within the body, some marked with arrows indicating clockwise, others anti-clockwise.

The book spoke of 'Flow' as the inherent 'life force', circulating within every living being. It described how this invisible energy could be drawn upon and expended to weave supernatural phenomena into reality. Elias understood now what he'd witnessed with Lady Elara's healing touch. The illustrations showed how a surge of internal energy could manifest as a burst of flame, a defensive shield, or the rapid mending of flesh.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. He also grasped the concept of its regeneration of overused life force, a constant ebb and flow that replenished one's reserves, a frustrating limitation to his secret agenda. The text explicitly stated that only upon true death did the flow truly cease, a grim reminder of Deus's boast. Then came the more complex sections – the colors of 'Flow'.

The diagrams depicted a vibrant spectrum of hues, from deep crimson to ethereal violet, each correlating to different wavelengths and affinities. He recognized the gentle, healing glow of his mother's green 'Flow', aligning with the book's description of energies inclined towards restoration and creation. Conversely, the more ominous, shadowy figures in the book's margins, often engaged in destructive acts, were depicted with red auras, confirming his suspicion of a darker affinity.

His eyes lingered on a particularly dense chapter, its illustrations showing swirling black currents. This was 'Anti-Flow', a terrifying inverse. The text explained its anti-clockwise circulation, its corrosive nature, its ability to nullify and consume. A chilling thought solidified in Elias's mind. If 'Flow' was life, and 'Anti-Flow' its negation, could mastering Anti-Flow be the key? Could it be the ultimate cheat code against Deus's impossible decree? His small heart beat a rapid rhythm.

He needed to understand this power, to harness it. It was no longer just curiosity; it was a desperate, calculated path to freedom. But first he needed to learn how to read properly.