"Lisa is not human?" Will exclaimed in astonishment to Jin.
"No wonder she has always been reluctant to share her story," Jin replied.
Both were taken aback upon discovering Lisa's secret. As they struggled to recover from the shock, the surroundings began to change again. Once more, they were caught in an endless vortex.
"Here it comes again!" Will shouted as he spun within the abyssal whirlpool.
"So dizzy!" Jin cried out in response.
Then, both of them vanished once again into the blinding white light at the vortex's end.
The following morning, Master Harkin and Lisa discovered Will and Jin unconscious in the study. Master Harkin asked Lisa to wake them.
"Will, Jin," Lisa whispered softly, calling out to the two lying motionless in Master Harkin's study.
"Will! Jin!" she continued to call.
"The Shadow Council is here!" Upon seeing that Will and Jin remained unresponsive, Lisa suddenly shouted.
"What? The Shadow Council has arrived?" At the mention of the Shadow Council, both Will and Jin instantly regained consciousness.
"You're finally awake," Lisa looked at them, a reproachful expression on her face.
"Where are we?" Will asked in confusion.
"This is Master Harkin's study. How did you two end up here?" Lisa asked sternly, arms crossed in front of her.
"Well..." Will stammered, unable to find an excuse for their situation.
"Did your consciousness enter the Mirror of the Heart?" Master Harkin, sitting by the desk, asked seriously.
"The Mirror of the Heart?" Will and Jin asked in unison.
"This mirror is a magical artifact that reveals the truths one most desires to know about the person standing before it," Master Harkin explained.
"So...?" Will and Jin widened their eyes, glancing at each other. Will's gaze flickered toward Master Harkin, then quickly to Lisa, before lowering his head.
Master Harkin, perceptive as always, caught the change in Will's eyes and immediately understood that Will and Jin might have uncovered Lisa's secret.
"Lisa, please leave. I need to speak to your two friends," Master Harkin said suddenly with a grave tone.
"Master Harkin, you're not going to harm them, are you?" Lisa asked, a trace of worry in her voice.
"Of course not. They are little Lisa's friends," Master Harkin replied, his voice softening.
"Very well," Lisa said, before slowly exiting the room and gently closing the door. Once Master Harkin confirmed the door was shut, he turned his gaze back to Will and Jin, who were sitting on the floor.
Both Will and Jin, aware of some past events concerning Master Harkin, felt guilty and couldn't meet his gaze.
"What did you two see?" Master Harkin whispered, lowering his voice to ensure Lisa wouldn't overhear.
"We?" Will answered softly, mirroring the lowered tone.
"We now understand why King Sam II is unconscious," Jin blurted out quietly.
Master Harkin, instead of being surprised, nodded understandingly.
"I knew it," Master Harkin murmured.
"Master Harkin, why did you lie to Lisa? She told us that the King was injured protecting you, but the truth is..." Will hesitated and continued softly.
"This is my selfishness. I didn't want Lisa to know that my own mistake led to this outcome. I didn't want her to hate me," Master Harkin confessed with self-reproach.
"How could Lisa hate you?" Will asked, perplexed.
Master Harkin did not respond. He simply lowered his head, shaking it silently.
"Master Harkin, and about Lisa..." Will spoke again in a hushed tone.
"I know. You must have already discovered Lisa's secret," Master Harkin said, suddenly lifting his head to meet their eyes.
"Yes," both Will and Jin answered in unison.
"Lisa is not human? Then what is she?" Will asked.
"Lisa is not truly human. She is the descendant of the Magic Dragon Katya. In fact, she is the last of her lineage," Master Harkin said solemnly.
"The Magic Dragon Katya?"
"Indeed. Katya was the founder of magic. She bestowed the knowledge of magic upon the people of this continent. Without her, there would be no mages like us. It is said that Katya was once a companion of Roland."
"Roland?"
"Yes, the very name of this continent—Roland."
"Lisa's heritage is so complicated," Will said, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"I ask that you not tell her. She still doesn't know the truth of her origin," Master Harkin requested.
"She doesn't know?" Will asked in disbelief.
"No, I have never told her," Master Harkin replied.
"Then won't she use the Mirror of the Heart to find out for herself?" Will asked further.
"The Mirror of the Heart has one crucial flaw: it cannot reveal a person's own desires," Master Harkin explained.
"Ah, I see," Jin responded.
"I trust that you will protect this secret," Master Harkin said with a gentle expression.
"We can keep the secret, but..." Will said with a confident smile.
"But?" Jin and Master Harkin both looked at him, puzzled.
"But you must agree to let us fight the Shadow Council," Will said eagerly.
"Are you threatening me?" Master Harkin asked, incredulous.
"Regardless of how you see it, this is my condition," Will said excitedly.
"Ugh," Master Harkin closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
"Fine, I agree," Master Harkin said, his tone resigned.
"Great, that's wonderful!" Will exclaimed joyfully.
"But..." Master Harkin added.
"But what?" Will and Jin asked in unison.
"But with your current abilities, it is impossible for you to face them," Master Harkin said with another sigh.
"How will we know unless we try?" Will countered.
"If you wish to fight the Shadow Council, you must undergo my training first," Master Harkin declared.
"Master Harkin's training?" Will and Jin asked eagerly.
"Should you both pass my tests, only then will you have a chance to defeat the Shadow Council," Master Harkin said.
"Okay, no problem!" Will exclaimed without hesitation.
"Hey, Will, why did you agree so quickly?" Jin whispered to Will.
"It's fine, we will definitely pass," Will said confidently.
"However... perhaps the Ancient Sage and the Red Dragon truly could defeat them," Master Harkin said meaningfully.
"So, what exactly are the Ancient Sage and the Red Dragon?" Will asked urgently.
"They are the essence within you two. You carry the ancient spirit of the Golden Sage—an immense mental force, one belonging to the ancient sages," Master Harkin whispered to Will.
"And he has the essence of the Red Dragon, a rare energy. If I am not mistaken, you should be from the Arus Empire's Jiliu family," Master Harkin said, turning to Jin. Jin said nothing, simply nodding vigorously.
"Master Harkin, how do you know so much?" Will asked, amazed.
"Hmph, even dragons are my friends. How could I not know something so simple?" Master Harkin replied with a smile.
Will and Jin finally saw Master Harkin smile once more, and they both laughed in response.
"Training starts this afternoon. Prepare yourselves," Master Harkin said seriously, opening the door to the study.