“This higher consciousness has its own goals and decision-making powers. What will it do if you try to defy its will?”
Kino looked at Eren with expressions of intrigue. She had come to know that the guy was used to drawing his own conclusions from the data he had so far. It was as if he treated everything as a puzzle before trying to come up with his own answers.
Eren took a long breath and looked into the void before coming up with his own theory.
“Alright. Let’s assume that the higher consciousness is a monarch who has set his rules for his subjects. What will he do if the subjects decide to rebel against his orders?
He’ll either have them executed or get them out of his kingdom, I guess. Depends upon how benevolent he is at the time towards the people who are labeled as rule breakers.”
Kino chuckled when Eren tried to simplify such a profound subject in a few words. Genius is making complex ideas simple and not simple ideas complex. She
Pursed her lips and thought for a while before opening her mouth to speak.
“You are partially right, Eren. If the higher consciousness was as in control as you are making out to be, things would have gotten a lot more difficult for Hexers than they already are.
Treat higher consciousness as an eternally sleeping entity. It knows what it needs to do to make everything make sense for everybody.
As a result, it is impartial toward everyone, giving no one what they want for free. But sometimes it slips and breaks its own rules, giving birth to geniuses that redefine the standards set for their generation.”
Kino scanned the area around her as if she was trying to find the all-encompassing existence she was talking about at the time. She then looked Eren in the eyes before adding up.
“The control the higher consciousness has over all that it encompasses is stretched thin because of the sheer immenseness of the domain it has in its rule. As a result, it doesn’t outright ban the Hexers from casting normal spells.
When it identifies that the rankers are adding their own wishes to the spells, it starts creating obstacles for them to use the normal spells. Roadblocks that are not easy to get around.”
Eren nodded in understanding when he heard Alephee’s explanation. At this point, he only wanted to ask her why she didn’t let him know about these things upfront.
Eren could sense that Kino had no ill intentions toward him. Still, failing to inform him about the limiting factors of being a Hexer put her in a bad light.
Kino could tell what Eren was thinking by looking into his eyes. So she smiled and verbally marched forward.
“Once you establish yourself as a Hexer in the higher consciousness’ vision, your ability to cast normal spells is liable to suffer. For most Hexers, it degrades over time the more proficient they become at casting Hex.
A Hexer’s normal spells are going to be less effective than their Hex spells as a result. You can’t have the best of both worlds, Eren. Not in this case. But if you think about it, a strong-willed Hexer doesn’t need to worry about these things.
I can say with certainty that you would turn out to be a competent Hexer. You don’t have to worry about such repercussions. At least not as much as you might be picturing right now.
That’s why I didn’t want to say these things to you when I saw you fight. You have all that it takes to become a true Hexer.
Why would I try to take that potential away from you or let it get affected? Because saying those things is liable to affect your will, which is a key component of becoming a Hexer.”
Kino put her stance forward before taking a long breath. She concluded with the following words.
“Then again, the choice is yours. If you think that Hex magic is really not worth it because of the disadvantages it has, then I won’t mind if you decide to stay as a normal ranker. I won’t try to discredit your choice either.
This is why I said being a Hexer is not for weak-willed people. You need utmost commitment. After all, mediocrity is not necessarily a terrible thing. It’s a way of life that has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Accept the choice in its entirety, favorable to you and otherwise. Accept it with all its consequences because you won’t be able to avoid them anyway, whether you like them or not.
And try not to have any regrets. That’s what I would want you to have.”
Kino remained silent after she was done speaking. She allowed Eren to process everything she had said so far.
For some reason, the more she talked with him, the more she wanted him to choose the path of Hexers. Maybe, subconsciously that feeling had taken hold of her. That was also the reason why she didn’t want to create doubt in Eren’s head about the Hexer’s school of casting magic.
But when asked, Kino was nothing but honest to Eren about everything she had said. If Eren decides to be a Hexer despite knowing everything about it, she was sure that he would be a damn capable one.
Eren started pacing around with his hands behind his back as he thought of many things at once. He carefully sorted out his thoughts and weighed the pros and cons of using normal and Hex magic.
‘I will use my infinite mana core to its full extent when my spell has the potential to surpass conventional limits. Plus, my path as a battlemage is broad. So I would benefit a lot from using different spells.
To hell with mediocrity. I died in that ditch not too long ago. I don’t want to end up in the same place again at the end of this life.’
Eren stopped pacing around when he made up his mind.
‘A goal is not always meant to be reached. It often simply means something to aim at.’
A thought rippled in Eren’s mind as he looked at Kino before voicing his decision.
“How do I become one, Kino?
A Hexer!”
