"Hey," I said, my voice low. "It's happening again. That feeling... like something's building up inside."
Zephyr's gaze sharpened immediately. He stepped closer, his tone calm but alert. "Then we don't have much time. Your Locus is still forming."
"The Locus. That's… the core of everything, right?" I guessed, thinking it might be an aura core or something similar.
Zephyr nodded. "Right, but it's more than a core. It's your resonance origin. The place where your aura first pulses into existence and takes shape. Loci act like inner furnaces or aura engines. They anchor your aura and decide how it flows and evolves."
He knelt beside me, drawing a simple circular pattern onto the ground with his saber. "They aren't always in the same place for everyone. They form where one's soul and body most align. For some, that's the heart. Others, the spine. And some… It's their very breath."
I stayed silent, watching him draw interlocking rings into the floor.
"That feeling you have—it means your Locus is forming, but it's not stable yet. You can't use aura until it stabilizes. If you try, you risk damaging it… or worse, distorting it."
I swallowed. "So how do I stabilize it?"
"There are many ways," Zephyr said. "Some rush it with external energy—through crystals, aura beast essence, or guided rituals—but those are risky. Especially without a capable guide. The most common and safest method is the Traditional Breathing Cycle."
I raised an eyebrow. "Sounds simple."
"It is. But it requires patience," he said, lips twitching in amusement. "It involves syncing your breath with the pulsing rhythm of your Locus until it matches your body's natural flow. It can take hours, even days for some."
He added after a pause. "...It also reveals how talented one is—their comprehension, their natural affinity for aura. The faster you stabilize, the deeper your connection to your Path."
I frowned. "So if I take too long, does that mean I'm weak?"
Zephyr shook his head. "Not necessarily. Some of the greatest Resonators took days. But they understood their Locus on a fundamental level. Speed isn't everything—depth matters more."
A flicker of warmth pulsed beneath my ribs again, stronger this time. I exhaled slowly, trying to steady it.
"Then let's not waste time," I muttered. "Show me how to start."
"Ok, but before that," Zephyr continued, "you need to check whether you've awakened one Locus… or multiple."
I blinked. "Multiple?"
He nodded seriously. "Most people only have one. But some rare individuals awaken with two or even three Loci. We call them Hybrid Resonators or Multi-Loci Types."
He tapped the diagram. "A single Locus means your aura is centralized, focused. Stronger in one direction. These people typically follow a pure resonance—Body, Energy, or Mind."
"But with multiple Loci," he added, drawing smaller rings on the edge of the first, "your aura is scattered across different regions. It's more flexible, more complex, more powerful, but also more difficult to control. These people can walk Hybrid Paths, combining aspects of two or more types. But the training is much harder—and so is stabilization."
Virion's tail flicked in amusement. "Jie jie~ It's also like having more furnaces instead of one! More potential, but also more ways to explode!"
"That's not reassuring at all, Master." I retorted lightly while absorbing every word.
Virion let out a booming laugh, his serpentine body coiling in amusement. "Jie jie~ Don't worry, you won't die! Your senior brother here has dual Loci—he'll teach you everything you need to know."
I wasn't surprised. "You're a Hybrid Resonator then? Probably Warrior and Channeler types," I said, studying Zephyr. "I knew you weren't that ordinary. Being able to open portals while fighting like a seasoned warrior gave it away."
Zephyr nodded impassively, then pointed at Virion with his chin. "Master was dual Loci too."
My eyebrows rose as I turned to the winged serpent. "Impressive, Master. But..." I hesitated, "is it the same for your species? Or do ancient beings like you work differently?"
Virion chuckled, his tail flicking playfully. "Oh, it's quite different for my kind—and most aura beasts, for that matter. But that's a lesson for another time." His emerald eyes gleamed with mischief. "Right now, you should focus on your own awakening. I'll corrupt—I mean, teach you properly later."
I nodded, then turned back to Zephyr. "So, how do I know if I have more than one Locus? Is there some test?"
Zephyr motioned for me to sit cross-legged on the ground. Though I barely did it, and it was a bit uncomfortable thanks to the bandages.
"Close your eyes and focus on that warmth you feel. Don't try to control it—just observe where it comes from and how it moves."
As I settled into a more comfortable position, he continued.
"A single Locus will pulse steadily from one location. Multiple Loci will create competing rhythms—like two drums beating out of sync."
Virion added helpfully, "And if you feel like your insides are trying to rearrange themselves, that usually means three or even four! Jie jie~"
"Not helping, Master," I muttered, but closed my eyes anyway.
The darkness behind my eyelids sharpened as I turned my attention inward. At first, there was only the faint, steady pulse beneath my ribs—but as I focused, something else... flickered.
A second warmth. Fainter. Erratic.
Zephyr noticed immediately. "What is it?"
"I... think there might be two," I admitted, my voice tight with concentration. "The main one's in my chest, but there's... something else... near my spine. It's a bit weaker, though. But also a bit tougher, I think. Like stone beneath water."
Zephyr and Virion exchanged a glance I couldn't see.
"Interesting," Zephyr murmured. "That complicates things slightly."
Virion's tail thumped excitedly. "Jie jie~ Just like his senior! This calls for celebration! And by celebration, I mean twice the training!"
I kept my eyes closed, trying to ignore the dread pooling in my stomach at Virion's words.
Didn't he say it was the most important part? Why is he messing with me?
Shooing away the bad thoughts, I focused on the two distinct pulses within me—one strong and steady, the other faint but tough and persistent.
And just like that, it was settled—I was a dual-Loci Resonator, same as Zephyr. A warrior and channeler hybrid.
A small part of me had hoped for more. Not out of greed, but... necessity and curiosity.
I was hoping to awaken as a Mystic after all...