The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 23: Supplementary Lessons

Lumière had just confirmed that Michel Garigue probably hadn't been dragged into Guillaume Bene's schemes. He planned to visit the deputy parish priest late at night, but as soon as he returned home, he heard his sister say that something was off about him.

Aurore glanced at Lumière and started laughing:

"I discovered something was wrong with him while you, my clueless little brother, were standing right in front of him.

"Seems like you didn't notice anything, did you?"

She was so pleased that she had to lift her right hand to half-cover her mouth. After all, her little brother, who was supposed to be a novice in the occult, had suddenly become an extraordinary individual, mastering advanced knowledge, and had even realized that Cordu Village was trapped in a time loop. Meanwhile, she, as his sister, hadn't been much help, and her expertise in the occult had been overshadowed. This left her feeling slightly unhappy.

Now, she finally regained some of her sisterly authority.

Seeing his sister's smile, Lumière nodded and said:

"I didn't notice anything unusual in his behavior."

Aurore nodded:

"His astral body—how should I put it? In short, it's brighter than that of a normal person, yet he's neither an extraordinary individual nor someone who has been systematically exercising for a long time."

"Maybe he's just naturally healthy?" Lumière speculated, then asked with curiosity, "What is an astral body?"

Aurore looked surprised and asked in return:

"You don't know?"

"I don't know." Lumière shook his head.

Aurore's smile widened as she replied in a puzzled tone:

"That lady taught you about the 'Pathway of Gods,' the 'Immutable Law of Extraordinary Characteristics,' and 'Role-playing,' but didn't explain the basic concepts like the astral body?"

"She was in a hurry and could only cover the essentials," Lumière excused the mysterious lady.

Aurore laughed even more cheerfully:

"Or maybe it's because these basic occult concepts aren't much use to a 'wild' Hunter like you. You just need to know how to track, set traps, and fight."

She didn't quite know how to describe her brother's current state. On one hand, he seemed like an occult novice, but on the other, he possessed a considerable amount of knowledge and some very alarming abilities. Yet, he was unaware of fundamental concepts like the astral body.

Aurore exhaled and said seriously:

"It looks like I'll have to handle your occult education.

"Remember, in the realm of occultism, the part of a human being beyond the physical body is divided into four layers. The innermost and most core layer is the 'spirit body,' which is almost synonymous with the concept of a soul. It's the spiritual essence that everything possesses, the essence that enhances spirituality, and it can be considered the origin of the soul.

"For Seers, potions primarily enhance the 'spirit body.'

"The 'astral body' lies outside the 'spirit body,' and it's the manifestation of the latter in both the physical world and the spirit world. It's also closely related to your will and current emotions.

"So, do you understand now? When I say the deputy parish priest's astral body is brighter than that of a normal person, I mean his 'spirit body,' or rather, his soul, has some issues. This is reflected in his astral body, and it has nothing to do with whether he's naturally healthy. Of course, it could mean he's naturally more spiritually attuned.