Read Novel Full Chapter 1205: The Test
Chapter 1205: The Test
Most who walked the Psychic Path were feared not for their spells, but for their minds.
Unlike other branches, the cultivation of Psychic Arts demanded constant intrusion into thoughts, emotions, and memories.
Practitioners learned early to manipulate, deceive, and bend others to their will.
Over time, this eroded empathy, turning many into cold manipulators… That was why Odessa called them Psychopaths.
The stronger their Mental Energy, the easier it became to dominate others… and the harder it became to resist the temptation.
What began as discipline often ended in obsession. That was the reason why more than ninety percent of Psychic Arts practitioners eventually lost themselves to cruelty or madness since their brilliance was twisted into psychopathy.
Odessa knew this truth well.
That was why Vale's interest in Cielo wasn't that surprising…
Cielo's principle was firm as if no outside influence could bend his sense of justice or righteousness.
Furthermore, even if he was raw and untrained until he arrived in the Academy, his Mental Energy was pure.
Shane also liked how he was untainted by family techniques or factional corruption. If he could endure the path without succumbing to its darkness, he might become something rare.
That night, Odessa resolved to watch him.
She would not interfere directly, but she would observe from a distance.
Tomorrow's mission would reveal whether Cielo's heart could withstand the weight of the Psychic Path.
***
The next morning, Cielo met Zhang Wei, Mica, and Liang at the agreed square near the guard post.
The three greeted him warmly. Just like before, their smiles were bright with friendly voices.
"Cielo!" Mica said cheerfully. "We're glad to join you. It's not every day we get to see a mission like this."
Liang Chen clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll just watch. You'll do fine."
Zhang Wei's tone was calm, reassuring him as well... "We're here to support you. If anything happens, let us know if you want our help."
Cielo smiled, grateful for their company. He didn't notice the glances they exchanged behind his back. There were the subtle smirks, the gleam of malice in their eyes…
To him, they were classmates curious to learn.
But to them, he was prey, a rival to be undermined.
Soon, they arrived at the site… It was a modest house on the edge of the district, guarded by two weary men.
A caretaker stepped forward, bowing nervously.
"You must be the Arcanist sent by the Academy…" the caretaker said.
After some introduction, he immediately felt relieved.
"Thank you for coming. The patient… he's inside. His name is Daren. He was once a scholar, but his mind broke after an accident with forbidden runes. Since then, he has suffered episodes… It could be violent, incoherent, sometimes dangerous, so please be careful."
Cielo nodded, his expression serious.
"I'll need details. How often do the episodes occur? What triggers them?"
The caretaker pressed his hands together to calm himself.
"Every few days. Sometimes when he sees symbols, sometimes when he hears certain words. He mutters about voices, shadows, things no one else can see. We've tried herbs, restraints, prayers… nothing lasts."
That was an important detail.
Cielo listened carefully, jotting notes on a small parchment. He asked about Daren's diet, his sleep, and his past injuries. Every detail mattered.
Finally, he stepped inside the dim room. The patient sat slumped in a chair, with eyes wide open, muttering to himself.
His hands twitched as if writing invisible words in the air.
Cielo closed his eyes, activating his Metaphysical State… Soon, he activated his Spell Model, the Thought Link, to sense the fragments of Daren's mind.
It didn't take that long before he felt the chaos inside…
There were scattered images, broken memories, and overlapping voices in the background. It was not possession, nor the influence of Spirits. It was a fractured psyche, a mind drowning in its own echoes.
He wasn't exactly sure, but Cielo felt that it was due to the overuse of the man's Special State.
For Dark Arts Practitioners, they had to enter the Phantasm State to cast Dark Spells. For a Psychic Arts Practitioner like him, he had to enter the Metaphysical State…
As for the man before him, he was a Rune Arts Practitioner, and if he wanted to use his runic spells, he had to enter his Special State called Chrono Shift.
Perhaps, the man exceeded the duration of Chrono Shift, forcing his soul to be exhausted, resulting to madness…
Normally, the Dark Arts Practitioners were the most vulnerable to madness whenever they used their spells. However, with the improved version of their Darkness Possession Potions that could strengthen their minds, that had already changed.
Unfortunately, there were no advancements with the tools, artifacts, or potions that were used by Runemasters.
"Haa~" Cielo sighed after completing his initial assessment.
"This isn't madness born of Spirits. It's human insanity… but perhaps it can be eased."
Behind him, Zhang Wei, Mica, and Liang watched with polite interest, their faces masks of kindness.
But in their minds, they were already plotting how to twist the situation… a misplaced talisman, a subtle interference, a whisper of doubt.
And outside, unseen, Odessa stood at a distance, as she observed the situation with an amused smile... She would not intervene yet.
She wanted to see how Cielo handled both the patient… and the hidden malice of his peers.
***
Daren suddenly jerked upright, his muttering rising into a frantic chant. His eyes darted wildly, as if he were reading invisible runes etched into the air.
"Chrono… shift… the symbols… they're everywhere…!" His voice cracked, trembling with panic.
The caretaker flinched as he noticed what was going on. "Oh no… It's starting again…"
Cielo raised his hand calmly with his Thought Link still active. He focused on the fragments of Daren's mind, searching for the source of the chaos. He could feel the man's soul fraying, threads of memory snapping under the strain of repeated Spellcasting.
"His mind is caught in a loop," Cielo murmured.
He could tell that Daren was still trying to solve the Forbidden Rune he failed to create even after overusing his Chrono Shift…
"He's reliving the accident over and over. If I can anchor him to the present, he might stabilize."
He drew a small talisman from his bag. It was inscribed with a rune of clarity that he had obtained yesterday in the shop.
After confirming that it was receiving his Arcane Energy, Cielo placed it gently on the table beside Daren.
Soon, he whispered, "Focus here. This is real. The voices inside your head aren't real, it's not the truth."
For a moment, Daren's twitching slowed. His gaze turned toward the talisman, and his breathing steadied.
Behind him, Zhang Wei's lips curled into a faint smile.
'So earnest… so naïve.'
He exchanged a glance with Mica and Liang. A subtle interference now could undo all of Cielo's progress.
Mica leaned forward. She then spoke with a soft voice, but laced with hidden intent.
"Cielo, are you sure that talisman is strong enough? Perhaps you should try a stronger one… something more forceful."
Liang Chen added with feigned concern, "Yes, if he snaps again, he could hurt you. Maybe you should restrain him first."
Cielo shook his head firmly. "No. Force will only worsen his condition. He needs calm, not fear."
Odessa, watching from the shadows outside, noted the exchange with interest…
The three students' words were harmless on the surface, but she could feel the malice beneath them. They wanted him to doubt himself, to falter while the Thought Link was activated.
Nonetheless, Cielo ignored them, focusing instead on Daren.
He asked the caretaker more questions, his tone steady. "When did the episodes begin? Was it immediately after the rune accident, or did they worsen over time?"
The caretaker nodded quickly. "At first, they were mild. He would mutter and forget things. But after a few months, the episodes grew violent.
He started seeing things that weren't there. He even attacked a fellow scholar once, thinking he was a shadow."
Cielo scribbled notes with a frown…
Then, he spoke softly to himself as he needed to come up with a solution
"So the damage is progressive. His soul is giving up slowly. If I can reinforce his mental threads, perhaps he can regain clarity… or maybe I can do that…"
He placed his hand lightly on Daren's shoulder, channeling a faint pulse of Mental Energy.
It was not to dominate, but to soothe his mind…
His Thought Link resonated as he carefully entered the patient's mind.
For a brief moment, Daren's muttering ceased. His eyes cleared, and he whispered…
"The voices… they're fading…"
Cielo exhaled, relieved after hearing those words.
"Good. Stay with me. You're not alone."
But behind him, Zhang Wei's fingers brushed against a talisman hidden in his sleeve.
A single misplaced rune, a subtle disruption, could plunge Daren back into madness.
Odessa squinted as she carefully observed the flow of Arcane Energy.
Still, she remained silent, waiting to see if Cielo's resolve could withstand both the patient's fractured mind… and the treachery of his peers.