CHAPTER 59: IT’S NOT POSSIBLE SILLY... TELL ME THE TRUE WAY

She chirped, excited and curious.

"It’s useful indeed. Both in combat and non-combat situations. Versatile."

Regina marked herself.

"That, huh, well I’m not too sure about that either, sorry."

"Oh... pity."

Cora was disappointed and even Regina pursed her lips a little.

"So what are traits?"

Noctis asked quickly, intending to divert attention a little away from him.

"Well... it’s a vague term for any supernatural powers that one can gain through various external means in addition to qi that they already possess.

These means vary as they are unique. It could be that you unconsciously stumbled into an echo or gained a treasure in the magical forest, maybe ate something rare, a ritual maybe.. it could be anything really. People gain powers by just talking to certain things even.

If you found a definite way to gain that trait of yours it would benefit many people, if it is repeatable that is."

Cora explained to him briefly.

"I see..."

Noctis started going over his memories before he had the ability to manipulate the forest to look for such things. Although there were many events that might resemble what they had described, the ability itself didn’t seem to tie to anything.

"You said you were transported here through the forest near your village, and you also awakened there, it might have something to do with it perhaps? Regina, we should check it out!"

Cora was still thinking about obtaining it.

"Umm.. You know...how unlikely it would be if we actually found anything, young lady?"

Regina understood that even if they went to the forest, even if it was possible, the chances of stumbling upon the exact circumstances entirely in the dark was almost impossible.

Thousands of people gathered around echoes and recorded locations with guided ways to acquire it, and yet few succeed. Years went into scouring through areas as small as a few square miles.

She knew Cora also realised the implausibility of this situation, yet asking with such a hopeful expression, putting her in a difficult spot.

"That’s true Cora. And I’m not even sure if it does have something to do with it."

Cora pouted again after getting her excitement dashed by the two as she grumbled to herself.

Noctis meanwhile kept thinking about traits.

"How do they work? Usually.... Like what’s known about them?"

"..."

"Well, there are many types. Some that can influence their surroundings, like you can manipulate some vines and roots of nearby trees for a brief period of time right?"

As Cora was still pouting, Regina replied to Noctis.

"Yeah? Oh yes, yes."

Noctis just nodded along with her explanation.

"Right so there are other types like some that can change their own body or someone else’s and some that manipulate their surroundings in certain ways to induce certain effects. It depends on the way and the circumstances they have gained the traits under.

It’s quite rare, and not that well documented, most keeping it a secret so there’s not much known, but you’ll encounter it as you go further on your journey."

"Right... of course. Uh.. are there any innate traits that people have like they have qi?"

Noctis asked, thinking of his feelings with forest since the day he had woken up with memories of past life.

"Very very unlikely."

Cora finally decided to jump back into the conversation.

"Really?"

"Well first of all there hasn’t been any recorded case of it, but more than it has been theorised that innate traits can’t exist as traits use mental power unlike qi.

That’s why we can only use it for a certain time before it either goes haywire or stops working entirely. Our body stops instinctively.

Overusing qi will only result in fatigue, afterall it is like your muscle, it gets tired, but forcibly overusing traits have resulted in derangeness to even death.

You must have noticed it if you ever did, and if you haven’t, please don’t do it .

There have also been cases of people losing their minds because of some traits. And the reason the theory gives is that traits imprint themselves on the brain of individuals. So those who can’t take the burden lose their mind.

Now imagine what would happen if you have such a thing in you the moment you are born, with no mental power the traits would likely kill them and there. Unlike the gentle life force that slowly develops and gives form to qi, traits, even in base state, require immense control and power."

After listening to the long explanation, Noctis broke out in a cold sweat, first thinking he could have this trait and then at the possibility of outing himself if he actually did.

But no other thing came to mind. The water and moon could perhaps be explained although still quite dubious but the vines... in the first place it didn’t work like a trait, he hadn’t ever felt like what they had said, and it was most definitely tied to his qi unlike whatever mental power-

Thinking up to this point his brain went to the weird mental plane in him.

So what was that?

Noctis almost wanted to ask, but held himself back. If they said they hadn’t heard of any such thing, what was he to do?

"I see, then it must be something else then..."

Noctis replied with a neutral expression leaving the messy thoughts for later to organise.

"Yes it would. Now if you think of how you did, please, please, please tell me!"

Cora replied thinking nothing of his words, but mere misunderstanding of an ignorant mind.

"I’ll be going back to the sea then. Noctis, I’ll leave the young lady to you."

Regina had already rested enough and took a step forward to finish her work. She had already dealt with all the makaras so she wouldn’t have anything to worry about later for this reason.

Also she talked to Noctis much more smoothly than before, he picked up.

As she dived back in, this time a sword in her hand, the boy and the girl once again chit chatting on random topics.

During the conversation, Cora noticed something very strange between Noctis’ messy white hair.

"Why... is your ear like that?"