Layla really felt sorry for Vicente and Nina. Especially for the black-haired young man in front of her because he thought he could take revenge and maybe even get Lauren back one day.
But from what she knew about Nixlas' Shadows, the chances of Vicente succeeding were slim, even considering his talent level.
Achieving the goal of avenging his dead parents and rescuing Lauren wouldn't depend on his level alone!
Even if Vicente became powerful enough to destroy Nixlas' Shadows one day, Layla didn't know of a single case where someone from that force managed to return to their former self after being brainwashed by such an organization.
It was very likely that Vicente would never get his sister back, even if he managed to free her from Nixlas' Shadows and bring her back to his side!
That's why Layla felt sorry for him, almost to the point where she felt her eyes tear up, remembering a little of the pain she had felt in her own story.
Everyone had their way of dealing with loss and problems. Still, having already lost a brother she loved, Layla could understand some of Vicente's feelings.
"Brainwashed?" Vicente muttered as his face paled, the dark circles under his eyes more visible than ever.
Torne told Vicente the same thing Layla would tell him. 'Brainwashing is a method of indoctrination capable of erasing one's old memories, including different desires and worldviews in that individual's personality and manipulating them to be something else, master.
Brainwashing is something that even some Dark Path magicians shy away from because of how wrong it is. There are old cases of mothers who loved their families, children, and husbands, but after a single session of brainwashing, they were able to betray them, sell their children into slavery, and kill their spouses.
For these people, their past disappears or instead changes completely, depending on the will of the person behind the brainwashing.
Some of the cruelest individuals would not erase their targets' pasts. They would manipulate their targets' old memories, allowing them to still recognize loved ones but making them think and act in entirely different ways, sometimes to the point where mothers hunt down, kill, and devour their own children.'
Gulp!
"... Ultimately, your sister may not even remember you or see you as an enemy. There's no telling how she is or will be in the future. Brainwashing has a high success rate on low-level people, as was the case with your sister when she was abducted...
Sigh, I hate to say it, but don't get your hopes up about a possible reunion with her. If you want to go to her and see her again, fight Nixlas' Shadows. But don't expect things to go back to the way they were before. That will never happen.
I'm sorry." Layla finished speaking, being quite honest about what she knew.
Vicente clenched his fists as he heard similar things from Torne and Layla, feeling more or less the same way he had felt years ago in the Awakening Temple in Saltstar City.
"I see..." He murmured, remembering all the feelings of that time, how he had fainted under the attack of a member of that temple, only to wake up later to find that his father had died.
'Nixlas' shadows... One day, one day, I will repay the debt we owe each other!' He closed his eyes as he felt angry. He had never imagined that Lauren's situation could be so bad.
Until today, he didn't know what kind of organization Lauren's kidnappers were. Not only that, but he thought she would eventually return to being his older sister, and at least they would be a little bit like they were before that fateful trip to Saltstar City.
But when he thought about what Torne and Layla had just told him, the future looked much darker for him and Nina.
Feeling terribly ill, his hands began to tremble subtly while the mana in his body stirred, and his Magic Gems suddenly began to absorb the mana in the area.
Layla realized something was wrong with Vicente and stood up, trying to understand what was happening. 'Is he going to attack me?' She feared, sensing he was about to activate an ability.
But Torne understood better what was going on. While in his cocoon in Vicente's mind space, this ghost saw the darkest part of Vice's essence stirring, becoming very active, which rarely happened.
'It looks like he's ready to move on...' Torne looked and felt this was happening. 'The consciousness of his second magical gem seems to have recognized some feelings and is waking up.'
He said to Vicente. 'Quickly, master, go to your cultivation room. It's time for you to start your meditation to advance to the 3rd stage!'
Vicente was still thinking about how frustrating it was not to be able to do much to help his family. So, at first, he didn't understand what was happening. 'What?'
'Being on the cusp of the 2nd stage is no guarantee of quick and easy progress. It's common for people in your situation to need weeks or even months of seclusion to make progress. But your second magical form is helping you now in a strange way, master. Take advantage of this opportunity. In a few days, you may be able to become a Mage!'
Listening to Torne's advice, Vicente tried to control himself and went to the cultivation area of his estate.
"Thank you for your words, Layla. Go back to your place and cultivate to try to become a Mage. I'll do the same."
With these words, he left the grey-haired woman behind and quickly went to where some of his men were meditating.
Once there, Vicente ignored everyone around him and quickly sat down in a lotus position and began to control what his second magical form had started on its own.
'Lauren, I don't know what will happen in the future, but we will still meet face to face! I'll do my best to bring you back.' He promised before pushing all non-magical thoughts aside and focused on himself.
It was time for him to go into seclusion and move on to the 3rd stage!
