27 A.A 2 (2/2)

As soon as Ernst said this, everything else flew out of Aaron's mind.

In his hands, he felt the sharp edges of the Cores which were shining faintly in the light.

”For integrating with the Core, a quiet and private place is required, so there's nothing better than this room, right here. Begin by placing the two cores between the two knuckles of your prominent hand. That's just so that you can access them easily when it's needed. After that, put your hand, carefully, in the velvet pouch that the Cores came in. Tighter the end of the pouch around your wrist so that the Cores won't move from their position: they should remain pressed to your skin. Then, put your hands together so that your knuckles are touching with the velvet in-between. This position is so that you can concentrate on the integration without worrying about anything else.”

Immediately, Aaron adopted the position that the former chief had said, and as he felt the cold, rough surface of the Cores on his hand, he felt excitement coursing through him.

Power was always something that would cause any one's blood to speed up and pump through their veins. He could never have imagined that he would have this opportunity, so he treasured it all the more.

”Close your eyes. Each and every human body is already capable of integration. All it requires is for you to form a connection between your mind and the Cores, and make them a part of your body. In the same way that you control your muscles and the rest of your body, you need to be able to control them at a moment's notice. Concentrate on the feeling of the Core touching your body. Envision it melting into you, and appearing in your mind. They will look like two glowing balls that you will be able to see inside your mind. The moment you are able to see them, it means that you've succeeded. Now then, the speed of integration depends on one's body potential, so I don't know how long this will take. Just keep trying! Don't give up even if it feels like nothing is happening. Do you know that I took an hour before I could feel anything at all? So, don't despair if you feel nothing at the moment. Just keep- why are your eyes open?”

Ernst had been looking at Aaron's face with full while continuously speaking in a low voice that was meant to lull the one integrating with the Core into a state of focus and concentration.

So, when he saw Aaron open his eyes with a puzzled expression on his face, he was quite startled.

When Ernst asked him this, Aaron thought for a bit and unfastened the mouth of the pouch around his wrist.

Seeing him do this, Ernst assumed that, maybe, Aaron wanted to go into the forest, where it might be most peaceful for him.

”All right, I can accompany you to…where are the Cores?! Did you drop them?”

Interrupted by the sight of Aaron's right hand which had no Cores pressed between his knuckles, Ernst exclaimed like so, but what happened next made him widen his eyes and stand up with a start.

Waves of shock battered his mind, and he started to wonder whether he was seeing. He must be dreaming, right?

In front of him, the Cores had just appeared from inside Aaron's skin, as naturally as if he had integrated with them a long time ago.

Reaching his finger forward, just to assure himself that he hadn't gone crazy, Ernst touched the Core between Aaron's knuckle, and as he saw that half of it was firmly inside his skin, which meant that it really was an integrated Core, he finally let out the shout that had been building up inside him.

”M-MONSTER! YOU F*CKING MONSTER! IMPOSSIBLE!”