บท 53: Training (2)

"I'm not sure…" Alvator murmured, his voice tinged with uncertainty, as though groping through a fog. "My memory... it's hazy. A puzzle with missing pieces. But one thing I know for certain."

Argider moved forward, her brow furrowed with curiosity. "What is it?"

"Magic," Alvator said, his tone sharpening, "is not truly gone. I can still sense the Ether Veins in people. Magic is still within them, but… it's as if something inside has stopped. Something vital. The Navel."

"The Navel?" Argider echoed.

"Yes. The Navel is the heart of the Ether Veins," he explained, his eyes distant, as though peering into an unseen realm. "It pumps mana through the body like blood through arteries. But somehow, everyone's Navel… it's gone dormant."

A silence settled between them, heavy and expectant. Then, Alvator continued, his voice low and deliberate. "This led me to a single conclusion."

"And that is?"