Legacy of the Dark Sage

Alta's disbelief was palpable as she listened to Aillos and Kyran's conversation. The fact that they were discussing such a crucial matter in her presence was beyond comprehension. She was well aware that Kyran's offer to mend her soul thread was not without a price, a fact he had made clear before she agreed. Despite her reservations, Alta had accepted, though her hopes were not high.

As Aillos and Kyran's conversation unfolded, Alta's perception began to shift. What was once a mere possibility, now seemed to be a certainty. The fix that Kyran had offered was not just a hope, but a reality that was slowly dawning on her.

Was there truly a being capable of restoring a removed soul thread? Such a feat would require a profound connection to the soul, a magic that was surely rare and powerful. Would The Emperor have allowed such a being to exist? And if so, how could a being with such extraordinary magic remain hidden in the Higher Realm?

Alta's mind turned to mush as she realized the implications of these revelations. No matter how much she tried to deny it, the bigger picture became clearer, and she began to understand The Emperor's recent behavior. f

Calling for an emergency meeting... Sending someone to the Lower Realm... Not content with the results, he also went there himself... He acted strangely upon seeing the black mage in Alta's soul thread...

All of these had something to do with the Ancient Magic Cores. Thus far, the Void core's existence has been confirmed. The Draconic core's existence was still under debate, but Alta already had an idea that it was also confirmed.

If these two Ancient Magic Cores had already made their appearance, who to say that the other two— Soul Core and Time Core had not?

While Alta was beginning to accept the truth she had just realized, Aillos and Kyran turned to her at the same time, jolting her to straighten her back.

They were only looking at her normally, but to Alta, their gazes were cold and piercing.

Without waiting for them to say something, she took the initiative and said, "I… may have taken Lord Null's offer lightly. But after hearing your conversation– and I take that you don't mind us hearing them since you did not even try to lower your voice or hide your conversation by using telepathy– I realized I should have taken his offer more seriously."

Aillos waved his hand dismissively at Alta's attempt at explaining herself, "That is unimportant. You are smart enough to understand that we spoke of this while knowing you are listening."

Aillos's eyes turned into slits as his whole demeanor turned cold and overbearing.

"Remember that right now, you are in the Dragon Plane. I shall take the words you speak to heart. If you do something contrary to them, I shall deem your action as a blatant challenge to my authority and smite you on the spot."

Kyran looked at Aillos at the corner of his eyes. He did not expect the latter to actively take charge of matters regarding the protection of Cyneah's identity– not that he was complaining. In fact, Kyran appreciated it because Aillos's threat held more power than his. After all, Aillos was the Dragon Emperor, the only being said to have the capability to face The Emperor.

"I understand," Alta replied with such a resolute tone that she was surprised at herself. Truthfully, she was scared just by looking at Aillos's eyes. He did not emit any murderous aura or suffocating pressure like The Emperor when he threatened others; however, that did not lessen the gravity of his words.

They even sounded more frightening because it felt like he would smite her if she so much as thought of lying to him.

"Now tell us what you think."

"I will be forever grateful to the one who will restore my soul thread. Thus, I will not spare any thought of offering my life in turn for that one's safety."

"Hm," Aillos replied while tilting his head. He seemed satisfied at Alta's straightforward answer. Nonetheless, Kyran would still have the final say since Cyneah was his person.

Others believed Cyneah was Kyran's wife, but Aillos knew better. They were barely intimate and had yet to take a vow before the Ancestral Steele, so he would not accept their so-called husband-and-wife relationship.

That was not to say that Aillos did not approve. At first, he disliked the idea of them together, especially since they were vessels of Ancient Magic Cores. But after knowing Cyneah for the past few weeks and learning that she did not possess the Soul core, he changed his mind a little.

Besides, he witnessed how Kyran and Cyneah adjusted to each other and believed they could influence each other in a good way as long as the people around them guided them accordingly.

Aillos looked at Kyran, who was still looking at him sideways.

"What do you think?"

"… She did agree to do me a favor after her soul thread is fixed. As long as she properly does her part, I'm good."

"Hm," Aillos nodded and turned his attention back to Alta. "You probably realized who can help restore your soul thread. Knowing this, you should understand the gravity of keeping her identity hidden."

"…I do."

"Putting aside what this guy thought of her," Aillos pointed at Kyran. "I myself wanted to keep her safe. If you ever do something that will jeopardize that…"

Aillos did not finish his sentence— he did not have to because Alta got his message. It was strange how she still had reservations about her soul thread getting fixed a few minutes ago. Yet now, she believed it without a sliver of a doubt.

"You have my word, Dragon Emperor."

"Before I allow you to meet her, I want you to remember one thing. The moment your clan survived The Emperor's attack, your lives were no longer for him but for the one who saved you."

"The Blade Dancer Clan are aware. Others may have lingering doubts, but I will make a vow before you that I, at least, will never doubt. I know where my loyalty lies, and it is with you."

"... No, not me, but him," Aillos corrected her while clearing his throat.

From the side, Kyran looked blank, but it was clear he found Alta's answer unsatisfactory.

Alta reddened at once. She got absorbed at the moment and was so focused on talking with Aillos that she somehow forgot what Kyran kept telling them: He was not part of the Dragon Clan.

"I-I'm sorry," Alta stammered, turning to Kyran and bowing in a very uncharactesitically clumsy way. "Please allow me to correct myself. I vow to—."

"I don't need your vow," Kyran cut her off midsentence. "If you vow your loyalty to her, then that's all that matters."

Alta straightened and looked at Kyran for a moment. It was not a stretch to say that this would be the first time she was truly looking at him.

She already noticed his similarity to the black mage she encountered in the unnamed plane, and judging by how he easily moved them from one place to another, not to mention access a portal they all believed to have been destroyed, he was the person The Emperor was after— the human possessing the Void Core.

However, there were talks about him being a dragon because of his use of Draconic magic. Alta admitted to be one of the Blade Dancers who believed he was a dragon. But after coming here, and hearing the gist of Kyran's relationship with the Dragon Clan, she now knew he was not a dragon but a human from the Lower Realm— the rumored human family of Ames.

While it was possible that Kyran's use of Draconic magic was due to the dragon bloodline running in his veins from Ames's side, it was impossible for him to have such clear and powerful control over it that was akin to the Dragon Emperor's aides. Thus, Alta came to a conclusion that he also possessed the Draconic Core.

Alta only knew a small detail of why The Emperor called for an emergency prior to his descent to the Lower Realms, and that it had something to do with a sighting of a lesser dragon.

From this, Alta put two and two together and guessed that Kyran also possessed the Draconic Core.

However, there were still some points that she found strange that could only be explained if The Emperor was unaware of the fact that Kyran possessed two Ancient Magic Cores. And apparently, Alta was right about this since The Emperor did not go after the Dragon Clan right after the 'Void Master' appeared in the Blade Dancer plane.

If The Emperor knew the Void Master was the same as the suspected lesser dragon, he should have confronted the Dragon Clan who likely knew something about the latter.

All of these were still Alta's speculations. Though she believed she was on the right track, and unless Kyran admitted to everything, she decided to keep her thoughts to herself.

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