Zachariel and Von stood apart from one another.
“The death of my cousin, Hal Strom, set off a change in both mine and Amelia’s personality, which was one of the main objectives of the hidden enemy. The emotion that resurfaced after I woke up a week after the incident made me vulnerable to their plans.”
Von nodded.
“The succeeding events such as my classmate’s unexpected kidnapping, and the coincidence that it was also during Amelia’s battle as well, makes it obvious that the enemy knows everything about me.”
Von smiled.
“When my classmate got kidnapped, I don’t think it was of her own volition to run away like that, especially when I noticed that her speed was too fast for someone of her level and talent.”
Von raised his eyes, “Oh, you think that girl was controlled?”
“No, more like an illusion of her. There were many people during that time, and with the power that the enemy holds, they could easily trick me using that. Lia was already kidnapped inside the public training area, and the enemy was baiting me in going far away.”
The wind breezed.
“They made use of Prince Kane’s plan to deal with Amelia, making it so that the bloodline of a Strom descendant would awaken on her.”
“And, that is?”, Von asked.
“The Mad Strom inheritance. I’ve been hearing lots of talks about my parents and grandparents being insane people as they were. I thought it was just a joke, not until I experienced Amelia’s kind of… insanity.”
Von chuckled, `This is getting better and better.`
He took out a pipe and started puffing, listening in on Zachariel’s narrative.
“When her insanity developed, it led to the infamous event that happened a few days ago, and such an accident led way to the events that happened yesterday.”
“But do you know why they were targeting you, Zachariel?”, Von asked.
Zachariel hesitated.
`Maybe because of my talent? Or that strange thing inside me? But nobody knows about this. Even if I include about the fact that I know something about Victoria, they should’ve gone to her too, and not only me.`
“Because of Supreme Elder Azzad.”, Von’s answer shocked Zachariel.
“You mean that Void, senior?”
“He’s not just some ordinary void, brat. This guy is older than the Great Elden Conglomerate and the Great Human Imperium combined.”
Von puffed a smoke.
“You heard those inquisitors talking about some excavation in the ancient ruins, right?”
Zachariel nodded.
“The truth is that only the voids could enter those damn ancient ruins for no logical f****** reason. The Eldens are only grabbing the credit like the egoistical fuckers they are, and the voids don’t give much of a damn about it either. After all, they’re the most apathetic bastards you could ever meet.”
Zachariel realized something from Von’s words.
“I have a relation to the voids and the ancient ruins?”
“Yeah, most probably. There’s no other explanation for it. Voids don’t care about talents. I’ve already seen that many times.”, Von said nonchalantly.
“But what about the Templars?”, Zachariel asked confusingly.
“For the matter of ascension to the higher realm, brat, that this world blocks. The Eldens, and for some reason, the Templars, knew that if they could fully decipher the literary texts in those ancient ruins, they would be able to find a way to ascend.”
`This is what Instructor Jonas said a while ago,`, Zachariel’s eyes slightly widened, then returned to normal.
He reminisced everything that Instructor Jonas narrated in their class.
`Supreme Elder Azzad’s interest in me lies around the World Rule and World Essence. These green lines inside my body, the thing inside my head, and that. They must be related.`
Von noticed the peculiar behavior from Zachariel, “Brat, you’ve got something to say?”
“Nothing else, senior.”, Zachariel thought it was better to leave it on a later occasion.
“Really?”, Von narrowed his eyes. They stared at each other silently.
Von sighed.
“Anyway, although you weren’t able to determine why the Templars are after you, you still surprised me with your careful analysis of the events.”, Von told half of the truth.
In fact, he was elated inside, `This sort of thinking and analysis at such a young age is very rare, especially coming from a human like this brat. If I could train him up, maybe we could have a chance.`
He paused and acted like he was thinking in front of Zachariel.
“How about this, since you’re suspended for two weeks anyway, come and train with me.”, he signaled his right index finger to Zachariel.
“Train with you, senior? Where?”
“Out of here, in the demon beast territory.”, Von smiled devilishly.
“The Templars wouldn’t be able to get me out there, will they?”, Zachariel worried.
“You seem to be more worried about the Templars than the demon beasts, brat. Are you sure you’re asking the right question?”, Von was amused by Zachariel’s confidence.
Zachariel became speechless. Even if he said that it was the Templars going after him, weren’t they working under the demon beasts?
Von looked at his face and laughed. He patted Zachariel’s shoulders, “Don’t you damn underestimate this old man brat. I took care of two Templars yesterday, what’re you so worried about?”
He continued laughing. Zachariel gulped, `I forgot about that.`
Von stopped laughing after a while.
“Right, we’ll set off tomorrow early in the morning, at 6:00.”
“What about Anastasia, senior? I’m worried she might have a hard time here without someone close to her.”
Zachariel wanted things to be orderly the moment he leaves. Anastasia was still young and she was the type to look for him now and then.
“Helena will take care of her.”
Zachariel’s eyes twitched.
“Now, now. Although my niece may be a bit fierce towards you, she’ll behave differently when it comes to your little sister. Want to see?”
“No thanks. I’ll believe you, senior.”, Zachariel rejected.
“Good. Anyway, how about some brawl, brat?”, Von knuckled his fists and charged at Zachariel without waiting for him to ready himself.
Zachariel reacted and somersaulted backward. However, another Von was waiting for him and kicked him laterally.
He was sent rolling on the ground.
The two Vons chuckled.
Zachariel cursed, `Damn unfair, old man!`
He stood up and flapped the dust away from his uniform.
He observed the two Vons, `Isn’t that some sort of cloning technique that senior used yesterday?`
Suddenly, his eyes started to see things differently.
“What’re you staring blankly at? Am I that beautiful that you can’t stop looking at me?”, a figure of Helena arrogantly called out to him.
Zachariel was confused, `When did that thing become Helena?`
He knew that it was Von a second ago.
“Hmph, bastard!”
Helena’s figure charged at him, using her arms like a sword, and chopped at Zachariel.
“I said focus!”, Helena shouted.
Zachariel dodged at the last second, `Are my eyes tricking me?`
He felt a disturbance below the ground, `S***, shockwave!`
Zachariel soared to the air, adjusting his body to look down below.
A pillar of fire burst from the ground he was earlier. Beside it was Von, again, with a grin on his handsome battle-scarred face.
`This old man’s playing with me!`
Another Von appeared beside him in the air, “Hey, brat. There’s two of me, you know!”, throwing a punch at Zachariel’s face.
Zachariel blocked it, but he crashed hard on the ground.
‘Whoosh!’
He somersaulted and launched an attack, `Rain of Fire!`
Dozens of huge fireballs formed behind him, `When did I learn how to do this spell?`, shocking him to the core.
It felt natural for him to conjure the spell and cast it to attack. His left hand suddenly gathered dark mana essence and used it to absorb the fireballs.
Von was intrigued by the peculiar actions of Zachariel.
`Oh, there’s a slight shade of green in that brat’s eyes. What’s this? An extense?`, Von mused.
Zachariel grasped his left hand and swung it in Von’s direction. The mass of dark mana essence swiftly traveled through the ground and air, reaching Von in a slight moment.
‘Release!’
A group of fireballs burst out from the dark mana essences, `Oh, this brat! He’s not too bad, really!`
‘Boom!’
An explosion occurred. The barrier formations acted, containing the explosive force within the area.
It died down after a while.
A clapping sound resounded.
“You’ve got some moves there, brat. Where’d you learn them?”
“Myself.”, Zachariel replied.
“So a secret, huh?”, Von felt his chin, “Doesn’t matter. At least you won’t come back in tatters after a few days of training in the wild.”, nodding in approval to Zachariel.
The dust settled and many craters were formed.
Von scratched his head, “You messed up the entire grounds. Damn, I only wanted to spar with you for fun. Didn’t really have to make it this big.”
Zachariel bowed, “I’m sorry, senior. I was just excited earlier.”
“Nah, don’t mention it.”, Von waved his hands, “Anyway, let’s get out of here.”
Von waved his hands.
‘Whing!’
Zachariel found himself back in the garden right away.
`Was that… space magic?`, he thought.
Zachariel looked around. There were fewer insects here than compared to yesterday.
Solus was already starting to set down.
`Looks like Anastasia’s not here.`
He strolled on the garden, extending his hands over the flowers, feeling the breeze of fresh air as it wafted through his body.
`It’s strange for father to leave without a word. The frontlines must be very hectic right now.`
He suddenly remembered his mother and his bitter memories with her. Zachariel felt complicated inside.
`Mother…`
He hesitated on whether he should forgive her or not. After a while, he shook his head.
`I’ll talk to mother. I want to know mother’s true feelings and thoughts.`
He returned to the large mess hall and idly stood while leaning on the wall, calmly observing the activities of the servants from time to time.
`There are fewer people for a large household like this. Were the rest also sent to the frontlines?`
Some of them would stare at him and gossip.
`It’s mostly servants here. I wonder where the others are.`
He didn’t dare to re-enter the huge mansion on the other side. Zachariel knew his limitations, and wouldn’t act highly just because their households were allies.
`There must be something else to this alliance. Madame Lena must be looking for answers, and the only one that could give them answers is me.`
The dark mist, the Templars’ pursuit, and his talent. The dark mist was surely a topic that Madame Lena wanted to talk with him about.
As for the Templars and his talent, only Von was interested.
`His Imperial… no, the emperor must know of this news by now. I wonder how does that bastard sees this.`
Light footsteps resounded beside him. He looked and saw two mages dressed in ginger-colored robes. Only a few of their facial features could be observed by the naked eye.
`Do households use dress codes or something?`, Zachariel asked himself.
“Excuse me, sir, Madame has been looking for you. I hope that you would grant this request from her.”, the leading male mage bowed.
His tone was a bit feminine which surprised Zachariel.
“I’ll go see Madame Lena now.”
The mage nodded, “Follow me, dear sir.”
They exited the mess hell and went to the large mansion. He entered on the same door and traversed on the same path he took yesterday.
The leading mage initiatively told him, “The Madame’s study room is just beside her personal room, if you ask, dear sir.”
`Beside? That dead-end is just some sort of illusion?`, Zachariel pondered.
On the left of Lena’s personal room door led to a dead-end pathway. The two mages incantated, “Reveal.”, extending both of their arms that released light mana essence.
The light mana essences flowed to the wall in a specific manner. It alternated in three different ways, from circular to linear, and zigzagged.
After a few seconds, the light mana essence dispersed, and the wall that blocked the passageway was removed as well.
The two mages stepped aside and bowed, “You can proceed now, dear sir. The room is on the end of this passageway.”
“Thank you.”, Zachariel nodded and walked forward.
Once he stepped inside, the mages incantated again, “Conceal.”
The wall reappeared, though Zachariel could see what was on the other side, though a transparent layer of the wall stirred his visual perception.
The passageway was darker compared to the corridors outside. Magic lamps lit up the narrow passageway.
`Underground?`, Zachariel noticed a descending staircase. He followed the path and soon arrived on a brown door.
He knocked on it three times.
“Come in.”, Lena’s voice echoed in the passageway.
