Stellar Echo: Heart of the Myst

[lordanl]

"Ebonique."

Seeing the familiar dragon materialize from black fire, Erik couldn't help but murmur as he let go of Sigrún. Ebonique could only lower her head and murmur back, unsure of what to say.

"Erik…"

"…"

Not quite knowing what to say, the young man and the dragon fell into an awkward silence, at which point Ignis and Sigrún stepped back a little, wanting to give them space. After a few seconds, Erik let out a sigh and spoke with a serious voice.

"Thank you, Ebonique. I'm only alive because of you. And also, I'm sorry. I doubted you and didn't handle things the right way."

"No… It was my fault… I hid things from you and tried to send your companions to their deaths… I'm the one to blame…" Ebonique shook her head and spoke in a guilty tone. Erik let out a small sigh and asked.

"…Though I'd like to know who you really are, I can see it's not a good idea to ask. But there's something I definitely want to know, no matter what. Ebonique, what's your goal in staying by my side?"

Hearing the question, Ebonique fell into a thoughtful silence, even glancing at Ignis, who looked at her with concern from the side. After a few moments, Ebonique raised her head to look at Erik and spoke in a sincere tone.

"…To recover my emotions and be happy… I don't want to keep being an empty, apathetic shell… I want to feel alive again by your side…"

"What do you mean?"

Erik asked, a little surprised, since his image of Ebonique was far from that of an empty shell. Even the first time he saw her, she seemed quite "alive" to him. Ebonique paused briefly to organize her thoughts and soon began to explain, while the duo of beautiful masters and the perfect maid listened with serious attention.

"…Though there are things better left unknown for your safety, your speculation about my strength is correct. I'm far stronger than anyone in this galaxy, even in this stellar zone. The only one who can match me is Ignis, and the only reason your civilization doesn't tremble in fear at the sound of my name is because you're too weak to even know it.

"I've been alive for so long that I don't even remember much about myself anymore. Time is terrifying; even immortal beings are vulnerable to it. Though we have infinite lives, our thoughts and emotions wear down. Over the eons, nothing surprises us anymore, nothing excites us, nothing thrills us, and little by little, we become empty shells, living dead with no reason to exist.

"That state is known as the death of the ego, the inevitable end for any 'Eternal.' Obviously, something like that is quite frightening for us, so many try to live new experiences every so often, good or bad; it doesn't matter. Others, like me, choose to sleep, dreams that grow longer and longer. But that's only delaying the inevitable. Eventually, the experiences to live run out, and the sleep becomes eternal.

"But your mana has a unique property, something that would tempt any spirit. It reverses the death of the ego. Perhaps it's because of its similarities to primordial Mana, but no matter how much a spirit tastes it, they never grow tired of it. It's always delicious, full of nuances and changing complexities that resonate with the core of our existence. In short, after a while, we can slowly recover our emotions and strengthen our ego.

"That's why I made so many mistakes… It had been so long since I felt anything more than faint traces of emotion that I completely forgot how to manage my feelings… I easily panic, get scared, get depressed, or get happy and filled with excitement… But… all I want is to live by your side, laugh with you, get excited with you, cry with you… I just want to be your companion and live my emotions by your side… I'll never treat humans the way I did again… I'm so sorry…"

In the end, Ebonique's voice couldn't help but break as Eleonora, Sigrún, and Seraphina looked at the pair of spirits with solemnity. Especially Sigrún, since although she had long suspected that Ignis' strength surpassed that of a legendary level, she thought at most she matched that ruthless redhead. Now she realized how wrong she was; her contracted spirit was truly a terrifying being.

"…I see… Now that I understand everything…"

"…"

Meanwhile, Erik whispered in a deep, thoughtful voice, then fell into a long silence, which made Ebonique feel uncomfortable and insecure. But after a while, Erik seemed to reach a conclusion, so he stood up and approached the dragoness. When he reached Ebonique, Erik knelt down to look her directly in the eyes, then spoke in a serious tone.

"…Ebonique, how about we start from scratch?"

"From scratch?" Ebonique looked at Erik and asked in a tearful voice. Erik nodded and spoke with a calm smile.

"Yes, as if we've just met."

"…From scratch, no issues… No lies… No mistakes…?" Ebonique said, her voice growing more tearful. Erik nodded and spoke in a soft voice.

"None of that."

"…Alright…" Ebonique said through tears. Erik turned around, giving his back to Ebonique, then turned to face her again and spoke with a smile.

"Hello, Ebonique. I'm Erik. Would you like to form a contract with me?"

"…Hello, disciple Erik. I'm Ebonique, and it would be my pleasure to form a contract with you…" Ebonique replied between sobs. Erik quickly responded with excitement.

"That's great! I just need to give you a drop of my blood, right?"

"…Yes… That's right, disciple Erik…"

Through tears, Ebonique nodded, so Erik quickly bit his finger and let a drop of his blood fall on the dragon's head. Immediately, a black light enveloped them both. When the light faded, Erik asked in a soft voice.

"Is the contract done?"

"…Yes." Ebonique replied amidst small sobs. Erik nodded, satisfied, and spoke calmly.

"Then, would you like some of my mana? Ignis says she likes it a lot. Oh, and call me Erik. It feels better."

Unable to control her feelings, Ebonique lunged at Erik, knocking him down with force as small tears fell from her eyes. Meanwhile, Erik began to gently stroke Ebonique's body and channeled his mana into her with a nostalgic smile on his face.

At the same time, Eleonora started wiping the tears that had gathered in her eyes with a handkerchief, while Sigrún placed her hand on Ignis and gently stroked her wings, speaking in a calm voice.

"You hid quite a lot from me, Ignis. You're more impressive than I expected."

"I'm sorry. I didn't feel it was necessary to say, since I can't use my power carelessly. After all, if some 'bored' entity took an interest in what I'm doing, it would be dangerous."

"…Thank you for all your help all this time, and even more for helping my Erik. I really appreciate it, Ignis."

"Why so formal all of a sudden?"

Ignis turned to look at Sigrún and asked calmly. The beautiful blonde turned to gaze at the sky at a 45-degree angle, looking melancholic and ethereal, then replied in a calm, reflective voice.

"I'm a married woman now, and I feel like I've matured a lot. I can see that things can't be taken for granted. Your help has been very meaningful to me, and I feel I should express it properly."

"So, you just wanted to show off…" Ignis replied, rolling her eyes. Sigrún laughed playfully and responded in a teasing tone.

"Hehe, no need to feel bitter. You'll find your own happiness. I hear 'old maids' are quite in demand."

Ignis rolled her eyes again and pushed Sigrún's hand away in annoyance, then flew toward Erik and landed in his arms to complain. Seeing Erik looking at her with a strange expression, Sigrún couldn't help but stick out her tongue playfully before turning to her sworn sisters and speaking in a more serious tone.

"Looks like we have visitors. Should we let them in?"

"I don't see why not. It's been a while since Erik saw his assistants." Eleonora replied with a calm smile, to which Sigrún nodded, and Seraphina remained silent professionally.

…

…

…

"Boss! It's such a relief to see you again! We missed you so much! Sage Sánchez sends her best wishes!"

In the main hall, Sofía spoke with visible excitement, dressed in a business suit with a pencil skirt that hugged her body, making her look professional and mature. Clara, wearing her assistant uniform, spoke with a cheerful smile while studying her boss surrounded by the two impressive spirits.

"It's really a relief to see you in good health, boss. The moment Arcane Fenixara informed us you had awakened, we rushed over."

"Thanks for your concern. I can see you've been doing well all this time. You look like completely different people from when you first arrived. You've really exceeded my expectations. Just looking at you, I can tell how much you've improved."

Erik replied with a slightly proud smile as he looked at the pair of young women, who now exuded confidence and maturity. The twins couldn't help but blush and look down with joyful, proud smiles, at which point Clara spoke with a hint of shyness.

"We didn't want to disappoint you, so we gave it our all, boss… Next month, I'll be taking the assistant exam, and I can start working directly under your command."

"I learned everything I could under Sage Sánchez's guidance. I don't know if I'm qualified, but I'll do my best to be of help to you."

"Hehe, you really are different people now. And since you mention it, I actually have some work for you. How about starting now?"

Erik said in visibly good spirits while petting the pair of spoiled spirits. The twins looked at Erik with shining eyes, full of excitement and determination, and announced in unison.

""Leave it to us, boss!""

"I like that attitude." Erik nodded, satisfied, then turned to Clara and instructed in a calm voice.

"Clara, since you're taking the exam, as we discussed, you'll be the leader of my alchemy assistant team. So, I want you to check with the regulation office and see how the recruitment process I scheduled before going to the ruin is going. After that, I need you to prepare my workshop."

"I'll take care of it right away." Clara replied seriously. Erik nodded and turned to look at Sofía, then spoke.

"As for you, Sofía, first, I want you to check on the company I registered, the progress of the few cooperation contracts I signed, and the company offices—they should be ready by now. Also, open a call for hiring administrative staff. For now, I just need help managing my patents, but we also need to start preparing for cooperation with Laura, so keep that in mind."

"Count on me, boss! I'll inform Sage Sánchez, wrap up my current tasks, and handle that."

Sofía replied enthusiastically, clenching her fists with determination. Ever since she realized she had no talent for alchemy or artificery, she had been nervous about whether she could be useful to her boss. So, she was determined to do everything she could to support her boss in his business ambitions, and no one could compete with her for that role.

"Perfect." Erik nodded, satisfied, then asked.

"Oh, by the way, when does Martin's camp end?"

"Next week, boss. Would you like to go see him? On the final day, there'll be a small tournament with a prize to show the progress the participants have made." Sofía quickly asked, full of excitement. Erik nodded and replied with a smile.

"Put it on my schedule."

Sofía nodded happily and prepared to take out a crystal card to start noting it down, but before she could, a professional feminine voice echoed from behind Erik.

"Understood, young master."

Hearing the voice, Erik looked up at the beautiful, perfect maid and asked, somewhat helpless.

"Do you still want to be a maid, Seraphina?"

"I am your personal maid forever and always, young master. That will never change."

Seraphina replied with a meaningful smile as she took out a black-covered notebook and began writing the appointment by hand. Erik let out a small sigh and shook his head, then commented as the pair of spirits chuckled subtly.

"Then you'll have to coordinate with Seraphina."

"Of course, boss." Sofía nodded seriously, then stood up from her seat and bowed respectfully to Seraphina, speaking with seriousness.

"It's an honor to work under your guidance, Lady Ravenspell."

"Later, we'll have a small meeting to coordinate our work for the future."

Seraphina said professionally as she looked at Sofía and Clara, who bowed respectfully to the beautiful maid. Seraphina nodded, satisfied. At that moment, Erik looked at the pair of lovely twins and spoke with a calm expression as the wolves ran in from the garden to jump on him.

"Well, with everything set, you can return to your previous residences, or if you prefer, find another place to live not too far away, since from now on, we're back to work."

Sofía and Clara exchanged a glance and nodded, at which point Sofía looked at Erik and spoke in a serious tone.

"We'll take our old residence, boss."

"Perfect. Then I'll ask someone to help you get your things. I'll get in touch with Laura and Valeria to explain everything." Erik nodded calmly, at which point Clara spoke in a somewhat shy voice.

"Boss, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. A few months ago, Arcane Fenixara offered to take me as her disciple, but I told her I needed your permission first."

Erik couldn't help but widen his eyes slightly as he looked at Clara, a bit surprised, not only because Clara had asked him, but because he could recognize Valeria's style of testing people. Knowing that loudmouth, she likely said it half-seriously and half-jokingly, but her ultimate goal was to test Clara's "loyalty."

Most likely, thanks to that response, Valeria took her education more seriously, and now Clara was ready to take the exam after just a year, something that even surprised him a little. Though, of course, Clara's talent couldn't be overlooked either, something he was fully aware of. The girl had considerable talent, to the point he was sure it was only a matter of time before she became a certified alchemist.

"… Of course, you're free to take her as your master. If the offer still stands, take it. Valeria is a very renowned alchemist and also a university professor, so aside from the typical benefits of having a master, with her, you have a guaranteed spot to study at the university. You just need to pass the exam."

Erik said with a small smile, causing Clara and Sofía to widen their eyes in complete surprise. Amused, Erik explained as he looked at the pair of twins.

"I guess she didn't explain it to you, but university professors have certain benefits, including a quota of spots for their disciples and family members to study at the university exempt from paying tuition. Although, unlike us direct disciples, they still have to take the exam and get a minimum score, it's pretty good."

"Arcane Fenixara didn't mention anything about that…" Clara said, visibly shocked, staring at the floor. Sofía, full of excitement, hugged her sister and congratulated her on the verge of tears.

"Congratulations, Clara! You did it!"

"Are you interested in studying at the university, Sofía?" Erik asked, seeing Sofía's excitement. She turned to look at him, a bit embarrassed, and replied.

"Of course, boss. This year, while working for Sage Sánchez, I could see how incredibly beneficial it is to be a student… They have exclusive rights, connections, learn from the best… Students here are practically first-class citizens, and the rest of us barely qualify as second-class…"

"Oh, it's true that students get preference for housing, discounts, and some other things, but I didn't think it was that extreme…" Erik said, a bit surprised, to which Sofía responded with a somewhat bitter voice.

"Though it might not seem like much, in reality, it's a fundamental difference… Non-students can only aspire to the worst jobs unless we have connections. Plus, paying for things here with mana crystals is at least two or three times more expensive than using credits… Even getting housing is pretty complicated…

"All the non-student workers I met here had no choice but to live in the places their employers provided, which honestly weren't very good, and the list goes on. Though that doesn't mean working here is bad—it's a blessing. You get paid several times more than in other places, so most work a few decades and save up. Once they have enough to pay the tuition, they take the exam."

"I see… If I'm not mistaken, the next exam should be soon, so if you're willing to make the effort to work and study at the same time, I'll lend you the money for the tuition." Erik said with a small smile, causing the twins' eyes to water as they spoke in unison.

""Thank you so much, boss!""

"Don't worry about it. Think of it as an investment on my part."

Erik replied with a calm smile, deeply touching the twins' hearts, who looked at the starry-haired young man as if he were a hero. Meanwhile, Seraphina couldn't help but nod in satisfaction at her young master's actions, but at that moment, she glanced into the void, and a dark portal appeared before her. From it, she took a sealed letter, which she quickly handed to Erik and whispered in his ear.

"Young master, you've just received an official letter from the university administration."

Curious, Erik opened the letter and read it, at which point he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise and soon commented with a somewhat curious expression.

"Looks like I'm going to get a medal…"

"I'll have your formal suit ready, young master." Seraphina quickly said with a professional smile that let slip a hint of pride, while Sofía and Clara looked at Erik with even brighter eyes.

***

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[lordanl]

In the middle of a gray cell densely etched with runes, there sat an old man on the brink of death, his skin clinging to his bones and his long, unkempt hair entirely white. The man stared at the ceiling with his starry eyes, lost in thought, as if reflecting on his entire life within that small, silent cell.

But that silence was soon broken by the sound of firm footsteps approaching. This caused the old man to slowly turn his head toward the energy barrier on the left, from where he could hear the steps. After a few moments, from the darkness emerged a tall, handsome young man with black hair adorned with countless stars and galaxies and emerald-green eyes that gazed forward full of confidence.

Upon seeing the young man, the old man's eyes, which seemed to hold the universe much like the young man's hair, couldn't help but cloud over with a flood of conflicting emotions. Madness, disdain, hatred, fear, regret, and even a hint of nostalgia and affection flickered in the old man's starry gaze. After taking a few steps to stand in front of the cell, the young man remained completely silent, staring at the old man, almost as if studying a strange animal.

"You truly are the spitting image of her… That beautiful hair… Those enchanting eyes… That beauty straight out of a painting… But I don't understand… Why don't I feel the blood connection…?"

The old man broke the silence with a heavy, broken, and somewhat eerie voice, looking the handsome and elegant young man up and down with visible confusion shining in his starry eyes. The young man smiled with a hint of mockery and replied in a cold tone.

"That's obvious. I'm not your son."

"What?! Impossible! You're identical to her!" the old man retorted, full of disbelief. Erik smiled coldly and remarked.

"I did the lineage test. You're not my father."

"Impossible… It was there before… I felt it… The baby was definitely my child… It was my chance… The final ingredient…" The old man muttered, filled with disbelief, anger, and madness. Erik looked at the dying old man with a trace of surprise and commented.

"I originally thought my mother had managed to deceive a decrepit, crazy old man, but it seems it's more complicated than that…"

"No, it can't be… You're identical, the spitting image of her…" The old man kept repeating like a madman, twitching his fingers in a strange manner. Erik looked at the crazy old man with disdain and commented in a cold voice laced with murderous intent.

"You know, I almost lost all desire to kill you when I found out you weren't my father, but you still tried to slaughter me like livestock, so rejoice—someone very much like the woman you raped and murdered will execute you, you filthy rat."

"It's impossible… I was sure… It can't be… It's a trick… It's a plot…"

The old man muttered over and over like a lunatic, but soon his eyes filled with crazed rage. He lunged at the barrier, pounding on it with all his strength while shouting at the top of his lungs, spitting blood in the process.

"It's a lie! You are my son! My ingredient!! You're trying to deceive me!!! I won't allow it!!! You were born to be the final step in my ascension!!!! You belong to me!!!" As the old man screamed and battered the barrier, Erik looked into his starry, madness-filled eyes and commented with a small, playful smile.

"Who would've thought those eyes were the result of a bio-mystic technique? You're really good at keeping secrets. Over 500,000 years of history, and it was never leaked that Eldora Wood was just a byproduct of cultivating a small, unknown fungus—the key ingredient for the potion needed to practice [Gaze of Arkhé]… Truly impressive. No wonder no one could replicate such valuable wood for so long…"

The old man's eyes lost all traces of madness and widened in horror, and soon he whispered in a choked, faint voice.

"How…?"

"How else? Just like you discovered it—on a jade slip in the ruins." Erik replied with a mocking tone, which drove the old man completely insane. He began smashing his head against the barrier and screaming so loudly that his vocal cords tore.

"Liar!!!! You damned liar!!! That's the life's work of my ancestor!!!! Something he sacrificed his life to understand, something only I know!!!! You bastards!!! You read my soul!!!! You read my soul!!!! Damn hypocrites!!! You can't steal my ancestors' legacy!!!! It's mine; it belongs to me!!!! I won't let you take everything from me!!!!"

While the old man screamed and slammed his head and fists against the barrier, blood staining his body yet not even making the barrier tremble a millimeter, Erik turned to leave the dark place. He had a smirk full of mockery on his face. With Erik's departure, the dark space was left with only the maddened voice of the old man, who kept screaming the same rant over and over with all his strength.

…

…

…

"Are you ready to do it, darling?"

In a small but well-furnished and brightly lit living room, Eleonora asked, looking at Erik, who sat with spirits and wolves positioned on different parts of his body beside him. Erik nodded and commented in a calm, slightly cold voice.

"Completely ready. Even if he's not my father, he still tried to kill me, so he deserves to die."

"You're absolutely right, that bastard must die. But I feel like he's going to die too easily."

Ebonique commented with a voice equally charged with murderous intent. Sigrún, sitting on Erik's other side, nodded and added with exasperation while Seraphina restrained the cold light in her eyes, standing behind her young master as the perfect maid she was.

"I agree, a quick death is more than that filthy rat deserves, but there's no other choice. If we don't execute him, he'll still die in a couple of months."

"But Erik, are you sure you don't want to confirm if the royal family of Sylphium Valley is really your family?" Ignis asked with a hint of concern, causing a silence among the others. Erik shook his head and replied.

"Not really. Even if the princess was truly my mother, she's already dead, and all because they handed her over. Regardless of the reason, the fact is they gave her up to her death, so I have no intention whatsoever of meeting them.

"Besides, confirming they're my family would do more harm than good. Those people barely have a Sage-Peak on the verge of death as their strongest force, so I'm sure they'd love to know they have a direct disciple of the Arcane Order as kin."

"That's true. Royal families are never short of opportunists and desperate individuals willing to do anything for benefits, and they're really troublesome." Eleonora commented with a hint of disgust in her expression. Erik nodded calmly while stroking the wolves' heads, at which point a feminine voice sounded from outside the room.

"Everything's ready. It's your time, Erik."

"The moment of truth has arrived."

Eleonora commented in a serious tone and stood up as the door opened, revealing a stunning redhead on the other side. Erik also rose from his seat, while the wolves hid in his shadow and Ebonique and Ignis in his hair, and he spoke in a polite tone.

"Thanks for the heads-up, Master Sunforge."

"Don't be so formal."

Thalia commented with a smile, to which Erik nodded silently before stepping forward toward the guards at the entrance, who guided him to the execution chamber, with Seraphina following closely behind. Once Erik left, Sigrún looked at Thalia and commented with a mocking smile, clicking her tongue in disdain.

"Still single? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Time's running out; you'll be an old maid soon."

"Go to hell, you damn cradle-robber!" Thalia quickly retorted with annoyance, a strange light flashing in her eyes. Sigrún puffed out her chest and replied haughtily.

"Are you sure you want to talk to me like that? I can still tell my darling husband to leave you out of the Eldora Wood business."

"You're getting more repulsive by the day." Thalia replied with irritation, which made Sigrún laugh. She soon started walking toward the exit while commenting in a playful tone.

"Envy really is better to provoke than to feel. What an ugly sight."

"…One of these days, I'm going to kick that smug ass of hers to the end of the galaxy…" Thalia couldn't help but mutter through gritted teeth. Eleonora couldn't hold back a subtle laugh and commented in a calm, elegant voice.

"That's just her way of expressing happiness. She'll get over it with time."

"I hope it's soon…" Thalia muttered through clenched teeth, but soon let out a sigh of exasperation and commented in a strange tone, looking at the elegant and somehow more mature Eleonora.

"… Though, putting that aside, I still can't believe you two actually took that step… It's not an easy thing to do…"

"This whole ruin incident made us realize that life is too unpredictable, and a single misstep can leave us with eternal regret. Faced with the idea of losing the man we love, what others think isn't even worth mentioning." Eleonora commented in a calm voice, but at that moment, a memory came to her mind, causing her to lick her lips seductively and add.

"Besides, after trying it, I felt like a fool. I can't believe I wasted so much time… I should've done it from the very first day…"

After speaking, Eleonora left the room, leaving behind a shocked and curious Thalia, who couldn't help but stare at her friend's back. Now, Eleonora seemed more like a seductress than a troublemaker.

(Is it really that good…?)

As doubt formed in her mind, Thalia couldn't help but let her imagination wander. Upon realizing that the face appearing in her thoughts was that of the young man with green eyes, she quickly shook her head and left the room with a hurried, guilty step.

…

…

…

After parting from his masters, Erik was led to a spacious, well-lit room with walls and a ceiling made entirely of glass, through which a large auditorium filled with people wearing various expressions could be seen. With a calm demeanor, Erik looked at the mad, desperate old man strapped to a sort of hospital bed, who glared at him with bloodshot eyes. The old man undeniably wished for his death with every fiber of his being.

"Today, we gather to carry out the execution of the greatest traitor in recent galactic history. His crimes number in the millions, the worst of which include conspiring with the Virelians and the murder and sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of people…"

A man dressed in black robes that completely covered him, with the only distinguishing mark being an emblem of an ancient balance scale holding a spear embroidered on his chest, spoke in a serious voice. He continued to list the crimes of the mad old man. Meanwhile, Erik looked at the people in the auditorium, noticing that there were no familiar young faces. They were all important figures of the Arcane Order, some known to him and others not.

"… For these crimes, the penalty of immediate execution has been decreed, and it shall be carried out by one of his victims, the direct disciple Erik Verne."

When the man in black finally gave the instruction, two other men dressed in similar embroidered robes, but in a different color, handed Erik a syringe loaded with a strange purple liquid. Taking the syringe, Erik began walking step by step with a calm expression toward the mad old man, who struggled with all his might in vain.

Meanwhile, outside the execution chamber, a beautiful woman with long blue hair and seductive allure, dressed in sensual clothing that maximized her appeal, couldn't help but frown. At that moment, a purple light gleamed in the woman's enchanting blue eyes, focusing entirely on Erik, and a look of horror spread across her face.

In her eyes, the handsome young man with starry hair no longer appeared as a young man, nor even as a human. He looked like a terrifying, bloodthirsty monster struggling against colossal golden chains and shackles to break free. But even more terrifying was that with each step he took toward the mad old man, the chains and shackles began to release one by one, causing an eerie, madness-laden laughter to echo in her mind, making her tremble in her spot.

"Is something wrong?"

At that moment, a man beside the woman, roughly the same age, with the same hair color and quite similar features, asked the seductive woman with a hint of confusion. She turned to look at the man and asked in a low voice, her skin completely covered in goosebumps.

"Don't you hear laughter…?"

"Laughter? No."

The man looked around a bit confused, which made the woman swallow hard and look again at the star-haired young man injecting the poison into the traitor. But although the young man's expression was serious, the woman somehow felt that he was laughing like a madman, full of macabre delight.

Feeling all her danger alarms go off, the woman quickly tried to reach for her staff, but upon seeing a certain pair of notorious troublemakers, she clenched her teeth and returned to rationality. Attacking would only lead to disaster; that pair of troublemakers was insane, and the boy hadn't actually done anything wrong. It was just her, scared of what she could see within him.

Soon, as beads of sweat rolled down the woman's forehead, the traitor finally took his last breath. At that moment, she could see the monster laughing at the sky in sheer delight before fixing its gaze on all those present, hungry for more. But as she clenched her fists, deciding to end this damned monster once and for all before it became truly dangerous, something happened that left her stunned.

The moment the star-haired young man took a step toward the exit, she could see the golden chains and shackles the monster had left behind come to life and imprison it once more. No matter how much the monster struggled and screamed, it was swiftly confined until it disappeared, leaving only a handsome young man with starry hair, one blue eye and one green, with chains and shackles on his neck and limbs.

As she tried to process the impossible scene, the young man with heterochromatic eyes suddenly turned to look at her with curiosity. At that instant, his eyes returned to normal, and the chains vanished. This caused her to panic for a moment, but being an experienced woman, she quickly returned his gaze with playful mischief and winked at him.

At that moment, the pair of troublemakers appeared beside the young man and whisked him away in a flash. Though before they did, the blonde troublemaker didn't forget to send her a warning glance, to which she responded with a scornful smirk. At that moment, the man beside her couldn't help but look at her and ask, somewhat confused.

"Is that boy so interesting that you're willing to provoke Sigrún and Eleonora? You know even I have trouble dealing with those two troublemakers, right?"

"Don't worry, he's quite interesting, but I was just playing a little…" The woman commented in a soft, ambiguous voice, though internally, her mind replayed the almost magical scene she had witnessed over and over.

…

…

…

"Why were you looking at that vixen?" In the elevator of the tallest building on the university planet, Sigrún couldn't help but ask with an annoyed pout while looking at Erik, who replied in a calm voice.

"Because the Myst around her was acting a bit strange. I've never felt anything like it."

"The Myst was acting strange? How?" Eleonora couldn't help but ask, curious. Erik nodded and replied in a reflective tone.

"I don't know how to explain it, but it was odd… It was somewhat similar to how I use Myst to enhance my perception, but at the same time, it was different and quite subtle…"

"That vixen can enhance her perception with Myst? I never noticed anything strange about the Myst around her…" Sigrún asked curiously, completely forgetting her earlier annoyance. Erik shook his head and replied thoughtfully.

"I'm not sure, but that's the closest thing I can find to describe it…"

"Is it like the resonance of Myst with affinities?" Eleonora asked, visibly curious, since it would have to be something similar to go unnoticed by them but not by Erik. The star-haired young man nodded thoughtfully.

"It was similar only in how subtle it was, but not much else."

"How curious… What is that vixen hiding?" Sigrún brought her hand to her chin and murmured to herself, at which point Seraphina announced in a calm, professional voice.

"We're arriving."

"Erik, we're about to meet Brigid, the highest authority of the Arcane Order. She played a vital role in your rescue at the ruins. When you meet her, stay alert and mind your manners." Eleonora quickly commented in a serious tone, snapping Erik out of his thoughts. Sigrún sharpened her gaze and added with similar seriousness.

"That woman is quite strict and likes to exaggerate, so avoid talking too much."

"She sounds pretty terrifying…" Erik couldn't help but comment with a hint of surprise at seeing how cautious his beautiful masters seemed.

"She is… We learned a thing or two from her and suffered quite a bit at her hands…" Sigrún couldn't help but comment in a cautious voice, to which Eleonora nodded solemnly. Erik wanted to keep asking questions, but before he could, the elevator doors opened.

Soon, Erik entered the most important meeting room of the University, where he found an imposing woman with crimson hair and bright orange eyes, strikingly similar to Thalia. Immediately, Erik performed a formal bow and prepared to greet her, but at that moment, the stunning redhead looked at Sigrún and Eleonora and spoke with a dangerous light gleaming in her eyes.

"Seems like you two still enjoy talking behind people's backs…"

Sigrún and Eleonora trembled slightly under the woman's gaze but quickly returned it with fierceness, at which point Erik finally greeted her in a serious, formal tone.

"Direct disciple Erik Verne presents himself."

"I've been wanting to meet you for a while, Erik. I'm Brigid, wife of Lysander and chief justice of the court. By the way, don't believe what these two troublemakers say. I simply taught them some manners they didn't quite learn well." Brigid commented with a smile, to which Erik quickly bowed again and spoke.

"It's a pleasure to meet such an important figure of our Arcane Order."

"Come, sit. Let's talk a bit." Brigid commented with a calm smile, to which Erik nodded and walked toward the table with his masters and maid.

***

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[lordanl]

"I heard everything you did in the ruin, Erik. I was truly pleasantly surprised by your actions. You are a very brave and intelligent man." Once Erik sat down, Brigid commented with a calm smile. Erik quickly replied in a formal tone.

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Excellency. I simply did what I could to minimize the damage, but ultimately, it was thanks to your efforts that I am here."

"Don't be so humble; you did very well. Especially with all those jade slips you retrieved and that bio-mystic technique, your merits will not go unnoticed." Brigid commented calmly, prompting Erik to ask curiously.

"Your Excellency, was anything obtained from those jade slips?"

"Yes, several bio-mystic techniques and research notes about the ruin and the basilisk. But undoubtedly, the most valuable was the method to create subspaces to replicate the properties of the ruin, modifying the environment to cultivate different magical plants in the same place. Thanks to you, humanity will undoubtedly enter another phase of rapid development." Brigid explained with a calm smile, surprising Erik as well as Sigrún and Eleonora, who were unaware of this.

"I didn't do it alone, Your Excellency."

"Don't worry, I know. Everyone will receive the recognition they deserve." Brigid replied, visibly satisfied, before casually looking at Erik and asking.

"Leaving that aside, since you are a victim, I would like to hear your opinion on how far the war with the Virelians should escalate. Do you think we should start a total war?"

Hearing the casual yet unimaginably significant question, Erik couldn't help but pause for a moment and discreetly glance at his masters, who nodded subtly. After reflecting for a few moments, Erik spoke seriously.

"…I don't think that's the best decision, Your Excellency. While it's certainly necessary to show strength and strike a hard blow, if it's not possible to conquer the Virelian's galaxy in one fell swoop, it's better not to prolong the war. Ultimately, humanity is divided, so anything could happen, and our Arcane Order would be greatly affected if a total war breaks out.

"Unlike the other factions, our prosperity comes from trade, and war, contrary to what many say, is not good for business. After all, in wars, only a few get rich while the rest suffer. Meanwhile, now that we have the chance to develop such revolutionary technology as the subspaces you mentioned, it's best to focus on that and build our strength."

"An interesting opinion. I thought hatred would blind you and make you want to destroy the Virelians for what they did to you." Brigid commented with a smile, analyzing Erik closely, who replied calmly.

"The culprits must certainly die, but that doesn't mean we should jump into a pit of fire. They say revenge is a dish best served cold, and given how things are progressing, it's only a matter of time before we can overwhelm the Virelians. Those guys are like the other factions, stuck with no possibility of advancement, while we improve every day."

Erik's response made Brigid's smile widen slightly, and she quickly commented, somewhat amused.

"Are you suggesting that our Order will become the dominant faction of humanity?"

"We won't become it, Your Excellency; we already are. Though we have the smallest population and inhabited territory, we surpass the other factions in every possible aspect. We are the leading economic and military power in the galaxy. The only reason the major factions still hold some power is because of their Legend levels." Erik commented with a small smile, then subtly glanced at his beautiful masters and maid before adding.

"But it's only a matter of time before that changes…"

"Hahaha, well said!" Brigid commented, cheerful and satisfied, at which point Erik couldn't help but frown and look Brigid up and down with an expression of confusion and curiosity.

"What's wrong?" Brigid couldn't help but ask upon seeing Erik's strange expression, who soon commented somewhat uncertainly.

"…It's nothing, Your Excellency. It's just that the Myst suddenly behaved strangely around you for a moment."

"Oh, you noticed? What did you feel?" Brigid asked with an interested look. Erik nodded and commented thoughtfully.

"Yes, for a moment, the Myst became quite restless… It felt somehow angry and strict… It was a strange sensation."

"Angry and strict? What an interesting description…" Brigid murmured curiously, at which point Erik muttered while reflecting deeply.

"Perhaps I could help with that…"

"You can help? What do you mean?"

Brigid couldn't help but ask, both confused and curious, while Sigrún, Eleonora, and Seraphina visibly tensed. Erik quickly pulled out an old-looking gas lamp from his storage ring and commented.

"I believe this artifact I obtained in the ruin will be of great help."

The moment the artifact appeared, the Myst in the area immediately changed, greatly facilitating a connection with it. Brigid studied the shift in the Myst for a bit but soon shook her head and commented with a calm smile.

"It's certainly a remarkable artifact, but something like this isn't enough to help me, though it will be very useful for less severe situations than mine…"

As she spoke, Brigid noticed the concentration of Myst beginning to increase significantly, and by the end of her words, all the Myst started organizing itself around Erik. Brigid couldn't help but marvel at how the Myst arranged itself like a disciplined soldier around Erik, who commented with a smile.

"I think there's a chance. Is there any issue if I run a test?"

"Go ahead, then." Brigid commented, visibly curious, and relaxed her control over her mind and mana, causing significant changes in the Myst.

Filled with surprise, Erik felt the Myst beginning to struggle to break free from his control, seeming quite angry in his senses, as if it had been insulted somehow. Managing to control his emotions, Erik sharpened his gaze, and his hair soon began to rise while the glow of stars and galaxies in it intensified several times over.

"Will Imposition?!"

Noticing that the 'killing intent' she usually felt from the Myst almost completely vanished, Brigid couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. At that moment, Erik's hair returned to normal, and he murmured with a hint of disappointment.

"It's really complicated… In my current state, it's not viable."

"You're truly impressive… How did you manage to impose your will through the Myst?" Brigid asked with a solemn expression, prompting Erik to murmur in surprise.

"Impose my will…? I see, it certainly feels like that… Taking control by force."

"Was it something you obtained in the ruin?" Brigid asked with a glint in her eyes, as there was nothing like it in what had been submitted from the ruin. Erik nodded and explained.

"Yes, in a complicated situation, the Myst guided me toward this strange technique. It's quite complex and puts a significant strain on my mana system. It was the use of this technique combined with another I developed myself that allowed me to use all my mana at once while regenerating it with the Myst, which enabled me to survive, though the damage was quite severe."

Hearing the explanation, Sigrún, Eleonora, and Seraphina frowned and quickly placed their hands on Erik to examine him while casting reproachful looks. Brigid widened her eyes in surprise, finally finding the answer to a mystery she had wanted to resolve later in the conversation.

According to the testimonies, Erik had somehow managed to face an Illuminated-Peak and deflect his attacks on his own, while over a hundred young geniuses could barely weaken them. Though the rescued youths had concluded that Erik had resorted to a forbidden technique to temporarily boost his power, she knew it wasn't that simple. No ordinary technique would allow an Ascended to confront an Illuminated.

"The Myst guided you…?" Brigid asked with a heavy voice, to which Erik nodded.

"Yes, it was the same for the bio-mystic technique I practice."

"…You're truly a monster, Erik Verne."

Brigid couldn't help but comment with a heavy voice, causing Sigrún and Eleonora's expressions to fill with pride as they even looked at Brigid with slight arrogance, who soon added in a serious tone.

"I recommend you avoid using that technique at least until the Revealed level, preferably not attempting it until the Illuminated level. Imposing your will through the Myst is not something your current body and spirit can withstand. It would even be a heavy burden for an Illuminated, let alone for you."

"I see… I'll keep that in mind. My apologies for not being of help, Your Excellency." Erik nodded with a calm expression before storing the lamp. Brigid shook her head and commented with a smile.

"Your method actually has good potential to work. If you could hold steady for at least a month without stopping, I could overcome my current situation."

"In the ruin, I could barely sustain it for a few minutes before suffering severe damage… A full month won't be possible for me for a long time…" Erik commented with a disappointed expression, prompting Brigid to smile calmly and say.

"But your lamp and the way you can increase the concentration of Myst can be of great help to me. If you're willing, I may call upon you in the near future to assist me, as I have a treatment method, and you'll be of great help. Of course, you'll be generously rewarded for your efforts."

"You can count on me, Your Excellency. I still owe you my life, so my intention is to help with whatever I can."

Erik replied in a serious and formal tone, giving a small bow. Brigid nodded, visibly satisfied, before looking at Eleonora and Sigrún with an expression of disdain and reproach. Truly, the disciple had surpassed his masters in terms of manners and composure, nothing like that troublesome pair.

Receiving Brigid's piercing gaze, Eleonora and Sigrún quickly looked away, refusing to meet her eyes. Brigid could only sigh before looking at Erik with satisfaction and commenting.

"Then I'll count on you, Erik Verne. For now, you may return. You still need to prepare for the awards ceremony for your achievements."

Erik quickly stood up and bid farewell with a formal bow before leaving the place with his beautiful masters and maid. Meanwhile, Brigid couldn't help but smile as she watched Erik's back leave the room.

(He really was just as you described him, Lysander. He does have similarities to Tal'veren, but he's not as extreme… Besides, his love for the Arcane Order you and I created is evident… It seems we really did make the right decision back then and did a great job…)

…

…

…

In a massive auditorium, decorated with the most valuable materials showcasing unparalleled wealth and opulence, dozens of thousands of formally dressed individuals watched a group of 15 young people on the stage. The youths, under three hundred years old and possessing unmatched beauty and power for their age, sat proudly behind a long table as an elegant man listed their achievements.

"…For all these merits, these young individuals will be honored today with the Medal of Honor, one of the highest recognitions the Human Alliance has to offer, awarded by the supreme general of the Alliance army, Admiral General Cassius J. Rook."

With the announcement, a wave of applause echoed through the hall as a tall, thin man with short, neatly combed ash-gray hair and cold, analytical blue eyes, dressed in an elegant black military general's uniform, stepped onto the stage. With a bearing befitting his position, the man took medal after medal and began pinning them on the chests of the youths, who radiated pride.

"May your example light the path for an entire generation. Humanity will rest in hands like yours."

Once all the youths had their medals on their chests, filled with pride, General Cassius gave a few simple words before stepping aside, prompting another wave of applause. At that moment, the master of ceremonies stepped forward to speak in a serious tone.

"Such high honors demand an even greater truth. Behind every collective feat, there often beats the heart and mind of a single visionary. Today, we recognize the architect of this rescue. The youngest member of the expedition, whose leadership, unyielding ingenuity, and courage under fire were the beacon that brought more than half of the youths home. With the highest honor, I present to you Erik Verne."

With the master of ceremonies' announcement, a loud wave of applause began, and from a side entrance to the podium, a young man with green eyes and hair adorned with stars and galaxies entered. As the elegant youth walked with a firm and calm step to the center of the podium, one by one, the dozens of thousands of people began to stand while clapping. Soon, not a single person remained seated in the colossal auditorium, all giving a standing ovation to the brave young man.

In the front row, Sigrún, Eleonora, Seraphina, Liliana, Desmond, Laura, the López siblings, Valeria and her husband, along with Thalia and Jessica, applauded with pride, looking at the star-haired youth who stood before the audience and gave a small formal bow. Meanwhile, on stage, the youths clapped louder than anyone, filled with gratitude and relief as they looked at the star-haired young man.

This was especially true for the direct disciples of the Arcane Order and Chen Ming, who could barely hold back their tears upon finally seeing him again, standing tall, full of strength and vitality. Though in the case of Elara and Zoe, the tears were stronger, and they had to stop clapping to wipe them away.

Once Erik received his medal, he was guided to the main position to speak. As he scanned the front row, he could see his beautiful masters and his maid looking at him with pride, their eyes filled with tears. Taking a deep breath, Erik looked out at the entire auditorium and began to speak with a firm and determined voice.

"This honor was not born in the void of that desperate escape. It is the culmination of a collaborative effort. First, my team, whose courage and faith were the foundation of our escape. Without them, no plan, however ingenious, would have mattered. But even before them, there are those who planted the seed.

"My masters, Sigrún Eldurdóttir, Eleonora Silverwood, and my loyal maid, Seraphina Ravenspell, were the ones who had the heart and infinite patience to take in an illiterate orphan stranded on an island and guide him, culminating in who I am today. Without them and without every person along the way who supported, guided, and taught me, I would still be stranded on a remote island, unable to even read.

"That's why this merit belongs more to them than to me. To those who trusted when there was no reason to, who protected and pushed me forward. Today, I would like to ask you to honor, with your applause, the true architects of this moment. The heroines to whom I owe absolutely everything. Thank you. Only because of you am I here today."

As he finished speaking, Erik began to clap toward the front row, closely followed by the 15 decorated youths behind him and finally by the entire auditorium, causing tears to escape Eleonora's eyes. Sigrún lifted her chin with pride, trying to hold back her tears on the verge of falling, and Seraphina looked at her young master with a gaze full of pride and affection.

Meanwhile, without exception, all the prominent figures present couldn't help but look at the famous troublemaking duo of the Arcane Order with complicated expressions. It truly seemed that this pair of beauties were blessed by fate, not only possessing unparalleled talents, the best opportunities, and devastating power.

But now, even their shared disciple was a monster even more terrifying than them and someone grateful and filial enough to set himself aside, relinquishing all honor and attention from himself to honor his masters. Something they doubted their own disciples would be willing to do—after all, even they weren't sure they could do something similar. This inevitably left everyone with the same thought floating in their heads.

(The universe really does have its favorites…)

 

[lordanl]

Hello everyone, with this Volume 3 comes to an end. It was a long and exhausting journey. I really don't plan on ever writing two novels at the same time again, much less novels this long.

When I started writing, I had no idea what writing a novel actually meant, and I imagined this novel as a 9-volume saga that would build out a universe which would later let me tell more stories. How ignorant I was back then; it took me 2 years just to finish three volumes, and I don't even want to imagine how long something like that would take me.

In any case, it was a fun journey and it was the first time I took a hobby this seriously, but these days I have a lot of work and I can't keep going. So I'm going to take a break to finish the other novel I'm writing, and if by that time there are still people who want to read a new volume, I'll try to write it.

In any case, thank you so much for all the support; it was truly a pleasure writing for all of you.

PS: Chapter 125.5 was left free on Patreon, an R-18 chapter I wrote as fanservice. I wrote it in a way where skipping it doesn't affect anything, and I didn't post it here because I don't want problems.

 

[Cend]

As others have mentioned, the SFW side of this site gets much less attention, to the point were most SFW stories get posted in the NSFW part.

That said the writing improved tremendously over time. The beginning was pretty rough, with lots (too many for my taste) of "beautiful" and "mystical", and could use an editing pass.
In my opinion the story suffers somewhat from Gary Stu syndrome. For a first attempt at a bigger story it's still very respectable.