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Chapter 370: A Brief Reprieve
🕑 Added 2022-01-21 18:00:09 +0000 UTCARTHUR
I knocked lightly at the door before pushing it open and peering inside. A round-cheeked woman glanced up at me, nodded, then returned to caring for her patient.
Seth lay in a bed, wrapped in bandages, every inch of exposed skin shiny with healing ointments. The woman was passing some kind of rod-shaped device over his torso, treating his multiple broken ribs, fractured pelvis, and dislocated hip.
‘Tough kid,’ Regis said. ‘I thought he was done for.’
Yeah, well, that kind of grit probably runs in his blood, I sent back. His sister probably showed the same.
‘Sure, sure, let’s blame these kids for what Agrona made their friends and family do. Totally fair, because they definitely could have resisted his will, right? What a bunch of pussies.’
I sighed. We’ve had this conversation already, Regis. I was just being petty, and I recognize that.
‘Don’t sweet talk me like one of your princesses, Princess,’ Regis said with a snort.
There wasn’t anything I could do for Seth, and so I returned to the staging area, where I’d left Briar and Aphene in charge. As I opened the door, I was met with Briar’s bellowing over the cacophony of my overexcited class.
“Would you all be quiet! We have a guest—oh, Professor Grey…”
Briar looked from me to Director Ramseyer, who had just entered from the combat field, looking unusually relaxed, even bemused. “Don’t be too hard on our championship team,” he said. “It’s only natural they’re excited, considering. Which is why I’m here, of course, to say a few words. If you don’t mind, Professor Grey?”
I motioned for him to continue.
The director waited for the last few chatting students to quiet. “What a treat that was to watch,” he said, beaming around at the students. “Congratulations to each and every one of you for such an impressive performance during the tournament, and of course an exceptional job done by our tournament champion, Lady Enola of Highblood Frost.”
Cheers and applause burst out of the students, but it tapered off quickly as the director looked on expectantly.
“Additionally, I’d like to recognize Marcus of Highblood Arkwright and Valen of Highblood Ramseyer, who both performed up to the high standards of their bloods, going farthest in this tournament aside from our champion!”
Another round of applause, though I also caught a few exasperated looks at the director’s unsubtle calling out of his own grandson. Valen seemed oblivious, practically radiating pleasure at his grandfather’s compliment.
“And of course,” Director Ramseyer went on, “we can’t forget your injured classmates, Seth of Highblood Milview and Yanick of Blood Farshore. I hope you will pass along both my sympathy and my pride when you see them later.”
Shortly after Seth’s barely-won victory against the club-fisted kid from Bloodrock Academy, Yanick’s leg was broken by a careless opponent, but they were the only major injuries. Central Academy became a standout in the tournament after that, putting up a better win percentage than any other academy present.
The students had grown more wild and boisterous with each passing round, and had rushed out onto the combat field in a frenzy when Enola ultimately won the championship. I found myself in a strange position, unable to ignore my part in their success. It was my training that brought them to this point, after all. And knowing that instilled me with pride, but also guilt.
And so, instead of giving these kids the positive reinforcement they needed, I had stepped back, steering my thoughts toward my plan for the Victoriad, eventually excusing myself entirely, using Seth’s injury as an excuse to get a few minutes alone in the relative quiet of the underworks while my mixed emotions cooled.
“Now,” Director Ramseyer said, clapping his hands together, “with today’s events wrapping up, I’m sure you are all eager for a moment to rest your bodies and relax your minds, and so I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Professor Grey and his assistants. Again, well done everyone, well done!”
The director made a point to shake my hand as he left, the students buzzing with tired conversation in the background. “To you, Professor Grey, I must also extend my congratulations. Melee Enhancement Tactics has never exactly been our school’s priority, I’m afraid, but look at what you’ve accomplished with them.” His normally severe expression gave way to a wide grin. “And to think I nearly had you replaced. Hah!”
Shaking his head, he made his way out of the staging area, and I clearly heard him mutter, “Oh, I can’t wait to rub this in the other directors’ noses at supper this evening.”
Briar and Aphene were watching me, waiting. I gave them a nod.
“Listen up!” Briar shouted. “We’re headed to our rooms. No dallying, no straying. You all look like you’ve had sixteen shades of shit kicked out of you already, but don’t think for a second that I won’t kick sixteen more out of anyone who feels like screwing around.”
Biting back a smirk, I followed behind, only half keeping an eye on the group.
“Everyone should have your room numbers already,” Aphene said when we reached the hall where we’d been provided rooms. “If you forgot your number, then I guess you’ll have to sleep in the hallway.”
“I know most of you are eager to sneak out of your rooms and hang out with friends,” I added. “All I have to say is…just don’t get caught.”
There were a few appreciative chuckles at this, and even Aphene cracked a smile, but Briar only rolled her eyes and shot me an exasperated look. The line then broke apart as students began hunting for their rooms.
With my professorial duties absolved, I entered into the quiet confines of my little chamber and closed the door behind me.
Regis immediately hopped out of my body and sniffed around. “Not exactly a castle, is it?”
The accommodations provided for visiting students and professors were sufficient, if somewhat spartan. We were given rooms in the coliseum itself, and had been invited to stay for the rest of the event, which consisted of another day of wargames and duels between high-ranking ascenders.
It wasn’t until the third and final day of the Victoriad that the retainers and Scythes would accept challenges for their positions. If Nico was going to take my bait, it would be on the third day. Until then…
Reaching into my extradimensional storage rune, I conjured out the last keystone I had received. It had been a long and mentally taxing day, and what I really needed was to meditate and focus my mind.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed with the keystone between my knees, I closed my eyes, but didn’t imbue the relic with aether. Instead, I waited. My brief training session with Enola and the keystone had shown me that what I really needed to make progress with the relic’s insight was help.
A couple of minutes passed before the knock at my door came.
“Come in.”
The door opened and Caera entered, looking frazzled around the edges. She’d spend the last couple rounds of the student tournament with her blood in their private box at Corbett’s request.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “Lenora trapped me in a very uncomfortable conversation with a young Vritra-blooded man who has been fostered out to some highblood in Sehz-Clar.”
“Ah,” I said, adjusting my position and gesturing to my room’s single chair sitting at the foot of the bed. “Is there a potential betrothal in your future, Lady Caera?”
“No, Professor Grey, but that won’t stop Lenora from trying.” Caera fell into the chair with a huff, then gave me a more serious look. “So what did you want to discuss? Finally planning on telling me what this mysterious plan is?”
“No,” I admitted, giving her an apologetic smile. “Actually, I need your help with something.”
She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, giving me a suspicious look. “Oh really?” Her focus moved to the keystone. “Something to do with that thing, I assume?”
I spent a couple minutes explaining what I wanted her to do, after which she adjusted her chair and got a little more comfortable.
“So, just…?”
“Exactly,” I answered.
She closed her eyes. Warmth radiated from her body, and although I couldn’t sense her mana, I could still feel the physical effects it caused. A faint movement in the air dislodged a lock of her hair, which fell in front of her face. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she focused. Her eyes flicked around beneath her closed lids, which were lightly painted a smoky gray color for the Victoriad.
“Thank you, Caera,” I said, closing my own eyes and pushing aether into the keystone, letting my consciousness follow. As before, beyond the wall of purple energy I found only the empty black nothing of the keystone realm.
The darkness was alive in the presence of Caera’s mana, shifting and moving. Drifting through the dark, I watched the rhythmic dance happening inside the inky blackness carefully, taking note of every aspect I could think of.
For some time—fifteen minutes, assuming Caera followed my instructions, but the time seemed to last much longer inside the relic—the movement took on vertical striations that jumped and writhed like flames on a log.
Then the movements shifted, gaining a jagged, cutting edge, their movements erratic and difficult to quantify, like the many disparate shapes—each still a part of the whole—were waging a sudden and violent war on each other.
This didn’t last as long before the shape of the motion changed again, now subtle streams, both flowing and radiating outward, like a river of lava and the intense heat it gave off.
At each step, I practiced forming aether in a variety of ways, attempting to cause some kind of reaction in the colorless motion of the keystone realm. Lashing whips, cutting arcs, shaped bursts, and even a rough spade-shaped aetheric form that I dragged through the blackness, but nothing affected my surroundings.
Nothing worked.
Whatever this puzzle was, I lacked something essential—whether understanding or ability—to navigate it…
Cold sweat dampened my forehead at a sudden, chilling realization, and I backed out of the keystone, my eyes snapping open.
Caera was sitting in the chair, currently channeling mana throughout her body to enhance her physical abilities. Her eyes were open, and she’d been staring at me. She jumped slightly and cut off channeling her mana. “I wasn’t expecting—”
“Here,” I said, handing over the keystone.
She hesitated, looking at it as though it might explode.
I unfolded from my sitting position and moved to the end of the bed. Taking her hand in my own, I set the keystone in her palm, then wrapped both my hands around hers, cupping the keystone in the middle.
“I’m going to channel aether into the keystone,” I explained. “I need you to tell me what you see…assuming this works.”
“Um, okay, are you—” Her words cut off in a surprised gasp as I started.
Caera’s eyes snapped shut and her body stiffened. “I see…a huge, ethereal wall…like I’m approaching the edge of the world.”
Maneuvering by practice and instinct, I guided her consciousness deeper into the keystone realm.
“I’m moving through, it’s all purple, a hundred different shades…and it’s warm. It feels like—” She gasped again, this time even louder. “Light guide me…it’s mana. I can see it! All the colors…the whole world in here is made up of mana, shaped by it. What is this, Grey? What am I seeing?”
I jumped out of the bed, swiftly pacing the short distance to the wall and back, my stomach clenching uncomfortably.
The keystone has something to do with mana, we’d already learned as much. Only, Caera can see mana particles within the keystone, but it looks like a black void to me, which means…what?
I don’t have a mana core, but the presence of a mana core doesn’t allow a mage to see mana particles. Sense them, yes, but I needed to activate Sylvia’s beast will and the power of Realmheart to see the mana directly, even before my core was destroyed.
‘So why is it all endless darkness and creepy ink-monster ripples when you go in there?’ Regis asked from where he had curled up in the corner.
My lack of a mana core must be preventing me from properly sensing whatever it is the keystone is trying to show me, I answered, looking down at the cuboid relic resting in Caera’s hand, still drawing on my aether to keep it open and her mind submerged within. The ripples in the dark, they’re obviously caused by the mana itself moving, but that doesn’t make sense…unless it's a manifestation of the mana’s effects, like the heat coming off Caera’s body as she channeled fire mana.
‘Maybe it’s sort of like when you see a heat haze rising off a sun-baked stone. The mana is moving, causing a change in the environment, and, you know, interrupting the sensory information you receive.’ Regis rolled over, burying his face in the pillow from my bed, which he must have stolen when I wasn’t looking. ‘But the fact that you can sense something in there, anything at all, is a good sign, right?’
I leaned against the wall as I considered this, wondering what mechanism of the keystone and whatever insight it contained allowed me to sense the movement of mana, even if I wasn’t seeing it. The realm within the relic was aetheric in nature, and there wasn’t any natural light, so Regis’s comparison to a hot stone didn’t quite fit the picture I had in my head. It was more like…
…the reflection of water seen from the outside of the glass. My mind reached far back to before the war, when Lady Myre had first explained aether to me. “Aether makes up the building blocks the world is made of, while mana is what fills it with life and sustenance.” She compared aether to a cup, and mana to the water that fills it. But if water changes shape, it doesn’t alter the cup in any way. Or…does it?
‘Okay, you’re losing me. Aren’t the dragons a little behind the times on aether art stuff?’ The wolf let out a rumbling chuckle. ‘Aether “Art” stuff. Haha, get it?’
The keystone realm itself is aetheric in nature, only housing mana within. I can’t see the mana, but somehow my connection with the aether is letting me sense its movement. At least when it is reacting to outside stimulus, which must cause stronger fluctuations.
“Grey?” Caera’s voice was a quiet, nervous whisper, making me realize I’d been quiet for some time.
“Sorry,” I said immediately, “I was just thinking. Do you mind staying in there for a bit? There are a few more things I’d like to try.”
“Are you kidding me?” Caera grinned. “This is amazing. It’s…beautiful. Imagine seeing the world like this all the time?”
I smiled sadly, but pushed thoughts of Realmheart and Sylvia’s beast will away.
There was work to do.
TESSIA ERALITH
Cold wind caressed my cheek and brushed a stray strand of my gunmetal gray hair behind my ear. It danced around me, carrying a little flurry of snow that spun outward with every twist and dip to drift down toward the fortress of Taegrin Caelum below.
“Weak.”
I rubbed hard at the point on my chest where Grey’s blade had pierced me…in a different life, a different body, and yet now that I had the memory of it, it was like I could feel the scar of the old wound.
“I had expected more from you.”
The wind swirled inward, tugging at my blouse like it wanted me to dance too. So high above Agrona’s fortress, the air was frigid and clear, and eager to feel the touch of mana.
Mountains stretched as far as I could see in every direction. Clouds gathered on the horizon—fluffy-gray and full of snow—but otherwise the huge sky was crystal blue. Cold but inviting.
“I’m the better contender.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push away those last moments of my life, which had now replayed over and over in my mind for days…weeks? Time moved strangely in Taegrin Caelum, like the turning of the world meant little to the fortress or its ruler.
“If I have to leave you and Nico behind to achieve my goal, I will.”
Those had been his last real words to me, this person who was supposed to be my friend. Before he had plunged his sword through my chest. And Nico had watched it happen.
That was my last memory. Turning my head to see Nico, ringed in a halo of light, half-obscured by clouds of dust, his face frozen in a tortured mask as he arrived too late to help…
I let out a shuddering sigh.
No wonder he is the way he is.
I shook away the thought. It wasn’t Nico’s fault. All I had to do was die and wake up, but Nico…his path had been much longer, much more painful.
Being forced to remember my own death had put me into a fugue for days, and even after that it took days more to return to myself. After taking so long to adjust to my new body—my body—being trapped in my rooms again had felt like prison, like torture. I’d already lived one life of imprisonment, in which I’d never been allowed to be myself, to live for myself, make choices for myself.
But how is serving Agrona any different?
“I will make it different,” I told the dancing wind. “I will control my own fate.”
I released my hold on the magic that made me fly.
My body twisted in the air until I was staring down at the fortress. The air thinned ahead of me while blowing hard from behind, sending me hurtling at a break-neck pace downward. Taegrin Caelum, small as a child’s toy only an instant ago, rushed toward me, expanding to engulf my vision.
I turned suddenly, my body aching from the force, and flew through my open balcony doors with enough speed that they slammed shut behind me. The door into the maze of hallways jumped open just before I would have smashed through it, responding to my will, and I hurtled along the castle corridors with dangerous speed.
When I stopped, the sudden burst of wind my passage created sent a stuffed mana beast tumbling off it’s wide plinth to crash down the hallway. I winced, not having meant to cause any damage, but there was also a small part of me that felt vindictive pleasure in the act.
I knocked on Nico’s door, but there was no answer. Earth mana lingered in the heavy metal lock, and it jumped to the side at my command, allowing the door to swing open.
My feet drifted up off the floor and I flew into the room. It was dark, empty, and absent of warmth…
Nico wasn’t there.
There was only one other person in Taegrin Caelum I could talk to, really, and so I left Nico’s room, flying off his balcony and around the edge of the fortress. I stopped, hovering in the air as a set of balcony doors high in the wall of Agrona’s private wing pushed outward as if to welcome me.
Each time we met, it was like I was seeing Agrona for the first time.
His horns were empty of ornamentation, his usual fine clothes replaced by dark leather pants and a simple white tunic that hung casually off his lithe form, the top buttons undone to expose his chest and allow the runic tattoos that covered it to peek through. His marble skin shimmered in the cold mid-morning light, or perhaps that was the strength of his mana shining through his body from his core, which burned like a miniature sun within his sternum.
“Feeling better?” he asked, feigning a casual air. “I was just thinking of you. Draneeve said you missed your last assessment. I…” His head cocked slightly to the side, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. “What is weighing so heavily on your mind, Cecil?”
I met his brilliantly scarlet eyes—this being who was closer to god than man—and lifted my chin. “I’ve had a lot of time to consider everything you’ve shown me, Agrona, and I need to tell you something.”
His smile was kindly, but carried the confidence of a conqueror. Whatever I had to say, I knew he would listen, but he wouldn’t be bent or broken by it.
“I won’t be your weapon,” I continued, my voice carrying on the wind. “Or your tool. I want to be able to make my own choices, to have a life, not just to be alive.”
Agrona’s shrug was perfectly casual. “Of course, Cecil. Your life is your own.” He gave me a charming, warm-hearted, understanding smile that made it difficult to remember what I wanted to say. “I would ask you inside to discuss this further, but honestly I love the drama of you flying there, face like carved ice, ready to make demands.”
He’s lying, of course.
I drew in a deep breath and the mana all around us swelled outward like it was a part of me. The air warmed, water vapor solidified and began to fall as wet flakes of snow, even the stones of Taegrin Caelum groaned.
“Tell me the truth.”
Agrona stepped farther out onto the balcony. His eyes closed and he sniffed at the wind, filling his lungs with it. “Power,” he said, his voice a booming whisper. “Raw and impossible.”
Opening his eyes, he held out a hand to catch some of the snowflakes. “Would I repeat the mistakes of those fools who caged you in your last life? Suppressing your potential by constraining you, trying to control you? I hope I do not strike you as foolish.”
“But you did something similar to Nico,” I pointed out, holding in the tremor that would have wracked my body at Agrona’s casual mention of the many years of imprisonment and torture—in the guise of training—I went through in my last life. “He—”
“Isn’t the Legacy,” Agrona said easily. “Although…what he endured for you, just for the chance to stand by you again…Nico was weak and powerless as he watched Grey take your life. Unable to do anything, anything at all. He was willing to endure any pain to bring you back and keep you safe, no matter the cost to himself.”
Agrona inspected me closely. “But Nico is not what you’re here to talk about, is he? I’m not lying when I say your choices are your own, but there is something you need to know.”
He paused when a bird flew right past me to settle on the balcony rail. It tapped its beak on the metal, issuing a hollow clang, and ruffled its shiny black and red feathers. Agrona held out his hand, which was suddenly full of seeds. The creature hopped from the rail into his palm and began to eat, fanning its four wings.
“It’s…beautiful,” I said, momentarily distracted.
“You won’t find them anywhere else in Alacrya,” Agrona mused, watching the bird peck at the seeds. “They come from Epheotus, native only to the precipitous cliff sides of Mount Geolus. I had some brought here, long ago, when…”
Agrona’s features grew intense as he trailed off. Suddenly his fingers closed like a cage around the bird. It gave a frightened squawk and began to flap around in his hand and peck futilely at his fingers.
“They are out of place here, just like you,” he said, his intense gaze on the bird. “You are in danger, Cecil, and you will be until the war is won and the Indrath Clan is thrown from their mountain.”
“Why?” I asked, unable to take my eyes from the bird, a strong sense of foreboding making my stomach lurch.
“Unlike the Vritra, who pride ourselves on exploring the unknown, the rest of the asura clans are terrified of it. If they were ever to get their hands on you…”
His eyes drifted away from the bird to meet my own, and I felt myself drawn into them, like staring down the caldera of an active volcano. I could feel him riffling around in my mind like he was flipping the pages of a book. But instead of feeling like a violation, there was a warmth and comfort to it, like having him in there with me meant I wasn’t alone.
But you aren’t alone, Cecilia.
His hand closed. The bird gave a muffled shriek, which was immediately replaced by the crunching of small, hollow bones. When Agrona’s hand opened again, the beautiful creature was little more than bent feathers and broken wings.
With a flick of his wrist, the little corpse tumbled over the edge of the balcony and down to the sharp stones far below.
“But I am not going to war with the other asura for your sake,” Agrona said, his voice heavy with intent. “They are not just a danger to you, but to all lessers. And the people of both Alacrya and Dicathen deserve an existence without fear of their tyranny. I may rule the lessers, guide their evolution, but I have no interest in building them up only to break them and start over again as Kezess has done.”
He held out his hand toward me, palm up, as if expecting me to take it. “If you fight with me in the war to come, you can protect yourself and the people of two continents from the danger that the asura pose. After all, they’ve already shown the depth of their disregard for lesser lives in Elenoir when they committed genocide just for the chance to stop you growing into your full power.”
At the mention of Elenoir, an emerald haze leaked from my core, filling my vision and making me wobble in the air. Agrona tensed, but I regained control immediately and pushed the sensation down deep, back into my core where the alien presence of the elderwood guardian remained, its power still shuttered from me.
Agrona was tracing my body with his eyes, inspecting every inch of me. “The beast will riles at the mention of the attack,” he noted. “Most interesting. Should you ever gain control over it, adding its formidable power to your own freeform control over mana will be a boon, but not strictly necessary for you to attain your full potential.”
I rubbed my sternum over my mana core, uncomfortable.
“But I understand that this world will never be your home,” Agrona continued, like he was pulling thoughts straight from my head. “And so I promise you this. When we defeat the asuras and topple the Indrath Clan, I will use the knowledge I have gained from the Relictombs to give you back your old life, your old world—but as they should have been.”
My breath caught in my chest.
“Imagine it, Cecil. Picture exactly what that life would be like, whatever you want. Now, what would you do to claim it?”
It’s a trick, or a trap, or—
But already his treatment of me was changing. His tone was respectful, even cautious. The way he looked up at me, I could see it in his eyes, like he saw me as a partner, not a tool, and that was exactly what I’d come here to demand. There was both a confidence and a question in that gaze, and I knew with utter certainty that he could do what he said.
But what would I do in this life for a chance to return to the life I should have had?
“Anything, Agrona.”
Comments
Kyle Loomis
That relic that Art and Caera were examining might be an important tool to strengthen mana users ie friends back in Dicathen.
Hoopsterben
I honestly don’t even know what outcome I want from this. The asuras suck. Agrona sucks. I think Grey deserves a picture perfect outcome less than Cecil or Nico, but I think Tessia deserves it more than anyone. Lol I’m here for this.
Demian Buckle
Thank you for the Chapter.
"The beast riles at the mention of the attack." I can't help but think that Tessia has finally managed to subdue the elder guardian's beast will. 😳
So, happy end for Cecillia seems far away. Agrona has her in the palm of her hands. She thinks Grey is evil and has only good memories with Nico, both from her time with him and Arthur. Tess seems to be completely out of the picture, since Cecillia talks about MY BODY and Tess doesn't react at all. The key stone is intriguing but I'd hate it if Arthur got a mana core since so many plebs wish for it.
VibEz
Im dying to see what Art and Regis look like as of this latest chapter, like we got for Caera and Seris.
PrixNDix
Where da new chap???
Aaron
I think agrona told us who will be fighting art...did he say who was volunteering for the honor of taking art out?
Out of topic here, which scythe do you guys think art is going to fight? Personally i think cadell because he’s the one who’s taken more from art and like most of you know by now nico is also the weakest of the scythes. It just makes more scene thats art is going to most likely going to fight cadell. Any thoughts?
Alex Zuyav
"Aether makes up the building blocks the world is made of, while mana is what fills it with life and sustenance." so yes he could if he learns how to use the skill on humans in the correct vibration.
I'm anticipating Sylvie's return but do you think that Regis will die before Sylvie is resurrected/reborn? I just can't see Grey having to voices in his head but I would to see Sylvie and Regis arguing and bickering back and forth.
What if...the Cecilia POV (actually Tessia pov, by the chapter name) is actually Tessia giving her POV while being imprisoned inside her own body? Basically relating and revealing what Cecilia is thinking? We know she's fighting the reincarnation, so there has to be a reason why this is Tessia's pov and not Cecili's. You remember a few chapter's back, there was a chapter specifically stating that it was Cecilia's pov.
I have a random ass question. Can Grey's Aroa Requiem repair anything or is it just limited to physical objects? Like for instance, could he possibly repair Claire Bladehearts' Mana Core? You know the redhead from the Disciplinary Committee at Xyrus School.
C
Luvin it turtle 🐢 me
C
I like how there is no true white or true black. I’m on the edge of my seat. The good… not really good the bad not all bad. And the ones suffering from the crossfire are just collateral damage. But these things are making our characters grow and struggle to do what they think is right. (But at what cost)
C
This just keeps getting better and better
Ossif
I love Regis so much he is Hilarious
Does anyone else feel like agrona is doing something good but with disregard to the method. Kind of like the means justify the ends. I mean, don't get me wrong, the man is doing some fucked up shit and manipulating like crazy but at the same time. A lot of the stuff he said about the world's problems are true. His end goal definitely seems to be getting rid of the indrath which is something that is ultimately good for the world and wants to unite the continents. The way he is going about it either requires him to do it this way or he has ulterior motives after his adversaries are out of the picture. Whatever it is, his demeanor is intriguing and always entertaining cause I can't make heads or tails out of him. Good chapter
Yuion
Also it doesnt help that he plants false memories...
Bittu Sardar
So Agrona turned Cecilia’s last words to Grey into Grey's last words to Cecilia. Thats top tier manipulation ngl. And Cecilia is way too naive to believe that she will control her own destiny. But that's understandable because she is still essentially a teen while Agrona is thousands of year old smart-ass manipulator.
Breamson 𒉭
I mean Arthur is the best written character by a landslide, but after that is definitely Tess
Yuion
its baffling to me how much people hate tess... It doesnt get into my head. She is literally one of, if not the best written character in the entire series and people hate her... for what? For a few mistakes she made as her world was crumbling around her?
Alex Zuyav
He could become the cup that holds the mana, capture someone's expression of mana and direct it though his will.
Breamson 𒉭
Mf wants Arthur to have depression 💀
It's not black, ART just can't see what's within because he doesn't have mana core. And he isn't looking at the realm that the container hold but he is in the realm and look at what it holds.
Sean Defrank
ayo I feel the need to say I still like Tessia a lot because of the guy above me, hope she comes back and doesn't just get dominated by Cecilia forever, our girl's strong.
Rucket
I’m really hoping there’s no way to save tessia. I don’t like Cecilia but at the same time I don’t want tessia back either. So my only hope is that grey has to kill them.
If the realm was aetheric in nature, and it's aether was supposed to be the container that holds mana within, then why is it black? Why not purple since Arthur can sense, feel and actually see aether more vibrantly now than he did under Realmheart? I've touched upon this before a while back, but really, which branch/edict of aether makes up this container? Is it even a branch or the pure 'whole', thus black? I love novels with intricate and philosophical premises, and I hope the answer isn't nonsensical, simplistic or silly like other novels I've read.
Mark
I hope the keystone will allow Arthur to see mana again. Arthur hopefully will be able to use aether to direct or redirect mana. I don’t think he will ever have a mana core again. It’s either or not both.
Domination vs... hmmm... choice? I wonder if mana has a will of its own that is more drawn to Arthur.
Kevinporkfries
I think the keystone may allow arthur to use mana again, instead of controlling mana he could sense the mana and use the aether to control its flow like the banks of a river
What if instead of getting his mana core again the insite gives him the ability to convert his aether into mana
Perhaps Tess' struggle would be talking control of her body over Cecilia
I still think dragoth will be the first scythe to fall
I just hope he got the power up before the fight, mid fight boost always feels weird to me, I like a mc who is well prepared instead of relying on luck
Aaron
Maybe that's the point, and I dont mind that either, but it makes for an immature love story.
Aaron
I wouldnt mind the Cecile/tessa chapters except there is no apparent struggle for the characters to overcome. Both seem to just be prone to screewing things up so the mc has to deal with the consequences. Both are the "nature" in the man vs nature.
Leadslinger2019
I think that’s where this story is heading . In order for Arthur to be able to save Tess Cesilia and Nico he’ll have to be seriously OP . Especially if Agrona steals Cesilia’s power from her .
Nico actually was the one that started that lie. Agrona reinforced it. The only was I see Nico telling Cecelia the truth is if Nico decides he hates Agrona more than he hates Grey, and that telling Cecelia the truth is somehow more detrimental to Agrona than it is to him. Nico will most likely die a sad death but it will be well-deserved for succumbing to his own selfishness across 2 lifetimes
Nico is not going to die sadly. The conversation makes his next course of actions essentially restricted to only one option when he sees how much Cecilia has actually been manipulated and how harmful it is. The most logical out come and the only one that would wake her up from this state would be Nico telling her the truth about their relationship with Grey. He will see how harmful it is to her and in an attempt to save the one he loves he will sacrifice his own feelings and possibly life so that she is no longer blinded by Agrona’s lies and manipulation. The only way he will survive is by having his mana core destroyed so he no longer poses a threat.
Evankhell
You make great points and I firmly believe Art is gonna EZ diff a retainer right off the bat. One of them will step up, whichever scythe wins the "pride" war you mentioned. Art will destroy them and then the scythe will step up. I am hoping for a low diff fight with Cadell before Nico steps up enraged. I don't think you're confused about the timeline, I just think Arthur is starting to trust Caera completely. Also, he's been very slow with grasping aether arts, he's still in his own way. It's likely he's not even thought about it until then.
It feels like art was unbeknownst to agrona close to what Cecil is, you can see in a lot of side characters povs when they talk about the elements seeming to bend and attract to arts will similar to Cecilia's complete domination of them. I wonder if turtle is going to keep art as pure aether to make his confrontation with her be a whole yin and yang collide or if he will give art back mana and then have the next level be fighting the asuras, cause let's be honest, that is where the real story feels like it is. Either way I'm excited to see where this all leads!
Mattiew
Well done on capturing the inexperience and youth, with Tess' occasional jabs. Also good job going over and cleaning up previous chapters.
I agree that Cecilia's POV feels a bit coming out of nowhere. The relic part makes sense to me since it's important that Art makes use of the free time he has to progress with it, so I suppose it hints for Cecilia getting in Art's way soon?
Breamson 𒉭
I mean you can’t really compare their maturity? And to say that Tess isn’t mature is also wrong
i think i got aids reading this
Chad
I hate the tess/Cecilia pov so much. I swear to God if she interrupts grays fight against anyone especially nico im dropping this. I've been looking forward to his fight in the victoridad so much. I want him to just slap whoever he fights and make everyone's jaw drop. Hopefully the extent of her being there is restrained to letting gray fight then leaving with nico afterward or something by saving him so at least everyone knows gray crushed whichever sythe it is. I really can't wait to see caeras reaction to his fight and hopefully he tells her everything after the fight. They are perfect for each other and she is so much more mature than tess. Either I want him to get both of them or only caera. I love tess but caera is more suited to mc
Chad
Right. He would be way too op. But that is 100% going to happen at some point. Probably later after the victoridad though
I bet she will, after all Arthur will probably not accept her having Tess's body.
Seems that once again Agronna didn't created new memories, but slightly changed existing ones, changing what Cecillia told to Gray into Gray telling her instead. Which imply that he can't "Creat" 100% fakes memories and that his power may be less strong than expected. (It also imply that those memories "exist" somewhere and are not Agronna creation and thus, may be accessed by someone else) Other detail, we still have the Tess Pov and it's still not Cecillia ones, plus, when Cess insisted on "my body" it's still written in the same font as when "her counssioussness" talk (when she express doubt about Agronna or Nico). If we add the reaction from the beast will, it seem that Tess will have her role to play in the situation and may bring the solution.
nope. Not only he doesn't have his mana core anymore, but he also labored really hard to transform his mana channels into aether channels. If he ever gets his mana powers back it will be through aether for sure.
"partner" LMAO, yeah Cecilia keep telling that to yourself.
Andrew Purser
Agrona is changing her memories. Not much anyone could do
the elder wood guardians responce shows that tess is still their deep down
Bernardo De Cabrio
I actually have similar theory to the Elderwood Guardian. What if originally the Elderwood Guardian's will contained Cecilia's soul or a part of it? We knew from the very beginning that something was wrong with it, like it had a 'will' of its own. Not to mention that it was corrupted by Agrona. Take a second and think back to what the circumstances were when Arthur helped Virion deal with the Elderwood Guardian's will. Doesn't the situation hold some parallels to when Grey used Nico's gadget to calm Cecilia who was spiraling out of control? Or the fact that the will behaved similarly to how Cecilia's tantrums are described later in one of the flashbacks? Really makes you think if the current positions are just switch and Tess is now the will of the Elderwood Guardian.
Soundd Wavess
LeLiLia is a bot and Lessia is starting to sound more like Wessia. Never thought id want her back. I vote they both get hit by windsoms tactical nuke and Waera has 3 quad elemental aether wielding children. Perfect ending.
Soundd Wavess
Reminds me of baldurs gate when the mind flayer tries to stop you from killing it by manipulating your mind into loving it and hating yourself
Also Tess >>>>>>>> Cecilia confirmed. Tess fans don't feel too bad, bc even Tess' worst moment will never be as bad as this one right here.
I know there are some ppl who would prefer Art not get his control of mana back, but I would literally shit myself if he unlocks a rune for mana control and shows up at the Victoriad as a Quad Elemental Aether user like "SURPRISE BITCH, bet you thought u saw the last of me!" Because what other famous mage besides the Dicathian Lance from the war is known for being a quad elemental user? Plus with his Aether upgrade? Epic af.
Forgive me if im being a bot because i cant remember if hes tried it or not but couldn’t he just use the time rune to rebuild his mana core while maintaining the aether like shell around it or nah
Bernardo De Cabrio
The funniest thing about Cecilia being manipulated so easily (for me at least) is the fact that the name "Cecilia", if you boil it down to the basics, means "blind". It's so ironic not gonna lie. Edit: And probably intended.
Breamson 𒉭
The thing that annoys me about this is, that her Povs started with her being a rather self conscious person…… like she realized instantly that they weren’t telling her the truth and that Agrona only wants to use her, but somehow she believes him now that he won’t? Like she really thinks Agrona will let her live in her other world again? Just ask Nico, because Agrona already told him that this is not happening……. It actually annoys me
T_Don
Amazing, the author not only made Tessia a completely weak character but also Cecil too. Truly fantastic to see how much of a marionette she is, asks no questions and accepts everything thrown to her, becuz memory manipulation. I expect Cecil to be an overwhelmingly underwhelming character too
sebsebs
She's so easy to manipulate that "Anything, Agrona" makes me want to puke ugh She's aware he's reading/tampering with her mind (there are several allusions to it in her pov) but she doesn't take it as a violation (?!) I hate naive characters but when they also happen to be important or powerful it really makes me unreasonably mad
another 10/10 chapter! Can't stop releasing banger chapters!!!
I think arthur have to start gathering the pieces of his manacore and start rebuilding it inside his core
Breamson 𒉭
I actually still don’t think he will challenge Nico at the Victoriad. There has to be some meaning behind Nico „taking his bait“. Surely „bait“ wouldn’t just be „accepting his challenge“. Also, Cecilia starts to annoy me
this is good and all for the world building but it's kinda anticlimactic to bring up the relic and cecilia in the middle of the victoriad.
the wait is killing me
Yuion
Tess is still over Caera for me And its more a Cecilia chapter than a Tess chapter. This isnt Tess
Carth
“It wasn’t until the third and final day of the Victoriad that the retainers and Scythes would accept challenges for their positions.” well damn it’ll probably be another chapter or two before some ass is properly beat .~.
Ahh I’m so ready for Grey to whip Nico. Great chapter also!
I think that whole mana situation has something to with sylvies egg (or whatever it is). Maybe if arthur infuses more aether in to it, it unlocks something. We havent seen any progess with sylvie and i think its unlikely for arthur to get his mana core back because of that whole aether thing. And maybe he will be able do sense or do anything with mana but not directly control it in his new ability.
Okcrk
hate tessia chapters... -.-'
Jacob S
I really hate just how easily Agrona manipulates Cecilia with his honeyed lies. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if she fell in love with him 😑 I’m being sarcastic btw. It’s just too easy - he could do it in his sleep.
27 ooze
cecilia is rl brain dead
AntiMatterDynamite
he has to be lying... right? right??? omfg what am i reading
Andrew Purser
I believe that the "Elderwood Guardian's will" in Cecilia core is actually Tess. Might be obvious, but might not be to everyone so 🤷♂️
Bernardo De Cabrio
Either that or the fact that the Tessia pov (note that it still says Tessia Eralith) follows right after is a hint that he needs her to unlock it. My brainstormed theory for this moment: Her stabbing him like in the dream will happen and he will draw in the mana into his core with the help of aether (and probably Regis as well) and gains insight more or less mid fight, since the relic already slows time for the user. That is if such a duel is to happen (maybe because of Nico). Still, this is highly speculative and might not happen to that degree.
Jacob S
And so easily at that.
Ezekiel2517
Cecilia's free-form mana control with Art's aetheric wizardry. The pairing would literally remake the world. Hopefully Caera's mastery will help him see the insights in time for the showdown with Nico. Cannot wait for this but also, he needs to try and reach out to Sylvie!
So sad to see Cecil controles like this
Edd R
great setup chapter, regis with his usual banter is great too
I think the movement art sees is the "splashing" of mana against the aether environment he can't see, like echolocation that he needs to learn how to comprehend
Jonathan Stolle
Agrona is crafty, though I see Art eventually and possibly getting through because of the remnants of Tess' consciousness. If it weren't for Art having a more fulfilling life in Dicathen, I'd guess he might miss his old world too ... It's cool how Enola was the best. I'm wondering if Valen will travel with her to Dicathen. I'm also wondering if Art will check up on the Helstias and if that will give him a clue to pass on a message through someone going to Dicathen about Grey (though it might be publicized through his valiant battle). Also, I'm guessing there will be an Art/Grey faction in the upcoming war. I wonder to what extent his current class will be part of it (maybe some of them will help on Ascents to unravel the mysteries of the Relictombs). I'm guessing Art will have quite a bit of support from Dicathen (though maybe a little suspicion given the life he's lived these past few months) and it'd be great to see those in Dicathen work with him directly in the war and in the Relictombs. Though imagine Ellie pairing up with someone from that class lol (or Jasmine with Darrin, for example). Nico wiill bite, but I wonder if he'll be pushed aside by either Dragoth or Cadell (Dragoth was implicitly challenged by him when dropping off the relic and Cadell will likely recognize Art) and what could enhance Art's reputation more. Also, with multiple retainer positions open, will he battle multiple opponents to prove himself ahead of the battle with a Scythe? Am I confused about the timeline? I would have assumed that he would have gotten Caera to help him with the keystone already if it had been more than just a few weeks in between the Granbehl destruction chapter and the Victoriad.
Jon Chefitz
Great chapter, im super excited too see if Art gets his mana core back, also I loved the Cecil POV here.
Don't get my hopes up
Gamer Guide
Was not expecting that Cecil POV
Dragon Commands
Ok all this talk about mana from Arthur and this relic’s mere existence is making me think Arthur will unlock it again. He’s thinking more into the concept of the water and the glass, looking into the connections between them.
Varday Jacobs
Return of realmheart coming soon !! All I need now is static void
Cory Crowell
This is one of my favorite chapters. It's sets up alot for the rest of this book and the next.
I constantly look forward to fridays now just because of new chapters. Another great one
Bernardo De Cabrio
See yourself out.
Reddd
I cant wait for both of them to find out the truth and finally understand that they are in the wrong. Like cecil set up grey in the past life so i wonder how she is going to handle that
“Anything, Daddy”
SpicyApricotTree
Another great chapter! Let’s hope Cecilia doesn’t cause too much trouble before she finds out the truth!
Can’t wait until she finds out the truth
Loving it!
