Chapter 445

Chapter 443: The Truth of Power

CECILIA

I stared at the s.p.a.ce where the portal had been, its afterimage still visible against the darkness of the night and the slums below. My mind was blank, the fury of the battle washed away by the shock of its sudden end. Even the screaming pain of the wound in my side seemed subdued, distant as it pumped blood around my hand.

I had failed. Grey had been there, right before me, but I hadnt been able to stop him. Id let him escape

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I just couldnt make sense of it. I was the Legacy. My control over mana was such that I could drag it from the core of a still-living asura, and yet Grey had matched mehad wounded me, even, nearly killed me. If I hadnt sensed the distortion in the mana where his attack appeared, perhaps he would have. Again.

Although Id only been able to draw in a meager amount of the dragons mana, it had been enough to offer a spark of insight: Grey could apparently manipulate the interplay between aether and mana, using one force to move and guide the other, even going so far as deflecting or canceling mana-attribute spells with his aether; and through the dragons mana, I saw the possibility of the same being done in reverse.

The two forces pushed against one another, and so any application of mana caused some small change in the aether around it. I hadnt understood that beforeI barely knew what aether wasbut I was starting to see.

But Id been overconfident. The amount of mana and sheer mental will that had been required to barely move Arthurs conjured weapon, even catching him by surprise, had been cataclysmic. Gritting my teeth, I couldnt help but feel like Id wasted the opportunity. Next time I faced himand I had no doubt there would be a next timehed be ready for it.

At the very least, it seemed clear that Agrona had been wrong to view Greys core as a mere curiosity. That, or he was hiding just how much Greys control of aether impacted his plans. I couldnt be sure what he understoodor didnt. A small part of me wished I was intelligent enough to dissect the situation and come away with a better understanding of what Agrona might gain from Grey, Nico, and me, but that kind of strategic thinking had never been my strength.

The gusting wind of Nicos flying spell sent my hair blowing around my face as he caught up to me. My eyes touched his, but I quickly pulled them away, unable to bear the sight of him.

He was pale, his face bloodied and battered, core exhausted, struggling even to maintain focus through the staff that allowed him to channel his spell. Even flying, he favored his left side, where Grey had struck him. He was little more than broken bones and pooling blood held together by bruised skin.

Guilt coiled up from my stomach to wrap like vines around my heart. Should I have listened to him? I wondered, already starting to second-guess my every word and action. Could Grey really help usdo what Nico feared even Agrona couldnt? I didnt let the thought take root, but instead ripped it out and cast it aside. That was less an option now than it ever had been, the battle had made that clear.

There was a haunted look in Nicos eyes as he inspected me, the uncertainty s.h.i.+ning like tears about to fall, like he couldnt quite be sure if I was really there or if he might wake up and Id be gone.

Id already grown used to the hard, rage-filled Nico of this world, the one who had gone to war for Agrona, who had killed to bring me into this world. Hed scared me at first, when I was freshly rewoken from the void of death, but it hadnt taken me long to understand the necessity of his rage, his darkness. What Agrona required of us to earn back the lives that fate stole couldnt be accomplished by the struggling orphans wed been on Earth.

Now, seeing the helpless look on his bloodied face, I couldnt help but see that boy, the sensitive but intelligent young man Id reluctantly fallen in love with.

But thinking of that Nico only reminded me of the weak, frightened little girl I had been. The years spent foolishly hoping I could get my ki under control as a child, then all that time locked away, experimented on, their training beaten into me every single day until all I could think about was the escape of death

I opened my mouth and prepared to scream, but the frustration and pain lodged in my throat, and only silence radiated out from me.

Then everything else came rus.h.i.+ng back in. The fear, the guilt, the rage, the uncertainty, the hopebut the pain overwhelmed it all. For a moment, I remembered how it had felt to die.

Forcing away the memory, I pressed both hands to the cut and flooded it with water-attribute mana, willing it to heal. But, although I could soothe a fever or the ache caused by long hours of training, I was no healer.

Cecil, your wound Nico said, but he cut off immediately when I waved away whatever he was about to say.

Focusing instead on fire-attribute mana, I burned the gash closed, cauterizing it and stopping the blood loss. It wouldnt kill me before I could reach Taegrin Caelum and the healers there, and so I put the wound and the pain out of my mind.

Nico cleared his throat. Guards and soldiers were already gathering outside the palace before we left. Ill return and inform them of whats happened. AndI need to find Draneeve, see if hes still

I scoffed. Youre worried about that shattered, sniveling little creature at a time like this? Vritras horns, Nico, we have more important things toto I trailed off as I took in his expression.

Nicos nose was wrinkled, his brows creased into a frown, and his lip curled up in a disbelieving sneer. I made him a promise, Cecilia. He helped ushelped you! I This time, he cut himself off. Looking away, he dragged in a long, fortifying breath. When he looked back at me, he was calmer. Ive treated him terribly. For years. I understand how you see himhow you see everyone elsebecause I used to be the same. Thats why I want to help him escape this life.

The weight of his words nearly pulled me right out of the air. I felt my cheeks redden with shame at his chastis.e.m.e.nt. Im sorry, Nico. For not telling you what Id remembered sooner. I

He let out a huffing breath, somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. Please, dont apologize to me. Its notits He trailed off. As the wetness in his eyes finally began to fall down his dirty and blood-crusted cheeks as tears, he turned away and began slowly floating back toward Sovereign Exegess demolished palace.

The Sovereign

Balling my fists, I followed. Id almost forgotten about the Sovereign! It seemed unbelievableimpossiblethat Grey was powerful enough to defeat a full-blooded basilisk Sovereign and his entire personal guard, and afterwards still have the potency to fight me to a standstill, even with two fledgling asuras at his side.

Agrona needed to know what had happened immediately. A Sovereign had been a.s.sa.s.sinated, a Scythe killed, and our target had escaped

It was not a conversation I was looking forward to.

You should have listened to Nico, Tessias voice sounded suddenly in my thoughts.

I had been waiting for her to interject, in fact I was surprised only that she waited so long. Read the latest chapter at Readlightnovel.app !!

You should have listened to me. We could be safely in Dicathen right now, far from Agrona and his ambitions. Arthur could help us, Im certain of it.

The wind whipped up by my flight carried my answering snort away. As if I could ever trust him to do that. Even if Grey didnt set out to murder me, he still abandoned Nico and me in his hunger to become king. Hes single-minded, has been ever since he was a kid. It seems he wants me dead badly enough that hes even willing to kill you to make it happen.

He defended himself, Tessia countered cooly, her consciousness wriggling under my skin like a parasite. Yet again, you are the aggressor putting him on his back foot as history repeats itself. Her voice was silent as a tense pause hung pregnant between us, then: Are you really such a coward that youll force him to kill you twice to escape your lives? Youd put that burden on him again, a person you once considered your best friendsomeone you used to love, even?

A bitter laugh burst from my lips only to melt away in the night air as we approached the ruined palace.

Loveas if. I was a child with a crush on the first person whod been kind to me. Besides, Grey was never like thatromanticand he gave up on me the second she showed an interest in him. Gave up on me and Nico both. But Nico never gave up. Thats whythats

I swallowed hard. If you hate me and Nico so much, why help me defend him? I asked, thinking back to the emerald vines that had erupted from me to catch Greys arm and stop him from taking Nicos head. You released the Elderwood Guardians power to me, just for a moment. You are so sure that Grey canthat he would help us, and yet you know just as well as I do that he was ready to kill us both, if hed been able.

Tessia didnt immediately answer. Her spirit was p.r.i.c.kly, like the beginning of a headache.

Scoffing, I pushed back against her. Although I could no longer block her out completely, I could entangle her will in a struggle against my own, forcing her silence. Im not ready to dienor am I going to. I thought I only had one way out, before, and maybe in that world it was true. Here though

I followed Nico into the smoking rubble, casually conjuring a stiff breeze to clear the air.

Here, I have the power to change my lifes outcome. I may be Agronas weapon, but only because he is my best chance at getting what I want. When Im done with this world, I will return to Earth. Not as the Legacy, but as Cecilia, and I will live a quiet and loving life with Nico. I will

Even as I pictured it, my mind stumbled over the thought. Ever since Agrona had promised to make it so, I had only accepted it as being what I wanted. Id never asked to be the Legacy, only to be allowed a life. But would the cozy cottage far from the cities, politics, and war of Earth really give me that? Could I sacrifice the power I now had for the life that Id lost?

To give someone this gift only to s.n.a.t.c.h it away from them? It was a fate worse than death.

Hadnt those been my own thoughts, seeing Nicos wound? Was it really my hearts dearest desire to give up everything Id gained from this worldfrom mana?

Tessia receded deeper within me, pus.h.i.+ng me no further, and I almost wished she would. Who else could I talk to, if not the voice in my own head

I pulled back from the contest of wills, no longer attempting to keep her silent. But she was nonetheless.

Nico was s.h.i.+fting aside rubble where I could sense the faint signature of Draneeves mana. Shouts were coming from the front of the palace.

Ill deal with the soldiers, I said softly, biting my lip. When he didnt answer, I left him and flew out through the partially collapsed entrance hall.

A hundred or more mages were already gathered there, although they hadnt breached the palace grounds.

An older man in heavy plate armor and sporting a long, drooping mustache stepped forward. Legacy, he said, going down on one knee in a bow. Behind him, the entire force of soldiers did the same. He held the bow for a respectable amount of time, then glanced up at me for permission to stand.

I granted it with a nod. The Sovereign has been a.s.sa.s.sinated, I explained, my voice obscured with wind-attribute mana so that only he could make out the words. No survivors remain in the palace, but you need to get mages in to start putting out the flames so they dont spread. And prepare a statement for the city to explain the destruction, but do not announce anything related to Exeges. Youll receive further instructions soon.

The mans face had gone slack as he stared up at me, uncomprehending.

Send someone to prepare the closest teleportation gate to take us to Taegrin Caelum immediately, I added before turning away.

Flying back through the smoke and rubble, I found Nico leaning over Draneeve, who had been uncovered and was now propped up against the base of a demolished wall, head lolling in unconsciousness. I was surprised by how normal he appeared.

Hell live? I asked, trying to sound concerned but not feeling I quite managed it.

I think so, Nico answered. But his skull is fractured and there is a lot of swelling. I need to get him to a healer, but

Not in Taegrin Caelum, I filled in when he hesitated, understanding. Ill tell Agrona that hes dead.

Nicos jaw worked silently for a few seconds before he finally spoke. Be careful. Dont lie to him if you can avoid it. When Ive seen to Draneeve, Ill work with the citys forces to deal with things here, then follow you.

I nodded, but he wasnt looking in my direction. Reaching out, I almost set my hand on his shoulder but stopped just short. Cursed body, I thought bitterly before turning away.

When I reached the compound where the teleportation gate was housed, it was already tuned to Taegrin Caelum as I had ordered. The guards let me through without preamble, and I found myself deep in Agronas fortress. By the buzz and bustle, it was clear that everyone was aware of what had happened and on high alert, but I also detected a certain amount of confusion in the response. Although I received the customary bowing and sc.r.a.ping at my appearance, I had expected a message or orders from Agrona to be waiting for me in the teleportation chambers, but no one approached me.

In fact, there was a distinct edge of fear in the way the attendants and soldiers watched me stalk through the chamber, with most avoiding my eye while others visually devoured me, breath bated, like they were waiting for me to give them orders instead.

I grew more and more tense as I made my way up through the fortress and no one stopped me at all. It wasnt until I started up the stairs that opened into the hall connecting to Agronas private wing that I started to understand. Above me, someone was screaming and shouting, her rage shaking the very stones.

Before I could open the heavy iron-bound door, it was blown off its hinges just in front of me. It slammed against the opposing wall and exploded into a spiderweb of shattered wood and twisted metal.

The previously ornate hallway was in ruins.

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The objects decorating the walls had been flung down, the furniture crushed, the thick rugs tattered and burned. A dragons horn pierced the wall. Red and orange feathers, now blackened by the flames, had been cast all around, spotting the floor like so many blood stains.

Standing in the middle of this wreckage was Melzri.

Her back was to me. As I watched, she let out a howl and sent crescents of black fire at a barrier preventing her from progressing farther down the hall. The flames crackled against the barrier but hardly even made the mana s.h.i.+ver in response.

She spun around suddenly, her eyes flaring, teeth bared, mana boiling into spells around her hands. You! she shouted. She pointed at me, the mana writhing in her grip. You useless b.i.t.c.h, you were supposed to

I waved my hand in front of me like I was brus.h.i.+ng away a cobweb.

Her spells winked out. Her eyes bulged yet further somehow, her mouth opening and closing like a drowning fish.

Where is Agrona? I asked, looking past her to the barrier.

Hehe wont She hesitated, deflating. He wont see me. Me. Viessadeadbut he wont even see me!

Is he here? I asked, still not meeting her eye. There was something so uncomfortable about seeing a Scythe look this pathetic that I didnt want to acknowledge it. Agrona. Is he here?

Growling, she spun and lashed out at the barrier again. How the h.e.l.ls should I know! If he is, he hasnt shown his d.a.m.ned face. Gulping in a struggling breath, she screamed, Coward! at the top of her lungs.

Her voice grated on my nerves, making me wince. Almost without meaning to, I swept the mana from all around her, dragging it out even from her body.

She stumbled as if shed been struck, looked over her shoulder at me in confusion, and then collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.

I felt a little bad, knowing the backlash she felt when she woke would be truly awful. But at the same time, I hoped I was helping her. Saving her from herself, even. If she did meet with Agrona in her current state, the conversation would not go well. Better she sleep through the worst of her grief. I hoped.

The barrier preventing her pa.s.sage opened like a curtain before me and closed just as easily behind. I pa.s.sed through the doors beyond, then into Agronas private wing propper.

Id seen only parts of this side of Taegrin Caelum. Agrona had let me come and go as I wished at certain times but had warned me against exploring too thoroughly into his s.p.a.ce. It was dangerous, he had told me when I was just coming to terms with my reincarnation, and I was expected to restrict myself to seeking him out directly if I entered this wing.

Extending my senses outward, I searched for his mana signature.

Many sources of mana shone throughout the fortress, some of them even asura, I was sure, but Agrona wasnt among them.

Id never known him to be absent from Taegrin Caelum. Certain he was deeper within, his mana signature shrouded by his own doing or some aspect of the barrier hed wrapped around the entire wing, I pushed forward.

Each room I pa.s.sed through was plushly furnished and decorated with the spoils of his centuries of leaders.h.i.+p. He was particularly fond of the body parts of other asuran races such as the horns and wing that had, before Melzris tantrum, adorned the entry hall. But he seemed to collect a wide variety of portraits and tapestries as well, covering the walls with dozens upon dozens of them.

As I explored deeper into his wing, reaching rooms I had not seen before, I realized there was a kind of story being told. A descent. From light into darkness. It was, I thought, a metaphor for Agronas flight from Epheotus, told in portraits and scenery. Recognizing this made mesad, and for a little while I forgot what I was doing there.

A strangely placed stairwell drew my attention. Although the higher level continued to spread out, this stairwell, which interrupted an otherwise ornate dining room, made such a point of itself that I felt compelled to descend, just like the story the decorations were telling.

The finery of the upper floor was left behind, and I entered into narrow halls of cold stone. The tunnel turned and turned again, intersecting a dozen others like a labyrinth. Doors were inset at odd distances and in unusual locations, and when I thought to check behind one, I found a small room with a single gla.s.s...o...b..resting within a narrow indentation in the top of a small pedestal.

I touched the cold gla.s.s, but there was no reaction, and so I backed out of the room and closed the door behind me.

Bypa.s.sing the next few doors, I tried another at random. The room beyond was empty except for a round grate in the floor, through which a constant trickle of water ran. The water seemed to be coming from the walls themselves, seeping out of the stone.

When I found myself at the end of one branching tunnel, I opened the door to peek inside and caught my breath.

Slipping inside, I closed the door behind me, then stared down at the object taking up most of the barren room. It was a table perhaps six feet long and three feet wide. Like before, looking at it filled me with a sense of wrongness, like invisible insects were crawling up my arms and legs. Hesitating, I ran my fingers along the grooved runes, just as indecipherable as they were the last time Id seen them.

The table Id woken up on after my Integration.

I wonder what the runes mean, Tessia thought, suddenly resurfacing. Decipher them, and youll know what Agrona was really trying to do when you awakened.

A sudden bolt of fear hit me, quickening my pulse. I knew in that instant that Id gone too far. Whatever this table represented, whatever those runes did, Agrona would be furious if he knew Id found it. Even if he didnt punish me, hed have the table relocated or even destroyed, I was certain. If he did so, I wouldnt be able to show Nico the runes in their complete form. Nico hadnt gotten far with the trace of mana Id taken last time, but if he saw the whole system of runes, maybe

I hurried from the room, making sure the door was shut, and moved quickly down another hallway, then another, putting distance between myself and the rune-etched artifact.

Slow down, youll forget where youre

So suddenly that I almost screeched, I rounded a corner and found myself face to face with a robed young woman. She jolted away from me so hard that the object in her handsa round plate of crystal that issued multi-colored lighttumbled from her grip and hit the ground with a sickening crash.

Wind and heat and light filled the hallway. The young woman screamed, the light dissolving her before my eyes.

When the noise faded and the light dimmed, she was entirely gone, and the artifact that shed been carrying was nothing more than broken shards of crystal on the floor.

Well, thats a shame.

I spun at the voice, my heart pounding in my throat

Curious how so many of these old djinn relics are so dangerous, isnt it? Considering. Agrona stepped up beside me, looking down at the ruined relic. Ah well. Ill have someone down to clean this mess up. Oh, dont look so distraught, he added, taking in my appearance.

My jaw was hanging as if itd been dislocated, and I could feel the blood rus.h.i.+ng from my face.

Theyll be happy not to have to sc.r.a.pe her insides off the walls, you know? A nice clean disintegrationnot even any dust left behind. Quite the feat, really. Agrona offered his arm, and I took it, my mind numb and lips trembling. Or perhaps it wasnt the sudden death of that youngand quite talented, I might addImbuer that has you so upset. Well, go on then. I imagine you didnt delve down into my private sanctuary on a whim, Cecil dear.

Protect your thoughts! Tessia shouted in my head, filling every corner of my mind. Re ad the late st chapter at Rea dlightnovel.app !!

When I had silenced Melzri and pa.s.sed through the barrier above, I had been in control of my inner turmoil, ready to face Agrona. Now, I felt scattered and ill-prepared, and Tessias intrusion wasnt helping. But I knew I had to keep my thoughts in order, or he would read me like a childrens book.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed aside all thought of the rune-etched table, the broken relic, the young womans sudden demise, and even Tessia Eralith. I found Grey. He murdered Sovereign Exeges. We fought andScythe Viessa and Draneeve are no longer with us. I stopped, pulling my arm free of Agronas, and bowed deeply, struggling to keep calm. Forgive me, High Sovereign. Grey escaped.

I waited for a response, but none came. Eventually, I glanced up through the silvery-gray hair that had fallen over my face. Agrona was watching me calmly, his brows slightly raised, the hint of a wry smile on his lips.

Oh, that Arthur, am I right? Biting his lip, he extended his arm again, and I took it. Like a bad egg floating to the top of the pot, he just refuses to be kept down, doesnt he?

I stared up at Agrona, entirely unable to read his mood. Outwardly, he seemed almostgiddy? But I couldnt trust his outward emotions.

Chuckling at the look on my face, he gave a little shake of his head, setting the ornaments in his horns to jangling. Allow me to let you in on a little secret, he said, smiling coyly. Arthur LeywinGreyis doing exactly what we want him to do.

W-what? I asked, unable to stop myself from choking on the word. But you ordered

Good steel is forged in a hot fire, isnt it? he interrupted, wiggling his eyebrows up and down. Youre a tool, hes a tool. Tools need sharpening, temperinggracious, in Nicos case, the tool needed to be broken down and reforged entirely.

I swallowed heavily. This was how Agrona operated. Flippantness, sudden switches of extreme personality traits, vaguenesshe always knew how to put his opponent off guard. And right now, he was treating me like an opponent.

Nico nearly died. I almost died, I snapped, stopping to point down to the wound in my side, blood soaking my clothes. If you really aretempering us or whatever, what are you doing to ensure that we don't shatter?

Agrona seemed entirely unconcerned as he looked down at the blood staining half my torso. Would you agree, Cecilia, that battles are won by strength?

I sensed the trap in his tone, but I couldnt see it. And wars are won by the strategic application of that strength. Yes.

Not exactly, no. Battle doesnt consist only of power levels. If that were the case, Kezesswith his vastly greater numbers and resourceswould have successfully a.s.sa.s.sinated me long ago. Agrona began walking again, and I had no option but to follow. Regardless of whether you are studying lessers or asuras, there is a universal truth to violent conflict. The factors surrounding a battlethe emotions, interplay of relations.h.i.+ps, crossroads between expectation and effortare equally important to the outcome as the strength of the combatants.

While the game of Sovereigns Quarrel may have a near-infinite combination of moves, you limit the opponents range of creativity not by changing the game, but by changing them. For example, I was aware that Arthur left Dicathen with a lessuran phoenix in tow. There would be no reason to do so unless he intended to bring this lessuran into battle with him. Dragoth would have been a poor match for such a warrior, and so I kept him where he is, banging his thick, horned skull against Seriss s.h.i.+elds.

Viessas powers I started out loud, then trailed off.

Agrona nodded encouragingly, like I was a toddler taking my first steps. It's a shame she died, I suppose, but she served her purpose. The lessurans impact on the battle was reduced, and even turned into an a.s.set, disrupting Arthurs ability to focus on you and forcing him to protect his companions while you were not so impaired.

I felt a cold chill run down my spine. I hadnt told him any of that; hed read it in my thoughts.

Agrona was silent for a moment, his eyes tracking across the length of my body. After all, it seems you were able to absorb some of his dragon bonds mana, even if only a touch.

It was too much to absorb while also struggling to keep my thoughts in line. Squeezing my eyes shut tight, until white spots burst behind them, I focused on my breathing. Only after opening my eyes again did I feel confident enough to speak. So what is it that youwewant Grey to be doing?

Pausing, he pressed a finger to his lips and looked up as if thinking. Ive never met another who can manipulate aether the way he can. The djinn knew more, sure, could work aether in a way that seemed like, well, magic, he said with a sharp laugh. But they worked it. It was a tool to them, bricks in the wall. Do you think Arthur has survived this long because he iswhatmore powerful than me? More intelligent than me? Better prepared than me? Oh, Cecil dear

He gave himself over to a fit of soft laughter, his body shaking beside mine as we walked through the narrow corridor. Ill admit, when Nico and Cadell had him cornered, when they claimed Tessia Eralith to be your vessel, I had written him off, thinking him dead and having no more use for him. But, after the Victoriad Read the latest chapter at Readlightnovel.app !!

I shook my head, unable to decide if Agrona was telling the truth or simply covering up for his mistakes. But the Wraiths

He shrugged, the movement pulling me out of step for a heartbeat. A crucible. The heat needed turned up, so to speak. An entire battle group of Wraiths was just enough to be decisive. Either they would kill him, or he would reveal his strength. If were being honest, I would have been quite disappointed had it been the former.

But you set me the task of finding him, killing him. You knew

As if reading my mindI set my jaw and hardened my will against the possibilityAgrona gave me a concerned, parental look and said, You and Grey need each other now, Cecilia. You are the hammer, he the anvil. It is where you meet that the truth of power in this world will be revealed.