Chapter – 16
The woman drained the blood of the twelfth troll into a small container.
I swung my dulled sword a few times before sliding it back into its sheath.
It wouldn’t last long; the teeth of the blade were likely too damaged to use properly.
It had been a struggle to cut through the tough muscles and hard bones.
“One… two… three… four… eleven… twelve. All filled.”
“Then let’s head back. Night is approaching.”
We walked along the dim path toward the gate of Kaindea.
The grass around our feet, pale and lifeless, rustled faintly.
The woman hesitated, then spoke.
“Um, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For helping me.”
“If anyone heard, they’d think I helped for free. Trying to slide past without proper acknowledgment isn’t a good habit.”
“…I see what kind of person you are.”
I waved my hand in the air a few times.
I hadn’t done it for thanks. What I wanted was a meeting with the crimson sage Lizewin and some money, not gratitude.
The woman seemed to understand.
“I’ll keep my promise. Come to the entrance of the Mage Tower in one week, at noon. I’ll make sure you meet Lizewin.”
“One week?”
“Well… I can’t say much, but the project the dean is participating in will only finish in a week. Only the mechanical infusion of mana remains, so it won’t be extended.”
“Understood. Don’t even think about backing out.”
“I won’t! I swear by mana!”
“Then do as you say.”
The woman ground her teeth and traced a magical seal in the air.
Water-like mana swirled around her.
A promise only those sensitive to mana could make.
A vow to mana.
Breaking it would make her an enemy of mana itself—an absolute oath.
Mana does not forgive convenience; it cannot be undone.
Even if the other party says they don’t need to fulfill it.
Such techniques are almost taboo.
It’s a huge impertinence even to ask someone to do it.
That’s why she hadn’t brought it up before fighting the trolls; yet she had offered it first—there was no reason to stop her.
I swear to make the dean of the Eight-Winged Phoenix of Excilin and the man in front of me face each other within seven days.
“You conveniently left out the money part?”
“That’s because I’m giving it to you now, don’t worry.”
The woman took out a small pouch and handed it to me.
Looking inside, it was full of silver coins—enough to see at a glance that it was most of what she had.
I didn’t refuse and stuffed it in.
For a while, I wouldn’t have to worry about money.
After some bickering, we arrived at the gate.
Without hesitation, I passed through it.
I spent another day at the inn.
After a little morning exercise, my eyes fell on the sword leaning in the corner of the bed.
I reached out and pulled it from its sheath.
Its condition was indeed poor.
One wrong swing could ruin it beyond repair.
“…”
Six more days until meeting Lizewin. Time was on my side.
I left the room.
The innkeeper seemed to still be asleep.
I had prepaid a week’s lodging, so leaving wasn’t a problem.
There was an incident in Kaindea, the city of mages.
The Relic of the Ascended episode.
[A special investigation team from the Mage Tower entered the cave. Some lost their color under the dense mana. When did this cave even exist? It was close to the magical city of Kaindea. If this mana flowed into the city, chaos would ensue. Captain Gregor resolved to uncover it all—how it had hidden itself, why it was emitting such mana, every secret of the cave.]
[It started with a flash of red light. A black figure emerged from the innermost part of the cave. At first, it seemed human—but it wasn’t. Its flesh was stripped, bleeding, muscles exposed, eyes wild with madness. Only endless laughter came from its mouth, and the stench of rotting mana filled the air. It could not be called human.]
[Gregor regretted coming. He loathed himself, he loathed the world. This would not have been so frustrating if he were alone—but what about those who had trusted and followed him? Could he sacrifice their lives so easily? With what right? Damn it, run! Everyone! He clenched his teeth, forcing his paralyzed body to move, biting his lips until they bled, but the madness pressing down on him did not waver.]
This episode would occur more than a year later.
A story about an artifact that brings destruction to its owner and surroundings if obtained by the unworthy.
Through this incident, the Mage Tower would lose a large number of mages skilled in wind magic, weakening their influence.
It was not a good outcome.
Knowing how important mages would be against the Three Apostles of the End, I had to prevent it.
I walked slowly along the paved streets of the city.
Golden dawn rose over the jagged mountain ridges, like brush strokes.
Warmth mixed with clear skies. Sunlight brushed against my clothes like feathers.
Soon, I reached the city’s outskirts.
I walked across the plains, recalling the cave described as the resting place of the Relic of the Ascended.
After a couple of hours, I arrived at a cliff at the end of the plains.
There was no more path.
I looked down.
Hot gusts of wind tickled my face.
I checked for solid footing, took several deep breaths, tensed my body, and jumped.
The wind hit mercilessly.
It was thrilling, like riding a rollercoaster with no safety harness.
I kept my wits about me. One chance.
A single misstep meant a fall likely resulting in broken bones or worse.
Thud. The first step was safe.
Barely enough space for one person. No run-up possible.
A few stones fell, wind carried sweat away.
Phew. This was no joke.
I carefully took the next step, then down a bit more, right, down again, left, down, right… ah, there it was.
A patch of green vines tangled unnaturally along the cliff.
I cut through the vines without hesitation.
Inside was a hollow, just enough to call it a chamber.
Finally, I could relax my tense body.
It hadn’t taken long to find it.
Load. Strange Cave.
This cave… how long had it existed in this cliff?
Looking at the dry soil and withered roots, you could tell it had a long history.
A path winding inward caught your eye.
A strange premonition arose.
You felt an eerie sensation, intuitively knowing it was linked to some danger.
Now, you have two choices:
Enter the cave.
You must face unknown dangers alone. Reckless, but all rewards will be yours.Abandon the adventure and leave.
Avoid all danger but gain nothing. You can train or gather allies to minimize risks later.
Your choice: enter the cave.
The cave interior was cool compared to the outside.
It had the eerie, bat-friendly vibe, though nothing seemed alive.
Just dry soil and withered roots. No insects, nothing stirred except the crunch of your boots.
A tomb rather than a cave.
Darkness constricted your chest with fear.
The entrance had long disappeared.
I kept calm.
This was no dungeon. No traps, no monsters.
Ghosts? Not something to fear in Istalnisia.
Nothing to be afraid of.
Finally, my racing heart calmed.
No traps, no monsters.
But the treasure remained.
After ten minutes, the torchlight hit the wall.
The cave ended.
A lifeless wall. A one-meter-long sword embedded horizontally.
I grabbed it with my left hand without hesitation.
Load. Trial of the Ascended.
Long ago, before written language, someone first discovered mana and manifested magic.
No one knows exactly what he did—too ancient.
Mages call him the Ascended.
Records show he was obsessed with immortality.
Like most mages, he was undeniably insane. He divided his soul and body into two vessels for immortality.
The sword you hold contains his soul. If it touches anyone without its owner’s command, it will test them.
Yes, the Ascended’s soul seeks to test you!
If it deems you unfit, your soul will be devoured, leaving your body a bloodthirsty monster.
Pass the trial if you wish to survive.
A colorless wave pulsed from the sword into the cave.
The cave’s confined space made the wave cry like wind, extinguishing my torch.
Now only the stub remained, discarded.
The sword’s sinister energy crept along my arm.
A red ripple coiled around my left arm like a snake.
My senses dulled, my hand sticky, impossible to move freely.
Black holograms flooded my vision.
“The Ascended’s soul is disappointed by the meager mana in your body. You cannot even cast a spell he boasted of.”
“The Ascended’s soul is disappointed by the knowledge in your body. Not even a single line of a low-level grimoire resides within you.”
“The Ascended’s soul reviewed the merit of your ancestors in your blood… and was disappointed. Your ancestors achieved nothing worth noting.”
“The Ascended’s soul reviewed your accomplishments and was disappointed. You have walked none of the paths of a world-saver, evil vanquisher, seeker of truth, manipulator of nature, or shaper of the world.”
Quickly devise another method or your soul will be captured. Act now!
