Seeing his reaction, Sienna giggled. “No need to worry, you’ll understand everything soon enough.”
And with that, she snapped her fingers. The world turned bright for both Soren and Myrin as their vision was covered in the flames of a radiant white star. Just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. Their vision was now replaced by the visage of an ancient cliff-side terrace that overlooked the foggy ruins below.
“H-how…” The comfort of touching ground was overlooked by what Sienna had just accomplished.
Myrin shook his head, “It’s the mistress’ Inherent Ability—Layered Space. She can teleport to any location within the radius of her Soul Realm…”
Hearing his words, all Soren could do was stare blankly in awe. And here I thought my Inherent Ability—The Hermit’s Eye—was amazing…
“Speaking of Inherent Abilities,” Myrin spoke as he glanced over at the menacing metal gate that led into the dungeon. “It seems you figured out how to use yours as well.”
Soren tilted his neck, “What do you mean?”
“Your Hermit’s Eye… It doesn’t just let you see things outside your own perspective, right? That day you unlocked it back in the Feylith Forest… I was able to tell just how useful it would be.”
He followed Myrin and the Mistress who were heading towards where Tina and Candice were standing. His frown deepened by the second.
“You… figured that out all the way back then? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Myrin shook his head, “My own Inherent Ability makes me very perceptive to the inner thoughts of others. And naturally, that means I could sense the difference that ability created within your Soul Realm—so yes, it was fairly easy for me to figure out. As for why I didn’t tell you…” He smiled devilishly and shrugged, “Probably because I knew you’d figure it out on your own?”
Soren clicked his tongue, “You haven’t changed one bit after that expedition. I thought risking your life in the Avalon Ruins would humble you a bit.”
“The lord of unwavering ego is telling me to be humble?” Myrin chuckled. “As for changes—you’re right. I didn’t change much. You on the other hand…” He glanced back at him—his eyes trailing up and down Soren’s body like a scanning machine.
He rolled his eyes. “Just say what you want to say.”
Myrin sighed. “Are you sure you didn’t sign a contract with a demon? What in the six divines happened during the month we were away?”
His first question made him flinch, but he quickly recomposed himself. “What happened, huh… A lot actually.” His lips pulled up into a smile—one that was impossible for even himself to believe was real.
Myrin glanced at him for another second then smiled as well. “At least tell me this—how many spells do you have in your grimoire now?”
Soren looked him in the eye—his answer making him quiver:
“Four.”
“Four?!” Myrin repeated. “How is that even possible…” His face said it all—fear, awe and surprising mixing in his expression.
Even Sienna glanced back a bit after hearing that answer. Her chuckle softened the afterbattle mood even more. “Hear that, Myrin? I heard Cassia also made it to the 3rd Circle while we were away. If you keep slacking off, they might both catch up to you!~”
Myrin crossed his arms and looked away, “If I wanted to, I could have easily reached the 4th Circle by now…”
Soren chuckled and looked down at Cassia who he was carrying in his arms. He still couldn’t believe how light she was, despite all the burdens she carries.
I might have been fast in my advancement, but that’s mainly due to me being reckless and taking advantage of things most have no access to… Cassia on the other hand had no such assistance… She rose to the 3rd Circle through effort and dedication alone…
And her achievements tonight had also proven her worthy of being the disciple of the last Witch of Star Fate.
“The 4th Circle, huh?” Soren chuckled. “I’m aiming for the 9th, though.”
Both of them stopped in their tracks. This was not a declaration they were expecting. While Myrin’s face was full of shock, it was Sienna’s reaction that intrigued Soren the most.
He couldn’t tell what it was that she was thinking at that moment. Awe, inspiration, worry?.. Or perhaps joy that her apprentice was that passionate. Either way, her smile radiated both warmth and a chilling sensation all at once.
“You wish to reach the pinnacle of magecraft, the absolute zenith of willpower?”
Soren furrowed his brows, “Why else would one strive to better themselves if not to achieve the best they can? What about you, Mistress Sienna? Do you not wish to obtain the title of Archmage someday?”
Sienna chuckled, “It isn’t a matter of wishing. But a matter of consequences and price. And the price to power for us magi is our sanity.” She glanced up at the vibrant Silver Moon–her smile widening.
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“The mistress you know today may not be the same one who emerges at the next stage.”
He looked into her star-filled eyes for a moment then sighed. The headless statue of a once venerated goddess stood plainly before them all—casting its shadow, as if awaiting the answer of the young man in anticipation with the rest.
“If sanity is the price, I’ve already sold it long ago. What remains is a soul willing to morph into any shape it desires.” He chuckled and walked past both Sienna and Myrin.
“My affinity is that of deception, after all. And to deceive others, I must first deceive myself. Even if my identity becomes warped and unrecognizable, the core will remain the same.”
He turned to face both of them while holding onto his cone hat. An eerie smile taking over his face:
“A scribe and traveler—that is what I am, and what I will remain even if everything else changes.”
Hearing his words, Sienna giggled. She whispered faintly, “Perhaps Myrin isn’t the only one that needed advice.”
“There you are!” Tina ran up to them from a distance. Unexpectedly, she threw herself at Soren, hugging him tightly. “I am so glad you’re safe! What the hell is up with you anyway?! Going into a battle against those weirdos?!” She glanced down angrily at Cassia who was wrapped in between them.
“And her… I can’t believe that little girl would charge in like that. Are both of you insane?!”
Soren tried to push her away but her grip was as monstrous as ever. He had forgotten just how strong Tina was.
“I-I am fine! We didn’t go in there without a plan either! We used everything we had to defeat the enemy… Although some issues did come up later, everything is fine!”
Tina’s brows furrowed as she looked up and down at both of them. The doubt in her eyes was obvious from miles away.
“Stop babying them,” a chuckle was heard from behind—Myrin. “Cassia is a 3rd Circle magus now. And Soren has also miraculously reached the 1st Circle. They aren’t some cute hatchlings—both of them are monsters.”
Tina clicked her tongue, “And what about you? Stuck in the 3rd Circle at your age, aren’t you ashamed to be their Senior Apprentice!?”
Myrin flinched. “I-l’ll work on it, okay?! Stop nagging me!”
Sienna chuckled as she listened to their banter. She glanced over at Soren who was busy massaging his shoulders from Tina’s monstrous grip.
“Leave Cassia with them. We have much to discuss alone for now.”
Without waiting for his consent, the world turned white once again. Soren noticed that he was now alone, and not on the familiar cliff-side terrace.
He glanced around in shock—all around him, crimson trees of all shades could be seen, mixed with colossal luminescent mushrooms that glowed fainting in between the sea of leaves. It was a dark forest, covered overhead by the light of countless moving constellations.
Soren immediately recognized the place. It was Sienna’s underground eden. He turned around to see the usual marble canopy—filled to the brim with books and scrolls that seemed to have leaked out into the courtyard outside.
At the center of it all, the visage of an ethereal woman stood out to him. Illuminated by the brilliance of the nine orbiting stars, she glanced over at him and smiled.
Soren let go of his hesitation and approached the canopy. For the longest time, he dreaded this conversation. It was obvious that she was aware of many things in regards to the incidents he had to deal with during that month and a half, which meant that many of his secrets would be at risk of getting exposed.
But after what had happened with Guntharion, Soren decided to abandon these thoughts. Trying to stubbornly hide information that was impossible to hide to begin with was useless. Instead, he decided to try a more proactive approach.
As Tazzith usually said, all knowledge comes with an inherent value. And sometimes, you have to invest that value to profit in the long term…
“It seems you have a lot of questions for me as well,” Sienna spoke casually. “That’s good. It will make our conversation flow smoothly.”
Soren stepped inside the canopy and quietly nodded. He glanced over at her again, this time to try and see if he could pry anything from her expression. However, that proved to be a fruitless endeavor. Her eyes were unreadable.
He sat down before her as one would in front of their master.
“Where should we begin? I assume you’ve heard the basics of what had transpired during the Crimson Ritual Incident. Or would you like to hear about the things that happened prior to that first?”
Sienna shook her head with a smile. “Before all of that, I want to ask you a question. Please be honest with me
“You… signed a contract with a demon, correct?”
Soren’s eyes widened. He stared back into her star-flooded eyes, looking for any hint of escape, but it proved worthless.
He sighed, “You guessed correctly.” Soren gripped tightly to his Soul Weapon, ready to activate [The Faerie Court] if she had shown even the slightest of aggression.
Hearing this however, Sienna looked at him faintly for a few seconds and frowned. She covered her face with her hand and sighed. “Too quick… The acceleration… It has gotten worse…”
Soren tilted his neck. “What… do you mean?”
She glanced back at him, this time, her eyes were full of pity. “Soren… I already foresaw this happening in an earlier prophecy. I just didn’t think it would be so soon…”
“What?..” Her words left him speechless.
Sienna nodded. “It’s hard to explain, but as you know, my prophecies… They aren’t exactly accurate in their details. I could see glimpses of things, but they are usually not complete.” She leaned back against the edge of the canopy. “Many of the Star Fate Witches that came before me theorized that it has to do with how the orbits operate…”
“The influences, right?” Soren answered. “It's due to the fluctuations that influence the orbits. Namely, how each fate star interacts with those in and around its orbit.”
Sienna stared at him for a second then nodded. “Correct. It seems my prophecy really did come true. You have messed with the orbits, haven’t you?”
Soren nodded. “During my confrontation with the Whispering Dream, I was able to twist the orbits slightly in my favor. Albeit, the influence I could exert, even with the help of the demon I contracted, could only change the outcome by a little. The larger result—the destruction of this world—is still fated to occur sooner or later.”
Sienna flicked her silver hair behind her ear. “I assume you were about to find all of this out through divination? But a being that is a part of this world cannot view the world’s fate in its entirety. In my case, my prophecies rely on a Mystery that my Soul Weapon grants me.”
Soren frowned. He understood what exactly she was insinuating. That for him to achieve that level of divination, he would have had to be outside the purview of Yarian entirely… Something that would have been impossible for any other magus to achieve…
Seeing her awaiting his answer, Soren sighed. “Yes. That is exactly correct. I… have the ability to travel outside of this world.”