"Former disciple?" The words hung in the air, sending a ripple of shock through everyone. Even Duke Salazar, who had lived for 500 years in the Kederawen kingdom, couldn't hide his surprise. For as long as he'd known Eldric, the Grand Magus, he had never heard of him having a disciple.
"Eldric... with a disciple?" Salazar thought, narrowing his eyes. The idea seemed impossible. Eldric was always consumed by his magical experiments and endless research. Him having a disciple, It just didn't fit the image of the man he knew.
Duke Salazar thought to himself, 'I've never heard a single word about this disciple that Lord Eldric is speaking of. It can only mean one thing—any records of him have been deliberately erased. It must be a taboo subject, something even my father kept silent about, and he was a good friend of Eldric and knew him well.'
Salazar's father had passed away two centuries ago, having lived for nearly two millennia as a Rank-4 Archmage. In all that time, he had never once mentioned anything about Eldric's disciple to him.
Salazar's thoughts raced as he tried to know about Eldric having a successor. "If such a disciple existed, then what did he do to make Why him a forbidden subject to talk about," Salazar mused to himself.
The silence thickened as everyone processed this bombshell. Aiden, Lora, and the others exchanged glances, each trying to make sense of Eldric's revelation.
Breaking the tension, Eldric clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention back to him. His voice was firm, yet distant, as if he was weighing his next words carefully. "For now, we need to focus on our immediate goal—getting to the capital. I'll explain everything when the right time comes," he said, his eyes drifting toward the horizon where the remnants of Aiden's fiery explosion still lingered in the sky.
"Edvard," Eldric continued, "Take them back to the airships. I'll catch up shortly."
Edvard gave a nod, motioning for the others to follow. As they began walking back, Diss wiped at the corners of his eyes, trying to keep up while muttering something about all the running he had to do.
Lora, feeling unsettled, hesitated for a moment. She glanced back at her grandfather, who still stood motionless, gazing into the sky as if searching for answers in the swirling clouds. "Grandfather…" she called out, her voice soft, but Eldric didn't respond. His focus remained fixed ahead.
Aiden started walking with Edvard but then turned as well. "Eldric," he said, his tone more serious, "You owe us an explanation."
Eldric didn't turn to face him, but his head dipped slightly in acknowledgment. "Soon," he murmured, his voice barely audible, but resolute.
Swoosh Swoosh
Lora and Aiden finally turned away, racing to catch up with the others. The rooftop was now left with just Eldric, Vito, and Salazar.
Salazar, torn between curiosity and respect, kept his silence. He knew this was a delicate matter and didn't want to pry prematurely. Vito, leaning against a nearby post with his arms crossed, seemed more relaxed, but his eyes held a glimmer of unease.
It was Eldric who broke the silence first, his voice cold and filled with a heavy sense of finality. "It seems he wants to pick up right where we left off… one thousand years ago."
Vito sighed deeply, rubbing his temple as if an old headache had resurfaced. He glanced at Salazar, who was still absorbing the weight of Eldric's words. The Duke was an experienced man, but this… this was something entirely different.
"You must be curious, Admonius boy," Vito said, his tone lighter than before but still carrying the gravity of the situation. "I don't blame you. It's the first time you're hearing about any of this, isn't it?"
Admonius' brow furrowed as he tried to piece things together. "It's the first time I've ever heard about this," he said, confusion lacing his voice. "How could something as important as Lord Eldric's disciple be erased from history like this? It makes no sense."
Vito leaned back, arms crossed. "Well, you were born five hundred years ago. It's no surprise you wouldn't know. He doesn't exist in any records, and I doubt your father would've mentioned it. Every noble in this kingdom, along with the king, swore an oath to God to never speak of it."
Admonius's eyes widened at Vito's words. "An oath to God?" His voice wavered, the weight of such a thing sinking in. In the world of Sarna, an oath to God was no trivial matter. It was binding, sacred. In the whole of the western continent, people prayed to a single, unknowable God, revered by his ninety-nine perfect names.
He knew that invoking an oath to God was a rare and dangerous thing. To swear such an oath meant eternal damnation if broken. The idea that his father, and the nobles of the kingdom, had bound themselves by this sacred promise over Eldric's disciple made his heart race.
"But why?" Admonius couldn't help but ask, his curiosity now burning. "Why would all the nobles take such a powerful oath? What could Lord Eldric's disciple have done that his very existence was erased?"
Vito opened his mouth to answer, but Eldric spoke first, his voice cold and somber. "He killed his fellow disciple, poisoned his master, committed mass genocide... and worse. Things I still don't like to speak of."
Admonius went pale. The weight of Eldric's words hit him like a hammer. The disciple's crimes were unimaginable, and the fact that they had been concealed so thoroughly suddenly made sense. Compared to Eldric, known as the great hero of the kingdom, his disciple was the embodiment of treachery and evil.
Eldric, still staring off into the distance, clenched his fists ever so slightly. "He was promising... too promising. But power and ambition don't always mix well. When a disciple becomes a threat to everything you've built… sometimes the only choice is to erase them."
Salazar's eyes widened. He had expected some dark story, but this was deeper, more dangerous than he had imagined. The disciple, whoever he was, had clearly become an enemy that threatens Eldric and everyone he cares about.
"But now," Eldric continued, his voice low and filled with old wounds, "it seems he's resurfaced, and he wants to finish what he started."
Vito crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in thought. "Are you sure he's not just testing you, Eldric? He may want more than just picking up where you left off."
Eldric finally turned to face them, his expression grim. "Whatever his reasons, we'll have to face him. And this time, we can't afford to fail."
Eldric then looked at the Duke, his eyes weary and filled with a sorrow that Admonius had never seen in the legendary mage before. "Duke," Eldric said, his tone heavy with emotion, "I ask you not to speak of what happened here today. Will you honor this request from an old man?"
Admonius hesitated, feeling the weight of the moment. He had never seen Eldric so vulnerable, so human. The great mage, who always seemed invincible, now appeared as an old man burdened by a lifetime of regret and loss.
"I would never dare to betray your trust, Lord Eldric," Admonius said, his voice soft but resolute. "I'll take this secret with me to my grave."
A small, genuine smile tugged at Eldric's lips, and for a moment, he let out a quiet chuckle. "No need to die just yet," he said, trying to light the mood.
Vito and Admonius exchanged relieved smiles as Eldric seemed to regain his usual composure, the brief vulnerability slipping away.
"Well, Admonius boy," Vito said, clapping the Duke on the shoulder, "it's been good catching up, but we've got to head back. We'll see you at the marriage ceremony soon enough."
Admonius nodded. "Of course, Lord Vito. I'll be there. In the meantime, I'll start gathering more information about the unrest on the northern border. I have a feeling it's tied to what's happening in the capital."
"Good," Eldric said, giving the Duke a nod. "We're counting on you."
"I won't let you down. Safe travels, Lord Eldric, Lord Vito," Admonius said, bowing as the two powerful men took to the skies.
As he watched them disappear into the horizon, Admonius couldn't shake the sense that something monumental was looming. The months ahead would not be easy, and the events that had transpired today only solidified his growing suspicion. "Something big is coming," he muttered to himself. "And we're all going to be caught in the middle of it."
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Vito flew alongside Eldric as they made their way back to the ship. "I hope you're ready this time, Eldric," Vito said, his tone unusually somber. "We can't let him slip away like before."
Eldric chuckled at Vito's rare display of seriousness. "You're the one talking about being ready? It's not often I see you so earnest. You should be more worried about keeping your wayward disciples in line rather than fussing over me."
Vito shrugged, a smirk playing at his lips. "My disciples are scattered all over the continent, chasing after whatever thrill or challenge they can find. I'm not worried about them."
"Oh, is that so?" Eldric teased, raising an eyebrow. "Trying to downplay your concern, are we?"
Vito's cheeks flushed slightly as he shot Eldric a glare. "What nonsense are you spouting now, you crazy old mage?"
Eldric's grin widened, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, rumor has it that the Snake Saint hasn't shown his face at the summer festival in the Agung Empire for a few years now. Word is, he's been grumbling about some 'windy sword bastard' who took his arm. I wonder who that could be, hmm?"
Vito's face turned even redder, and he muttered something under his breath. He knew better than to try to outtalk Eldric in a verbal sparring match. Instead, he clenched his fists, choosing to silently curse his old friend.
"Alright, alright," Vito grumbled, trying to steer the conversation away from his encounter with the Snake Saint. "But what about Lora? Are you going to tell her about... everything? She has a right to know, doesn't she?"
Eldric's smile faded, his expression turning serious as he mulled over Vito's words. A heavy silence hung between them for a moment, the weight of the truth pressing down on them. Finally, Eldric sighed, the burden evident in his voice. "I'll think about it."
"Good," Vito nodded, his tone softening. "You need to deal with this, my friend. For her sake and yours."
Eldric's laughter rang out, a hint of his usual lightheartedness returning. "Hahaha, I'll need your help with that, old friend. I'm not as young as I used to be, and it seems I'm in need of strong allies like you more than ever."
Vito scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "As if you'd ever ask for help. You're too damn proud for that. Edvard and I have been cleaning up your messes for years, while you've been napping through half the trouble you caused."
Eldric's smile grew even wider, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Don't be like that. You know you're stronger than me now. You could probably take me out in seconds, right, Mister Golden Wind Saint?"
Vito snorted, waving off the compliment. "Oh, and what about you? The people of today might know you as the 'Magic Professor,' but those of us who've been around long enough remember the real you. 'The Napping Devil,' the only one who managed to take down a four-thousand-year-old Saint Mage while still a half-Saint Mage at the tender age of four hundred."
Eldric shook his head, a nostalgic smile tugging at his lips. "That was a long time ago, Vito. I've mellowed out since then."
Vito's gaze softened as he looked at his old friend, the weight of their shared history hanging between them. "Maybe so, but some things don't change. You've always carried more on your shoulders than anyone should."
Eldric glanced over, his expression gentle. "And you've always been there to help me, even when I didn't ask."
"Someone has to keep you in line," Vito said with a playful smirk, but his eyes betrayed the depth of his feelings.
The two old friends fell into a comfortable silence as they continued their flight, their minds filled with memories of battles fought and hardships endured together. Whatever lay ahead, they knew they would face it side by side, just as they always had.