"Just what the hell is going on?!"
All the previous atmosphere was already stressful, yet it still put Fen in a rather good mood. Regretfully, it all shattered once he returned to the main hall. What used to be a comfortable place filled to the brim with wonders, turned into something he feared the most.
A commotion.
"Calm down, master. I really have the reason…"
For the very first time, since Fen got to know Mark, he saw his saviour in a defensive position. This middle-aged arcanist had hands raised in front of him, in what looked like an attempt to explain himself to his apparent master.
"Don't you know how busy I am?!"
Standing above Mark, someone who would otherwise look like an old and sympathetic elder, was in his full rage mode. This strange visitor continuously swung his cane around, in the clear sign of fury.
"Master, it's really something I need you to see. Someone…"
It all suddenly ended. As if Mark's recent words instantly changed the entire scene, both of the men noticed Fen's presence. In this one single moment, this strange old man turned from a berserker to a perfect example of a serious, old sage.
"I get it."
With this single, short sentence, the old man looked as if he understood that this wasn't just a prank of his old disciple.
"What happened?"
Mark's master asked, supporting his weight with the extravagantly decorated cane. Despite being only a small element of this man's presence, it instantly drew the attention of anyone who dared to look at it. There wasn't even a single piece of gold or jewellery on it. Just the way in which this simple stick was carved, made one wonder about the limits of human mystery in art.
"I've met this boy on the road, completely exhausted and dying. Yet, I noticed his fire."
Turning into a perfect example of a younger officer reporting to the headquarters, Mark detailed the outline of the recent events to his master.
"I know that something else had to happen. If this matter was so simple, you wouldn't send for me."
'So this is Hekarion, huh…'
There was no way for him to be anyone else. Announced by Nadia, referred to with great respect by the two of them… Unsurprisingly, Fen didn't feel comfortable. For all he knew, this old man was someone who could see through him. See who he really was. Not a failed arcanist initiate, but someone who was most likely a true heretic!
Fen never doubted that point. There was no legends about Draconic believers reincarnating. Even if such events would be kept secret, some kind of rumours would always appear. Yet, there was nothing.
"There are two points I need to mention."
Mark lowered his head, before raising it and looking at his mentor sharply.
"His fire should already be on the sixth grade, that's one."
Raising his hand, palm towards Hekarion, Mark lowered all his fingers but one.
"Secondly, If his history is true, he never got to go through the entire rite, only unlocking his talent partially. And still, he was the only one, despite a fully-fledged arcanist being with him, surviving the ordeal."
Extending his second finger, Mark gazed at Fen, with an intense look. Yet, what was even worse, Hekarion followed suit.
The stare of this man seemed to penetrate through the entire young man. It was as if his entire existence was revealed to those serious, blue eyes.
"What's your name, boy?"
Unable to hide anything from this gaze, the young arcanist couldn't help but avert his eyes.
"Fen… Sir."
Not sure how to defend against such thing, Mark's protegee shivered, before moving his entire face to the side.
"If that's the case, then there is no time to waste. Mark, bring all the gold that you have on you. We are departing for the cathedral in two minutes."
The way in which Hekarion's mood could switch within a second was both insanely strange and fascinating. It was as if he never wasted any time to process what was going on around him, reacting to it instantly.
"You can move out right away."
Reaching towards the locked shelf in the room, Nadia suddenly interrupted the commotion. In the next moment, she threw a sack full of coins towards her acquaintance.
"I think this will be enough."
Throwing those words just like the pouch from a moment ago, this strange female turned around and escaped from the room. Looking at the bag full of coins, identical to the one he paid just a few moments ago, Mark only shook his head and looked at his master.
"Let's go."
As usual, not wasting even a single second, Hekarion moved towards the doors and brought the entire company with him. Once again pulled into the dense crowd of the streets, this time, Fen experienced something entirely different.
With Hekarion walking hurriedly through the street, everyone instantly would give way to this strange man. It was as if he was a rock amidst the sea, relentlessly cutting the waves in half.
This image alone was enough to keep Fen stunned for nearly the entire trip. Only when the trio started crossing a huge bridge, the young man calmed down enough to look where he even was.
"Woah…"
Unable to hold back his amazement, Fen exclaimed. Only when the deed was done, did he realise that his voice actually escaped from his mouth. Surprisingly, Hekarion visibly smiled, as if the magnificent sight appearing before them was partially his own achievement.
"This should be one of the most precious moments in one's path to arcanism…"
Shaking his head, the old man's lips clearly dropped down. With his face darkening with every step they took towards what seemed like a tower reaching the skies, he finally muttered.
"Too bad that it won't be the case for you…"
It would be hard to imagine a sentence more infused with regret and surprisingly a determination. Yet, no matter how badly Hekarion's mood worsened, he still kept going forward, all the way to the massive doors of what looked like a temple.
"Welcome in the Sanctum Draconium."
Right as soon as the doors opened, a young man in a simple yet clearly high-quality robes came to greet them up. Extending his hand towards the middle of the building, the priest pointed out at something that Fen would never consider to be possible.
Despite how insanely amazing the temple was from the outside, compared to what this place was in reality, this initial sight would simply vanish from one's mind.
Stretching at least seventy meters into the skies, completely covered by the dome of the cathedral, was nothing more but just a skull of an enormous dragon. But it was the sight of what was below, that could easily make one lose his mind.
For as far as an eye could see, the rest of this insane skeleton occupied an endless hole. It was hard to even imagine something that mindlessly big actually being alive!
'Just how could it die…'
To support such an enormous body, one would need practically unbelievable amount of living energy. For a living being, just its size alone would ensure its eternal life.
"How could we be of service?"
Bowing deeply before the trio, the young priest nearly bent himself in half.
"We came to use one of the blood ponds. We are in urgent need of time."
Instantly showing his dignified face, Hekarion commanded. Sadly enough, as soon as his voice resounded within the vast interior of the Cathedral, a new, female voice appeared.
"It's an honour to see you, sage Hekarion."
Just by slightly bowing, this new figurine surrounded by a circle of beauties in church's robes, that looked like if they were only the frame for the unbelievable beauty of the relatively young female in charge.
"It's been a while, Mark."
As if there weren't enough surprises for today, the female looked at Fen's saviour, with a strange look in her eyes.
"Excuse me, but we have a really urgent matter. Would you mind letting us use one of the Sacred Ponds?"
Despite obviously speaking about the ponds mentioned before, Mark used a different name.
"It depends. Come inside and enlighten me, just what could cause such a hurry?