The long night filled with food and drinks was finally coming to an end. Leona was sprawled on the couch in front of the fireplace with Kaeli reading a book beside her.
"Ugh…" Leona was mumbling to herself with her right hand on top of her bloated belly. "I ate too much…"
Although Kaeli wasn't looking directly at her, she had a smile on her face as she spoke.
"Master was always someone that made a lot of food for everyone. I remember the first time I began my studies under him, he prepared a feast for me to eat with his daughters."
"I see…" Leona tilted her head to the side as she stared at the crackling fireplace. The warmth made her feel cozy and somewhat sleepy. "Say Kaeli, why haven't you talked with your sister yet? Wasn't she the sole reason you became a strong mage in the first place?"
She could see hesitation in her hands as she slowly closed the book. Her deep blue eyes had a sense of loneliness amidst her gentle gaze.
"After all she went through… I'm sure she needs some time to let it all sink in." She turned towards the swaying flames of the fireplace. "I thought I'd have to live with her blood on my hands but thanks to Master and yourself, not only was I able to finally take this weight off my shoulders but also be reunited with my sister at last. From the bottom of my heart, you have my thanks."
Leona silently stared at the gentle flames as she continued asking.
"Then… I trust the reason why you decided to forsake your oath was to be able to live your life with her?"
"Yes." Her answer was full of conviction and pride. "Even if I had to completely forsake my magic, that would be a small price to pay for everything all of you went through."
That didn't quite sit well with Leona as she had experienced first-hand how powerful Kaeli truly was. Even if she did rely on a dragon god's power, it was solely because of her mastery of magic that she was able to cultivate such tremendous potential.
"Kaeli, would you like to still be Arcadia's arch mage? I don't think I could find someone as talented as you for that position."
At first the high elf turned to her with a raised eyebrow which was followed by a discreet chuckle.
"Surely you jest. At my current power I'm as dangerous as a toddler with magic. Where I stand, I would be more of a hindrance than help."
"You won't need to go into battle. What I want is for magic to become more accessible to everyone in Arcadia." She glanced down at the brown carpet beneath her feet. The dancing shadows cast from the fireplace were oddly calming. "The more I thought about becoming Arcadia's ruler, the more I saw how there were a lot of problems with the kingdom. If only I could make it a fairer place to live. Then people like you, with talent and willing to put it to use, wouldn't be wasted working for the wrong people."
Kaeli had a surprised look on her face as she, too, glanced at the floor near the fireplace.
"To be honest, I don't know if Alexander is quite as evil as you seem to believe." Those words made Leona turn to her with a skeptical glare. "Don't get me wrong, I understand what he did to the demi-humans and Akrapocalis was wrong. But have you ever stopped to think about the reason behind all his actions?"
"His reasons… huh? Does a madman even need any reason to do all the things he did?"
"I know killing off several leaders of opposing noble houses is a grave crime. But if he didn't, those same nobles would still be using the poor for their own ends without the rest of the population ever knowing about it." She spoke with conviction in her eyes. "The same could be said about using mercenaries as cannon fodder against the death angel menace. With Arcadia's army as crippled as it was. It could hardly defend itself, much less aiding in Akrapocalis' defense."
"Even so…" Leona clenched her hand into a tight fist. "How can I ever reconsider when he was the one who killed my parents?"
"I know full well of it." She had a serious expression in her eyes. "But are you willing to hear it?"
Her tone had suddenly become very different from her usual gentle and laidback way of speaking, as if she was holding the key to a pandora's box.
"Huh?" Leona could feel her anxiety. It was as if she was holding a spell about to go off at any moment. "What are you…?"
"Are you willing to know the truth about him?"
Kaeli's conviction had turned into melancholy. In truth, Leona didn't want to hear more than she had to if it was about her sworn enemy. But she knew just how important it was to know her enemy, which prompted her to look at the high elf again and nod once.
"Very well then." She took a deep breath as she started to explain. "Alexander, just like you, had his parents taken away from him. By none other than your father."
At that moment, the tactician's curious gaze became full of hatred.
"What did you say?"
"It is the truth. As much as you don't want to believe. In order to obtain noblehood in Arcadia, one must prove their mettle either by wealth or might. Your father chose the latter."
"No… my father… he was no fighter. He was a-"
"A weapon instructor? It was thanks to your mother's invention of muskets that became the case, but your father had to create them from somewhere and that somewhere was through Lorraine's fortune that was now your father's."
A dreadful sensation was coming up from her stomach as if the food she ate was knocking up on her throat.
"That can't be… my father…"
"I'm not saying that your father was wrong. He too must have had his own circumstances, but the fact remains that he achieved his fortune through killing the patriarch of the house Lorraine."
"Then how come his family's name never disappeared? If my father had truly killed his father then-"
"The Lorraine family was originally a branch of Lothaine's household. Alexander's coup made sure that he alone became leader. I'm sure you probably read somewhere that-"
"-the Lothaines had been wiped out from the demon attack on Windia's province…"Leona leaned with her back on the couch and rubbed her hand against her own face. "No way…"
"Which is ironic, given how they were known as the house of elven knights. Now can you see why only Lorraines have the right to call themselves paladins in Arcadia?"
"...because they are from the Lothaine family…"
"Exactly. They know the secrets of commuting to the dragon god and through it-" She raised her hand and only a small amount of sparks flew from it. "-I, too, was able to become a paladin." She then closed it into a tight fist. "And the rest, you already know of it."
"Wait, something doesn't make sense… wasn't Akantor killed more than a thousand years ago?"
"His body may have perished, but somehow he is still in this world…"
"That dragon's spirit remains anchored to that place thanks to the faith in it." Robert's voice came from behind them which prompted both to look over the couch at him. "Just like I told you two before. The combined belief of many can manifest any deity into reality."
"Robert." Leona had an intense glare that could almost punch a hole through the man's chest. "Is it even possible for a dying god to grant so much power like this?"
"It depends on its whims. Lastraeous surely didn't hold a punch when he gave you a piece of the void's power."
He approached his hand towards her face and flicked his fingers upwards. A strange sensation burst forth from her chest as if her soul was being pulled out from it. Condensed dark red miasma twirled around his index finger like a dancing shadow.
"What the…"
"Powers from the void can linger for a long time if someone or something comes into contact with it." He flicked his hand and the shadow disappeared. "My own aetherial existence is thanks to a combination of the void and condensed mana." He tapped the front of his shirt twice and walked around the couch to sit on the armchair on the opposite side to them. "But that's beside the point. You wanted to know about Akantor, correct? He is the eldest of Valkahaz' first brood. Revered as king of dragons for his might alone." He scoffed after he finished saying that. "Though he couldn't hold a candle against his father."
Leona leaned forward with her hand on her chin.
'Valkahaz… where have I heard that name before?' Memories came rushing through her mind as she repeated Avalon's sword inside her head. 'Sylphia. The youngest dragon of Valkahaz' brood.'
She then turned to him with a spark in her eyes.
"Can you humor me with a question, Robert?"
"Hm? You seem to have something interesting in your mind." He was bringing a book from upstairs with his gravity magic to read before he flicked his hand and the reading material simply rested on the round table before turning his full attention to her. "Ask away. What is it?"
"You mentioned certain beings can outlive their physical bodies if there is enough faith to support their spiritual self correct?"
"Yes, that was exactly what I said."
"Then, does that mean Sylphia's spirit is still around?"
"Ho?" A smirk began to appear in his mouth. "Pray tell, what would you do if she was?"
"Couldn't we forge a pact with her? Just how Alexander is able to harness Akantor's power, then we-"
"Whoa stop right there." He raised his hand with a somewhat disappointed expression. "I don't think you fully understand what encompasses to become a god's champion."
"What do you mean?"
"The more you rely on a god's power, the more like that god you become." He opened his right and left palm as he extended both hands out. "It's like a balancing act that requires many believers of said faith or entity. The more worshippers you have, the stronger their influence over the material world is and in turn, all their followers also grow more powerful. But let's say that you were to take a lingering dragon's soul to yourself, what would happen to you then? Is your soul alone equal to a dragon that lived thousands of years?"
"...what would happen to me, hypothetically speaking?"
"Worst case scenario, your body would disintegrate from the abundance of mana and the best case scenario would have you become Sylphia's puppet. Though the latter doesn't seem all that bad considering the other possible outcomes."
Her bandaged left arm began to throb which prompted her to scratch near the severed off part.
"How am I even supposed to do this then…?"
Robert flicked his hand and the book laying on top of the round table came flying towards his hand. He pulled a piece of flat wood that he kept on a bookmarked page as he opened it.
"Don't rush things. I told you, you would stay here for at least a month." He scratched the side of his temple as he was focusing on reading. "Just continue training diligently with Yuna for the time being. It'll pay off, I assure you."
"A month is too much time." Leona said with conviction. "I agreed to train here because I am truly lacking in power, but I need to go back to Arcadia as soon as possible-"
"To die?" He asked while flipping a page. "I know you are desperate, but that doesn't mean you should jump at the first opportunity you can to seize power. Everything comes at a cost and unless you are willing to pay it with your mind and body, I suggest following my advice. Do not rush things, you must nurture your own strength before trying to rely on others."
"But then-"
"Tell you what." He lowered his book and looked her in the eyes. "You defeat either of my daughters in single combat and you have earned yourself a free ticket back to Astera, by yours truly."
"Can you do that?"
He sighed before bookmarking the page he was on and leaving the closed book on a small wooden table to his left. He then stood up and adjusted his robe.
"Kaeli."
He looked at her which made her straighten her back.
"Y-yes?"
"If anyone asks, tell them me and Leona here are out for a stroll."
"U-understood."
Leona raised an eyebrow as he approached her.
"You can't possibly be serious…"
"Oh I am dead serious." He touched her on her left shoulder with his right hand. "What I particularly dislike is when someone doubts my abilities."
"No- wait- don-"
He snapped his fingers and they were gone in the blink of an eye.