"Your disciple is good, Master Aodhfionn." The sect leader of Demeter's Blessing said with a smile. She was the granny sitting next to Ezio. "Why don't you send him to our sect, we will nurture him in cultivation, while you teach him smithing."
"If he wants so." Aodhfionn shrugged his shoulders.
"My master is old, Grandma. I need to be around to take care of him. Sadly, I don't have time at all." Ezio said good-naturedly.
"That is too bad." The granny said with genuine sadness. "You will still join the expedition next year, right?"
"Hmm?" Ezio asked in confusion. His master didn't mention any expeditions, so he didn't know anything about it. Seeing his confusion, granny explained.
"Every ten years, a special domain opens in the Kingdom. It is filled with richness and opportunities. So, Four Greatest Sect, Royal Family, and some masters send their disciples to have their fortuitous encounters in the domain. But because there is a quota, we need to have this tournament to decide who gets to go." She said and added, "Once, one of the Knights of the Royal Family, acquired a title in the domain. That might be the biggest reward of all."
"A title?" Ezio asked as confused.
"Oh, you don't know?" Princess Moon looked at Ezio as she smiled sweetly. "There are some titles that have no value in this world, for example, my title as Princess and my fiance as Prince.
But there are some titles that can only be acquired by the blessing of gods. These titles bestow abilities and powers to the helder. For example, the day I was born, I was blessed by the Moon Goddess and acquired the title, Princess Moon.
It is not a mere word, the title allowed me to control the Yin element without even awakening my first Signium. And when I first entered the Signium Universe, I started at the Fourth Curtain. Even a special Signium, which could not be acquired by anyone else, nudged my soul towards itself and allowed me to awaken Moon Goddess's Bow as my first Signium." To prove her points, she displayed her first Signium. The Green Hue around the Signium was enough to prove its Curtain. The beautiful crescent moon in the shape of a bow looked so amazing.
Ezio thought of something and turned to look at his master. Aodhfionn nodded slightly as he answered his inquiries with telepathy, "My Last Signium also came because of my title. That is why it is impossible to impart."
Ezio looked down in understanding. He was always baffled about this, but now it got so clear, that it also cleared some of the doubts he had. He had two titles from birth, and he always thought they were something to do with Mysterious Room, but it turned out they were not. He knew Shrouded By Darkness allowed him to hide some of the powers he had.
For example, despite suspecting him, Abbot had never felt his mana. It was because he hid it with this ability. He also wanted to test his powers when he tried to hide the curtain of his first Signium and it worked too. Despite being from the 5th Curtain, he could show it as from the 4th. That was heaven-defying, but it was also dangerous. Who bestowed him these titles?
"Of course, these are not the only benefits of the tournament. After all, the quota is quite big." Prince Consort said from the side. "We want Young Heros like you to put out their best, so this time, I will personally gift a Ginseng Body Root to the first place."
As soon as Xiao Chen said that, a commotion started in the room. Not only the disciples, but even the sect leaders also looked at Prince Consort in disbelief. Ezio saw his master change in posture in interest.
"What is it, Master?" He asked telepathically.
"It is a treasure that can strengthen yer body, lad. Great stuff for blacksmiths like us."
"Is it rare?" He couldn't help but ask.
"So rare." Aodhfionn nodded. "Ah would normally convince ye not to show all yer power but this is too tempting."
"There is more to it, isn't there?" Ezio asked as he understood something was going on.
"It is an old legend." The dwarf master sighed as he narrated, "It is said there is a hidden treasure inside the domain. This is a story from thousands of years back, from the time this land was ruled by a single entity. Back then, it was called Purple Lands and its ruler was a person who could challenge Empire Tier lands.
That strong man, one day felt his demise was near and hid his heritage inside the domain. He gave the keys of his heritage to his five most trusted aides to be unlocked when a worthy person was unearthed. But after the master's demise, the five aides all turned to each other in greed. No one wanted to hand over the heritage that could create the new powerhouse.
Those five aides battled and schemed against each other until the land was destroyed and split into smaller Kingdoms, but the five organizations representing these five aides always remained."
"Are they?" Ezio asked in disbelief.
"Aye. Four Sects and the Royal Family are extensions of those five aides." Aodhfionn nodded. Although their bloodlines changed and what remained is different than before, the greed of those people had never diminished. For thousands of years, five keys never merged.
The thing is, to enter the domain, five keys must be present. It means that five keys were entering the domain for thousands of years, but no one was able to find the heritage site and have the key at the same time. But I feel like something is different this time. Things are changing, little lad. Be careful in there." Aodhfionn's voice sounded tired.
Ezio looked at his master in worry then his gaze caught the smiling Prince Consort. 'It is all you, I know it.'