Andrew eventually regained his calm after a few minutes.
Taking a deep breath, he gazed at Aeon's spiritual projection and pondered, "My mother's message was explicit, but how did she know I would come here and meet you? What if I had not explored this inheritance ground? Would her plans have fallen through?"
"Young man, you seem to underestimate the power of high-level sorcerers," Aeon stated firmly. "They possess the ability to cast spells that can achieve the impossible, such as linking the fate trajectories of two entities."
"Despite my extensive experiences, I must admit your mother's extraordinary abilities left me perplexed. If she had wanted us to meet, there was no way for you to avoid it. It's highly probable that she used a sophisticated inevitability spell to ensure our paths crossed, even if you had tried to resist it."
"It is crucial to understand that spells that manipulate one's fate can be hard to notice, particularly for novice sorcerers. Initially, you may not even realize that you are being affected by them since they will appear as a series of minor coincidences. But soon enough, you may find yourself unconsciously obeying the spell caster's every whim."
The sorcerer from times long gone looked at Andrew intently before continuing, "If I'm not mistaken, a chain of seemingly unrelated events brought you here. Perhaps you were walking down a certain path when you encountered a young girl who pointed out something unusual about a specific spot. This incident prompted you to investigate further, and eventually, you stumbled upon a portal that brought you to this very dimension. Am I correct?"
Andrew agreed and proceeded to recount his recent encounter with the assassins. As he spoke, he brought out the shadow orb he had seized from them and presented it to Aeon as evidence.
Aeon listened intently, nodding as Andrew finished recounting his strange experiences. "Your mother's sorcery is responsible for all these odd occurrences. She tethered your fate to mine, ensuring that our paths would cross. Even death couldn't prevent our meeting, it seems."
"What?" Andrew's heart lurched at the unexpected statement, but he quickly regained his composure and stared at the ancient sorcerer. He forcefully made every conscious effort to conceal any emotions and maintain a poker face, hoping to appear calm and collected despite his confusion.
"You heard me," said Aeon's spiritual projection, flashing what Andrew now recognized as the ancient sorcerer's self-assured smile. "It really seems that even death couldn't prevent our meeting."
"What are you trying to say?" Andrew mumbled with narrowed eyes. He couldn't afford to reveal his rebirth, his greatest secret, to anyone. He knew the associated problems could be disastrous and didn't want to risk it.
The allure of eternal life captivated even the most influential sorcerers who roamed the mystical land of Edhen. Although they had long lifespans, having ascended through the ranks of sorcery, the truth was that they were still unable to escape the inevitability of time, which would eventually bring an end to their lives.
Andrew shuddered at the thought of what would happen if these sorcerers were to discover that he had undergone a rebirth. They would stop at nothing to use him as a test subject to further their longevity experiments. They would be willing to abandon their principles, morals, and ethics to get their hands on the secret to immortality.
"Andrew, I understand your fears," reassured Aeon, "but let me assure you that I have no ill intentions towards you. As I mentioned earlier, your mother made an agreement with me, and you can trust her, can't you?"
Andrew let out a deep sigh, his voice filled with frustration as he inquired, "May I know how you came to know about the matter?"
The wise sorcerer smiled warmly and said, "Hey there! I'm the one who created the magic circle embedded in your totem, which is your innate spell. I can detect it and tell how long you've been using it. My guess is that you've been using it for around seven or eight years."
"But I have a little question for you. You're just an apprentice sorcerer who recently awakened their totem. So, how could you have already used the magic circle for so long? The only explanation that comes to my mind, no matter how unlikely it may sound, is that you must have lived another life where you repeatedly used the blessing of death spell. Interesting, right?"
Andrew was greatly intrigued by the astute intellect of the venerable sorcerer. In an effort to steer the conversation toward a more practical matter, he politely requested, "If it's not too much trouble, would you be willing to show me the items that my mother entrusted to your care?"
Aeon replied, "We can find the two items and the awakening circle in one of the meditation rooms below. However, there's something that needs attention before we proceed. Did your mother talk about my inheritance?"
"Yes, she did."
"Excellent. Our agreement was that I would assist you with your bloodline awakening. In return, you would become my successor and shoulder the responsibility of carrying on my legacy."
Andrew looked the ancient sorcerer in the eye and asked with an amiable tone, "Hey, can I ask you something? I'm just curious. Why are you willing to pass on your legacy to me without even testing if I'm worthy? I mean, so many powerful sorcerers would do anything to inherit it, even betray their loved ones. I just find it all so fascinating!"
"Answering your question is quite simple," Aeon sighed, looking at the boy with a hint of admiration. "No matter how talented or skilled those geniuses and sorcerers may be, they can never match the natural abilities of someone who carries the bloodline of a higher existence. Your raw talent, family background, and destiny are far superior to theirs, as you were born from a woman who stands high above us all. That's precisely why I chose to pass my legacy down to you."
Andrew's eyes widened in surprise after hearing the response. His heart started racing with excitement as he carefully considered the implications. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that his not-yet-awakened bloodline was already affording him some perks. With a Cheshire cat's grin outlining his face, Andrew eagerly accepted the offer, ready for whatever adventures lay ahead.
"Before we proceed further, may I request your attention towards a matter of importance?" Aeon politely inquired. "I had brought up this matter with your mother earlier, but she preferred to entrust the decision to you as it may significantly impact your life."
"What is the request?" asked Andrew, hoping to find some way to repay the ancient sorcerer after inheriting his legacy.
Aeon's voice turned somber. "You must have already guessed it. But I have already passed away, and this projection is only a soul remnant of mine."
Andrew's gaze softened as he nodded in agreement.
It was strange to think that a powerful sorcerer, capable of shaking the entire Realm of Edhen during his prime, would choose to stay hidden away in his pagoda.
While pondering the mystery, Andrew had speculated that the ancient sorcerer had already met his demise. It had been a bold guess, but something about the silence and stillness of the pagoda and Aeon's own words had finally confirmed Andrew's suspicions.
Aeon's voice trembled as he made a bold request, "Can you promise me something that's quite extraordinary? If you ever acquire powers that can cheat death and the flow of time, can you please use them to bring me back to life? I know this is a tall order, and it might take a while, but I'm willing to wait. Will you help me, my young friend?"
"That's quite a bold request!" exclaimed Andrew. "Even you, a sorcerer that shook the whole of Edhen in your prime, didn't find a way. How do you expect me to fulfill your request?"
"Listen carefully," said Aeon with a knowing smile. "If you can avoid falling prematurely, you may one day ascend to the higher worlds - the immortal lands of legend. These are the same lands your mother originates from and the same realms that are home to countless divine existences with unimaginable powers. Mortal sorcerers like us can only hope to reach them by breaking through our mortal shackles and becoming rank seven existences."
"Rank seven existences!" Andrew whispered, his eyes glimmering with anticipation. He was wonderstruck by the mere thought of it. Rank seven sorcerers were nothing but a myth in Edhen — and even the most ancient sorcerers couldn't attain that elusive power realm.
"Does that mean my mother was a rank seven existence? Was she really from the immortal lands?"
"I think so," replied Aeon, his smile growing even more pronounced. "During my prime, I was a peak rank-six existence, also known as a pinnacle-level celestial sorcerer. But even with my wealth of experiences, I still couldn't see through your mother's power and spells. She's most likely an existence at rank seven or beyond."
"Damn!" Andrew swallowed hard as his heart raced. Aeon's words filled him with hope. He knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to follow after his mother's shadow and become a powerful sorcerer capable of reaching the immortal lands.
"But this doesn't make sense. My father is just a rank-three legend sorcerer. How did he stay with my mother for years when even a simple slap from her would turn him into a bloody paste?"
"I don't have the answers to your questions," Aeon shrugged. "But I have a feeling that beings of higher rank have perfect control over their powers. This could explain how your mother was able to conceal her abilities and avoid causing harm to your father despite being together for so long."
"Alternatively," Aeon continued, "it's possible that your mother lost her powers for a while and lived as a mortal with your father. Once she regained her abilities, she may have decided to return to the immortal realm and left you and your father behind."
"Wow, that totally makes sense!" exclaimed Andrew as a sudden realization hit him. He remembered his mother mentioning an injury that could have resulted in her losing her sorcery and memories. But what if she regained them during her stay in Edhen? It could explain everything!
"May I suggest we shift our attention from the topic of your mother for a moment?" proposed Aeon, thoughtfully stroking his beard. "Regarding my request, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts, if you don't mind."
Andrew took a deep breath and met the unwavering gaze of the aged sorcerer. "I solemnly swear that should I ever attain the power to conquer death, I will make every effort to revive you. This I pledge upon my totem."
"Excellent!" exclaimed Aeon. "Come with me! I'll show you the way to the meditation room below, where you'll receive the incredible items your mother left for you."
Andrew's excitement peaked as Aeon's spiritual projection lifted from the meditation mat. He couldn't wait to collect the precious items left behind by his mother and finally undergo the bloodline awakening ritual.
With a grin, he rushed out of the room, eagerly following Aeon's ghostly form. What awaited him was a world of ancient secrets and hidden powers, and he was ready to embrace it all.