Finally, the carriage stopped at a desolate mountain covered in dark silver thorny trees known as Darkmoon trees.
Mother Salena took Leon out of the carriage and stood before the desolate mountain.
"Mom, is this really the place?" asked Leon with confusion. The place didn't look like what he had imagined.
Mother Salena smiled and said, "How can a place be called secret if it is not special? Use your eyes and look carefully." She clapped her palms twice.
"Okay," Leon looked at the desolate mountain seriously. His silver eyes shone with an intense dark light, and a crescent dark moon appeared deep within his eyes.
"Wow," Leon exclaimed, seeing the world through his special Darkmoon eyes. The entire world was filled with various invisible particles. Leon could see that the desolate mountain's surroundings were protected by a huge barrier, and fine special particles were moving in an orderly manner throughout the mountain.
These invisible particles are known as mana in this world. This is the source of power that mages store in their cores and use as their own.
Mother Salena smiled and asked, "What do you see, my little Leon?"
"The entire mountain is a portable space with numerous restrictions, and the Darkmoon trees are a huge trap formation. There is still more, but I don't know them," said Leon as he focused his attention on the desolate mountain.
The Darkmoon trees surrounding the desolate mountain began to make a clear path.
Seeing the path forming, Mother Salena didn't disturb her child and walked into the path towards the desolate mountain.
Soon they reached the end of the path before a dark cave with an old man in his twilight years sitting leisurely with a teapot before him. He was the Guardian of the Treasury, Nyxarion.
Mother Salena put Leon on the ground and said respectfully, "Greetings, senior Nyxarion."
Leon turned and saw the old man with his Eyes of Darkmoon. He quickly closed his eyes in a hurry.
Guardian Nyxarion simply nodded at her and noticed Leon's actions. He smiled and said, "Little boy, you should not test your eyes on high-level beings."
Leon quickly came back to his senses and smiled embarrassedly. "Sorry, senior Nyxarion, for my rudeness."
Guardian Nyxarion waved his hand casually and said, "Just remember the warning. Also, it's been 1,000 years since I last saw the Eyes of Darkmoon. It brings back so many memories."
Leon was shocked by the sentence because he knew that mages have long lifespans, which continue to increase with their progression through the realms. He realized that the old man before him had lived more than 1,000 years. A person with such a long lifespan must be at least an Archmage expert.
"Senior Nyxarion, sorry to disturb you. We are here to enter the Treasury," said Mother Salena respectfully.
Guardian Nyxarion nodded his head and said, "I am already informed about the details."
He looked at Leon and nodded with satisfaction. "The child is good. Little boy, go through the dark passage. You will arrive at the treasury room. There will be an artifact spirit to guide you. You can only select two things. After selecting, you will be sent out automatically." He pointed at the dark passage.
Leon nodded his head, clearly understanding the instructions. He turned around, smiled at his mother, and walked into the dark passage.
"First Madam, please take a seat and enjoy this old man's tea," said Guardian Nyxarion as he showed a stone chair.
Mother Salena simply sat on the chair and asked, "Senior, it's been a long time since I last visited you."
A smile appeared on Guardian Nyxarion's old face. He said normally, "Yes, it's been a very long time. You first came here on your marriage day to receive my blessings. In just a blink of an eye, you've grown up and become an Archmage expert."
Mother Salena smiled a little and diverted the topic. "Senior, you are the oldest in the entire clan. I have something to ask you. It's about the twins."
Before she could finish her words, she heard Guardian Nyxarion's voice.
"You don't need to worry about the twins. That child, Lucian, is developing well in the clan, but you guys need to worry about this one," said Guardian Nyxarion, pointing at the dark cave.
He continued, "His development is very fast. In all aspects, he is better than the first ancestor. But he needs some obstacles to make his foundation solid. I suggest you let him see the world."
"Senior, but he is just a child. Isn't it too much for him? Even in the entire clan, no more than ten people know about his existence. Before bringing him into the clan, but you are sending him out of the clan," complained Mother Salena with a sad and worried face.
Guardian Nyxarion chuckled a little and said seriously, "Mothers are protective of their children. He is like a raw gem now. What he needs now is to be roughened up and turned into a perfect gem that outshines others. He has already left all his peers behind at his age. It is time for a peak apprentice mage to embark on his journey."
Mother Salena took a deep breath. After some time, she nodded her head and said, "We will do as senior says."
Guardian Nyxarion nodded his head, served a cup of tea to Mother Salena, and looked at the dark cave, thinking, "Don't disappoint me, kiddo."