"Now, Glunn, do you truly grasp the burden we carry?"
Glynn Belkarn's voice hung in the air, heavy and resolute, as he concluded his long address to his son. Glunn, despite his best efforts to mask his emotions, could not hide the fear and astonishment that flickered across his face. It was a rare vulnerability, though swiftly veiled beneath a stoic façade.
"Father, how much time do we have left?" Glunn's voice was barely more than a murmur, his gaze fixed on a distant point in the room. "Can this... be stopped?"
Glynn exhaled, his shoulders subtly slumping under the weight of unspoken truths. He shared his son's unspoken dismay, but he knew far more. Destiny, in its cruel design, had forged an unalterable path—a path fraught with dangers that none could avoid. After probing the mind of Silver Iricson, encountering Shun Xshasi, and piecing together the cryptic conversation with Kylainn Esmira, Glynn had assembled a nightmarish puzzle. One he wished he had never deciphered. Even without the power to see into the future, he sensed the shadow of impending calamity.
"I cannot tell you how much time remains," Glynn replied solemnly. "But no matter how short or long, we will face it—prepared. We will survive it."
"And as for whether it can be stopped..." He paused, weighing his words. "No. Not entirely. But one person might prevent the worst from descending upon us."
Glynn's hand settled on his son's shoulder, the touch firm yet unexpectedly tender. For all his ruthlessness toward his enemies, Glynn cherished those dearest to him. He had sworn an unbreakable vow never to pry into Glunn's mind—out of respect, and perhaps fear of discovering what he did not wish to know.
"The end of the Belkarn Clan," Glynn continued, "is closer than you might believe. But that's not the end of the story."
A grim smile touched his lips, faint but steady. "If you follow my plan, this catastrophe might be less disastrous than you imagine. It might even bring us blessings where we expect only ruin."
Glunn finally lifted his eyes, meeting his father's unwavering gaze. That same smile Glynn wore—the one that had once seemed arrogant and infuriating—now radiated only reassurance and unwavering confidence.
"And what about you, Father?" Glunn's voice trembled slightly. "Is it a blessing for you as well?"
For a moment, Glynn's expression flickered, an almost imperceptible crack in his iron resolve. Then it was gone, as swiftly as it had appeared, unnoticed by his son.
"Who knows?" Glynn laughed, the sound rich but edged with gravity. He paced, his hand gesturing broadly, before returning to stand before his son. "If the gods won't bless me, then I will forge my own blessings."
"I am Glynn Belkarn, son of Glenn Belkarn, head of the Belkarn Clan. If I cannot endure what's to come, then who else in this world has the right to say they could?"
As sunlight poured through the grand windows, illuminating his figure, Glynn appeared bathed in a radiant glow. To Glunn, his father seemed unbreakable, an immovable force that could withstand any storm.
The illusion shattered as Glynn suddenly turned, his voice casual. "Ah, it seems we have some unexpected, yet not unwelcome, guests." His eyes briefly flashed with that same dangerous wit. "Glunn, remember everything I've said today. Keep it within these walls, especially from those not of our clan."
"Even when all else is lost," Glynn added, his tone softening, "two things will remain by your side forever: life and hope. One keeps you breathing. The other keeps you alive."
Glunn nodded, forcing a smile. It wasn't as polished as his father's, but it carried the same spirit of confidence. Glynn chuckled at the sight, knowing his son would one day grow into the man he was destined to be.
As Glunn left the room, Glynn turned away from the sunlight and ventured back into the shadows he belonged to. He exhaled heavily, his ethereal arm allowed him to delve into the minds of others, but out of everyone, he found himself to be the most unreadable.
Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Shun Xshasi and Silver Iricson. Glynn greeted them with a knowing wave, his ever-present smile playing on his lips.
"What's on your mind, Shun?" Glynn asked casually.
Shun, with his usual calm, smirked. "Can't you read it yourself?"
Glynn laughed, waving away the notion. "Ah, it would be unseemly to pry into my young master's thoughts without his leave." It was a blatant lie, of course. Shun was the sole individual immune to Glynn's mental probing unless he allowed it. Still, Glynn knew enough through Silver's thoughts to guess the purpose of their visit.
"Hmm, I take it you're both curious about the Ancient Landel Academy?" Glynn inquired.
Shun and Silver both nodded. "You know how to defeat Dominic O'Neill," Shun stated matter-of-factly.
Glynn's face darkened slightly at the mention of the name. "Dominic O'Neill… He's formidable. Nearly unbeatable." Glynn shook his head, though it was clear he harboured a strategy against him.
"His ethereal arm, River of Joy, transforms his emotions into raw power, reshaping itself with every surge of feeling. Were it in the hands of anyone else, they'd train themselves to master their emotions. But not Dominic. Do you know why?"
Silver leaned in, intrigued. "Why?"
"Because he's too lazy," Glynn chuckled. "But even in battle, his emotions take over, making River of Joy devastatingly potent. Dominic is quick-tempered and passionate, allowing the arm to tap into its fullest potential. However," Glynn paused, "there's a flaw."
"His emotions are powerful, but they are also uncontrollable. If you can manipulate his feelings in the right way, you might stand a chance. Still, the odds aren't in your favour."
Shun frowned, his mind churning. "Is there a more reliable method to increase our chances?"
"This battle is crucial," Silver added, her voice edged with urgency. "Dominic holds the key to a question that many seek."
Glynn inclined his head slightly. "Have you heard of Dharma Leyndra?"
"I'm joking, of course you have."
"Dominic regards him as the only one capable of defeating him, though that defeat has never occurred. Dharma's ethereal arm, Harvester of Fear, is as lethal as it sounds—it thrives on fear, particularly the fear of death. As long as you fear being killed by him, his strike will always be fatal."
Glynn's eyes gleamed as he continued. "Oddly enough, those ignorant of this fact fare better than those who know. The knowledge alone heightens the fear. But Dharma has never unleashed his arm's full power on Dominic. Out of friendship, I suppose."
Shun shook his head slowly. "We're not here to kill Dominic, Glynn. We need him alive to uncover the answer we seek."
"True." Glynn nodded thoughtfully, raising a finger. "Then perhaps defeating Dominic isn't the best way forward. For every question, there are many paths leading to the same answer. Some are far easier to tread."
Glynn's eyes flickered as he spoke, his grin widening. "Have you ever considered that Dominic might not be the only one who knows the answer?"
"Do you?" Shun's gaze met Glynn's, his smile mirroring the older man's.
"I do—barely," Glynn admitted. "But it's Dominic you'll need to speak with to get the full picture."
Silence filled the room, each of them wearing a smile that could have been genuine or entirely false.
Glynn's final words broke the tension: "The one who caused the fire…"
"Was none other than the principal of Ancient Landel Academy, Krystal Fritz herself."