Legacy of the Dark Sage

As if reading Kyran\'s thoughts, Rin chuckled and shook her head, "No. As I said, he would never be caught dead using it. Besides, he did not know how to use it well. When we barricaded ourselves inside the estate, your father also included array formulas that could counter such abilities.

"He did this not because he think there was a spy in the clan, but because there was no telling if our enemies would find a way to use other \'beings\' to enter the walls with such abilities."

"Because the formulas father used in his Array only worked on people and beasts in the Human plane."

Rin could not help but smile at Kyran. He would not have understood what she meant if this were in the past.

"Yes. As a matter of fact, if the Sovereign of Savagery was familiar with runes used in the Human plane, she would have realized this flaw and used one of her summon beasts that could counter the formation\'s effect. But your father was smart enough to use pure Human runes to ensure no outsiders could decipher them. He also placed random and incoherent runes to throw off human Array Specialists wanting to decipher the formation."

Kyran smiled wryly at his mother\'s words. It was true he found strange runes when he saw a replica of his father\'s array during the Array Competition. In the end, he ignored those thinking they were meant to confuse the enemy.

He was right.

"In any case, although such abilities are not allowed, I can use them because of my connection to the Spirit World."

"Because the Spirit World is not affected by the magic laws of the Human plane. The Array would not trigger even if the formation were channelled into their world."

"Your Array and Magic knowledge have improved, you make me proud."

Kyran tried not to feel embarrassed by his mother\'s praise but failed miserably when his face turned slightly red.

"Where is Nolan right now?" He asked, steering the topic back on track. He wanted to talk to him because there were a lot of things they had to discuss.

"He and your father had to meet with Empress Iula. They are doing what they can to clean up the loose ends because of the war."

Kyran fell silent again as he was reminded of this.

Stella did say Euan, Malek, and a few others went missing before Layla made a surprise attack in Ravenpass.

Apparently, several rifts appeared in different parts of the Human plane when Azaloth\'s Cradle started to lose its effect. Although these rifts were fixed as soon as Nolan succeeded Azaloth, if Euan, Malek, and the missing others accidentally entered these rifts, their closing meant they were trapped inside.

This was only their speculation, but there were traces of an open rift close to where Ravenpass used to be. If this were the case, finding them would be a real task.

\'But not impossible,\' Kyran thought, already thinking of ways to study the Void\'s \'warp\' ability further.

Rin studied Kyran and knew he was starting to go off into his own world. He might not show it, but he was definitely concerned about the things Stella had said.

"Did I not tell you not to brood on things alone?"

"I\'m not brooding," Kyran denied with a slight frown.

"You are," Rin insisted with pursed lips. She continued before Kyran could protest, "Things are a little chaotic. We managed to contain news of the war, but the nearby states noticed the Royal Army stationed at the borders had left their post. A few army members stayed at the borders, but the neighbouring states still mobilized their armies."

Rin sighed, refusing to imagine what would happen if the nearby states decided to wage war against the Ylfaen Empire. At the moment, every faction in the empire was spent. It would be impossible for them to protect the empire without sacrificing many of their people.

"Putting the matter of the neighbouring states\' movement aside, let\'s talk about Sisi."

Kyran remained silent. He knew his mother said that not because she was curious about what was \'between\' them— because there was nothing. Rin likely said that because of what happened right after Obstruction pulled Cyneah into the vortex.

"I don\'t think what Sisi had done is meant as a for the better good. Instead, I think it was her way of breaking free of the shackles that bound her to her fate."

She paused and looked at Kyran meaningfully before continuing, "From what Anette told me, her childhood was not particularly good. She was the Crown Princess, however, all the privileges she was supposed to have were stripped from her at an early age. She did not even remember her real identity.

"White Lily told me it was her who performed the switch. Do you know why she did that?"

Kyran did not answer at once. First, he gathered his thoughts before replying carefully.

"Initially, I had thought White Lily did that to prevent N-Neah from awakening her Soul Core," Kyran stuttered at Cyneah\'s name when he saw his mother\'s smile change slightly. He cleared his throat and continued, "But Neah did not possess a magic core. How would she awaken a Soul core?"

"I heard about Sisi\'s magic core from Anette. She did find it strange that she could use magic without one," Rin agreed. "But you already know why she did not have a magic core, right?"

Kyran nodded, "Neah did have one, but White Lily used it as a medium to create her essence. Everyone was also convinced Haylee was real because she had Neah\'s magic core."

In any case, Kyran found White Lily\'s move strange.

Why bother creating an essence with a magic core? Did she think placing a magic core inside an essence was okay because it could not form a Soul core?

"Then there was Ames," Kyran continued, remembering how she told them the First Soul Emperor was still alive.

"When she told us the First Soul Emperor is still alive, I thought that maybe White Lily knew the First Soul Emperor, Layla, was alive and intended for her to transfer her Soul core to Haylee. By doing this, she plotted to trap her in Neah\'s essence."

Rin nodded in agreement, "I agree. Because of Layla was only using an essence to hold her Soul core, she could barely use magic. If not, she would have already started amassing her immortal army, and we might not stand a chance against her."

Kyran was surprised that his mother was well-informed about Layla. Then again, the battle had ended a few days ago. She probably met with the rest and exchanged information.

Nevertheless, some of the things that Kyran knew were likely not mentioned. Especially when True Void had also fallen asleep after the battle.

Kyran lowered his head in contemplation. Though his mother was well-informed, there were still things she did not know that only Kyran knew.

True Void also knew those things, but Stella said he had fallen asleep right after the battle. He did do something big as soon as Kyran fell unconscious.

"There is another thing... I don\'t think White Lily came up with that plan."

Rin remained silent and waited for Kyran to explain.

"True Void, and I came up with a theory...."

Kyran briefly told Rin about their suspicion that Caelan and Zane had planned everything. He also told her that the First Time Keeper had tried to change the events that happened in the past to save Caelan.

Ultimately, Caelan to still chose death.

Rin furrowed her brows and absorbed the things Kyran said for a moment. Then she said, "I never expected the First Time Keeper and our ancestors to have done something that big just to prepare for this moment."

"I still don\'t know their whole plan, but the First Time Keeper said I\'ve done things that diverged from their scenario. She did not know what the consequences were because of what I did... but Stella...," Kyran paused momentarily before saying with a slight frown, "... she also looked into the future."

He then recalled what she had said before Cyneah appeared.

"I think what Neah did that day was a turning point. It did not happen in any future Stella had seen."

"Which converged to what I mentioned about Sisi trying to break free from the shackles of her fate."

Kyran nodded.

"Still, I think this part is something Caelan had anticipated."

"Why did you think that?"

"I only have a guess," Kyran admitted. "I initially thought White Lily intended for Neah to die. And that she created an essence to replace her so the Winfrey Family would not be alarmed. Because if they did, they would try to find Neah no matter what.

"But then I began to think that maybe, White Lily— or, to be accurate— Caelan, planned for Neah to grow up in a different environment.

"An environment away from the influence of the Winfrey Family."

Kyran\'s guess was not without basis. He thought this when he recalled how Cyneah would talk about her mother as if the latter did love and care for her. Unfortunately, she died, and Cyneah was left to suffer.

Rin\'s expression lit up as she realized what Kyran was trying to say.

"Are you saying they staged all that so Sisi would not be influenced by Layla the moment she took the Soul core?"

Kyran nodded.

"It is similar to how Father sealed my Void core. Because it was sealed for a long time, I don\'t get affected when Caelan\'s will surfaces from it."

"It would prevent Layla from completely taking over Sisi\'s body."

"Yes. I\'ve witnessed how Stella got affected by the First Time Keeper because she had the Time core for a long time. The latter even managed to take over her body when Stella had fallen into a deep sleep."

"Could it be that Caelan hoped for Sisi to contain Layla\'s will?"

"Maybe. Maybe not."

Rin let out a sigh, feeling overwhelmed by this.

"I diverged from Caelan and Zane\'s scenario because I don\'t get influenced by their will. Now, Neah was the same."

"Do you think Caelan and Zane hoped for this to happen? Because if you and Sisi would not be influenced by your predecessor\'s will, then maybe... the future Stella had witnessed could truly change."

Kyran did not respond. However, he felt it could be the truth.