"Senior Fjolrin.."
Ery's tone carried a quiet weight as he greeted the man before him, a figure he had not seen in more than thirty years.
As one of the last remaining first-generation Earth magus, Fjolnir embodied an era that few still rembered, and his presence alone brought a sense of gravity to the room.
He stepped forward from the inner chamber, his piercing gaze locking onto Ery with unmistakable intent.
"i have things to discuss"
Ery nodded in acknowledgnt. There were matters he himself wished to raise, and it seed their concerns had aligned more closely than expected. Without needing to be told, Shinta quietly excused herself, leaving the two alone in an atmosphere that quickly grew more serious.
Fjolnir did not waste ti on pleasantries. Instead, he began recounting his journey, speaking in a steady tone about his search for his lost ho. Along that path, he had encountered a spatial anomaly, trapping him within its distorted boundaries for what felt like months
Then, at the brink of that ordeal, he had been saved by a supre figure.
The implication lingered between them, unspoken but imdiately understood.
After confirming the details, Fjolnir's expression shifted slightly, a trace of amusent surfacing beneath his otherwise composed deanor.
"So that senior was indeed you from the future"
Ery exhaled softly, still finding the situation difficult to fully accept despite having lived through it himself.
"Its hard to believe but its seems he is"
Fjolnir's serious expression eased just enough to reveal the faintest hint of a smile, one that carried both surprise and a quiet sense of acknowledgnt. "to think my junior would reach a supre one day....
There was no trace of envy in his tone, only a reserved recognition of how far Ery's path would extend.
Ery, however, remained thoughtful rather than reassured. The ntion of his future self stirred questions that had yet to find answers, prompting him to press further. He asked about any details his future self might have shared- anything that could provide insight into what lay ahead.
Unfortunately, Fjolnir had little to offer.
Just as Ery himself had experienced, the future version of him had appeared only briefly, leaving behind fragnts of interaction before disappearing again. The limitations of the ti-based technique seed to restrict any prolonged exchange, allowing only fleeting monts that offered more mystery than clarity.
Ery's thoughts drifted to the jade dal his future self had given him, the artifact that contained sealed ssages still beyond his reach. Two of them remained locked, inaccessible until he reached a higher realm.
"I need to quickly reach three cosmos to open the next ssage"
The words muttered under his breath.
Shifting his focus, Ery then asked about the distant past, specifically the era of King Anu from two millennia ago, hoping that Fjolnir's nature as an incarnated soul might grant him deeper insight. However, even that avenue proved limited. Fjolnir's mories of his previous life were fragnted, offering only vague impressions rather than concrete knowledge.
After a brief pause, Fjolnir spoke again, this ti with a more deliberate tone.
"this is actually what i really wish to speak about"
Ery's attention sharpened.
Fjolnir revealed that his recent breakthrough into the Grand Magus realm had triggered a resurgence of mories from his past life, far clearer than before. These mories, though incomplete, had been enough to reignite his original purpose and drive him into continuous cultivation over the past twenty years. Despite the academy's support-its pills, facilities, and resources-he had been unable to progress beyond the third layer of the first cosmos. The stagnation was evident, not as frustration openly expressed, but as a quiet pressure that had built over years of effort without breakthrough.
Then he voiced his true intention.
"I wish to go seek my lost world once again, i know i was close to find them"
The determination in his words was unmistakable.
Ery took a mont to consider the request carefully, weighing both the risks and the timing. After a brief silence, he shook his head.
"Senior, I could provide you with ships and crews, but the neutral zone is in chaos right now... it's too dangerous..."
The response caused a subtle shift in Fjolnir's expression, a hint of disappointnt surfacing as he processed the reality of the situation. The spread of the scourge parasites had destabilized vast regions, turning previously navigable routes into zones of unpredictable danger.
Understanding the urgency behind his senior's desire, Ery continued, suggesting that Fjolnir remain for the ti being and focus on advancing further. Reaching the second cosmos would dramatically increase his chances of survival, transforming a hazardous expedition into sothing far more
manageable.
At the sa ti, Ery proposed securing additional access to the Cosmic Palace for him, allowing Fjolnir to obtain stronger techniques or at least establish a reliable thod of communication for the journey ahead.
After so thought, Fjolnir nodded in agreent, though he made it clear that he did not wish to continue receiving the academy's support without contributing in return. Rather than remaining in passive cultivation, he preferred to gain strength through combat and real-world experience. Ery quickly adapted to this preference, suggesting that he take on local Magus Alliance missions alongside Varrek and the ex-raider Void Wolf crews. Such assignnts would provide both the battle experience he sought and the opportunity to build relation with the group who could accompanied him in his journey later. All while earning alliance rits that would benefit the faction.
Fjolnir accepted the proposal without hesitation, and with that, the matter reached a natural conclusion.
Not long after, Ery departed for another engagent, his schedule leaving little room for rest. He made his way to one of Centauri's most renowned tea houses, a place known not only for its refined atmosphere but also as a hub for improtant etings.
The interior was elegant yet understated, with polished wooden furnishings, soft ambient lighting, and the subtle aroma of rare tea leaves filling the air.
Waiting for him were Emissary Duncan and Tessa Karat.
Duncan, the Magus Alliance emissary responsible for overseeing the Earth faction, greeted him with professional courtesy, while Tessa sat beside him with her usual composed deanor. Over the past few years, she had beco instruntal in managing Ery's diplomatic affairs, handling negotiations with both the alliance and various rchant organizations with remarkable
efficiency.
The purpose of this eting was to review ongoing relations and finalize several key matters, including Ery's request for increased access to the Cosmic Palace, expanded trade rights, and updates on the developnt of Dawnstar Planet.
To Ery's satisfaction, the discussion proceeded smoothly. Duncan was unusually cooperative, agreeing to terms with minimal resistance, and each topic was resolved with an efficiency that exceeded expectations. As the eting progressed, Ery found himself increasingly convinced that this outco was not solely due to his own rising status, but rather the result of Tessa's precise handling of the situation.
Her influence was subtle, yet unmistakable, guiding the conversation in ways that ensured favorable results without drawing unnecessary attention.
By the ti the eting concluded, everything had been settled to his advantage.
However, as Duncan took his leave and the room grew quiet, the atmosphere
shifted.
Tessa turned toward him, her deanor was serious as she said.
"We need to talk"
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