Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair as he slumped onto the bed. He felt frustrated as he had spent most of his ti rummaging through Arzan's belongings.
The room was in complete disarray—clothes strewn across the floor, drawers left half-open, and his diary lying haphazardly on the desk. He stared at the wardrobe, its wooden drawers hanging ajar, as though mocking his efforts. Hours of relentless searching had turned up nothing.
The dallion. Where is it?
His gaze wandered, and his thoughts pulled him back to those chaotic first days when he had beco Arzan. Even then, he'd rummaged through every corner of his room, every chest, every compartnt, searching for answers about his new identity. The diary had been his only find, a cryptic map of regrets and mories written in Arzan's hand. He'd clung to it, dissected its contents, hoping it held so hidden clue.
Now, he had read it again, scouring every word, hoping for sothing he'd overlooked. There was no ntion of a dallion—not even a hint.
Kai leaned back and rubbed his temples, speaking aloud to fill the silence. "If Arzan knew of the dallion, there's no way he would've left it behind. Not at the Duke mansion. Not anywhere."
There was a slim chance Lucian had taken it, but the logic didn't hold. If Lucian possessed it, Regina wouldn't be after him with such fervor. And from what Amara had shared, simply being the rightful heir to the dallion wasn't enough. Without it in hand, he couldn't assert its power. The nobles could reject his claim outright, ignoring any request he made. They wouldn't let him speak another word without proper evidence to his claim.
He exhaled sharply and let his eyes drift back to the cluttered desk as his thoughts churned.
He had already decided to speak with Killian about it, though he doubted the knight knew anything. Back at the Duke mansion, Killian's standing hadn't been strong enough to grant him access to sothing so critical.
Still, it was one of the few leads he had. His options were narrowing by the ti, and with them, the fragile stability of his growing influence.
Though his search had yielded no tangible results, a thought lingered in the back of Kai's mind—a hunch that refused to be dismissed. Valkyrie's inheritance.
It had intrigued him ever since he first learned of its existence. A Magus inheritance was no trivial matter; it was a legacy of power, knowledge, and artefacts. When he'd claid to have beco a Mage through it, he had lied—a convenient cover story. But deep down, he had reason to believe that the dallion might be tied to this inheritance.
The problem, however, was that he had no idea where Valkyrie's inheritance was located. It wasn't in the Duke's mansion—of that, he was certain. If it were, Lucian would have claid it long ago. No, it had to be elsewhere. Sowhere hidden. Sowhere forgotten. But where? He asked the sa question, again.
Fortunately, he had a feeling that he was close to finding it. He didn't know how, but he knew.
His focus shifted inward, to the cold,freezing sensation that pulsed faintly in his Mana heart—the third and final primary affinity he had awakened in this life. His ice affinity. Alongside it ca a startling revelation: the remnants of his mother's consciousness lingered within Arzan's heart.
How such a fragnt of her soul had survived his transmigration, let alone endured his complete takeover of Arzan's body, was beyond his understanding. But he didn't care. What mattered was that it was still there—a connection to a past that wasn't entirely his, yet held answers he desperately needed.
Over the past weeks, as his control over his ice affinity had sharpened, so too had his awareness of that consciousness.
The image of a woman—a faint, hazy vision—had begun to grow clearer in his mind. She was regal, commanding, yet gentle, her eyes filled with sorrow, wisdom and love.
Kai closed his eyes and focused.
Nothing might co out of this, but at least, I have to try.
He let his mana flow through his heart, allowing the icy sensation to spread through him. The cold was sharp and biting, yet familiar, like an old mory coming to life. He honed in on the fragnt of consciousness, willing it to co forward.
And then, out of nowhere, it appeared.
The silhouette of a woman with flowing white hair appeared before him, her form radiant and ethereal, like a fragnt of light trapped in frost.
Her gaze bore into him, her bright smile warm yet laced with an undeniable sense of power.
"My heir," she said, her voice soft but resonating with authority, freezing Kai in place.
For a mont, he simply stared, overwheld by the sheer presence of the remnant. The icy aura surrounding her seeped into the air, sending shivers down his spine. Snapping out of his stupor, he steadied his breath and forced himself to speak.
"The inheritance," Kai said, his voice firm despite the weight pressing down on him. "Where is it?"
The woman tilted her head slightly, her smile deepening, but there was no answer—not the one he wanted. Instead, her lips parted, and she said softly, "It's not the ti. You aren't ready yet."
Her words sent a jolt of frustration through him. "What do you an?" he pressed, but before he could ask more, her form began to waver, like mist dissolving in the sunlight.
"Wait!" Kai called, stepping forward, but she was gone, fading into the cold stillness of his Mana heart.
A wave of exhaustion slamd into him, as though the brief interaction had drained what little strength he had left. He stumbled backward, barely managing to sit on the bed as his breaths ca shallow and quick.
Sprawled out, he muttered to himself, "It says the sa thing every ti. When will it be the right ti? Do I have to break through to the next rank just to get a clue?"
The questions gnawed at his mind, circling endlessly, but no answers ca. Instead, an overwhelming heaviness began to creep into his thoughts. Drowsiness clawed at him, persistent and unrelenting, tugging him toward unconsciousness.
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Kai tried to shrug it off, but the endless cycle of stress, planning, and pushing himself had taken its toll.
Sowhere deep down, he wished for sleep to claim him, if only for a mont of respite.
And so, his eyes slowly closed, his tense body relaxing against the bed as the cold, heavy silence of the room gave way to the haze of his dreams.
***
Kai's eyes opened to an expanse of lush, green grass swaying gently in an unseen breeze. He blinked, his gaze darting around the unfamiliar clearing. It was quiet, serene even, yet sothing felt off.
He clenched his fists, half-expecting to find himself in one of his recurring nightmares.
But unlike those suffocating visions, there were no dim caverns, no walls closing in on him, no beasts lurking in the shadows. And the silhouette of his master was nowhere in sight.
Looking up, he saw the moon hanging in the sky, unnaturally large and casting an eerie glow across the clearing. Its pale light felt cold against his skin. He blinked again, confusion twisting in his gut. "What is this...?" he muttered under his breath.
Then, a voice cut through the stillness, soft yet commanding.
"Fatebreaker," it called, sending a shiver racing down his spine. "I was finally able to reach you. Or do you prefer Kai? I can also call you Arzan if that suits you better."
Kai whipped around, his eyes locking onto a figure standing a few paces away.
It was a woman—an elf, her ageless features exuding an air of wisdom and power. Her long silver hair flowed down her back, and her silver eyes shimred with a strange light. She leaned lightly on a wooden staff, its surface etched with intricate runes. Despite her benevolent smile, Kai couldn't shake the unease prickling at his skin.
His instincts kicked in. He willed his mana to surge, to form a defensive shield or even just spark to life, but… nothing. His heart sank as he realised he couldn't access his mana here.
The woman chuckled softly, her voice laced with amusent. "Don't worry," she said, her tone gentle. "You're safe. I called you here into my own space. This isn't a dream, but it's not the physical realm either. That's why you can't access your mana." She tilted her head slightly, as if to reassure him. "I promise, your body is perfectly safe where it is. I simply wanted to talk."
Kai's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. "I don't know you," he said bluntly, taking a defensive step back.
"But I know you," the woman replied, her smile unwavering. "I've been observing you for so ti now. Weeks, to be exact."
Kai frowned, his mind racing to make sense of her words. "Who are you?"
The woman straightened, her grip tightening on the staff. "My na is V'aleirith," she said. "I am the keeper of this place—an observer of paths untaken, of fates rewritten." Her eyes sparkled as she added, "And you, Kai… you've intrigued ."
Kai's jaw clenched, the weight of her words sinking in. "What do you want from ?"
V'aleirith's smile softened, and she gestured toward the moonlit clearing around them. "Kai," she said, her tone almost maternal. "Do you mind walking with ? There's much to discuss, and it's important."
Kai's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Do I even have a choice?" he asked.
The woman laughed softly. "I suppose not," she said, "but I'd prefer if you followed willingly. It makes for better conversation."
With a slight nod, Kai relented. "Fine. Lead the way."
V'aleirith turned, her staff lightly tapping the ground as she moved toward the edge of the clearing. Beyond the grassy expanse, a dense forest lood, its shadows stretching like outstretched fingers.
Kai followed her silently, his eyes scanning the surroundings as he tried to make sense of the situation.
The air felt… strange, thick with an energy he couldn't quite place. He wondered what type of magic was this. Was this so kind of [Soul Domain?] That sort of a spell was at least a fifth circle one and the ability to call him up there made it clear that he was dealing with an opponent way stronger than him.
It made him take his steps carefully.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Kai trailed behind her, his gaze flitting between the towering trees and the light filtering through the canopy.
His thoughts churned with theories, but eventually, the silence beca unbearable.
"So," he said, breaking the quiet, "can you explain what's going on here?"
V'aleirith glanced over her shoulder with a knowing smile. "That's precisely why I called you here… To explain what's going on," she said, her tone unhurried. "Though I'll admit, I'd hoped to explain everything at once—about the coming calamity, the threads of fate, and why we need you to save everything."
Kai's brow furrowed, suspicion flickering across his face.
"But," V'aleirith continued, "as I've watched your threads, I realised you already know quite a bit. Not just anyone can be a Fatebreaker, after all." Her gaze lingered on him, almost… fascinated. "Two souls reside within you. One, undeniably yours, strong and dominant. The other... fragnted, scattered like particles, yet undeniably present. It's fascinating, really."
Kai's jaw clenched. "Don't talk in circles. Just say what you an."
V'aleirith laughed again, light and lodic, and waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, alright. No more riddles. But we're already here. You'll understand more once you see it."
Kai stopped in his tracks as they stepped into another clearing, his breath hitching at the sight before him.
Towering above them was a massive tree, its roots sprawling like veins through the earth, its branches reaching up to tear at the heavens. The tree pulsed faintly with a shimring light, each glow casting the surroundings in a surreal, otherworldly radiance.
It was… straight out of heaven. Everything looked magical in a way that was explained in fairy tale books for children. Even the very soil seed to pulse with energy when he took steps forward.
"The Elder Tree," Kai muttered, his voice barely audible. The words felt heavy on his tongue, steeped in both awe and dread. "The source of all mana."
V'aleirith ca to stand beside him, her gaze soft as she followed his line of sight. "Yes," she said quietly, "the source of all mana… and the life giver of us elves."
Kai narrowed his eyes and closed his palms, as they itched to move forward and touch the tree, see how it felt. "How did I miss this? How could sothing this… massive… not have been seen earlier?"
V'aleirith didn't answer imdiately, letting the silence hang before speaking. "Because it exists on a different plane. This right here is just a projection. But as things stand… even the real Elder Tree is not eternal. Everything, no matter how grand, cos to an end." Her voice dropped slightly, tinged with sorrow.
"You've seen it, haven't you? Lived through a ti when the Elder Tree was no more. When the calamity took everything, when the prophecy had co true."
V'aleirith's eyes locked onto his, unflinching.
Hearing her words, Kai froze, his entire body tensing. Her words struck deeper than he cared to admit, and the ntion of his secret—the one he had guarded so fiercely—sent a chill racing down his spine.
"How do you know about that?"
V'aleirith turned to face him fully and she tapped the ground with the staff she held.
"I am a worshipper of the Elder Tree," she said, her voice carrying a reverence that seed to echo in the air. "It grants its followers gifts... insights into the threads of fate and the truths of the soul. My gift allows to see through these threads, even those that have been severed. You, Kai, have broken your fate, and yet... it lingers, altered but not erased."
Kai's fists clenched at her words, his mind racing. He didn't like this—didn't like being read, his very essence laid bare. His heartbeat fastened twice as he continued to stare at the depths of the silver eyes.
V'aleirith stepped closer, the staff in her hand glowing faintly as she continued, her tone firm.
"Hence, I request—no, implore—you, Magus Kai of the Sorcerer's Tower, to protect the Elder Tree and my species. The prophecy looms over us, and extinction is imminent. You are the only one capable of nding and breaking fate."
***
A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon.
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