Soren walked the narrow bridge cautiously, eyes peering beyond the railings to the infinite descent below. As the winds from above the ridge swept down, he made sure to hold tightly to it.
Venissa saw him struggling and chuckled. “Here, take my hand.”
Soren didn’t hesitate. Despite his wounds being healed, much of his body still remained stiffer than a board.
I seriously need to exercise more… This is embarrassing.
It was during tis like these that he would recall Rodrick’s quip remarks, which only made him more annoyed. But what irritated him most was the subtle laughter entering his mind every now and then.
“Tazzith you bastard…” He whispered softly.
“Hm?” The old demon acted innocent. “What could I have possibly done to be called a bastard?”
“You know why.”
“I’m afraid I don’t. Wait—it can’t be because your embar—”
“Shut the hell up.”
Noticing the slight commotion, Venissa turned her head and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Soren smiled. “Nothing. Thank you for the help so far.”
“No need to thank , you’re my patient after all!”
He tilted his head slightly, “You an you’re the one that healed ?” Soren was under the impression that it was Myrin who did so.
She nodded, “It wasn’t really . I have a magitech device that allows to heal others. Though, its powers aren’t as great as traditional healing magecraft.”
“I see.”
“You see, when we found you a week ago, all three of you were left unconscious outside the temple. The harsh weather of the Upper WInds almost froze you all to death. Your friends recovered fairly quickly, but your situation wasn’t exactly great in the beginning.”
Though he understood her reasoning, his mind clung to sothing else entirely:
“A week ago? You an I’ve been unconscious for a week?”
She nodded. “Indeed. To be fair, your injuries were mostly recovered after the first day. Your mind on the other hand was a completely different story.” Turning her head once again, Soren noticed how serious her expression was.
“Tell , Soren. What exactly have you been doing this entire ti? That much overexertion on your anima is not normal.”
His eyes naturally shifted the floor.
How could he even explain this to her? From utilizing [Eyes of the Fairy] past its limits twice in the sa day, to completely draining his own anima even on the brink of unconsciousness to sustain his Fairy Barrier… The burden was so great, he wasn’t even sure how he was still alive.
Indeed, it was no wonder it took so long for him to recover. Even his Fairy Bind spell which shouldn’t take much anima to function had shown signs of malfunctioning, which would have truly spelled his doom.
“I’m ashad to say I’ve been very reckless lately.”
Walking ahead, Venissa nodded solemnly. “As long as you’re aware. But it's not like I don’t fully understand either—your situation is anything but normal after all. We will host your stay at the temple for as long as you need, but you know better than that your goal doesn’t end here.”
Soren didn’t answer back as the pair continued walking.
Eventually, the end of the snow-covered stone bridge ca into view. Before him, a colossal stone wall stretched up into the heavens—past the hazy white fog blowing down stream.
“Open.”
As she said this, the bricks in the wall unraveled like puzzle pieces, creating a wide enough passage.
How interesting… No doubt, so kind of magecraft formation was powering it. The passage he had exited from the First Temple likely had a similar chanism.
The pair quickly entered inside. Soren finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Was the bridge that terrifying?” Venissa asked teasingly.
Soren shook his head with a smile. “The rough winds were only slightly uncomfortable.”
As Venissa lead him deeper into the temple, he heard Tazzith’s voice once again:
“To think Rodrick the Dungeon Slayer would lose to a brat afraid of the breeze…”
Soren’s lips curled up. “You’re one to talk. Didn’t you say your clash against the Blossom Sword Flower ended in a tie? How co She’s still a Mythral Rank spirit while you aren’t?”
“... She probably just got lucky.”
He scoffed. “I’m starting to doubt you really were a Sovereign.”
The old demon cursed but didn’t say anything further. Soren chuckled to himself and continued walking after Venissa, embracing the old silence within his mind.
Eventually, he was led into a massive banquet hall illuminated by a constellation of stars. All around, won gathered together at tables, conversing freely. So were old, while others were young. Plates of food ca and went as their voices filled the air. There were a few children as well, running and playing between tables.
So this is Mistress Sienna’s ho…
At the far end of the hall, he saw an old woman settled in a colossal chair overlooking the massive chamber. Her platinum hair cascading down her shoulders. In a way, she sowhat resembled the Mistress herself. But there was sothing strange about her. Her eyes… they seed distant and empty.
Even though her gaze was drawn on the crowded hall, it didn’t seem as if she was seeing them at all. What’s more, he couldn’t sense any movent from her.
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Before he could ask Venissa, another voice reached him from behind:
“She is the forr Master of the Three Temples. The previous Witch of Star Fate—Mistress Rania Yvain.”
Soren turned his head and saw a tall, dark haired woman wearing an even more prestigious looking robe compared to him and Venissa. Everything about her spoke regal and elegant. From her vibrant red lips to the sparkles in her dazzling robe… Even the braids in her hair…
For a second, Soren felt his heart skip a beat. But it was only when their eyes locked that he realized why he was feeling this way.
These were not emotions born from lust or desire. These were born from fear.
The mont their eyes locked, a strange feeling grew in his chest. Like a subtle fla in a dry forest… Uncontrollable, wild, utterly terrifying. It felt oddly similar to when he first gazed upon the Petalsword Sovereign.
At that mont, Soren wanted to run. To hide… To do anything but stand in Her presence.
But he couldn’t. No—he simply didn’t want to. A scribe never looks away.
Shedding all hesitation, Soren held his gaze firm—staring back into Her eyes unabashedly. Hers was a pair of azure crystals filled with stars, similar to Sienna’s very own. And yet, there was a slight sharpness to them that he couldn’t understand.
“This woman is both an Archmage and a Saint. Beware of what you may say.” Tazzith’s warning was both short and blunt. But Soren understood the ssage perfectly.
Her crystalline eyes stalked Soren’s figure, but also what could not be normally seen. It was as if She was analyzing his soul.
“How audacious… You really are just as Sienna had stated.”
“Mistress Solyara,” Venissa bowed, interrupting their staring contest. “I didn’t expect you would attend tonight’s feast…”
“Change is at the heart of fate itself, child. No one remains the sa. A sudden break from one’s routine is good for the mind.”
“Yes, Mistress.” Venissa bowed again.
Nodding, the old yet young looking Archmage glanced at Soren again. “I never would have thought Sienna of all people could one day foster her own students. She couldn’t even go one day inside the temple without causing so kind of trouble.” Solyara swirled her wine glass impatiently like a bored empress.
“And yet, I must admit it. She did a splendid job.”
Soren smiled nervously and lowered his head. “Your words will definitely make her happy.”
Solyara rolled Her glassy eyes. “Spare the pleasantries, boy.” She flicked his forehead. “From now on, address as teacher. Either preceded by a yes or a no.
“Is that clear?”
Soren nodded. “Yes, teacher.”
“Good,” She smiled slightly while sipping Her wine. “Now then,” She glanced at Venissa, “Leave us, child. I have much to discuss with this young man.”
“Understood, Mistress.”
Watching her walk away, Soren couldn’t help but pity himself.
“Oh don’t give that face.” She sighed. “I’m not going to eat you.”
Soren was about to fake another smile when she interrupted again, “Don’t try that either.”
In the end, Soren could only accept his defeat. His lips sank, showing his real expression. The embers of madness within his eyes sparkling radiantly.
“There it is,” She smiled. “The mark of a true magi. Embrace it, child. What you have forsaken cannot be brought back.”
Soren’s eyes trailed to the ground. “Soone I t not so long ago told that madness is a mirror… That I should always rember my true reflection—my true self.”
“What nonsense…” She clicked Her tongue. “Only a fool would deny what they had sacrificed.” She spun around and walked away. “Co, boy. It seems Sienna still has much to learn about teaching others.
“I will take you to my study.”
Soren walked behind the regal lady, counting Her every step as they headed into the unknown. From his observations, The Second Temple held four entrances, each heading in a different direction. These passages strangely did not lead out of the tower. Instead, they simply extended outward horizontally, defying space itself. He was certain that the tower’s circumference was never this massive.
This made him wonder if all the entrances to the temples acted this way… He was certain that was the case. After all, Venissa had utilized a strange magecraft formation to enter inside, so perhaps the entire temple was under its influence.
Suddenly, Mistress Solyara turned right, walking down a different dim corridor. Soren swiftly followed after Her.
“Say, child.” Her voice echoed across the narrow hall. “I heard from the others that you ended up here unknowingly?”
Soren nodded. “Yes. According to Venissa, they found us out in the cold freezing to death. But from what I recall of my own mories, we were still supposed to be in the grand Hedra Plains—at the Nagashi Tribe Village.”
“How interesting… This is no doubt the workings of a Mystery. If it were an Archon, perhaps their magecraft would be powerful enough to achieve sothing similar, but only a few are in existence…”
Archon? The word echoed in his mind endlessly. He wanted to cling to it. Is that what those who reach the 8th Circle are called?
She shook Her head while walking forward. “That leaves really only the Blossom Sword Flower… Indeed, with Her abilities, it may be possible.
“Could She have slashed through space itself? How reckless…”
Soren couldn’t really understand what She was saying, but he decided to give Her more information:
“The Petalsword Sovereign fought against an enemy in a weakened state and was ambushed… A strange darkness began to fester across Her Spirit Body.
“The perpetrator nad his attack, [Soul Corruption].”
Mistress Solyara froze. “I see… So the Vynasians really have begun to act.” She sighed, “Rania was right. Perhaps I should really cut away at my drinking and stare up at the stars more…”
She turned to look at the ‘ek’ young man once again trying to hide his true persona.
“Tell child, does losing your sanity scare you?”
He paused, as if to find the words. Eventually, he decided to simply nod his head.
Solyara smiled. “Good. Fear reminds us of who we are.
“That person you listened to wasn’t exactly wrong. Losing yourself is dangerous. No, it is far more terrifying than any danger.
“But it is still the path we magi must walk.”
Sensing his confusion, She smiled and snapped her fingers. All of a sudden, the bricks surrounding them—even the ones beneath their feet—began to shuffle on their own. It felt as if he was inside the stomach of a colossal beast.
The once long winded corridor transford into a room. Walls ford in front and behind them, followed by strange stone polished furniture that added to the ambience. He spotted a desk as well as a few seats and bookshelves at each side holding their own collections of books and scrolls.
Solyara slowly inched toward the desk and sat atop its surface. Her crystal eyes gazing endlessly into Soren’s soul.
“Do you know what I see when I look at you? I see a venomous snake. One that shows its fangs only when it needs to strike. And yet…”
She frowned in utter disappointnt. “You’re afraid of shedding your own skin.”
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