Chapter - 1968

- Last Stand (Part 2)
Dolgus was now free from Senara's trap and spun his polearm to keep the Awakened at bay. The weapon was perfectly balanced and thanks to its enchantments, the motion was slowly conjuring a tornado that made it hard to approach him without becoming easy prey.

Yet now that the cover of the Void was gone, the Council representative could pinpoint the dimensional coordinates to send the reinforcements on the hill without them being blinded by the blackness.

The other three Council representatives arrived along with their personal disciples and closest allies, people who would fight without asking questions. The death of so many Awakened was a tragedy, sure, but it was also the perfect cover to issue a kill order.

The official version was that the parlay had been broken by the Abominations in the attempt to feed on Senara, with no mentioning of the Mouth or Elphyn.

"Each squad focus on one of them and take them down." Ozak said. "The hybrids are strong, but they can't use breathing techniques or they would have done it under the cover of the blackness.

"We just need to kill one of them and their formation will crumble."

Theseus inwardly cursed at those words, knowing they were true.

Bytra had recovered thanks to Solus, but he and Zoreth were on their last leg. Using their bloodline abilities and casting so many spells had taken a huge toll on them. On top of that, even with Mana Body, Silverwing's Annihilation still drained a huge chunk of his energy.

Only Lith, Dolgus, and Solus had regained their strength, but they were still outnumbered seven to one and counting.

Now the gap in numbers had gone back to the beginning of the fight, but this time there was no trick to blind the newcomers and have Solus strike at them while they were defenseless.

To make matters worse, all the Council representatives had arrived and their prowess had no equal among their peers.

Ozak and his apprentices conjured the tier five Spirit Spell, Griffon Fetters, conjuring a hexa-elemental bundle of emerald chains that wrapped themselves around Zoreth. As its name implied, it had been devised to restrain Griffons, the strongest creatures.

The Darkness Dragon fell to her knees as the chains became tighter the more she struggled. Her joints were locked and her limbs kept close to her body, making it impossible for her to fight or flight.

Theseus was attacked by Xergov the Dullahan who brought with him a squad of Blood Witches. Undead couldn't stand the light of day so he attacked from the safety of his house through a dimensional opening.

The Dullahan shapeshifted into his real form, that of a Nidhogg, a lesser Leviathan, and hurled a river of corrosive acid on the feet of the Bastet. The liquid ate at Theseus' feet and soaked the land, cutting him off from the world energy.

Any attempt to absorb the energy and nutrients from the ground would also carry with them the Nidhogg's acidic breath, spreading poison throughout Theseus' body. The undead representative had been listening to Senara the whole time and had prepared accordingly.

From the safety of his home, Xergov had servants move his head, following the Bastet's every move while his body focused solely on weaving two spells at the same time.

Then, the Blood Witches drowned Theseus in Blood Flames while the elder conjured the Spirit Spell Phoenix Smash. Both the red and emerald blasts of flames eroded matter and energy at the same time, bringing the Abomination hybrid onto his knees.

Normally touching the ground with his whole body would have hastened his regeneration process, but Xergov kept spitting acid and Theseus was sinking in a corrosive swamp.

Senara's assistants hit Dolgus with a Silverwing's Annihilation that ripped off the Griffon's wings and cracked his armor. He had run out of Life Maelstrom after sharing it with Theseus and Solus and he had also run out of Mana Flow.

The Firbolg used her personal tier five Spirit Spell, Doom Vines, to conjure hexa-elemental infused living plants that crawled on the Griffon, searching for cracks and opening into his armor before plunging into his flesh.

Rokuno the Jotunn, the beast representative, was one of the biggest and the strongest of his race. He conjured the last bit of Corrupted Lightning he had left against Lith, negating his physical abilities before striking at him with Annihilation.

The Tiamat reacted by using the Demons of the Flames as a shield, having them detonate upon impact so that the Origin Flames would lessen the destructive power of the anti-Guardian spell.

He even tried to Blink, but Rokuno saw the exit point with Life Vision and when Lith reappeared, the Annihilation was already there waiting for him. The silver lining was that he had moved to an area with more Demons who sacrificed themselves for him and saved his life.

Only Bytra and Solus who never stopped running throughout the battlefield at the speed of sound were still safe, but it was only a matter of time before they fell as well.

'I told you that we should have left this damn continent!' Theseus said via the mind link.

'And I told you that this is the perfect opportunity to gauge our powers.' Zoreth replied. 'Look at the damage that four of us have caused. The upper echelons of the Council of an entire continent are here yet we are still standing.'

'That sounds like something great to write on a gravestone.' He replied dryly.

'Why so pessimistic? We haven't started yet.' Zoreth took a deep breath and a black pillar erupted from her body. 'Don't fight it. Let it flow through you.'

Bytra lit up immediately after, becoming a beacon that made it easier to follow her movements and anticipate them. Yet while Solus questioned the sanity of the Abomination hybrids, the Raiju smiled in expectation.

Theseus felt the resonance become even stronger after the appearance of the second pillar and all he needed to do to conjure his own was to join his sisters in their inhuman melody.

Lith felt the resonance as well and followed Bytra's advice. He let that mysterious energy course through his body, filling it with new strength and an euphoria that he knew didn't belong to him.

It was a joy born from the awareness of not being alone and having become part of something bigger. The collective mind of the Abomination hybrids peered on the fringes of his consciousness but it couldn't enter due to Lith's nature of a Tiamat.

Yet it was enough to trigger a similar resonance between him and his Demons. A silvery black pillar erupted from Lith's body and each one of his Demons conjured a smaller one, even those whose physical form had been destroyed.

The Tiamat could feel their broken bodies mending while those pulverized tried to reform even without receiving any energy from their master. His mind was filled with countless spells and martial arts he had never known before as the size of the chains that linked him to his Demons grew in size.

'Fuck me sideways! If I had positioned my Demons strategically, I could have used them as focus points for an array. Our bond is so much more than just a channel for my mana. We can share knowledge, strategies, and even magical runes.' Lith thought.
Chapter 1969: The Power Of The Gods (part 1)
‘My Demons can act the same way as my auxiliary cores, weaving spells in my stead and providing me with all the magic I need the moment I need it. The problem is that our normal chains aren’t this strong. I must find a way to trigger this phenomenon on my own.’ Lith thought.

Before the Verendi Council representatives could understand what was happening, six new black pillars appeared and all of the Master’s chosen but Tezka joined the fray.

Nelia the Griffon and Eycos the Garuda were already in their Divine Beast form, using the Life Maelstrom equivalent of Primordial Flames, Chain Maelstrom.

They each emptied their mana organ in one go, using half of the Life Maelstrom it stored to empower themselves and throwing the remaining half at the other in the form of a huge bolt of silver lightning.

The incoming mass of Life Maelstrom caused no harm to the two Eldritches. On the contrary, the silver lightning was absorbed and amplified by the Life Maelstrom already coursing through their bodies.

Nelia and Eycos channeled the energy they had exchanged into their mana organs, filling them again.

The Life Maelstrom enhanced not only their abilities, but also the amount of world energy they could store inside their bodies. When a split second later they shoot another bolt of lightning at each other, it was bigger and stronger than the original.

The sparks between the two Divine Beasts grew in intensity with each cycle. The Life Maelstrom they exchanged soon filled even their boosted mana organs to the brim until they couldn’t contain it anymore.

At that point, the Garuda and the Griffon flooded the battlefield with Chain Maelstrom, filling their allies with new energy and frying their enemies by overloading their cores.

Hushar the Leviathan and Cyare the Fenrir used their Doom Tide ability to conjure the world energy from their surroundings, enriching the area more than a mana geyser.

At the same time, they used Elemental Flow to conjure a series of arrays that neutralized the spells restricting their allies and healed their wounds.

‘Nandi, do your thing on Solus as well!’ Bytra said and the Minotaur complied.

He had no idea what good could world energy do to a regular human, but in his frenzied state, there was no space for doubts, only for battle. The violet gems on the forehead and the arms of the Minotaur-Orc hybrid turned white as he harnessed the energy that Hushar and Cyare had hoarded.

The world energy flooded Bytra, Zoreth, and Theseus with the same effects of Invigoration. Their wounds closed immediately and their black cores quickly returned to their peak condition.

One of Nandi’s tendrils reached Solus as well, and its effects were amazing.

Not only did she completely recover her physical and magical strength, but they also unlocked all of the tower’s abilities. If usually absorbing world energy in her tower form was akin to taking bites of a meal and then digesting it, what she received from Nandi was an IV.

She didn’t have to absorb and process the world energy, it willingly offered itself to her and became a part of her body in the space of seconds. She accessed the Heart of the tower, conjuring the Immortal Body array to heal Dolgus the White Griffon in an instant.

Solus stored her Sage Staff in the Armory, sharing its effects with Lith and his Demons. Now capable of absorbing huge amounts of world energy via their Abomination Touch, the wounded Demons healed and the vanquished ones returned.

As for Lith, he felt his strength soar like never before. Chain Maelstrom was imbuing him with a constant flow of Life Maelstrom that he could freely share with War and the Demons.At the same time, as the tower’s master, he also benefitted from the power that Solus received from Nandi. The Tiamat’s body started to crackle with black and silver lightning as his eyes spread their influence to his surroundings.

The resonance effect with the Demons increased with each new source of power he received, making them stronger as well. The shadows stopped flickering, their energy bodies taking physical form.

All of the Demons reached six eyes and then they burst out in Cursed Flames. There were now six kinds of Demons of the Abyss surrounding Tiamat, unleashing their fury against anyone who dared approach them.

Lith rejoiced to see their astonishing power and was utterly confused because he had no idea of what had happened and how to trigger the phenomenon again.

A Silverwing Annihilation snapped him out of his reverie, sending him flying.

Yet the damage was nothing compared to before. The Doom Tide had thinned the world energy for the Council so aside from Spirit Magic the other six elements were barely at one-tenth of their original strength.

Lith laughed in a frenzy and the tables turned once again.

Zoreth had broken free of the Griffon Fetters and had unleashed a river of Origin Flames. Kigan the Phoenix had followed suit, adding his own, and together they had conjured a burst of Primordial Flames that exploded amid the enemy lines.

The Awakened tried to conjure Silverwing’s Bastion, but it was weakened as well by the lack of elemental energy whereas Life Maelstrom empowered the Primordial Flames, turning them into a silvery color.

Doom Tide and Nandi weakened the Council as much as they empowered the Abominations, bringing their bloodline abilities to the next level. The blast of Primordial Flames pierced through the Silverwing’s Bastion and killed Ozak’s apprentices.

The Council representative survived solely because once he realized how dire the situation was, he focused the protection on himself.

Xergov the Dullahan wasn’t so lucky. Hushar and Cyare used the Life Maelstrom empowering them to amplify their ability to control the world energy. Their willpower reached the hiding place of the undead that was located above a mana geyser.

The two Eldritches conjured a Doom Tide each, making them detonate past the dimensional opening.

What was supposed to be the undead’s safe haven turned into a death trap. The sudden lack of world energy made the dimensional corridor shut down and neutralized all kinds of defensive arrays.

When the combined Doom Tides exploded, they bounced on the walls, producing shockwaves that ripped the Dullahan and his Blood Witches to shreds. The conflagration fed upon the mana geyser, spreading throughout the underground complex.

With no world energy to fuel the lair’s defensive spells, the Doom Tides met no resistance, causing a cave-in that destroyed a century-old legacy and opened a kilometers-deep fissure in the ground.

Nelia the Griffon and Eycos the Garuda charged at Senara, their bodies turning into a living mass of silver energy. Nelia’s Lightning Body and Eycos’ Nocturne Blast burned and withered plant representative and the rest of the Fae that comprised her squad.

The Griffon struck first, using her energy form to pierce through the Bastion and weaken their equipment. Then came the Garuda, spreading a black rain that seeped inside their bodies and tainted the land.

Just like Theseus, plants needed to draw nourishment from the ground to make use of their recovery abilities, but suddenly there was none. Senara died by her own hand, burning the last spark of life she had in the attempt to escape with a Spirit Blink.
Chapter 1970: The Power Of The Gods (part 2)
Rokuno the Jotunn ordered his fellow giants to unleash the full power of their Corrupted Lightning, but the Demons of the Abyss acted as meat shields, neutralizing the bloodline ability with the destructive powers of their Cursed Flames to protect their master.

Lith had already weaved another Ruin and the slash of his swords not only killed the beast representative, but also produced energy weapons that his Demons could wield. At that point, the battle was won and the few surviving members of the Awakened elite units were quickly wiped out.

Whoever tried to conjure a Spirit Warp would be killed by Solus and Bytra. Menadion’s heir spotted the entry point and the Raiju charged at them at such speed that the shockwave she produced would kill her victims without the need to weave a single spell.

Whoever turned their back would be immediately killed by a bolt of silver lightning while those who held their ground had the privilege to choose the way they would die.

If incinerated by Primordial Flames, stabbed by Abyssal Demons, trampled by the Raiju and her rider, our cut asunder by Double Edge’s blade. After their companions had been healed, Hushar and Cyare stepped out of the onslaught.

They kept themselves at the opposite ends of the battlefield, making sure that no one would escape to tell the tale or summon more reinforcements. They used Blood Tide to block elemental spells and Elemental Flow to conjure a Sealed Space wide enough to block Dimensional Spirit magic.

Lith and Solus found the experience of fighting alongside the Abominations to be exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

Exhilarating because once they had assembled, it wasn’t a battle anymore but a one-sided slaughter.

The Primordial Flames destroyed everything, the Chain Maelstrom provided the allies with infinite energy, while the Doom Tide combined with Nandi empowered their spells and weakened those of their enemies.

The Leviathan and the Fenrir had such a mastery over Elemental Flow that their arrays slithered throughout the battlefield and responded to the touch of the other Abominations assuming the form that suited their current situation the best.

Between the resonance effect that linked their minds and their mastery over their respective bloodline abilities, it was as if each one of them possessed them all at the same time.

That, however, was also the terrifying part.

‘Let’s be honest, Solus. You and I would have fallen at the first Silverwing’s Annihilation after being incapable of breaking through a single Bastion. The only reason we survived the first wave was because of Zoreth’s plan and Dolgus’ Life Maelstrom.

‘The Master’s Organization has just single-handedly destroyed Verendi’s Council in front of our eyes and without much effort.’ He said via their mind link.

‘I know.’ She inwardly nodded. ‘Sure, not all of the Awakened Council was involved and if they attacked us all at once things might have gone differently, but it still makes you wonder.

‘Why didn’t Vastor make a move yet if his children are already this strong? Is he going to fight the Guardians if he doesn’t consider this kind of power enough?’

Lith swallowed a lump of saliva, not knowing how to answer any of those questions yet knowing that they would haunt him at night from that day onward. In a way, Zoreth had invited him to show him how the Organization acted and also to let him know what to expect were he to make them his enemies.

“Mercy! We Yield!” A voice amplified by air magic said.

The Abomination hybrids were curious to see who was still alive and had the guts to demand parlay despite their defeat. Following that voice, the remaining Awakened lowered their weapons, falling onto their knees and putting their hands above their heads.

Feeling that there was no will to fight left, the Eldritches stopped their attack, herding the survivors in one spot.

“Who cares if you yield or not.” The Shadow Dragon said. “We came here to talk and you came here to kill us. We have no reason to spare a bunch of traitorous bastards.”

“We are defenseless now. Would you really kill us all in cold blood?” The voice turned out to belong to Ozak, the human representative.

“I’ve done much worse to much better people in my life.” Kigan replied. “You are nothing but a greedy pig who bit more than he could chew. Now choke on it.”

“What if I handed you the Mouth of Menadion? Wouldn’t it be enough to buy at least my life?” Ozak said and the other Awakened turned around in outrage, dogpiling at him.

They would have torn the human representative apart if not for Nelia saving him.

“The Mouth of Menadion? Is this the reason you came here with these puppies?” The Griffon pointed at Lith and Solus, who she recognized as the daughter of the First Ruler of the Flames.

Zoreth inwardly cursed her rotten luck. She hadn’t expected to have an opportunity to retrieve the artifact, especially in front of her brethren. Just because they were part of the same Organization, it didn’t mean that they shared the same ideals.

Her siblings didn’t know nor care about Bytra’s feelings towards Menadion’s heir. They barely cared for Lith due to his friendship with Vastor and his Abomination nature that made him partly one of their own.

If they got their hands on the Mouth of Menadion, they wouldn’t give it away easily.

“Yes.” The Shadow Dragon nodded, considering it pointless to lie. “I wanted Lith to witness our methods and power. After all, our father chose him as his successor. If anything happens to Dad, it will be Lith to help us merge our life forces.”

“This sounds utterly ridiculous.” Hushar said. “Lith is strong, but he is barely a kid. He has sworn no allegiance to us nor has he any reason to care for our destiny. Why should we give him such a gift?

“He might help us in the future, but he might as well be our enemy. The Mouth would be a fine addition to our armory. Unless you give us a proper reason, I’m against Lith having it.”

“I agree.” Cyare said and the others nodded in agreement.

“I’m sorry, Lith.” Nandi shrugged. “I know that Baba Yaga likes you and you even helped her in Lightkeep, but that’s not enough. If this was about an enchanted trinket I would be on your side, but we’re talking about Menadion!”

“I understand.” Lith and Solus exchanged a quick glance, knowing that not everything was lost.

Solus just needed to put her hands on one of the artifacts of Menadion’s set to get her own tower version of it.

“That’s the reason you should give the Mouth not to him, but to Elphyn!” Bytra said in outrage. “I came to Verendi with her to prove my good faith and make amends for my past crimes.”

“That’s your problem. It has nothing to do with the rest of us.” Eycos said. “I’m still pissed off with you for giving away the Fury without even asking Dad’s opinion. I think you have done more than enough already. The Mouth is off the table.”

Solus hated those creatures for speaking about her like she wasn’t there, yet fear kept her tongue in check.
Chapter 1971: Parting Ways (part 1)
The resonance between the Eldritches was still in effect and so were the combined effects of the various bloodline abilities of the Divine Beasts.

Even with her tower form at full power, she could feel the pressure they exuded.

‘It’s no wonder that Malyshka avoided fighting with them. I’m not a white core and the Eldritches have become much stronger compared to the last time I saw them.’ She thought.

“If that’s what you think, maybe you should learn Forgemastering because I’m not going to make equipment for any of you!” The Raiju replied in anger.

“Would you really betray our father for this insignificant relic of the past?” Kigan the Phoenix roared, revealing a second set of wings.

They were membranous like those of a Dragon but it was the elemental eye that opened in the middle of his forehead to reveal the presence of his Balor half. Kigan had now a black, a yellow, and a red eye.

Three eyes were the limit for Balors in their fallen state and the Phoenix was no exception.

“I would never do that!” Bytra said in outrage. “I owe a lot to the Master but nothing to you guys. The Fury was mine so I was free to do with it whatever I wanted and the same applies to the Mouth. If not for me, you wouldn’t even know that it was here.”

“Enough!” Zoreth and Nelia said in unison. “We’ll quarrel later. First, let’s get our hands on the prize.”

Neither of them was the eldest or the strongest Eldritch. That role belonged respectively to Tezka and Orulm, who like the Fylgja pre-dated the Guardians but was still waiting for a monster core powerful enough to contain his black core.

Both the Shadow Dragon and the Storm Griffon were the most respected due to their wisdom. Zoreth was the first Abomination that the Master had recruited while Nelia was the one who had used her connections with the underworld to turn a small group of outcasts into a powerful shadow organization.

“Bring us the Mouth of Menadion and Visante. Then we’ll talk about your life.” Zoreth said.

“Who?” Nelia asked.

“The man who killed Menadion’s disciple and imprinted the Mouth. Without him, the artifact would be pointless. We can’t remove his imprint and he would need but a thought to recall it.” Zoreth replied.

Ozak, clenched his teeth, inwardly cursing the Abomination. He had offered them the Mouth because he knew that he would be able to retrieve it. Once back in the safety of his own home, nothing could scare him.

No one knew where is secret lab was and the Eldritches couldn’t hurt what they couldn’t find.

“Of course.” He actually said with a smile, as if that had been his intention all along. “You’ll need to cancel the Sealed Space, though. I need to call my assistant and she has to Warp here.”

“Fair.” Zoreth shapeshifted into her human form but her right hand remained that of a Shadow Dragon.

She plunged it inside Ozak’s chest and he felt her slightly clenching his heart as it literally skipped a beat.

“You know how Eldritches are hard to kill.” She said while looking him in the eyes. “Warp away and my hand will come with you. You’ll die a second later and I’ll find the place you went to hide by following my own hand. I’ll get both your life and your legacy.”

Ozak nodded in a frenzy, swallowing a lump of saliva as even his second contingency plan failed.

The Leviathan and the Fenrir cleared from the dimensional seal only a small area around the representative, keeping the rest of the hostages trapped.

“Prexa, red protocol. Bring the Mouth and Visante at my coordinates, no matter how.” Ozak said in his communication amulet.

A few seconds later, a Warping Array led a young woman and an old man near the representative.

“Elphyn?” The old man looked at Solus in fear but she didn’t recognize him.

He was about to say something about her weird appearance when his eyes met Lith’s and he froze in terror. Visante was a bright violet core and under normal circumstances, he would be immune to Demon Fear.

Yet now that the Tiamat was empowered by both Life Maelstrom and the resonance effect with hundreds of Demons of the Abyss, even the ancient Awakened couldn’t stand the pressure.

“I’ve kept my part of the bargain. Now it’s your turn.” Ozak said.

“Elphyn, this is the man who killed your friend and stole your legacy.” Zoreth pushed Visante in front of Menadion’s heir and forced him to kneel. “You can kill him however you want. There’s no rush, take your time.”

“Thanks, but I don’t want to.” Solus shook her head.

Visante was over 900 years old and looked like a man in his nineties. He was a wiry tall man with clear white hair and a long beard. He only lacked a pointy hat to look like Merlin from Earth’s legends.

“Thank you so much, Elphyn.” He said amid tears. “I knew that you would understand. You’ve always been so good to me. If only your mother chose me for the Mouth instead of Vestha, none of this would have ever happened.

“You and I both know that I was a better mage than he ever was.”

Visante mistaking her mercy for camaraderie, her unwillingness to kill in cold blood for absolution for his murder, made Solus’ blood boil.

“I’ve lost my memories so I have no idea who you are or who was the better mage between you and Vestha. What I do know is that I can’t let someone like you, someone who killed his fellow apprentice to rob him of my mother’s legacy, live.”

A single swing of the Fury turned the bright violet core into a bloody puddle.

“I like her.” Cyare said and the others nodded. “Not enough to gift her the Mouth, though.”

“Can I go now?” Ozak asked, uncaring for who would keep the artifact as long as he kept his life.

“Depends, how many people know about the artifact?” Zoreth asked.

“A lot.” The representative lied through his teeth. “Letting me go is in your interest. I can keep others from seeking vengeance but if I die-“

“The entire Verendi Council will be wiped out.” Nelia completed the phrase for him. “That and the death of so many Awakened will cause a power vacuum that will take decades, if not centuries to be filled.

“If we kill them all, by the time the Verendi Council has the power to stand up to the current us again, our strength will have increased one hundredfold.”

“No!” Fear turned Ozak as pale as a ghost. “If you let me go, I promise that the Council will stay off your back, that no one will seek you for the Mouth.”

“Would really any of you be so foolish to attack us on Garlen?” Zoreth replied with a sneer. “We’ve beaten you in your own home, you’d have no chance in ours even if by some sort of miracle all of your fallen soldiers came back to life.

“Also, as you said, a lot of people know about the Mouth. Any of them can rat us out to the Garlen Council and reveal we now are in possession of the artifact.
Chapter 1972: Parting Ways (part 2)
“They, however, aren’t a centuries-old elder. They didn’t see us fight and can’t study our tactics to elaborate a counter strategy for their revenge.”

A flick of Zoreth’s finger shot two Hollow Void, respectively aimed at Ozak’s heart and head. The representative’s corpse fell to the ground and exploded a split-second later, destroying all the artifacts he wore.

It was a last-ditch measure to bring his killer down with him, but the Eldritches were powerful enough to snuff the explosion by completely sealing the space around Ozak.

“What are we going to do about the others?” Lith pointed at the Awakened who had surrendered along with their late leader. “They are loose ends and could report the strategies that we have employed today as well.”

“Excellent point.” Nelia nodded and killed them all, sparing only one who had yet to achieve the bright violet core. “You two are free to go. Tell everyone what happens to those who cross the Master’s Organization and that if they want the Mouth, they are free to come and get it.”

The young girl who had brought Visante and the chosen survivor of the battle wasted no time, disappearing through a Warp Steps the moment the dimensional sealing was lifted.

“Why did you let them go?” Lith asked in confusion.

“Several reasons.” Zoreth replied. “The girl knows nothing of the fight so killing her would have been pointless. To the contrary, she had witnessed the pathetic state of her almighty master was reduced and her words will shake the rest of the Awakened community.

“As for the soldier, we need a witness of our strength, otherwise people might believe that we won thanks to some stupid trick. To drive fear into our enemies, we need them to know the difference in power between them and us.

“On top of that, the report of that guy will be of limited strategical use. To be stuck at the light violet at his age, he lacks the cunning and the talent to be a genius. Even if he observed some of our strategies, I doubt he has understood them.

“What little he can share through a mind link will be muddled by his fear and confusion. Once they study his memories and see us through his eyes, new Council representatives of Verendi will believe that each one of us is as strong as a Guardian.”

“Last, but not least, by sending them away we can safely discuss what to do with the Mouth.” Bytra said. “Even if we give it to you, Elphyn, the Councils will believe that we are the ones who have it and will leave you alone.”

“Thanks, Bytra.” Solus said, and she was sincere.

Seeing the Raiju fight against the Awakened first and now against her own family to return Ripha’s legacy to its rightful heir moved her deeply.

“Do you mind if I take a look at the Mouth while you guys talk?” She asked.

“Sure thing.” Nelia handed Solus the artifact. “One word of advice, though. Imprint it, and we’ll have a problem.”

Solus nodded and took the Mouth in her hands, feeling something click inside her tower half. She conjured the Eyes of Menadion, sharing them with Lith to study the relic as quickly as possible.

They used their respective breathing technique to study the Mouth’s power core and spell matrix, but Menadion’s cloaking enchantments were a tough nut to crack even though they were outdated for centuries.

The Abominations argued for a long time and almost came to blows more than once. Lith and Solus used that time to study the original Mouth so that once they got back in the tower and conjured their copy, they would have the data necessary to understand how it worked.Bytra, Zoreth, Theseus, and partly even Nandi tried to convince their siblings to return the artifact to Elphyn, especially since she was Salaark’s protégé and was on good terms with Lith.

After over one hour, they were still at a standstill.

“I’m sorry, kid.” Nandi said. “If this was any other trinket, I’d give it to you without a second thought. The Mouth is too powerful to give up on it without thinking this through.”

“Are you going to keep it, then?” Solus asked.

“No.” Zoreth replied while taking back the artifact. “The only thing we agreed upon is that we need to ask our father’s opinion first. I give you my word that we won’t imprint the Mouth until the final decision is made.”

“Thanks, Zoreth.” Lith shook her hand. “You kept your word the entire time, showing us how the Organization works and protecting us even when you had no obligation to.”

“I’m sorry for how things turned out, little brother. I wish I could have given your friend the Mouth.” She sighed.

“Actually, I appreciate even this ending. It proves that your associates aren’t a bunch of sentimental idiots. They respected your opinion but still followed their own.” Lith replied. “I like your way of doing things. Straightforward and direct.

“Yet you can afford such an attitude only because all the members of your family are as strong as you are. You have no one outside the Organization whereas I want for my wife and family a normal life.”

“I understand.” She nodded. “If things go south with the Royals, keep my offer in mind.”

The other Abomination hybrids Warped away, leaving behind only the members of the original group.

“What about you, Theseus?” Zoreth asked. “Do you want to keep staying in Verendi or do you want to join us?”

“It depends. Can you help me with my blood madness? Will you really try and fix my life force even if I don’t fully commit to your cause? Am I free to leave whenever our goals cease to align or would it be just a life of servitude?” He asked.

“No one can beat the blood madness but yourself.” Bytra shook her head. “The only thing I can promise you is that we’ll make sure you make no more innocent victims. As for the rest, yes, we’ll do our best to fix your life force and you are free to go whenever you want.

“The only clause is that you can’t share our secrets nor work against us. Violate these terms and you’ll make an enemy whose power you have just witnessed.”

“Dolgus?” The Bastet didn’t want to leave his first friend in millennia, yet he knew that as long as he didn’t learn how to control his new powers, he would just be a liability for the White Griffon and his mission.

“You should go with them, my friend.” Dolgus handed Theseus his contact card. “Verendi needs me more than ever and they could definitely use not being afraid of the Wandering Carnival anymore.

“Once you get your own contact amulet, add my rune. If you ever need my help or just someone to talk to, I’ll fly to you, no matter what.”

The two men held each other in a long embrace. To the Griffon, Theseus was like a troubled child in dire need of help. After caring for him for that long, Dolgus had grown fond of him and wanted only the best for his friend.
Chapter 1973: Royal Showdown (part 1)
To the Bastet, instead, Dolgus was the closest thing to a brother that he had ever had. When the rest of Mogar had treated him like the monster that Paquut had been, Dolgus had given him a home and offered him a hand.

“Thanks man.” Theseus patted the Griffon’s back one last time and then he followed the other Eldritches into the Chaos Gate.

“Do you need a ride to the Desert, Lith?” Zoreth asked.

“Yes, please.” After exchanging their contact runes, they bid goodbye to the Griffon as well.

Lith and Solus were sad to have lost one Mouth, but between the one they had gained and the new floors of the tower, they were going to be busy for a very long time.

***

Griffon Kingdom, City of Valeron, a few days later.

The Royals didn’t waste time and arranged their trip to the Blood Desert for the day after the terms of the honeymoon had expired. Now that the embassy was open again, Salaark accorded them an audience at her earliest convenience.

It was still the middle of the night for the people of the Kingdom, but in the Desert, the sun had already risen for an hour.

“Are you ready, dear?” Queen Sylpha asked.

She wore her full Royal garments as a monarch visiting a peer. Everything from her fur-lined brocade cloak to her long gown had been enchanted so that it wouldn’t impede her movements nor would the heat of the Desert bother her.

“I’m as ready as I can be.” Meron nodded, dressed in a similar fashion and wearing all the insignia of his status. “We must be prepared to bear with Verhen’s grudge and relieve his anger before starting the treaty.”

“I know.” Sylpha said. “It’s why I think that bringing along all this junk might do more harm than good to our cause. You’ve seen how powerful Verhen has become and the allies he has made. Wouldn’t it be better to wear more casual clothes?”

“Are you kidding me?” Both the King and the Chamberlain went pale. “We are still the rulers of the Griffon Kingdom and we are visiting Overlord Salaark in her palace. What impression would we give if we walked through the Gate wearing shirts and shorts?

“This attire is meant to not make us lose face in front of Salaark and show Lith how serious we are. They are not meant to intimidate him, but to make him feel honored for our presence.

“The King and the Queen of the country who banished him come in person to his door to negotiate his return. There could be no greatest honor or sign of sincerity. On top of that, by not sending a middle man we can settle things much quicker.

“There will be no back and forth from the Royal Palace. We have the full authority of the Crown and can accept or refuse his terms, giving him a proper explanation for the reasons we’re doing so while looking him in the eyes.”

“Fine.” Sylpha sighed. “But I still feel ridiculous. Wearing fur in the Desert is like bringing salt water to the ocean, a foolish endeavor.”

“I would love to argue more about Valeron’s etiquette, my dear, but I think that worrying about the color of our curtains while the war with Thrud has set our house on fire is even more foolish.” Meron said, putting an end to the conversation.

The Warp Gate in front of them opened, revealing on the other side an honor guard comprised of the elite members of Salaark’s nest who wore a ceremonial red suit of armor. Each one of them held a long pole flying Salaark’s silver and black banner.The Royals stepped through the dimensional tunnel, using their own aura to resist the feeling of oppression that being surrounded by such powerful creatures caused. A silver and black carpet below their feet guided them to the next room, where Salaark waited for them.

The Overlord had made her guests come to her to establish the pecking order and wore a long black day dress worthy of a goddess. It was embroidered in silver with a feather pattern and decorated with several emeralds matching her eyes.

On her head rested a white turban made of the finest linen bearing a ruby the size of an apple on its center. A silver ceremonial scimitar sheathed inside a black scabbard was hung to her hip, the pommel resembling a beak while the cross-guard was shaped like wings.

It was the Overlord’s formal attire since she had unified the Desert under her rule.

‘Told you so.’ Meron inwardly grinned via their mind link.

“King Meron, Queen Sylpha, it’s an honor to meet you again after so much time.” Salaark gave them only a polite nod of her head while Sinmara who was beside her gave them a deep bow.

“I hope you won’t mind my discourtesy, but I can’t bend with such a dress at the moment.” She caressed her bloated belly, flushing in joy as the baby kicked.

“We would never dare to be so rude. We know all too well the hardships of motherhood. Congratulations, Overlord.” The Royals gave them a small bow and wore a huge smile, but inwardly they were quite scared.

According to the report that Manohar had handed down before his death, Lith was supposed to be the baby’s father. It would have explained the rumors about him having an heir so soon after the marriage and why Salaark was willing to share her domain with him.

“May I ask you who’s the lucky man who blessed you with a new child?” Sylpha asked, trying to sound as causal as possible.

“Thanks for your understanding.” Salaark gave them another nod. “As for the baby, I’ve gotten back together with the old lizard. Who knows, maybe this time things between us will finally work out.”

The jaws of the Royals fell onto the floor and their mouths went dry.

‘Good gods! This is much worse than Verhen being the father.’ Meron thought. ‘If the baby seals the alliance between the Desert and the Empire, the Kingdom is screwed!’

‘One problem at a time, dear.’ Sylpha said via their mind link with a soothing tone. ‘As you kindly pointed out a few seconds ago, if we don’t win this war, their baby is the least of our worries.’

“Please, follow me. I’ve already notified Lith of your coming and he’s waiting for you.” The Overlord gave them a final polite nod before turning her back to them and leading them through her palace.

‘Fuck!’ Sylpha thought. ‘He knows of our presence and didn’t even bother coming to greet us. This is the worst cold shoulder we could receive.’

Meron nodded and suddenly Tyris’s words ran through his mind again.

He could already picture Lith waiting for them in his Tiamat form, sitting on the Black Throne that the Guardian had mentioned to look down on them. No matter what they wore, the difference in size would put them at disadvantage.

‘I told you we should have worn more casual clothes!’ The Queen inwardly cursed. ‘First impression matters are we look like pompous old coots.’

‘Yeah, because looking like tourists would have been much better.’ Meron replied with a sneer.
Chapter 1974: Royal Showdown (part 2)
‘At least by dressing like this we didn’t lose face to Salaark and Verhen will have to treat us with the respect that honorable guests deserve.’ The King said while moving forward.

What they found a few rooms later, left them gawking even more than the news of Leegaain’s child.

Lith walked toward them, wearing a simple white robe of the Desert. Between his dark skin and his clothes dirty with soot and the remains of magical ingredients, he looked no different from one of the many mages they had met on their way.

“King Meron, Queen Sylpha. It’s a pleasure to meet you again.” Lith said while giving them a polite bow suitable when meeting peers, without a shred of deference. “I’m sorry for being late, but Grandma told me of your coming at the last minute and I was in the middle of an experiment.”

“What happened to your etiquette?” Salaark inhaled sharply and poked at his forehead. “You can’t call me Grandma in front of our Royal guests. I’m Overlord Salaark for you now.”

“I’m sorry, Grand- I mean, Overlord Salaark.” He gave her a bow much deeper than the one to the Royals.

What Meron and Sylpha witnessed scared them to the bone.

Salaark had scolded him with the familiarity of a parent instead of an offended ruler. Lith was so used to enjoying such a degree of freedom and confidence in the Overlord’s domain that he had forgotten his manners.

Worst of all, however, was his aura.

Ever since they had met Lith for the first time, they had become accustomed to his cold eyes, his recurring frown, and the subtle waves of power that he seemed incapable of repressing.

Now, however, they couldn’t feel anything from him.

His eyes were clear, his expression serene, and his aura was as placid as the surface of a lake during a spring day. The calm scared them more than any storm because it could mean only one thing.

The angry boy they had met had turned into a man who was in complete control of his emotions.

The lack of any magical aura could only mean that during his second stay in the Desert, Lith had mastered his mana flow. It was the only possible explanation for such a harmless appearance despite his recent breakthrough.

They remembered well that in Tyris’ hologram he had grown to 25 meters (82′) of height and had a violet aura. Those were the signs of an adult Divine Beast, yet if not for their prior knowledge, they would have never recognized an Archmage in the person in front of them.

“Would you like to oversee our treaties, my Overlord? You would be our esteemed guest.” Lith asked.

“Thanks, but I’m afraid that my presence would be inappropriate. This is an official business of the Griffon Kingdom and I’m merely its host. I don’t want either you or the Royals to feel pressured due to my meddling.” Salaark led them to a finely decorated room.

The ceiling was over 30 meters (100 feet) high, allowing a fully grown Divine Beast to move with ease. A long rectangular mahogany table was set in the middle of the room with many chairs lined on either side in equal numbers.

Along the walls, there were bookshelves filled with tomes about the laws of the three great countries and border maps. Several cabinets contained paper sheets and plenty of ink to redact official documents, no matter the length.

Wax sticks of all colors were lined up on a tray in the middle of the table, to allow both parties to use their respective official enchanted seals. Many bottles of fresh water and aged liquor had been placed on a cart, in the case the talks went on for too long or someone got thirsty.

It was the very same room where Salaark stipulated international agreements and settlements. The Royals had been there a few times in the past and the fact that she had lent it to Lith was a clear indicator of how much she cared about the issue.

‘Not feeling pressured my Royal ass.’ Meron thought. ‘For being someone more inclined to the sword than the pen, Salaark is quite shrewd. First the rumors about Lith’s marriage, then about his prowess, and now this.’

‘Agreed.’ Sylpha replied. ‘The question is if she wants the treaty to succeed or fail.’

‘It’s likely that she’s fine with both.’

“Before we start discussing the price for my full pardon, I’d like to lay my cards on the table.” Lith said, snapping them out of it.

“I beg your pardon?” The Queen asked.

The Lith Verhen she knew and appreciated was a devious man who would always play as close to the vest as he could. Revealing his hand without getting anything in return would have been a dumb move.

‘To win this war we need the same sneaky bastard who led the entire Kingdom by the nose for years, raking merits without anyone ever doubting his nature.’ Sylpha said via the mind link while clenching her husband’s arm.

‘I’m afraid that after staying in the Desert for so long Lith might have lost his edge.’

“Let me be brutally honest.” A smirk broke on his face and the coldness in his eyes wiped away any doubt the Royals had about his mental abilities. “I don’t consider this as a legal matter, but as a business transaction.

“The terms are as follows: I’m offering you my services within reason and under precise conditions. In exchange, you are offering me a full pardon for my past crimes. We are just trading favors, as simple as that.

“Now, it’s in my interest to showcase to you the power you are going to buy. The more I have to offer you, the less likely you are to forfeit it. On top of that, if I manage to make you interested enough, I’m certain that you’ll offer me a discount.”

Lith took several steps away from the table, reaching an empty area of the room.

“Now, the first item is my real form.” He shapeshifted into a Tiamat, pointing out the various changes he had undergone from his last breakthrough. “As you can see, I’ve grown past the limits of an Emperor Beast.

“I’m now certain to be a Divine Beast and I expect to be treated as such. I can use Origin Flames, Cursed Flames, and I have several unique bloodline abilities that you’ve already witnessed from Meln’s broadcast.”

He gave them a quick demonstration of his prowess by purifying an ingot of Orichalcum without wasting an iota of the precious metal. Then, he showed them the destructive power of the Void Flames on a castle gate, kindly provided by Salaark.

A single blast was enough to put a dent in the several enchantments of the reinforced double doors and to open deep cracks in its physical structure as well.

“I can do more, but focusing on my destructive abilities might be taken as an attempt to intimidate you so let’s move on to the next item.” Lith then shapeshifted into the Voidfeather Dragon.

The red scales covering his body had become thicker and inside each one of them burned a different kind of Cursed Flames. The color of the six flames resembled those of the natural elements but their light was sickening.
Chapter 1975: Becoming a Magus (Part 1)
The furniture in the room seemed to twist, the ground to soften and the air to become thin in the attempt to reject the unnatural power coming from the Cursed Flames sealed inside the Voidfeather Dragon's red scales.

Two sets of black feathered wings came out of Lith's back and several small horns formed a crown upon his head that reminded the Royals of those of Leegaain. The Voidfeather Dragon lacked the long, curved horns of the Tiamat but its body had grown taller as well.

"Do you have Dragon Eyes?" The Queen asked, hoping for a negative and an affirmative answer in equal measure.

Such a powerful skill would make Lith an incredible asset but also an unprecedented threat to the throne.

"I wish, but believe me when I say that my seven eyes are not for decoration. In this form my mastery over all kinds of flames is further enhanced and so is my ability to conjure Dragon Fear. Last, but not least…"

Lith shapeshifted again and the Royals expected him to take a Phoenix-like form. Instead, his body shrunk and compressed until it was just a bit taller than Orion.

"I don't go around telling people I'm part Abomination, but this is also who I am." In that form, Lith still resembled Derek McCoy but the changes in his Abomination side were much greater than those that his other forms had undergone.

Long straight horns came out of his forehead while curved horns came out of the back of his skull, covering his neck. A set of membranous wings rested on his shoulders and seven white-colored eyes were open on his face along with a lipless white maw.

Lith's darkness body was now packed with so much energy that it was almost tangible and the way it drained the light in the room made his black claws and talons glisten.

"Are you an Eldritch?" The King asked, recognizing from the many distinctive features something more than a simple Empowered Abomination.

The Void didn't reply, looking at the Royals with a mix of mockery and joy.

"Gods, you are so cute. It makes me want to eat you." It spoke with a voice that didn't belong to Lith, stretching its limbs like a predator ready to pounce on its prey. "You have no idea how long I've waited to meet you."

'Down, boy.' Lith needed sheer willpower to rein in his most violent urges. 'We are Grandma's guest and so are the Royals. No matter how pissed off we are at them, we can't offend Grandma by violating her hospitality.'

Derek/Lith held a grudge against the Royals for what had happened to his family from the moment the late General Morn had issued the capture order and, in his Abomination form, his negative emotions were cranked up to eleven.

The Void snarled in annoyance but crawled back among the other life forces, leaving Lith the wheel again.

"I'm sorry for my rudeness." Derek's voice turned into Lith's "This form is very violent, that's why I try to use it as little as possible. About your question, no, I'm not an Eldritch nor am I a full Abomination.

"I'm fully alive, just like you. This is but a part of my life force, just like Lith Verhen and the Voidfeather Dragon." Hearing him using the last name that the Kingdom had bestowed upon him, reassured Meron.

"How is it possible for a living being to also be an undead?" The Queen asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"I have no idea, but I suspect it's related to the fact that I was stillborn." Lith told them the details about Nana "bringing him back to life", glossing over the part about his previous lives.

"I'm sharing this with you because you already know of my ability to control the dead and to clear the allegations about my use of Forbidden Magic. What you've witnessed me using in the Hogum Household was just one of my bloodline abilities.

"I'm tired of hiding in the shadows and pretending to be someone I'm not. The cat is already out of the bag so I want things to be crystal clear before we start the negotiations.

"I'm telling you everything right now so that if anything of this becomes public knowledge, you can't go back on your word by claiming that I hid my real nature from you."

"I appreciate your sincerity but not your lack of trust." Meron said after pondering the revelation for a while.

Knowing that Lith wasn't a Necromancer like Balkor reassured the King because it meant he didn't have a secret army of undead stashed somewhere. On the other hand, it was much worse.

It meant that Lith had no need to collect corpses, to prepare and feed them for battle. The power came naturally to him like the shadows of the dead which made it necessary for the Royals to understand the boundaries of his bloodline abilities.

"After Meln blew your cover, we took care of your interests." The Queen said. "Your house and your Mansion have been kept exactly as you left them. The Verhen Mansion still belongs to you and your house has been sealed to the public."

Sylpha handed Lith a holographic map of the farm, showing him a new set of arrays surrounding the Verhen household in Lutia.

"We feared that during your absence someone might attempt to study your arrays and later break into your home so we had our Master Wardens lay several alarms and barriers.

"No one entered your property, no one studied your spells, and the DoLorean is kept safe even from the Royal Forgemasters." She said. "The silver mines you own and the silver it produces have been left untouched in your partner's hands.

"I want you to know that we didn't move against him even after we learned about his nature as a Lich."

Lith's eyes went wide at those words, but then he remembered Urgamakka and how Inxialot and Zolgrish seemed to have some kind of relationship.

"How did you find out about his true nature and didn't the Council cover for him?" Lith asked.

"Zolgrish objected to the seize order for the mines and during the lawsuit, he once forgot to change his appearance and entered the court with his real face." The King said with a deep sigh at the memory of the panic that had ensued.

"Also, yes. The Council interceded for him but we also covered it up to avoid you more trouble."

"And I thank you for that." Lith said.

'As long as the Undead Courts are part of the War of the Griffons, being a known associate of a Lich would make things even harder for my family.' He inwardly added.

"You can easily return the favor by allowing us to meet Captain Locrias and Lieutenant Valia." The Queen replied. "Everyone knows that they are now in your service and their families have petitioned us countless times to save them."

"There's nothing they need to be saved from. They are with me of their own will." Lith didn't like that turn of events.

"We believe you, but we need to check it with our own eyes. Can you please summon them for us?"
Chapter 1976: Becoming a Magus (Part 2)
The King sounded sincere, but Lith knew that the request to summon his Demons was just a ruse to check how much free will they retained.

A wave of his hand and the shadows in the room merged into the forms of the former members of the Queen's Corps.

"What's going- Your Majesty!" The two soldiers acted aloof until they noticed the presence of the Royals and then fell onto their right knee. "What are your orders?"

The ritual salute was so deeply ingrained in their being that their mouths spoke before their brains could remind them that death had relieved them of their service.

"At ease." The King ordered. "How are the clouds today, Captain?"

Locrias recognized the code words for the assessment of the threat at hand, but Lith was there as well, and answering would have meant revealing one of the Kingdom's secrets.

"I don't know. I haven't materialized in days." Locrias shrugged.

"Never mind." A wide smile appeared on Meron's face as he inwardly sighed in relief. "How is Verhen treating you, Captain? Is your condition painful? Your family is deeply worried about you."

"Verhen is a fair lord, my liege." Locrias replied and Valia nodded. "He has given me an opportunity to keep fighting and I can't wait to go back to the Kingdom. Becoming a Demon comes with a price, but I'm willing to pay. Dead or not, my mission remains."

"Excellent news. You are dismissed." The Queen nodded.

"With all due respect, my liege, we are disappointed in how you dealt with the Dead King and Morn's order endangering innocent lives." Valia said. "We are keeping your secrets and our oaths, but now more than ever our duty is toward the people of the Kingdom, not politics."

The Royals pursed their lips in annoyance. Valia's words bordered on insubordination and matched exactly the attitude that her personnel file reported.

'It seems that undeath didn't change their characters.' Meron said via the mind link.

'That's not very reassuring. It only means that now they can change allegiance if they found us lacking.' The Queen replied.

"We are aware of our faults and have come here to make up for them, Lieutenant." Sylpha actually said. "What happened after the Dead King's broadcast was solely Morn's fault and he's been dealt with.

"We have protected Verhen's properties and interests and now we are offering him a fair deal. There's nothing more we can do, but if you have any suggestions, I'm willing to listen."

Valia opened her mouth to reply, but Lith raised his hand, dismissing the Demons.

'Your defiance is only giving them more reason to be afraid of my abilities.' Lith said via the chains. 'I understand that you are angry, but if you want to say anything, do it through me.'

'I'm sorry, but seeing their smug faces while they worried more about codes and secrets than of our death got the better of me.' Valia replied.

"Before we move on with the treaty, there's something I have to say." Lith returned to his human form and sat down so to not look down on the Royals. "The terms of our deal must apply to my family as well.

"I want all of them to have a clean slate. My parents worked hard for their lands and my sisters have never aided me in my crimes if not by hiding my real nature for obvious reasons."

"Of course." Meron nodded. "We want all the Verhens back to the Kingdom. If they share your potential, your family would be an invaluable asset. In due time, the Verhens might even become another founding pillar of our country."

Once again, Lith could perceive from the King's heartbeat and perspiration that the offer was sincere, but it was hardly a surprise. Having a whole family of Divine Beasts at their back and call was the dream of every ruler.

"I'm glad we are on the same page because until a second ago I was worried about my wife." Lith said with a huge grin on his face while the Royals stiffened. "She's a Verhen as well now and her crimes must be pardoned.

"She deserted her duty and escaped her for my sake, so I consider the consequences of her actions part of my burden. Kamila worked hard to become a Constable and I want her to get her job and career back, if that's what she wants.

"If in order to return to the Kingdom I have to sacrifice her happiness, then we have nothing to talk about."

An awkward silence fell into the room.

Morn and Sylpha had always included Kamila in the deal, but giving back her old job would prove to be difficult. Constables were bound to know lots of secrets and were supposed to be loyal solely to the Crown.

Kamila Yehval had already betrayed their trust and her duty once, she could do it a second time.

"It depends on what you can offer to the Kingdom." Sylpha replied after a while. "I guess you have decided to become a Magus."

"Exactly." Lith nodded. "It's the only way to not be burdened by an I owe you for years. Also, I have no intention to join the Royal family."

"You can't unless you divorce first." Meron replied with a sigh. "On top of that, know that no matter your choice, the deal is based on the assumption that you'll consume the Royal pardons you gained as a Great Mage, Archmage, and even the one you'll get as a Magus.

"The favor we promised you after Kandria's plague will be considered extinguished as well."

"Sounds fair." Lith said. "One more thing. I want you to give the families of Locrias and Valia the opportunity to transfer to Lutia and provide them with everything they might need.

"As they have proven to you, they are still loyal servants of the Crown and they deserve to be treated as such."

The more conditions Lith moved the less the Royals liked that situation. Once the war ended, they needed something to keep him on the leash, but he was covering all of his bases.

Even worse, refusing to reunite the Demons with their families might have cost the Crown their loyalty so Meron was forced to agree.

"Not everyone can become a Magus, Lith." Sylpha pointed out. "What you have t offer must be something capable of making the life of everyone better, not just a few spells that only the elite can use.

"Also, even though we don't expect you to disclose the full extent of your contribution until the deal is sealed, you still have to give us enough elements to assess the usefulness of the knowledge you are willing to share.

"Only then can the Crown decide whether to accept your deal, ask for more, or turn it down entirely."

"I have several things I want to offer the Kingdom, starting from what Lochra Silverwing failed to grasp in her legacy." Lith said, making their faces deform in a mask of amazement.

"Are you telling us that the First Magus, the mother of modern magic, was wrong all along and you know better?" Meron couldn't contain either his surprise or disbelief.

"Not at all." Lith shook his head.
Chapter 1977: Becoming a Magus (Part 3)
"Silverwing's legacy isn't faulty, just incomplete. Light and darkness are not the only two elements that are two sides of the same coin. All six of them are."

"Can you give us a demonstration?" Sylpha had countless objections to such a statement but magic wasn't about opinions.

If Lith really could do as he claimed, he just had to prove it. On top of that, the Queen doubted that he would try to con two expert mages like the Royals.

"I know that you are fake Awakened so feel free to use Life Vision. This way, you can make sure that I'm not using some trick." Lith said and his eyes lit up with mana, quickly followed by the Royals'.

"As a kid, I was amazed by Silverwing's teachings, and my surprise only grew once I met Scarlett the Scorpicore, the previous ruler of the White Griffon's Forest. She could freely switch the light element into darkness and later I witnessed even Professor Manohar do it."

While Lith spoke, a small spark of light energy appeared between his hands. It started to spin clockwise, turning darker with every cycle. The Royals could see with Life Vision that Lith wasn't casting a second spell.

The very same energy of the original spark had turned from light into darkness. It reinforced their wish to get Lith back on their side, but it was far from amazing. The late Manohar had achieved much more.

"That's because even though we perceive them as different elements, they are actually one and the same. Together, they represent the control over life." The spark of light nurtured the flowers in the room, making them more vibrant, while the darkness half made them wither.

"Without light, darkness turns into Chaos, and without darkness, light turns into Decay." With a little help from his eyes, Lith created a spark of both Cursed elements, breaking the balance.

Half the flowers rot while the other half simply disappeared.

"This is common knowledge." The King said. "Aside from showing off your mastery over the elements, you added nothing to Silverwing's legacy."

"I needed to establish a common ground or you wouldn't be able to follow my reasoning." Lith replied with a shrug. "You see, even though my natural affinities as a Divine Beast are fire and darkness, the first pair of elements I've mastered are air and earth.

"That's because in my line of work dimensional magic saved my life countless times. Even though dimensional magic requires more than two elements, it's air and earth that together represent the mastery over space."

"What?" The Royals said in disbelief while a small rock floated between Lith's hands and half of it slowly turned into dust.

Once again, it wasn't a second spell nor was Lith simply altering the rock's density. The dust turned into a fine powder, then into a yellow mist, and finally into a small thunderstorm.

Explaining with words to people with no knowledge of physics would have been impossible, but what he was doing was using air magic's control over the electrical charges to break the bonds in the rock and earth magic to keep the polarized matter split.

"You heard me." Lith said. "Air and earth allow the mage to control the distance between things. Enhance the attractive forces and you get solid objects. Enhance the repulsive forces and you get gas instead."

He stretched the cloud, turning the entire rock into the electromagnetic powder before condensing it again.

"The ability to bend the distance between two different points in space requires the assistance of the other elements, but air and earth are all you need to affect the space around you. Like this." Lith extended his hand and a jolt of electricity burst from the ground.

"Can you do it again?" Sylpha asked, scanning the surroundings with both Life Vision and Domination.

Lith nodded and created a constant flow of energy going from the sand to his hand.

"He's telling the truth." Sylpha nodded. "So far earth magic became pointless every time a fight moved into the sky and air magic was limited in presence of metals. This is a game-changer."

"What about fire and water?" Meron asked without bothering to hide his curiosity.

"I kept them for last because this might be the hardest part for you to understand. Fire and water don't control temperature as you might think. They control speed." Lith replied.

"That's plain wrong." The Queen shook her head. "Nothing is faster than lightning and air fusion enhances speed. How could water and fire control speed them?"

"As I said, it's hard to understand." Lith said. "As you know, by using earth magic to alter the density of a surface, we can turn it from solid, to sand, to mud.

"Fire and water can't influence the density of solid matter, yet fire can liquefy and evaporate anything, while ice can turn the strongest object into a brittle piece of glass. Have you ever wondered why?"

"It's simply thermal shock." Meron shrugged. "Everything has a melting and a boiling point, but that's a matter of temperature, not speed."

"That's where you are wrong." Lith shook his head. "I used air and earth to show you how even a rock is rich in electrical charges and can produce lightning. What you call 'air' isn't actually empty space, but it's filled with things so small that you cannot see them."

A wave of his hand made part of the humidity in the room condense in a small sphere of water that took place inside the dancing dark light and the thundercloud.

"There's water in this room, but you can't see it because it's too fast. I used water magic to slow it enough to make the water turn from gas to liquid. If I slow it more…" The sphere turned into ice.

"What I need you to understand is the underlying principle behind this phenomenon. There are forces that keep things together and those forces are affected by speed. When you provide heat to a metal, its components start to move quickly enough to break free of the forces that usually keep them together.

"The weaker bonds break first, and the metal bends. Then, once that any material receives enough energy, it can melt and then evaporate. The temperature of living beings increases whenever they make an effort because the movement converts part of the energy stored inside the body into heat."

Lith shapeshifted his hands into those of a Tiamat and started to rub them faster and faster until the friction produced a spark.

"What you perceive as a change of temperature is actually just a by-product of the change of speed. If you fail to grasp this concept, you can't do this." The frozen water turned into a flame whose heat rose in intensity from red to violet before going back to mist.

"The six elements control life, speed, and space, but when you also add even an iota of Spirit Magic, they can become anything." Lith emitted a spark of emerald light that joined the three elemental constructs, forming a blade made of pure energy.

Water and earth gave it substance, light and darkness formed several rune patterns on its surface, and air and fire coursed along its surface, manifesting the enchantments Lith had imbued them with.
Chapter 1978: Becoming a Magus (Part 4)
"We can't reveal the existence of Spirit Magic to the public, but if I understood it correctly, you are saying that by mastering these principles, mages would be able to switch elements at will." The King said.

"Correct." Lith replied. "This isn't something that only Awakened or true mages can do, but also fake mages. Imagine the ability to conjure two different spells with a single chant, switching between them based on the circumstances.

"To alter the properties even of arrays, allowing Wardens to lessen their casting time and to give their creations a greater versatility."

"It's amazing." The Queen said while she tried and failed to replicate what Lith had just done.

Her lack of understanding of physics limited her imagination, but her rich experience as a mage and her Domination made her feel how close she was to achieving the same result after listening to a few words.

"Indeed." Lith nodded. "I can't decide what you'll share with the public, I'm just offering you the knowledge worthy of a Magus. What you do with it, it's none of my business."

He could have just revealed the ability of Forgemastering wands to allow fake mages to use Spirit Magic to gain the title of Magus, but that would have angered the Council.

The Awakened community considered Spirit Magic their exclusive and one of the main reasons they still had an edge over fake mages.

Lith couldn't make an enemy of his own people just to solve his personal problems. On top of that, sharing such information would have made him a Magus to fake mages and a joke to Awakened.

It wouldn't be something he had created, but just something he had stolen and exploited. This way, instead, no one would be able to criticize him. This new discipline of magic was of his own making and only he could decide what to do with it.

"In addition to what I've already said, I'm also willing to share with the Kingdom the necessary knowledge to replicate the DoLorean's power core. With it, once the War of the Griffons is over, you can start manufacturing trains that will connect the cities of the Kingdom.

"People will be capable of moving from the countryside to the Warp Gates freely even during winter. The quality of life, security, and the trading of merch will benefit everyone." Lith said.

"People will not be stuck in their villages their whole lives and traveling will not be a luxury that only the rich can afford. Moving merchandise and soldiers will be much more efficient without being limited by dimensional mages. I think you can imagine the rest by yourselves."

At the moment there was only one Light Master at the service of the Kingdom but Quylla was still too inexperienced to replicate something as complex as the DoLorean.

If Lith shared the blueprints of its power core, however, even Forgemasters incapable of using Light Mastery could manufacture it.

It was the same principle behind the widespread communication amulets, shared by one of the rare mages who have become both a Light Master and a dimensional mage, Jeron Klavin.

Hundreds of years ago he had become the second Ruler of the Flames for the Awakened and a Magus for the Empire thanks to his creation.

"We need to present your proposal to the Royal Court and the Mage Association, but this is plenty enough to ensure you the title of Magus." King Meron said while standing up and offering Lith his hand.

"Before you go, there's still a matter that I would like to discuss." Lith shook it, but invited the King to sit again.

"Another request?" Sylpha was puzzled.

The deal had already been made, adding more terms would reopen the negotiations.

"No, more like a suggestion." Lith shook his head. "Crime breeds from misery and ignorance. The best way to uproot it is by spreading knowledge and I think I know how to do it."

He took a small amulet out of his pocket dimension and handed it to the Queen. It was made of an alloy of silver and with a green mana crystal etched on its center.

"What is this?" Sylpha asked.

"A cheap and short-range version of communication amulets. Please, imprint it." Lith said and the Queen complied.

She discovered that the amulet was not only connected to the Desert's interlink, but also to a private network. She also found that it contained spelling books, Silverwing's Foundation of Magic, and many other tomes.

"How is this possible?" The Queen asked after checking the artifact with a Forgemastering Spell. "This thing has a very simple pseudo core. It can't host so much knowledge."

"That's because it doesn't." Lith replied. "The amulet is simply a transmitter connected to a much more complex device in my lab. The current amulets are too expensive for normal people whereas this is something that most can afford and maybe the Kingdom could provide them for free.

"My idea is to create a central system in the capital of each region and make the amulets rely on it to work. This way, a local corrupted officer could be exposed since people wouldn't need days of travel to reach the nearest army branch.

"Even those who cannot afford the paper for a single book will have many tomes at their disposal, teach their children magic or any other discipline and discover that they have a talent for it.

"Even if you just give one of these to each family in the Kingdom, you will give them the opportunity to learn, practice magic, and broaden their horizons.

"Bedtime stories would help the children to learn how to read and write and would give their parents a way to keep them quiet. During the long and harsh months of winter, people would have something to do while they are assembled in front of the fireplace.

"Also, since the amulets by themselves are useless and the central unit would be in your control, you can start by adding solely safe books and then progressively increase their number and variety."

Lith explained to the Royals how it was possible to grow the amulet network and turn it into the closest thing to Earth's internet. A place where even people distant thousands of kilometers from each other could talk and share their knowledge.

In a future version of the amulets, people would be capable not only to read from the mainframe, but also to write and create their personal spaces based on their common interests.

"This is a great idea." The King asked. "Why didn't you offer it to us as part of your legacy as a Magus?"

Lith inhaled sharply and then proceeded to explain all the problems that the internet and the spreading of magical smartphones were bound to create.

Like how extremists would more easily find like-minded individuals and dangerous knowledge would be easily leaked. How given enough time, voyeurism and stalking would become a thing.

By the time he was done explaining the range of cybercrime, the Royals had already changed their mind, considering the idea of such a shared virtual space reckless and idiotic.

"It's a nightmare. A lot of laws would have to be changed and even more created anew." Sylpha had already a headache at the thought. "We would need to train a new corps of Constables and keep an eye on the network."
Chapter 1979: New Floors (Part 1)
"I know that giving people such a powerful tool is bound to backfire. Once the amulets network develops enough, it will take a life of its own and become impossible to fully control." Lith nodded.

"Yet I still think you should do it. Keeping your citizens boxed makes them easier to control, but it also limits the development of the Kingdom. Sooner or later that box will not be enough and you'll lose control anyway.

"You can choose whether to oppose the change until it tramples you and then waste years to contain the damage, or to channel the growth of your society and guide them to the best of your ability.

"After all, it will take a long time before someone other than Royal Forgemasters develops their own network. Until that moment, the amulets will be under your control.

"You can use that time to study the effects that giving free knowledge has on the Kingdom and be the spider of this web." Lith had a hard time not laughing as he conjured a fitting hologram over the city of Valeron.

"It will be up to you to decide which threads to cut and which to weave. As long as you have the monopoly of the network, with enough manpower and resources you can keep things from escalating until the law is ready to face further change.

"This matter is no different from what happened with the academy system. You can leave it as it is until it blows into your faces or you can be like Linjos and take the matter into your own hands.

"Until this moment, due to the incompetence of your predecessors and the load of stuff to fix they have left you, you have focused solely on day-to-day crises. That's what a mediocre ruler does, dealing with the problems of today.

"A great ruler like Valeron, instead, prepares for those that he knows will arise in the next thirty or fifty years. He works for the future because the longer you wait, the bigger a problem will become."

"How do you know so much about the First Ruler?" The King asked.

"As a Divine Beast I had the opportunity to talk with people who knew him and since I want the Griffon Kingdom to be my home, I also want it to be ruled by a new Valeron instead of Thrud." Lith replied.

"By the way, communication amulets network sounds terrible. I'd go for something catchier, like Web of Knowledge or Web for short."

"We'll keep your suggestions in mind." Sylpha said and this time, when they turned around after shaking his hand, Lith didn't stop them.

"One last thing." Meron said. "Upon your return to the Kingdom, you should thank Marchioness Distar, Archon Ernas, and Baron Wyalon. They have rallied respectively the south, the center, and the north of the Kingdom for you."

"I will." Lith nodded. "About that, I am planning to hold a second marriage ceremony for my friends who couldn't attend the first. Many of them live in the Kingdom and I'd love for them to come here without the risk of being charged with treason."

"The borders will remain open." Queen Sylpha replied. "Until the Royal Court and the Mage Association are done deliberating your offer, you are still considered an enemy of the state, Archmage Verhen.

"Yet as a sign of goodwill, we'll grant your request. I wish you all the happiness that comes your way because once you return to the Kingdom, only the battlefield will wait for you."

Lith gave them a polite bow that the Royals returned and then plunged into the nearest seat.

"What do you think, Solus?" He asked.

"I think it went well." She replied from her ring.

"Me too." Lith inhaled sharply, pinching his nose to fight an incoming headache.

"Why are you so stressed then? I thought returning to the Kingdom was what you wanted." Solus said.

"It is, but after a blessed month during which I only worked how much I wanted, now I must go back working as much as it's needed." Lith replied. "Before I enter the War of the Griffons, I need to complete my Golems, craft a crapload of equipment, and understand what the heck the Mouth of Menadion does."

"I'm sorry. I wish you had a bit more time alone with Kami." Solus said, yet her tone and words didn't match.

The idea of spending a lot of time together again and exploring all the magical theories they had developed during the second half of the honeymoon, made her jump with joy.

Solus was jealous and just like Kamila, she wanted to set her own boundaries in their relationship. She even assumed her human form to be the first to congratulate him with a long hug.

"The silver lining is that the new floors of the tower, our friends, and Grandma should be enough to get our job done in time." She said, trying to sound casual.

Lith pretended to not notice her enthusiasm and nodded.

He was about to open the door and walk out of the room when the handle seemingly turned on its own.

"I'm proud of you, Featherling." Salaark patted his shoulders and then pinched his cheeks to congratulate him. "Don't worry about the Association, your theory is worthy of a Magus and if the Kingdom denies you the title, I won't."

A snap of her fingers produced a spark of light that turned into a drop of darkness.

"Wait, how did you do that?" The Guardian squinted her eyes in focus, managing to switch all elements at will before Lith had the time to answer.

"Granma! Didn't you say that you would stay out of the treaty?" He would have liked to get angry with her, but he simply couldn't.

Lith now considered Salaark a member of his family as much as she considered him one of her own. The Guardian had already done a lot for Solus and his family and before Lith left the Desert, he would still have to ask her for help countless times.

"And I did. I just wanted to make sure that the Royals didn't try to blackmail you or something. I swear that I had no hidden agenda." Salaark had already mastered how to switch the first three tiers of magic and was now trying with the fourth.

"Don't be a sourpuss. Stop pouting and go celebrate with your wife while you still have the time."

"I will." Lith and Solus nodded before walking through the door.

"I was not talking with you. Give them some privacy!" Salaark dragged Solus away, making her yelp like an angry puppy.

"Did you really include my reinstatement as a Constable among the terms?" Kamila was both happy and shocked at the news.

"Yes. As I told you the day you came here to propose to me, you have worked too hard and made too many sacrifices to build a life for yourself. I couldn't stand the idea of fixing only my problems." Lith replied.

"You have sacrificed over ten years of your sweat and blood for my sake and now it's my turn to put something I love at risk for you. Either we'll both get our old lives back or no one will.

"Whatever the future holds, we'll face it together."
Chapter 1980: New Floors (Part 2)
Kamila hugged him tightly, feeling tears stream from her eyes. Until that moment, she had avoided thinking about the things she had lost and the dreams that she had shattered by becoming a deserter.

She had never talked about them with Lith because, after everything that had happened in the wake of Meln exposing his identity, she didn't want to further increase his burden.

She had wanted their marriage to be the source of his happiness and the haven where he could relax in the storm of the exile. Yet it wasn't just the Verhens mourning the loss of their old life, but she as well.

"How did you know it was so important to me if even I didn't?" Kamila didn't want to ruin that moment, but she couldn't stop crying in joy.

"Because I love you, Kamila Verhen, with all my heart." Lith quoted the same words that she had told him in Yrma on the third day of their honeymoon.

"When something troubles you, you don't hide it from me. You don't lie about it to me. You tell me and let me share it with you. Whatever happens to you happens to me. Your happiness is my happiness."

They held onto each other for a while, hoping that their future would be even better than their present.

***

The next day, Lith checked with the Ernas sisters and made sure that the Royals had kept their word. Now people from the Kingdom were free to cross the borders and visit him without being labeled as traitors.

"I'm going to kill you so bad, mister Verhen!" Friya said in mock anger. "After all we went through, after years spent bearing with your brooding and killing glare, how could you leave us out of your marriage?"

"Yeah, who was your best man? What did you do for your bachelor party?" Quylla asked. "What about Kamila?"

Phloria remained a few steps behind, still conflicted about her feelings. She still liked Lith and loved him as a friend, yet she could feel that there was now a distance between them that couldn't be crossed anymore.

The bridge of their past relationship had been burned for good and even though she had no intention of building it again, it still pained her.

"I had no best man nor bachelor party." Lith shrugged.

"What?" The Ernas sisters said in unison.

"Dude, I had prepared something great for you ever since you dated Phloria!" Friya said, making her sister flush in embarrassment. "How could you do this to me?"

"It happened on the spur of the moment. Kamila had no party or bridesmaid either." He replied. "Zinya was too shocked even to stand and so were my parents. That's why we are doing it again."

"Yeah, the bastard didn't even invite me!" Protector pouted.

"Or me!" Faluel playfully punched his shoulder and Lith felt it.

"Enough with the chit-chat." Lith cut them all short. "There's lots of work to do and little time to do it. I didn't call you here to be scolded until my ears fall off, but to show you the new floors of my tower and ask for your help."

"Thanks, dear." Salaark said. "You know how Grandma is fascinated by Menadion's work. I'm seriously considering getting a tower of my own."

"Can you make one?" Lith asked in surprise and everyone held their breath for the answer.

"I have no clue." She shrugged. "But if I ask your grandfather's help and you let me examine the tower, I'm certain that I can pull out another masterpiece."

Lith knew how much he owed Salaark and that someday he would have to return the favor. Yet giving her free access to the tower still felt too much and the Guardian shared his opinion.

Salaark could have demanded it from Lith if the tab was big enough but she had chosen to ask for it instead. Most of the things the Overlord had done for him and his family, she considered them as acts of love and wanted nothing in return for them.

"Please, follow me. There are four new floors that you should see. We'll start from the underground levels." Lith brought them to the tower that now stood 21 meters (69 feet) high.

It had turned into a seven-story building that had forced Salaark to raise the ceiling of her palace to host it. The new floors had appeared in-between the old ones, altering the structure of the tower.

"Welcome to the Workshop." Lith had brought his guests to the level right under the Forge.

When he opened the thin wooden door, their disappointment couldn't have been any greater. The room was a circle with a radius of 10 meters (33 feet) and was completely empty.

"Are you sure this isn't just the Closet or something?" Quylla said with a scoff. "Aside from a lot of space, there's nothing here."

"There's nothing because there's nothing I need at the moment, but let's say I wanted to practice enchanting the Davross." He said with a sly smile.

Suddenly, an unknown rune appeared on each one of the square stones that comprised the floor, walls, and ceiling. The Workshop pulsed with the power coming from the mana geyser below, accumulating and compressing the world energy until it took physical form.

Once the glowing stopped, a huge chunk of Davross and several white crystals had appeared in the middle of the room along with all the necessary Forgemastery circles to enchant them.

"By the gods! The Crucible must be a prototype of the Workshop." Protector said in amazement. "Who needs a mine when you can create everything you need out of thin air?"

Everyone but Salaark nodded in enthusiasm. The Guardian knew that not even her Creation Magic could achieve something like that and Lith had never stopped asking her help resetting his materials.

On top of that, if the Workshop really was that good, he would have already replaced the Adamant coating his golems and armor with Davross. There had to be a catch.

"Yeah, right. Since we are already dreaming, then I also want the crafting method to shape and enchant Darwen." Lith replied with a sneer.

"What do you mean dreaming?" Friya asked.

"Darwen is a dick. Even Davross is easy to handle compared to it. I tried everything I had, but all I managed to do was shatter it." Lith sighed. "I understand now why Vastor uses Darwen just to coat stuff."

"No, I mean what's the problem? Isn't that Davross?" She pointed at the lump of metal sitting in the middle of the room.

"Yes, it is. Pure tower produced Davross ready to be enchanted." He replied.

"And?" Friya tapped her foot in frustration.

"And it's just like Solus' clothes and every piece of furniture in the living room." Lith said, making a collective groan rise from his guests. "It has all the properties of the real deal and can be enchanted, but bring the tower away from the geyser and it will go puff.

"Bring it away enough from the tower-"

"And puff." Faluel completed the phrase for him. "It's still amazing. How much of a single material can the Workshop conjure?"

"As much as I have." Lith sighed.
Chapter 1981: New Floors (Part 3)
"The real Davross and crystals are still respectively in the Crucible and the Mines. The Workshop uses them as blueprints and can't exceed their quantity." Lith said.

"How is this amazing?" Protector scratched his chin in confusion. "I mean, sure, it's good for practice, but it has little practical use."

"You wolfhead!" Salaark said in outrage. "This is a miracle of magic that borders on Creation Magic. Thanks to the Workshop, even without my help Lith and Solus can now experiment with their techniques as many times as they want without losing a single ingredient.

"Thanks to this place, no matter how crazy or risky an experiment is, there will be no consequence because nothing inside here is real."

"It's actually even better, Grandma." Lith offered her biscuits and hot chocolate to sweeten the blow. "Until this moment, I couldn't use powerful ingredients like Dragon's organs or the plants I received from the Dryads without a recipe.

"Your Creation Magic allows me to reuse those that end up in a failed but complete piece, but cannot recover an ingredient that has been destroyed due to the Forgemastering energies going awry or to a faulty crafting method.

"With the Workshop, instead, I can experiment every kind of enchantment with my ingredients and discover what element or combination of elements they are more attuned with."

"I can do that with Creation Magic as well." Salaark said in-between mouthfuls.

"That's because you can revert the consequences of a failed experiment the moment something goes wrong whereas I can only bring you the final results. I can't ask you to spend hours looking after me in case I make a mistake.

"I believe that the Workshop is the reason Menadion managed to Forgemaster so many masterpieces and research so many branches of magic. She could experiment until she found the perfect combination of materials and technique and now we can do the same." Lith said.

"Wait a second." The Guardian furrowed her brows. "If you had your own version of Creation Magic, why do you keep coming to me to remove imprints and enchantments?"

"Because I needed to use both the replicas and the real ingredients to make sure of how accurate the Workshop's ability to reproduce magical properties is and because I'm shamelessly trying to learn Creation Magic from you." He replied.

"Cheeky brat!" Salaark pinched his cheek, laughing. "Extra points for your sincerity. I knew that you have the Eyes and I was counting on you using them to give Creation Magic a go. This was a low blow, though.

"I expect to be compensated for my time and my stolen lessons."

"If there's something you need, Grandma, all you have to do is ask." Lith gave her a deep bow, knowing how much deep is respect for Salaark was.

She had taken care of him and his family for all that time without asking anything in return. She had lessened the burden on his father's sanity, sparing Raaz the trauma of having to live a single minute without his limbs.

She had taken care of the Verhens like her own, giving Lith a safe haven to recover from the pain Meln had inflicted upon him and a place where to enjoy his honeymoon.

"Don't worry, dear. We'll talk about this later." Salaark placed her hand over his head, caressing it gently. "Now show us the rest of the goods."

"Sure thing. Our next stop is the Factory." The new floor was right below the Workshop.

The room looked like a mix of the Forge and Zekell's smithy. There was a furnace fueled by both violet flames of magical origin and the magma that came from the lower levels of the tower.

Like the Forge, there was a huge block of Adamant that worked as an amplifier for the magical energies and like the smithy, there was everything necessary to smelt metals and molds to shape them in different forms.

"Here is where my labor in the Workshop truly comes to fruition." Lith said. "This floor is entirely automated. It can do the same things I do and with the same precision, as long as I provide a manufacturing method and the final product doesn't require a strength above the blue core."

"It would be incredible if you planned to sell low-quality weapons." Salaark looked at the various artifacts, doing her best to conceal her disappointment. "Yet I doubt that anyone would be interested in such a low output.

"A true masterpiece cannot be mass-produced. It's the care and expertise of the artisan that make the difference between good and exceptional. Just think about War. Without Orion's feelings, it would have just been an average piece of metal."

"You are right, Grandma, but also wrong." Lith replied. "You see, I have a small army of Demons and I've decided that it's time to give them some equipment. I can't always rely on stealing it from my fallen enemies, especially against Thrud's soldiers.

"Their bodies and gear disappear a second before their death and my Demons lack the skill to capture it in time. On top of that, the souls who answer my call change every time.

"There is no point in crafting something tailored for them. Even if I knew what weapon suits each one of them the best, it would be used only once, wasting my time and effort.

"Here, instead, I can craft everything I need without consuming a second of my time and focus. Also, never forget that quantity has a quality all its own." Lith pointed at several blades identical in their shape and enchantments but with different kinds of power cores and mana pathways.

"I lack the experience and skill to understand how the mana flow in the body of others. Because of that, I can't make weapons suitable for the training of Blade Magic. Yet thanks to the Factory, I can rely on a trial-and-error process."

A snap of his fingers conjured Locrias, Valia, and Trion who each experimented with the new batches of weapons, reporting to Lith which one offered less resistance to them.

After spending enough time with them and having learned together how to use the chains to exchange knowledge, Lith had imparted unto them everything he knew about Blade Magic.

The Demons could use such knowledge to understand their own mana flow and how it behaved when interacting with different kinds of power cores. Then, they shared their discoveries with Lith and he would focus on perfecting the power cores of their choosing.

"A true Ruler of the Flames has to be capable of forging tools that allow their clients to casting Blade Magic. I'm brute-forcing my way to the title, but what truly matters is the result." He shrugged.

"Thank you very much." Locrias said. "First you allowed us to get in touch with our families. Then, you included them in your bargain with the Royals so that we can spend time with them during times of war and peace.

"Now you are even teaching us one of the highest tiers of magic and providing us with what we need to practice it. You have given us so much and yet we have given you so little in return."

"Nonsense'" Lith dismissed the issue with a wave of his hand.
Chapter 1982: New Floors (Part 4)
"None of you had any reason to stay behind and follow me right after your demise. Even though you haven't given me your full loyalty, you haven't betrayed my trust either.

"When I conjured you in front of the Royals, you could have exposed my tower and Solus. The Kingdom would have greatly benefitted from such knowledge and the Crown would have asked much more from me.

"Yet you didn't, Locrias. You guarded my secrets just like you protected my family whenever I asked you to. You guys may be dead, but you still feel pain when you are hurt and you suffer from your condition as Demons.

"The cycle of dreams and nightmares would have broken lesser people, yet you three endure them on a daily basis without complaining. You always answer my call and are willing to fight for my sake even when it's not the safety of the Kingdom at stake but my interests.

"For that I'm grateful to you, and you deserve more than the living space of a feather from me. Locrias, Valia, you have my word that I'll make sure that the Crown rewards you for your valor and that your prizes go to your families."

"Thanks, my liege." Trion was the first to kneel, creeping Tista a bit.

Even though there was little love between them, he was still her older brother. Comparing his old attitude with the current deference toward Lith made her think that either Trion had truly changed or that a slave spell had to be involved.

"Thanks." The other two kneeled as well, bringing his hand to their forehead as they had done to Kamila. "You have our solemn oath that we'll defend your household like our own.

"We'll protect your secrets with our lives and we'll never use anything you are gifting upon us against you, no matter our orders."

Lith nodded and let them go back to their training.

Those who hadn't met Lith since he was still struggling with the bottleneck of the deep violet core remained shocked by the change in his attitude.

He hadn't threatened to dispel their souls the moment they attempted to betray him, nor had he mocked them for their blind loyalty to a Kingdom that had already forgotten about them.

There was now a confidence in him that made those words pointless. Lith was now at peace with himself and that allowed him to stop seeing threats where there were none and to treat people right.

He trusted none of his Demons, but he respected them and their beliefs. The feeling was returned in kind and the more they learned about him, the more simple resignation to their condition turned into trust and loyalty.

"How does the Factory work, exactly?" Salaark asked once the prolonged gawking stopped amusing her.

"It's actually the result of the combination of several different floors working in unison." Lith replied. "I have to store the production method in the Library and the necessary Forgemastery arrays in the Heart.

"Then, I have to decide if to craft something for real, in which case the materials come from the Crucible, the Mine, and the pocket dimension, or just to make a mock-up. If it's the latter, the Workshop provides the Factory with the test materials.

"In either case, the smithy then smelts the metals and gives them the proper shape before the enchantment process starts. My skills as a blacksmith are still lacking, but I can easily purify anything with Origin Flames and I need but a rough sketch for the tower to create a proper mold.

"Once everything is set, the Factory can produce both alchemical and enchanted items without any supervision from either me or Solus.

"Thanks to this new floor, we are freely experimenting with wands, Thundercrash, and even on how our old enchantments interact with the various parts of Syrook's body.

"Also, my Demons can try out countless weapons and enchantments until they found one suitable for their own mana flow and learn Blade Magic."

"Can we use it as well?" Quylla asked, eager to increase her battle prowess.

"Sure." Lith shrugged. "As long as you stay in the tower and work on your own manufacturing methods. I don't have the time to focus on more people. I've a lot on my plate already."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Tista pouted. "I could use learning Blade Magic and I spent most of my free time with Solus when she wasn't with you."

"That's actually on me, Tista." Solus replied. "You were hurt and lonely. You needed a friend and some time to come to terms with the consequences of your actions in the Hogum mansion.

"I kept it a secret from you because I thought that rather than bury yourself in training, you needed to confront your inner demons."

Tista's eyes narrowed in annoyance and she pursed her lips to hold back harsh words about Solus' interference with her personal life. Then, she realized that Solus had done it only out of concern and her expression softened.

"Thanks, Solus. I don't know if resting was the right thing to do with the War of the Griffons still ravaging the Kingdom, but it definitely helped me."

"You are welcome." Solus said with a warm smile.

"Let's move to the upper floors. There are still two new levels you need to see." Lith snapped his fingers, Warping them all straight to the floor that had appeared between the Greenhouse and the Heart of the tower.

The circular room was empty, looking exactly like the Workshop. After having underestimated Menadion's creativity already, everyone kept their mouth shut, waiting for the explanation.

"This is the Firing Range." Solus said. "Unlike the Workshop, it's just as you see it. Empty. The purpose of this room is to put to the test the weapons we craft, their enchantments, and our new spells."

A choir of furrowed brows and puzzled looks welcomed her words.

"To what end?" Faluel said, expressing the words in everyone's mind.

"One of the biggest issues when learning Blade Magic is to find a place where to practice without causing pointless destruction or drawing attention." Solus replied. "The same stands for powerful tier five spells.

"A mage needs to test out their creations, but at the same time, they don't want them to be witnessed. A Dragon might learn it, stealing in seconds months of hard work while a simple passerby might witness the quirks of the spell and spread the tale.

"If it happens, the surprise effect would be lost. On top of that, every time we crafted a new piece of equipment for ourselves, we had to wait for a worthy opponent to test it out.

"We couldn't go all out against a friend nor could we risk getting seriously hurt just to test the durability of an armor. The Firing Range solves such problems. Look."

Solus weaved a tier five spell, Final Eclipse, and unleashed it against the wall in front of her. The Firing Range shone with white light, filtering the world energy unnecessary elements until only fire and darkness remained.

A second Final Eclipse burst from the wall, countering Solus' with the same strength so that not a single tongue of fire reached its target nor any of those present.
Chapter 1983: Home Away from Home (Part 1)
"As you have just seen, the Firing Range mirrors whatever you attempt against it and then rates it on a simple scale." Lith pointed at a holographic display that appeared beside Solus.

There were five levels, one for each tier of regular magic. They were split into four compartments: low, middle, high, and tower. Then, there was an upper level marked as Spirit Magic with its own tiers and compartments.

Above it, there were Blade Tier spells. Unlike the previous branches of magic, it wasn't split into five tiers. It only had the usual four compartments, hinting that Tower Magic was compatible with Blade Tier spells.

It rated her spell as an intermediate tier five, far from the Spirit Magic tier and even farther from the Blade Tier.

"That's because of my blue core." Solus said with a sigh. "Final Eclipse is a powerful spell, but I lack the necessary mana to manifest its true potential."

"Now, watch this." Lith changed the settings in the holographic display and then he cast a Final Eclipse of his own.

This time the tower replied by using a darkness and water magic spell, Ice Age. Not only was the rating of the spell higher than Solus', but Lith could also experiment with it against all kinds of protections and test its effects.

In the same way, the Firing Range could conjure the spells of the owner of the tower and then fire them at him. When Lith wanted to test a new defensive spell or the Spirit Barrier of his armor, he would have the tower keep his energy signature.

This way, once a spell conjured by the Firing Range broke past his defenses, it would do him no harm. When he wanted to try out the raw defensive power of his armor, instead, he would have the tower change to a neutral energy signature.

The spells could now damage him, allowing Lith to experience how well the Voidwalker armor fared against different elements. The safety protocols of the tower made the attack cease the moment he took damage.

Then, Lith showed them his Blade Tier spell, Ruin. The Firing Range countered it and rated it as a low level Blade Tier spell.

Aside from Salaark, his guests were flabbergasted at the power that Lith had just showcased and even more by the tower considering it weak.

"Usually I would have needed a large empty space, a sparring partner, and lots of arrays to ensure our safety. Now, instead, I can perform all the experiments I want here while Tista helps Solus study my new spells and how they interact with different elemental defenses with the Eyes." Lith said.

"Thanks to the Firing Range, I discovered that my armor is weak against earth magic and changed its enchantments until I fixed the problem. Also, I could experiment with different designs of barriers for the Voidwalker's power core and find out which one was the more energy efficient."

"This is truly a marvel of magic." Salaark placed her hand against the cold stone of the nearest wall, using her breathing technique to study the tower's floor.

She had no ill-will to steal its secrets, it was just her inquisitive nature as a Forgemaster getting the better of her.

"Can anyone use the Firing Range or is it limited solely to you and Solus?" She asked.

"Anyone can." Lith nodded. "The floor is like those training booths back at the academy. It can be temporarily imprinted by a guest and then used to test out their skills.

"I don't know how useful it can be for you, Grandma. The scale only goes up to Blade Tier magic. I doubt it can withstand the power of a Guardian."

"It definitely can't, but it would still be great to test out my creations." The Overlord took a thin one-handed blade out of her pocket dimension and unleashed one of its enchantments right after imprinting the Firing Range.

The tower had no idea of what the odd stream of lightning, water, and darkness was so it countered it with Lith's Primordial Roar.

"Not bad." Salaark said while looking at the display that rated her enchantment as a tier five Spirit Magic spell that bordered on Tower Spirit magic.

"That was just the blade?" Solus' jaw dropped to the floor.

"Yep. Not one drop of my own mana." Salaark said with a proud smile on her face. "It's a Guardian-crafted weapon, after all. What did you expect?"

"The Fury doesn't go that high, yet you crafted it as well!" Solus looked at the enchanted hammer in her hand as if it had betrayed her.

"That's because I didn't design the Fury." The Guardian replied. "I updated it by following Menadion's blueprints so I drew out its full potential, but the final result was still capped by Ripha's skill."

"Come, there's only one floor left." Lith snapped his fingers again, moving them to the new top floor that had appeared above the Greenhouse.

"This is the Watchtower." He said. "Unlike the other floors, it has no offensive ability. Its purpose is mainly for surveillance and scouting. It synergizes with the Mirror Hall and the Eyes."

A wave of Lith's hand made the Watchtower release a pulse of mana that scoured the area around him for kilometers. Unlike the Mirror Hall, Lith had no need to focus in a specific direction.

The Watchtower didn't create a detailed map, it simply spotted everything with a powerful energy signature in the area and pointed it out to Lith. A holographic display showed him the result of the scan.

Every person with a core above green was marked with a dot of the corresponding color of their mana core. The same happened for magical equipment, arrays, and any magical source.

The display showed those present how Salaark's troops were arranged around the palace, their strength and that of their equipment. Also, it spotted a caravan in the distance by identifying the magical beasts that pulled the carts.

"Thanks to this floor, I can now scan for other mana geysers, magical mines or resources, and even magical barriers of any sort. If someone powerful approaches the tower, the Watchtower will detect them from a distance, allowing me to study them with the Mirror Hall."

"While Sentries would be spotted, the energy pulse of the Watchtower is hidden inside the world energy and can't be noticed." Solus said. "Also, it can study the magical formations from the outside so that we can grasp the ability of our 'neighbors' without the risk of getting discovered."

"Wait." Salaark turned toward Lith and Solus, her eyes flaring with anger for the first time since they had known her. "Are you telling me that you have been studying my palace and my arrays this whole time?"

"No, we are not." Lith quickly answered, showing his open palms in surrender. "We are simply experimenting with the Watchtower to understand its limitations, not stealing your secrets.

"The energy pulse can detect anything with a significant energy signature within its area of effect. It's as good and as bad as it sounds. We can instantly spot a powerful mage, a mine, or an array, but at the same time, it cannot spot something cloaked."
Chapter 1984: Home Away from Home (Part 2)
"Which means that you can easily discover unprotected resources, but those that have already been found and shielded are off-limits." The Overlord completed the phrase for him.

"Exactly." Solus replied. "The Watchtower is a great tool since it works akin to my mana sense but has a much bigger range and usually not many people wear cloaking devices. At the same time, however, it's easily fooled.

"My guess is that the main purpose of the Watchtower is to find the magical resources that grow in the surroundings of a mana geyser without the need of scouting for hours.

"We can just conjure the tower, Warp to any geyser we discovered in the past, scan the area, and if there is nothing precious in the area we just have to rinse and repeat. With a bit of luck, we might claim an undiscovered magical mine.

"Even if the Council forces us to hand it over to a regional Lord, we can at least obtain a share of the goods."

"Don't downplay it too much." Salaark patted Lith's head. "It works similarly to a Guardian's breathing technique. We use it to check on our turf in a similar manner."

"It's not a new floor, but there's something I need to show you, Lith." Solus said while moving them to the lower floor.

"What the fuck?" He said in amazement.

The Greenhouse had changed so much that he had a hard time recognizing it. The fields where Raaz cultivated the magical plants for him were still there and Lith noticed that his father had discovered a way to make their seeds grow.

Each one of the plants that he had received from the Dryads had now its own patch and was surrounded by seedlings. It would take them some time to grow and be actually useful as magical ingredients.

Even with the massive flow of world energy that the tower provided, they were still barely better than regular plants. At the moment, they drew nourishment from the soil and absorbed the world energy as a whole.

Only after they developed the ability to absorb one or more elements in massive amounts would they become natural treasures.

Yet that was of secondary importance compared to the small cottage that had been built right in the middle of the Greenhouse. It was surrounded by other fields that had been sowed with regular crops that Lith knew all too well.

The cottage was a replica of Lith's house in Lutia and so were the cultivated fields.

"Hi, son. Hope you don't mind the few changes I made." Raaz walked toward the group with a small smile on his face.

He wore a brown shirt and working overalls both stained with dirt and sweat. His long unkempt beard and the musk he gave off were clear signs that he had been neglecting his personal hygiene.

"Not at all, Dad." Lith noticed that there was no trace of the usual tense expression that his father had ever since Meln had tortured him.

He didn't seem to mind the small crowd nor them disturbing his work. The fear and desperation that had haunted him until not long ago had been replaced by a calm resignation to the traumatic events that had taken place in the Hogum mansion.

Raaz still looked deeply sad and his gaze was dull, but he managed to shake everyone's hand without flinching.

"What are you doing here?" Lith asked.

"This was actually your mother's idea." Raaz replied. "She thought that a familiar environment and having some work to do instead of sitting on my ass the whole day might help me recover.

"Elina had Solus create a piece of home away from home for us in the Greenhouse. Your mother and I have lived here whenever Solus materialized the tower." Raaz waved at his surroundings.

The climate inside the biome was mild, the sky was blue, and a gentle breeze caressed his face.

Lith didn't like the idea that his parents had actually followed Solus and the tower to the beach every time she came to visit, but he could see that his father had gotten another piece of his old self back.

"Was Mom right?" He asked.

"Yes, she was." Raaz nodded. "I know this house it's not the real deal, but after a long day of work is really hard to tell, especially at night. Salaark's palace is the most wonderful place I've ever seen, but it can't beat the house where I was born, raised, and I raised my own children. No offense."

"None taken." The Overlord replied.

"At night?" Lith echoed in surprise. "Do you sleep here as well?"

Suddenly, asking Solus if the tower was soundproof both ways became of the utmost priority. When she visited, he and Kamila had sometimes sneaked out of the beach house and gone to the shore to have some alone time.

The moon had been their wingman, painting the water and the sands silver with its light, and the only silent witness of their romantic escapades. Or so he had thought until that moment.

"Yes, we did." Elina came out of the cottage, bringing with her the smell of her cooking. "I hope it's not a problem for you. Your father needs an isolated place to relax and nothing soothes his nerves more than home."

It was still early for lunch, but after eating Verendi's food and the Desert's cuisine whenever he wasn't the one preparing a meal, Lith's mouth watered.

"It's not a problem, as long as there's a serving for me as well." He replied.

"Don't worry, there's plenty of food for everyone." Elina replied with a chuckle. "Solus warned me of your coming and I prepared your favorite dishes."

She walked in front of Lith and caressed his face in a slow, loving motion. Her hands still smelled of spices and ingredients even after she has washed them, but he didn't mind.

All he cared about was seeing her finally happy and relaxed, looking at him like the living miracle she still believed Lith to be. The thought of telling Elina that her real son had actually died that night of nineteen years ago, of breaking her heart and losing her love still scared him to the bone.

"Lith, I was thinking that now that Aran has started going to school in the Desert and without our farm, there's not much left for your father and me to do. Would you like to have another sibling?" She asked.

Lith managed to contain a sudden shudder, but barely. Like it happens to most people, he considered his parents some kind of ethereal beings, and the idea of them having sex still unsettled him.

Yet the realization that they had "housewarmed" the tower before him was even worse.

"Mom, I'm glad to see that you and Dad are doing much better, but after losing our home and with the war ongoing, I don't think it's a good idea. Even if the Royals accept my deal, there's no certainty we'll go back home.

"As long as our family doesn't have solid foundations again, having a child would be unwise and would only increase our burden. It's the reason Kami and I decided to postpone the matter until the end of the War of the Griffons." He said.

"Are you really considering the idea of having a child?" Elina hugged him, soon joined by her husband.
Chapter 1985: Tower Core (Part 1)
The rest of the crew had their respective jaw dropping, Solus included. Lith had always been adamant about not having children of his own. Only Salaark didn't even flinch at the news.

Quite the contrary, she seemed to be completely uninterested.

"Yes, Mom." Lith was glad to see his father's radiant smile and not shivering at the physical contact like usual. "It's a decision we both agreed on after a thorough discussion."

"Bless that woman's heart." Elina jumped with joy. "I'm so happy at the idea that you'll finally give me a grandchild that I won't even scold you for calling your little sister a burden."

She took Lith's hand and placed it over her womb.

"My little sister?" Lith echoed in a stupor. "How?"

"Lith, dear, when two adults really love each other…" Elina burst into a peal of laughter before finishing the phrase.

"I know that, Mom!" He turned into a shade of purple in embarrassment. "I meant, how do you know? We are here for barely a month. It's too soon."

She pointed at Salaark who clicked her tongue.

"Guardian senses, you moron. Do you really think that I can fail to perceive someone of my blood who lives under my roof?"

Lith first thought was about the unspeakable act that had happened under his roof. The second was about all the problems that his little sister would have. The third and last that eclipsed the other two was pure joy.

"Good gods, congratulations Mom and Dad!" He hugged them both before using Invigoration on Elina and looking for the spark of life inside of her.

It was so small that he wouldn't have noticed it without an accurate scan of her womb.

"We could make a club." Elina chucked. "There's me, Salaark, and Selia. Tista, dear-"

"Mom!" A shrill shriek cut her short as Tista flushed up to her ears.

"Why such a reaction?" Elina furrowed her brows. "I was just about to say that now that Lith is happily married, we need to find someone for you. Don't tell me that you are…"

She looked at Salaark with eyes full of hope, but the Overlord shook her head.

"Stop it, Mom!" Tista suddenly felt cornered. She was the only member of the family still single and now everyone would nag at her at every family reunion.

"Have you already picked the name?" Faluel asked.

"No more names starting with L." Elina said. "Things are starting to get confusing at home so we were thinking of naming her after Salaark."

"It would be my honor." The Guardian said. "Still, I partially agree with Lith. Having a child during such times is a bold move, almost reckless."

"Not really." Elina shrugged. "Worst case scenario, I wouldn't mind moving our family to the Desert. You have been a wonderful host and even though we are not really blood related, you have treated all of us as your own.

"Also, it didn't happen on purpose. I simply noticed how Kamila had managed to turn Lith from a moping wreck into a new man and I decided to give her method a go."

"Mom!" Now it was Lith's turn to blush.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, dear. Now, do you mind calling for Trion? I don't want him to learn about this from a stranger."

"Oh, gods! I'm going to have a little sister!" The Demon said as small puffs of fire and smoke came from his eyes instead of tears.

"You already have a little sister and two little brothers, dummy." Tista said.

"Yeah, and I was a shitty brother to them all." Trion said with a sigh. "Aran barely knows me and he considers Protector's kid his brother more than I'll ever be. With this child, instead, I'll have a fresh start."

The members of the group congratulated Raaz and Elina in turns, promising them to return for lunch and celebrate the good news together.

"Before moving on to the last item of our agenda, there's something I want to show you." Lith said after Warping the group back to the tower's Heart.

He briefly explained to them the reasons for his trip to the continent of Verendi and how it had ended.

"Even though the real Mouth of Menadion is lost to us, Solus still managed to recover her own version of the artifact."

"Too bad that we have no idea how it works and that conjuring it takes a lot of energy." She said with a sigh. "Even with the tower over the geyser, the only place where I can manifest the Mouth without too much effort is here."

By its name, everyone had expected the artifact to be something like a mouthpiece or to cover only the lower part of Solus' face. Instead, it was a pristine white mask with no features except the holes for eyes and nostrils.

It also had a red crystal for the upper lip and a yellow crystal for the lower.

"The original was slightly different." Solus conjured the hologram of the Mouth from Verendi.

It had six elemental crystals instead of two, forming a huge, creepy smile that reached either side of the mask.

"Interesting, but why are you showing us that?" Faluel asked.

"Actually, I'm showing it to Grandma, hoping that she can point us in the right direction." Lith replied.

"I'm sorry, my Featherling, but Ripha created both the tower and the Mouth after I complete my apprenticeship with her. I have no idea how they work so I can't help you." The Overlord said with a shrug.

"Not even if you examine?" He offered her the stone mask after releasing its restrictions.

Lith couldn't remove the cloaking runes left by the First Ruler of the Flames, but by granting Salaark full access to the artifact, it would make her job easier.

"Do you realize what you are doing?" The Guardian took a step back, fighting her innate curiosity to expose the workings of a fellow Forgemaster. "If I use my breathing technique on the Mouth, I'm going to learn a lot about it.

"Not only how it works, but also how to make another and maybe even something about your tower. You are giving up on your greatest secret and advantage so I need to make sure that you are aware of the consequences of what you are asking me to do."

"I know it very well." Lith nodded. "Yet I don't have the time to wait for Solus to have another breakthrough and remember something about the Mouth. Right now, it has no value to me.

"Also, the Master and his Organization have gotten their hands on the original. I bet that while we are speaking, they are working to uncover its secrets. Even without Menadion's blueprints, Bytra and the Master managed to craft a hammer on par with your Solus' Fury.

"They will make their own version of the Mouth as well so if you make one more copy, it wouldn't change much. Quite the contrary, it would even the field. On top of that, I think you deserve a peek at the tower."

Lith stepped forward, putting the artifact into Salaark's hands while holding them.

"You saved my father, you offered me protection when I had lost everything, and you always did everything you could to help Solus and me in our efforts to become better mages.
Chapter 1986: Tower Core (Part 2)
"Without your lessons about Creation Magic, I wouldn't have ever learned how to switch light and darkness, let alone the other elements. If I ever become a Magus, it will be thanks to you. Consider this as my way to thank you and repay a part of my debt." Lith said.

The Guardian's eyes were veiled with tears. She wasn't used to gratitude, only to veneration or fear.

Those who Salaark bestowed power upon usually just demanded more while those she protected considered it the price that she had to pay in order to have their obedience.

She had chosen the way of the tyrant because centuries of experience had taught her that no good deed went unpunished.

Salaark knew that there was no real blood relationship between her and Lith, that his origin was part of one of Mogar's ploys. Yet there he was, ready to share his legacy with her like only her direct children did.

It was a gesture that touched her heart and made her feel like he really was one of her own.

"Thank you, but I can't accept it. This isn't only about you, but also about Solus. Ripha's legacy is all she has left of her mother and you can't make such a decision for her." Salaark's face remained stern as she returned the Mouth.

"Don't be silly, Grandma." Solus stepped forward, holding the Guardian's hands as well. "Lith would have never done something like this without my consent. I'm happy to share part of my mother's work with you.

"After regaining my human body, I wouldn't have been allowed to live in Lutia if not for the fake identity you fabricated for me. You taught me my mother's Mana Well technique, you have helped me to retrieve the memories of my past life and my father's works.

"Bytra may have given the Fury to me, but it was you who returned my mother's heirloom to me. Without you, it would just be a useless piece of metal with Bytra's imprint.

"On top of that, you updated and upgraded the Fury even though it wasn't part of your promise with Mom. You didn't do it because you wanted something in return, only because you cared about me.

"For everything you have done, not only for Lith and me, but for all our family, this is nothing. Besides, as Faluel always says, only an idiot never shares. I'm sorry I can't give you more, Grandma." Solus stood on her tiptoes to hug the Guardian and avoid her belly bump.

"You have done plenty enough, my child." Salaark let the tears stream from her eyes while she caressed Solus' soft hair.

They remained like that until Solus let go of the Guardian and Salaark focused her breathing technique, Mother Sun, on the Mouth of Menadion.

Contrary to Lith's expectations, it took her a while to study it and he remained shocked when he saw the Guardian focusing so much that she frowned.

'Fuck me sideways, I decided to share the Mouth with Grandma because she deserves to know about Menadion's secrets at least as much as Vastor does, but it seems that I'm the one who'll profit the most from this exchange.

'If the artifact is such a tough nut to crack for a millennia experienced Guardian, I bet that even with my bond with the tower it would have taken me months just to understand the basics.' He thought.

"This is very interesting." Salaark said after she was done examining the Mouth. "Your mother was indeed a genius, Solus. Her work is something beyond what I have ever made. Even though I have no need for it, I think that I'll make a tower of my own."

"What do you mean?" Solus asked with a puzzled expression.

"You see, normal power cores are just the result of the merging of several pseudo cores. While a pseudo core can only have one function, the power core can combine the effects of the pseudo cores it is comprised of to create complex spells.

"The synergy of the components generates a power that is bigger than the sum of the single parts." Everyone present nodded at Salaark's words that were the common knowledge about power cores.

"You mother, instead, found a way to make every pseudo core amplify the power of those below. Their energy doesn't stack, it multiplies. The secret of your mother's tower lies in a tower-like core."

"I'm sorry, but you lost me." After Salaark, Faluel was the most expert Forgemaster, yet she had failed to understand a word.

"It's easier to show than to tell." The Guardian projected a hologram of a regular power core that consisted of several spheres of mystical runes perfectly overlapping between them.

This way, the boundary between the single pseudo cores disappeared. The versatility of a power core lay in its ability to combine the runes belonging to different pseudo cores and rearrange them in new forms, each with a different effect.

Then, Salaark projected another hologram depicting the tower's core. It started from a single and simple pseudo core to which she added a second. The two spheres didn't merge, they simply deformed enough to allow their runes to flow into each other.

When Salaark added a third and a fourth pseudo core, the phenomenon happened again. Instead of becoming a chaotic mess until a specific function of the power core was activated, the runes kept their orderly nature.

Some strings would never change, acting as foundations and bearing walls of the structure that was slowly forming. The limit of a power core was that keeping the collective energy of too many pseudo cores tightly packed made it unstable.

For that reason, there was a cap to the number of pseudo cores that any Forgemaster, even a Guardian, could merge. It also limited the length of the strings of runes that the power core could form and with it the number of enchantments an artifact could conjure.

The way Menadion had arranged her pseudo cores, instead, allowed the runes to freely flow between the different levels while also leaving them enough space to form strings of runes as long as the whole structure.

"As you can see, this explains why the size of the tower is proportional to its power." Salaark said. "With every breakthrough, Solus is actually recovering more of its pseudo cores. Each floor is a part of the power core and allows it to stretch further.

"Thanks to this phenomenon and to the energy from the mana geyser, there's virtually no limit to the complexity of the enchantments that the tower can bear."

"Let me get this straight." Lith felt his knees quivering in front of the magnitude of the revelation. "For all this time I believed that the tower's core was weakened whereas it was actually incomplete?"

"Exactly." The Guardian nodded. "Also, since its energy and Solus' are now one, whenever she gains a new floor with its corresponding pseudo core, she can upgrade it by replacing old runes with modern ones.

"On the other hand, she can't tap into the full potential of any of the tower's enchantments until she regains all the necessary pseudo cores.

"The missing gems on your version of the Hands must be due to the still missing floors that are supposed to fuel its true power. The same applies to the Mouth as well."
Chapter 1987: Build Up (Part 1)
"How? I mean, the tower has always been a powerful artifact. Sure, I knew about the missing floors but I never suspected that even those I have already recovered were crippled." Solus asked.

"Think about it. What was the first floor that the tower recovered?" Salaark said.

"The Forge." Lith replied.

It had also recovered the living quarters, but aside as a place to rest in-between experiments, they had never mattered much.

"What then?" Salaark gestured for him to continue.

"Then it recovered the Mirror Hall, the Heart, the Mine, the Crucible, the Library, and the Greenhouse. Only recently-"

"That's enough." The Guardian cut him off. "Now, stop seeing them as separate floors and consider them as a whole. The Forge is the foundation of Menadion's work because she was a Forgemaster and the whole tower is a Forgemastering tool.

"The Mirror Hall's true purpose is to grant you the ability to focus and manipulate the world energy freely. The Heart isn't a mean for attack or defense. It was intended as an array holding device so that you could use more than one while crafting one of your pieces."

At that point, Salaark explained to them the Elemental Flow bloodline ability and how Fenrirs and Leviathans used it while Forgemastering.

"Ripha made the Heart to be her own version of Elemental Flow. She couldn't create a mana organ, but by combining the effects of the Heart, the Library, the Firing Range, and probably of other floors, she created the next best thing, the Mouth."

She gave it back to Lith before continuing her explanation.

"The reason you can conjure it easily while in the Heart is that this floor is the foundation of the Mouth. The Mine acts as a power source along with the mana geyser while the Library and the Firing Range are but an extension of the Heart."

"What does it do, exactly?" Protector asked, eager to know.

"At the moment, the Mouth has only one function, but it's still impressive." Salaark replied. "It can store any kind of spell you know and cast it with but a thought whenever you need it."

"So it's just a spell holding ring?" Lith found it far from impressing.

"No, I mean any spell. Arrays, Blade Magic, Spirit Magic, anything can be stored in the Mouth for later use." The Guardian shook her head.

His eyes shone with greed for but one second.

"What's the catch?" Lith had learned for a long while that perfection wasn't a thing.

After all, if Menadion truly was that powerful, saving Solus' life wouldn't have been so complicated and she wouldn't have been killed by her traitorous apprentice.

"It's nothing like a spell holding ring." Salaark replied. "The Mouth can only store the runes, not the actual spells. Once you activate the Mouth, they have to be cast. Not only does it take time, but you also have to spend the mana necessary."

"I'm sorry, but what's the point?" Lith shrugged drawing several cold and envious gazes on himself. "It would be an amazing artifact if it could instantly cast any stored spell without burdening my mana reserve, but as it is, the Mouth is no big deal."

"No big deal?" Faluel said with a scoff. "Kid, do you remember what I told you about normal Forgemasters? That they need someone to prepare the Forgemastery circle for them or have their prowess halved?

"Well, the Mouth is like a Hydra's second head. It allows any Forgemaster to have their own Solus who takes charge of the world energy while they can fully focus on crafting the core.

"On top of that, if you are a violet core, you can stack it with the other casting methods to weave four spells at the same time, one of which doesn't even burden your focus.

"It's great not only in the Forge, but also on the battlefield. Imagine being able to cast your best spell or array even in the heat of the battle. For a fake mage or an Awakened without the violet core is the equivalent of body casting.

"For those like us, instead, it's the same as doubling its effects. Don't get me started about how convenient it is while Forgemastering a power core to store the most complex spells in the Mouth so that you only have to control their effects.

"Even I can't employ more than one Forgemastering array for my craft due to the massive strain that keeping magical formations at the ready takes on the mind whereas you now can.

"The Mouth is a game-changer because with it you can prepare one array for each critical juncture of your projects, switching between them at will and greatly increasing your odds of success."

"My point exactly." Salaark said. "The more I learn about Menadion's set the more I'm convinced that its purpose is to allow a mage to Forgemaster alone without the need of help.

"The Hands control the mana flow, the Eyes study the procedure and find its weak points, and the Mouth handles the arrays on its own. You are underestimating the Mouth because you could already do all these things with Solus' help.

"Now that you have recovered another piece of the set, however, it's the same as if there are now three of you. If you combine it with the Fury, the only limit to your creations is your own skill."

Lith conjured the Eyes, noticing that now the burden on his mind while using them was further reduced. Then, he wore the Hands, discovering that another elemental gem had appeared on the left glove, increasing the amount of world energy it could handle.

"You are right and I'm an idiot." He said. "I now understand why Solus knows how each floor works and yet has no memory of the single pieces of the set. It's just that they are like the tower, incomplete.

"Until all the floors related to each one of them are recovered, Solus has no access to their full enchantments. She doesn't know how to use them because they are not supposed to be used until they are fully restored."

Now that he knew how it worked, Lith gave the Mouth a go. He stored Ruin and Silverwing's Hexagram which were instantly assimilated despite their complexity. When he tried adding a third spell, Yurial's Hexagram, the artifact rejected it.

'I wonder if it's because of their complexity or two is just the Mouth's current limit. Only one way to find out.'

When he cast them, they were weaved much quicker than usual, as if he was just reading words from a text without bothering to understand their meaning. Both the Hexagram and the Blade Tier spell came out imbued with Lith's willpower, but took him no focus to control them.

Just like Faluel had said, the Mouth acted as an auxiliary brain, allowing Lith to handle multiple spells at the same time with no effort. Then, he stored tier one spells but once again the third one was rejected.

"Well, the Mouth will be of great help while crafting my Golems." Lith said. "Between this and the understanding that Grandma granted me of the Heart, things will be much easier.

"This also brings us to the final item of our agenda. My wedding."
Chapter 1988: Build Up (Part 2)
"What? Is it going so badly between you and Kamila that she has already filed for divorce?" Friya nudged at him. "Who's the new unlucky woman? Does she know the hot mess she's walking into?"

"Very funny, smartass." Lith said with mock outrage. "There's nothing wrong with my marriage, I just wanted to hold the ceremony a second time since the first none of my friends could attend."

"Renewing your vows after just one month. Sounds bad." Quylla said with a straight face. "It's better to make sure that the gift is refundable."

"Solus, since the two of you are a package deal, will you stand on the side of the groom as well?" Faluel tried and failed to hide her smile. "How does a three-way marriage work? Isn't it tiring for you to have both a husband and a wife?"

"It doesn't work like that." Solus blushed up to her ears. "Sure, sometimes the three of us sleep together, but that's it."

At those words, everyone turned toward Lith, throwing disdainful looks at him while Tista and Salaark laughed their asses off at his expenses.

"Fucking pervert. You dodged a poisoned arrow there, sis." Friya's upper lip curled up in disgust.

"Ugh, don't remind me of that." Phloria shuddered at the thought.

"Solus suffers from sleepwalking!" Lith said in embarrassment. "She sneaks in our room and literally sleeps with us, no funny business. Ask Kami if you don't believe me!"

Their gazes became only colder at his ridiculous explanation and an awkward silence filled the air. Then, everyone couldn't take looking at his outraged expression anymore and bust into laughter.

"Oh, gods, he really fell for it." Quylla held her belly, gasping for air.

"That face! I'd pay gold to have a Rememberer projecting the moment when the stoic Lith Verhen almost died of embarrassment." Phloria cried with laughter.

"It took us a lot of practice, but it was worth it." Friya said while leaning on Faluel to not fall on the ground.

"You practiced?" Lith's face was twisted in a grimace of horror. "Who told you about Solus' sleepwalking and since when is my private life gossip material?"

"It was me." Tista raised her hand. "Solus told me and I Faluel."

"Why did you do that?" He inhaled sharply in annoyance.

"Because it's funny and because you disappeared for a month." She shrugged. "Everyone was worried for you and pissed off for having missed the wedding. I just kept our friends in the loop. It's no big deal."

Lith clenched his teeth, emitting angry gibberish until he managed to calm down.

"Fine! You are all invited to the wedding. Please, relay my invitation also to Vastor and Marth." He said.

"What about our parents?" Phloria asked.

"Kami has already contacted Jirni. She's going to be her bridesmaid along with Zin."

"Who is going to be your groomsmen? You need two as well to match the bride." Protector' was so excited that his tail popped out of it back wagging furiously.

"That's actually a big deal." Lith replied with a sigh. "I don't have many male friends and none of them actually contributed to my relationship."

"That's not true. I helped you break the news of your nature as a hybrid to Kamila." Protector said, but Lith ignored him.

"Aran is too young and he can't stand for long. I was thinking about asking Morok or Nalrond since they are the boyfriends of two of my best friends and they helped me a lot in the past."

"I'm married to your first mentor and I gave my life for you more than once!" Protector snarled, his tail ruffled by anger.

"Let's hope that Marth and Vastor can attend the ceremony. I've known them since I was little and they are the closest thing to a father figure I have in the magical community.

"I'll keep Nalrond and Morok as stand-ins in case either of the Professors is unavailable." Lith had a pensive look on his face as he mulled over the problem.

"We've known each other ever since you were a pup and you spent more time with me than with any of those buffoons!" Protector partially shapeshifted back in anger, his eyes almost popping out.

"And that's why I want you to be my best man." Lith said after finally turning toward Ryman.

"Damn bastard!" Protector hugged Lith, trying and failing to lift him up. "You got me good, but I'm too happy to be angry with you. Congratulations."

One after the other, they congratulated him on his marriage.

"Wow, I seriously can't believe it." Friya said while patting his back. "You've beaten us to the punch even in love. The only silver lining is that none of us won the bet."

"What bet?" Lith asked.

"We were certain that with your charming character and your bottomless pile of secrets, you would have married last if ever. The bet was about how many years after the last of us you would have found someone." Quylla replied.

"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence."

"You are welcome." Tista sighed. "The worst part is that now my parents will never let me hear the end of this until I find someone as well."

The Ernas sisters sighed as well. Jirni and Orion nagged at Phloria for being single and counted the days, hoping that the other two would break up with their respective boyfriend.

***

The ceremony was held a few days later, just in time to receive the replies to the invitations and plan the wedding accordingly. Useless to say, Vastor had plenty of cloaking devices but he trusted none of them to be effective enough to hide his Abomination nature from Salaark.

He congratulated in private with Lith, sending him his regards and a gift along with an apology.

"I'm really sorry to fail you on such an important day." Vastor lowered his gaze in shame during one of the meetings of Jirni's private research group.

"Don't worry. I understand how dangerous would it be for you to participate." Lith replied.

"Me too, but it still sucks." Vastor said with a sigh. "I never thought the day would come when I'd be happy to be a Highmaster in times of war. At least I've plenty of excuse with Zin to cover for my absence."

Meanwhile, in the Overlord's palace, Kamila looked for the umpteenth time at the guest list. Compared with the groom's side, the bride's was empty.

"Don't worry, dear. There are plenty enough of my children that would pay an arm and a leg to attend. Heck, even Leegaain's children will be glad to fill your empty spots." Salaark said while supervising the beauticians' work.

"Why the heck would they? I understand that they care for Lith, but I'm just a human."

"Nonsense, sweetie. You are a part of the family as well now and whoever says otherwise is going to die a slow, gruesome death." The Overlord personally took care of her, using Invigoration on Kamila while combing her hair.

After Salaark was done with the rejuvenation process, Kamila went to the Greenhouse to visit Raaz and Elina. Lith's father spent most of his time there, working on both magical and regular crops until he was too exhausted to think.
Chapter 1989: once More with Guests (Part 1)
Raaz was grateful for the Library that allowed him to learn and memorize everything he needed without wasting hours on books. He liked to focus solely on the manual labor, tilling the earth with a hoe and watering the buds without the use of magic.

After spending over thirty years nurturing life forms that couldn't express their needs, he had learned how to catch the early signs of a plant withering. Raaz made the best of his knowledge, adjusting the amounts of water and fertilizer the moment something went wrong.

On top of that, after staying in the Greenhouse for so long, he could almost feel the changes in the mana flow of the different sprouts simply by touching them with his bare hands.

It was also the best way he had found to keep the bad memories at bay and the most precious moments of his life close to his heart. The fields were small compared to those he had left in Lutia, but so were those that his family had owned before Lith had started working.

Spending his days there with Elina by his side brought him back to the times when they were still young and waiting for their first child. She was his silent companion, talking only to remind him of drinking and not forgetting about the meals.

Elina took notes of everything Raaz did, checking the batches of magical plants cultivated with different methods and recording which were the most effective. She was no mage but she knew plants and could access the Eyes of Menadion in their simplest form.

She registered all of her husband's successes and failures and stored them inside the Library so that he could improve his techniques. Raaz knew that it had to be boring for her, that Elina would have rather been outside under the real sun, yet he still couldn't stand people.

The Desert was still a foreign place for him and no matter how wonderful a host Salaark was, that wasn't his home. The sight of the Desert reminded him of all the things that he had lost and made his heart ache.

"Gods, Kamila, you look gorgeous." Elina saw her appearing out of thin air, her long black hair glossy and her tanned skin radiant after undergoing Salaark's rejuvenation treatment.

"Thanks, you too." Kamila hugged her, waiting for Elina's ear to be close to her mouth before whispering: "How are you holding out?"

"Raaz has good and bad days." She replied. "Today is a good day." ꜰʀᴇᴇ ᴡᴇʙ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ. ᴄᴏᴍ

"Did Grandma take care of you as well?" Kamila asked after letting go of Elina, making the conversation flow naturally.

"Yes. She has given me and the baby a full treatment with Invigoration or something. Ever since Salaark discovered that I'm pregnant, she became ten times sweeter than before." Elina replied with a chuckle.

"Hi, Kamila." The noise had disturbed Raaz who needed sheer willpower not to grunt. He loved his daughter-in-law and was grateful for everything she had done for his son, yet her presence felt like an invasion of his sanctuary nonetheless.

"What brings you here?" He asked with a thin smile, wiping off the sweat and dirt from his face with his right hand.

"I needed a break from the wedding preparations." She replied. "I feel so tense that I almost puked breakfast this morning."

"Tense?" Raaz blinked several times in confusion, refusing to believe to his own ears. "You are already married. The ceremony is just an excuse to invite your friends here and have a huge party with them. What's to be tense about?"

"This." Kamila pointed at the wedding list. "The first time it was a rushed ceremony, there was no one to attend but the Verhens and Protector's family. This time, however, we are doing things by the book.

"There will be plenty of people and all of them are Lith's friends. This is supposed to be a merry event yet seeing how none of my so-called friends accepted my invitation is truly depressing.

"Aside from Zin, I have no family either. My parents are in jail and even if they weren't, they would still be the same assholes that I disowned years ago. I wouldn't want them at my wedding for the world.

"Elina is going to accompany Lith to the altar but what about me? Vastor is not going to come and there's no male member of my family that can stand in for my father." On Mogar, both spouses would walk along the aisle with their respective parents of the opposite gender.

It represented the act of both families of letting go of their children and allowing them to form a new family of their own.

Raaz took the list from Kamila's hands and saw so few names on the bride's side that even his heart sank. Making the walk alone and with almost no one to share her joy on the day of her own wedding was the worst nightmare of every bride.

'Poor kid. After everything she went through to be here and all the sacrifices she made, Kamila is going to feel like a guest at the wrong party.' He thought.

While the two women discussed the final details of the wedding, an idea popped into his mind, making him smile. Then, his trauma resurfaced and that very same idea sent a cold shiver down his spine.

Raaz opened his mouth to speak, but no word came out. He had to clench his teeth to regain control of his nerves before making another attempt.

"Are you feeling unwell, dear?" Elina asked after witnessing several of his failures that made him look like a goldfish. "Are you hyperventilating again? Sit down and breathe in here."

She offered him a small leather bag that Raaz pushed away in embarrassment.

"No, I'm fine." He replied. "I just wanted to tell Kamila that even though it's a bit unorthodox, I can accompany her to the altar, if she wants."

"Would you really do that?" She beamed with joy.

"Well, you are already my daughter-in-law and I would be honored to stand by your side on such an important day."

"Thank you." Kamila hugged him and Raaz froze for a few seconds before managing to return the embrace. "I always dreamed of having a loving father like you and I couldn't wish for a better man to walk me down the aisle."

She started to sniffle, moved by his kindness. Kamila knew how hard it was for Raaz to stand in a crowd.

Raaz started to sniffle as well. Over one month had passed since they had come to the Desert, but his mind was still stuck in the Hogum mansion for most of the time. The smell of his own blood filled his nose and he could still feel the chains restraining him.

Every morning, he woke up covered in a cold sweat and needed several minutes to make sure that he really was safe, that it wasn't just another of Orpal's cruel illusions. He was happy for Lith's marriage just like he was happy to have had an opportunity to fix his relationship with Trion.

Yet none of it felt real to him. He often wondered if he wasn't just watching someone else's life.