Legacy of the Dark Sage

"Nar?"

Cyneah's voice brought Kyran out of his reverie. As he looked at her he put aside all of his thoughts to make she would not notice anything.

Yes, Cyneah could not see, but as far as Kyran was concerned, she had ways to know what other people were thinking, or even feeling. He noticed that part of her from the few days they had lived under one roof.

It was because of this reason that as much as possible, Kyran tried not to think about his worries when she was around her. Doing so was not hard when he was around her, though. If he had to be honest, it was too easy for him to forget his worries when he was around her. He felt more at peace when she was around.

Kyran believed it had something to do with her magic. Or maybe it was an innate ability she possessed that they had not fully explored yet. Even his Void magic deemed Cyneah's magic or ability if it was the latter, harmless because it never tried to counter.

"I can't really say anything about how your master teaches you," Kyran returned to the subject of her and Anette's adventure in the city. "But,  you understand that if the potion wore off, someone might recognize you..."

Cyneah immediately shook her head, "No one will! Master said even without the potion, my body has improved from the first time I arrived."

Then she got out of her blanket and as if trying to flaunt the changes that had happened to her in just one week, she sat straight and even puffed out her chest proudly.

"See? I'm no longer skinny!" She said, beaming at Kyran.

Kyran's brow, on the other hand, could not help but twitch. He had noticed it before, but his godmother was also an eccentric.

Trying his best to avoid looking at the part where Cyneah seemed to be so proud, Kyran cleared his throat and said, "That is not the point. But if you want others to recognize you then—."

"W-Who s-said I want others t-to to recognize me?" Cyneah blurted at once. She hunched down and tugged at Kyran's hand which, whether the two were aware or not, was still held together. "I-I never said a-anything about wanting to be r-recogni-nized."

Kyran tried not to laugh after hearing her signature stutter. He actually said those things on purpose to make Cyneah listen to him. Because he knew how much she did not want to go back. Most especially on being left alone.

"Then, we have to be extra careful," Kyran said putting on a stern voice as if coercing a child. "I will talk to your master about it and make something that you can use instead of the potion."

Kyran refrained from calling Anette, godmother, in front of Cyneah. But whether she heard him call Anette when he thought she was not looking or listening, was another matter.

"Okay," Cyneah replied with a reluctant nod. It was not that she did not agree with his suggestion. She just did not like the idea that once again, she had to trouble him for something to help her hide.

"Right, before I forget. I got something for you," Kyran went on. He tapped his storage pouch and a golden storage ring appeared on his hand.

Using the hand he still held hers, he opened her palm and placed the ring on top of it before saying, "Since you said you are studying Alchemy, there are a number of rare plants and medicinal herbs inside. Also, that ring is special. Normally, storage spaces are incapable of supporting life. But that ring can."

Kyran looked up and saw the confusion written on Cyneah's face.

"Storage spaces? Ring?" She asked, flushing slightly for sounding innocent. She knew about space storage. But as far as she was concerned, they were still in a form where she could insert things directly.

The item Kyran had given her, however, was a ring. How was she able to insert things in such a small item?

She knew the ring was already enchanted but, she really had no idea that these things existed.

"Yes. Remember the lady who gave you a bag before? That bag is special because you can place a lot of things inside, right?" Kyran patiently explained.

Cyneah nodded.

"This ring can do that and much more. Here," he helped her wear the ring on her middle finger and added, "Use your magic sense to enter the ring."

Cyneah did what she was told. She was no longer a stranger to magic sense. As a matter of fact, she was someone very gifted in magic sense, just like her master. Because of it, the moment she used her magic sense to explore the ring, her eyes widened as she noticed how vastly different the inside of the ring was compared to the bag she received before.

"This!" She exclaimed, her lips breaking into a wide smile, as she looked up in an attempt to look at Kyran.

The cause of her surprise was because she realized how rich the magic energies were within the ring. It was something simply impossible. Aside from this, the plants and herbs Kyran mentioned, though she could not really 'see' them, she could sense that they were full of life. As if they were still planted on rich soil.

Kyran smiled and explained, "You can have your master help you transfer the plants and herbs in the backyard if you want. Or you can also keep them in there. As you've noticed, that ring is filled with magic energy."

"Hm," Cyneah nodded enthusiastically.

Rare plants and medicinal herbs were very precious because they not only grow from rich soil, sun and water. They also needed to be exposed to magic energies. This way, their medicinal efficacy would increase. And when the time it was good enough for harvest, the plant or herb themselves would also contain magic energies, preserving their medicinal efficacy for some time.

"You can use also plant more in there. Just use your magic sense to move around the things inside and outside," Kyran paused for a moment.

He was unsure what level Cyneah was now in magic sense usage. But he was confident she would be able to utilize the ring because she was a fast learner.

"Can I also put people inside?" Cyneah suddenly asked which almost made Kyran choke.

"Why would you even want to do that?" Kyran could not help but ask.

He suddenly imagined a strange scene where Cyneah had tried to kidnap people.

Thinking of this, Kyran recalled how Nolan had told him to stop kidnapping people. He was sure Cyneah was awake then, but what if she subconsciously heard that and somehow it stuck...

Cyneah giggled at how Kyran's voice sounded flustered just now.

"I was only kidding."

Kyran looked at her suspiciously. She did not sound kidding just now.

To stop her from getting any ideas, he decided not to answer her question and instead said, "There are other items there for you. You can explore it anytime."

After hearing Kyran said this, Cyneah's expression turned sober.

Seeing her expression made Kyran think she was not happy with his gift and could not help but cleared his throat.

Maybe it was wrong for him to think Cyneah's taste might be the same as Kyra's?

Before, Kyra had been happy with anything Kyran gave her. Whether it was exotic-looking flowers or plants, or even a very strange-looking insect.

There was even one time when Kyran gave Kyra a glowing beetle. Kyran was so happy she screamed in delight calling it 'Betty.' Because she was so happy with it, she even took it with her for a bath.

Unfortunately, the beetle drowned and Kyra was heartbroken.

"I... As I said, there are still other items inside. So if you don't like the others you can—."

"No! I love anything you give me," Cyneah interrupted him at once. Then she flushed, apparently realizing how loud she had been, and added hesitantly, "I just... I just remembered something."

"What did you remember?"

"Y-You know..." Cyneah replied, once again stuttering at her words. "R-Remember when y-you a-asked me if I w-want an r-reward? What I meant to say. B-Before you and big brother Nolan left—."

Kyran's brow twitched. That was right, he almost forgot that Nolan had told Cyneah to call him big brother because previously she had called him old man Nolan.

"—you.. m-mentioned about giving me an r-reward," Cyneah finished flushing slightly.

Kyran raised his brows. He did say something like that. Because she did her best to heal his magic core, he had asked her what reward she wanted. But then she said she had not thought of anything yet and would tell him when he returned.

"Ah, that?"

Realizing what Cyneah might be on about, Kyran chuckled and said, "That's different. This one is a gift."

"Oh! T-That's good!"

Kyran raised his brows at her, "You look like you've thought of something for the reward. And it even seems more valuable than the things inside the ring, or even the storage ring."

Though Cyneah could not see Kyran's expression, from the sound of his voice, she could almost guess he was sneering at her.

With a slight pout, Cyneah replied, "Yes, that's right. It is more valuable! But. I won't ask for it yet. I am not ready."

"'Not ready?'" Kyran repeated in confusion.

Flushing slightly, Cyneah just said, "A-Anyway. Master is coming soon. I-I have to get ready first a-and to make some b-breakfast."

As she said this, she stood, finally releasing Kyran's hand.

"I can help with—."

"No! You stay here!" Cyneah cut Kyran midsentence as she made her way out of the room.

Kyran watched Cyneah close the door and could not help but scratch his head. He had only been gone for a week, but it appeared Cyneah had really made progress in using her magic sense to 'see.'

He turned to the floral-shaped lamp on the bedside table and smiled slightly.

As an Array Specialist, Kyran knew what the lamp could do and once again reminded him of how Anette was really going all out when it came to Cyneah.

Remembering Anette, however, Kyran's expression turned sober as he also thought of something.