Legacy of the Dark Sage

When Kyran appeared inside the biggest tent in the temporary encampment outside the Tower of Conclave, he was greeted by Hugh and Malia. It was as if they were expecting his arrival.

After that, they took him at a private tent near the huge tent. The tent was meant for the Emperor Euan, but since he went in the Ravenpass, no one was there. At least, that was what Kyran thought.

Before they could reach the tent's entrance, Kyran already sensed who was inside and he could not help but frown.

Obviously, Hugh and Malia was going to take him to Stella. But at the moment Kyran did not want to meet her. Not because of the little scene with Cyneah, but because Light was still around.

Kyran did not bring Light with him when he warped to the Tower of Conclave. Nevertheless, she was able to follow him because of the nature of her magic. As long as there was the presence of light near Kyran, Light could easily find him.

Of course, this was also because Kyran did not bother to hide himself. With the presence of the Shaiha and the nature of Void magic, it would not be hard for him to hide from Light.

In any case, Kyran did not want Light to know about Stella because he had a feeling that no one knew about the 'Time Keeper' during the Chaos Era. As a matter of fact, even in the Human plane, few remembered about the Time Keeper. It might be because, the first Time Keeper knew how dangerous and risky her magic was and never participated actively in the war during the Chaos Era, or maybe her existence was deliberately hidden.

This was only Kyran's speculation but he believed there was a reason why few talked about the first Time Keeper.

'I have to meet someone. Stay here,' Kyran told Light telepathically before entering the private tent.

Light frowned slightly, 'Didn't you come here to speak with your people and discuss countermeasures once my fellow faction mates descend?'

'We'll get to that later. I will introduce you to them when that time comes.'

'No need. I don't want to reveal myself.'

'Then stay here. If you come with me, the person inside will notice your presence and I don't want to explain why you're with me. That's too troublesome,' Kyran reasoned.

'Humph. Very well,' Light replied, still feeling a little annoyed. However, she was annoyed at how Kyran treated her, not because he was withholding things from her.

Their relationship had yet to be determined, since they were only in a temporary agreement, so Kyran withholding information was understandable.

Light was the same. She only shared information that she believed would benefit her if they did agreed to pursue a partnership.

With that said, Kyran entered the tent and Hugh and Malia followed behind.

The tent had a small makeshift bed and a small table with two bench. Sitting at the foot of the bed was Stella.

The moment Kyran entered the tent, Stella had kept her eyes on him.

Kyran narrowed his eyes, realizing the solemn expression on Stella's face.

"Thank you Hugh, Malia. I'll take it from here," Stella dismissed the two at once.

The two did not say anything and only lowered their heads in respect before leaving the tent.

Just like Stella, Kyran kept his attention on her.

As soon as Hugh and Malia left, and was out of earshot, Stella gestured toward the bench close to the bed and said, "Take a seat Caelan."

"You're not Stella."

Stella could not help but let out a light laugh while covering her mouth with her right hand.

"Oh? But my name is Stella."

Kyran's expression turned grim. He immediately understood what she meant.

She was not the 'Stella' Kyran knew but the 'Stella' Caelan knew— the first Time Keeper.

'Speak of the devil,' Kyran thought wryly since he was just thinking about her.

In any case, he had a bad feeling as to why  this 'Stella' was here suddenly. When he discovered Styx and company in the Boyd Family's Villa, he already had an inkling.

Few knew about his plans in going to the Boyd Family's Villa and none of them was from the Conclave. It was also impossible to make Styx act, if it was not ordered by Hugh, Malek or Stella— meaning the Conclave found Kyran's destination by themselves.

Kyran guessed Callan did the same thing Raya had done to gather information. After that, Stella dispatched Styx and company to the villa. As to why she did that, it was definitely not to assist Kyran because she thought he would be at a disadvantage.

To be honest, if Kyran did go to the villa and Styx and company arrived things would have turned bad if their identities were revealed in the process. Because at that time, Kyran did not want his relationship with the Conclave to be revealed yet.

But since the fiery ball incident happened before he could go to the villa, everything had changed. With how things were developing at the direction that even Kyran could not predict, it no longer mattered whether his enemies discovered every faction involved with him.

Just as Light said, what was happening in the Human plane— specifically, between Kyran and Haylee— was petty, compared to what was about to happen.

Going back to Stella's reason for sending Styx and company to the villa, Kyran guessed she had used her magic and saw something. Kyran did not want to dwell much on what she had seen, but the aftereffect of using her magic to look into the future.

Malek did not say it outright but Kyran guessed that using a large-scale Time magic would affect Stella's life. And looking into the future was considered a 'large-scale' in a sense.

Kyran met Caelan in his sea of consciousness after his magic cores went haywire and he almost lost his life. If the same conditions applied to Stella, then after using Time magic to peek at the future, likely put her life in danger, thus, bringing out the 'Stella' before him now.

As if sensing his thoughts, Stella smiled slightly and said with a somewhat pained expression, "As always, nothing escapes your eyes."

"Let me get this straight, I am not Caelan."

"I know. But I also know he is inside you, observing."

Kyran frowned, "What are you talking about?"

"Unlike my successor, who had been exposed to the Time core the moment she awakened her magic, you were not because your Void core has been sealed."

Kyran did not respond but he could not help but scrutinize her.

"I know what my successor knows... I see what she sees, and feel what she feels."

"It's because of it that your emotions are affecting her at times."

"I did not mean those times."

"Your presence confuses her," Kyran told her.

"I know," Stella did not deny it. "But are we really going to talk about that?"

"You're the one who started it."

Stella chuckled and shook her head slightly, "Now you sounded like Zane."

"Stop comparing me to them," Kyran said feeling slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry," Stella apologized with a sad smile. "It is strange seeing you with Caelan's face, yet Zane's color."

"How's Stella?" Kyran decided to change the topic.

As much as he was curious about his ancestor and predecessor, he had his priorities. He did not have the leisure to reminisce about the past with this 'Stella.'

Stella smiled, "I'm glad. You care about her."

Kyran frowned in response.

Stella chuckled at Kyran's apparent dissatisfaction and replied, "She is resting. Although she used Time magic to peek into the future, it was not the reason her Time core suffered. It was because she tried too hard in controlling the possible side effects of 'traversing through Time.'"

Kyran opened his mouth to ask her more about 'traversing through time,' but stopped at once. This was not the time to talk about such things.

Before Kyran could speak, Stella continued with a solemn expression, "You had the chance. But you did not kill her."

Kyran did not need her to elaborate on her words to understand what she was talking about. Her words also inadvertently explain what Stella— the one he knew— saw when she peeked into the future. It was likely she ordered Styx and company to go to the villa because there was a chance for Kyran to take advantage of the situation, meet Haylee, and... kill her.

In any case, Stella was right.

When Haylee broke down, Kyran had the opportunity to strike.

Light still wanted to meet Haylee, but even so, she would not be able to stop Kyran if he decided to attack. Besides, Light was far more afraid of Kyran's supposed 'parent' living in the Dragon plane.

"I can't."

"You can't. Or you don't want to?"

Kyran did not respond.

Stella sighed in resignation when he refused to answer. She said, "It is because of the young woman resting inside the Tower of Conclave's walls, isn't it? Are you afraid that killing that woman will destroy her?"

Kyran still chose not to answer. But what she said was correct. Although he sounded confident when he told True Void that Cyneah was the 'real' one if there was an off chance that she was not, then killing Haylee would spell Cyneah's death. Nevertheless, if Cyneah was the real one and Haylee was killed, the former would still suffer.

"Why does it have to be her again?"

"Don't confuse me with Caelan."

"Fine. But the fact that you have chosen her of all people, can't be denied."