Legacy of the Dark Sage



The first time Kyran met Caelan in his sea of consciousness, he was on the verge of death because both his Draconic and Void magic cores were on the rampage. Their rampage caused his central core to suffer, and if not contained, he would explode and die— or die and then explode.

During their conversation, Caelan repeatedly hinted that their meeting had been far too early, which prompted Kyran to think that the trigger of their meeting was not his rampaging magic cores but something else.

Caelan confirmed this the first time they met. It was when Kyran asked if he would see him again in his sea of consciousness if one of his magic cores went on a rampage again. Caelan answered that Kyran would be sent to his sea of consciousness, but he, Caelan, would not be there.

From this, Kyran wondered if Caelan said that because there was no telling when or where his magic cores would go on a rampage again. He then thought that maybe getting close to the Chaos Palace was another requirement. But if that was true, he should have at least sensed something whenever he was near Chaos Palace.

Kyran transferred the cottage there, but so far, he had never sensed anything like a trigger after being near the palace again. Similarly, when he went with his father to find Azaloth's Inheritance, which was close to the palace, there was nothing.

In the end, Kyran guessed that maybe the real requirements in triggering that phenomenon were not something specific but general.

For example, when Kyran's magic cores went on a rampage, he was experiencing a life-and-death situation. At that time, if he failed to contain his rampaging Draconic core, his central core would have been destroyed, and he would have died— his body would explode from a collision of Draconic and Void energies.

Kyran further thought this to be the true requirement of summoning Caelan's essence again in his sea of consciousness. Because he was supposed to be Caelan's creation, he would not let him die.

This idea was further confirmed when Kyran learned how to enter his sea of consciousness after absorbing the Shaiha. When he went there or even looked in using his mind's eye, he did not sense Caelan's essence. Initially, he believed it was because the latter was resting inside his Void core, similar to True Void. But then, if that was true, he should have still felt him somehow— like True Void.

As for the other requirements for triggering the phenomenon of summoning Caelan's essence in his sea of consciousness, that was something Kyran was determined to understand this time around.

"Don't you think your priorities are a little off? Your life is in danger right now, and yet the first thing you want from me are answers to your questions."

"I don't mind dying as long as I know why it is happening in the first place," Kyran replied with a nonchalant shrug.

"That's a lie," Caelan replied with a knowing smile. "You don't want to die. No... you can't die... not when your loved ones are still in danger. From this, you are very much the same as Zane."

"Seems like you don't mind commenting about the past now."

"It is no longer necessary."

"Is it because you think now I am ready to know everything?"

Caelan chuckled, "You only achieved the bare minimum. But if I have to be honest, I still don't think you are ready."

Kyran frowned but did not say anything. He could now more or less understand what Caelan meant about him achieving the bare minimum to know everything.

If Kyran considered Caelan's plans and what he said from their first meeting, the bare minimum was the level of his magic knowledge and his body. His body, possessing the Regis bloodline, was part of the requirements.

Currently, Kyran's body already achieved a good score. It could even be considered excellent now that True Void forcefully made him take the Elixir— yes, he was aware of what True Void had done.

Unfortunately, Kyran's magic knowledge was only so-so. That was why Caelan said he only achieved the bare minimum.

Caelan's plan was to make it so his successor would possess both a powerful body and a complete understanding of his magic. But thus far, Kyran's body was still undergoing its second phase of evolution, while his magic knowledge was still at a beginner's level.

For this reason, Caelan was convinced Kyran was still not ready.

If Kyran knew what Caelan was thinking, he would have flipped. After all this time, the things he could do with Void magic were still at a beginner's level, in Caelan's opinion.

"But like you said, my life is now in danger," Kyran pointed out, not giving Caelan a chance to find an excuse to keep things from him. "Either you tell me the whole truth, or I recover and regain consciousness just to get myself killed because I had no idea just who I am up against with."

Kyran was not stupid. He knew that the hooded person who attacked him was not a Sovereign. He even suspected that it was someone from the Higher Realm. But it was only a suspicion because if that was the case, how did it know Ruin?

Then again, Kyran remembered Cyneah telling him that the previous Soul Emperor, Layla, did all that audacity because she was targeting something or someone from the Higher Realm. At least, that was how Kyran interpreted Layla's goal based on Cyneah's words:

"She will not stop until she accomplishes her goal: Destruction of the Higher Realm."

Caelan took a deep breath, guessing what was on Kyran's mind. The latter might have learned how to conceal his thoughts, but they were still inside his sea of consciousness. It was easy enough to guess his thoughts from the fluctuations of emotion running around them.

"What the Soul Emperor's successor told you about Layla is true," Caelan started. His expression turned solemn as he added, "And that person... or, to be precise, that being who targeted you, came from there."

Kyran did not need Caelan to say where there was. He might have concealed his thoughts, but he knew Caelan had other ways of figuring out what he was thinking. Still, judging from Caelan's words, it appeared he was aware of what was happening to Kyran all this time.

Then again, it made sense. If Caelan did not know, then how would he deem Kyran was ready?

"They are after the Heart of the Cosmos— the Shaiha."

As Kyran said this, the Shaiha made humming sounds that felt mournful. This prompted him to look at it and wonder why it felt that way.

Caelan also looked at the Shaiha before heaving a sigh, "Yes. All this time, everything started because of the Shaiha."

Kyran could not help but frown after hearing this. He looked at Caelan. For some reason, he felt as if the King's lament that Axil told him recently was connected to all of this.

"I had hoped for you to slowly find the clues as to the truth before our next meeting, but one thing I failed to put into consideration when I started all of this was just how far you could change your fate." 

"Not with that again—."

"Everything is connected, Kyran," Caelan interrupted before Kyran could complain. With a look of unconcealed sadness, Caelan looked at Kyran and added, "As much as you wanted to deny fate, there are things that cannot be changed. But that does not apply to you. Time and again, you deviated from the plan."

Seeing Kyran frowning at him, Caelan hastily explained, "Do not misunderstand. Although I said plan, I did not want for you to completely walk through it."

He closed his eyes, seemingly reminiscing something, before continuing, "It will take a while. But now I will explain why we want the next Void Master to possess Zane's powerful body. To be fair, you possessing the Draconic core is not part of my plan. It is Zane's."

Hearing Caelan admit the things Kyran and True Void had more or less guessed did not make Kyran happy. As a matter of fact, he felt more indignant. Nevertheless, since he already decided to face everything head-on, he would not let the feeling of indignation hinder him.

"True Void and I already guessed as much," Kyran admitted.

"Yes," Caelan could not help but smile as he opened his eyes. "You two have really done a good job at figuring out most of our plan."

"Most?" Kyran repeated.

"Yes," Caelan nodded.

"But first, let me tell you a story."

"Will it take long?"

Caelan chuckled, "Don't worry. We are inside your sea of consciousness. Time does not really matter here."

"True, but I can't help but feel it would."

"Alas, it is mostly because of the second phase of evolution your body is going through."

'Evolution?' Kyran thought. That was the first time he had heard about that. For all he knew, the Elixir could enhance his body.

An evolution was different from an enhancement, right?

Not wanting to divert the subject, Kyran refrained from voicing his doubt about Caelan's choice of words and allowed him to start his story.