Legacy of the Dark Sage

𝒏𝐎𝐯𝗲𝐿𝓷𝚎xt.𝑐𝗈𝑀

When Kyran heard Cade speak of human-like Automatons, he was surprised. He remembered Loar was very fascinated by True Void’s shape-shifting ability.

Kyran explained that True Void was not an automaton and relied on the hexagonal plates he crafted to change his form.

But Loar paid him no heed and continued to scrutinize True Void.

Loar then explained that every Automasmith in his plane dreamt of creating automatons that could change form. However, most of their creation was limited to three forms. Apart from that, the form they changed into had to conform to the materials and shape of its part. Else, the transformation would not work, and the automaton would fall apart.

Loar also explained that Automasmiths who integrated the nature of Void into their creation could become a true Deus Ex Machina.

To be honest, Kyran had no idea what Loar meant about that. For all he knew, others couldn’t integrate the Void into their creation without knowing its runes. One had to know the types of items that possessed Void energy for this to work.

In any case, for Loar to successfully create a human-shaped automaton, it was no wonder he became that plane’s new Sovereign.

Most Automasmiths and Puppet masters could only create automatons that had the form of a normal or even legendary beast.

Because of this, Ar-Lo, Loar’s creation, was in the image of a dragon.

‘Wait,’ Kyran frowned inwardly as he recalled something Loar had said.

It was about a title called Deus Ex Machina— which could be said was the ultimate goal of every Automasmith in his plane.

Kyran wondered if that tile was equivalent to becoming a Sovereign. Why did Loar not use that as his Sovereign title if it did?

Come to think of it, how do Sovereigns even come up with their titles?

Kyran immediately put aside this random thought and refocused on what his father was saying.

Basically, Cade met Loar after the battle because he mistook him for Kyran— or at least, his automaton did.

Kyran chuckled at this. Obviously, Loar’s automatons still needed improvements.

Then again, many people said Kyran looked like his father, so mistaking them for the other was not really that strange.

“I’ll go with you,” Cade told Kyran after a while. “I had been to the Automa plane before and wanted to ask some questions.”

Kyran guessed his father likely wanted to know how those people he met while training on that plane. Or maybe, he wanted to keep up to date with the advancement of Array knowledge there.

“That’s fine. But I still have a few errands to do.”

Cade nodded, “I know. Do what you must, let’s meet here when your ready to leave.”

“Alright. I’ll see you in a bit, father.”

Kyran did not dally and went to do what he had to do.

His next stop was to visit his mother and grandfather.

Like Cade, his grandfather did not appear surprised by his decision to leave. Obviously, Rin already told him.

They talked for a bit before Kyran left.

His second to last stop was the cottage in the Misty Forest. He had been thinking of going there for some time but had not gotten the chance.

When Kyran warped there, he appeared outside. To be honest, he half-consciously thought of warping into Cyneah’s room. But halfway through warping, he changed his mind.

Besides, there was no point in going there because his objective in going was to gather some materials in his godmother’s garden.

Since he was leaving indefinitely, Kyran wanted to prepare some saint-tier potions for his people. Apart from this, he needed to take some pills and potions.

His godmother could do this, yes, but she and her tribe were too busy looking after the wounded, so he opted not to ask for their help. He did, however, ask to pick up some of her herbs.

Anette did not mind. After all, most of those were from Kyran, to begin with.

Finally, after gathering enough materials while simultaneously concocting pills and potions, Kyran left the cottage and went to the cliff.

The cottage was situated near the cliff that overlooked the Chaos Palace.

As Kyran looked at the palace with a thoughtful expression, he tried to warp into one of its tower but to no avail.

With a sigh of resignation, Kyran observed the palace from afar.

He did not know why he still could not warp into the Chaos Palace. At first, he thought once he attained a certain level of mastery over his Void magic, he could warp directly into the palace’s grounds.

However, that did not seem to be the case.

A few days ago, while training his Sigils and Mannick was well enough to leave the tower inside the Void World, Kyran asked him how to enter the palace.

But Mannick’s answer left Kyran speechless.

He answered: “You only have to walk past the bridge and enter the gates.”

Kyran explained there was no bridge or any sign of a gate in its walls.

After saying that, Mannick fell silent before saying Kyran’s inability to enter the Chaos Palace might be because his previous master placed certain restrictions on Kyran.

Kyran thought the same, which was why he wondered what else he was lacking.

When he met Caelan in his sea of consciousness, he told him it was not time. That their meeting was not supposed to happen yet. However, Kyran triggered the necessary requirements for them to meet.

In the end, Caelan refused to tell Kyran anything and only imparted him with phrases he barely understood then.

Kyran already understood what most of Caelan’s words meant. The only exception was the latter’s insistence that ‘he was not yet ready.’

When would Kyran be ready?

Since Mannick did not know anything, Kyran decided to see the palace before he left.

‘But I still can’t go in. Does that mean I’m still not ready?’

His Void core hummed as if in confirmation when he thought this question.

With a sigh of resignation, Kyran turned and left.

Since he was not yet ready, then there was no point in staying.

That reminded him that during the war, it was good that he did not go there when he thought of searching the palace to find anything that could help him ‘win.’ If he did and this happened, he would have wasted time and even stressed himself out.

When Kyran returned to the estate, Cade was already waiting for him.

Beside him was Nolan, who seemed to have turned younger the last time they met.

One of the first things Kyran learned about mages above a Magus, they could turn themselves younger to hide their age or even identity. But the thought as lost to him. To be honest, he thought it was a waste of precious magic energy to preserve one’s youth.

But even if he thought this, others might not. Thus, he kept his opinion to himself.

The three did not dally and left the Human plane at once.

Outside the Human plane, a floating fortress could be seen thousands of meters away from its periphery.

The fortress looked like a huge metal ship docked on a metal island.

At the ship’s helm, Loar sat with one knee propped up. He looked pretty much the same as when he met Kyran— or, to be precise, his essence— on the platform in the Tower of Tribulations.

Loar was looking at the Human plane with a slight smile.

Behind him, the space distorted as a woman in a pure black dress that hugged her figure seductively appeared and looked at the Human plane. Her face was covered in a semi-transparent veil, hiding her expression.

Unlike Loar, a faint frown could be seen under the woman’s veil.

“Why do we have to wait for them to come? Why can’t we go there instead?” She asked in displeasure.

“The Human plane is a special place,” Loar answered.

Also, different from his essence, his carefree attitude was no longer there. He had a mature air about him now. Although, his demeanor remained the same.

One could say that his change in attitude was not that strange. Like most mages who managed to find the Tower of Tribulations, most were in their youth.

A good example was Olivia.

Her essence was only in her twenties, but her real self was already in her late thirties.

Loar was the same. Nevertheless, his chill demeanor remained. And that was well and all because it was one reason Kyran found him interesting.

“We can’t barge in without an invitation.”

“I know it already has a Sovereign. But so what? We are not going there to wage war. We are only going to meet with that person.”

“That person happens to be in a coma. We can’t possibly stay there and wait until he wakes up, right?” Loar pointed before looking at the woman at the corner of his eye. A playful smile appeared as he added, “Or are you feeling dissatisfied because you want to ‘visit’ the Human plane.”

The woman shifted uneasily. Since her face was covered with a black veil, it was hard to see her expression. However, it was clear she felt uneasy at Loar’s comment.

“I am not!”

Loar laughed out loud.

“No need to feel embarrassed about it. The Human plane is also known as the Land of the Ancients. Who doesn’t want to go there and have a look?”

“Like I said, it’s not like that!”

“Ah!” Loar suddenly stopped laughing and turned his attention upfront. His smile returned as he said, “His finally awake.”

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