Chapter 190: Why The Heavens Burned
"Young Master is so amazing!"
Nora's eyes were practically shining as she looked at the destructive pillar growing more and more. Hands clasped before her chest, her smile showed her genuine happiness.
Of course, to contest against her in glazing over Aegon, Xiu also cheered at the top of her lungs. She even jumped around, but nobody paid attention to her weird actions.
Only Arnold sat calmly, but even he was smiling widely. His eyes moistened as he thought, 'Are you watching this, dear? Our Little Sun is showing his brilliance to the world. Look how bright he is!'
He knew if Olena were alive today, she would cheer for Aegon even more than Xiu. Her love for her family knew no bounds. Sadly, she left the world too soon.
Arnold missed her every day, but this day made it harder to cope with that empty feeling. He wanted his wife to be together with him so they could watch their grandson shine so brightly.
He wished his family was together.
"Elder Old, are you craving a beating?"
Arnold snapped out of his daze upon hearing Xiu's voice and found her standing right beside him, looking at him with her silly smile.
"And who will beat me? You?" He scoffed, hiding his emotions and tears behind fake anger. "Are YOU asking for a beating?"
"Nah uh! Mom gave me the rights to beat you if the day ever comes when you become stupid," Xiu said, her voice full of seriousness.
Of course, Arnold didn't believe a word of it, as he asked, "Are you calling me stupid?"
"Shouldn't I?" Xiu asked, blinking in confusion. "This is your grandson's big day, and you're here crying over Mom. I'm sure even she'd pull your ear."
"Xiu, stop meddling in my business!" Arnold said, looking away from her.
"Can't do that, otherwise you'll once again fall into depression," Xiu sighed. "My poor shoulders have too much responsibility."
"That's enough, Xiu!" Aurelia interrupted before Xiu could say more. "He's happy."
"I know that. But my silly father is drowning in sadness," Xiu said, clicking her tongue. "Mom will punish me if I let him be. And let me tell you, you don't want to be punished by her."
"So you're caring for me just because you fear my wife?" Arnold asked, amused.
"Why else would I worry over someone who doesn't even care about himself?" Xiu harrumphed and then turned back toward the screen. "Little Sun depends on you for moral support, Father. Never forget that. You're the pillar holding his life together, so please be strong. Not for me, not for you, but for him."
'Silly girl,' Arnold smiled and thought. 'People are so wrong about you.'
People called Xiu immature and someone who did things without thinking of the consequences. They said she was way too reckless.
While much of that was true, only someone close to her knew her true personality. How much she cared for everyone around her. How kind she truly was.
"By the way, I'm curious, how did he do this?" Xiu asked as the screen announced the Snow Domain's victory. "Something to do with that Rune Formation?"
"He used a Rune Formation used in many armours," Nora answered, controlling her expression. "I'm sure you've noticed armours that absorb part of the damage received and then return it."
"He used that?" Aurelia was surprised. "But that's—"
"Impossible?" Nora smiled and said. "It's certainly tough to pull off on this scale. It should be impossible unless it's done by a high-rank RuneMaster. So even I'm confused how he did this."
She clasped her hands together and added, "All I know is that his brilliance shone once again. He's sixteen but can already make Rune Formations like this. His future as a Soul Cultivator is incredibly bright."
"So let me get this straight," Aurelia said, dumbfounded by the series of events. "He's been doing this from the very start, meaning he carved out Runes on the Turret bases, and that's why he started with the Outer Turrets, as they received damage first."
Xiu blinked in surprise and said, "So that spear held the power of every single attack on the battlefield?"
"Of the Snow Domain, but yes, pretty much. All damage got absorbed by the Runes and then transferred to the main Rune in the base, where it was stored," Nora nodded.
"But I'm confused. Even if we somehow overlook his lack of use of a Kalam, how did he actually carve Runes on those Turrets?" Aurelia asked. "When the Turrets were destroyed, shouldn't it have affected the Rune Formation as a whole?"
"Not quite." Nora shook her head in denial. "What he likely did was carve the Rune at the coordinates of the Turret rather than on the Turret itself. So even if the Turrets were destroyed, the Rune Formations remained and continued absorbing damage."
"Umu! He planned it well," Xiu smiled, puffing her chest in pride.
"How though?" Aurelia still wasn't convinced. "I don't think it's that easy to do, right?"
"It's not, but we're talking about Young Master, so everything is possible," Nora replied with a smug look.
"Hm, whatever! I'll just enjoy it too!" Aurelia threw her hands up, giving up on thinking. "But I recommend increasing security now."
"She's right," Arnold agreed from the side. "Demons won't let a Valeria of such talent grow among humans."
"Tsk! You two underestimate us," Nora clicked her tongue. "It's already done. Young Master predicted it."
"In all of this, we're forgetting my dear niece," Xiu said, smiling brightly as always. "She not only boosted that spear's power but also used it. Mind you, that level of destructive power would explode arms just from contact. She's brave and powerful."
"True, she deserves the credit," Nora agreed. "A true warrior."
They weren't the only ones talking about Aegon, as the whole Empire buzzed with a single topic. Nobody could forget the final explosion.
Everyone formed their own guesses about what Aegon had done to bring about such results. The theories varied, but there was one thing they all collectively agreed on.
No one came close to Aegon's level in pure talent.
They also finally understood why they stood under a burned sky.
This talent demanded the heavens to burn just so it could exist.
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