Reawakening: I Can Absorb Infinite Skills

The guild hall's main chamber was wide, its ceiling supported by white pillars carved with patterns of wings and vines. Sunlight filtered in through tall windows, spilling across a polished floor that carried the faint echo of their steps.

At the far end, a long crescent table stretched, and behind it sat the elders.

Their presence alone was enough to change the air. Even the envoys, men seasoned in battle and carrying crowns at their veins, lowered their shoulders when they stepped inside. What pressed from the elders was heavier, colder, and far deeper.

It wasn't just strength, it was the kind of weight that reminded you they had walked decades more than you, bled through wars you could only imagine, and survived in order to sit in judgment.

Arden's eyes swept them once. Each wore robes marked with their clan's crest.

Five bore the banners of the major clans, while others carried smaller emblems, representatives of lesser families who still held sway.

Their realms above ranged from low to peak, but even the weakest among them towered over the envoys outside.

Among them, Arden recognized one face, sharp and narrow, with eyes that carried the same shade as his. The man sat beneath the Caelum crest, his posture rigid, chin slightly raised as though holding the hall together through sheer pride. Memories flickered within Arden, not his own but of the body he wore. The man was his father's younger brother, his uncle.

Arden's lips curled faintly beneath his mask, but he offered no sign of recognition. That would wait. If they pushed, he would let them know who he was. Until then, the mask stayed.

The envoy stepped forward first. His bow was sharp, his words precise. "Honored council, I present to you the Outbounds. This is the party who completed the task you entrusted us with. We have brought them back as requested."

He motioned to Arden's group. Nyra and Rael stepped ahead, their silver insignias catching the light. Zephyra padded behind them, her fur rippling as her sharp gaze swept the room. The beast's low growl echoed briefly but Arden brushed her mind with calm, and she settled without another sound.

The envoy introduced them one by one, recounting their contributions and names. "This is Arden, their leader. Rael, battle mage of ice and lightning. Nyra, frostwind's edge. And Zephyra, their bonded beast."

Arden inclined his head politely, his tone steady. "It is an honor to stand before the guild council."

Rael followed, stiff but respectful, though his voice held an edge of defiance. Nyra kept her words short, controlled, though her hands were clasped a little too tightly behind her back. Zephyra dipped her head, more out of recognition than courtesy, her voice brushing the ears of the elders. I acknowledge your presence.

The weight of the elders pressed heavier, but only Arden seemed untouched. Where Rael shifted his footing and Nyra's jaw tightened, he stood like stone, his mask hiding the smirk in his eyes.

An elder from the ironblood clan spoke first, his voice deep. "Silver rank, at such an age… rare. Few parties rise so quickly, fewer still return alive."

Another elder leaned forward, her gaze sharp. "Do you even know the weight that insignia carries here in Caelum? It is not a badge for show. It grants access to higher paths, heavier tasks. You will be watched closely, but with that comes opportunity. You've earned the right to climb further, should you not falter."

Rael dipped his head. "We understand. We've bled enough to wear it."

Nyra added softly, "We'll carry it as far as it takes us."

Arden only replied with a short, "Then tell us what comes next."

The elder's lips twitched at his bluntness, but he didn't argue. Instead, his tone shifted. "Before that… the bloom."

The chamber stilled.

Arden reached calmly into his storage bag, and when his hand emerged, the Crimson Parasite Bloom rested in his palm. Its twisted petals glowed faintly, pulsing as if alive.

A ripple went through the council. Even the seasoned elders stiffened in their seats.

One pulled slightly back, another narrowed his eyes in disbelief, and a few muttered between themselves. Nyra and Rael flinched despite seeing it before, while Zephyra let out a low growl that shook the air.

Arden didn't let the moment linger. He slipped it back into its casing, the dulling runes sealing it shut before placing it back into his bag.

The oppressive pull it carried vanished at once, leaving silence in its wake.

The elders were still staring at him.

One finally spoke, his voice low but firm. "How is it that this thing has no effect on you? Even to hold it bare would shake the spirit of most."

Arden shrugged lightly, his tone dry. "Maybe I'm just curious enough to tame it. Since I can keep it without crumbling, I thought I'd play around with it a little. Nothing more."

A few eyes narrowed. His sarcasm was clear, and the silence stretched before another elder cut it short. "Do not mistake curiosity for immunity. That bloom is a curse, not a toy."

Arden dipped his head faintly. "Then I'll treat it as both."

That answer drew a faint stir, but they didn't press further. Their suspicion hung in the air, unspoken but sharp.

The elder seated at the center cleared his throat, his tone carrying the weight of finality. "We will not demand it from you, not yet. But understand this, we will be watching. Should you uncover anything of worth, it will be reported to this council. Whatever research you claim to pursue, do not keep it hidden."

Arden met his eyes through the mask and inclined his head once more. "As you say."

With that, the pressure eased slightly, though the air remained heavy. The council had made their stance clear. Arden had made his.

And though the bloom was back in his bag, its shadow still lingered in the room, tied not to the flower itself but to the man who carried it without flinching.

A/N:

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