Unholy Player

For Liora and Mirela, accepting the truth/lie this easily was not difficult, since they had already been thinking along similar lines. Even a small relief could be seen settling on their faces.

Only Lucen looked slightly skeptical. His stone-still face gave nothing away, and Adyr could not read what the man truly thought. Yet the choice to remain silent said enough; he felt no obligation to argue, only to watch.

They realized that, far from depressing them, it actually made them more excited. Finding out that their past was based on a legend rather than being meaningless or empty made them stand taller, with pride building up inside them like a warm tide.

Especially when they believed one of the Paths Adyr followed was Astra. If he belonged to that lineage, then standing beside him would only draw them closer to their god, Astrael.

It might seem naive, but in a world sustained by belief—and especially in Velari, where culture is built upon belief—the impact of such a revelation was greater than any simple proof.

"Then your mission here, Adyr from the Central Region." Soulforge Throgar spoke with an ancient voice that made ears ring faintly, the tone like an old melody heard across stone halls.

His massive body drifted forward as if weightless. The different skulls that adorned his minimal tribal attire swayed like small bells, knocking softly against bone and cord as his small eyes locked on the dark figure before him. "Is it to check on your descendants?"

A trace of emotion colored his words, a faint tremor that could be felt more than heard.

That the Gorathim were distant descendants of an Elder Race had also been proven, marked first by the sudden manifestation of Brakhtar's second head and the revelation of his bloodline talent to all present.

But Gemnarch was not a kind race that would send a representative to check on the well-being of descendants. If they ever sent anyone, all were certain it would be for obliteration, to erase a bloodline they deemed impure.

So Adyr's reason mattered deeply. It mattered to the future of the Outer Region and to the beliefs that held these people together.

Before answering, Adyr's gaze shifted to the Velari. His crimson eyes settled on Mirela's innocent, still-teary face.

He smiled, his expression softening the fear and menace of his features, turning them kind and caring. "That is not my main mission, but I cannot say they are irrelevant to me… to us."

He looked back into the ogre's eyes, his face turning serious. "Whoever carries my blood in their veins, even if it is faint, belongs to us."

It was not an entire lie. As he spoke, Adyr's cold heart beat once more, a muted thud that marked the words.

A small silhouette flashed through his mind: golden hair, ice-blue eyes. His crimson gaze brightened with rare warmth and, at the same time, with warning.

The Velari Kingdom was no longer only a tool for his future. It was the place where everything began, and it belonged to him now.

It felt like a domain a wild wolf had claimed under the moon. It was his alone. Satisfaction settled deep within him, a quiet, possessive fondness he did not try to hide.

Hearing his words and sensing his emotion, Mirela's rainbow eyes brightened another degree. A light long absent returned to her gaze, while Liora and Lucen looked lighter as well, as if a weight had shifted from their backs.

Throgar appeared content with the answer and nodded. "That's a blood I can put my trust in."

Silverlight Zephan looked as though he had something to say, but when the Wanderer Merchant saw that he preferred to wait on whatever he meant to say, he stepped in and ended the matter for now.

"Then, as I have received what I wanted, you will receive your reward." He stepped into the center of the crowd and raised his hand. Above his palm, a big, bronze, egg-like object appeared, gleaming softly.

"There are 8 Rank 4 Sparks here from all different Paths."

At that, Adyr's eyes opened slightly. So there are ways to carry Sparks that haven't been subdued inside the Sanctuary.

Even this piece of knowledge was valuable to him; it was a problem he had been facing often of late.

While Adyr considered how he might acquire one, the Wanderer Merchant continued, "I will let you choose one from it, but first." His gaze swept slowly over the surrounding Practitioners, weighing each face. "We need to decide who actually deserves it."

He had promised earlier that he would gift the Rank 4 Spark to whoever brought him the Core.

Since the ones who delivered it were Lunari, Gorathim, and mixed-race Practitioners, they would have to choose among themselves who had truly earned the reward.

Fortunately, there was no need for argument. The decision had already been made.

"We forfeit our claim." Thalira Luna, standing behind her father, lifted her voice and declared it with a calm expression.

Her father gave her a sidelong glance but did not object. If anything, his look agreed.

Brakhtar Gorat looked to his Chief with both heads. After a brief, silent exchange, he turned to the goatman. "We have no right to the reward."

The Wanderer Merchant nodded and turned to the mixed-race group, waiting for their choice.

"Father." Maruun Aqua looked to the man beside him.

Balech Aqua smiled at his son, his fishlike lips parting. "It is your decision."

For a Rank 4 Practitioner, this was a chance to gain a title and rise among the top races. But it was not only a matter of strength. It touched the future, and it touched politics.

Maruun knew this well. He spoke with steady confidence. "We forfeit as well."

Shortly after his decision, the Houndkin and Obsidren races also declared their forfeiture, leaving only 1 person remaining.

Turning back to Adyr, the Wanderer Merchant extended the bronze egg in his hand. "I have never, in my life, gone back on a promise without fulfilling it."

The meaning was plain. He would not allow him to refuse.

Adyr had no intention of refusing anyway.

He turned to all the groups, bowed his head, and said, "Thank you for your kindness." He offered polite thanks, then faced the goatman again. "I will accept the reward."

"Good." The Merchant smiled. "Place your hand on it and choose the one you want to take."

Adyr, not knowing what the item was or how it worked, obeyed the instruction and set his hand on the bronze egg.

A system panel bloomed before his eyes without delay.

This is… he could not decide whether to call it technology or a spell, so he left the label aside and fixed his attention on the transparent system screen.

A vivid 3D rendering filled the display: a 4-armed, starfish-like creature, with a dense block of detailed notes beside it.

As he read, he realized it was not as small as it looked on the screen; in reality, it was almost as large as Sszhar.

Even more astonishing, it was as strong as the other Rank 4 Sparks he had seen so far.

**

A/N: Due to a technical problem, the next chapter will be published a little later, as soon as I finish writing it. Thanks for your patience. (Also, we are almost in the Top 10 Golden Rank. I really thank you for the support you've shown so far.)