Chapter 107: Chapter 107

The answer came from the least expected person, Sahvus di Armfrost: “Protecting the boy is the same as protecting our future.”

Licarus nodded, and so did Liaranna. Her silent presence beside him made it obvious to all where her support stood.

Licarus’s gaze swept across the gathered Patriarchs, studying each face before continuing, “I wanted to wait until the boy returned from his last mission and Kamus arrived. That boy holds the key to the prosperity of all our families, and he has decided to share with all of us something that can push us forward down the Path of Evolution. What it is, I can’t tell as I’m under oath. Yet I believe you all noticed how many times Lady Androny and the Battle-Junkie Widow Brunhild reset back to Tier 1, haven’t you? Now, they are both at Tier 8 of the Flawless Existence level. And Sokram, thirteen years old, is on the True Existence level.”

Once the family heads heard that, especially with many of them stuck on the same Level of Existence for years, someone would share with them something that could help them advance in the Path of Evolution at a faster pace.

Could they refuse to protect the embodiment of their own greed and ambition?

Kanami was the first to speak in Sokram’s favor.

Standing up, her expression was fierce, yet her tone carried a tinge of something else, perhaps fearing for Sokram.

“That boy is one of the greatest geniuses born in Eversnow’s history, and he is one of us. Truly loyal to Eversnow and Norwinter. The benefits he has already brought to us are known to all. And he is still offering more. Would any of you be able to face old Sodram in Aetherium if you fail his family as we all already did in the past?”

His eyes were as fierce as Kanami’s. Instead of fear, his voice carried great ambition as he addressed the crowd.

“More than that, that boy’s potential is endless, and he will surely become someone not only Eversnow but also Norwinter can depend on. Will you let such a good seedling be stomped by those who were plotting to betray us?”

Lastly, Sahvus, although he didn’t lose his composed and standoffish demeanor, nor did he look less morbid and gloomy, his tone carried something rarely seen: admiration.

“As for the benefits he will be offering us, I can attest they are real, though, under oath, I can at least assure you won’t regret standing by our side. I know you can all see that those around him started advancing fast. The City Lord family, Killing Blade Leona, the High-Priestess of Belladona Moira, and even little Hilda and her daughter. Add to that the fact that the Wood Elf living with them is an Exalted Existence, don’t you want to know what they have to offer us?”

Five of the nine known Exalted-level powerhouses in Eversnow were vouching in favor of protecting the Dracnakrid family.

Including Alain and Miralyn, who also belonged to their family, they would have seven Exalted Existences voting in favor of protecting Sokram.

Only the heads of the Whitefur and Chrystalia weren’t present and couldn’t vote.

Yet, no one believed either of those two would vote against it.

With that in mind, all the family heads, moved by ambition and not wanting to be seen as disloyal to Eversnow’s interests, decided to back Sokram if it came to that.

Not that they believed their intervention would ever be necessary.

None of them dared to forget that the boy they were fussing over was already backed by an Existence they could only dream of achieving: the Grand Duchess Hannah.

Over the next two days, an almost palpable tension settled over the city. Whispers replaced bustling chatter amid the market stalls, guards patrolled with stiffness and hands glued to their weapons, and the clang of blacksmiths' hammers echoed through the quiet streets.

The King had postponed his arrival, held back by urgent matters among the nobles in the Royal City.

Everyone knew that this was probably an intervention on the Steelheart family’s part, a suspicion that was further cemented when Licarus received news that Count Steelheart was marching toward Eversnow and bringing with him two thousand soldiers, including two Exalted-level generals.

On the third day, a ripple of quiet excitement swept through the city as news spread: Sokram’s Grandmaster, Kamus, had arrived, accompanied by Lycius’s firstborn, Lymus.

A palpable sense of relief settled over the people, a fragile light of hope piercing through storm clouds of dread.

Not only because he created the Killing Blade Art, but also because even the dragons of Dracony feared him.

To Sokram’s disappointment, Licarus didn’t allow him to leave his house, not even to greet Kamus and Lymus.

But Leona assured him that Kamus would stay in Eversnow until after the King’s departure.

Sokram didn’t stay idle in these three days; he and Sayuri finally managed to complete the conversion of her core.

Sokram also reached Tier 10, stopping the absorption of Chaos Energy from the beasts' cores, one step away from entering the Reformation level.

Even his teammates, restless and eager to see him, found themselves confined.

Stern words from their families, coupled with extra guards posted at their own estates, ensured no one defied the unspoken order to avoid the quarantined Dracnakrid residence.

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Not just them, the hunting teams his family employed, the tamers from the South Stables, not even Oliver was allowed to visit him.

His three grandmothers were taking no chances.

Hannah tried expediting her lessons in Alchemy, after another entire day of teaching with her not holding her knowledge back in the slightest, Sokram managed to learn most of her concocting spells.

Among those, he learned the one he desired most, a spell that would help him increase the power of his family even further.

So, after completing Sayuri’s Core conversion and reaching Tier 10, with no further lessons from Hannah, Sokram spent his time reading.

Yet, he didn’t mind the free time and finally managed to read most of what he had gathered from the gifts he received from Grey Fang, the books he found in the Crow King's nest, the books in the bandits’ rings that ambushed his team, and the few books he found on Adrian’s body.

While reading a book about increasing mental capacity, Sokram found something else he was eager for.

Because even if he couldn’t continue to cultivate until his coming of age, he could still increase his power.

All he needed to do was figure out a way to lift his Mind Locks.

Mind Locks, as they were called in Sokram’s galaxy, were natural impediments to prevent one’s brain from sinking into the sea of insanity and chaos for having a cognitive capacity beyond what they could handle in their current Level of Existence.

If a mind becomes awakened before the body, that person could easily go mad.

That happened because every being’s aethereal senses were directly connected to the six Seeds of Power that empowered Evolution: Magi, Aura, Vitha, Chaos, Aether, and Nether.

Whether or not this connection can be sensed, every living being is affected by it on a subconscious level; upon lifting the Mind Locks, it begins to affect the conscious part of the mind as well.

There are a total of ten Mind Locks.

Each time a Lock was lifted, the mental capacity of a person would double exponentially.

In Sokram’s universe, only Nhiria’s children had the potential to break those locks.

A potential they inherited from Nhiria herself upon their birth, as all bloodlines descend from her, a Mythical Existence.

The other beings in the universe were only born through a Seed of Creation.

Lifting a Mind Lock was something near impossible to do intentionally, as it was projected to happen naturally once someone Ascended, where three locks would be lifted automatically.

The same would happen once someone Transcended, with another three locks being lifted.

But the four remaining Locks would only be lifted after reaching the Paragon Existence Level.

As for the benefits of doing so ahead of time, beyond the increase in cognitive ability, every bloodline gift that enhanced one’s mind would also be enhanced.

Dragon Sight, Mind of Magi, Precognition, and Hyper Cognition would all automatically be enhanced to the level of Ascendant after lifting three locks, subsequently to the level of Transcendental after lifting six, and Paragon after lifting all ten locks.

The problem was that, although Sokram knew it was possible because Nhiria had told him so in his previous timeline, he had no clue how to achieve it.

He only had a few hypotheses; thus, that would be something he would prioritize researching.

And the best place to start that research was the Arch Mage's Tower.

After another two days blurred into a haze of avid research and minor indulgences for Sokram, he often found himself sprawled amidst countless piles of books, with the scent of aged paper mingling with the rich, savory aroma of the roasted pork belly, a preferred snack during study sessions.

One book floated effortlessly before his eyes, its pages turning under the unseen nudge of Force, as his fingers were too greasy to touch the books he treasured.

Suddenly, a piercing, metallic clang tore through the quiet air.

One, then two, then three insistent tolls of the city's alarm bells.

The sharp, urgent sound vibrated through his bones, silencing the comfortable hum of his estate and echoing the chilling truth: the Royal Army was here.

Hannah, who was meditating nearby, cast him a reassuring look and flashed away.

In an instant, Sokram's finely honed senses exploded outwards.

He felt the minute shifts in the backyard’s tree branches, the almost imperceptible deepening of shadows in every corner of his estate, and the faint scuff of boots against tiles on his very roof.

His home, once a sanctuary, now hummed with the silent vigilance of countless guards.

Androny family guards were on full alert, coordinating with Miralyn’s guards and a few Purple Pavilion’s Shadows sent by Sayuri to strengthen his security.

As for Sayuri, she was already on top of the walls, her gaze blazing with hatred, and in her heart, a burning desire for vengeance as she stared at the army approaching from the horizon.

“Did you let me win?” Sayuri asked, her tone casual, as Hannah appeared beside her. Googlᴇ search novel★fire.net

“You looked like you needed a reason to gloat and rejoice.” Hannah joked, yet her gaze sought Sayuri’s with a flicker of something else.

“You know that is still not the time to kill him, right?” Her eyes brimmed with sympathy and concern.

“If I were this reckless, wouldn’t I have done to his daughter the same as his uncle did to mine? Worse, even.”

Sayuri's eyes slid shut, and exhaling deeply, she sealed away all the emotions at the brink of bursting out, steadying the storm inside her.

When she opened them again, the fire was gone, replaced by cold, calculating calm.

She looked at her sworn enemy far away, as if she was casually watching another passerby, “This isn’t just about revenge, not anymore. I’ll definitely kill him one day. He and that pig he insists on hiding from me.”

Hannah remained silent, though a flicker of amazement crossed her features at Sayuri’s iron will, self-restraint, and masterful patience.

Had it been Hannah herself, Norwinter itself would have been reduced to ashes, burned to the ground.

Then, they felt someone approaching.

It was Licarus who saluted Hannah with a bow, knocking his fist over his heart, “Grand Duchess, as the highest ranking noble in town, would you please order me to close the City gates to stall for time?”

It only took one second for Hannah to understand that he was asking her to take responsibility for something he was planning to do.

As City Lord, he could never disobey a Count. But if it were the Grand Duchess, though, only the King would be able to intervene.

“Sound the alarms, close the gates. Now, Licarus! I’ll take the blame. Just follow my lead.” Hannah shouted loud enough for everyone in the nearby area of the Southern Gates to hear.

Right after that, Licarus gave the signal to the guards already in position, and the alarm bells sounded, breaking the peace.

The farmers, workers, and hunters outside the city's walls started rushing back in an orderly manner.

A kilometer away, three humans clad in crest-plated armor rode their War Mares at a calm pace.

Two of them, one on the right and the other on the left, carried the Sigil of the Northernwind family.

A man and a woman, both humans with high stature of around 1.8 meters, lean yet muscular bodies, youthful appearances, raven-dark hair, and deep blue eyes.

The man had short, neatly styled hair brushed backward, and the woman had long, braided hair.

Their names were Carl and Colleen di Northernwind, both Tier 10 Exalted Existences and Generals of the Royal Army of Norwinter, siblings, and spouses.

Married to maintain the purity of their High-Human bloodline.

Of course, they were long-time friends of Count Steelheart.

Count Marcel nid Steelheart, riding in the center, was a human with sandy blonde hair, dark brown eyes, and a muscular build, not as youthful as his companions, despite their similar age, which surpassed their first century.

The three influential figures halted their mounts, their gazes sweeping over Eversnow.

In their eyes, a chilling mixture of greed and deep-rooted disdain glinted, reflecting an objective far beyond and more sinister than mere petty revenge.