Chapter 70: Chapter 70

“We did what we came to do,” Brunhild stated, her voice now much more composed as she stood and straightened her clothes, the last vestiges of her earlier grief receding.

“Now you need to wait until Hilda is ready. Don’t pressure her.”

Her tone carried an unmistakable authority, making it clear to Sokram that this particular topic was a deeply sensitive one for both women, a sensitivity that likely extended to Hilda as well.

“Yes, Nana. I’ll wait.” Sokram nodded, respecting the boundary.

Despite his intense curiosity about the key, he would never risk breaking the trust his family had in him.

“Should I leave this key with her until she thinks it’s time?”

“That is for you to decide, baby.” Margiory’s voice was firm, echoing Brunhild’s resolve.

“Let’s go back home. We did what we came here for,” Brunhild’s voice reached them as she was already turning away.

She paused, however, and offered one last, deep bow to the graves of her father and uncle.

Margiory followed suit, performing the same gesture.

With another practiced flick of her hand, the flames on the torches sputtered out, plunging the catacombs back into darkness.

This time, Sokram did not bow in the traditional sense.

Instead, he saluted the two patriarchs, knocking his fist over his heart in the usual formal salutation.

But as he reached the base of the stairs leading out, he paused and bowed again, this time encompassing all the ancestors laid to rest around them.

“I won’t let any of you down, I promise.”

Brunhild offered him an approving nod, her expression softening slightly, before leading the way out of the solemn depths.

Their walk back home was silent once more, yet the oppressive weight had lifted.

The cool air of the north, previously adding to their tension, now mirrored the mood, which became noticeably lighter than when they had arrived. Margiory and Brunhild walked with their arms intertwined, a subtle hint of relieved smiles playing on their lips.

Sokram observed them, a sense of quiet satisfaction settling within him, happy that his actions had brought such a positive outcome for his family. Their newfound unity would be a crucial bulwark against the future adversities that, with their knowledge of their past timeline, he and Fate knew were coming.

But then, Margiory’s head snapped forward, her senses suddenly sharp.

Sokram felt the shift in the mana flow around her, recognizing the subtle wave indicating she had just received a voice transmission from one of her shadow guards.

Before she could relay the message, however, three figures emerged from the imposing gates of one of the Noble District’s grandest estates and approached them.

A man walked slightly ahead, flanked by two women.

Sokram instinctively sensed the movements of Margiory’s hidden guards shifting in response.

But he also recognized the familiar presence of Miralyn’s guards among them, a silent reinforcement.

Looking at the man before them, the reason for the sudden tension became clear.

“Uncle Sahvus…” Brunhild greeted him respectfully, though the honorific felt hollow, devoid of genuine warmth.

One of the women accompanying him was his daughter, Sienna di Armfrost.

A striking woman with deep brown, dark skin, and long, curly dark brown hair that cascaded down to the small of her back, complementing her petite and curvy physique.

Sokram could see that her daughter, Cecille, had inherited her stunning beauty from her.

What truly set her apart, however, was the astonishing intensity of her mana flow; she was a Grand Magus, just like her father.

The other woman was her daughter, Cecille, who was married to Lycius and held the esteemed position of the city’s Arch Mage.

Sahvus’s face was serious, his gaze sweeping across the shadows where Margiory’s guards were concealed, lingering for a moment on Alain before settling on Margiory herself.

A smile touched his lips, but on his morbid, gaunt, wrinkled face, it looked more like a grimace.

An unnatural chill seemed to emanate from him, which, combined with the evening air, made the smile anything but inviting.

“Little girl of the Andronys and the little girl from the Dracnakrids,” he murmured, his deep, almost guttural voice carrying a strange mix of nostalgia and something else, something probing.

“How nostalgic it is seeing you two walking this city’s streets without a care.”

His gaze then shifted to Sokram, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And to see your family sprout such a talented seedling… It takes a weight off my back, knowing the future of our city will be in good hands.”

“Grand Magus Armfrost, how have you been?” Margiory replied politely, her voice even.

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This man was an Exalted Existence, a being of immense power, yet no trace of fear registered in her tone.

“Curious. That’s how I’ve been, extremely curious.” As Sahvus spoke, he pointed directly at Sokram, his expression shifting to one of intense scrutiny.

“How can someone who just awakened already advance to Tier 2?”

His gaze then flicked to Brunhild. “Isn't it strange? A family lost in stagnation starts to advance so quickly? If I counted right, you alone reset three times, so if I’m not wrong, you must be a Flawless Existence by now, right? Not to mention the obvious rejuvenation.”

“Uncle, such taboos should remain untouched, don’t you think?” Brunhild’s voice was firm, carrying a subtle but undeniable hint of warning.

“Well, she asked…” Sahvus shrugged dismissively, shifting the implied blame to Margiory.

But then, a soft chuckle escaped Sokram’s lips, drawing everyone’s gaze. “Curiosity is a blessing in the Path of Evolution, but isn’t prying on other people’s secrets something Mentyr would do often before finding the light in the Eternal Darkness? A habit that most of her fanatics, called Keepers, still have. You wouldn’t want to be misinterpreted, right, Grand Magus Armfrost?”

The three Armfrosts, including the usually composed Cecille, stared at Sokram, their expressions momentarily mirroring children caught red-handed stealing cookies.

Sahvus frowned, a deeper line appearing between his brows.

Sokram knew this wasn’t because he had accused them of being followers of Mentyr, but because the word ‘fanatic’ was a profound insult to both those who followed her and Mentyr herself.

But before Sahvus could formulate a response, two other women appeared in a flash of movement, seemingly out of nowhere.

“So this is where you were, hm?”

Sokram’s eyes met the woman with the same striking, ashen white hair, golden-brown dark skin, and silvery eyes as his own, and a smile touched his lips.

“Hi, Nana. We were talking with Grand Magus Armfrost about the importance of respecting boundaries and not breaking taboos, like the fanatics that follow Mentyr often do.”

“Yes, I heard that,” Hannah said, her gaze settling on Sahvus.

A smile played on her lips, but her eyes held a clear, steel-edged warning.

“What do you think, Child? Do you agree with my grandson and heir? Or do you perhaps disagree?”

To Sahvus, even with his centuries of existence, being referred to as a ‘Child’ by an eight-thousand-year-old dragon didn’t even cause him to flinch.

Yet, before he could answer, the other woman spoke, her voice smooth and laced with playful possessiveness.

“Of course, Grandfather agrees. He would never pry on my disciple’s secrets…”

Leona smoothly pulled Cecille closer by the waist, her smile widening. “Especially not in front of my wife here, right? You didn’t break any Oaths, have you, dear?”

Sahvus’s frown deepened as he processed the sudden appearance of Hannah and Leona.

He sensed another presence beyond Margiory’s and Miralyn’s guards, someone incredibly fast.

His eyes snapped toward the corner of a nearby street. There, partially obscured by shadow, a woman with black-furred fox ears and tail, dressed in an outfit reminiscent of a kunoichi, leaned casually against the wall.

Despite her relaxed posture, her eyes were sharp, watching the scene with an air of casual unconcern.

She even had the audacity to smirk when their eyes met.

A bitter laugh escaped Sahvus, a sound tinged with resignation.

“It seems your wings are bigger than I thought, young dragon. Your great-grandfather would be very proud, haha.”

“I hope so, Grand Magus Armfrost.” Sokram stepped forward, doing his utmost to mask his reaction to the strong, cloying scent of Nether energy emanating from Sahvus.

“But I know he would be even more proud to see old friends remaining friends. Seeking knowledge is never wrong, but when entering old dungeons and caves, we must step carefully, so rewards don’t become regrets.”

“Wise beyond your years… She was right… As always…” Sahvus muttered, seemingly to himself.

To anyone else, it would appear he was speaking about Cecille, perhaps admiring her own wisdom.

But Sokram, unlike the others, didn’t even glance at her.

He knew, with absolute certainty, that Sahvus was speaking about Mentyr.

“So, tell me, young dragon. What would be the price of such a secret?” Sahvus asked, his stance shifting subtly, becoming more polite, more... businesslike.

Brunhild’s brow furrowed. “Uncle…”

But Sokram raised a hand, a silent signal for her to let him deal with it.

“There are two things I value the most: Friendship and knowledge.”

Sokram’s gaze finally shifted, meeting Cecille’s eyes as she was still held loosely by Leona’s arm.

“As I said to the Greyfur and the Goldenmane families, we from Eversnow, especially the founding families, must stay united. War is coming. So friendship is fundamental during such times…”

Sokram looked back at Sahvus, his gaze unbothered, steady. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel fire.net

“…but sharing knowledge among friends can strengthen our bond of friendship and ourselves. Besides, I heard you have quite a big library, Great Uncle.”

As Sokram met Sahvus’s eyes, he found himself mirroring the Grand Magus’s own expression, a practiced, almost predatory businessman's grin.

“Hahahaha…” Sahvus burst out laughing, clearly caught off guard by Sokram’s sudden shift in demeanor and negotiation tactic.

But the apprehension in his gaze was even more honest than his laughter.

Even with his centuries of wisdom, he couldn’t read this teenager at all. “Friendship and Knowledge paid with Friendship and Knowledge. Seems fair.”

Sahvus extended his hand to Sokram, and they clasped hands, sealing the unusual agreement.

Turning to Cecille, he instructed, “Allow him access to the inner library in your tower. Let’s hope this secret you’re keeping from us is truly worth this.”

Sokram glanced at Cecille, surprised. “So it was you…”

“Nope,” Cecille shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips as she glanced at Leona, who only offered a knowing grin.

Sokram nodded, understanding dawning.

This access wasn't a reward for his secrets, but a gift from his master, orchestrated behind the scenes.

Not wanting to let the opportunity slip, Sokram acted without further hesitation.

He summoned three scrolls from his Void Glove and, with a subtle motion, cast a sound isolation barrier around their small group.

He then offered the scrolls to Sahvus.

“Spirit Magic, Titan Force, and Vital Magic Cultivation Techniques,” Sokram stated calmly, his eyes carefully studying the expressions of Sahvus and the silent Sienna.

The sheer surprise on their faces, the way their eyes widened and practically shone with naked greed, confirmed his suspicion: despite following Mentyr, the Princess of Nether hadn’t exposed his secrets to them.

Sienna said nothing, but the way her eyes lingered on the scrolls, and how swiftly she closed her gaping mouth as their eyes met, told Sokram everything: She hadn’t known about them either.

“No wonder she spoke so highly of you, young dragon…” Sahvus’s hands trembled slightly as he reached for the scrolls, handling them as if they were the most precious treasures his eyes had ever beheld.

“Great Uncle, please, call me Sokram. We’re between friends, right?” Looking at his master and Cecille, a genuine smile touched his lips as he added, “Almost family, even.”

“True, Sokram.” Sahvus nodded, accepting the scrolls.

He then took a large, intricately carved coin from his spatial ring and handed it to Sokram.

In Sokram's right hand, the engraved coin felt cool as if it matched the air, but from its core, Sokram could feel the humming of mana that empowered its enchantment.

“This token will grant you access to the library even when Cecille’s not around.” Sahvus paused, his gaze shifting to Margiory, a final, pointed remark leaving his lips.

“And keep your new dog on the leash. I don’t want to enter a commercial war just because the Silverfangs are selling weapons now.”

Having delivered his parting shot, Sahvus nodded curtly to Brunhild and turned back into his estate.

Sienna, still silent but with a newfound intensity in her eyes, saluted them politely and followed her father.

Cecille, offering a small, apologetic smile, also said her goodbyes and went to rejoin her mother and grandfather.