Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1199: Chapter 990: You Could Be Even More Unhappy

Kelben is still a Chosen... If he were truly powerless because of his strong magic resistance and thick skin, he would have been wiped out countless times.

Even though he expended a bit more effort due to his unwillingness to resort to force, he still found a way to bind this half-elf, who also hailed from Mis Zhunuo’s lineage... Though he had studied at Incanistram Academy in his youth, his experience was not pleasant, yet he couldn’t bring himself to kill the half-elf who knew of that past.

He is not truly nameless and homeless... The period when he had to hide his identity and couldn’t even use the ”Oroson” name proving he was Orlun’s son was the most sorrowful time he wished to forget.

Moreover, Kelben had to figure out why Mis Zhunuo’s past companions hated him so much.

When he broke ties with the elves, although he went a bit too far, he knew very well that with Coron, the Father of Elves’ magnanimity, even the rogue god Fermaro Mosdlin who once nearly betrayed him with Rose could be let go without concern, let alone him. Kelben just acted a bit extreme.

Therefore, as long as he succeeded in becoming a demigod, ideally fully ascended... Azuth only needed to grant him a bit of divinity related to magic, which always held great power, otherwise Visaron couldn’t easily break away from Talos.

At that time, he could express regret to the Elf Deity System.

As for Mystra... Midnight’s personality he understood well; if she regretted elevating him, she’d at most ignore him, just as she sidelined Azuth.

That’s not necessarily bad; truly acting as a Chosen for Midnight requires not only high intelligence, but also tremendous patience.

Kelben felt himself incapable of that... He truly didn’t want to shout at a Main God.

Unlike Azuth, who couldn’t tolerate such coldness due to his deeper feelings for Mystra!

Perhaps this was selfish, but what did it matter?

Kelben truly didn’t want to continue living like this... Once he learned his unborn child was part of the Tablets of Fate’s prophecy, the Black Staff felt himself spiraling into madness.

In the world of Toril, one must either be as powerful as Elminster, or become a deity.

Kelben always hoped to be a mighty force like Elminster, however... he lacked such a strong will.

Becoming a deity, although still manipulated by fate, at least wouldn’t be as easily done.

Even if unlucky enough to fall, as long as he wasn’t as closely linked to the Weave as Mystra, he’d merely drift in the Stellar Realm for hundreds or thousands of years.

As long as preparations were sufficient, he’d always have a chance at resurrection.

Kelben refused to believe he was inferior to Bane.

But... Kelben truly couldn’t understand, even if forsaken by fate, it had nothing to do with Mis Zhunuo, right?

He asked that half-elf with the skeleton dragon head, his face dark: ”Who the hell are you?

What did I do to make you hate me this much?

Even if I choose to abandon my elven bloodline, only recognize my human identity... Coron wouldn’t interfere with such a thing, right?”

The half-elf bound within the blue light circle had their green eye flames suddenly blaze strongly: ”You ask me why?

Do you truly not know?”

Looking at the Black Staff holding the scepter, with a stern yet unapologetic expression, he was dazed for a few seconds before finally realizing: ”Hahahahaha!

So you really don’t know!

Then what’s the point of you being alive?

With your skills, you still want to be the Goddess of Magic’s Chosen?

Is Mystra blind to favor you?

The Haber family excavated all the grand nobility tombs of Mis Zhunuo just to use the High Knowledge Stone, and you didn’t know?

No wonder the Meldrim family’s graves weren’t spared either; I truly thought you no longer cared about your ancestors!”

’Boom!’

Silver-blue flames erupted around Kelben, his black eyes instantly turned white: ”What did you say?”

”You like listening! So I’ll say more!

The Meldrim family’s corpses were all ground into clay and refined into powder, consumed by the Haber family!”

The dome of the round hall suddenly opened, Kelben ascended silently, departing with a wave of the Black Staff, releasing the half-elf.

The half-elf knelt quietly on the ground, head bowed in deep thought, neither intending to escape nor choosing to remove the Crown of the Fallen Dragon.

The Deepwater City residents were in upheaval.

Even though Elaströ and Xinbu’s faces showed discomfort visible to everyone, the round hall was instantly abuzz.

The people of Deepwater City only knew the Haber family boldly colluded with demons, caused the Neverwinter disaster, and even tried to ambush a mage team traveling from Agleya City, which angered three mighty divine powers, leading to their complete annihilation.

Though some reportedly uninformed members survived, they could never again use the ’Haber’ name.

As long as those three deities exist, they absolutely have no hope of reclaiming the family’s legacy.

The Haber Family has completely disappeared from Toril.

There are still murmurs over here in Deepwater City! Colluding with demons... when so many have done it, even if caught directly by strong divine power, it shouldn’t be this miserable!

After all, saying colluding with demons is a sin to Shaer seems a bit... unconvincing.

Who would have thought they even did such things!

Kelben truly protected their family sincerely for so many years!

”Although... Kelben is a bit pitiful,” Gendilarei said in an odd tone, ”why do I feel he doesn’t deserve sympathy?

At first, I just looked down on him, and now I kind of despise him.”

Edna opened her fan and gently placed it in front of her face: ”Perhaps because... he wanted to become like Azuth, but even Ambori hasn’t been fooled so badly.”

”Did he go to Luskan?” Leonard asked curiously, ”I remember Marko went there.”

”Hill will not allow anything related to the Haber Family into his territory, Marko should have gone to Icewind Valley,” Edna answered coolly.

”Ah?” Devis turned to her in surprise, ”Isn’t that where the other factions of the Red Robe Mage Guild are?”

”To die fighting against evil is the only path for Marko,” Nasir sneered, ”This man, truly selfish.

Even if he was kept in the dark before, now he can’t possibly be unaware of what his family has done.

If it weren’t for him, Kelben wouldn’t have valued the Haber Family so highly; he outright left without telling Black Staff anything!”

Leonard looked at him: ”Are you happy just because this was done by a kind alignment, so you are speaking without thinking?

How could Marko tell Kelben? Sorry, brother, I didn’t think my ancestors would dig up your ancestral grave? Can you forgive my ignorance?

Ah, isn’t this provocative?

Although Marko certainly isn’t completely innocent, at least he wouldn’t be entirely unaware of his family’s ties with demons, but he surely doesn’t know more. If he did know and helped conceal it, he couldn’t still be part of the kind alignment.”

Nasir stared at him: ”Nature Mage, can’t you just ignore what I say?

For a Night Cloak like me, isn’t it just natural to joke and mock kind mages?”

”This matter... isn’t exactly a secret, is it?” Devis asked somewhat confused, ”Why didn’t Kelben know?”

”A divine artifact like the High Knowledge Stone, low-ranked professionals haven’t even heard of it, so even if your attendants were drinking in the tavern, they wouldn’t mention something like that.” Nasir said leisurely, ”As for Rose’s subordinates, weren’t they busy with something at the time?

How could they care about such a small matter?

The Harpists probably didn’t have time to get complete information from the Undead Tribe, and on the Weave... hmm, how interesting, even the Goddess of Magic’s Chosen can’t know the truth through the Weave... tut-tut~”

He looked at the faces of the others staring at him: ”Hmm? Why are you looking at me? When do Followers of the Night ever offer free information?”

Edna waved her fan: ”No one outside stopped Kelben, seems like they’re waiting for him at Icewind Valley.

What a pity, so boring!”

She turned her gaze to Manks, who was guarded in a corner, the pearl fan in the young girl’s hand emitting a blue-white light... it looked very much like the radiance of the Goddess of Magic, but Edna noticed extremely fine blood threads rising on the pearl.

Edna blinked and corrected herself: ”Maybe not.”

Then she thoughtfully looked towards the high platform, where Elaströ was whispering something with Xinbu.

Agralunde is a Peninsula Kingdom, and Xinbu has a nickname of Storm Queen... if she transfers her faith from Mystra’s Chosen to Talos, it’s indeed a great thing for the Storm God, who always tries to reach into the field of the Goddess of Magic.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have used schemes to elevate Visaron to demigod... the few domains Visaron selected when he was formally deified were all within the magic faction.

Mystra supported Azuth to take in Visaron just to teach a lesson to the God of Destruction, who dared to extend a hand into her divine realm!

Talos never hides his ambition, nor does he hold back on his initial investments.

However, what he invests, he will want to reclaim double in the future.

Will Xinbu be able to resist such temptation?

Edna suddenly laughed... she acted like a bystander enjoying the show.

Elaströ soon finished discussing with Xinbu and also flew away from the top of the round hall.

”Everyone.” Xinbu’s cold voice rang out, ”Today Black Staff Tower has provided everyone with enough entertainment, there’s no need to mention those past trivial matters.

So, everyone should leave first... what will happen to Deepwater City, I do not know, but right now, I am... very unhappy.”

”You could be even more unhappy,” a hoarse voice replied.