Supreme Magus

Chapter 1371 - Quality Over Quantity (Part 1)

”Wait, what?” The Scorpicore who had snored through Kallaʼs rant suddenly woke up at the mention of her name. ”Why should I come along?”

”Because youʼre a tracker even better than Lith. Also, Iʼm too weak to ensure my own safety let alone that of my daughter. Youʼll serve as both our bodyguard and Lithʼs aid in the case something goes wrong.” The Wight said.

”No way! Iʼm glad if you spend some quality time with Nyka, but donʼt drag me into this mess. Whenever I asked the Council for help, they always turned me down. Iʼve got no obligation toward anyone here.” Scarlett stood tall with a stone-cold gaze.

She didnʼt like the Council nor Lith and she liked the undead even less. Either the Forbidden Magic went awry and bit the undeadʼs a.s.s or it succeeded, forcing the Council to move theirs, the Scorpicore would win just by doing nothing.

”Please, youʼre extremely gullible and easy to manipulate.” Kalla gave a nudge to Nyka who caught her drift and hugged Scarlettʼs huge snout.

”Please, aunt Scar, we need your help. You know that Mom canʼt be trusted when books are involved and once Lith is out hunting, I would be all alone surrounded by strangers.” She said.

”I said no.” Scarlettʼs ins.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e heart took Nykaʼs big puppy eyes head-on without flinching for almost five seconds before starting to beat with motherly love. ”Okay, fine.”

”Slow down. We need to contact the Council and share with them your analysis of the situation. Forbidden Magic is considered a crime even by Awakened, there must be something they can do.” Faluel said.

”Can? Sure. But do you think they want to?” Kalla shook her head. ”Iʼm pretty sure this Haug fellow addressed the problem to the Council before trying to get Lith involved. They have much better experts than me, yet they didnʼt care.

”Awakened only care for crimes committed by other Awakened. Thatʼs why back in the day the Council did nothing against the slave collars in the Empire or against Hatorne. They were fake makes, hence none of the Councilʼs business.

”Guardians follow a similar policy. Leegaain washed his hands of the Empire just like Tyris considered Nalearʼs ploy a price that her people had to pay to learn their lesson.

”On top of that, Lightkeep isnʼt in the Kingdom, but in the Empire. My money on Leegaain not caring one bit, Inxialot making excuses to not leave his lab, and the rest of the Council bickering for so long that before they are done, weʼll be gone and back.” The Wight said.

Faluel contacted the Council nonetheless, and when Kallaʼs prediction came true down to the last detail, she had to admit that the Wight may be an airhead, but she had done her homework about politics.

”I canʼt believe our gang is hitting the road from the first time.” Tista hugged Solus and Nyka, eager to share an adventure with them and to visit an undead city.

”Youʼre not coming.” Lith, Kalla, and Faluel said in unison.

”What? Why?” She asked with eyes wide open in surprise.

”Because youʼre too weak.” Lith said. ”Someone at the bright cyan would be a liability. Iʼm close to reaching the violet core while Scarlett is going to have her hands full with Kalla and Nyka.”

”Not by my choice!” Tista angrily pointed at Faluel. ”I worked my a.s.s off day and night, but she forbade me to use Acc.u.mulation. How can I have a breakthrough without it?”

”I understand your anger, child, but your body isnʼt ready yet.” Faluel used Lifestream, her breathing technique, to show Tista her condition along with a hologram depicting a perfect cyan-cored body.

”I know that compared to Lith I Awakened later, but I survived the process. Compared to that-”

”Wrong.” Faluel cut her short. ”Donʼt you remember Mogarʼs words? To alter Lithʼs bloodline, they messed with your parentsʼ. If it affected yours as well, then the blue level means the awakening of your beastʼs life force.

”Youʼd become a hybrid and your body would undergo deep changes that would make the breakthrough way more dangerous than usual. You are already 21, past the age when normal hybrids have to choose their final nature.

”I have no idea if you are going to turn into a Wyrmling nor if you have to choose your life force right off the bat. Thatʼs why I wonʼt allow you to use Acc.u.mulation until weʼve done everything we can to ensure your survival.” The Hydra said.

”Donʼt worry, Tista. Weʼll take good care of your brother.” Phloria said while she and Friya patted her back.

”Right. I have to stay home because Iʼm the only non-Awakened in the group.” Quylla sighed deeply, knowing they were right.

ʼI wish I could swear that Iʼll work even harder to become an Awakened, but that would be idiotic. Iʼm already doing my best and without caution, Iʼm more likely to become either a corpse or an Abomination.ʼ She thought.

”Donʼt worry, Quylla. Theyʼre not coming either.” Lith and Faluel seemed to share a mind link, finishing each otherʼs sentences.

”This isnʼt fair! Iʼve finally Awakened, Iʼm incredibly strong and I even have Silverwingʼs hair!” Friya said flaunting her six elemental streaks.

”You still have to get accustomed to your new body and powers, let alone converting all of your spells into true magic.” Lith shook her head. ”You are an Awakened who still fights like a fake mage. In a way, youʼre weaker than when you were human.”

”Agreed.” Faluel nodded.

”What about me? Iʼve Awakened for a while and Dad even gave me new equipment!” Phloria said.

”I noticed and I know they are all masterpieces, but you have Tistaʼs same problem. Without Acc.u.mulation, your body is even weaker than Friyaʼs who Awakened with the Hydraʼs bloodline technique.” Lith said.

”This isnʼt Jiera. Iʼm not going to explore my beast side or making new experiences. This is a mission in hostile territory and all of you would be liabilities.”

”Thatʼs not all.” Faluel said. ”Your mother has forbidden you to leave home and your disappearance would make noise throughout the Kingdom. There would be no way to stop Jirni from searching for you and her absence would compromise everyoneʼs security.”

”It seems it will just be you and I, sister.” Nyka said while hugging Solusʼs stone doll.

No one asked Nalrond to come and he was happier that way. He hated the undead and the thought of helping them made his stomach churn.

ʼInstead of wasting my time with those vermin, Iʼd rather practice Spirit Magic. Now that I have a wand as well, I can use the mind link to try and communicate with my sealed beast half. Without his help, Iʼll always remain a hybrid.ʼ He thought.

The lesson went particularly well because everyone was eager to show Faluel and Kalla that they wouldnʼt be a dead weight, but the Hydra didnʼt change her mind.

Lith informed his parents, Jirni, and Mirim of his mission, to give them the time to adjust the security detail before his departure, leaving Kamila for last.