Legacy of the Dark Sage

Kyran remembered swearing to himself he would find a way to let Cyneah see again. But before he could even do anything, she left.

It had been one of his regrets— not telling her of his intentions. Although it did not guarantee she would stay, he had an inkling she chose to sacrifice herself because she believed that was the only worth her blind self could do.

"Kyran."

Loar's call brought Kyran out of his reverie. He looked up to see the former looking at him with a slight frown.

"I don't know the circumstances in the Human plane," Loar started slowly. "But from what I have gathered from your conversation, you don't intend to go after Flos and the others. Instrad, you are searching for someone."

"There are many people who got lost because of what happened in our plane," Kyran replied with a short nod. "Some of them are current leaders that, if not found, might lead to another war. I am not talking about a war that could involve the Sovereigns. Its more of a war between nations."

Loar nodded, "I can understand. Before I ascended as a Sovereign, I, too, took part in the war of nations in Automa. Alas, after ascending I could no longer meddle with it. Though, our the enemy nations of my country surrendered in fear of my retaliation." He sighed while shaking his head and added, "Good thing they did not know Sovereigns could not meddle in the internal affairs of their plane. If not, that war would have destroyed my country."

Nolan leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms. He more or less knew what Loar had felt then. Seeing his country fight a war, he could no longer participate. Nolan had been in the same situation, albeit it involved his family, not the whole country.

To Nolan, that was far more tragic.

"Anyhow, that person you are looking for, err..." Loar paused, recalling how they called that person Kyran's mistress. He knew what a mistress was, and from how Cade and Nolan talk of her, her 'role' was not far from the meaning Loar knew. But, if Kyran was looking for one of the leading figures of their plane, then it could not be the same. At least, Loar believed someone of that standing would not be a mistress to someone without power.

And although Kyran's magic should place him in a position with great power, he did not strike him as such a person.

"Your mistress? Is one of those leaders you talk of?"

Kyran groaned in exasperation when Loar also called Cyneah like that. The last thing he wanted was the whole Lower Realm to think the new Dark Sage had a mistress and he was looking for her.

"She's not really my mistress."

"Technically, not yet until she stand before the Regis Ancestal Stelle."

"What? Are you going to deny having claimed her? F*ck, you're ruthless. Anette will have your ass."

"What are you talking about, master? The mistress is your mistress! Do not deny it even when you want to protect her!"

Cade, Nolan, and Zephyr said almost at the same time.

Kyran kept a straight face while looking at Loar, who looked even more confused. Then he said, "Ignore them."

"... Alright."

Cade chuckled, Nolan, cussed, and Zephyr complained in the background because Loar easily agreed to Kyran.

"To answer your question," Kyran continued. "No, she's not one of those missing leaders. She... she's the one who stopped the war and forced Flos, Obstruction and Ruin to leave the plane."

"And she left with them?" Wing, who had been silent for a while because she found the things Cade and the others discussed interesting. Hearing Kyran wanted to search for his mistress made Wing look at him in a different light because she had a soft spot for this kind of thing.

"... Yes and no."

"What do you mean?"

"She chose to leave, but she did not go with them. True Void summoned a rift that warped Flos, Obstruction and Ruin out of the plane, but she chose to enter the rift."

"Why would she do that?"

Kyran did not answer her this time. Not because he did not want to but because he did not know the real answer.

They initially believed Cyneah left to prevent Layla from causing another war if the latter managed to influence her thoughts.

But if the woman with Ruin was Layla, then Cyneah did not have to fear getting influenced.

It was impossible for Cyneah not to know if she had retrieved her essence, so why did she still choose to leave?

Could it be she wanted to hide the Macabre Glacier from all those seeking it? But what could she do alone? And with her missing sight, how could she survive going to a different plane?

Cyneah's magic sense might help her 'see,' but the rules of each plane differ, especially on how one could draw magic energy. If she was lucky, she might have gone to a plane that had enough magic energy in the surroundings. If that was the case, she only had to draw the energy around her to use her magic sense. But what if she had gone to a plane where magic energy was scarce? Like the Lignum plane? Could she kill a monster to retrieve one of their organs and draw the energy from there?

The answer was no.

Which was why Kyran was very worried about Cyneah.

Cyneah was a person who would accept a beating without flinching and would never fight back. She had lived like that for many years and became numb to physical pain. Her only respite for such life had been her time with them and how short that had been.

"If she left of her own accord, she must have a reason," Wing added when no one answered her question. This time, she did not take offense when no one answered because she truly found Kyran's situation intriguing.

Kyran frowned. He did not need Wing to tell him to know. It was one of the things gnawing at him, especially at how Cyneah 'forced' him to lose consciousness so he could not stop her— as if she did not want to stay by his side.

Of course, Kyran knew this was not the case. She viewed him as her benefactor and might even believe taking the Macabre Glacier away was her way of evening the odds between them.

"I'll help you find her," Wing declared before Kyran could say anything.

Loar and the Sovereigns observing them secretly could not help but gape at Wing. They did not expect her to offer help willingly.

Kyran looked at her skeptically but did not respond.

Guessing what was on his mind, Wing only said, "I am helping you of my own accord. This is not so I can gain a favor. I am not going to ask for anything either, only that you... win her back."

Axil, who heard Wing, let out a soft sigh. She now understood why the latter decided to help Kyran. Axil had no plans of micromanaging the Sovereigns in their faction, thus, she opted to stay silent.

It had not gone unnoticed to Kyran and the others how Wing used the term 'win' rather than 'get' her back. They knew these Sovereigns also had their stories, but they did not expect to meet someone who could sympathize with Kyran's situation.

It was a rather fortunate thing.

"I will."

"Good. Tell me what she looks like, and I will have my subjects start their search in every planes."

"Wait," Kyran realized something after hearing Wing's phrasing. "You have subjects in every planes?"

"Except the ones that are difficult to access, like the Human plane, of course I do. I am the Sovereign of Wings, and there are bound to be creatures with wings in every plane. I only need to channel my thoughts, and they will respond to my call."

[Existences who possess Air magic are revered by creatures that can roam the sky. She may have said that as if her title ruled over such creatures, but the truth, any existence that has mastered Air magic will be able to communicate with creatures of the sky. Whether they listen or not, that is another matter.]

Zephyr explained after sensing Kyran's doubts.

'Does that mean you can also do that?'

[I-I will... soon enough.]

  'Right.'

[H-How rude, master! I am telling you, if I advance three more levels— no, two! Creatures of the sky will also revere me.]

'But whether they listen to you or not is another matter,' Kyran repeated Zephyr's words teasingly.

[H-How very rude! I am a Quilin. Because of my bloodline, they are likelier to listen to me than other existences of the same level!]

'I see.'

[M-Master!]

"Thank you," Kyran ignored Zephyr's complaints ringing in his head and addressed Wing again.

"Don't thank me yet. I don't have the information you needed. Give me a few days, I'll bring you good news."

"Stay in my ship for the time being, Kyran," Loar added before Kyran could answer. "It's better than you going to another plane and us trying to find you. You may be proficient in Array but some planes does not allow the use of communication devices from other planes."

"Since you don't have a destination in sight, you may consider their offer," Cade also told Kyran. Besides, if Loar's ship stayed afloat outside the Human plane, he could drop by and discuss the Warp Formation further. They might have talked about it earlier, but once testing started, they would require Kyran's insight to adjust the formation.

Kyran already expected this that was why he gave a communication device to Cade. But again, because of the time difference and magic law of other planes, he would not be able to talk to them in real time.

As much as Kyran wanted to look for Cyneah himself, having others help him was more efficient. Thus, he did not hesitate and agreed to their offer.

"Alright. I won't stay idle though. If there is anything you need my help with, I'll accommodate."

"You know what we need from you," Loar replied with a wry smile.

"Except that. I'll think about it but until I find Neah, I can't really commit to anything."

Wing sighed, "You should have given us that condition. We'll find her if that is what it takes for you to join us."

Kyran only smiled in response. He neither agreed, nor disagreed. Nevertheless, he knew that it would not be easy to find Cyneah. He just hoped whatever predicament she was in when she called for him had passed and she survived it.

[We'll find her, master. I know the mistress is still out there. Waiting.]

Kyran did not voice it, but Zephyr's reassuring tone eased the growing fear inside him.