Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 817: Send Her Off ()

Neveah watched the stone doors slide closed, still reeling.

A moment ago, she had been speaking with...Azkar? Perhaps not to him directly, but all the sorcerer Leon had said were echoed from his master.

Azkar... Kaz. And scales, did it make sense...

Neveah shuddered, recalling the times in the Dunes where she was unaware of his true identity. Yet, she had always sensed he was quite an unusual man. Unlike any human she had ever known.

Human men tended to avoid dragons like a plague. But he had expressed his desire for her, a lightblood, and he didn’t even flinch. He hadn’t flinched once, in anything he had done, since she first met him in the hidden city.

She wasn’t certain why, but she had always known she would cross paths with the sorcerer again. And the unease came from not knowing exactly when, or how.

"I can’t think of anything he might be able to do with that information." Garron said to her. "I mean, he already moved an entire fortress to the forlorn realm, with a hybrid rune of the Mer dimension rune. Which means, he had some knowledge of this already."

"And knowing about the other two and how powerful they become when linked won’t change the fact that Beoruh likely already has two dimension runes. And it doesn’t seem to me like the two get along."

Neveah grimaced at the thought. She didn’t believe Keila had blindly helped Beoruh acquire two runes. There was no other reason for the capture of the Mer Prince.

The Mer Prince had been rescued in Aloria. Lord João had sent him back to the seas himself. But he had been captive for long enough to have spilled whatever he knew.

For all they knew, Beoruh was searching for the Mer rune at this moment. If he didn’t already have it.

"He only needs to find the third rune. The witch control rune. And he will have access to magic strong enough, it aided the Dark Lord in defeating and controlling the forlorn." Neveah surmised.

"Not if we get to it first."

Neveah turned. It was Jian. He walked towards them, eyes narrowed.

She winced visibly. She hadn’t gotten a chance to inform Jian or Xenon that she was headed to the punishment chamber to seek out the dark sorcerer. Firstly, she did not think they would be enthusiastic about it.

On the other hand, the rider council was still ongoing and it wasn’t the right setting to cause them concern. Neveah had thought she would return before it was concluded. Then she would explain it properly to them afterwards.

"I promise. I’m not hurt." Neveah assured quickly. "Not even a single hair is out of place."

Jian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stopped a few paces before her. Garron subtly retreated, making a wide berth around Jian.

His eyes scanned her from head to toe and then he glared at the stone door of the sorcerer’s cell.

"Come." He offered Neveah a hand and she took it, passing Garron an apologetic look.

Garron shook his head, waving with a smirk.

They passed by a fuming Malloway who glared at Neveah and Jian but didn’t say a word. And then they came out to the courtyard, only then did Jian speak.

"The hidden archives... the punishment chamber..." He trailed off. "I wish you wouldn’t have to see places like that."

"Places of darkness, you mean?" Neveah asked in understanding.

Jian nodded. He turned to face her. "You’ve seen enough of that. I wanted to be... the one who brings only light to your life."

"I wanted you to stand with me facing a dynasty of peace and prosperity. I wanted to offer you everything I have built for centuries...my dreams and aspirations for this world. I wanted you to see the beauty of Asvar...not cracks, canyons and sorcerers."

"Damned Beoruh." He finished with a heavy sigh.

Neveah laughed quietly. She leaned up, cupping his cheeks with both hands.

"I know you want the best for me, my love." She whispered. "And I adore you for it. But I need you to understand... what I want, is a part of everything you are. Everything...no exceptions."

He nodded slowly. Reluctantly. "Still, take Xenon with you when you come down here."

Neveah tilted her head slightly. "Garron will be hurt to know you doubt his abilities."

"I don’t." He murmured. "I just would rather have Xenon with you."

"I hear you..." She trailed off for a moment.

"What is it?" Jian asked. "You both have been acting strange since last night."

Neveah’s eyes widened and she quickly shook her head but Jian scoffed. He led the way down a path through the academy, and she followed in silence.

"If you plan to hide something from me, you both shouldn’t be acting so awkward at the mention of the other’s name."

"He did?" She asked.

"More guilty than awkward." Jian replied. "You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. Knowing Xenon, he’ll crack and spill everything before the day runs out."

Neveah exhaled heavily. "I just...he called me...Misha."

Jian paused. Turning to Neveah in disbelief.

Neveah glanced around, confirming they were alone.

"It must have just slipped out. I don’t know...he doesn’t even know why it happened either."

Jian frowned slightly. "That’s... unusual."

"It is." Neveah agreed.

They continued on in silence until they arrived at the memorial hall. It was the hall with Asrig’s unmarked memorial tablet.

Neveah wasn’t sure if Jian had intended to come here or his feet had just guided him unconsciously, but when he realized where they were. He froze.

"Do you want to go in?" She asked.

He seemed to contemplate it for a moment and then he shook his head. "No, not anymore." His tone was dark, chilling cold.

"We have more important affairs to attend to." He continued.

"The council has come to a unanimous decision. Pending the unified council, Keila...will be committed to the punishment chamber."

Neveah didn’t respond immediately. The punishment chamber meant one thing, magic flaying. Taking away the magic of one born with it, was like ripping away their soul. It was a befitting judgment for Keila’s crimes.

"Will the Arcane submit to black fire?" Neveah asked after a moment.

Jian shook his head. "She doesn’t have arcane anymore."

"All along, the magic belonged to the child. And slowly dispersed after birth."

It was ironic. She had given away her son, along with the magic she had worshipped. The magic with which she destroyed her own family, killing Diandre and Adrienne.

"Is that why you came for me?" Neveah asked. "So I won’t see it... happen?"

"Do you want to?" Jian asked.

Neveah pondered over the question for a moment and then she nodded.

"I should...send her off, properly."