Dance with the Nightingale-Chapter 120 - 115: Aftermath II
Not long after, we were back in my room, with the Empress’ hand in mine as we returned from my soulscape.
Swiping her hand away, the Empress said to me, who seemed deep in thought, "Found an excuse yet?"
"An excuse?" I tilted my head.
"You know you have to explain to your father how you got those powers if you want to use them in the future, right?"
"Hmm, really? I don’t think that’s necessary," I said, causing the Empress to raise her eyebrow.
So, I explained, "I mean, I am just a D-rank magic user. What explanation could I give about those transcendental powers when the two Archmages couldn’t?"
"At least you know that," the Empress nodded, accepting my reasoning before adding, "But you can’t say nothing. You have to concoct a story for the world, and for that to happen, you have to concoct a story for your father."
"Sounds like a chore..."
"You always have the option to confess," the Empress shrugged.
"I like doing chores," I said, showing my pearly whites.
"Shameless brat," the Empress clicked her tongue. "Anyways, you owe me another favor now."
"Huh? Why?"
"Why, you ask..." The Empress paused, looking at my truly confused face as she said, "Because you almost turned this city, as well as many nearby cities, into mental asylums!"
’W-What?!’ I asked, clearly not able to keep up with this sudden change in topic.
"This clueless brat," she spat before she explained, "The aura of those beings that peeked into the central realm was enough to drive ordinary people mad! Had I not arrived on time and restrained that aura, that’s exactly what would have happened! Also, I veiled the unnatural phenomenon, so you didn’t announce to the whole central realm that you got extraordinary powers." The Empress explained while I just sat there with a clueless expression on my face.
"Judging from your dumb expression, you didn’t even think of that, did you?" the Empress asked.
Instead of confirming, I immediately bowed down. "I’m grateful, ma’am! I owe you as many favors as you want!" thanking the Empress for her efforts.
Of course, despite what I said, the Empress’ words kept repeating in my mind. ’The ordinary people would have gone mad!? A whole city, dozens of cities going mad?!!’
It was chilling news to me, and just like the Empress had guessed, I hadn’t thought that far. The Tree of Light was a harmless entity as long as someone didn’t provoke it, those words written in my book were what I believed before acting.
A simple, childish thought process that seemed to have dire consequences now.
’I am so stupid!’, I cursed myself, while the Empress nodded in satisfaction.
"So, ready to face the crowd now?" the Empress asked.
"I’d like to talk with my father first," I replied.
A few moments later, my father, Magus Reynold Von Ellsworth, sat beside the bed.
"Are you alright, Rayne?" he asked as he sat down.
"Of course, I’m fine, Dad, and you know it," I said with a smile as I looked up at him.
Then, after taking a deep breath, I started, "Actually, I got greedy and messed up this time."
"You messed up? Are you talking about that incident? Don’t worry, even if you were the trigger of that incident, no one believes that the events that followed were orchestrated by you."
’Hm, so they are almost sure that I was the trigger. Well, there weren’t many suspects besides me.’
Shaking my head lightly, I replied, "While that’s true, that’s not it, Father. I think..." I hesitated, "I think... I... actually absorbed them—both of them..."
"What?" For the first time, the Earl had a puzzled expression on his face, as if he’d heard wrong. But I destroyed his puzzlement as I repeated more clearly, "The Tree of Light and the Red Energy—I think I absorbed them both!" I declared, closing my eyes.
"Shut up! I heard you the first time," the Earl chopped me on the head as a peculiar expression appeared on his face.
"Is he telling the truth?" he confirmed with the Empress, who nodded and said, "It’s better if you take a look for yourself; it’ll make things clearer."
Without wasting a second, the Earl did exactly that, diving into my soulscape.
In the soulscape, the Earl looked more or less the same, but his attire was much more dignified, wearing the ceremonial dress of the Ellsworth estate.
Honestly, I was a little relieved that this happened after my soul wholly took the form of Rayne Von Ellsworth, or I’d be dead by now.
Just like the Empress, the Magus with a scholarly side was mesmerized by what he saw, but his fatherly feelings quickly reeled him in as he inspected the Tree of Light and the pikes in my soulscape.
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As for the results, "A balance between two powers..." the Magus muttered after his observations, which was kind of correct. But his next words almost made me laugh: "But why Rayne’s soul? Simply because he was nearby? No. Amelia and Zuri were present too. Why would the powers take root in Rayne’s soul when two Archmages were available? Wait! Rayne’s soul—it’s as big as that of an Archmage! Did the powers see Rayne’s potential and pick him over Amy and Zuri? That must be it, there is no other reason otherwise!"
In conclusion, give a scientist the wrong information, and he’ll still somehow find a way to make it seem logical.
Honestly, watching the Earl make wrong deductions with a serious face was very enjoyable, with my only regret being the absence of popcorn.
Done with his deductions, the Earl finally turned to face me, his expression showing subtle signs of elation that only someone familiar with him could spot.
"You... were extremely lucky this time, Rayne. Honestly, I can’t decipher both of your powers, but I can say that neither is affecting your soul in a harmful way."
"In particular, this Tree of Light, as you call it, should grant you some abilities. Judging by your face, I think you’ve already found them."
"Yes," I replied, explaining to the Earl my newfound powers as reflected in my status.
***
[Status]
Name: Rayne Von Ellsworth.
Age: 13 years -> 14 years
Height: 163 cm
Weight: 47 kg.
Condition: Perfect
Class: Swordsman. -> Magic Swordsman
Class Grade: Bronze.
Sub-Class: Rune Scholar
Sub-Class Grade: Bronze
Power Rank: D- -> D+
Rank Limit: -error
Body Stats:
• Strength: D+ -> C
• Agility: D -> D+
• Stamina: D- ->C-
• Endurance: C- -> C+
• Dexterity: D -> D+
• Intelligence: D -> D+
• Perception: D -> D+
Limit: -error
Spirit Stats:
• Mana: C+ ~> 30,667/30,667 -> 45,000
• Mental Power: C- ~> 530/530 -> 1200
Limit: A- -> A
Talent:
• Mana Manipulation: A
• Magic Comprehension: A-
• Mental Perception: A-
Limit: A-
Skills: [Split Second -> S], [Parallel Mind -> A+], [Attribute Infusion -> A], [Mana Reading -> B+], [Peekaboo -> B+]
Attribute: Enchanter, Lightbringer (New)
Magic user level: Soldat
Spells: Dry, Ignite, Accelerate, Psychokinesis, Enchant, Enhance Enchantment, Encryption, Decryption, Enchantment Reading, Enchantment Transfer, Temporary Enchant, Enchant Overdrive, Fireball, Wind cutter, Water wave, Heal… etc.
Unique Condition:
[Limit Breaker]
A power to break your mortal shell and reach unreachable heights has been detected in your soul, but the power itself has a strong resistance against any living thing.
As a result, every time the power losses a part of itself, it will try to make you lose a part of yourself, too.
Power assimilated: 1/7
Ability Granted: Body beyond mortal shell, no limits to your body’s growth.
Time for next assimilation: 7960(hrs.): 45(min): 23(sec) -> 5088(hrs.): 22(min): 48(sec)
(A/N: Around 212 days)
Owner of the power needs to be strong enough to withstand the assimilation, or else the owner will miss a part of themselves again.
Owner needs to be a C rank to assimilate the next part of the power without suffering the backlash.
Note: This loss can be anything, it is random, from the loss of a single hair to loss of the soul itself, anything can occur. So, it is advised to reach the required power level at the time of assimilation.
[Elven Deity: Aurelia Ascendant]
A non-sentient power of celestial magnitude, embodying all the positive aspects of the universe, representing half of the universe itself.
Power assimilated (by Limit Breaker): 100%
Abilities Granted:
1. Perpetual Equilibrium: It continuously maintains the user in his peak condition, instantly healing any injury and replenishing any consumed mana or any form of energy, be it physical, mental or mystical.
Note: It doesn’t hinder improvement in user’s peak condition and adjusts to a new peak condition in real time.
2. Attribute [Lightbringer]: Grants the user affinities with positive elements. The closer the element is to purest positive essence of the universe, the more the affinity the user has with that element.
***
The more I explained, the more wondrous the Earl’s expression became, and by the end of it, he could barely restrain his smile as his lips kept twitching.
"Great! The gains were worth the trouble, it seems!" the Earl exclaimed, barely containing his happiness. "Almost like those heroes in the fairy tales you used to like!"
"Did you plan this, expecting such results?" the Earl asked.
"Well, yes… though I didn’t expect to trigger such a huge phenomenon."
"Dumb kid," the Earl sighed as his excitement died down a little. "You were very lucky this time around. The next time you plan something like this, tell me first."
"So, I’m allowed to plan such things in the future?" I questioned almost instantly, earning another chop on my head.
"As long as your plan is feasible."
"Also, Rayne, remember," the Earl leaned in and added sternly, "just like those powers in books had a hidden side, these powers may also have a hidden side, potentially a bad one—especially that red power."
"So be careful and study those powers residing in your soul. And take the first chance you get to expel that red power."
’I tried, y’know?’ I said internally, but outwardly, I just nodded with a firm gaze.
Leaning back, the Earl continued with a smirk on his face, "Hm, with powers this grand and noticeable, we need to forge a compelling story to match. The citizens of Lueurre are wondering what that light was since yesterday, and other factions have also started investigating."
"You are enjoying this, Dad," I retorted. "I guess you already have an idea in mind?"
"Well, I do have a vision," the Earl grinned.
"Just keep it in moderation, Reynold," the Empress interjected from her seat, her calm tone cutting through our banter. She stood up gracefully, her presence commanding attention. "Now that things have settled, I’ll be taking my leave."
The Earl gave her a light shrug, his grin still lingering. "Of course, Your Majesty. Always in moderation."
After that, the Empress and her group left, and the Earl called in Baron and the two Archmages.
First, I explained a few things about how I came to know about the Tree of Light. This included the explanation I had prepared.
The reason I didn’t explain this to the Empress was simple. She was an Eternal Magus, an SS-rank being. Every Eternal Magus is connected to the world itself, so even if I did explain everything, she would’ve easily found out that while I wasn’t lying, I was hiding the whole truth. That would’ve resulted in her digging deeper and me just getting more beaten up.
So, I’d rather clearly state to her not to pry.
As for what I prepared—Blackbeard Searchers—I blamed everything on them.
Well, not actually blamed, but the conversation went like this: "Actually, I heard about the Atlas’ Blessing from Marvin. Marvin is the manager of the Blackbeard Searchers Ellesmere branch, and I found it very intriguing. So, I asked him to dig deeper."
"And he found out about the Elven deity? That’s very improbable.", the Baron interjected.
"It’s not. The info he gave me was based on rumors and was not confirmed, but it was indeed info about the Tree of Light."
So yeah, I didn’t actually blame them.
"So, you set out on your so-called journey based on an unconfirmed rumor?" the Earl asked in disbelief.
"Of course not, Dad. I intend to travel more. This is just a small stop I decided to make because I was interested."
"That is a very rude thing to say, Young Master," the Baron remarked, and the Earl nodded, matching his stoic behavior in front of others. This caused Zuri to snicker, as it seemed the Earl was nodding at the Baron’s remark. As for Amy, she too remained stoic—at least in front of the Earl—though she didn’t forget to elbow Zuri.
"Now that we’ve talked things out, shall we focus on building that story?"
