SHATTERED REALM: FORGOTTEN ECHOES-Chapter 166: I’ll Accept You

As she left, he turned back to Sylvia.

"No one was aware of your coming here," he said. "Did she plan this?"

She shook her head. "It was all the Rector's idea. He saw my potential and sent me here. He only told Lynnor because the others won't approve."

He nodded.

"That's not all you want to know," Sylvia added. She could tell from the look in his eyes.

Aramith studied her for a second, noting the intensity in her eyes. "Who convinced you to leave your clan and come to Forsaken Peak?"

Sylvia looked away, lost in thought.

"I'm still searching for him," she said. "I met him a few months ago, and I still don't remember anything about him. No one in our clan does.

All he did was tell me to go to Forsaken Peak Academy, and I'll find a student stronger than me. He told me that the student will help me grow."

She faced him.

"When I witnessed your actions for the first time, I knew you had to be the one."

"And what if I don't meet your expectations?"

Her expression didn't crack. "That will not happen. I didn't choose the wrong person." She glanced at the retreating Dragon Emperor group.

"You're going to get stronger, and I want you to help me as you grow," she continued.

"I have a goal I need to achieve, and I don't want any trouble if you will bring me any."

"I don't plan on troubling you as your subordinate."

Sylvia waited for his answer, standing straight and looking directly into his eyes. Her earlier fear of him was completely gone.

From the corner of her eye, she could see that others were watching them, but they were too far to hear anything. Perfect.

The first time she requested to follow him and learn, he only agreed out of curiosity, but now, with his plan to become the strongest, he needed to be careful.

"You want to follow me," he said. "But you're not giving me a reason to let you."

"I already did," Sylvia replied. "I know you want to grow stronger, and I'm certain you'll grow faster than me, and I intend to learn from you as you rise."

"So you want to take advantage of my growth."

"Yes."

He didn't expect the honesty.

"You're bold," he said. This was something he noticed the first time they met, but even now, it still surprised him.

"I have dragon blood coursing through my veins," She answered.

So the blood gives you confidence...

Aramith shifted his weight slightly. "You're aware that following me means dealing with what follows me. A lot of people search for me. You won't be safe."

"I'm certain of what I'm looking for," Sylvia answered. "If I wanted only safety, I would have stayed home."

"If you become a problem, I'll cut you off," he tried to intimidate her—a test.

He didn't actually plan to let her go. She was more valuable where he could watch her.

"I'll make sure I don't become a problem," she said confidently.

Aramith was silent for a long moment, accepting her resolve.

She also didn't speak or move.

"That man you met months ago. The one who told you to come here." His tone dropped, colder. "He knew you'd find me. He knew I would be here. That bothers me."

Sylvia felt a slight shiver, but didn't look away.

"You're connected to someone who sees further than I can. I need to know why. And until I find out, I'm not letting that connection walk away."

Sylvia's eyes widened slightly.

"So," Aramith continued, "I'll allow you to follow me from now on. I'm not doing this because I need a subordinate, or just because you asked. But because I want to know who pushed you into my path."

It could even be Henndar...

"I'll help you train like before, but I still won't trust you. I can't trust you."

A soft breath escaped Sylvia. This was resolve.

There was no hesitation in her eyes as she replied."Yes," she said. "I accept that."

At the very least, training her will reveal who's watching me from the shadows.

"Then until I uncover that man's purpose, you'll stay at my side."

Sylvia thought for a moment. "Is that all you want from me?" She asked.

Aramith didn't reply, and he didn't need to.

She finally nodded. "Fine, I'll try to find him as well. I'll help you find that man so you can trust me."

He simply walked away, and she followed.

This was the first person he allowed to walk behind him.

Mainly because she was a thread tied to a mystery he couldn't ignore.

When he reached his room, Mozrael was already sitting on her bed, worried, but afraid to ask.

Aramith had been too distant lately.

She wanted to say something about what he did to Eryndor in the Arena, and warn him not to let loose like that again, but she couldn't.

Their disguises helped keep their identities hidden, but he still had to be careful, and she felt he wasn't doing that.

"Mozrael," he started.

She quickly jerked her head in his direction. "Mmm."

"I spoke with Sylvia before coming here."

Mozrael didn't know how to react to that.

"I've decided to have her under me. She'll learn from me, and I'll help her to get strong."

Mozrael was speechless. This wasn't what she was expecting in the slightest.

"I...thought you already accepted to train her?" It was more of a question in her mind, trying to find out if she remembered correctly, but she was sure of it.

You were already training her, right?

"Back in the academy, I only agreed because I was curious about her reason, and she was also persistent. But I have a different reason now."

He proceeded to explain her reason for finding him and how he wanted to find the person who directed her to him.

Mozrael was silent for a while after he finished. She couldn't say anything.

She shifted uncomfortably. But what if that person is using her as a trap?

He went to sit next to her, saying nothing for a few minutes, then—

"Mozrael, you're not fully aware of this, but your fate is tied to mine. And it's Henndar who decided that."

Henndar? Mozrael held her breath.

Aramith noticed the change in her expression.

"I'm not going to acknowledge him as my father any longer. He's the one I need to catch up to."

Mozrael swallowed her breath, still confused.

"I...don't understand. I decided to follow you on my own. I just want to be by your side." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"I know," Aramith said softly, noticing how this sounded too much for her. "But he's trying to control our lives in secret, and I don't like that. I want him to answer some questions, but he won't tell the truth to me at my current strength, so I need to be stronger than him."

She tightened her grip. I still don't understand what he means. Wasn't he trying to get stronger so he could be accepted again? That's what she always thought.

Aramith looked at her, a very tiny bit of worry on his face. If only your memories could be returned, you'll understand the kind of person Henndar really is.

"I'm going to become the most powerful in the world, Mozrael. That is my goal. I want to be able to keep you and everyone I care about safe," he said with conviction.

Mozrael felt something in her chest. His words touched her deeply.

He's doing this for me...and who else...? Sylvia? Lynnor?

Aramith could already guess what she was thinking about.

"I'll let you meet others when the time is right."

I'm not sure if Lia and Kesha still have their memories about us intact.

...

Later that night, Aramith sat, thinking about his earlier fight with Eryndor.

He clenched and unclenched his fist. I didn't feel anything.

This worried him a little.

And he could strangely feel growth.

The abundance of Youm in Yumaris kept filling him with power.

What concerned him the most was how he didn't feel angry or proud when facing Eryndor.

I need to clear my mind.

He carefully got up and snuck out, trying not to make any sounds which would wake Mozrael up.

No one was downstairs, and the place was eerily quiet.

When he stepped out, the air was unsettlingly still.

Someone's watching me.

"What are you doing here?" An excited voice approached him.

Lynnor stumbled to him like a drunk, waving a bottle over her head.

She reached him and swung an arm over his shoulder, and whispered.

"Let's go back inside. Someone's watching from the roof to my left."

Aramith glanced in the direction she showed.

There on the roof, he noticed a silhouette that looked like a giant cat.

Just before they entered, he noticed someone standing next to the shadow. The outline against the moon suggested it was a female.

"Who was that?" Aramith asked the moment they were out of sight.

"None other than Elira. Seems she now has a different pet with her."

How did she know who I was with my disguise?

"You told me this disguise cannot be broken."

"I'm not cheap, and I'm sure they still don't know who you are."

"So you mean they're just curious about Therin."

Lynnor nodded.

"I don't know what their goal is, but we need to be careful."

She pointed her now-empty bottle in his face.

"And do you think that stunt you pulled earlier leaves you free? You're now a hot topic. A lot of them have you in their sight. I would be careful if I were you."

Aramith didn't flinch.

"Is that all?"

Lynnor shrugged. "Just go to sleep."

He left without a word.