Supreme Magus

Chapter 4477: Improved Design (Part 1)

Lith kept the mind link shut, yet Valeron saw something at the edge of his father’s Dragon Scales. The young boy witnessed a twisted version of the loving Thrud he knew, her smile twisted and cruel.

Then, the figure of another woman appeared. She was very tall, with long brown hair streaked blue, and wore sleek silver armor. Valeron experienced the deep feelings Lith had for her and noticed the strongest ones were nostalgia and grief.

"Phloria?" Valeron asked, the name forming on his lips for no reason. "Who is Phloria?"

"An old friend, son." Lith gave the boy a wan smile. "She’s gone, but there’s not one day that I don’t miss her."

Valeron couldn’t feel anything through the Dragon Scales, which could only mean that Lith was shutting them off on purpose, not to hurt him.

[There was no way to solve the conflict peacefully?] He asked the only question that truly mattered.

[No. There wasn’t.] Lith replied. [But there are too many things I can’t explain to you because I wasn’t there. You can ask your grandparents, though.]

He tapped on the warrior pendant on Valeron’s neck, and the young boy held it tight, conjuring Leegaain and Tyris out of thin air.

"What is it, child?" Leegaain knelt to get to Valeron’s eye level and caressed his head.

The young boy just extended his small, scaled hand, and the Guardian listened to his grandson’s request.

"Valeron wants to borrow our memory." Leegaain said after turning to Tyris. "He doesn’t want to know the details about the war. He just wants to see all the memories of his parents we have. Especially those where he was with them."

"I envy you Dragons so much for your Dragon Scales." Tyris sighed, offering the Father of All Dragons her hand. "No need for complex speeches or sharing personal memories to have an honest conversation.

"The Dragon Scales allow you to express what you feel, without leaving any space for misunderstanding."

"About that." Lith said. "I’m curious about why Dragons have such a power, and Griffons don’t."

"Because Dragons have problems expressing themselves." Leegaain replied. "Being cold and reserved is in our nature, and Dragon Scales help us to open up."

"Griffons, instead, know all too well how to express themselves." Tyris said. "Our problem is keeping our feelings under control. If we had Dragon Scales, we’d probably scare each other to death, especially our children.

"We’d project in their mind such an intense love and fear that something might happen to them that they’d grow up scared of their own parents as much as of the outside world.

"I never wanted any of my children to leave me. If it were up to me, I’d keep them close to my bosom their entire lives. Letting them go is the most painful thing I’ve ever done, and I’m happy I didn’t have Dragon Scales to guilt them into staying with me."

"Grandma?" Valeron understood nothing, but he could see the deep sadness in Tyris’ eyes.

"Yes, beloved?"

"I love you." He extended his arms for an embrace, and the Guardian was happy to oblige.

"I love you too. More than you’ll ever know." She held him tight to her chest, the scent of Valeron the First the boy carried reminding Tyris of everything she had loved and lost.

Silent tears streaked down her cheeks as the two men looked at each other in awkwardness.

"So... what’s with the new dress?" Lith cleared his throat. "It’s a new fashion choice, or is it today the anniversary of something?"

"Great Mother almighty!" Only then did Leegaain notice her attire as well. "Your mourning period is over!"

"Yes, but why do you say it like it’s some sort of natural disaster?" Tyris furrowed her brow.

"You know why." He sighed. "Everyone does."

***

The Verhens stayed in Jambel for a couple of days before returning to the Mansion. During that time, Lith gave the babies tours of the region, and Kotu ended up breaking up with his girlfriend.

Baron Wyalon’s investigators had yet to complete the background check on Asryl, but the moment Kotu introduced her to Lith, it was no longer necessary. The many horrible and truthful things she had heard about him made her fold like a lawn chair.

Lith asked normal, polite questions that she answered honestly in panic, revealing her true nature. At the end of that brief conversation, the Wyalons looked daggers at Asryl, and Kotu felt Mogar collapse under his feet.

"I’m sorry for him." Lith said after explaining everything to Friya and Quylla. "But in the end, he dodged a poisoned arrow."

"More like a fireball." Quylla replied. "How did Kotu’s parents take it?"

"They couldn’t have been happier." Solus chuckled at the memory. "I bet they’ll start inviting Clila over at the first opportunity they get."

"How did things go while we were away?" Lith asked.

"Nothing new." Friya shrugged. "I’m pretty sure we’re surrounded by Gernoffs, but I can’t find them. Believe me, I tried."

"You are right." Solus conjured a hologram of the Mansion’s surroundings and highlighted many anomalies in the world energy’s readings. "This kind of distortion can only happen if someone wearing a full Darwen suit is within the Ears’ range.

"You could walk right next to them, and Life Vision would detect nothing. If they are camouflaged as well, regular sight should be just as useless."

"Do you want us to take them down?" Lith asked.

"No. If the Gernoffs realize you’ve bested their Darwen suits, they will just change their strategy and start wondering how you did that." Quylla replied. "They are not stupid, and Mom isn’t the only one who has questions about your prowess.

"If the Gernoffs have records on the Ears of Menadion and suspect you have Ripha’s tower, they will orchestrate a scenario that will put their theory to the test. You might reveal your secret without even realizing it until it’s too late, Lith."

"I’m indeed paranoid, and if the Ears reveal an invisible threat and I prepare against it, that would be enough to confirm the Gernoffs’ suspicions." Lith nodded.

"What are you going to do next?" Friya asked.

"We’re staying here for a few days." Solus replied. "The arrays of the tower will confuse the Gernoffs, and Kami wants to help Jirni with the investigations. The situation is not good, but at least they are narrowing down the problem by identifying the nobles on the Isharas’ payroll."

"Speaking of Isharas, how much is left after giving half the loot to the Royals?" Tista asked.

With Lith and Solus travelling around Distar first and Kellar later to help with the relief aid, there had been no time to split the spoils of battle.

"We fought twenty-four Isharas, but only twelve corpses were salvageable." Lith replied. "Six went to the Royals, which leaves us with six more to split between us, Faluel, and you."

"We’ll there’s only one of me, and I already have Ishka’s Honor." Tista nodded. "I should have enough for two more armors, then."

"If we had any idea how to dismantle an Ishara’s corpse, maybe." Solus shrugged. "As for the equipment, eight sets Warped away on their own the moment they lost their imprint."