“Timobi, don’t cry…”
You’er, his body riddled with wounds, approached Timobi. He gazed at Tilu, who had overexerted his life force to protect both him and Timobi, his eyes filled with profound sorrow.
“Sister You’er… Timobi isn’t crying. Timobi is smiling, smiling for… for Father’s happiness…”
Timobi knelt on the ground, his voice choked with sobs. He forced a stiff smile, but even as he smiled, tears streamed incessantly from his eyes. At last, unable to contain the sorrow swelling within him any longer, he threw himself into You’er’s embrace and wept uncontrollably.
“Waaah~~ Sister You’er, I’m sorry… Timobi couldn’t help it. Timobi really didn’t want to cry… Waaah~~”
“Mm… I know.”
You’er sighed softly, gently stroking his head.
“Go on, cry. For now, just cry your fill. Once you’ve cried it all out, you’ll grow stronger…”
****
Several Arch-Mages combined their powers, causing a massive fiery magic array to rise, summoning blazing flames that engulfed the entire ancient castle. Not a single ghoul remaining within escaped its fiery embrace, and Tilu, too, received his burial.
In the Eastern Emperor and across Aranora, cremation was the sole method for the deceased to find eternal rest.
The credit for resolving the Yu City incident ultimately fell to You’er. This was largely due to the success of his decoy operation, which helped the guild pinpoint the ancient castle. Tilu’s final act of slaying Antos was also inextricably linked to You’er’s involvement.
The Yu City incident was ultimately designated an A-rank commission, and You’er, having successfully completed it, saw his rank ascend directly from Black Iron to Silver.
Leaping two ranks in a mere two days after registering as an adventurer was an occurrence rarely seen throughout the history of the Eastern Emperor. Such an achievement would typically fill anyone with immense pride, yet You’er remained serene, albeit with a quiet undercurrent of sadness.
Having lost his father, Timobi was now utterly alone and without support. Unable to abandon him, You’er resolved to take him along to Gatania, the Imperial Capital of the Eastern Emperor.
The commission’s reward amounted to several hundred gold coins, likely enough to cover the journey for both of them.
To spare Timobi from being overwhelmed by painful memories, You’er departed with him that very night, boarding a late-night bullet train bound for the eastern city.
The spacious carriage was sparsely populated that evening. You’er chose two random seats, then settled into a silent contemplation of the rapidly receding scenery outside the window.
Timobi had grown remarkably quiet, no longer chirping like a little bird, no longer brimming with curiosity about everything, no longer pestering You’er with strange questions…
“Father… Father…”
Perhaps from sheer exhaustion, Timobi soon drifted into sleep, leaning against You’er’s shoulder, tears still clinging to his lashes, and murmuring indistinctly.
“Sleep soundly, little one. When you wake, everything will be alright.”
You’er gently lifted Timobi, settled his head onto his lap, and then tenderly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
‘Don’t worry. Even if Father isn’t here anymore, you still have me, your older sister.’
‘I will fulfill this role of an older sister…’
As he watched the constantly shifting scenery outside the window, You’er’s eyelids grew heavy, yet he did not succumb to sleep. Instead, he placed the recovered Hidden Edge onto the adjacent seat, then gathered his thoughts and entered a state of meditative cultivation.
The profound sense of powerlessness he had felt while confronting Antos served as a stark warning to You’er. Even though he now possessed new strength, its current level remained exceedingly low.
You’er could perceive the Blood Ink Pearl within his body, and the Dark Seed had reappeared. This deep, dark source energy acted like a cage, firmly locking the Blood Ink Pearl inside. Just as the Blood Ink Pearl had previously spawned demon shadows, leaving You’er and his companions no escape, the Dark Seed now exerted a similar oppressive force.
‘What goes around, comes around.’
Clinging to the cage established by the Dark Seed were numerous crystal-clear, supple branches – the Spirit Soul Tree itself. Held firmly in check by these two formidable mysteries, the Blood Ink Pearl likely had no hope of resurgence.
A branch and a wisp of black thread simultaneously extended into the confines of the cage, attaching themselves to the Blood Ink Pearl and forcefully drawing sustenance from it.
The Blood Ink Pearl possessed its own consciousness, for hidden within it was a vast and high-ranking soul. It was this very soul that the Spirit Soul Tree coveted, while the Dark Seed absorbed the inherent power of the Blood Ink Pearl itself—a highly potent form of dark elemental energy.
Perhaps it was precisely for this reason that the two entities could coexist in such apparent harmony.
Notably, as the Spirit Soul Tree and the Dark Seed drew sustenance, they surprisingly allocated a small portion to You’er, and this portion was remarkably pure, having been refined by them.
‘How considerate of you; you haven’t forgotten the well-digger.’
You’er smiled, naturally accepting the gift without hesitation. He drew that power into his elemental star vortex, absorbing and refining it.
With the processing by these two formidable entities, You’er found the absorption of this power remarkably effortless, almost a natural progression. His ice-blue elemental star vortex gradually expanded, growing ever larger until, at a certain moment, it burst through its bottleneck.
In that instant, You’er’s aura surged dramatically; he had ascended to the rank of Sword Master!
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, You’er discovered that opposite his deep-blue elemental star vortex, which resembled a galaxy, another star vortex had formed—one that was like a black hole.
“How is this possible… A second star vortex?!” You’er couldn’t help but be utterly stunned.
Within every individual, elemental energy resided, varying in quantity, attribute, and proportion.
Typically, people would choose to refine the elemental energy with the highest proportional attribute. Once this specific elemental energy grew to a certain extent, it would naturally form a star vortex. The birth of a star vortex signified truly becoming a Sword Wielder or a Magic Wielder.
However, a newly formed star vortex would instinctively repel other elemental energies, expelling them all. Consequently, it was common knowledge in Aranora that an individual could only possess a single star vortex.
Yet, at this very moment, that common knowledge had been completely overturned!
A second star vortex had been born within You’er’s body, signifying that he could now effortlessly wield a second type of elemental energy: dark elemental energy.
“Noelle, is this also a gift from you? The debt I owe you truly seems endless…” Gazing at his first star vortex, You’er pondered the reason for this unprecedented development. Eventually, a warm smile graced his lips.
You’er’s guess was correct. Originally, the elemental energy he was destined to awaken was not ice, but darkness. It was only midway through, when Noelle transferred her ice spirit bloodline to him, that he first awakened ice!
The newly formed dark elemental star vortex was still relatively weak, but once it matured, You’er would effectively possess double the elemental power of an ordinary person. If his ice elemental energy ran dry, he could then draw upon his dark elemental energy—against an opponent of the same rank, who could possibly contend with him then!
With this second elemental star vortex, countless more obstacles on You’er’s path forward would undoubtedly be swept away.
Upon reaching the Sword Master rank, Sword Wielders could utilize a special ability: Sword Aegis.
Sword Aegis required elemental energy to weave. In its complete state, it was an undeniable boon to any Sword Wielder in battle. As thin as a cicada’s wing, yet harder than armor, it could essentially grant complete immunity to attacks below the fourth tier.
You’er yearned to weave his Sword Aegis immediately, but it was clearly unsuitable in their current location. In any case, the journey ahead was long; he could take his time with it later.
During meditative cultivation, time tended to pass swiftly. When You’er opened his eyes, he saw that the sky outside the window had already lightened with dawn. The captivating natural landscape drew his gaze, and he rested an arm on the windowsill, propping up his chin as he looked out into the distance.
“Father… Father… Don’t go… Father!!”
Timobi, sleeping on him, suddenly cried out, his small face taut with distress, until he jolted awake from the nightmare.
“Sister You’er… I want to learn swordsmanship from you and become a Sword Wielder!” After a moment, the awakened Timobi calmed himself. He looked up, his gaze fixed on You’er’s eyes.
“The path of a Sword Wielder is arduous, and my demands will be very strict,” You’er replied, his gaze steady.
“I’m not afraid!” Timobi clenched his fists, answering through gritted teeth. “I want to become a respected swordsman, just like Father! I never want to be so weak and powerless again when someone important to me is hurt!”
Hearing this, You’er smiled.
“Very well, I will teach you!”