The moment the book moved, the wolf, the serpent, and the tree lowered their heads in fear... and a low growl left their mouths.
The person's gaze fell upon the three of them and he chuckled a little. "You three are still here, I see!"
Silas asked, confused, "You know them?"
The person nodded. "It was the book that created them... so technically, I know them."
Silas looked at the three ancient spirits and thought, 'So it was a gift from the book to the ancestors...'
Silas looked at the man again then asked, "Are you the owner of the book?"
The person became silent for a moment. The golden-white light that blinded Silas from seeing his face and body became more intense. The man came before the book, then touched it.
"I was, I am, and I will be the owner of this book forever, Silas." Then he looked at Silas.
Silas felt confused. "But now, I'm the owner of the book... aren't I?"
The man chuckled. "Yes, you are right also... let's just forget it for now. You'll understand in the future..."
Then Silas came before the book too, and the book immediately spread an aura of joy toward him, indicating it recognized its true master.
Silas asked while stroking the book after a long, long time, "Then can you answer me something? Why did you leave me Gashadokuro behind in that dungeon, and now why can't I see you..."
The person sighed and said, "I didn't leave only Gashadokuro for you. I left you more... you just need to find them one by one... at every place I set up a test. Take the test, and only when you pass will you get the things..."
He looked toward Silas again. "And as for why you can't see me, you don't have enough power yet... you'll be able to see me when you have enough of it."
Silas sighed, wanted to ask more, and suddenly he remembered something. He asked immediately, "Are you also a person from Earth? Transmigrated from there?"
The person laughed out loud this time. His laugh shook the stars, the phenomena, and the universes here.
"Hahahaha! Me? If I transmigrated? Guess it!"
Silas frowned. He could still feel the immense pressure coming from this man, but he couldn't feel any hostility from him toward himself at all.
He said while gritting his teeth, "How could I guess?"
The person answered, "Then let this question hang like this!"
Silas felt like punching the person. But he controlled himself.
Then the person said again, "I saw you made a partner for yourself... tell me, how is he?"
Silas frowned, and a cold killing intent came out of him instantly and fell upon the person.
The person immediately shook his hands. "No, no, don't think that I have some ulterior motives. Actually, I like him as your partner... but—"
Silas asked immediately, "But what..."
The person continued, "But he is unlucky... he did everything just to save this world, and see, he is still trying to do it..."
Silas asked again, "What do you mean?" One of his eyebrows was already up in question.
The person sighed and said again, "Nothing! You'll know it soon... that idiot girl will approach you sooner or later... just help him this time."
Silas asked again, "You waited for me here just to tell me this nonsense?"
The person laughed again. "Hahaha! I expected your reaction exactly like this... but no! I actually have my reason to stay here..."
He pointed his finger at Silas, and a golden light left his finger and entered his body. The book inside his soul glowed brightly, then Silas felt an immense burn in the mark on his hand.
The mark was complete now: a triangle with three circles at each point, and in those circles three things — one silver wolf, one black serpent with a star on its head, and a black tree.
And the inside of the triangle was now filled with the book — Arcanum Universa.
Silas almost cursed. "Now what do you mean by it..."
The person chuckled. "You'll know it soon. I don't have enough time to wait for you. Be prepared, Silas! This world is not what you thought at all... it is still covered with dark clouds... help your partner clear them."
Silas nodded his head unconsciously when the person disappeared suddenly. Now only the outer shell of the real book was still floating above the pillar.
Silas looked at the guardian spirits and sighed. "Let's go back. These old fossils already set up a trap for me at my ceremony. If I ever find them in this life... I'll kill them myself."
He gritted his teeth, staring at the empty spot where the man had just disappeared.
But when he looked around, he frowned. "How do I leave here? I can't find the way back."
The book on the pillar glowed again, and the same door he had entered through appeared before him. He looked at the book one last time and said quietly, "At least someone understood me here..."
He stepped through the great door and left.
After he was gone, the man reappeared beside the book and chuckled. "He's pissed... hahahaha! Just as I expected..." He tapped the book, and it released the same pulse of joy it had shown for Silas.
Outside, everyone was waiting for Silas.
Suddenly the door appeared again, and Silas walked out of it.
But the moment he stepped out, they all looked at him and felt an immense pressure on their hearts. A symbol flared to life in their souls, it was the seal of the book they had received during their oath.
Lysandra, Cassian, Lucian, Selene, Nytheria, Varric, Auren, Elara, Isolde, Cedric all of them felt the pressure coming from Silas. The more higher their levels the more pressure they felt in their hearts...
Cassian stepped closer to Silas and lifted his hand where the seal was glowing. He froze.
"Silas! Stop releasing that pressure... we're going to die..."
Silas was confused. He immediately willed it to stop in his head, and everyone returned to normal.
Lucian and the others fell to their knees, breathing heavily. It felt like something had been holding their souls in its hand... as if they were standing before something terrible.
Cassian said between breaths, "His seal... he got the seal of the book. He really was chosen by it..."
Lucian and everyone else stared at Silas. Though the Valerius family became happy instantly, Sylveria and Blackwood felt a pang of sadness in their hearts... even their ancestors had never succeeded, and now someone from the Valerius family had done it.
Silas asked, "Can someone tell me what is happening?"
Varric explained, "Actually, there is an ancient rule in the families. Whoever is chosen by the book will be the sole ruler of the three families... and every member of the families will serve as his forces... and we have already taken the oath to the book, and you became the owner of that book... so technically, you are our master."
Silas was stunned. What the hell! What kind of mess did you create, old man... he cursed in his head.
Nytheria added, "Not just that, Silas. You will be crowned as a king with three archduchies under your command... your title will be 'The Ancient King.'"
Silas immediately rejected it. "Stop! Stop! Do you think the Emperor will let you do that easily? Becoming a king with three families behind me is a threat to his throne. He'll definitely not let us do it..."
Lucian sneered. "So what! I'll take his head if he tries. Even his ancestors accepted that title. I have proof of it with the royal imperial seal."
The others nodded in agreement.
Silas felt a headache coming on. He just said, "Do as you see fit!" But in his head, he had already thought of killing that mysterious man a thousand times over. Just what kind of mess did he set up for me...
He didn't fear the Emperor either. But he didn't want to be known as a rebel. That was why he was trying to dodge the bullet of becoming a king.
But now he couldn't ignore them. He could already feel the connection of the oath. Even if he dismissed them, they would never leave him alone... so he accepted it.
***
On the other side,
Inside Argent Spire Academy,
in the principal's office,
Principal Darius Kaine was sitting in his seat. He is a Level 85 Wizard. One of the seven divine affinity holders of the Imperium, with water elemental divine affinity. Known to the world as the Tide Ruler.
Principal Darius is old. His long white beard still holds a few black hairs, but his whole head is covered in long white hair. It's tied back loosely with a simple band.
He sits tapping the front of his desk with his finger while discussing something with the person in front of him today.
The person said, "Tide Ruler! You should know about this person... don't you? Please let me meet him myself... I need to inform him about something really important..."
Darius looked at the man with worry. "But he is an instructor in my academy... how could I let you meet him, High Priest Rokan?"
Yes, the person in front of him was the High Priest of the Luminus Church, the church of the Goddess of Light. The Luminus Church is the sole religion in the Imperium. But they never showed themselves until the demons attacked human territory... so why were they showing up now, searching for a particular instructor inside his academy?
Rokan smiled. "I'm sorry, Principal, but I can't disclose the details to you... I can only say it to that person."
Darius shook his head. "Impossible! He is one of the most talented instructors in my academy. I won't let you meet him without you telling me what you are going to discuss with him..."
Actually, he was worried for Draven. Draven was a student he had chosen himself. He became the outstanding student of their academy, and even after graduating, he stayed on as an instructor. Darius was like a father to him.
How could he let someone from the Luminus Church meet him without knowing why?
The High Priest sighed. "It is about those black-clothed people. You can stay beside us when we discuss the details... but please, let me meet him."
The Principal frowned just hearing the details. He was right, these old fossils had come to his academy for that reason...
Darius said, "We already found some details about these people and sent them to the archduchy and even to the Imperium... what do you want from him now?"
Rokan shook his head. "No, Principal! You are thinking wrong... we are worried about those people more than you are... and he is someone we need to meet, sooner or later."
The Principal's frown deepened. "What do you mean...?"
Rokan shook his head again. "I can't tell you. I can only tell him..."
The Principal felt like cursing but controlled himself. Now he didn't have any reason not to call Draven. He said loudly, "Someone inform Instructor Draven to come to my office..."
A guard outside the principal's office moved and went to search for Draven.