Chapter 22: The All-Room's Secrets
As the truths of his family's past unfolded, a clarity dawned upon Darius. He now understood the cold distance from other families during his assessment, the mage's open disdain after his failure, and their hasty departure from Rancito Cordoba.
Darius cast a thoughtful gaze around the room, realizing their isolation had always been there, woven unnoticed into their lives. Visitors were a rarity, and travels outside their estate even rarer. He had been so engrossed in his studies and cultivation that this seclusion hadn't registered until now.
As Jarek and Amara stood, preparing to lead Darius to the vault, a question tugged at his mind. He paused, looking at them curiously. "Why don't I have a little sister or brother yet? Is it because of me?"
When Darius suddenly asked about having siblings, his parents stopped. They faced him with a sigh. "Yes son," his father said, his scarred face showing a hint of sadness. He stepped closer and placed his hands firmly on Darius's shoulders. Darius looked up at him, almost as tall as his chest now.
"Darius, know this first and foremost," Jarek continued, pausing for a moment before speaking again. "There is no father more proud of his son. Watching you grow, seeing how you have overcome every obstacle life has thrown at you, I know you will be a greater man than I will ever be." His voice, strong and clear.
Before Darius could voice his objection, Jarek enveloped him in an unexpected embrace. The sudden warmth made Darius's cheeks flush a deep red, yet he made no move to break free. "I haven't done much for you as a father, Darius,"
"Father, you..." Darius started, but Jarek released him, bending down to meet him eye to eye. "Everything you've achieved, you did on your own. From the day we found you engrossed in books until now, each step was your own, little wolf. That's why I'm proud, yet it's also my regret. A regret that ends today." He stood up, returning to Amara's side.
"We know that once the world sees how incredible you are, my sweet boy, they will try to claim you." Amara's eyes, a deep emerald, mirrored the fear these words carried. "So no, we can't bring another child into our family just yet."
A sharp, pain stabbed into Darius's chest. His gaze dropped, 'I've been so caught up, I never considered their position,' he realized. His voice faltered as he tried to speak, "I'm...we..."
He looked up at his parents, his eyes reflecting an understanding beyond his years. Silently, he acknowledged the harsh truth of their situation.
Jarek's words filled the room. "You bear no burden in this, Darius. The day approaches when the mages will see your true worth. We stand ready to arm you with every resource available to us. Every crystal, every treasure – nothing will be withheld if it empowers your path." His voice rose with a touch of fervor, each word a solemn vow of support.
Darius felt the weight of his father's commitment, a fire igniting within him. 'Their belief... it's overwhelming. I'll intensify my cultivation from now on,' he thought, determination surging through him. 'I will breakthrough the first layer in one go!'
Jarek's eyes, an electric blue mirroring the resolve in his voice, met Darius's gaze. A silent understanding passed between them, a bond of purpose and resolve.
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Darius now stood in the cellar, his gaze fixed on the casket of ale, almost as tall as an adult. Just moments before, he, along with Haku, had quietly followed his parents out of the gallery.
On their way to the vault, they had paused to inform Tilly, the family maid, that her help was not needed for the remainder of the evening, and she could return to the village. Tilly, noticing the solemn mood that enveloped the Valdenes, quickly bid farewell, her eyes lingering on Darius with a mix of concern, taking in the resolute set of his brows.
Now, surrounded by vegetables, hanging meats and racks of various wines, Darius's attention returned to the giant casket, a constant in the cellar, always filled with his father's favorite ale.
"Is there some hidden door, or maybe a spell to open it?" Darius questioned, his voice tinged with anticipation. Behind this unassuming casket of ale, he imagined, lay a cultivator's paradise – free from forbidden zones, no overconfident rivals, no intimidating elders. Just the resources he needed to pierce through that initial bottleneck in his Arcane Talisman Technique.
"Patience," Jarek said, a hint of amusement in his voice. He reached up to his neck, revealing a necklace Darius had seen him wear occasionally, yet never considered significant. Jarek's fingers grazed the amulet, now dangling at his chest. In a fluid motion, he placed it on his palm, where it shimmered into life. The amulet emitted a faint hum, a subtle vibration of mana that Darius could feel tingling on his skin. As the amulet glowed with a purple light, the chain and amulet morphed, the metal bending and reshaping itself into a signet ring. The transformation was almost otherworldly, as if the necklace possessed its own life. On the ring, the Valdene family crest, a wolf's head over a shattered crown, its lines sharp and defined.
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"The second step," Jarek began, his tone shifting to one of gravity, "is knowing the method to use it." He stepped towards the front of the ale casket, focusing on a distinct knot in the wood. Firmly, Jarek pressed the newly formed ring against the knot, his movements precise and deliberate. He then rotated his wrist in a swift, intricate pattern, almost like a key unlocking a hidden mechanism. The action was smooth, practiced—a ritual known only to the Valdene patriarch.
Amara placed her hands gently on Darius's shoulders, guiding him a step back. "Haku, back up," she instructed calmly. The fox obeyed instantly, moving to heel beside her. Darius, watching this, squinted slightly and shook his head.
Jarek withdrew his hand, the ring still glowing, and stepped back. "Darius, every generation of our family has contributed to this wealth. It's all for you now. Use it without reservation; we've already removed what we need," he said gravely.
His aura flared to life, blue with streaks of lightning crackling around it. "Spare nothing in your pursuit. This is for your future, for the legacy of the Valdene's," his voice echoing.
As Jarek finished speaking, the knot of wood where he touched began to emit a white light. This light spread outward, branching into an intricate web of lines that wove together to form a complex array. The array, glowing against the dark wood of the casket, pulsed a few times before detaching and floating in the air, about a foot from the casket's surface.
The hovering symbol started to rotate slowly, its light casting eerie shadows in the dim cellar. As it spun, the array condensed, transforming into a swirling black portal. Darius felt a cold shiver run down his spine as he gazed into it, the memories he wrestled with from staring into an endless void made him instinctively take a step back.
The sound of the portal's gentle hum filled the cellar, a low and constant vibration. There was a faint metallic taste in the air, a reminder of the potent magic at work. The scent of aged wood and a hint of earthy dampness mingled with the tang of various spacial fumes.
"Hold on to Haku and stay close," Jarek said, his voice firm. His face, scarred from battles past, was set in a stern expression, "If you lose touch with us inside, you might end up somewhere unpredictable," he warned, his jaw clenched.
"Understood, Father," Darius responded. He then tapped his chest, signaling Haku. "Haku, up!" At first, Haku glanced at Amara, seeking reassurance. "Go silly," Amara urged with a gentle smile. Haku then leaped into Darius's arms, earning a soft, teasing murmur from Darius, "Wuss."
Together, the Valdene family approached the portal. Jarek, with a firm hand on Darius's shoulder, led the way into the swirling vortex. Darius, his heart pounding, followed closely, feeling the reassuring touch of Amara's hand on his other shoulder. He stepped into the portal, eager to uncover the secrets of the Valdene vault, his eyes wide open.
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Stepping through the portal's threshold, Darius was instantly met with a sudden change in scenery. It was as if he had passed through a shimmering curtain of water, emerging seamlessly on the other side.
He found himself standing inside the vault, a swift transition that left him momentarily disoriented, his expression, a blend of surprise and mild confusion. "Huh?" escaped his lips as Haku jumped down from his arms.
Jarek ginned, "I knew you'd have that look," he said, a teasing note in his voice. Amara, noticing Darius's slightly embarrassed expression, tried to lighten the moment. "Well, your father did paint quite a dramatic picture," she said, her tone gently ribbing Jarek to ease Darius's surprise.
"That was it? I feel...disappointed," Darius remarked, a hint of a pout in his voice. Jarek chuckled, his amusement clear. "Sorry, son. It's a bit of a family tradition."
Done with his father's jests, Darius surveyed his surroundings. They were in a circular stone room, surprisingly fresh air filling the chamber. Six doors were spaced evenly along the walls. Darius could feel the mana here, dense and abundant, a stark contrast to the library. "Is this the Vault?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone, his gaze moving from one door to the next.
"This is the Ancestral Vault, Darius, and this is the main room, known as an All-Room," Jarek stated, pausing to gauge his son's reaction.
"A..All-Room?! Amazing! I've read about these!" Darius's excitement was overflowing as he quickly paced around the room, eyes scanning the walls. "They can create anything you need just by thinking about it. Owning one of these... it's unbelievable! Aren't they a city's worth of crystals to construct?!" his voice rose with each word, filled with wonder and disbelief.
Jarek's voice brimmed with pride as he surveyed the All-Room, his chest swelling slightly. "Our family, Darius, has accumulations from over two millennia. This much is expected," he stated, his eyes gleaming with a sense of legacy.
"You'll have no concerns here," Amara added, stepping gracefully into the center of the room. As she positioned herself, a magical array glowed beneath her feet. The moment she uttered "Kitchen," the room began its extraordinary transformation.
Darius watched the stone walls ripple and reshape, as if the very fabric of the room were alive. From these undulations, kitchen counters emerged, smooth and gleaming. Cabinets materialized, their wooden surfaces rich and varnished, appearing from the stone as if growing organically.
The sound of the transformation was a symphony of soft whirs and gentle clicks, like an intricate clockwork coming to life. Drawers slid into place with a satisfying smoothness, and shelves stocked themselves with an array of spices and utensils, each item appearing with a soft pop.
As the kitchen fully formed, the smells of a well-used kitchen wafted through the air - a blend of herbs, the faint scent of baked bread, and a hint of fresh citrus. It was a comforting aroma to Darius, familiar and homely, filling the room with an essence of warmth.
Haku's reaction to the kitchen's sudden emergence was a spectacle. At first taken aback by the swift transformation, he quickly shifted from surprise to intrigue. His head tilted, ears perked up, as he tried to make sense of the shifting environment. His eyes, bright with curiosity, darted around, tracking every new item that popped into existence.
In a burst of excitement, he scampered around the newly formed kitchen, nose to the ground, sniffing at the countertops and cabinets. His tail wagged vigorously as he explored each corner, the clatter of his paws on the stone floor adding to the lively atmosphere. The kitchen, with its myriad of smells and sights, became a playground for the ember fox.
Amara's voice was steady and clear, "Bedroom," she commanded. The kitchen's details blurred, the clatter and aroma fading into nothingness. In their place, a large, comfortable bed materialized, its covers smooth and inviting. A wardrobe appeared beside it, its doors carved with elegant motifs. A desk and chair, simple yet stately, completed the scene. The air in the room subtly shifted, carrying a clean, fresh scent.
Then, as Amara said "Empty," the bedroom vanished. The bed, wardrobe, desk, and chair dissolved into the air. The stone room stood empty again, its walls bare and silent, the scent of the bedroom lingering for a brief moment before dissipating. Amara stepped out of the center, her expression calm, demonstrating the room's adaptability and magic with ease.
Amara's voice was light with a hint of playfulness. "Baths, training room, whatever you need. Almost anything," she said with a smile, stepping back to Jarek's side. She reached out, her hand gently resting on his arm.
Darius surveyed the room, his mind abuzz with possibilities. The All-Room was ideal for closed-door cultivation - a haven where he could focus solely on his Arcane Talisman Technique. 'I should delve deeper into our family history. It's becoming too intriguing to ignore.' Darius's eyes fixed on the doors encircling the All-Room. The sheer existence of such a rare and costly feature like the All-Room set his mind racing. If such a marvel was just the beginning, what treasures could the vault's other chambers hold? The realization of the All-Room's rarity only heightened his curiosity. With a deepening sense of wonder, he turned towards the first door, his anticipation palpable. "What's behind them?" he asked.
"See for yourself," Jarek said, gesturing towards the nearest door with an encouraging nod.
Tremors of anticipation ran through Darius's fingers as he reached for the door, 'don't get too worked up, don't expect too much,' the silent mantra echoing in his mind to temper himself. His grip tightened around the cold metal handle. As the door swung open, a burst of radiant light, shimmering with all the colors of a rainbow, enveloped him. For a moment, all he could see were blinding lights.