Liara raised her hands placatingly and smiled helplessly, "Let's all calm down, alright? I know it must appear strange to you, Glenn, but—"

Glenn clicked his tongue, "What "but"? There's nothing strange here! Even back in my w—home, racism was a prevalent thing. Who am I to judge it if an entire population is ruled with such traditions?" He jeered. Sahro silently pushed Glenn back on his seat, calming him down. Glenn sighed and crossed his arms, waiting patiently.

"...Thank you, Sahro," Liara took a seat in front of Glenn, "Where should I begin...?"

She rubbed her forehead and glanced at Giselle, "If...everything was done accordingly, you should know Black Heirs as nomadic people who survive in the Ink Dunes, am I correct?"

Glenn groaned in confirmation, not bothering to formulate a comprehensible word. Liara nodded and resumed her explanations, "To a certain extent, that is the entire truth. For the most part, Black Heirs have been living scattered across the Ink Dunes, traveling from one oasis to another and rarely meeting each other."

Giselle nodded as she also listened to her princess. "Exactly. I never lied to ya, Glenn." She grimaced, "I only omitted some of the truth."

Liara cleared her throat, "The nomadic lifestyle...is quite recent, in reality. Once..." She looked in the distance in certain nostalgia, "Black Heirs lived in glorious cities comparable to King's Rise itself, ruling over a bountiful land of lush harvests..." She laughed dejectedly and shook her head, "At least that's how my parents sold it. I have only known the black sand for my entire life, never seeing one blade of that lush grass they told me of."

Glenn turned to Giselle, wondering if she was part of that old, seemingly mythical civilization, but she shook her head, "Sorry kiddo', but the Scatterin' happened before even my birth."

"In years..." Liara muttered, pondering, "...It should have been at least a millennium ago, I think."

Glenn couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, "Wow. Indeed, that's an old ass story."

Liara laughed and nodded, "Yes, even more considering our civilization was older than Munirp."

Glenn laughed before suddenly pausing, "...Wait, you're telling me Black Heirs are more than three thousand years old?"

Giselle scoffed, "Older than that, boy! Why, we ain't got any records no more, but our kin were ruling over the Promised Land long 'fore that so-called First King ever drew breath!"

"I see..." Glenn rubbed his temples, frowning, "...How did such a civilization go from dominating the Land Beyond the Wall to...this?" He asked confusedly.

Sahro and Giselle gazed at Liara, imploring her to stay silent with their eyes. She shut her eyes for an instant, before finally coming to a decision.

“These are just... legends and words spoken by my parents, so take them with a grain of salt,” Liara warned, twiddling her thumbs. ”The Scattering was caused by a great many problems, among which can be counted civil unrest, internal strife, betrayal, and more, but all these events stemmed from one and the same thing.” She looked up at him and gritted her teeth, “The arrival of the Dark Wall.”

For the second time today, Glenn could only blink.

"The arrival?" Glenn repeated, struggling to believe what he was hearing. What did she mean, the arrival? Did the Dark Wall, a chain of mountains even more impressive than the Himalayas, just... pop there?

'Ridiculous, that's a chain of mountains, not an itinerary circus!' Diamanes mocked in disbelief. Nelg remained silent, entirely concentrated on the Princess' words.

Liara nodded, "Once again, those are only legends, but yes, they spoke of an age where Munirp and Thalorieth—what you call the Land Beyond the Wall—weren't separated by this chain of mountains."

Giselle let out a long sigh. “Ah, stories are fine and all, but truth be tol', ever since the Scatterin', every noble family from Thalorieth scattered to the winds, each lookin' after their own folk. My ancestors did just the same.” She raised a hand, and a warm flame flickered to life at her fingertip, her eyes drifting into the glow. “Back in those days, the Pyr family was one of the finest military families ya’d ever hear of, and as loyal to the Royal Heirs as the sun is to risin'.”

Glenn took his face in his hands, piecing things together, "So, if I resume this correctly, the Black heirs were once part of a kingdom called Thalorieth, under the rule of the Lúthalen. That kingdom was older than Munirp, and yet, it fell due to the...arrival of the Dark Wall, with every noble house scattering to the winds, hence the grand "Scattering" name for that event." He bit his lips and looked at Liara with a frown, "But then, what are you doing here? No offense, but you're a princess without a kingdom. Shouldn't you be...like, trying to fix your ancestors' mess? Rebuilding Thalorieth or something?"

Liara looked at him silently for a moment, before chuckling, "And how am I supposed to do that?"

Glenn shrugged, "I don't know, you tell me. Anyway, this still doesn't explain why you guys traditionally refuse relationships with other races," He leaned forward with a curious smile, "That, I'm interested in."

The Princess looked at her hands before showing it to him, "Doesn't that answer your question?"

Glenn looked at her tanned tone of skin, lighter than Sahro's and much lighter than Giselle's, "...Is the tone that important?"

Giselle opened her mouth but Liara didn't let her speak, shaking her head, "Honestly, no, not really. But many Black Heirs are...very attached to the traditions. Mainly because it didn't help when my ancestors married a human during the Scattering, worsening internal politics and relationships."

"Hmm..." Glenn rubbed his chin. Indeed, it started making more sense. If a marriage like this contributed to the literal fall of a civilization, it was only logical for said civilization to try and not repeat that same mistake.

'It's still weird. At least, beautiful Liara doesn't seem too concerned with these traditions, hehe. Maybe you do have your chance, Glenn!' Diamanes laughed widely, followed by a short chuckle from Nelg. Glenn ignored the two entities that seemed hellbent on trying to find him a companion.

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He already had three voices in his head, counting his own. A lover to add to the pile was too damned much.

But it wasn't like they cared about his opinion, anyway.

"Then..." Glenn looked at Liara, "Why the sudden choice of breaking traditions? You seemed to be respecting them pretty well before that. And why would you hide yourself from your people?"

Liara looked away in shame while chewing on her cheeks, "That's...you and Sahro saved my life. And you did so much for my people. If I can't break foolish traditions to thank you properly, that means there is a problem with me. As for why I'm hiding..." She trailed off and gulped.

“Your Highness, if I may?” Giselle’s voice broke in, soft but firm. Liara gave a tense nod.

“I... well, I thought the Lúthalen line was gone,” Giselle murmured, a glimmer of hope sparking in her eyes. “But here you are, thank the stars. That means there’s still a chance to rebuild Thalorieth since every Black Heir is drawn to the First Heir—or Heiress.”

Her face grew somber as she crossed her arms. “Trouble is, many of our folk—mine included—blame Lúthalen blood for what happened to Thalorieth. I’m guessin’ you’ve kept yourself hidden in the desert, travelin’ with the most loyal you had left, till... well, till something went wrong, eh, Princess?”

Liara sighed and nodded, "Yes. My...my guards died protecting me from a Munirp's hunting party. I was brought back to King's Rise, chained in Blumar and a cage, like an animal. I should have been sold to the highest bidder, until..." Her gaze softened and she glanced at Sahro, "My fellow Black Heir broke me out. Glenn then took me in, and you know the rest. Now, here we are, reminiscing of an extinct civilization," She laughed bitterly, "...How sad."

Glenn grimaced, unsure of what to say.

'What a way to ruin the mood...' Diamanes muttered from within Glenn's mind. The latter suddenly clapped his hands together, breaking the strange, nostalgic mood.

"That was very interesting," He declared, "...BUT! I have to redirect the subject to..." He gritted his teeth and forced himself to speak, "...The absolutely terrible idea of doing your Inheritance thing on my little sister. Can it...just not be done?"

Sahro and Liara sighed.

"You know what?" Sahro shot to his feet, "I'll just go get her, and we will have the discussion with her, as the adult that she is!"

Glenn tensed up with each word, his whole being refusing to go along. Why couldn't his sister just learn magic like he did? Why did she have to risk her life days after he finally rejoined with her?

"The nerve of that guy..." Nelg grumbled, "Did you already forget that you've gone and fought against a terrible vampire mere days after finding your sister? Why would you be able to risk your life for your goals and beliefs, and not her?"

Glenn looked at his weapon with awe, 'You too?!? Damn it, because I'm strong, and she's not!'

Diamanes yawned, 'Then just let her get stronger. Learning Aura, Mana or even Divinity puts you at risk of Corruption, so it doesn't change anything. Death is always looming for those with unnatural powers.'

Glenn blinked while Nelg snorted, "There, problem solved. Just let her be her own person."

The young man collapsed in his chair, drained. It was as if the whole world was against him.

"H—hello," Lina said shyly as she entered Giselle's house. The granny stood up and walked up to her, each step inspiring fear and respect.

"Hmm..." Giselle rubbed her chin before glancing back at Glenn, "Ya do somewhat look like him, but the eyes and hair don't match..."

Glenn waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry, just the side-effect of a lot of mystical bullshit, but I originally had brown eyes and hair."

Lina nodded, before doing a double-take, "Wait, your black hair and purple eyes aren't artificial? Like special lenses and dyes?"

"Uhh, no?" Glenn winced at the shock on his sister's face.

Giselle smacked her lips, capturing back Lina's focus, "Are you sure ya wanna do this, kid? Ya might die, or worse..." She flared up her Mana and pressured over the girl, pushing her to her knees, "...Transform into a monster. If that happens, ya do realize your brother will have to put ya down?"

Glenn jumped to his feet with an angry expression, his Mana exploding in a warning to Giselle. Liara and Sahro gently pushed him back, looking at him as if to say "Trust her, trust the process".

"Hmf!" Glenn tensely sat back, his fists clenched. Who the hell was Giselle to believe she could try and scare his sister?

"Are you so blind you can't see she's doing it for Lina's sake?" Nelg asked with slight disbelief.

Diamanes snorted, 'He knows perfectly well, he just doesn't give a shit. Overprotective bastard.'

Glenn grunted, 'Fuck both of you.'

He worriedly watched as Lina fought back against Giselle's pressure, struggling to stand back up on her trembling legs. She clenched her jaws tightly, her eyes steeled with resolve.

"I...refuse...to be so helpless again!" She hissed through her teeth, her knuckles whitening from how tight she was clenching her fists, "I don't want to end up imprisoned in darkness ever again!"

'Hah, that reminds me of someone,' Diamanes snorted. Glenn ignored him and concentrated on his sister. A small part of him wanted her to give up, to leave it to him, but a larger part knew that she was making the right choice. Without the power to have agency in this world, you can only be a pawn to the higher forces, moving without knowing who the player is. Only with the power to fight back can you live freely.

Even if earning that power means risking said life.

It was better to die as a free man than live as a slave to fate.

Lina stared back into Giselle's eyes defiantly, a hint of purple appearing in her pupils, "So yes, I'm sure I want to do this, you old coot!"

Liara choked while Sahro laughed. He leaned in Glenn's ear and whispered, "She's definitely your sister, haha!"

Giselle crossed her arms and stared down silently at Lina, the flames in her eyes gleaming with an unknown strength. A blue flame suddenly appeared in her hand, burning with enough heat to consume even steel. She reached for Lian's head slowly, the fire burning the end of the girl's hair.

"Are ya sure of your choice?" Giselle asked threateningly one last time. Lina suddenly grinned, a grin that Glenn knew all too well for it was one he often sported, and slammed her right hand against Giselle's fire.

"How is that for an answer?" She hissed through her gritted teeth as Giselle's blue flames suddenly reflected against herself. Lina fell back, unconscious. Glenn jumped to his feet and dashed past Sahro and Liara, unconcerned with Giselle's fate. He crouched next to Lina, sighing in relief as he found her well and unharmed, not even slightly burned by Giselle's blue flames. She was just drained from using Tiamanes reflection's power against the Black Heirs' chief.

"Yeah, no doubt, she's your sister," Nelg confirmed in a very serious tone.

"Haha, I like her!" Giselle's laugh suddenly came from beyond the smoke as she slapped away the blue flames, similarly unharmed. Glenn gritted his teeth and stood up to her, "Was that truly necessary?"

Giselle looked down at him, "What do ya think, boy? Are ya questioning my ways?"

Glenn spat to the side as two Blackholes appeared in his hand, his Mana flaring up with the might of a Fourth Circle Magi, "And what if I am?"

"Hsnan, hsnan, hsnan..." An unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke from beside them. Glenn turned his head to find a strange individual draped in crimson fabric kneeling next to his sister. Where the hell did they come from?

"Is that the child who wants to receive the Inheritance?" The individual asked, their voice masked by the copious fabric hiding their faces. Glenn couldn't make out whether they were male, female, old, or young. Giselle bowed slightly, "Yes, Alsaahir. Did you...?"

"Yes, yes, I did hear everything, despite that puny Silence Curse." The Alsaahir sighed. Glenn took a step back, frowning. He activated his Mana Sight to try and gauge that person's strength, but he couldn't find anything abnormal. Hell, they didn't even have a shred of Aura or Mana in their body! Just a totally mundane person.

"I shall prepare the ritual. Whose blood shall I use?" They asked Giselle. The latter turned to Liara, who bowed her head with similar respect. The Alsaahir remained silent for an instant, before chuckling.

"The Lúthalen's blood, then...How auspicious..." They shook their head before leaving the house. Glenn stared at the door with a puzzled look.

"The...The Alsaahir, then. Okay, was I the only one who found that to be a little weird?" Glenn asked, only for everyone to ignore him.

Giselle turned to Glenn and smiled, "If the Alsaahir accepted, that means it's possible. Yar sister will definitely live, and become a strong warrior."

Glenn glanced at Lina and sighed, "I sure hope so. That's much better than dying, for sure."