Chapter 21
The Drusian Dynasty
In no time, Lady Elara sent the healer outside. Noah expected her to do the same to him, but he remained inside. So the first thing the old knight did after removing his helmet was to shout at Noah. "What are you waiting for?"
Noah, pretending ignorance, calmly said, "I want to hear what the knightess has to say."
The old knight's mouth hung open, but before he could speak, his student intervened. "It's no longer a big secret if it no longer exists."
The old knight turned his gaze back to his student, asking in wonder, "And what does that mean?"
The girl closed her eyes in sadness under her master's gaze. After a few moments, she took off a necklace from around her neck. The blue jewel on the necklace was broken, but the traces of the fading runes were still visible on its surface.
She handed the necklace to her master, speaking with sorrow and longing. "The master probably knows that I am of the Drusian Dynasty, the old kingdom." Her master seemed on the verge of denial, but the look in her eyes stopped his actions, and he merely nodded. "That necklace contained within it the knowledge of the rituals my family used to maintain our bloodline from degradation over generations. It was handed to one of my ancestors on the day they decided to buy their noble house here in the Empire... I... I feel ashamed that it ended with me."
The girl covered her eyes as she began to cry silently. Her master looked at her with sadness, but a look of curiosity was also present in his eyes. To his credit, he waited for her to calm down before expressing his curiosity. "How did it end with you? And how was it handed to them? Also, you should look on the bright side, you will recover..."
The girl laughed bitterly, mixed with a heavy cough. "There is no bright side, Master. Just tell me where is the brightness in failing my mission and trying to kill an innocent person just because I am mentally weak. Where is the brightness in failing my family and my name and... my father, where is the brightness in losing everything we were, stood for, and were supposed to stand for as well. For all I know, he now knows of my failure, and that's without talking about what will happen to me."
A look of professional curiosity passed over the old knight's expression, but before he could express this curiosity, the girl spoke again. "The artifact—the necklace in your hand, was given to all surviving members of the Drusian Dynasty. It was a way to maintain the purity of the lineage against genetic alteration, and also a way to save lives to prevent the extinction of the lineage in an area... I think."
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"I, as far as I know, am the sole survivor of my lineage here. And the necklace is an heirloom from my grandmother. She said that the way to use it would come to me instinctively upon use, but I never used it for reasons the master knows. I am not allowed to marry during training under you. So, I guess the necklace was used to save my life. The healer's assessment is wrong, I don't have a spiritual ability, just... disappointment."
At the conclusion of the girl's words, she covered her eyes again. This time she did not cry, just in shame. Noah would have clapped, but he couldn't ruin her perfect performance—and he thought she was innocent!
The old knight took a deep breath in disappointment, saying nothing for a while. But there was something the girl didn't mention, and she planned to use it as leverage.
Noah waited for the knight to ask the question on everyone's mind, and he did sooner than expected. "Who is this 'he'? Is he the one who gave your family the necklace? I need to know, little one."
The girl did not answer for a while, clearly hesitant. But the expectant looks from everyone convinced her. "I don't know him, no one in my family did, just the old stories. But there is truth in such stories, I believe. This mysterious benefactor is also someone from the Drusian Dynasty, a Grand Wizard of the 12th rank, he is the one who crafted the necklaces. My family's failed attempt to understand the necklace only served as proof to support the power of this individual. The necklace never changed or weakened over generations, and somehow, it recognizes our bloodline and works only with us. There really isn't much knowledge we have about this person, just the things we deduced from our failed study of the necklace. One thing known is a message left by this individual the day he gave the necklace. 'When it ends, I will know.' Whatever that means, but I believe it and cannot ignore it."
A suffocating silence filled the room at the mention of a Grand Wizard of the 12th rank. Who were they, really? In the current age, the strongest known wizard in the world was only of the 9th rank, and a mage gains the title of grand wizard upon reaching the 7th rank. So describing the 12th rank as a grand wizard is just a poor description.
Noah looked at Lady Elara, who maintained her calm expression, unlike the old knight who held a reverent one. With the same expression, he expressed his doubts. "12th rank, you say, I don't see how that could be true. Even if it were, how much time has passed..."
The girl on the bed looked at her master calmly, and when she spoke, a tone of sarcasm didn't leave her expression. "You think, what are 300 years to a 7th rank? What are 1000 years to a 9th rank? What is time to a 12th rank? ... I wish this story were just a story, I don't want a 12th rank knocking on my door, but I grew up believing this tale..."
A heavy silence filled the room, everyone lost in thought. The old knight looked at the necklace in his hand strangely, as did everyone else. Noah, on the other hand, looked at the girl with admiration. This story was of his own invention, but it wasn't devoid of truth, especially the last part. It was indeed a 12th rank wizard who crafted the necklace.
When Noah stole it in the past, it was still working well, but not with him. The necklace needed a connection with the soul to work. When Noah tried to use it with his soul, the necklace broke and lost all its abilities, which he never got the chance to see. What happened afterward, Noah preferred to ignore.
The girl had played her part, and now it was Noah's turn to do his. He stepped forward towards the bed opposite the girl lying on it and coldly announced, "A wonderful story, I must say. But I think it is time to discuss what will happen to the person who tried to kill me."