Chapter 40 – Rydenna, Home of The Third Order

“Fine. I'll agree to your proposal.”

Aien had to admit that the offer was too enticing for him to pass up. Having a relatively reliable source of information around would prove quite useful and wasn't something he could simply ignore. The sapling wasn't particularly surprised about his quick agreement, nor could Aien discern any other reactions from the small plant.

Thus, the alliance between the demon and the Tree of Transcendence came into being.

“Our objective will be to acquire large sources of mana.”

Since Aien had agreed, the sapling didn't dwell on the unnecessary any longer and went straight to the point.

“As for our first target, it's the last of my reservoirs sealed within the territory of the Jin. After taking away what belonged to me, part of it was distributed among the mortals. I'll tell you more about the distribution of mana in this world later as it will be important for our endeavor. For now, it will suffice to know that each race, in some form or another, is entitled to a certain amount of the mana of the world.”

“That's great and all, but don't forget. I need more information about myself.” Aien chimed in before the sapling would focus too much on its own matters. His current problems took a higher priority over anything else the sapling needed to tell him.

“We both simply need one thing to become stronger, and that is mana.” The sapling answered patiently. “While I will raise back to my former self, you will also grow through the mana we'll naturally split evenly. And eventually, once you've gathered enough and made it your own, you will ascend into the Divine.”

“The Divine...?” Aien was more than bewildered to hear that. “So, I'll become a god?”

“In a sense, yes. There are a total of seven thresholds you'll have to cross, after which you will attain the Seven Voids. Once you've gathered enough mana to sate each of their needs, you will be able to commence your ascension with the support of a ritual I do not know of. When the time comes, you'll have to find out yourself, but after that, you will become a being on par with the gods.”

Aien wasn't even remotely able to hide the wry and strange smile on his face that couldn't believe what it had heard.

Becoming a god was...

“Even so,” The sapling continued carefully to make sure Aien wouldn't get the wrong ideas. “you will never transcend the Seven Major Gods of Origin. The hierarchy of the gods had been decided ever since they came into being. Nothing can change that. What you will decide to do once you've ascended is up to you. But that is still a long time away. Until then, we can both agree that ridding ourselves of our current weakness should be our priority, right?”

“So be it.” Aien put the new information at the back of his mind. It was indeed far too early to think about this sort of stuff when he'd more pressing concerns.

“However, you've yet to tell me anything specific about my powers.”

“I'm afraid that is something you can only find out for yourself.”

In response, Aien frowned unsightly. But before he could give voice to his dissatisfaction, the sapling continued.

“I gave you the clues within the vision. Remember how it felt to accompany your predecessor. There is only one hint I can give you. The power of the demon is the power of freedom.”

“Freedom, you say...”

“You exist outside the laws of this world. In other words, as long as you figure out the methods, there is nothing you can't do. Magic that is not allowed to be in the control of mortals can be wielded by you. The forbidden holds no meaning for you. Aside from that, whether it be to control the elements, the light of the eledyn, or the might of space and time, they are all at your disposal. Even the mysteries of life could be accessed by you. There is only one limit to your power, and it's the most fundamental one.”

“The capacity of my mana resources,” Aien concluded easily.

“Exactly. Anything you desire, you can acquire through your own actions.”

With this new lead, Aien closed his eyes in concentration. It was faint and barely rememberable, but there was one thing he could take away from the vision the sapling had shown him. Albeit a minor step forward, it would finally give him some peace in his future endeavors.

At long last, the swirl within him yielded to his will. Through his conscious effort and the little experience he'd gained, the black swirl finally grew to a halt. As a result, it turned into a ball of darkness, resembling a quiet sea with none of the traces of the turbulent absorption it used to have.

“It's good you got control over that...” The sapling spoke once Aien had opened his eyes again. Its voice sounded more exhausted than before, and he could make out a faint sigh of relief within its voice.

“Absorbing mana in such a manner would take a long time to provide decent results while exposing you to large risks of being found. But I doubt I need to tell you this. Regardless, in the future, it would be wise to limit your time of absorption and primarily target large sources. As long as we acquire all of the sources I know of, we will both have come a long way towards our goals.”

In other words, it would be better not to betray it. That being the case, the sapling kept most of its knowledge hidden – a matter of course. However, Aien was already only listening half-heartedly to what it had to say. True, its knowledge of the locations that could become significant increases in his power was beneficial. Still, Aien had already attained what he'd needed the most.

Knowledge of his threats.

His goals.

And the means to power.

Keeping it simple, this was all he ever needed.

“I will have to rest now.” The sapling said, barely audible within Aien's mind. “I will also make up an excuse to the Order. It won't delay them for long, but it should allow you to lose their tail. Do not forget, demon. We are in this together, and only together can we blossom. I'll patiently await your return.”

With these last words, the voice disappeared as the sapling sunk to the ground. Its tired leaves hung low with exhaustion, devoid of any signs of intelligence.

Meanwhile, Aien continued to fine-tune his control over the vortex within him. Having gained full control over it, he looked down at the weakened plant before him. Within his eyes, a vicious glint flashed by as numerous possibilities sped through his mind.

In the end, however, Aien turned around to leave under the watchful gazes of the animals in the distance. It was about time he finally gave form to his new powers, which was far more important than increasing his reservoir of mana. That and upholding his part of the deal could wait.

“I guess I'll have to do some experiments again...”

Aien had some basic knowledge about human Magecraft and the five elements. There was also his past as a devil. If what the sapling said was true, he could acquire a similar power as he used to have. As for the magic of the other races, however, he basically knew nothing. Even if he had the capabilities to control such magic, he was clueless on how to even approach them. Putting all of that aside, the sapling had mentioned something particular that intrigued him.

There was another thing he had some experience with...

But while he was busy thinking about what kind of experiments he needed to do, or which magic he should focus his attention on, there was a thought pestering him at the back of his mind. Since the Tree of Transcendence apparently had already known of his arrival, there was an essential, unanswered question left.

'If that's truly the case...'

Clicking his tongue in irritation at the new troubles that came together with his leads, Aien disappeared within the forest.

To the north, the Humans, to the south the Jin. To the west, the Foren, to the east the Dwarves.

These simple words were enough to describe the world of the minor races that were divided into four continents. At the center of them was Rydenna, the city where all the races could gather. Regardless of one's origin, everyone was welcome as long as one abided by the simple rules, which could be summarized as have no prejudice.

In the middle of the vast desert, the oasis in the form of a city became a world of its own that was said to be blessed by the seven gods. This would become apparent to anyone once they stepped inside as they would be greeted by a drastic change in the atmosphere. The usually unbearable heat during the day would turn into a comfortable breeze, and no longer would one be plagued by the freezing nights in the desert. Even the sky would change from the lonely shining sun into an enjoyable climate, resembling the height of spring.

With a single step into the perimeter of the city, the empty deserts would turn into bountiful lands of greenery. From trees growing fruits, that were harvested by the inhabitants, to fields of grains, the city became a different world in every meaning of the word. Using blocks of grey-yellow limestone, small houses filled the outer perimeter of the city, growing denser in population the closer one got to its center.

The arrangement of these simple but sturdy houses was aligned to the seven wide rivers that split the city before converging into a smaller perimeter that surrounded the central hub. As the city grew, so did the world with its rivers, enveloping more of the desert with each passing day.

Inside each of the seven regions, a large tower could be found. Despite their rather thin structure, the pillars rose to the heavens as if they were supporting the sky of this different world. They could be seen from anywhere within this city as they surrounded the vast palace that majestically stood in the center. Whether it was around the pillars, or outside of the enormous staircases one could hardly see the end of, at any given time, people were prostrating themselves as they prayed towards the skies.

All of these people were clothed in precisely the same outfit, the only exception being the small children accompanying their parents in their prayers. They were entirely covered in white robes as a veil hid any part of their appearance except for their eyes. It was only inside this city, where one's origin held no meaning, that all the seven races could be found living in harmony.

Armin and Aiyla were climbing the stairs towards the palace in a relaxed manner. At least Armin was, as Aiyla was unceasingly busy taking care of the little boy in her arms that had no intention of ever stopping to cry. Around the stairs, guards were standing respectfully, similarly clothed in the same robes that could be found anywhere. Only the difference in stature, from the comparably tiny dwarves to the giant rykul, were providing small clues as to one's origin.

Even after reaching the end of the staircase, Aiyla was still unable to pacify Ray. At her wit's end, she gave up trying to figure out what he wanted, but it was yet enough for her to become annoyed at the little crybaby.

“Hm?”

Aiyla exclaimed in a slight surprise. Throughout the whole trip, she had been holding Ray in her arms. As a wave of relaxation washed over her when they finally reached the palace entrance, she took note of something.

'Is it just me... or did he become heavier?'

Despite her keen senses telling her that she was right, it was nothing to fret or bother thinking about. It could also be her imagination after the tiresome trip with Armin, or the hours beneath the sun, so she discarded the thought.

The three of them proceeded to enter into the palace that was radiating in a brilliant light. In place of the roof, there was a large, hollow dome, reflecting the sunshine. Whether the sun set or rose wouldn't matter as the brilliance it exuded never ceased, illuminating the city at any given time.

They entered the large halls covered in marble-white slabs of stone, where Ray's cries echoed even louder, gathering the attention of anyone present. Whether they showed mere curiosity or annoyance of having their holy silence disturbed, Aiyla wasn't fond of the attention either way. Thankfully, one of the passerby's appeared to recognize them as they were approached.

“Chosen one carrying the name of Armin and Ayla's Holy Maiden, we've expected your return. I see the two of you brought some company.”

From behind the veil, a distorted voice echoed quietly next to the cries. It was hard to tell whether it belonged to a man or woman or tell the race apart. Nevertheless, it was pleasant to listen to and would leave one in peace, relieving one of the usual worries of confronting a stranger.

After a short exchange, the person led them through the hall. Many others were curiously glancing at the group while erupting in quiet conversations. Most of their gazes weren't even directed at the loud infant, but at the two people who were the only ones not covering their appearances.

Having traversed through a sea of doors and stairs that led to the top, the group eventually arrived in front of one, particularly eye-catching one. Resembling round gates more than doors, there were the seven symbols carved into it that anyone would recognize. After knocking at the door, they waited respectfully with one knee on the ground, and their head hung low. Only when they were called inside did the group raise themselves and enter.

On the other side of the door, a group of seven were waiting for them. The hall they waited in was almost empty, except for the giant statues that formed a circle around them. In front of each, a person was standing as they looked at Armin and Aiyla. The person leading them then excused himself and left the two alone to meet the Representatives chosen by the gods.

Whether it was statues that were made in the name of the gods or pictures displaying their glory, nothing was ever depicting their appearance. Only their respective symbols were known. But whether their origins were with the gods or the worshipping mortals, no one knew. There was...

Ryeka's Sword of Judgment

Revered by the Humans

Ayla's Spring of Life

Revered by the Jin

Tektus' Forces

Revered by the Foren

Lykar's World of Spacetime

Revered by the Dwarves

The Benevolent's Hands of Equality

Respected by the Fairies

Saros' Fire of Retribution

Revered by the Eledyn

Ilyaesta's Coin of Fortune

Revered by the Rykul

Although each race generally held one particular god in higher regard, it wasn't uncommon for members of a race to worship a different deity. The most popular among the minor races being The Benevolent as equality was something most desired. There was little discrimination or persecution regarding different beliefs as the deities were accepted to be equal in their standing among the mortals. This was the Pantheon of Sevas which was revered by most living beings in one form or another.

Inside this city of a seemingly separate world, this room became another space of its own. Filled with a shroud of light, every part of it was illuminated as the light gently descended from the dome above. The falling light resembled a ladder to the heavens as it connected with the ground. For once, Ray ceased his crying as his wobbly eyes were fixated above him. He stretched his tiny hand towards the ceiling as if trying to grab the light that was forming the divine connection, all the while ignoring Aiyla, who was busy paying her respects to the gods.

In front of each altar, Aiyla knelt and prayed respectively as Ray clung himself to her shoulders all by himself.

For Ryeka, she placed her hand on her chest, praying with a conviction that would discern right from wrong.

For Ayla, she entered a state of relaxed calmness, praying as she gently breathed the air that was one of the foundations of her existence.

For Tektus, she would clasp her hands in front of her with all of the might that was allowed for her to have.

For Lykar, she knelt with both knees on the ground, placing her forehead and hands on the ground, furthering the connection between herself and the earth surrounding her life.

For The Benevolent, she stretched her hands forward, grasping one another as if she shaking her own hand in thankfulness.

For Saros, she straightened herself up, allowing her blazing conviction to fill every part of her body, ready to explode at any moment.

Lastly, for Ilyaesta, Aiyla aligned her fingers and put her palms together. Bowing her head, she thanked every fortunate encounter that brought her to this moment, which allowed her to once more pay her respects to the gods.

To the side, Armin watched her silently before taking a long look at the dome above him. He didn't bother following after her steps, and instead, similar to Ray, appeared to be mesmerized by the scene of the glittering light. He could almost feel the handles of a ladder made from light that enveloped him in a gentle embrace. With a melancholic, almost longing expression, his gaze seemed to pierce the dome until Aiyla finally tugged at his sleeve to return him back to reality.

As if that was a starting signal, Ray left his own little trance and once more burst out in tears.

“Oh come on, you just stopped...”

Hurriedly, Aiyla began cradling him in her arms again, but her efforts in pacifying him were wasted.

“He seems to be quite a lively one.”

One of the seven who had waited for Aiyla to finish her prayers said with a repressed chuckle. Likewise, these seven were clothed in the same robes and accompanied by the same tone in their voice. On top of that, even their statures appeared precisely the same, revealing absolutely nothing that could be related to their origins.

“So there really was a third one... It seems dire times are ahead of us.”

Another person spoke up as the seven Representatives circled around Aiyla and the baby in her hands. Despite the divine and gentle ambiance filling every part of the hall, it almost fell into an eery silence where no one knew what to say. The only sounds were the cries of Ray, who didn't care about anything else other than his playful selfishness.

“Don't worry,” Aiyla tried her hand at dispersing the gloomy mood, “I'm sure together with Armin and Eri, Ray will become another light to guide us into a peaceful future. With the gods' guidance, all will be well in the end.”

She didn't know whether her choice of words was appropriate, but it was better than nothing. One by one, the priests seemed to realize how much they had their own worries overwhelm them, to the point, they had to be cheered up by a young woman, who had her hands full with a crying baby. At last, they returned to their senses and released a faint laughter at their embarrassing display.

“You are right, my dear. Ray's appearance is a reason to celebrate and not to worry. It shows that the gods haven't forsaken us in our dire straits." One of the priests spoke up next. "Armin. Aiyla. I'm sorry, I know you must be tired from all your travels, but we have called you back just to send you away again. It's about time for the meeting between the races. There have been a lot of events recently, threatening the already unstable balance, and I need the two of you as mediators... As for said events...”

When they reached that point, the priest stopped talking as he looked at the little baby. Whatever emotions were hidden behind the veil couldn't be made out, but they clearly struggled in forming the next words.

“I'm afraid to tell you... a demon was born.”

“What!?”

Neither Armin nor Aiyla could hide their shock. Immediately, Aiyla appeared to realize something as she looked down at the small child in her arms.

“So Ray was...”

“Armin.” The priest that had spoken up asked for their attention again. Behind their veil, their gaze was fixated on Armin before looking at Ray as he asked the next question with a trace of dread.

“How many rings are there?”

At first, Armin remained silent. Naturally, he knew what the priest was talking about. He'd already prepared himself for the severity of the calamity ahead of them, but for it to be a demon left him somewhat adrift.

“...Six.”

He answered eventually and once more, the hall fell into silence. Ray had quietened down and fell into a slumber, leaving the adults alone in their distress as the atmosphere hit another low point.

“Six... Six trials... The same amount as Amir.” The same priest uttered, his disbelief and dread seeking through the veil. “By the gods... What is happening...”

“It only means we have even less time to spare.” Another priest said quickly, trying to not let pessimism take hold of them again.

“Amir and Aiyla, together with Guardian Phi, you will supervise the meeting. It will be held in Ethena this time. Aside from the previous matter, you'll have to prepare for the following. Together with the demon's appearance, a devil was slain. Not just any devil, but one who was under the Law of Origin. They were especially proficient in using deception from the World of Devils. We assume many of the uprisings and criminals to be an aftermath of their demise. An astonishing amount of people from all the minor races used to be influenced by them and are now set free. There is also the plague the demon caused, leaving humanity severely weakened. Considering all of this, we have to task the two of you with this matter. In the meantime, leave the child behind to be raised with us.”

“Ah! Wait!”

As soon as the priest had finished, Aiyla exclaimed in a hurry. Realizing how out of place that kind of behavior was, a red flush quickly spread across her face. Still, she didn't relent to her embarrassment as she continued under the curious gazes of the Representatives.

“I... This... Eh... Ahh!!” Not knowing how to approach the matter carefully, she decided to just go straight to the point and throw caution to the wind. Yet, she still struggled to form her words as her lips formed words devoid of sounds. To the side, Armin watched her in amusement as she flailed around like a fish out of water, knowing very well what she wanted to say.

“I know this might be inappropriate and also the wrong time, but...” Eventually, she gathered her courage as word after word hurried out of her mouth with increasing speed.

“May I... raise him? Ray, I mean... Of course...”

Another silence filled the hall, but not nearly as stifling and depressing as the previous ones. The Representatives were stunned when confronted with the question, clearly having expected something more dramatic. Meanwhile, Armin crossed his arms and, with a smug smile on his face, enjoyed the show as the representatives struggled to come up with a response. On one side, there were these presumable geezers he had known for a long time and were rarely as lost as they were at this moment. On the other hand, there was a young, slightly immature woman who was too afraid to open her eyes to confront the answer she was probably already aware of.

“Aiyla...” One of them spoke up after putting much care into their choice of words. They walked towards her, placing their hand firmly on her shoulders to help her slight quivering.

“I sincerely believe you'd do a great job, Aiyla... But you have other important matters to attend to. We can't have you stay behind.”

“I know, but-”

“I'm sorry. I'm afraid there is no room for discussion.”

Before Aiyla could think of more reasons to continue arguing, Armin decided to intervene.

“What's the harm? Since you've already admitted that she'd do a great job, why not let her?” He didn't let any of the priests interrupt him as he continued nonchalantly.

“You don't need to worry. I can properly take care of myself. Clearly, someone else here needs more babysitting than me. If you are still worried, I can promise you that I won't act on my accord... for some time. Also, it's not like we need any more people for that silly meeting or any matter following after that. We should have some time to prepare.”

In spite of his seemingly reassuring words, an argument quickly erupted within the divine hall. It took the rest of the day until Armin and Aiyla were able to leave. In her arms was Ray at whom she looked at with a doting expression and a gleeful smile.

“Thanks a lot, Armin. Didn't think you'd agree to entrust me with him.”

She thanked him sincerely. He merely accepted her gratitude with a wave of his hand, not making a big deal out of it.

“I'll have to get going right away," Armin said. "Ethena is some distance away after all, and the meeting is in three days. I don't want to be too late, and I'd like to take a closer look around. Well, thankfully, I no longer have to carry a helpless mother and her child.”

“Who are you-!... calling...help...less...”

Her words quickly lost their fierceness when she realized what Armin had called her in his amusement. Although it was herself who went and requested to be in charge of Ray, the realization had only just begun to hit her.

“Mother... I'm a... mother...?”

Her previous cheerful mood was quickly replaced by an inexplicable dread and helplessness. To make matters worse, Ray woke up and resumed crying at the worst timing possible. As she was still dealing with the shock of her realization, another, more unpleasant emotion welled up inside her. The image of the small child her mind had assumed to be a cute little angel she was fond of doting upon, slowly but surely transformed itself. A twinge of annoyance nested itself inside her when she understood that she'd have to deal with this crying for years. Whether it was during the day or night, wasn't something that would ever matter to Ray and taking care of that was merely one of her responsibilities.

As she had been simply babysitting him up to this point and assumed a more detached position, this had gone completely over her head. And that was by far the least of her problems.

“How do you raise a child again...? Wh-What was I thinking!? Say, A-Armin...? Armin? Where did you go? Armin!!! Da-...aaammdam... it, not again!”

If nothing else, she at least knew she had to cross cursing of her list of things she liked to do.

Having already covered quite some distance from Rydenna, Armin laughed out heartily when he thought about the recent events.

“Aiyla becoming a mother... I really wish I was there to see that little girl flail around, haha! Oh well, I guess it won't be too late to pay them a visit from time to time.”

Far up in the nightsky, he propelled himself forward through the air. Each of his steps was accompanied by a flash of light that allowed him to travel effortlessly as the desert beneath him turned into a dark-brown blur. However, his happiness and the amused grin on his face didn't last long as he increased his speed further, closing in on the distant green of the horizon.

“A demon, a vanquished devil and...”

Putting his peaceful thoughts aside, his expression was filled with grim and great concern. All of the worries that had plagued him ever since finding Ray resurfaced, accompanied by a looming urgency he didn't even know the full extent or cause of. Although he'd said otherwise, there was not nearly enough time and resources to prepare for yet another calamity, leaving him with nervousness he couldn't show to anyone.

“...that human... Tristan, was it?”