000 - What Makes The Sky Blue
Not much happened during the entire week as they spent it aboard the Grandcypher.
Since Ravi Island is pretty far from their previous location, the journey required a week to reach it.
During this time, everyone tried to get closer to Apollonia, but she continued to keep to herself, avoiding interaction with others.
The only exception was her father, Eugen, who visited her room every day with food and water, as she rarely came out.
Eugen used this opportunity to try and bond with his daughter, but progress was minimal—practically nonexistent.
Still, at least she no longer kicked him out of her room whenever he entered, which was a small step forward.
While this was going on, Rei decided to experiment with something after a conversation with Tzaka, Io's teacher.
Magic.
He knew that Sky Realm magic was incredibly powerful, far beyond the usual fantasy-themed spells he'd encountered in stories.
Take Cagliostro, for instance—she could create a black hole using her magic. However, she mentioned that black holes were too unstable and tedious to maintain, so she rarely attempted it.
Astrals had their own magic as well, but Rei wasn't familiar with any of their spells. So, he decided to experiment with Sky Realm magic instead.
The simplest spells to cast were low-tier ones, such as conjuring fire or creating a gentle breeze.
There were also basic buff spells that enhanced the user's physical attributes, like "Phalanx," which reduced damage taken, or spells that increased speed and strength.
Sky Realm magic had a variety of types:
Mysterian Magic, which used runes to cast spells, like Anne's.
Magician Magic, which required catalysts to activate like staff or spell book.
Rei recalled that Narmaya always using magic when she's training with him.
Her usage of magic was incredibly natural, as her entire sword style revolved around it.
He also remembered a few individuals with exceptional magical talent, such as Io and Fif.
Fif, a member of the Eternals, was a prodigy magician with a colossal mana reserve.
Io was still young and had much to learn, but her skills were already impressive for her age.
And then, there were the Astrals.
Astrals possessed a limitless amount of mana within their bodies, as well as their own unique magic.
However, Rei had never cast an Astral spell since arriving in this world. Even in the game, he couldn't recall Astrals using magic often.
So, he decided to start small.
"Phalanx," Rei muttered, raising his right hand in front of him.
A golden light materialized in the air before him, forming a radiant, layered curve that pulsed with energy. Waves of power emanated from the center of the arc, moving outward toward its edges.
Suddenly, the curved light began to shrink rapidly, drawing closer to his hand. As it contracted, it flowed into his body, and he immediately felt its effects.
His body seemed sturdier, his defenses heightened dramatically. The surge of power was tangible, as though his very core had been fortified.
"Interesting..." Rei murmured to himself, feeling the subtle yet significant difference in his body.
It wasn't the ability to cast magic that intrigued him—it was how easily he could do it without feeling any drain on his power.
Perhaps it was true, after all—Astrals truly had limitless mana. But he wasn't satisfied yet; he decided to test more spells.
Of course, he limited himself to passive magic like buffs and illusions since he was on the deck of Grandcypher in the middle of the night. Casting something destructive like an explosive spell would wake everyone and disturb their rest, which he wanted to avoid.
He began with simple buffs to increase his attack power, speed, and resistance. He layered multiple resistance buffs, including elemental resistance, just to see their effects.
Then, curiosity got the better of him, and he tried experimenting with Rune Magic.
Particularly, he focused on the Rune Magic associated with one of his favorite classes for Djeeta back when he played the game.
Runeslayer.
With a faint smile of nostalgia, Rei immersed himself in exploring this magic, casting intricate patterns and combinations he remembered.
He spent the entire night experimenting with a variety of magic types, one after another, testing the limits of his control and creativity.
By the time morning arrived, the sky outside was already starting to brighten.
-----
[IMAGE]
A desert island, rich in history, scattered with ancient ruins, and dating back to before the Great War, Ravi Island was once the capital of the Erste Kingdom. In its prime, it stood as a beacon of the golem industry. However, the emergence of primal beasts and the focus on their research eroded its importance. Now, the once-thriving land has dwindled into obscurity, its population reduced to a mere fraction of its former glory.
"It's strange..." Sandalphon muttered, her gaze fixed on the island ahead.
"Yeah... There are so many monsters there," Halluel agreed, her tone uneasy.
"It reminds me of Valtz Island—just sand everywhere," Lyria added with a sigh.
"Isn't Ravi Island supposed to be imperial territory? I don't see a single imperial airship here," Rackam remarked, narrowing his eyes.
"Did they all retreat to the Erste Empire after we foiled their plans? After they've given up chasing after Lyria," Io speculated.
"Maybe... Let's dock at the port and see what's going on," Djeeta decided.
The Grandcypher adjusted course, steering toward the port in the city's.
As the ship landed, a gust of wind carrying fine sand swept through, causing several members of the crew to cough.
"Cough cough What is this sand? It's worse than Valtz!" Vyrn grumbled, his irritation clear.
"Look," Narmaya suddenly pointed. A small group of people stood at a distance, cautiously observing the newcomers.
"Look at their condition... They're so skinny, and their clothes are filthy," Rosetta noted with concern.
"It's an old city. Most of its defenses must have crumbled over time," Eugen observed, scanning the surroundings.
"They can't leave this island without imperial permission. But I've never heard of such permission ever being granted," Apollo suddenly said.
Katalina's eyes widened in shock, immediately grasping the implications.
"Are you suggesting the empire abandoned these people? Left them to fend for themselves?" she demanded, her voice rising.
"Yes. There's no reason to make excuses" Apollo replied.
Furious, Katalina grabbed Apollo by her collar, shaking her violently. "You heartless—!" she spat, trembling with anger.
"Hey, calm down, Katalina!" others cried, rushing to separate the two.
Meanwhile, Rei stood apart from the commotion, his gaze fixed on the grand palace dominating the city skyline.
Even from this distance, the structure stood out. A majestic palace, once home to the royal family, its architecture reflected the oldest traditions of the Phantagrande Skydom. Simple yet resilient, it had withstood the passage of millennia without losing its splendor.
"This feeling..." Rei murmured, his eyes narrowing.
Something within the palace caught his attention—a faint energy unlike anything he had sensed before. It felt weak, yet unmistakably similar to his own power.
"This can't be..."
Rei immediately summoned two dark wings on his back, the sudden gust of wind from their appearance drawing the attention of everyone on the Grandcypher.
"What happened?" Sandalphon asked, her gaze shifting toward Rei.
"Everyone, stay on the Grandcypher. I'll be back," Rei instructed before taking off into the sky.
"Wait, what? Where are you going?" Djeeta shouted after him, but her voice failed to reach him as he sped away.
"Where is he going?" Vyrn muttered, squinting as he tried to follow Rei's silhouette in the sky.
Everyone watched as Rei soared through the air before abruptly changing direction toward the palace.
"He's heading for the palace? Why is he going there?" Apollo asked, confusion evident in her tone.
"What's in there?" Lyria questioned Apollo.
"Nothing. Since the empire abandoned this island, the palace has been empty," Apollo replied, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall any detail she might have missed.
"Should we follow him?" Halluel suggested, breaking the silence.
The group exchanged uncertain glances, torn between respecting Rei's request to wait and their curiosity about his sudden departure.
"For now, we'll stay here," Djeeta decided. "If Lyria senses anything, we'll follow him immediately."
The others nodded in agreement, though unease lingered among them.
---
With Rei
After landing in front of the palace, Rei dismissed his wings and stepped inside.
The interior of the palace was filled with sand, and the walls were cracked, evidence that no one had set foot in this place since the island's abandonment.
He walked through a grand hall illuminated by golden light streaming through tall, arched windows. Towering pillars and flowing white drapes gave the space a regal air. Despite its ruined state, the hall retained a serene and mysterious beauty.
Rei's footsteps echoed as he approached another door, sensing the energy emanating from within.
He pushed the door open and entered a wide throne room. However, he didn't take much time to observe the surroundings—his attention was immediately drawn to the man sitting on the throne and the wolf girl beside him.
The man had short black hair and pale blue eyes, dressed in a formal outfit that contrasted sharply with the dilapidated state of the palace. In his hand, he held a chain connected to the wolf girl at his feet.
[IMAGE]
The girl had striking ruby-red eyes, long blue hair, and wolf ears atop her head. She sat on the floor silently, her expression unreadable.
[IMAGE]
"Welcome," the man said with a calm smile, his pale blue eyes meeting Rei's as he entered the room.
"I knew you would show up here sooner or later... Lucilius," the man added, his voice steady and confident.
"Loki... The traitor. You dare show your face in front of me?" Rei responded coldly, stepping toward them.
With each step Rei took, his sky-blue eyes darkened, shifting into a deep, menacing purple.
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