Chapter 455: Cursed Artifacts
“What do you want to know?”
“Hmm…..”
“Come on, just tell me!”
“Hmmmfffffff!!!” was all that escaped from Aether, his words muffled, as he was submerged, floating helplessly in a large sphere of water the Principal had conjured around him.
“If you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to know what you want?” she asked sweetly, though there was nothing sweet about her actions. She tilted her head as she watched him struggle, amusement dancing in her eyes.
“Hmmmfffofooooooo!” Bubbles rose to the surface as Aether shouted, his protests lost in the water. He thrashed about, unable to do much more than glare at her through the liquid prison.
The Principal smiled with satisfaction, her lips curling upward at the edges. Then, with a casual snap of her fingers, the water evaporated, leaving Aether to fall unceremoniously to the ground, soaking wet and gasping for air.
“—Ha—Ha—Ha—” Aether panted heavily, his chest rising and falling as he glared up at the Principal. Water dripped from his clothes, pooling around him as he struggled to catch his breath.
She simply shrugged, entirely unfazed by his glaring, “Hmm… I thought you were supposed to be in the training hall,” she mused, her tone nonchalant. “So, what exactly are you doing here… alone with a maid?”
Aether, still panting, shot her a defiant look, “I-Is this—ha—how you treat your disciple?” His tone was bitter, though he was still struggling to regain his breath.
The Principal’s smirk only widened, “Oh, believe me, my treatment is far worse than you think.” She leaned back and crossed her legs elegantly, her posture exuding confidence and power. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she asked, “So tell me… why exactly do you want to know about the Lizard Emperor?”
Aether sighed heavily, finally managing to sit upright on the wet floor.
He casually ran a hand through his drenched hair, slicking it back in one smooth motion, and replied, “It seems… my family might be tied to them somehow. I just want to know who my real family is, that’s all.” His tone softened a hint of longing and unresolved emotion.
The Principal’s expression changed ever so slightly, a brief flicker of understanding passing through her eyes as she looked at him.
Aether wasn’t just chasing after information—this was something deeper, something personal. She sighed, and her voice softened as well, “The Empire isn’t just home to dragons, you know. There was another dominant race that once soared through the skies alongside them… the Phoenix.”
Aether’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Phoenix?”
The Principal nodded, “Yes. You remember Maelona, the Moon Elf woman?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“Well, just like her people, the Phoenixes were one of Mother’s creations.”
Aether frowned, “Were?”
The Principal nodded again, her expression turning more serious, “Yes. A long, long time ago—ancient times, around 10,000 years ago or maybe even further back—they went extinct. But it wasn’t natural. The dragons hunted them down. Every last one of the Phoenix bloodline holders was wiped out.”
“Why would they do that?” Aether asked, genuinely perplexed.
The Principal shrugged her tone a mix of frustration and acceptance, “No one really knows the full details. Not many secrets leak from that Empire, especially about something as ancient and deeply buried as this.”
“So what happened then?” Aether pressed, leaning in slightly.
“Well, everyone believed the Phoenixes were completely gone. Their bloodline, their legacy—everything—thought to be lost. The dragons claimed the skies for themselves, ruling the Empire with their might and name alone….” She paused, her eyes narrowing with a faraway look. “That was until my era. About 1,000 years ago, among us chosen ones, there was a young girl…. she bore the blood of the pure Phoenix.”
Aether’s eyes widened, “A Phoenix? A thousand years ago?”
The Principal’s face softened slightly, becoming more solemn, “Yes. It was a shock to all of us… A miracle, really! Everyone believed the bloodline was gone forever, but she… she was proof that it survived”
“Who was this girl?” Aether asked, his curiosity growing.
“Her name was Pyra Noirix,” the Principal said quietly, her voice tinged with both pride and sorrow, “She was a proud little thing, full of fire and determination…. She was supposed to be the real Sovereign.”
“The real Sovereign?” Aether frowned. “What do you mean?”
The Principal’s face turned solemn as she explained, “Among all of us—the chosen ones—she was the strongest. Her power and intellect were unmatched. She was… far beyond any of us. A true force to be reckoned with.” There was a note of frustration in her voice, but also admiration.
Aether was visibly surprised. “Wait, are you saying she was even stronger than you?”
The Principal chuckled wryly, though there was a bittersweet edge to it, “As much as I’d love to say no… yes. She was the best.”
Seeing a hint of sadness in her eyes, Aether got up from the floor.
His body was suddenly dry…. his magic making quick work of the water that had soaked him earlier. He silently walked over to her and sat beside her on the bed, not saying a word.
[+3000 AP]
The Principal smiled softly at his gesture and continued, “She was a dear friend. The best at everything she did…. As we neared the completion of our trials, she told me that before she could become Sovereign, she wanted to reclaim her people’s honour. She was determined to bring justice to the Phoenix bloodline, to right the wrongs done to them by the dragons.
So… she left. She went to the Pyra Empire.”
Aether felt the tension in the air grow thicker as he waited for her to finish. “And?”
The Principal’s voice dropped to a whisper, “She never came back.”
“Why?” Aether’s voice was soft, almost hesitant.
“I don’t know…” the Principal said, her tone carrying a weight of sadness, “All I know is… she died.”
Aether frowned, staring at the ground as his mind raced, ‘Did she enter the summit and perish there?’ he wondered, piecing together the scattered fragments of the story. But then another thought crossed his mind, and he spoke aloud, “But what if… the dragons attacked her again?”
The Principal shook her head firmly, “After the massacre that the dragons orchestrated, a treaty was made. It wasn’t just words on paper… the dragon bloodline was forcibly cursed.”
“H-huh?” Aether blinked in confusion. “Cursed? What do you mean, cursed?”
She didn’t answer immediately…. The room fell silent again, and Aether could tell she was choosing her words carefully.
He wanted to press her for details but sensed it would lead nowhere. She had given him enough… or at least, that’s what he told himself. He stood up slowly, preparing to leave, when—
“She told me not to share this with anyone…” The Principal’s voice was low, barely above a whisper. She reached out, grabbing Aether’s wrist before he could take another step. He turned, his gaze locking with hers.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the tension palpable in the air…
The Principal could see his eyes were calm and serious…
[+3000 AP]
The Principal sighed deeply, as though finally surrendering to the weight of the secret, “The Horns…” she began, her voice almost trembling, “The Horns of the Dragon Emperor. They have the power to control the entire dragon race with just a thought.
That power… it’s not natural. It’s… cursed. A cursed artifact, created by the Origin Emperor.”
Aether’s eyes widened, “The Origin Emperor? You’ve heard of him?”
The Principal shook her head, “No… I don’t know him. Pyra never told me the details. She only said that no one would dare harm her within the Empire.”
“But… she died.” Aether’s voice was filled with a bitter edge.
The Principal bit her lip, her eyes betraying a flash of regret.
She had no answer!
Aether crouched down, drawing closer to her. His voice softened, yet his words were pointed, “With your power… you could have searched for her. You could have found out what happened, right?”
She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. “Yes… I could have. But…” Her voice trailed off, and Aether waited, leaning in ever so slightly, his presence urging her to continue.
“But what?” he pressed gently.
The Principal shook her head, her voice barely a whisper now. “I’m sorry… I just… can’t.”
Aether nodded. He wasn’t going to push her further. She had given him as much as she could.
His mind was still reeling, though, from the information about the Phoenixes and the curse. Something still didn’t fit. Raven… she wasn’t a Phoenix.
He had seen her as a Lung Dragon, nothing more, ‘There’s something missing here,’ he thought to himself.
After a pause, he hesitated before asking, “Is Raven… related to the Phoenixes?”
The Principal shook her head firmly. “No. She’s not.”
‘Tsk.’ Aether inwardly clicked his tongue. Another dead end. But something else nagged at him.
“What about Pyra Noirix?” he asked suddenly as if a new thought had struck him. “What… what colour were her eyes?”
The Principal blinked, taken aback by the question. She thought for a moment before replying, “Her eyes… they were a deep, crimson red. Flames danced within them… undying. They were like embers that never went out.” Her voice softened as if recalling the fierce girl!
Aether’s lips curled into a slow grin as the pieces finally began to fall into place. Without warning, he leapt forward, intending to embrace the Principal out of sheer excitement.
Thud!
He landed on the bed alone. She was gone!!
“Tsk. I’ll get you one day, you damn GILF,” Aether muttered under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck in mild frustration. But despite his grumbling, a satisfied smirk crept onto his face.
He quickly called out telepathically to Celestia, /Celestia./
Her response came instantly, /Aether? Did our plan work?/
Aether’s smirk widened, his tone teasing as he responded, /Of course, my dear. Whose plan do you think it was?/
Yes, Indeed all that was just acting!
If Aether wanted to have a private conversation, he would have chosen somewhere far more secure than his bedroom, especially knowing that the Principal checked in on him regularly. He could’ve used barriers, cloaking spells—anything to keep prying ears away.
But he didn’t…. He wanted her to hear everything.
If he had asked her directly, she never would’ve answered. She would’ve evaded, teased, and pestered him endlessly.
So, he baited the hook, left her a small clue to nibble on, and sure enough… she bit.
Though he hadn’t expected all the emotional weight that came with the story, he had gotten exactly what he wanted.
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