Legacy of the Dark Sage

"You... too?" Kyran looked at her skeptically.

When Stella managed to enter his magic sphere, he already felt something different about her. Despite her magic being different from his, he felt a kind of familiarity with it. And when she stopped his magic and he was unable to break free, it felt different from the restraining effect he once encountered with the army officers.

Kyran was also unable to gauge her magic level. She did not possess the same pressure as Nolan so he knew she was not a Magus.

Then there was her unusual magic array.

"There are others who have forbidden magic?"

Nolan almost flipped when Kyran asked a question.

"Argh! Look Missy-Lord-whatever you're called, you seemed knowledgeable enough about Kyran's situation so you probably know his family tried to keep him within the estate. That's why he's clueless about the outside world and especially magic," Nolan told Stella.

Kyran's brow creased at Nolan's words. He turned and glared at him.

Did Nolan have to say it like he was some sheltered young master? Besides, he did leave the estate for four years when he attended the Milfiore Military School.

Stella giggled after seeing the disgruntled expression on Kyran's face. She turned to Nolan and said, "I know. Rin was pretty reluctant to teach him anything about magic. I don't blame her, especially after that happened."

Kyran frowned slightly and looked back at her.

"My mother? Did they not teach me because they don't want the army to find out about me? And wait, what do you mean after that happened?"

'Here we go again...' Nolan could not help but sigh.

This kid really loved to ask questions. The time or place did not matter to him once his curiosity was triggered.

Stella did not mind. She simply smiled and answered, "We'll talk more later. First, you need to get yourself cleaned."

She walked up to him and made a quick look over his appearance.

Because Kyran's coat was black, the blood from the cuts he got from when he fought Dante early that day, then with his run-ins with the Tower's security, and finally with Malek, was not that obvious. However, his face and even the little skin that was not covered by his clothes had small cuts, bruises, and blood.

Stella's gaze paused at Kyran's hands, which were drenched with blood. A melancholic gleam flashed in her light blue eyes.

Although the blood was not Kyran's, Stella could only imagine the state of his mind earlier that drove him to brutally attack Malek.

She cautiously reached out for his hands.

,m Kyran did not trust Stella yet, even after she took an oath. But before he could avoid her hands, he saw her worried expression and hesitated. Once again, he was reminded of that familiarity he felt with her.

Stella's expression also reminded Kyran of a time when his cousin Pheobe visited him at the Milfiore Military School Dormitory and she saw his hands covered in cuts and bruises. That time he was the new 'toy' of the seniors because he was very meek. But after an incident which involved a phony angel-faced girl, Kyran snapped and broke the faces of all the seniors who dared fight him.

Pheobe looked very worried, but she kept a smile on her face and did not ask him what happened. She just cleaned his wounds in silence.

Kyran felt guilty that time.

"Your magic has grown too fast. You even prevented Malek's blood to return to him," she said almost in a whisper.

"Return?"

Stella held his hands and looked at him with a smile, "Yes. That's how I 'healed' him earlier. Were you not aware of what I was doing?"

"I only know you are trying to save him and it pissed me off."

Stella laughed.

Her laugh annoyed Kyran earlier, but now he did not mind.

"I know you have a lot of questions. About the Conclave's connection with your clan, about your magic and what you must do moving forward, I'll answer as much as I can. I can also help you study your magic and improve it further."

Kyran's expression darkened, "My priority is to save my clan. I don't have time for anything else."

Stella smiled teasingly, "Well aren't I your lucky break then? I'll be able to give you the 'time' you need. After all, that's my magic."

Kyran's expression changed upon hearing that. He had been wondering about Stella's magic since she managed to enter his magic sphere. And when she admitted her magic was also a forbidden type, he was even more curious. Now she admitted her magic was 'time'. A lot of questions as well as opportunities for him flashed in his head.

"Ahem," Nolan cleared his throat.

He felt awkward interrupting these two while they were getting... chummy, with their hands linked and all. But he sensed Kyran's curiosity sparked after Stella's admission about her magic. If he did not interrupt, they would end up with another Q and A session.

"But let's save the questions for later," Stella said before Kyran could open his mouth to ask more questions.

Nolan sighed in his heart. At least this Missy was sensible.

"Uhm... Will you remove your domain now?" Stella asked sheepishly and released Kyran's hands.

'Oh, no. Don't tell him that-!'

Kyran tilted his head, "Domain?"

Stella saw Nolan gave an X sign using his arms while frantically shaking his head. She realized something and finally gave a soft laugh, "Oh. I meant this sphere. Will you release it now? Actually, I only managed to enter your... sphere because I used my magic barrier, but after I released it, I can't use my magic anymore. And well, I can't leave here as well, ahaha..."

"Why can't you leave?"

"Well... because I entered your sphere without being...err... scanned, I'll use that term for now, anyway, I was an uninvited guest and if I walk out of your magic sphere, well... it will destroy me."

"How?"

"How? Your magic is void so-."

"Not that," Kyran looked uneasily at his sphere. "I'm not exactly sure how to release this."

"What?"

"Oi, kid. What the hell do you mean you can't release it?"

Stella and Nolan blurted respectively.

Kyran looked at Nolan and replied, "I was pissed earlier and just wanted to kill that psycho."

Beads of sweat appeared on Stella's forehead from Kyran's bluntness. He really intended to kill Malek. She made a mental note to correct that.

"I admit I wasn't thinking straight. This sphere just came out," Kyran added.

Nolan had a thoughtful expression. Kyran was still in the process of controlling his magic. If he had no recollection of how he summoned his magic then...

"Try to remember what you felt, if you can't remember what you thought at that time," he suggested.

"I was feeling murderous," Kyran answered bluntly.

Black lines appeared on Stella's head. Yes, she really had to clear the misunderstanding between them as soon as possible.

"Hm. It seemed this sphere might have been influenced by your emotion. As long as you are able to release your pent-up emotion, then you'll be able to undo this sphere," Nolan said.

"Release my pent-up emotion... But." Kyran looked reluctant. "I... want to hit him in the face at least once."

"Ahaha..." Stella laughed uneasily. "Then let's do that later. It's better to give him a good smack in the face when you're well rested, don't you think? You can even use your full strength. Don't worry, he will not retaliate. I'll make sure of that."

Kyran looked at her. He was still unconvinced, but since Malek was not here, he could only wait until they meet again.

Nolan was a little surprised that Kyran surprisingly had a vengeful side to him. He was suddenly reminded of his fight with Dante. After being bombarded by Dante's attacks, Kyran became very focused and when he was able to return the favor, his mood improved.

'He got his temper from Cade,' he thought with a sly smile.

"I'll hold you to your words," Kyran told Stella.

Stella nodded.

Taking a deep breath, Kyran closed his eyes and started to control his emotions. Right now, he was still uncertain about a lot of things. He did not completely trust Stella, but he could learn to because he needed her magic.

Slowly the air inside the sphere changed. The sphere also decreased in size and became more transparent.

Suddenly.

"Argh!" Kyran's eyes snapped open as he clutched his chest, and fell on his knees.

"Kyran!"

"Oi, kid!"

Stella and Nolan exclaimed respectively, and rushed to his side.

The sphere started to disintegrate and both of them noticed how Kyran's complexion also turned pale.

'Not good,' Nolan thought and prepared to summon his domain, after all, inside his domain he had better awareness and control on anything inside it. If he brought Kyran in, he'd be able to determine what was wrong with him.

However, before he could rouse his magic, a huge golden array-like clocks appeared above where the sphere had already disappeared.

Stella spread her arms and looked up. Several array-like clocks appeared and covered the still disintegrating sphere.

The color of the sphere started to change from black to purple. It started to condense and soon it changed into a huge purple ring around them.

Kyran's eyes already blurred when the huge purple ring touched the floor. Its size further decreased and slowly returned inside him. After the ring entered his body, he also lost consciousness.

Nolan caught him just before he fell on the floor.

"Ugh..." Stella moaned the moment Kyran's magic returned to him. She also fell on her knees and was breathing heavily.

The toll on her body when using her magic depended on the scale of her usage. Normally, she would not feel exhausted at this scale. But although Kyran's sphere already decreased in size, the magic contained within it had been too strong.

"What the f*ck just happened?" Nolan wondered out loud feeling very anxious.

To be honest, he already had an idea of what happened, but the idea he thought of, scared him.

"His magic seemed to have grown too much, his body can no longer contain it. I tried to revert it to an earlier state, but it's only temporary."

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. Damn this kid, scared the shit out of me."

A smile crept on Stella's lips, after witnessing Nolan's concern over Kyran's safety. A thought crossed her mind and she looked at him thoughtfully. Finally, she asked, "Why did you not tell him?"

Nolan stiffened at her question. Without looking at her, he replied. "Tell him what?"

"You don't have to pretend not to know what I meant."

After a short pause, Nolan finally looked at Stella and said. "How much do you know?"

"Well. Malek's vision was not exactly complete. We did see bits and pieces. But from what I can tell, after meeting you, it looks like you did not tell him much about yourself."

"I told him what he has to know. That's enough," Nolan replied with a shrug. "So, where do you want to take him. I'm telling you, I'm not gonna clean him up."

He immediately changed the subject.

Stella laughed softly. She could take a hint, so she decided not to pursue the matter. After all, it was Nolan's business and she had to gain his favor and trust as well if she wanted to get on Kyran's good side.

"I'll take care of that," she replied and stood up. "Please help me take him to my quarters."

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