Fire Mage (Web Novel)

Chapter 709: Elder Seal

"It seems you still think of yourself as a slave of the Nightwind Family, old man. From what I see, you are even powerful enough to handle the avatar of that Time God." Charles said as they finally arrived closer to the Royal District.

"You don't know how terrifying that guy is, lad," Runeth said with a cold laugh.

"I've encountered him already. As far as I can tell, he is stronger than any Demi-god I've met and could be considered the most powerful person. But if I make plans, I don't think I'll die without putting a fight." Charles said as he gripped Grace's hilt.

An amused smile appeared on Runeth's face.

"I'll tell you a secret only a few people know, lad. If he regained his former strength one day, only a handful of them in this universe could even stand against him. And even his mere avatars can kill the Gods' true bodies like nothing. That's why: If you meet him even in the faraway future, don't fight him at any cost. You can fight him if you reach the realm of Paragon. But until then, you should know your limits and always act cautious."

'Tsk, I wanted to act openly and make the world realize who Charles Nightwind is. But I have to agree with what Runeth said.'

Charles nodded even though he didn't want to agree and soon noticed they had arrived closer to the Royal District.

While walking, he suddenly touched his face and slowly relaxed his muscles and body.

Simultaneously, a change appeared in his overall strength.

"Hmm, you will enter the Nightwind Family mansion as a Rank-4 Mystic, huh? What are you scheming, lad?" Runeth couldn't help but ask.

"At first, I thought of entering the mansion and killing all the elders and Patriarch with my bare hands. But after learning about the family's complex political struggles and listening to your earlier warnings about Udnir, I decided to act cautiously. Moreover, I also want to find out some mysteries hidden in this city:

Find out why the Wisdom Cathedral is here instead of Miracle City.

Find out more about this kingdom's Royal Family. If the Doomsday Avatars have already replaced the Arc Kingdom and all other kingdoms' rulers, there should also be one in this Ember Kingdom, right?

Learn more about the Truelords family and find out why they killed Harry.

Why does my 'Wisdom Eye' scare them the most? And finally, I want to know what happened to Oswald. And why is Lady Rachel still staying in this city?"

"Hmm, showing yourself as a low-key Mage and discovering everything about the Nightwind Family from the inside, huh? But will they even believe you being Charles Nightwind?" Runeth pondered and soon added.

"But your methods work for me, too. This way, I'll have an easier way to enter the Nightwind Ancestral Domain. That's where the thing I want mostly sealed by Eddie Nightwind." As Runeth spoke, he adjusted his strength and showed himself to be a Rank-5 Mystic.

"Now, I'm nothing more than a Rank-5 [Mystery Man] Class Mystic," Runeth said calmly, quietly took out a golden badge with an eerie blackish symbol engraved at the center, and passed it to Charles.

"This is Eddie's Elder Seal. If one possesses this seal, one can enter the Nightwind Family and temporarily become a Guest of the House Nightwind. It has the same authority as an Elder and could be used for various purposes."

Charles caught the badge-like seal made of an amber-colored gem, inspected it for a second, and soon noticed a strange dream power was imbued in it.

"It has the power of Patriarch Diego's soul imprint. Moreover, the seal itself is made of a unique metal called 'Night Amber' and is hard to replicate without the help of a master craftsman."

While speaking, both arrived closer to the entrance.

Unlike the other districts, the entrance was guarded heavily by armored knights and even had a separate check-up to pass through.

As soon as they arrived closer to the check-up, a tall blonde-haired lady in her silver armor stepped forward and blocked their path.

She scrutinized Charles and Runeth sternly, her eyes lingering on Charles for a moment longer.

"Halt! State your business in the Royal District," she commanded, her voice firm and authoritative.

Maintaining his composure, Charles spoke confidently, "We are here to visit the Nightwind Family estate. I have matters to discuss with the Patriarch."

The knight's gaze intensified, and she gripped the spear. "Do you have any proof or invitation?"

Charles glanced at Runeth, quietly took out the badge, and passed it to her.

"It's the Elder Seal of the Nightwind Family."

The knight scrutinized it, scanning the seal, and soon widened her eyes as she sensed a familiar energy from within.

'It's the imprint of a Rank-5 powerhouse.'

After a moment, she nodded and handed the badge back. "You may proceed. But be warned, any disturbance or deviation from the authorized path will be met with severe consequences."

Charles nodded in acknowledgment, and they passed through the checkpoint into the Royal District. The atmosphere here was noticeably different — the buildings were grander, and the streets were wider. Guards patrolled the area with a heightened sense of vigilance.

As they approached the Nightwind Family estate, a massive mansion surrounded by walls and guarded by more knights came into view. The Nightwind crest adorned the entrance gate.

Runeth whispered to Charles, "Remember, lad, keep your wits about you. The Nightwind Family's internal politics are a treacherous web. Approach the Patriarch cautiously, and make sure you present yourself convincingly."

Charles nodded. They approached the entrance, where two guards stood watch.

"I am Charles. I am here to meet with Patriarch Diego to discuss an important matter," Charles announced, his voice projecting authority and giving the Elder Seal to one of the guards.

The guards exchanged glances before one stepped forward, took the seal, and scrutinized it.

Unlike the Royal Guard, the guard at the gate had seen this type of seal from the Elders multiple times and instantly recognized it.

"Where did you get this seal?" One of the guards instantly unsheathed his sword, pointed his sword tip at Charles, and asked coldly.

"Don't let them move a step, Ivan." The other guard said in a hurry and left to relay the message about the arrival of two mysterious people.

Charles and Runeth stayed at the entrance for the next thirty minutes and waited.

After a long time, the gates creaked open, granting them entry into the Nightwind Family estate.

A large courtyard filled with greenery and unique gardening plants greeted them.

"You may enter now." The guard returned the Elder Badge to Charles and whispered something in the other guard's ears.

Only then did the guard named Ivan retract his weapon and allow them to pass through.

Charles and Runeth went through the compound gate, softly treading the polished pathway crafted from pristine granite stones. They passed by the grand fountain positioned at the heart of the courtyard, its waters shimmering in the ambient light. The subtle sounds of splashing water accompanied their quiet steps as they neared the imposing four-storied mansion. Its architectural grandeur emanated an air of aristocracy and history.

Entering the mansion, they found themselves in a spacious foyer adorned with intricate tapestries and elegant furnishings. The atmosphere exuded wealth and prestige, a testament to the Nightwind Family's status within the Ember Kingdom. Charles and Runeth continued their journey through the opulent corridors, guided by the silent whispers of the mansion's history.

The mansion's interior was opulent, with lavish decorations adorning the halls. As they proceeded deeper, Charles noticed the intricate design of the family symbol embedded in the floor—a winged night owl.

Finally, they reached a spacious chamber where an elderly man with silver hair, a tall figure, a broad forehead, a square face, and sharp eyes sat on an ornate throne. He wore a blue robe over his body, placed his hand on his jaw while leaning on the throne, and looked at him with a hint of curiosity.

Five sofa-like chairs were also placed on the sides, and five people in different attires sat on their respective chairs.

'Four men and one woman.' Suddenly, Charles sensed a strange, chaotic energy from one of the four men and furrowed his brows.

He was a handsome young man, around 25 years old, with shining blonde hair, captivating red eyes, and an oval face. He wore an elegant blue surcoat over his formal attire and looked at him with charming eyes.

For a second, Charles sensed a strange power influencing his Inner emotions and was slightly surprised.

Simultaneously, a row of information appeared before his eyes.

...

[Name: Ekemir

Race: Human/???

Class: Chaos Maker

Sub-Class: Mind Manipulator

Attributes:

Strength- 25

Dexterity- 29

Constitution- 32

Wisdom- 154

Charisma- 24

Class skills: Chaos Body, Corrupt Invasion, Breath of Chaos, Demon's Eye, Wicked Mind Seed, Corrupt Mist of Blood.

Subclass skills: Fate Swift, Unpredictable Mind, Mind Walking.

Unique skills: ?????.]

...