V2. Chapter 37 — Empire or Self?

The deathly silence that settled over the enormous hall weighed down so heavily that Kael felt as though an entire mountain had suddenly collapsed onto his shoulders.

His amber eyes remained fixed on the figure beside the throne while his mind frantically tried to analyze what was happening.

“An advisor to the Emperor? No…” flashed through his thoughts as his gaze quickly swept over the Archmagisters. “They’re far too tense…”

And the more closely Kael studied their faces, the stronger the strange feeling of unease growing inside him became.

What he sensed in the Archmagisters’ eyes was not ordinary respect.

It was fear.

Only then, finally snapping out of his stupor, did Kael hurriedly drop to one knee and bow his head along with everyone else.

“Who could possibly make General Salazar and the Archmagisters react like this?” he thought, feeling a chill slowly run down his spine.

The first to break the silence was Al-Hakim, who cautiously raised his gaze toward the figure in the golden mask.

“Forgive me…” the Archmagister said with utmost restraint. “Could you explain your decision?”

Guro almost immediately supported him, nodding slowly.

“The boy has enormous potential as an artisan,” the blind old man said in a raspy voice. “Sending him to war is both cruel and irrational.”

However, the masked man merely let out a quiet grunt.

“There are things hidden from your sight…”

And at that moment, Kael suddenly felt the gaze behind the golden mask settle directly upon him.

His entire body immediately tensed.

Even without any pressure from an aura, Kael somehow felt as though he was being seen through completely.

“This is bad…” flashed through his mind. “All of this is very bad…”

Kael instinctively clenched his fist while remaining on one knee.

“Why does he want to send me to war?” he thought, feeling his unease continue to grow. “Is he an enemy?”

And suddenly, the man in the golden mask spoke calmly, “I see questions in your eyes. Speak, boy.”

Those words caused Kael to freeze for a brief moment as his mind instantly tensed.

“First, I need to understand exactly who I’m speaking to…” flashed through his mind. “I need to feel out the situation first…”

Taking a slow breath, Kael bowed his head as respectfully as possible.

“Forgive me, Senior,” he said courteously. “I do not understand the situation well enough to know what I may or may not say in your presence. I fear I might speak out of turn.”

Silence once again settled over the hall for several seconds.

Then, unexpectedly, a quiet laugh came from beneath the golden mask.

“A cautious boy…” the man said with a strange note of amusement. “That is good.”

Then he added more calmly, “You may call me the Shadow of the Throne. You may ask me anything. I promise I will not harm you.”

But the moment Kael heard that title, he immediately froze.

Then, in the very next instant, he raised his gaze toward the figure in the golden mask in disbelief and quietly said, “The Shadow of the Throne...? Could it be that you are the heir of the ancient sage who founded the Imperial Bloodline?”

However, the man’s answer only left Kael even more stunned.

“I am not a descendant,” the Shadow of the Throne said calmly. “I am that very sage from the legends.”

And the moment those words were spoken, Kael lowered his gaze in disbelief and whispered almost inaudibly, “But… how is that possible?”

From the outside, his reaction looked like genuine shock.

Yet inside, Kael was experiencing far more complicated emotions.

“If this is true…” flashed through his mind tensely. “Then he arrived in the Human Dimension around seven hundred years ago…”

And as he raised his gaze toward the Shadow of the Throne again, Kael added inwardly, “In that case, the level of his magical power must far exceed the limits of the Human Dimension… There simply are no long-lived beings here capable of living for seven hundred years.”

At the same time, Kael could clearly feel that the Shadow of the Throne was continuing to study him intently.

Even through the golden mask, the man’s gaze felt far too sharp and penetrating, causing Kael’s wariness to grow even stronger.

Understanding that his every movement and emotion was being watched, Kael deliberately allowed his lips to tremble slightly, continuing to feign shock while his mind raced to analyze the situation.

“If it’s really him…” Kael thought tensely. “Then, like me, he should be a Shard.”

The very thought sent a chill through him.

“But until the situation becomes clearer, I can’t reveal that I know too much about the Mortal World,” he quickly added to himself, maintaining his outward confusion. “And I absolutely cannot reveal my own nature…”

In the next moment, Kael seemed to force himself to regain control of his emotions and, slowly exhaling, spoke as respectfully as possible, “Forgive my reaction… All of this sounds far too unreal…”

He swallowed and lowered his gaze for a moment before continuing more cautiously.

“But I have no right to question your words. And if you permit it… I would like to ask something else. Why do you wish to send me to war?”

At that, the Shadow of the Throne tilted his head slightly.

“And you don't want to?”

The directness of the question made Kael wary.

For several seconds, he appeared to consider his answer before deciding to respond as honestly as he could afford to.

“To be honest, I have a strong interest in knowledge and certain crafts,” Kael said calmly. “I am confident that I could bring far greater benefit to the Empire if I remained in the Capital.”

As he spoke, he carefully watched the Shadow of the Throne’s reaction, trying to determine whether this man was willing to listen to the opinions of others at all.

At those words, several Archmagisters subtly supported Kael with brief nods, clearly agreeing with such a view of his future. Only Salazar showed no reaction whatsoever, continuing to stand with his usual calm demeanor and his head slightly bowed, as though everything unfolding was entirely within his expectations.

Meanwhile, Kael’s thoughts raced.

“Both my previous life and this one have been focused on knowledge and theory… And only now have I finally begun transitioning into genuine practice.”

Alchemical formulas, inscription diagrams, and the past month spent in relentless training surfaced involuntarily in his memory.

“But practicing a craft and fighting a war are two completely different things…”

Yet in the next instant, everything inside Kael suddenly tensed.

He distinctly felt a foreign mana forcefully entering his forehead.

The sensation was subtle, almost imperceptible, yet so alien and overwhelming that a shiver instantly ran through his body.

And in the very next moment, the calm voice of the Shadow of the Throne sounded directly within his mind: “Benefit to the Empire… or benefit to your own path? Which would you choose?”

And the moment those words echoed through his mind, something inside Kael seemed to tremble.

He sharply lifted his head, meeting the gaze behind the Shadow of the Throne’s golden mask.

Then, a moment later, the calm voice sounded within his mind again, “Oh… Your gaze says far more than your words.”

Kael involuntarily tensed even more.

“As expected,” the Shadow of the Throne’s voice continued. “You truly do possess traits of your predecessors.”

Those words made Kael frown slightly.

“Predecessors?” flashed through his mind.

The question pierced his mind like a needle, while simultaneously stirring irritation within him. “What is he even talking about? Damn it... I’m too weak to answer him through mana.”

Quickly sweeping his gaze across the hall, Kael gritted his teeth slightly and noted inwardly, “Since he contacted me mentally, answering out loud would be a bad idea...”

The Archmagisters had obviously noticed that a silent conversation was taking place between the Shadow of the Throne and Kael, yet none of them dared interfere or even speak up.

Even Al-Hakim merely frowned slightly and continued watching in silence.

Meanwhile, Kael felt an entire avalanche of questions and unease steadily building inside him. Yet before he could gather his thoughts, the Shadow of the Throne’s voice once again sounded calmly within his mind:

“If you truly wish to care for the Empire… I will allow you to remain in the Capital.”

For a brief moment, hope flared within Kael.

But the very next words instantly brought him out in a cold sweat.

“However, understand this...” The Shadow of the Throne’s voice grew slightly heavier. “The lives of Shards are incredibly difficult and dangerous. If you wish to survive and unlock your potential, you will have to risk your life again and again... and become stronger.”

At that moment, Kael’s hands truly trembled.

All of his thoughts seemed to merge into a single chaotic torrent.

“How?” flashed through his mind in shock. “How did he realize I’m a Shard?!”

Stolen story; please report.

Kael tensed sharply, feeling his heart pound faster and faster.

“What else does he know about me?” he continued inwardly. “And what does he know about other Shards? I need to—”

But the torrent of thoughts was abruptly interrupted by the Shadow of the Throne’s voice, sounding calmly within his mind: “I saw your amulet and assume that you already know certain things about your own nature...”

At those words, Kael’s heart tightened even further.

“And judging by your... finally sincere reaction,” the Shadow of the Throne continued with the faintest trace of mockery, “there is also much that you do not know.”

Those words immediately sparked a new wave of unease within Kael.

“Finally sincere?” he thought. “Does that mean he knew from the very beginning that I was only putting on an act?”

The thought made Kael’s gaze waver slightly.

All this time, he had believed he controlled his emotions well. Now, he was beginning to feel that in front of this man, all of his caution looked like a child’s game.

Meanwhile, the Shadow of the Throne’s voice once again sounded calmly within his consciousness: “If you want answers, you will have to become much stronger.”

And almost immediately afterward, he added in a far colder tone, “But most importantly—do not let anyone learn the true nature of your soul.”

At those words, Kael swallowed nervously.

“I don’t know what his true motives are...” he thought. “But he’s definitely not an enemy. At least... not for now.”

Feeling how rapidly his heart was beating, Kael immediately began suppressing his emotions, allowing reason to regain control. And within a few seconds, a cold, calculating gleam gradually appeared in his amber eyes.

His mind began operating at its usual speed once more, rapidly piecing together chains of conclusions and possibilities.

“More than that...” he continued inwardly, striving to maintain an outwardly calm appearance. “This man may be the only person in the entire Human Dimension who truly understands the nature of Shards.”

The very thought filled him with tension.

“No...” he almost immediately corrected himself. “Judging by his lifespan and his words about predecessors, his knowledge is probably unique even across multiple Dimensions.”

And at that moment, a single possible course of action seemed to take shape within Kael’s mind.

“I don’t want to go to war,” he said inwardly, feeling an unpleasant weight in his chest. “But I can’t afford to miss an opportunity like this... No matter how extensive my knowledge may be, I know far too little about the Gods and my own nature.”

Kael’s gaze involuntarily rose toward the golden mask once more.

“If I want to take revenge on the Master in the future, I need answers.”

With that thought, Kael slowly nodded, surprising everyone present.

The Archmagisters noticed the reaction almost immediately, and tense silence once again settled over the hall.

The Shadow of the Throne then calmly asked aloud, “So you agree with my decision?”

After those words, Kael took a deep breath.

The tension and reluctance to accept such a path still remained within him, but reason had now completely subdued his emotions.

“Sometimes fate demands that you do what is necessary… not what you desire,” Kael said honestly.

Straightening his back, he felt his resolve steadily strengthening within him.

“And it seems that today is precisely the day when I should answer its call.”

At those words, several Archmagisters raised their brows in surprise.

General Salazar also turned his head slightly toward Kael, and for the first time, something resembling genuine approval flickered in his red eyes.

But unexpectedly, Kael spoke again, “However, there is something I would like to clarify…”

The Shadow of the Throne merely nodded calmly, allowing him to continue.

“My primary path has changed unexpectedly,” Kael said evenly. “But I do not wish to abandon my other pursuits entirely. Would you allow me to take the examinations for additional crafts ahead of schedule?”

The moment those words were spoken, Guro unexpectedly became the first to support him.

“That would be a very good decision,” the blind Archmagister said in a raspy voice, nodding slightly. “On the front lines, mages who possess useful skills beyond combat are always especially valued.”

Turning his head slightly toward Kael, he continued, “If the boy continues developing in alchemy, it will only increase both his value and his chances of survival.”

Almost immediately afterward, the voluptuous woman with emerald hair—the Archmagister of the Inscribers’ Guild—also spoke.

“I agree,” she said calmly, idly twirling a long inscription needle between her fingers. “Inscription is also extremely useful for reconnaissance, detecting traps, and analyzing enemy formations.”

Following her words, several other Archmagisters gave faint nods as well, clearly beginning to view Kael’s proposal not as an attempt to avoid service, but as a perfectly reasonable requirement for his own development.

At that moment, only Al-Hakim grimaced slightly.

The reason was obvious—the Scholars’ Guild had virtually no direct connection to war or the front lines, and therefore appeared far less useful than the other specializations in the eyes of the military.

Unexpectedly, however, Kael himself came to the defense of that path.

“I have also begun studying the beastmen language,” he said calmly, shifting his gaze toward the Shadow of the Throne. “On the battlefield, I could conduct research for the benefit of the Scholars’ Guild.”

Those words surprised Al-Hakim slightly, and gratitude even flickered briefly in his eyes.

As for the Shadow of the Throne, he seemed to smile faintly.

It could not be seen beneath the golden mask, yet the change seemed to permeate the very atmosphere around him.

Letting out a quiet grunt, the Shadow of the Throne finally turned his gaze toward Salazar.

“How much longer will you remain in the Capital, General Salazar?”

Salazar answered almost immediately, as though he had anticipated the question.

“A month,” the General said firmly. “The Emperor ordered me to hold and protect the Capital until his return.”

The Shadow of the Throne nodded calmly before slowly shifting his gaze toward the Archmagisters.

“As I have heard, Kael already possesses a very strong theoretical foundation,” he said evenly. “However, his practical skills still lag behind.”

Then, unexpectedly, a hint of mischief entered the Shadow of the Throne’s voice, as though he were deliberately issuing a challenge to all of the Archmagisters at once.

“Since you all seem so eager to have the boy join your ranks…” he continued calmly. “Then you have one month.”

After those words, the Archmagisters immediately understood where the conversation was heading.

“If within that time Kael manages to pass the examinations,” the Shadow of the Throne continued, “he will officially become a member of your Guilds.”

For a brief moment, silence settled over the hall.

Then the Shadow of the Throne added in a much calmer tone, “If not… then he will continue practicing those crafts on the front lines. Without your involvement.”

And the moment that challenge was issued, Guro and the Archmagister of Inscription rose from their knees almost simultaneously.

“I will personally oversee his training,” Guro said in a raspy voice, leaning on his staff.

“And so will I,” the voluptuous woman with emerald hair immediately declared, clear excitement already gleaming in her eyes.

At the same time, the thoughts of both Archmagisters were moving in remarkably similar directions.

“The Shadow of the Throne himself has taken an interest in this boy’s fate…” Guro thought tensely. “I cannot let such a disciple slip away.”

The woman, meanwhile, was already evaluating the situation from a far more practical perspective: “We cannot lose a mage like this. If he becomes part of the Inscribers’ Guild, it will bring us tremendous prestige in the future.”

Even Al-Hakim now looked as though he had begun seriously considering exactly how he would train Kael over the coming month.

As for Kael, he unexpectedly froze slightly.

Watching the Archmagisters quite literally begin competing for the opportunity to train him personally, he clearly felt a familiar calculating anticipation, tinged with a hint of cunning, slowly rising within him.

“It seems…” Kael thought, feeling the corners of his lips nearly twitch into a smile. “This month is going to be very productive.”

Only at the last moment did he manage to maintain an outwardly calm expression.

Looking at the Shadow of the Throne, Kael felt the anticipation inside him growing stronger and stronger.

“What a generous gift…” the thought flashed through his mind. “If the Archmagisters truly train me personally, I’ll commit every word, every movement, and every method to memory. I couldn’t have imagined better assistance…”

And the more Kael realized the value of what was happening, the more clearly he understood just how incredible an opportunity he had been given.

The Archmagisters stood at the pinnacle of craftsmanship throughout the entire Empire.

Ordinary people could live their whole lives without even receiving a chance to observe their work up close, let alone be taught by them personally.

With those thoughts, Kael immediately bowed deeply and said solemnly, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Archmagisters!”

Then, raising his gaze to the figure in the golden mask, he added in a much more serious tone:

“And I especially thank you, Shadow of the Throne. I will do everything in my power not to disappoint you.”

But in response, the Shadow of the Throne’s voice sounded once more within Kael’s mind: “Do not think about my expectations. Think about your own path.”

Those words made Kael involuntarily freeze, and after a brief pause, the voice sounded again inside his mind: “I have plenty of time, and I am capable of waiting…”

Kael felt the tension rising within him again as the Shadow of the Throne continued, “If one day you manage to unlock your potential, I promise to answer every question currently running through your mind.”

After those words, the voice became slightly quieter, yet somehow heavier.

“Until then—focus on increasing your own strength and knowledge.”

Kael listened in silence, feeling those words carve themselves directly into his memory.

Only then did the Shadow of the Throne calmly speak aloud, “Kael’s award ceremony is concluded.”

His deep voice echoed throughout the entire hall.

“And the events of today will remain only between us… and in our memories.”

And the moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall changed completely.

The Archmagisters silently lowered their heads, clearly understanding the significance of the order that had just been given.

And the moment those words were spoken, the figure of the Shadow of the Throne suddenly blurred, disappearing just as unexpectedly as it had appeared.

At that same moment, Kael noticed the very air along the walls of the hall ripple and distort slightly, as though an invisible barrier that had concealed everything happening inside from outside eyes and senses had finally vanished.

The atmosphere immediately became lighter.

Yet Kael remained on one knee, feeling a storm of thoughts, emotions, and questions about the Shadow of the Throne, the Shards, the mysteries of the past, and the future raging inside him.

But in the very next moment, Kael slowly took a deep breath, then practically forced himself to suppress the excess thoughts, coldly addressing himself: “Enough with the speculation. Everything in its own time.”

And with that, his usual clarity of thought gradually returned.

The familiar gleam of anticipation seemed to reappear in Kael’s amber eyes.

“Everything went completely differently than I planned...” he thought as he slowly began to rise. “But now I at least have a clear direction.”

And as he briefly thought once more about the war, the front lines, and the battles to come, Kael unexpectedly felt a hint of mischief stir within him.

“My advantage is that even the Shadow of the Throne underestimates me...” he thought, feeling his mind already beginning to calculate possible paths forward. “With my knowledge, I’ll be able to progress even during a war without throwing myself into every deadly battle.”

Alchemy, inscription, research, and ways to turn the chaos of war to his own advantage immediately surfaced in his mind.

“Yes, it will be more dangerous there than in the Capital...” Kael admitted calmly. “But someone already tried to kill me here once.”

And for some reason, that realization finally put him at ease.

With those thoughts, Kael finally rose to his feet, then once again bowed deeply to everyone present.

“Once again, thank you all.”

Then, sweeping his gaze across the Archmagisters and lingering on those he was interested in, he added more firmly, “I will do everything in my power to become a member of your Guilds.”

After that, Kael turned his gaze to Salazar and, bowing his head slightly deeper, said calmly, “It will be an honor to serve under your command, General.”

Salazar merely smirked hoarsely in response, then tossed the black military uniform to Kael with a sharp flick of his hand.

Kael caught it almost automatically, feeling the dense fabric and the embroidered crimson dragon of the Empire beneath his fingers. Only then, glancing downward, did he notice the runes embroidered across the chest: “Crimson Serpent.”

“Make good use of this month,” Salazar said calmly. “Your life is about to change quite significantly.”

Then, lifting his chin slightly, he added in a far more familiar tone, “You’re dismissed, soldier.”

At those words, Kael reflexively straightened his back.

“Yes, sir!”

And immediately afterward, he turned and strode briskly toward the exit of the hall.

However, the moment he stepped through the doors, the waiting soldiers practically pounced on him with questions.

“Is that a Scarlet Serpent Army uniform?!”

“Wait... you’re part of the army now?”

“Why did it take so long? What happened in there?”

Even the same giant was now staring at Kael with open astonishment, trying to get a better look at the uniform in his hands.

Kael merely smiled awkwardly in response, brushing them off with vague answers and trying not to reveal too much.

“Oh, nothing special...”

“The conversation just ran a little long...”

“I just got lucky...”

But while the people around him continued chattering, Kael’s thoughts were occupied by something entirely different.

“Damn...” Kael thought. “How am I supposed to tell the others that in the near future they’ll have to rely only on themselves? And how are they even going to take this news?”