Magus Reborn Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair as he slumped onto the bed. He felt frustrated as he had spent most of his time rummaging through Arzan’s belongings.

The room was in complete disarray—clothes strewn across the floor, drawers left half-open, and his diary lying haphazardly on the desk. He stared at the wardrobe, its wooden drawers hanging ajar, as though mocking his efforts. Hours of relentless searching had turned up nothing.

The medallion. Where is it?

His gaze wandered, and his thoughts pulled him back to those chaotic first days when he had become Arzan. Even then, he'd rummaged through every corner of his room, every chest, every compartment, searching for answers about his new identity. The diary had been his only find, a cryptic map of regrets and memories written in Arzan's hand. He'd clung to it, dissected its contents, hoping it held some hidden clue.

Now, he had read it again, scouring every word, hoping for something he'd overlooked. There was no mention of a medallion—not even a hint.

Kai leaned back and rubbed his temples, speaking aloud to fill the silence. "If Arzan knew of the medallion, there’s no way he would’ve left it behind. Not at the Duke mansion. Not anywhere."

There was a slim chance Lucian had taken it, but the logic didn’t hold. If Lucian possessed it, Regina wouldn’t be after him with such fervor. And from what Amara had shared, simply being the rightful heir to the medallion wasn’t enough. Without it in hand, he couldn’t assert its power. The nobles could reject his claim outright, ignoring any request he made. They wouldn’t let him speak another word without proper evidence to his claim.

He exhaled sharply and let his eyes drift back to the cluttered desk as his thoughts churned.

He had already decided to speak with Killian about it, though he doubted the knight knew anything. Back at the Duke mansion, Killian’s standing hadn’t been strong enough to grant him access to something so critical.

Still, it was one of the few leads he had. His options were narrowing by the time, and with them, the fragile stability of his growing influence.

Though his search had yielded no tangible results, a thought lingered in the back of Kai’s mind—a hunch that refused to be dismissed. Valkyrie’s inheritance.

It had intrigued him ever since he first learned of its existence. A Magus inheritance was no trivial matter; it was a legacy of power, knowledge, and artefacts. When he’d claimed to have become a Mage through it, he had lied—a convenient cover story. But deep down, he had reason to believe that the medallion might be tied to this inheritance.

The problem, however, was that he had no idea where Valkyrie’s inheritance was located. It wasn’t in the Duke’s mansion—of that, he was certain. If it were, Lucian would have claimed it long ago. No, it had to be elsewhere. Somewhere hidden. Somewhere forgotten. But where? He asked the same question, again.

Fortunately, he had a feeling that he was close to finding it. He didn’t know how, but he knew.

His focus shifted inward, to the cold, freezing sensation that pulsed faintly in his Mana heart—the third and final primary affinity he had awakened in this life. His ice affinity. Alongside it came a startling revelation: the remnants of his mother’s consciousness lingered within Arzan’s heart.

How such a fragment of her soul had survived his transmigration, let alone endured his complete takeover of Arzan’s body, was beyond his understanding. But he didn’t care. What mattered was that it was still there—a connection to a past that wasn’t entirely his, yet held answers he desperately needed.

Over the past weeks, as his control over his ice affinity had sharpened, so too had his awareness of that consciousness.

The image of a woman—a faint, hazy vision—had begun to grow clearer in his mind. She was regal, commanding, yet gentle, her eyes filled with sorrow, wisdom and love.

Kai closed his eyes and focused.

Nothing might come out of this, but at least, I have to try.

He let his mana flow through his heart, allowing the icy sensation to spread through him. The cold was sharp and biting, yet familiar, like an old memory coming to life. He honed in on the fragment of consciousness, willing it to come forward.

And then, out of nowhere, it appeared.

The silhouette of a woman with flowing white hair appeared before him, her form radiant and ethereal, like a fragment of light trapped in frost.

Her gaze bore into him, her bright smile warm yet laced with an undeniable sense of power.

"My heir," she said, her voice soft but resonating with authority, freezing Kai in place.

For a moment, he simply stared, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the remnant. The icy aura surrounding her seeped into the air, sending shivers down his spine. Snapping out of his stupor, he steadied his breath and forced himself to speak.

"The inheritance," Kai said, his voice firm despite the weight pressing down on him. "Where is it?"

The woman tilted her head slightly, her smile deepening, but there was no answer—not the one he wanted. Instead, her lips parted, and she said softly, "It’s not the time. You aren’t ready yet."

Her words sent a jolt of frustration through him. "What do you mean?" he pressed, but before he could ask more, her form began to waver, like mist dissolving in the sunlight.

"Wait!" Kai called, stepping forward, but she was gone, fading into the cold stillness of his Mana heart.

A wave of exhaustion slammed into him, as though the brief interaction had drained what little strength he had left. He stumbled backward, barely managing to sit on the bed as his breaths came shallow and quick.

Sprawled out, he muttered to himself, "It says the same thing every time. When will it be the right time? Do I have to break through to the next rank just to get a clue?"

The questions gnawed at his mind, circling endlessly, but no answers came. Instead, an overwhelming heaviness began to creep into his thoughts. Drowsiness clawed at him, persistent and unrelenting, tugging him toward unconsciousness.

Kai tried to shrug it off, but the endless cycle of stress, planning, and pushing himself had taken its toll.

Somewhere deep down, he wished for sleep to claim him, if only for a moment of respite.

And so, his eyes slowly closed, his tense body relaxing against the bed as the cold, heavy silence of the room gave way to the haze of his dreams.

***

Kai’s eyes opened to an expanse of lush, green grass swaying gently in an unseen breeze. He blinked, his gaze darting around the unfamiliar clearing. It was quiet, serene even, yet something felt off.

He clenched his fists, half-expecting to find himself in one of his recurring nightmares.

But unlike those suffocating visions, there were no dim caverns, no walls closing in on him, no beasts lurking in the shadows. And the silhouette of his master was nowhere in sight.

Looking up, he saw the moon hanging in the sky, unnaturally large and casting an eerie glow across the clearing. Its pale light felt cold against his skin. He blinked again, confusion twisting in his gut. "What is this...?" he muttered under his breath.

Then, a voice cut through the stillness, soft yet commanding.

"Fatebreaker," it called, sending a shiver racing down his spine. "I was finally able to reach you. Or do you prefer Kai? I can also call you Arzan if that suits you better."

Kai whipped around, his eyes locking onto a figure standing a few paces away.

It was a woman—an elf, her ageless features exuding an air of wisdom and power. Her long silver hair flowed down her back, and her silver eyes shimmered with a strange light. She leaned lightly on a wooden staff, its surface etched with intricate runes. Despite her benevolent smile, Kai couldn’t shake the unease prickling at his skin.

His instincts kicked in. He willed his mana to surge, to form a defensive shield or even just spark to life, but… nothing. His heart sank as he realised he couldn’t access his mana here.

The woman chuckled softly, her voice laced with amusement. "Don’t worry," she said, her tone gentle. "You’re safe. I called you here into my own space. This isn’t a dream, but it’s not the physical realm either. That’s why you can’t access your mana." She tilted her head slightly, as if to reassure him. "I promise, your body is perfectly safe where it is. I simply wanted to talk."

Kai’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. "I don’t know you," he said bluntly, taking a defensive step back.

"But I know you," the woman replied, her smile unwavering. "I’ve been observing you for some time now. Weeks, to be exact."

Kai frowned, his mind racing to make sense of her words. "Who are you?"

The woman straightened, her grip tightening on the staff. "My name is V’aleirith," she said. "I am the keeper of this place—an observer of paths untaken, of fates rewritten." Her eyes sparkled as she added, "And you, Kai… you’ve intrigued me."

Kai’s jaw clenched, the weight of her words sinking in. "What do you want from me?"

V’aleirith’s smile softened, and she gestured toward the moonlit clearing around them. "Kai," she said, her tone almost maternal. "Do you mind walking with me? There’s much to discuss, and it’s important."

Kai's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Do I even have a choice?" he asked.

The woman laughed softly. "I suppose not," she said, "but I’d prefer if you followed willingly. It makes for better conversation."

With a slight nod, Kai relented. "Fine. Lead the way."

V’aleirith turned, her staff lightly tapping the ground as she moved toward the edge of the clearing. Beyond the grassy expanse, a dense forest loomed, its shadows stretching like outstretched fingers.

Kai followed her silently, his eyes scanning the surroundings as he tried to make sense of the situation.

The air felt… strange, thick with an energy he couldn’t quite place. He wondered what type of magic was this. Was this some kind of [Soul Domain?] That sort of a spell was at least a fifth circle one and the ability to call him up there made it clear that he was dealing with an opponent way stronger than him.

It made him take his steps carefully.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Kai trailed behind her, his gaze flitting between the towering trees and the light filtering through the canopy.

His thoughts churned with theories, but eventually, the silence became unbearable.

"So," he said, breaking the quiet, "can you explain what’s going on here?"

V’aleirith glanced over her shoulder with a knowing smile. "That’s precisely why I called you here… To explain what’s going on," she said, her tone unhurried. "Though I’ll admit, I’d hoped to explain everything at once—about the coming calamity, the threads of fate, and why we need you to save everything."

Kai’s brow furrowed, suspicion flickering across his face.

"But," V’aleirith continued, "as I’ve watched your threads, I realised you already know quite a bit. Not just anyone can be a Fatebreaker, after all." Her gaze lingered on him, almost… fascinated. "Two souls reside within you. One, undeniably yours, strong and dominant. The other... fragmented, scattered like particles, yet undeniably present. It’s fascinating, really."

Kai’s jaw clenched. "Don’t talk in circles. Just say what you mean."

V’aleirith laughed again, light and melodic, and waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, alright. No more riddles. But we’re already here. You’ll understand more once you see it."

Kai stopped in his tracks as they stepped into another clearing, his breath hitching at the sight before him.

Towering above them was a massive tree, its roots sprawling like veins through the earth, its branches reaching up to tear at the heavens. The tree pulsed faintly with a shimmering light, each glow casting the surroundings in a surreal, otherworldly radiance.

It was… straight out of heaven. Everything looked magical in a way that was explained in fairy tale books for children. Even the very soil seemed to pulse with energy when he took steps forward.

"The Elder Tree," Kai muttered, his voice barely audible. The words felt heavy on his tongue, steeped in both awe and dread. "The source of all mana."

V’aleirith came to stand beside him, her gaze soft as she followed his line of sight. "Yes," she said quietly, "the source of all mana… and the life giver of us elves."

Kai narrowed his eyes and closed his palms, as they itched to move forward and touch the tree, see how it felt. "How did I miss this? How could something this… massive… not have been seen earlier?"

V’aleirith didn’t answer immediately, letting the silence hang before speaking. "Because it exists on a different plane. This right here is just a projection. But as things stand… even the real Elder Tree is not eternal. Everything, no matter how grand, comes to an end." Her voice dropped slightly, tinged with sorrow.

"You’ve seen it, haven’t you? Lived through a time when the Elder Tree was no more. When the calamity took everything, when the prophecy had come true."

V’aleirith’s eyes locked onto his, unflinching.

Hearing her words, Kai froze, his entire body tensing. Her words struck deeper than he cared to admit, and the mention of his secret—the one he had guarded so fiercely—sent a chill racing down his spine.

"How do you know about that?"

V’aleirith turned to face him fully and she tapped the ground with the staff she held.

"I am a worshipper of the Elder Tree," she said, her voice carrying a reverence that seemed to echo in the air. "It grants its followers gifts... insights into the threads of fate and the truths of the soul. My gift allows me to see through these threads, even those that have been severed. You, Kai, have broken your fate, and yet... it lingers, altered but not erased."

Kai’s fists clenched at her words, his mind racing. He didn’t like this—didn’t like being read, his very essence laid bare. His heartbeat fastened twice as he continued to stare at the depths of the silver eyes.

V’aleirith stepped closer, the staff in her hand glowing faintly as she continued, her tone firm.

"Hence, I request—no, implore—you, Magus Kai of the Sorcerer's Tower, to protect the Elder Tree and my species. The prophecy looms over us, and extinction is imminent. You are the only one capable of mending and breaking fate."