Chương 297: Unspoken thing

"It is over, adventurer," the draconian hissed from inside his helmet. The towering man had just turned the corner and found Kite alone in an isolated corridor. Seeing as his foe did not mind a short conversation before the seemingly inevitable violence, Kte looked thoughtful as he responded.

"Given that your gathering has been exposed and that my comrades are doing quite a good job in tearing this whole facility to pieces behind you, I would be inclined to agree."

"Bah! You may have sundered one of our workings, but the Cabal of the Serpent Superior is as manifold and as persistent as the heads of a hydra. I was referring to you and your life. Because that is at least one of the prizes I will take before I leave this place."

"Fleeing a sinking ship is indeed a wise decision. Rats do it all the time from what I've heard from a quite credible source. And as my Auntie Crow used to say: Instead of sharing in the misery of others out of fear of the unknown, find your own way. And through that, greater purpose. Unfortunately for you, we decided that having me remain behind to guard the exit was a good strategy for catching any fleeing leaders of your cabal.

Which also seems to have been wise," Kite said as walls of force appeared to close off both ends of the corridor while also spreading across the walls and ceiling.

"Then you are a fool!" the armored draconian roared, conjuring a rather vicious looking heavy axe that Kite suspected would make his wife very envious.

"We might both be silvers, but I am a descendant of the dragons; a higher species with potential beyond your ken. While you? A mere human, as common as the dung littering the streets. The draconian race will reign supreme, and there is nothing someone like you can do to stop that."

"Then you'd better start pitting your path against mine sooner rather than later," Kite remarked politely even as the trio of vortices that was Spirit Singularity appeared above him and started eating away at the draconian's mana.

"Because my aura senses tell me that my reinforcements are finishing yours at a good pace."" Charge forth, host of the Divine dragon!" As his opponents response was a spell chant that caused the draconian to glow as he sped up into a charge with impressive weight and momentum behind it, and it spoke to his skill that he managed to sidestep, jump over or even barrel straight through every segment of Leyline Warding which Kite directed in from the walls and ceiling to bar his foe's path without losing stride.

Before the impending impact, Kite had only time to reflect on the fact that such a power had probably reached gold rank even if the man himself was still a silver, meaning that the magical force behind it was impressive and that it would probably be beyond most silver-ranked powers to put a stop to it. But, Fortune be praised, Kite had just the thing." Ward!" A shockwave caused the air inside the corridor to blur as the man's axe met a disc of force a mere moment before it would cleave into Kite's armored body.

Had this collision taken place a month ago, the barrier would have been cracked in an instant even with the perfect timing of its deployment. But now there was a glowing symbol the size of a small dinner plate at its center, and when the edge of the axe and all the force of the charge behind it met that symbol, it simply stopped. WWJS: Congratulations! Your power [Heaven-and-Void Warding] has reached Gold 0. [Heaven-and-Void Warding] has gained additional effects. - Heaven-and-Void Warding -"Ward" Spell.

Cost: Low to Moderate mana. Cooldown: None. Current rank: Gold 0 Effect - Iron: Form a temporary barrier around self or ally within range, absorbing damage for a medium duration or until released or shattered. Cost is increased to moderate mana if used on ally. Effect - Bronze: May adjust size of barrier, increasing its strength by diminishing its size and vice versa. Effect - Silver: May conjure a second barrier with the same casting. Effect - Gold: May conjure a third barrier with the same casting.

The center of each barrier has a small area that negates all damage inflicted upon it, although especially powerful effects or those of higher rank may not be entirely negated. There was no rebound, and not a single crack appeared in the conjured disc, but the same could not be said of the floor and walls of the corridor behind Kite as the vast force carried by the charge tore the previously smooth stone into fine splinters.

Kite's expanded field of vision let him appreciate the carnage that Unyielding could wreak on his surroundings even as he smashed the inside of his barrier with his staff to cause a wave of resonating echoes to pulse out over his adversary.

The draconian did not stay surprised by his failed charge for long though, and quickly conjured another layer of glowing scales across his armor that seemed adept at countering the resonating force, only for Kite to take the opportunity to shatter his axe with a well-timed Disrupting Strike followed by four projected stabs from Matra's descendants that - along with Chakra Implosion - drained even more mana.

With a roar, the glow of flames lit up the insides of the draconian's enclosing helmet for a split second before the metal smoothly parted to allow his jaws to open wide. Kite would have bet money any day on his foe possessing the dragon confluence, especially given that he was one of the leaders of a radical puritan cabal who - among other things such as complete racial supremacy and the subjugation of all other people on the planet - viewed any non-draconian with said confluence as sacrilege.

And extreme views or not, the shimmering flames now filling the corridor and making their way towards Kite were very much a threat. As the now trio of barriers from Heaven-and-Void Warding still remained, Kite shifted them to the side enough to leave a vertical space in the middle through which he swung his staff in an upwards strike.

One charge from Potential of Stolen Power going into Pattern-Shattering Counter later, his strike cleaved a path through the torrent of flames as dispelling forces dissolved the magical flame in an expanding line. Then came a flurry of claw-strikes that trailed even brighter flames which spent themselves against Kite's barriers, followed by another conjured axe being shattered.

A high speed tail slam was the first attack that managed to slip by Kite's defenses, but even that was at least partially thwarted as the impact to his leg mostly led to the floor around him cracking more. It did do damage to Kite's life force, of course, but at the peak of silver rank he had definitely begun to experience the odd expressions this would take when one's vitality started transcending what seemed possible for one's physical form.

Kite himself tended to be solid and hard to injure, leaving opponents chipping away until results came more drastically once his health dropped low enough, while Dragonfly was more visibly injured but rarely more than surface wounds that just seemed to be completely negligible for her as they regenerated too quickly.

So while he definitely felt the sensation that passed for pain these days, marking a heavy blow that did deal damage even through his armor, Kite could mostly ignore it for the moment as he kept up his own pressure even while constantly suppressing that of his opponent. For every spell or attack shattered, more quick strikes attempted to steal just a bit more mana or acted as diversions for the truly forceful ones.

Through denying his foe most of his heavy attacks, Kite kept a firm control of the war of attrition that most combats became for him. And by now, even he had to admit that he had become quite good at it. That was why his teammates found him collaring an unconscious draconian when they caught up to him, Kite himself sporting only light scuffs and injuries.

"Hey, good job. Wasn't that Mister Important Leader who ran away as soon as we really got going?" Amica asked as she floated into the corridor.

"He did seem quite important as well as dedicated to their cause," Kite agreed.

"Not dedicated enough to stand and fight along with his subordinates, but I suppose that this cause of theirs made for a convenient excuse to leave and continue the fight another day, or some such nonsense."

"Good that you kept him alive though," Léon called from somewhere outside the corridor.

"Many of the local noble families would be quite up in arms if we outsiders went and killed the son of a baron like that."

"Even though he tried very hard to kill us?" Amica called back.

"Many of the local draconian noble families share beliefs that aren't that far off from these lovely reptilians that we have just taken care of. They are just a lot more fancy and aloof about it. Outsiders of the so-called lesser races should tread carefully. The briefing did tell us as much, no?" Kite looked at Glint who floated over just as the called out exchange finished, a smile in his tone as he asked:"So, little beauty.

With that in mind, how do these fine gentlemen and ladies live up to the standards of the capital and your many suitors there?"

"Coming to a region so closely related to Hornus, the very cradle of draconian culture, this young mistress had quite high expectations. So far, none have been met, but I am willing to extend the benefit of the doubt to when I have some day visited more proper civilization here."

"Then you'd better be gold-ranked and have a few more with you," Léon called, still keeping watch outside.

"Because if one of their higher nobility takes a liking to you, they might just decide to claim you whether you like it or not. Possessive dragons and all that."

"Alas, sometimes you should never visit the stories in real life," Glint lamented, raising a bejeweled hand to her forehead.

"Such will only lead to finding yourself walking the long and dreary road to disappointment." Standing before the doors of black and white, Kite found himself a bit more restless than he expected. It had indeed been a while ago since he was able to visit Ardent Horizon Seeker, given how he would have had trouble entering the capital by normal means or staying for an extended time.

However, since it turned out that Riz - the ever dependable, if flamboyant portal courier that tended to ferry Kite home on his month of leave - had been willing to go to the trouble of visiting the capital and memorizing a chosen spot within the Silent Horizon Sect, he was now able to at least make a stop to visit his teacher and birth father for the first time in a few years.

It was not the time that had passed which was the source of said restlessness though, but a conversation with a certain nosy member of the Tengu's clan at the end of the monster surge. Even though he tried to shove it to the back of his mind, Obsidian Crow's prodding words still lingered, hinting at uncomfortable truths. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

It did help somewhat though that when the doors opened it wasn't Ardent who greeted Kite, but another younger man he had only previously seen at a distance.

"Sentinel of the Gates. It is good to finally find the opportunity to greet you properly," the man said, giving Kite a courteous bow.

"My thanks for the welcome, Inner Disciple Crooked Star," Kite said, recognizing the marking on the man's amulet.

"Your performance in the Grand Proving was most impressive. Truly a well deserved victory." Crooked Star looked a lot like he had back during the time of the tournament, when Kite had seen him participate in the dueling section. He was a human like Kite even though his straw-colored hair hinted at a heritage from the southern part of the kingdom. Much like back then, Crooked Star kept it shorn short close to his scalp which only complemented the clean and neat impression the man gave off.

"You are too kind, although I will freely admit that I felt the victory a bit undeserved. I did not get to face the Blessed of Warrior, after all, and from what the sect leader has told me of you, I should look forward to such a time when we might exchange pointers. Perhaps we might even find the time after your visit?"

As Kite felt no malice or similar negative sentiment in the man's aura, he did his best to hide his own wariness at the sudden challenge as plenty of memories of similar ones from his past - albeit ones with a lot less pure intentions - came back to haunt him. Still though, from what he had seen during the Proving…

"I tend to welcome any chance of tempering," he replied with a faint smile.

"And I will admit that from what I have seen of your path, I too am most curious. If you can find a private dueling arena away from prying eyes, it should be possible to persuade my honored and ever-thirsty portal courier to wait a little bit longer."

"Truly a most fortuitous day," Crooked Star replied, a slight hint of eagerness leaking into his aura.

"I shall make the arrangements. As for you, the sect leader bade me convey that you are free to enter." After giving one final polite bow, Kite did just that.

"The student greets his teacher," he called after closing the doors behind him on entering Ardent's personal quarters.

"Welcome back, Kite. It has been some time," Ardent Horizon Seeker greeted from where he sat meditating, although he rose to his feet as Kite drew close.

"Have a seat. Let me get a sense of your progress." Kite did as instructed, sitting down in meditation as he floated half a meter off the floor. He could feel the much more powerful aura of Ardent brushing against his, inspecting. This process took about a minute before the gold-ranker nodded.

"It seems that you are making excellent progress, far beyond most I have felt here in our homeland. Two of your essences even seem to have harmonized with you well enough to touch upon the next level of ascension."

"That is indeed so, Teacher" Kite confirmed, pleased at the praise.

"But so is your noting what still eludes me."

"That is quite common, and most would have had far more struggles to reach even your current level of insight. There is a reason that most essence-users stall out at silver. Or rather, multiple, as it is also a matter of opportunity and sometimes duty. From what I could feel, I would assume that our shared essence is part of these struggles." While Ardent's words were definitely a statement rather than a question, they held the distinct unspoken prompt for Kite to continue himself.

"That is indeed also so," Kite confirmed, feeling even more self-conscious than normal now that he spoke of his perceived failings in the domain which seemed a core part of Ardent's path.

"While I have been touching upon something, the wider connection between me and the void still has not settled. I have a direction at least, but it remains rather… frustrating. Especially when compared to barrier and resolute. Even negation has started to come along once I allowed myself to admit certain feelings and sentiments about my dispelling powers. But void… it feels so…" Kite trailed off, perhaps subconsciously hoping that Ardent would take up his line of thought and provide some insight.

These hopes were quickly dashed however, as his birth father's piercing blue eyes merely remained locked on Kite. Still waiting.

"Impersonal. Cold. Or rather… Absent," he eventually managed, feeling almost guilty of the words without knowing exactly why. This did eventually get a response, as Ardent seemed to consider Kite's words with care.

"The absence of heat can indeed feel like a chill, as might the absence of cold be perceived as warmth," he said, apparently choosing his words carefully.

"I do not want to share too many of my own insights, because even though I have meditated upon this very concept for so long, what the void is to me is just that; me and my interpretations. Going too far along that path might only limit your perceptions and way of thinking. But on the other hand, it would be cruel of me not to at least make some kind of attempt. After all, it was my vanity and need for some kind of symbol that led to you having this essence in the first place.

Because, as you say, the void can indeed be a lonely concept. Let me ask you this question first; how would you describe the powers sprung from this essence? Not their capabilities, but their function to you?"

"So, not what they are, but what they are to me?" Kite asked, continuing as the slight smile that tugged at Ardent's lips was confirmation enough.

"So, the void parts of my path… A continuous drain on my enemies as well as locking them in place, nothingness with which to sunder limbs and cut through defenses, bountiful treasure created from what seems to be essentially nothing, the collapse of my foes' mana, and a companion that turns stray pieces of the world into power…" By now, each power supplied by his essences were as close a companion to Kite as he suspected one could ever come.

His rather intense life had led to them being tested time and time again, and from what the next few years seemed to hold in store for him, this trend only looked as if it would continue. But when reflecting upon the function of the powers as Ardent had instructed, the function for him and his path, not their individual applications… Pondering this question took a while. Quite a lot longer than Kite had expected. Some insights came quickly, like the sudden spark coming to life inside a dark room.

These though, these were more elusive. Since his talk with Jericho Matezza, the hunter-priest of Death, Kite had continued to ponder the direction he had found there; of nothingness as a catalyst of change. What he started to realize about his own powers and the way he used them started slotting into that. Be it the draining of mana, the defenses of his foes torn apart by spatial tears, the creation of equipment; these were not just something for the moment, but also a step towards an outcome.

Sage, his astral gatherer familiar, seemed to take this even further as it gathered remnant pieces of mana and turned them into a flexible array of options that helped Kite feel secure in most situations as it could be used as needed. His mana-draining powers helped with a sense of inevitability as he remained strong while his foes started flagging, while the void also helped him sever the physical when the spiritual was not enough.

These helped him with control, but not in exactly the same way as the powers of his negation confluence. There were definitely similarities and overlaps, but negation and the change and consequences wrought from something becoming absent were also distinctly separate. Negation let him be the equalizer, a thought that had stayed with them since his realization during his talks with Ryker. It let him bring those to his level or even below.

This was merely returning to some kind of balance though, and the void was what Kite used to make a difference in that moment. To make sure that what he wanted came to pass during the stillness that came with the silence of shattered mana. It was what allowed Kite to realize his…

"Ambitions." It was only when Kite opened his eyes that he realized that a lot more time must have passed then he had thought, as Ardent had moved across the room and taken his usual seat above his disc made from fused void quintessence. The lone word spoken aloud felt like a small thunderclap in the stillness of the gold-ranker's chambers, while the impact inside his mind and soul felt even more tumultuous. Some insights did indeed burn slowly until they finally clicked into place, but when they did…

"Go on," Ardent commanded even though his tone was quite encouraging.

"It is the stepping stone, the lever, the instrument of change. It is the way I impose my will upon the world once everything is in place, the fulcrum I lean upon to set things in motion," Kite continued, the words spilling out of him like a geyser erupting from the earth for the very first time. Each of the statements were made with eagerness, but also conviction, and Kite just kept gaining momentum.

"It is how I realize my ambitions. And I do have ambitions. Plenty of them. I have wanted so much for such a long time, but it has been hard to dream when you also temper your expectations and wants through the lens of power and your actual ability to make those changes. But when I do, when I act and bring change, the void is my foremost method. Something from Nothing, as my power has been named. Something is removed and leaves space for something else. For what I want.

Thank you, Father, I–" And just like that, the silence was back in the force as Kite abruptly ceased speaking mid-sentence as he realized what he had just said; the unspoken thing that was no longer just that. This was also probably the first time that Kite had ever seen Ardent Horizon Seeker truly stunned. No, not just stunned. Startled. Almost a bit afraid.

"I- I apologize, Teacher. I was not weighing my words properly," Kite started backpedaling.

"I very much value the lesson that you have given here and–" Kite found himself interrupted once more though, although this time it was by a powerful aura nudging him firmly, but not forcefully. The silence that followed did stretch for one uncomfortable dozen heartbeats before Ardent, wearing a complicated expression, spoke.

"There… is no need to apologize, Kite. You did speak the truth, one we were both aware of. It is merely… Complicated. Very complicated. Which has been what I have told Obsidian Crow every time he has… nagged me about it." Just imagining someone nagging on the indomitable figure that was Ardent Horizon Seeker did relieve some of the tension in the air, with Kite eventually nodding along.

"While not to the same extent, I too have been on the receiving end of the honored senior and his suggestions," Kite admitted in reply, Ardent only sighing softly as he composed himself once more.

"While he is a dear friend, he has a path that encourages him to find every little piece of information and weakness that he can get his claws on. It is his nature, and fortunately he can at least use it in a well-meaning way. As for me… You were not wrong in describing the void as something cold and absent. At least not in the way it has resonated with me. Now that you have grasped the foundation of your own truths on the matter, there is less risk of harm in telling you."

As he spoke, Ardent sat down in the air in his usual meditative pose, and Kite got the hint that he might as well follow suit.

"For me, the void has come to mean distance and detachment. It has been a shield against a world and feelings that have not been kind, allowing me to keep clarity and focus. It is my haven against memories and emotions, and even if those are not all of the insights I have found on the matter, they are what pertains the most to this discussion. This is something that I have reflected on often during my meditations, but it still feels odd to speak aloud of a matter usually reserved for only the self.

What you just called me… your father. It is the truth of things, but it is also a role and purpose. One which I wonder if it could ever be compatible with my path and how it has made me into who I am today. My path has helped me maintain that distance for which Obsidian Crow has prodded me so, one that might help keep a reasonable level of distance so that my being who and what I am should not overly impair your life. Or mine, for that matter. My choices have already affected you enough."

Kite took in Ardent's words, honestly not knowing what exactly to feel about this whole situation. There was a distinct tension in the room now, one that had arrived with the shattering of the previously unspoken agreement. It was not a hostile tension though, but one born of uncertainty. Silence reigned between them for a while as both seemed to ponder it all, before Ardent spoke once more.

"However, your words - or rather, use of that particular title for me - seems to have made things a lot more complicated. I am not yet sure how though, just that the distance and my perspective of it seems to need reevaluation. This was also most unexpected, and for the sake of both me and my path, it is something that I would need to reflect upon further. So… Would it be acceptable to address this matter again in the future?

Because I do not believe it wise to simply try and pretend this conversation never happened."

"I… find that acceptable," Kite replied tentatively.

"I shall likewise reflect upon this. And my appreciation for your guidance still stands. Unlike before, it feels like I have now set a foot firmly on this part of my path."

"Then you have some more strides to ponder," Ardent replied while smiling faintly.

"May the heavens keep you until next time, Kite."

"And may they likewise guide you towards the heights above… Ardent." Kite left soon after, closing the double doors behind him before he leaned back against them, mind abuzz with both elated insights that just begged for him to continue to explore what they meant for him as well as the remnants of a shattered status quo that he had little idea how he was supposed to feel about. Kite had been quite certain that he did not need anyone in the role of a father, and certainly had not had such expectations for Ardent.

And yet, that word had slipped out, and now the future did indeed bear some proper thinking of. But as for the much more near future, Kite realized that there was another appointment still waiting for him. And while he was perhaps not in the most centered state of mind, rarely should one back down from a challenge just because of that. Both his life as an adventurer and his time spent with the task group had thoroughly taught him that life rarely let you be at your best when conflict found you.

Rummaging through a spatial bag, Kite found a bottle of glowing orange spirits that he had picked up a little over a year ago for just such an occasion, and walked out to find his constantly thirsty portal Courier for a little well-meaning bribe. He had a clash with a champion waiting for him too, after all.