Chapter 155 - 156
Was it just a coincidence that his ancestor, Dalia Silver, had founded a kingdom in the very region where Aglain had committed his famous betrayal? According to the history books, it was here that Saint Limnin had rallied humanity into investing everything into one final push against the Inverted forces, and according to Mr. Herst it was here that Aglain had refused to partake in history’s greatest genocide. This used to be an area mostly inhabited by the Drunaeda, with nearly all of its former inhabitants dying at that time.
What had really happened back then, and how did it relate to the man in the cave? After what Alistar had witnessed—the inexplicable immunity to death, the powerful magics that had been at play both within and around that mysterious mound of earth, the famous names that had been spoken with genuine familiarity—could he really just dismiss this unwitting discovery as inconsequential and move on with his life as if nothing had happened?
Mind buzzing with questions, Alistar attempted to get some sleep but was far too weighed down by the conspiracies that were currently filling his head. By the time that morning rolled around, his eyes were sunken, his mind sore and his stomach full of endlessly fluttering butterflies.
Washing his body with water from the usual basin, he resolved to think about such things later on, for his schedule was packed full of commitments that he wouldn’t be able to tackle if he continued to be distracted by this growing obsession.
Try as he might to go about things as usual, much of the day passed in an absentminded blur. Tramon chastised him during his lessons for constantly losing focus, eventually dismissing him outright with angry words. Mr. Herst suggested that he head home about an hour into his visit, after Alistar had dodged all of his inquiries as to the source of his distractions and had kept drifting off into silent contemplations. Mr. Albeck had assigned him written work, tactfully shifting the focus of the day’s lessons from the practical usage of spells to familiarizing himself with the theories behind them. Mrs. Dawn had simply handed him a pile of parchment and told him to study the lessons that they detailed, musing that he must have been bored having to hear about it in person when he had such a great love for reading.
I’ve had it! He eventually tossed aside his practice sword from where he stood in the estate’s central courtyard, exasperated with his own lack of discipline. This is driving me insa... He trailed off as he recalled the erratic behavior of the emaciated man, feeling a bit low after making light of the word. There’s only one way to know for sure. I have to go back.
Collecting his weapons, his cloak, a wineskin and a healthy supply of food, Alistar penned a note for his uncle and left it with Rayson at the estate’s eastern gate. As far as his family would be concerned, he planned to spend the night at his master’s place. Leaving the estate behind, his heartrate quickened at the thought of getting to the bottom of the unwitting mystery that now dominated his deliberations. Alongside the rising sense of anticipation was an undertone of unease, as if he were knowingly about to commit a crime that had a low chance of success.
Pushing aside all of his thoughts, Alistar made his way toward the southern edge of the county with restless strides. Whether or not that man had simply been insane, he would find out in the coming hours.
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