It wasn't as though I didn't expect this offer to co.
I knew my worth.
After everything that I had displayed, I'd be surprised if I didn't attract the attention of Atlas who already started to show signs of appreciation towards what I had displayed.
It was for that exact reason that I wasn't totally taken aback.
"Low Seat of Dawn?"
I was sowhat aware of how the rankings within the Inverted Sky worked.
Low Seat of Dawn only ant one thing.
'He's asking to beco his successor.'
But did that even make sense? As far as I knew, he was an ageless monster that couldn't die. Did he really need a successor?
....Or was there more to it?
'Does he want to leave the Inverted Sky to ?'
Indeed, Atlas wasn't so re mber of the Inverted Sky. He was sothing more. Perhaps, he was just looking for a successor within the Inverted Sky.
...Or perhaps more.
I wasn't too sure.
There were four organizations as far as I was aware, and they were rely puppets to the faceless man. He was the one who controlled everything, and though I wasn't sure how far his influence reached, he without a doubt had eyes and ears all over the world.
However, what I did know was that I couldn't refuse the offer.
Nor was I planning on rejecting it.
"....
"I
Lowering my head to stare at the outstretched hand, I brought my hand forward and held it.
"I'd be my pleasure."
A smile ford on Atlas's lips as he gripped my hand.
"That's good..."
He seed rather happy with my decision. But did I really have one to begin with? Had I rejected it, would he have just killed on the spot?
"You've made the right decision."
Atlas stood up, patting his dark blazer slightly and tracing his hand against his blonde hair. "Well..."
His expression, which had been rather warm a few seconds prior, suddenly turned cold as I felt myself shuddering slightly.
"For now, I won't be announcing your succession yet."
I remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
He must have a reason for saying this, and I was fine with my presence still being kept a secret. I needed more ti for growth.
"You're still too weak."
Okay...
Makes sense.
"For soone to beco a seat within the Inverted Sky, they must reach a certain threshold in strength. You hold excellent potential, but that doesn't an that you're capable of filling the seat that I'm offering you."
"What level must I reach?"
Atlas gave a quick glance.
"....The bare minimum is for you to at least be capable of forming your Domain. And that's rely the threshold. Many people want to claim the position that I'm offering, but can't because I don't want to give it to them. In the end, the decision is up to , and I want to offer that position to you. But even if I want to offer it to you... you must be strong enough to keep it."
Extending his hand forward, a small pill appeared in Atlas's hand.
"The other mbers will try to snatch that position from you, or even kill you for it to prevent you from taking it, and I won't be able to do a thing because that's how things work around here. That's why we need to wait."
He casually fiddled with it before tossing it in my direction.
"Consu this."
11
||
I grabbed the pill and looked at it in silence. It was purple in color, and upon closer inspection,
I could see certain runes inscribed on it.
The runes appeared sowhat mysterious, faintly pulsing with a purple light.
"This is...?"
"You are strong for soone your age. No, that would be wrong... You're incredibly strong for soone your age. However, you're not perfect. You're incredibly unbalanced."
Unbalanced...? I raised my head to look at Atlas. His face was cold, lacking any of the warmth that was usually present on his face.
It seed like he was taking his seriously.
"You've been practicing your Emotive Magic so much that you've started to neglect your other talent. Curse Magic."
".....Hm."
I closed my eyes for a brief mont. This was sothing that I already knew and planned to
address. It wasn't surprising for Atlas to be able to tell this.
'In that case, does this an that this pill is supposed to help with my curse magic?'
But how exactly was it going to do that?
Was it going to help with my control?...Or was it just going to boost my affinity with Curse
Magic?
"I've noticed that you only possess two spells that belong to the [Curse] category."
"Yes,"
This was no secret.
It wasn't that I didn't want to practice more spells, but it was mainly because I didn't want to
go with the trouble of learning new spells since it took so long to unlock them.
Furthermore, my spells could evolve.
I wanted to invest all my attention in evolving the spells I already had at my disposal.
"That and the fact that spells are expensive...'
"Here you go."
Raising my head again, Atlas held two books for .
"Here."
"These are...?"
"Two interdiate spells that I selected for you. The pill right there should help you with
unlocking them. It should save you a lot of ti."
Atlas pointed at the runes within the pill.
"Once you consu the pill you'll be able to instantly have a better understanding of the
spells which will help you unlock them within a day."
"This..."
I reached for the two books in astonishnt before settling my gaze on the pill in my hand.
"There's such a thing?!'
I thought back to how much I had tortured myself back then to unlock my first two spells, and even now felt my mind throb at the thought. I never wanted to undergo such a situation
again.
'At first, I was worried I'd have to torture myself all over again, but who would've thought...'
This pill... It was without a doubt extrely precious.
I could tell that Atlas was serious about nurturing into becoming a Low Seat.
"When you have ti consu the pill before learning the books. You have about two days of ti before the effect dies down completely. Be careful not to waste the ti given since this
pill is rather troubleso to make."
"....Yes."
I carefully wrapped the pill before putting it away. After which, I shifted my attention toward
the two books that contained the spells that Atlas had given .
[Nightmare Hex]
[Imrsia] The only thing I did was read the nas of the spells before taking a deep breath. Though I didn't know exactly what they did, an idea had already ford in my mind. I wanted
at this very second open them up and carefully read through their description but managed to
restrain myself.
"What do you think?"
"....I'm thankful."
I set the books aside before lifting my gaze to look at Atlas. His expression was still cold, but
he appeared satisfied by my reaction.
"Practice them well. They will be important for you in the future. While it is good that your
Emotive Magic is strong, you must also practice your Curse Magic. You have been gifted with
dual talents, it would be a waste if you did not take advantage of it."
"Understood."
His words held rit to them, and I really was going to spend the ti that I had after this tournant to focus on consolidating everything that I had been neglecting.
... Well, if I have ti.'
I wasn't exactly the freest of people.
Not because I had things going on but because trouble ca looking for wherever I went.
Such was my life.
"Take so ti to heal up in the next few days. The winner of the tournant will be
announced soon, and you will given rewards."
"Ah."
My attention was piqued once more.
I was already happy with the rewards that I had received, but who was I to reject further
rewards? If possible I wanted to completely dry the royal family's treasury but I knew that I couldn't actually do that.
'What should I ask for? A bone? Manuals...?'
A lot of possibilities ran through my mind as my heartbeat started to increase. The greed that
I had been holding back for so long suddenly resurfaced once more as all sorts of different
reward ideas popped up in my mind.
"Think carefully about your rewards."
Atlas's words ca as a sudden cool reminder, shaking out of my thoughts.
When I raised my head, his yellow pupils settled over .
"...This is a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity. The chance of you being offered sothing like
this will probably not co again. If you're thinking of choosing sothing like a bone, then
your reward would go to waste."
Waste...? I frowned slightly.
"Why?"
"Because I can offer that to you myself."
"...I see."
My eyes widen in realization.
'Right, how could I not think of that?'
I was now the next person in line to beco the 'Low Seat of Dawn'. Whatever resource the Royal family could offer, so could the Inverted Sky. A precious bone? A precious manual? I
didn't doubt for a second that they couldn't offer it to .
Especially since...
"Hoo."
I took a deep breath to cool my mind.
"I understand."
I looked at Atlas and nodded seriously.
"....I'll think about it carefully."
"Good."
A satisfied smile graced Atlas's lips as he finally turned around to head for the door of the
locker room. Reaching out for the handle, he paused before throwing one last glance.
"There's no clear result to the fight since the referee is still recovering, but I'm inclined to believe that you've won. So... I'll congratulate you now."
Finally, his expression beca warm once more. "Congratulations on your victory."
He opened the door and stepped out of the door.
Clank-
He left soon after, leaving alone in the locker room, where the silence wrapped around
like a heavy blanket. I leaned my head back against the wall, closed my eyes, and quietly
muttered,
"....Congratulations on your victory."
For so reason...
I really liked the sound of that.
"Congratulations on your victory." Mumbling the words again, a smile appeared on my lips.
Yeah...
I really like the sound of that. "Congratulations on your victory."
Fuck you, Leon.
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