The hideout was hidden deep within a desolate canyon, its entrance concealed behind a cascading waterfall that shimred faintly in the twilight.
Neron marveled at how well-hidden the place was as he and Lilith stepped inside.
The air was cooler here, and faint echoes of dripping water filled the cavernous space. After walking down a narrow corridor, they arrived in a large, dimly lit chamber lined with towering shelves that seed to stretch endlessly.
Ancient tos, scrolls, and relics of all shapes and sizes filled the room, each exuding an aura of mystery and power.
"This," Lilith said, her voice low with reverence, "is the last repository of the Great Sage's work."
Neron's breath caught as his eyes darted from one artifact to another. His fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and explore, but he refrained, sensing the weight of history pressing down on him.
"Lewis Griffith…" Neron murmured. "He really left all this behind?"
Lilith gave a small smile, running her fingers along a dusty spine of a book. "Lewis wasn't just a Sage. He was a pioneer—a man who reshaped what it ant to wield magic. And now, all of this knowledge belongs to you."
Her words sent a jolt through Neron. "Belongs to ? Why? What am I supposed to do with all of this?"
Lilith turned to him, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusent and seriousness. "Because the world needs soone who can handle what's coming. And Lewis always believed his knowledge should serve a purpose beyond himself."
Lilith guided him to the center of the chamber, where a single ornate box rested on a pedestal. The box was blackened with age, its surface engraved with intricate symbols and glowing faintly with arcane energy.
"This is what we ca for," she said, placing a hand on the lid. "The Arcanas."
With a slow, deliberate motion, she opened the box. Four cards floated out, their surfaces shimring with power. Each card was intricately detailed:
[The Tower]
, symbolizing space.
[The Hermit]
, representing ti.
[The Sun]
, embodying energy
[The Hanged Man]
, a paradox of life and death.
Neron stared at the cards, their ethereal glow reflected in his wide eyes. He could feel their power emanating outward, resonating with sothing deep inside him.
"These are the Arcanas," Lilith said softly. "Each one holds a fragnt of the highest form of magic. They can twist the laws of reality itself if wielded properly."
Neron's hand hovered near them, but he hesitated. "They're... overwhelming."
"They should be," Lilith said with a smirk. "They're not toys. Even Lewis never fully understood all their mysteries."
"You really knew him, didn't you?" Neron asked suddenly, his curiosity piqued. "Lewis Griffith. What was he like?"
Lilith's smirk softened into a wistful smile. "He was… brilliant. A genius like no other. But also a bit of an oddball. He didn't care about fa or recognition. All he wanted was to understand the world and protect it."
She paused for a mont before continuing.
"Over a century ago, he and his party stood against the Demons during the war that nearly ended this world."
Neron frowned. "I've never heard of a war with the Demons in history books."
"Of course you wouldn't…" Lilith replied calmly. She gestured for him to follow her toward a large table in the center of the room, where several worn tos and a gilded chest rested.
Neron frowned, piecing together the fragnts of history he'd been given.
"What's that supposed to an? Why doesn't anyone rember anything you're saying? Or the war you ntioned?"
Lilith's expression darkened.
"Because they erased it. After the war against the demons ended, Lewis and his companions—Ford Zesshi, Jane Ursula, Gawain Lenard, Raphael Noel, and Dom—decided the world wasn't ready to know what had happened. They used powerful magic to wipe the mories of everyone involved, save for a select few."
Neron's jaw tightened. "That's… insane. How could they make that choice for everyone?"
"It wasn't a choice made lightly," Lilith said. "But the alternative was worse. Fear of the demons would have fractured the world even further. They believed ignorance was a rcy."
Neron fell silent, his mind racing with questions and conflicting emotions. He glanced back at the Arcanas, their glow almost hypnotic. "And now you want to use these? To do what exactly?"
Lilith chuckled. "First, you need to understand them. That's why we're staying here for the next few weeks. I'm going to teach you the basics, but after that, it's up to you to master them."
"Why?" Neron asked, his gaze piercing. "Why are you helping like this? Why now?"
Lilith's smile turned wry. "Trust , Neron. That's all I ask."
Despite his lingering doubts, Neron nodded.
"Alright. Let's do this."
"Don't be too excited, kid." Lilith's grin widened even more. "This is gonna be hellish training."
************
True to her word, Lilith put Neron through an unforgiving regin.
Days turned into weeks as she pushed him to his limits, teaching him the unique properties of each Arcana.
The training was grueling, and there were monts when Neron felt like giving up. But Lilith's unwavering confidence in him drove him forward. By the end of their ti in the hideout, he could feel the difference. His connection to the Arcanas was still in its infancy, but the potential was undeniable.
"You've done well," Lilith said one evening, her tone unusually warm. "You're ready to take the next steps."
Neron wiped sweat from his brow, exhaustion written across his face. "If I'm ready, why can't you just teach the rest? Why stop now?"
Before Lilith could answer, the ground trembled violently. A deafening explosion echoed from outside, and the chamber was bathed in a crimson glow.
~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!~
Neron sprang to his feet, his heart pounding. "What was that?"
A booming voice reverberated through the cavern, shaking the very walls.
"I HAVE CO FOR YOU, LILITH! I CAN NO LONGER WAIT, SO CO OUT NOW… OR I WILL MAKE YOU!"
Lilith's eyes narrowed, and for the first ti in weeks, Neron saw sothing like genuine concern flicker across her face.
She turned to him, her expression hardening.
"Stay here," she commanded, her voice cold and sharp. "No matter what happens, do not interfere." Read latest chapters at m_v-l'e-
But Neron's jaw tightened, determination flaring in his eyes. "Like hell I'm staying behind. Who is that?"
Lilith didn't answer. Instead, she marched toward the exit, her movents calm but deliberate. The air around her seed to ripple with an invisible force, her usual smirk replaced with a steely resolve.
Neron followed her with his gaze, his fists clenched tightly. The ominous voice echoed again, sending chills down his spine.
Whoever was waiting for Lilith outside wasn't just powerful—they were sothing else entirely.
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