Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 628 Crown in the Left Hand, Magic Power in the Right

"Is this the best place you could find?"

Ashida slowly turned around, paced around, and looked around the entire study.

"Of course, welcome to Starlake Castle."

Thales walked to the window, gazed at the starry lake under the moonlight, and spread his arms wide with a bold and imposing air, displaying the posture of a domineering ruler:
"My own fortress—secret, tranquil, secluded, and safe—"

Before Thales could finish speaking, a strange noise came from the ceiling, creaking and tinkling, echoing from one end to the other.

Ashida glanced at the ceiling, her face expressionless.

This made Duke Xinghu's face look somewhat embarrassed.

"—Perfectly meets the requirements of your last letter, an excellent meeting place for us," Thales replied calmly and composedly, his voice booming across the ceiling, "Not only is it far from the Palace of Renewal, but it also comes with natural scenery..."

Before he could finish speaking, he heard a whooshing sound from above.

sand--

A cloud of dust spilled from a crack in the ceiling, covering Thales's head and face as he struck a confident pose.

Ashida, on the other hand, remained at ease, standing with his hands behind his back, spotless—dust and sand were kept away by a transparent barrier before they could fall on him.

“Well, there’s one minor drawback,” Thales’ composure vanished, and he coughed, brushing off the dust with a disheveled expression. “But don’t worry, we’ve already sent people to nearby villages and towns to buy cats and rat poison. Option B is to hire professional rat catchers from Everstar City, without tearing down the roof…”

The Qi Mage ignored him and turned to look around:
The furniture in the study was old and faded, with occasional cobwebs and moths still clinging to the corners, and a wooden window that opened outwards seemed to groan softly in the wind, teetering on the verge of collapse.

Thales patted his hair back to its original color, walked to his desk, sat down calmly, and leaned back.

Everything is proceeding smoothly and under control.

Click!
Before he could finish speaking, the chair he was sitting on made a crisp sound.

Thales was shrunk and tilted to one side, so the boy had to awkwardly but skillfully grab the table to avoid slipping.

"Damn it, the carpenter from the estate just came to fix it the day before yesterday..."

The duke cursed angrily.

Aishida squinted at him, remaining silent.

"Okay, okay, I know."

Thales gave up trying to explain and sighed heavily.

"Starlake Fort is just starting out, and conditions are limited, but don't worry..."

He reached for the sky-blue invitation on the table, folded it skillfully, then bent down and stuffed it under a broken chair leg to secure it, saying sarcastically:
"We have a good upward momentum and huge room for development."

Thales shifted his position to make sure the chair was stable before getting up and sitting down. To his astonishment, he found the Qi Mage already "sitting" in mid-air in front of the desk, his eyes vacant and expressionless.

"I won't offer you a seat, anyway..."

Duke Xinghu pouted sourly, feeling both helpless and envious:
"You brought your own chair."

But Ashida did not respond to his joke.

With a flick of his finger, the magician stopped the mountain wind that had been rattling through the windows.

Aishida spoke gently, her voice melodious: "You're different now."

"what?"

Aishida's tone was cold, and the mysterious blue light in her eyes seemed to possess some kind of power:
“I’m telling you, you’re different now.”

Thales chuckled.

"Yes, I've grown up."

Thales smiled slightly, then leaned back and crossed his arms.
"By the way, after returning to China, you're probably the twentieth person to say this to me—too bad, only the top nineteen get the prize."

Ashida remained motionless, her eyes fixed directly into Thales's.

"Do not."

The voice of the Qi Mage was mechanical and hollow.

“My child, you are far from being as carefree and easygoing as you appear on the surface.”

"On the contrary, right now, you are restless, confused, and uneasy."

"I am troubled by a fog that I cannot see clearly."

Thales unconsciously suppressed his smile.

Restless, chaotic, and uneasy.

His pocket, which contained the covenant ring, suddenly felt heavy.

"The difference you've made is deep within."

The mage continued to stare at Thales, an eerie blue light emanating from his pupils and filling his entire eye sockets.

"Deeper."

"The deepest part."

At that moment, Thales involuntarily tensed up, as if he had the illusion that his soul was being spied on.

The sins of the River of Hell surged restlessly.

"Gods."

"What?" Thales was taken aback.

"When you hear this word," the mage said coldly, "what comes to mind?"

Thales realized that this was the "training" they had been doing in Dragon City.

"but……"

Answer me now!

Ashida, contrary to her usual behavior, was stern and almost commanding:
"God?"

Damn.

Long time no see, let's at least exchange a few pleasantries before starting a classroom quiz?

Seeing that the other party insisted, Thales could only sigh and answer the question.

“Ethereal, dreamlike,” the boy murmured lazily, his mind racing, “vague, distant…”

But as he began to speak, Thales felt something was off.

"Seemingly present yet not present, the Tathagata is yet to come, truly existent yet nonexistent, can it be described, is it about to arrive or has already arrived..."

Thales frowned: Strange, these descriptions, I've always...

But Ashida didn't allow him to think too much about it.

"world."

The mage of air spoke faster and with greater emphasis than ever before, seemingly urging Thales on:
"What comes to mind first when you think of the world? Quickly!"

Thales' expression turned serious.

“Everything, all, contain, encompass, permeate,” words popped into Thales’ mind, making him increasingly puzzled. “Extend, reproduce, continue, all kinds, everywhere…”

Damn it, why can't he utter a complete sentence in such a short time?

Why are these fragmented words appearing in my mind?
Thales wanted to continue, but Ashida gently raised her finger:

"stop."

“Mr. Saxe,” Thales asked in surprise, “what happened? I feel…”

The mage raised his head, his eyes flashing blue light like lightning:

"You are indeed different now."

Thales' heart sank.

Ashida looked at him seriously.

“A few months ago, a mage tried to knock on the door,” the air mage said in a deep voice, “but it was different from the time you did in Dragon City.”

"This time...it was very cautious."

A few months ago, I knocked on the door...

Thales' heart tightened:
"cautious?"

The mage nodded:

"It's like standing in front of a door, touching the door with your fingers, but before you even knock, you withdraw your hand."

"It was more like a test."

The scene inside the prison of bones appeared before his eyes, and Thales swallowed hard.

Aishida gazed out the window, her eyes distant.
"It even made me think for a moment that it was an illusion."

But he immediately turned to look at Thales, who was still feeling uneasy:
“At first I didn’t think it was you, because only a fully-fledged mage could have that kind of control, but now, after seeing you again…”

Ashida solemnly repeated the conclusion:

"You're different now, aren't you?"

Feeling exposed for his wrongdoing, Thales could only sigh deeply.
"Yes."

Ashida remained expressionless.
“I warned you that it is very dangerous to display your magical powers in front of others.”

Thales nodded helplessly.

"I ran into trouble, and as a last resort, I tried it, but I found myself constantly raising my threshold and unable to stop..."

"reckless."

Thales was somewhat displeased, but he persisted in speaking:
"I was almost ready to knock on the door, but thanks to..."

He paused, remembering the magic master at the critical point.

I am your oldest senior.

[The worst example.]

[The worst possible future.]

Aishida's words seemed to come from afar:

"Thanks to what?"

Thales returned to the present moment, but what popped into his mind was another mage's reminder:
Beware of Ashida.

Thales swallowed hard and forced a smile:
"Thanks to you, Mr. Saxe."

A flash of blue light appeared in Aishida's eyes.

“Your questions—gods, worldly questions, they suddenly appeared,” Thales said solemnly. “With each question I asked, I became a little more lucid, and eventually… I returned.”

The mage remained silent for a moment:

"That's it? Nothing else?"

“Perhaps,” Thales recalled his techniques for dealing with the Black Prophet, trying not to lie, “but, like a dream, everything is blurry and indistinct, and you don’t remember it after you wake up.”

Aishida remained silent for a long time.

“Things, Observations, Chaos, Purity,” the magic master said quietly, “your progress is much faster than I expected.”

"Objects, observations...would you mind saying a bit more?"

But Ashida simply raised her finger slightly.

The surrounding air became fresh and cold, penetrating straight into his chest and lungs, causing Thales to shiver and become much more awake.

What are you doing?
"Eliminate distracting thoughts."

Aishida said seriously:

"Now, for every word I say, you must respond with another word—the first one that comes to mind. Don't hesitate, don't be indecisive, answer with your instincts."

Trembling, Thales could only nod.

"The sun?" Ashida asked.

“Broken,” Thales replied quickly.

Wait, broken?
Thales realized what was happening and frowned:

How could it be this?

If given a few more seconds, he would definitely answer with something else, such as scorching, endless, bright, eternal, etc.

But...broken?
"Starry sky?"

“Touch.”

"time?"

"destroy."

"Mist?"

"call."

"The end?"

"pause."

"die?"

"Forgetting".

"Sky?"

"captivity."

"strength?"

In that instant, Thales opened his mouth to speak, but his mind went blank.

Power? What should power be connected to?
Why couldn't you think of that?
He gritted his teeth and pulled a relevant word from his memory: "the power of termination".

Ashida lowered her fingers.

The surrounding air warmed up again.

“The last one doesn’t count,” the Qi Mage said calmly. “You hesitated.”

Thales remained silent.

He didn't need to ask to know that these answers were not quite right.

"what is this?"

"Primal Inquiry—this is the name Toros later gave it, and it was also the test he first designed."

Ashida didn't hold back and readily replied, "People first discovered the anomalies of magic users not through their abilities, but through their thoughts and insights."

Upon hearing the familiar name, Thales rolled his eyes: "Who is Toros?"

“A senior colleague,” Ashida said, not wanting to elaborate.

"Because of the initial covenant of magical energy, I cannot delve into your magical energy. I can only explore your understanding of the external world through a series of the most primal images, and discern the stage of your magical energy progress from the side—like pricking the skin with a needle, drawing out blood, and obtaining a diagnosis with minimal trauma and cost."

The original questioning.

Thales tentatively asked:
"So what's your diagnosis? Should I continue to be lively and healthy, eating and drinking well? Or should I be terminally ill and preparing for the end?"

The Qi Mage shook his head.

“I don’t know. Obviously, you’ve already come into contact with magical energy while in ‘out of control,’ which is why your answer has become—this is proof of reaching the ‘thing’ stage, which we generally call ‘contact person’.”

The problem is that there has never been a case in history where someone knocked on the door before coming into contact with magical energy.

Ashida thought silently.

Just like a beginner with no foundation, who only learns "one plus one equals two" after completing a series of complex advanced calculations.

Contacts.

Thales chewed on the word, comparing it with the knowledge he had heard when he knocked on the door—or rather, from that kind, faceless senior named Toros.

Ashida continued:

"But you are lucky that you lost control and escalated to the threshold at the 'thing' stage, but were able to turn back in time from the brink of knocking on the door... Historically, half of the people who have made contact with this intentionally or unintentionally have become idiots or madmen, or even monsters."

Thales frowned:
Idiot, madman, monster?

"What about the other half?"

Aishida shook her head:

"I don't know, they disappeared."

Disappeared.

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

"So, under what circumstances would I need to worry? When one day, I answer 'fuck you' to every primal question?"

Aishida glanced back at Thales.

His gaze was strange, even... unfamiliar.

"When I can no longer understand or even hear your answer," the mage said calmly.

I can't understand it, I can't hear it.

Thales asked in confusion:

"I do not understand?"

Ashida nodded:
"That's it."

Thales was even more confused: "What?"

But the next second, the mage changed his tone, his voice turning cold:

"And yes, if someone dares to answer me with profanity, you should really be worried—worried about my temper."

Thales shrank back.

"So, I'm already a so-called 'contact person,' what's next?"

"do not know."

“Oh, you don’t know—what?” Thales’ eyes widened.

“Based on the examples I know, starting from this step,” Ashida shook his head, “the person who comes into contact with magical energy must learn to observe step by step in a carefully prepared outburst of magical energy, resist the illusions and impulses of blindly ascending to the threshold, before they can be considered to have reached the level of ‘observation’ and become an enlightened one.”

Wait, wait, wait... there are too many unfamiliar terms. He needs to find a notebook...

But just as Thales reached for the pen, a gust of wind blew the pen and paper off the table.

Thales looked up dejectedly at Ashida, who had a calm expression on her face.

Okay, no record can be left.

"Those who comprehend must cautiously and restrainedly attempt to ascend to the threshold. They will see themselves clearly, find a specific threshold, and enter a state of 'chaos,' which we call the Fusionists."

"The Fusionist will take the final, perilous step, reaching out for the first time, breaking through the threshold, and fully merging into their original state, which is the level of 'Pure'," the Qi Mage said softly. "If successful, they will be able to find and define their own threshold name, thus becoming a Mage."

Ashida paused for a moment after saying this:
"but……"

Thales realized what was happening and said blankly, "But I've already lost control, crossed the threshold, and even knocked on the door—so what does that count for?"

"exactly."

Ashida nodded: "So general standards can't define your stage and level, and are therefore not applicable." "Then what should I do?"

“It’s alright,” the mage said calmly. “Although mage who don’t follow the usual path are rare, there are a few.”

Hmm, one, or two?

Upon hearing that he could still be saved, Thales' spirits lifted considerably.
"Really? So can we refer to them?"

"No."

"what why?"

What is the Initial Covenant of Magic?

"Um, mutual learning?"

"Say it again?" The air around them seemed to freeze, making it hard to breathe.

"We won't pursue this further!"

"Very good." Airflow has returned to normal.

"So if you don't know what to do next, what use are you to me?"

"Say it again?"

"I mean, Mr. Sakorn, how do you intend to explore uncharted territory and guide me step by step?"

Aishida remained silent.

He gazed at the moonlight outside the window.

"I don't know—but we can explore, together."

"So, Thales, I'll ask you one more time: are you willing to set aside worldly constraints and come with me?"

The mage said quietly, "The path of magic is extremely treacherous. We need to explore the unknown path more freely and efficiently."

Hold.

Again.

Telston immediately became alert, wary of flying out of the castle again—just like he had in Dragonsreach.

Fortunately, Ashida's communication with him is no longer so violent; she no longer drags him out to fly a human kite at the slightest disagreement.

“But we discussed this issue seven years ago, and you agreed,” Thales said seriously. “If magic users don’t want to be hated and reviled by the world, if they don’t want to be called a ‘calamity’ anymore, then there’s another way…”

"A crown in the left hand, magical energy in the right."

Ashida used concise language, summarizing his explanation in a single sentence.

"I can barely understand your commendable but still naive ideals, and I also understand to some extent your naive desire to have the best of both worlds, or your reluctance to leave your high position and your greed for power."

Thales raised an eyebrow.

"But you have this thought, child, because you do not yet understand magic."

“That’s because you always try to hide things and never tell the whole story,” Thales immediately retorted.

Aishida was silent for a moment, then changed the subject.

"Then let's consider this from another angle: on your journey home, since you knocked on doors, were you noticed as odd, or even had your identity questioned?"

If someone notices something amiss and doubts my identity...
Thales shuddered.

Several faces floated through his mind.

Quick rope.

Former Royal Guard prisoners, led by Barney Jr.

And...Sakel.

Thales looked into Ashida's eyes, forced a smile, and spoke the truth:

"Yes."

The mage of air gazed at him intently, and in Thales's eyes, where the occasional blue light shone, seemed to say, "I knew it."

"Give me their names and information."

"I'll help you clean up the mess."

ending.

Thales' heart skipped a beat, and the image of the rope being turned into a human meatball flashed through his mind.

"Thank you, but I've already taken care of it."

The prince forced himself to remain calm.

"It's regrettable, and also unfortunate, to those who know my secret..."

Thales couldn't help but imagine the expression on the face of the Shard of Shadows, a sinister smile creeping across his face:

"They could never tell anyone else."

This time, Ashida didn't answer immediately, but looked at him for a long, long time.

This made Thales feel uneasy.

Thankfully, the mage finally spoke, but his tone changed:
"Very well, you've escaped this time, but what about next time?"

Thales tensed up.

Ashida said coldly, "Why do you think I disappeared all these years, only to come looking for you in the sixth year?"

Lazy? Cowardly? Procrastinating? Forgot? Waiting for the deadline?
Thales kept these guesses to himself and put on a humble and eager-to-learn appearance.

Aishida's beautiful voice suddenly tightened:

"Seven years ago, a novice mage, a complete stranger, blindly knocked on a door in the dead of night. Also seven years ago, Giza appeared in Dragonsreach and fought a dragon that descended from the sky. Do you really think no one would connect the two?"

Thales frowned:
"For example—two emperors?"

“They are just one of them,” Ashida said in a worrying tone, “and they have visited Dragon City countless times in the past seven years.”

Thales's breath hitched.

"For seven years, I had to go to great lengths and use every means to keep them away from you—luckily, you are special, and fortunately, all magic users believed that the person knocking on the door must already have a title, and a little kid certainly doesn't have that ability."

Thales's heart sank.

"Fortunately."

The mage's attitude softened:

"That night, much more happened in the world than just that."

Thales raised his eyes:
"What do you mean?"

The mage shook his head: "The swamp, the End Sea, the Great Desert, the Deep Twilight Forest, Lyleden, Qilin City... many places were not peaceful that night. Dragon Sky City and Giza were just some of the suspected targets."

Thales asked in confusion, "What?"

Ashida nodded:

“That’s right, so sometimes I even suspect that you might not be the only mage who appeared in the world that day.”

You're not the only one...

Thales seemed to be deep in thought.

Aishida snorted coldly:
"Of course, if he does exist, I hope he won't be as stubborn and reckless as you."

Thales could only offer a polite smile.

“But you’re back in Everstar City now,” Aishida’s words quickened, making one’s heart race, “This is the world’s most watched political center, and you are the heir to the kingdom. Every move you make attracts attention. If something happens to you here again, whether you ascend the threshold or knock on the door, if you attract unnecessary attention…”

Unnecessary attention.

Thales clenched his fists as he recalled the scene at the royal banquet.

Ashida warned:

"For safety's sake, reconsider my proposal—by then, it will be too late for you to come with me."

Thales remained silent for a long time.

For safety reasons.

Safety……

but.

but……

Thales gritted his teeth as he recalled the pact with the king in the Ballard Chamber.

Ashida waited silently for his response.

"A few seconds," Thales took a deep breath and looked up directly at his guide.

“Thanks for the reminder. I admit that it might be safer and more convenient for a magic beginner to go with you,” Thales paused for a moment, “but I still have a question.”

Aishida nodded: "Very good, at least we've reached a good consensus—"

Who is Freylan?

The Qi Demon Master paused abruptly.

Freyland.

Thales stared intently at the other person.

But Ashida did not respond.

He remained expressionless and motionless.

But Thales knew all along that a mage's reaction could not be measured by common sense.

“Or perhaps I should ask a different question,” Thales leaned back on his desk, squinting, “What is the purpose and how did you and the Sense Mage, or rather, the former Queen Fiosa, work together?”

The silence lasted for a long time.

The blue light in Ashida's eyes flickered back and forth.

Thales remained unmoved and gradually increased his bets:

"Including Giza Trillman, how did you form this so-called Three Calamities Alliance?"

Aishida remained silent.

Until the next question:
"Just to infiltrate the Star Palace and bewitch the late king?"

In that instant, Ashida's eyes shone with an intense blue light, which was incredibly dazzling!
Thales had to raise his hand to shield himself.

A few seconds later, the blue light dimmed.

"you."

Ashida, who had been like a statue, then came back to life:
"Where did you hear that name from?"

Damn.

Thales lowered his arm and exhaled.

"Don't forget, I'm not just your student, I also have the surname Canxing—a crown in my left hand and magic power in my right," the prince shrugged and spread his hands: "My position is far more than just being reluctant to leave or clinging to power."

Thales' smile froze:
"Mr. Sakn?"

The blue light in Ashida's eyes shifted rapidly:
"It's been a long time. You've learned a lot of new things."

Thales curled the corners of his mouth:
“It’s far less than what you’ve hidden from me, Mr. Sakun.”

The atmosphere in Jackal Tower's study suddenly became tense.

Duke Starlake and the Magician faced each other in silence.

But Thales remained unfazed.

Inside Ballard's Chamber, after a hard-fought battle with the Iron-Fisted King, Thales felt that he had grown.

At the very least, he has become increasingly adept at seizing the initiative and dominating the situation.

Even when facing a mage.

This is the true combination of a crown in the left hand and magical energy in the right.

The sins of the River of Hell surged forth in agreement, flowing through his entire body.

But the boy's joy lasted only three seconds.

"Do not."

Aishida gave a cold snort:
"If you truly knew this name through 'high-ranking' channels, then why did you even ask me?"

"It is precisely because you know nothing that you are here testing my words, trying to learn more."

Thales' expression froze.

The Qi Mage curled his lips and said sarcastically:
"This shows that you can't touch the crown with your left hand, and you can't use magic with your right hand either..."

"Neither of them has made a name for themselves."

He said without any politeness:
"A disgraced prince who is ignorant of magic."

In the old and dilapidated study, Thales sat silently on a broken chair with a missing corner.

Actually, there's no need to be so harsh.

A few seconds later, Thales sighed:

"Well, you're right."

But the boy's expression changed:
"But at least you should know why I don't want to go with you, right?"

The mage fell silent again.

"It's a rebellion."

"I'm not telling you because you don't want to come with me."

“If,” Ashida spoke again, her voice tinged with difficulty, “I can teach you all these old stories.”

Thales laughed, then shook his head and leaned back (the rickety chair groaned in pain).

"So, you're not going to tell me the answer, are you?"

"Do not."

"May I ask why—"

"Do not."

"but--"

"Do not."

"At least--"

"Do not."

Ashida repeatedly rejected Thales's questions, but he raised his head, unwavering:
"No matter the reason, if you are unwilling to relinquish worldly ties and constraints, I will not tell you any more about the magic user."

Telston felt utterly bored.

But at least, he achieved his goal.

Freylan's message diverted his attention, and the mage stopped insisting on taking him away.

"But you know, child, you always have that choice."

The mage leaned forward, his words laced with seduction:

"I'm always here, with open arms at any time."

"forever."

Hearing that familiar tone, Thales chuckled.

He suddenly thought, could Quick Rope and Ashida be a perfect sales duo: the former with sweet talk and carrots, the latter with a menacing face and a big stick?

“Alright, let’s compromise,” Thales proposed a solution, setting the tone for what was going to be an unpleasant conversation. “I won’t ask you who Freylan is, and you shouldn’t force me to go with you.”

Ashida did not speak.

But based on Thales' understanding of him, someone was clearly not very satisfied.

Thales gave a soft snort and stood up.

"By the way, speaking of which, I have something else to ask you..."

Thales walked straight to the window before turning back to look at the magic master.

Aishida gave a soft hum.

Under the moonlight, the prince smiled slightly and gently raised his hand.

Boom!
The chair behind the desk suddenly trembled and lowered by one corner.

But Ashida didn't notice the chair.

Before anyone knew it, he had already stood up.

The mage's blue-glowing eyes were fixed on Thales's hand—the boy's fingers were holding a folded ball of sky-blue cardboard.

Thales smiled and waved to the other person.

The next second, the blue light in Ashida's eyes suddenly intensified!

Thales felt a gentle breeze, and the paper slipped from his grasp and flew out of his hand!

The sky-blue piece of paper flew over as if it had a life of its own, and landed right in front of Ashida.

It unfolds and flattens in the air, restoring itself to the shape of an invitation, revealing the beautiful handwriting on it:

[Turn around]

"This is……"

Ashida's eyes were veiled in blue light, as if piercing through the invitation before her and gazing into the void:
"No change, no trajectory, no momentum, not even..."

His words were devoid of emotion, yet filled with a strange echo.

Thales gave a mysterious smile.

He bowed and extended his arms, as if to express his gratitude after a performance.

The crumpled invitation fell to the ground.

The mage turned his head and stared intently at Thales' right hand.

"Come again."

Ashida's words carried an unusual tension:

"Whatever it is, do it again, now."

The blue light in his eyes no longer flickered, but remained constant and bright.

“Of course, of course, I will,” the boy said, somewhat flattered by Aishida’s unusual eagerness, “but before that…”

Duke Starlake crossed his arms, his smile turning cold:
Who is Freylan?

Thank you all for your support. I'm working hard on my writing!

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(End of this chapter)