Meanwhile, I (Nekrios) was finally having dinner in peace at the dorm...
But this part isn't about me.
Let's see who it's about—
Scene shifts from the dorm to Lethia, still searching, buried in books, reading fervently.
(Lethia) reads with intense focus:
"The Nezharion Metal is a radiant silver element that pulses like the heart of a dying truth.
Its surface is smooth like glass, yet burns upon the touch of a human hand.
Its color shifts with the intent of its wielder — glowing blue when meant for healing, pitch black when meant for killing.
If broken, it emits a scream that is not heard by the ears, but by the soul."
Properties
––––––––––––––
Immortality Slayer: When it pierces the body of an immortal being, it begins to drain their eternal energy, turning it into temporal ash.
Illusion Breaker: No creature using disguise or magic illusions can come near it without being exposed — the Nezharion reflects your true face when you gaze into it.
(Lethia) narrows her eyes.
"Interesting… So this solves the mystery behind the extinction of the Thanalith race.
But… (Nekrios) belongs to this race. He's the only one.
And he's immortal too. If this metal ever gets close to him, it could kill him… and we definitely don't want that.
Alright. I have to find where it's mined from."
Lethia grabs more books, digging for the location… but none of them mention it. She frowns, exhausted.
At that moment, (Arclemos) walks in, spotting her surrounded by a mountain of books and utterly drained.
(Arclemos), puzzled, looks between the books and her tired eyes.
"So… what is it this time? What got you obsessively researching like this again?"
(Lethia) suddenly shouts and grabs (Arclemos) by his big beard.
"ARCLEMOS!!!
Listen to me! I've reached a seriously dangerous conclusion!
The reason the Thanalith went extinct—
First, they were immortals.
Their blood was blue.
And it seems they wiped each other out in wars… using the only metal capable of killing them — the Nezharion!
Now, now I'm trying to find where it's extracted because—
The Thanalith forged many weapons from it! Which means it must be abundant somewhere!
But WHERE?! And what will happen to (Nekrios)
if he ever encounters an enemy wielding a sword, arrow, or ANY WEAPON forged from this METAAAAAL!!"
(Arclemos) winces from the sudden headache caused by her loud speech… and the violent tug on his beard.
"Please… calm down, dear. And… let go of my beard.
Thank you."
"Let's assume your deduction is correct," (Arclemos) says, brushing his beard back into place.
"In that case, there would be a real threat to (Nekrios).
But the issue isn't where the metal source is…
It's the weapons already forged by the Thanalith when they fought each other.
That metal is impossible to forge without forbidden magic and seals.
It takes dark rituals to shape it into a weapon capable of killing immortals."
(Lethia), too exhausted to think clearly anymore, slumps back with a blank stare.
"Wonderful, Arclemos… so let's just send (Nekrios) on missions to locate all the lost weapons made from it!"
(Arclemos)'s right eye twitches. He stares at her, visibly trying not to explode.
"So… you're telling me to send the boy… to his doom? That's what you're saying? Huh?"
Before he could finish his sentence, (Lethia) collapses to the floor, completely asleep from overwork and fatigue.
(Arclemos) looks at her quietly, a soft expression surfacing.
"…Still haven't changed, even now that you're 42."
He smiles gently and murmurs to himself.
"I remember how you always used to drag me into trouble…
And I was always the one pulling us back out.
You were my favorite problem, Lethia… and you always will be."
He kneels down, gently lifts Lethia into his arms, and walks her back to her room in the academy.
He places her on the bed and quietly shuts the door behind him.
(Arclemos) strolls through the quiet halls until he reaches his office.
He runs a finger across the bookshelf, stops at one particular book, and pulls it out.
He sits in his chair, opening it carefully.
(Arclemos), reading with deep focus:
"Let's see… this book is supposed to list all ancient and current kings and their signature weapons…"
Hildra — Princess of the Eastern Kingdom. Agile. Clever.
Carries a bow and arrows at all times. Makes sense, since her family's hobby is archery.
He flips through the pages, skimming through the names of kings, reading each profile.
Each one has an image, posing with their weapon of choice.
But then—
He stops at one.
Freezes.
His eyes lock onto the image of a single king… unable to speak… unable to think.
In the king's hands were a sword and spear forged from that metal.
But the real problem wasn't the weapons.
It was the king himself.
Kirax — Demon King.
(Arclemos), visibly shaken:
"Out of all beings in existence… you ended up with one of the weapons that can kill immortals…?
Alright. Stay calm.
He's not a danger as long as he doesn't know about (Nekrios)."
His eyes darken.
"That lunatic is obsessed with immortality. He thinks he can extract it from one of the immortal beings.
Damn it.
A demon who's lived thousands of years… chasing immortality?
Looks like he wants to become a god, not a demon anymore."
(Arclemos) slams the book shut.
"From now on, (Nekrios) will be completely hidden from anything outside the academy that might expose him.
Kirax must never find out he exists.
At dawn tomorrow… I'll stay by his side.
Watch over him from the shadows.
And protect him… from that demon's madness."
---
To be continued...