Valerian, The Legendary

Chapter 342: Origins.

Valerian was holding a magic stone to channel mana in his collar chain. He also told Valerie to do the same. Misericordia’s eyes were brimming with pain and sorrow. Valerian smiled bitterly, and using his hands, he said, ’I cannot cry either. That poison Tyrant gave to Mum...’

The lady held his hands and said, "I know it all, my child. I know all of it as if it was yesterday."

Valerian shivered and asked, ’Can you tell me?’

Misericordia froze and asked him, "Why do you want to know? Do not tell me it is about revenge."

The young man did not say anything but asked, ’Can you use magic? There is a letter in my magic pouch; Mum left it.’

The lady was stunned than she said, "We should talk inside. Come along."

Valerian shook his head and said, ’There is someone else who needs to know all this too?’

Misericordia asked, "Who?"

’The queen of dragons, and my magical beast companion, Fortuna Dracos.’, said Valerian.

He did not intend to hide anything from the old lady. His words shocked Misericordia, but the old lady wiped her face and smiled, "You surely take after your parents."

Valerian smiled faintly and asked if he should call for Fortuna. The old lady nodded while sorting her appearance. Valerian spoke in Fortuna’s mind. The girl with silver hair walked inside the garden.

Misericordia was surprised when she saw the two people with similar silver hair. Valerian used his hands to make an introduction. Fortuna bowed her head slightly and said, "Greetings, Saintess."

The old lady shook her head and said, "The honor is all mine, Your Majesty."

Fortuna shook her head and said, "You are Valerian’s grandmother, so you are family. Please do not patronize me, elder."

Misericordia smiled and said, "Very well then, follow me."

The lady took them to a study inside the building. Fortuna and Valerian looked around the place and found that every wall was covered with murals of Vita and her legends. The two exchanged glances, and Misericordia said, "The Haven is a place where only selective people can come."

Fortuna said, "Selective are those who have survived the flames of Vita."

Valerian nodded, and Misericordia replied, "Yes."

The three people came to a study room, and the saintess asked them to sit. Fortuna and Valerian sat adjacent while the lady sat across them. She cast a glance at the two people and was not surprised to notice the eagerness in their eyes.

Valerian raised his hand and wanted to ask for the details when the old lady smiled faintly and said, "Divinus was thirteen when I joined the order."

The young man was surprised, but the old lady said, "He told me to go and find my peace. We maintained a connection, but ever since that day, I was only aware of the big things that he did. Until the day he became the strongest mage in the world."

Fortuna asked, "Can you tell us why Tyrant killed them all? I beg your pardon, but knowing that the answer to all the mysteries is within my grasp, I am getting impatient."

Misericordia nodded and said, "I understand what you must be feeling. However, if I directly told you all of this, you would not be able to find the proper solution."

Valerian touched Fortunga’s shoulder and said, ’Calm down, we have long waited. This short time will not make any difference to us.’

Fortuna glared at him but then calmed down. The young man used his hands to communicate with Misericordia and said, ’Grandma, please continue.’

The lady trembled for a second but regained her composure before she spoke again. The sensation of being called a grandma by her grandson was too shocking for her. She said, "Immortuous and Divinus met each other in the annual rookie competition. Mages and warriors aged ten to eleven were to visit the capital. Youngsters traveled from all over the country.

There, they were given a chance to compete fairly in the capital, and then the most powerful three would be selected. The competition was ferocious but had rules, like mages could only face mages.

By the grace of Vita, Divinus managed to come out on top of the mage table. Immortuous was the warrior champion, and Flos was the only battlemage that year. That was how they met."

...

Three young people were sitting inside a lavish room. Two of them were observing one young man. In contrast, the latter was consumed in the mystery of the chandelier hanging above their heads. His face kept changing expressions.

A deep, heavy voice woke the guy, "What are you looking at the chandelier for?"

The young man replied aloofly, "You see how the light falls on the crystals, and then it gets reflected?"

The young man asked, "What is the context? Also, do you not know how to talk to royalty?"

The other party lowered his head and then stood up in rapt attention as he said, "I apologize, your highness; I am not very well versed in etiquettes, and I was too occupied with the mystery of this chandelier."

The young man waved his hand and asked, "What is your name? What is this mystery?"

"I am Divinus Magnus, your highness. The mystery of the chandelier is light. It can reflect light.", said the young man.

Tyrant Immortuous said, "We all know that it can do that. What is the mystery?"

Divinus replied, "The light enters from one side but does not reflect right back. It spreads around. Do you not find it fascinating? I wish I had the light attribute and could have understood all these things better."

The girl among the three spoke up, "I am Flos. What is your attribute?"

Divinus bowed slightly and said, "I am an earth mage, Lady Flos."

Tyrant Immortuous asked, "Do you not like your attribute?"

Divinus was surprised and chuckled, saying, "Just because I want more does not mean I do not like it."

The two people were surprised, and Flos asked, "How can someone increase their potential?"

Divinus scratched his head and said, "I have a few theories, but they are all just blurry thoughts. I do not have any proof."

Tyrant Immortuous asked, "Tell us."

He was interested in what this young man was thinking. He was an ambitious person, and this was the first time he had sensed an ambition that lay beyond the limits of his imagination. Divinus wanted to break the norms and conquer the impossible.

After being asked, Divinus said, "If mana has the same essence and only the runes can adjust the essence to behave in a certain manner. Then what if someone learns all these runes and converts the way mana works?"

Flos shook her head and said, "Impossible. None of the people have ever managed to learn all the runes."

Divinus shrugged and said, "That is why I want to know. If we cannot learn, why can we not learn? If we can learn, then what are the possibilities? Imagine the people suffering from so many mortal crises, and mana can be the answer to all of them."

The two people exchanged glances and heard Divinus say, "The world was created out of mana. The legends say so. What if even humans were created by mana? Do you not want to find the answers?"

His speech had drawn the two people in his current. However, suddenly, they were interrupted. A steward had called them over for the prize distribution.

...

Valerian opened his eyes. Misericordia said, "The scene you imagined just now, Divinus told me about it. He was so happy to find two people interested in his thoughts finally. My son was a simpleton, and he did not like people. So, this meeting was a fruitful encounter for him."

Fortuna asked, "When did he meet my parents?"

Misericordia shook her head and said, "That was not until he was twenty-three. However, a lot of things happened before that. These events made Immortuous hate Divinus."

Valerian nodded and said, ’I had a chance to meet Immortuous’s sister. She told me it was love that caused him to feel envy and then fame.’

Misericordia shook her head and said, "You misunderstand Tyrant. If his greed were limited to materialistic things, he would not have been sealed behind a barrier. This man seeks something that no human should have."

Fortuna asked, "What is that?"

The saintess replied, "Immortality. He wishes to be a god."

Fortuna and Valerian opened their eyes wide and the old lady said, "Why do you think he has been collecting dragon treasures?"

Fortuna asked, "How can those treasures get him immortality?"

Misericordia shook her head and said, "All I know is he is already half-immortal. The weapons are to ensure that he is not hurt."

Valerian asked, ’What do you mean by half-immortal?’

The saintess sighed and took a deep breath before she said, "Divinus helped him break the norms of a human body."