Chapter 75


    The following morning, afterpleting his deliveries, vin returned to the warehouse, carrying a


    stone urn, only to see Celesse standing beneath the ancient tree in the courtyard, gazing silently at


    the lone grave marked by an unlettered tombstone.


    Celesse was the picture of grace and beauty, standing tall and fair. From any angle, her presence


    was enchanting, as if she were a fairy who stepped right out of a painting.


    Her hair fell like a cascade, softly draped over her purple gown that hugged her wless figure just


    so.


    "Who lies buried in this grave?" Celesse remembered the old man''s lonely and deste figure, who


    sat by the grave day and night, in fair weather and foul, keeping vigil for the departed and tending to


    the magnolia flowers by the tombstone. His expression of solitude and weary sadness stirred a


    deep pang ofpassion in those who saw him.


    She had once asked her mentor about the old man, who he was, where he came from. To her


    surprise, her mentor did not even know of the old man''s existence and had even gone as far as to


    investigate from afar,ter stating that he was just an ordinary man, devoid of any magical aura, not


    a Mage at all.


    An old man, alone and unheeded by the denizens of Cobalt Strike, yet Celesse knew in her heart


    that this man was no ordinary individual.


    "The old man never spoke of the person in the grave," vin said as he walked into the warehouse,


    setting down the stone urn, and drawing water from the well to wash away the sweat ofbor.


    "Did he leave nothing behind when he departed?"


    "He left behind an Arcanum, an ancient sword, and a note with a single word on it—''Fate,''" vin


    revealed, scooping water to wash without concealing it from Celesse.


    "Fate," Celesse murmured to herself, staring at the lone grave. "Does it speak of you, of him, or


    perhaps of destiny itself?"


    "I have a premonition that one day we will see the old man again," vin said, dousing himself with


    the cool water, shaking his head to refresh himself, and smiling. "When that dayes, I''ll make


    sure he sees a different version of me."


    "I believe in you," Celesse replied, her beauty shining even behind the veil of her purple dress, and


    her smile brightening the whole courtyard. "I have some good news to share."


    vin grinned. "I always love good news."


    "You''ve been officially recognized for your mastery of the Indigo Viper technique. The Elders have


    decreed that this Combat Magic is your personal property and not a part of the Cobalt Strike''s


    magical arsenal. They debated for five days, initially preparing to punish you, thinking someone else


    had secretly taught you the Combat Magic, but in the end, they found no evidence."


    "So, does that mean I can frequently exchange Combat Magic from the outside now?"


    "You already have plenty of Combat Magic, and as a Novice Mage, you don''t need that much."


    vin finished cleaning up and donned fresh clothes, stepping out and stretching his limbs, ready


    to practice with his Dawnedge de. "Care for a sparring match?"


    "Another time. Today, I''vee to say farewell."


    "Where are you headed?" vin asked in surprise.


    "I''m entering seclusion for three months, traveling with my mentor for training; it might be a long


    while before I return."


    "Where will you be training?" vin felt happy for Celesse, knowing that to advance her skills, she


    indeed needed to venture into the world and face danger and hardship. With her mentor Hamund


    apanying her, her safety was assured.


    "My mentor is still considering. Originally, I was supposed to participate in The sh of Eight


    Orders before venturing out, but now the ns have changed."


    "The sh of Eight Orders?" vin recalled the grand meeting that took ce every two years,


    hosted by the Eight Orders of the Nortnds. At these gatherings, the leaders of the Eight Orders


    met, and their Protégés sparred inbat, a tradition that had been carried on for centuries.


    The entire Nortnds paid attention on the day of the gathering.


    As the rulers of the Nortnds, any major decision made by the Eight Orders could directly


    influence the region''s fate for the next two years, and even the ''Five Lords'' took it seriously.


    For themon folk, the sparring matches were of great interest. The level ofpetition could


    represent the strongest of the new generation in the Nortnds, and the top five from each


    gathering would gain widespread recognition, sometimes even earning unique titles, a supreme


    honor.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.