Julie stormed through the castle halls, her fury palpable in the air. The moment she had received word that someone had stolen the Jewel of Elise, her blood boiled with rage. Her steps were swift and unrelenting as she made her way to the infirmary, where the knight commander lay recovering from his wounds.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Julie's gaze immediately fell upon the injured knight commander. His armor was dented, his body wrapped in bloodied bandages. The metallic scent of antiseptic filled the chamber.
"Knight Commander!" Julie's voice was sharp, commanding. "Are you well enough to speak?"
The knight commander stirred, wincing as he attempted to sit up. "Princess… I apologize. I failed to stop the thief."
Julie's fists clenched at her sides. "Were you able to see his face? Do you have any idea who it was?"
The knight commander's expression darkened. "I am sorry, Princess. He was too fast, cloaked in shadows. But his strength… it was nothing to scoff at."
Julie's eyes narrowed. "How can that be? Could it be… Reyon?"
The knight commander hesitated before shaking his head. "No, Princess. Reyon is injured. There is no way he could have recovered so quickly. And the man I fought… he was different. His eyes were ruthlessly cruel. He intended to kill me. Reyon doesn't have such eyes"
Julie took a deep breath, processing the information. "I know Reyon isn't that strong. He must have used some kind of artifact to kill Berth. But it is obvious this is his doing. He asked for the jewel before. He must have hired someone. The real question is—how? He must have poured every coin Berth had to recruit someone this skilled." Her voice dripped with frustration. "Just you wait, Reyon. I will return this favor."
Turning to the knight commander, she ordered, "Write a letter to the Phoenix household. Ask for their aid in ending the Classers."
The knight commander blinked. "But Princess, why would they help us?"
Julie's lips curled into a smirk. "Because they also want to know who killed Berth. They will undoubtedly send someone on the level of a Marshal."
Meanwhile, Reyon arrived at the Classers' headquarters, his body aching from his previous battle. He exhaled sharply, gripping his temple.
"I almost killed Phillip…" he muttered under his breath. "It looks like I'm losing my sanity bit by bit." He shook his head. "I need to focus on my recovery."
Taking out the Jewel of Elise, Reyon examined the gemstone. It was palm-sized, radiating an intense crimson glow. However, when compared to the Ring of Ferica, he noticed a problem. "The hole in the ring is much smaller… I need to compress this jewel."
Without hesitation, Reyon moved to a secluded area, ensuring no one could disturb him. Sitting cross-legged, he took a deep breath and extended his hand, conjuring his mana. Despite the sharp pain still lingering in his body, he persisted.
"Vector Field," he whispered. Instantly, blue-tinted vectors swirled around him, locking onto the jewel. The air around it distorted, vibrating under the immense pressure.
Next, he cast another spell. "Force." A surge of mana erupted, forming an invisible pressure around the jewel. The spell, typically a 5th-circle technique, required immense control and endurance. But Reyon wasn't stopping there.
He gritted his teeth and incorporated £ into his magic, modifying the fundamental nature of the force. Then, he layered three σ symbols onto the spell, amplifying its strength tenfold.
The Jewel of Elise trembled violently, glowing an even deeper red. Flames burst forth from its core as it resisted compression, sending waves of heat into the surroundings. Beads of sweat formed on Reyon's forehead, but he held firm.
"Just a little more…" His arms trembled, his veins bulging under the strain. The jewel continued to shrink, its flames intensifying. With one final push of force, the gemstone collapsed in on itself, perfectly fitting the size of the ring's socket.
Panting, Reyon lifted the now-modified jewel. He aligned it with the Ring of Ferica and carefully inserted it into place.
The moment the jewel clicked into the ring, a sharp light burst forth, engulfing Reyon's body. His eyes widened as mana surged from the ring, flowing directly into his hand and then—unexpectedly—into his brain.
A searing pain struck him, but before he could react, the black mana infesting his body was utterly annihilated. His vision blurred, and his consciousness faded into darkness.
When he awoke, the first thing he noticed was the absence of pain. He sat up, flexing his fingers. His body felt light—stronger, even. Clenching his fist, he could sense the increased efficiency of the Ring of Ferica.
He grinned. "I can stack eight σ symbols now… without strain."
A renewed sense of determination filled him. "Now, it's time to find Grandfather's last symbol." He recalled his grandmother's words: the final symbol was hidden within the Classers' headquarters. Even though the place was in shambles, he had yet to find a single trace of it.
Reyon's mind raced. He needed a new approach. Then, an idea struck him.
"Vector Eyes."
He had only used the ability once before, during his training with Min Hee. Back then, it had been taxing, but now…
Reyon took a deep breath and activated Vector Eyes. His vision instantly shifted, the world transforming into a complex web of interconnected mana streams. Every movement of mana was visible, every fluctuation precise.
As he scanned the area, his eyes suddenly locked onto something. In the farthest corner of the ruined headquarters, immense vectors converged in an unnatural manner.
"That must be it."
Moving swiftly, Reyon reached the corner and observed the vector formation. The arrangement was intricate, almost like a seal.
"So that's how it is…" He raised his hand and directed a controlled force spell at the vectors, nudging them into movement.
The moment he did, the air trembled. The barrier before him shimmered, revealing a hidden entrance. With a deep breath, Reyon stepped forward, pushing the barrier aside. The moment he did, a stairway leading underground revealed itself.
He exhaled. "If anyone who doesn't understand vectors tried to alter this seal, the entire basement would have been destroyed."
A smirk played on his lips. "Grandfather… you really didn't make this easy."
With steady steps, Reyon descended into the hidden basement.