Chapter 810: A World Of Endless Possibilities [Part 2]

"Destroyed from the fall," The Hermit replied. "However, The World siphoned your blood and stored it somewhere safe for the time being. When your soul crossed over to this world, a body that perfectly matched your soul was created using the seed of the World Tree, which was then infused with your original bloodline.

"Although you now have a new vessel, there is no question that the bloodline of the Aetherion Royal Family flows through your veins."

Alex took a deep breath to steady his nerves.

Now that one of the most important questions about his background was answered, he could no longer deny that he was indeed Prince Aetherius Alexian Vademont.

"My next question. Are you the founder of the Aetherion Empire?" Alex inquired.

"Yes," Aetherion answered. "I foresaw that there would eventually come a time when I would need the power of humans to overcome the calamity that would befall this world. So, I took my human concubine, Lazuli, to the far north and founded the Aetherion Empire."

Alex then realized that the person whom Lapiz had possessed was the same concubine that The Hermit was talking about.

"Then, who became the King of Faelarun after you left for the far north?" Alex asked.

"The child of my elven concubine, Ariel Sylvarin." The Hermit closed his eyes, as if remembering a memory from the distant past.

Alex now had a better understanding of how the Elven Kingdom and the Aetherion Empire were founded.

And yet, he still had a few more questions that he wanted to be answered.

"Then my next question," Alex said in a serious tone. "Did you foresee that Arcana would be invaded by the people of Reverse Arcana?"

The Hermit nodded. "Yes. That is also why I made plans to make Hy-Brasil their grave. Unfortunately, not every plan works out the way you wish ?it to happen. There were variables that appeared in the process, which led to a different ending."

"You mean to say that... all those trials you left behind were made for this moment?" Alex’s face turned grim.

"Yes... and no." The Hermit sighed. "I prepared the trials so that my future descendants would gain the power to overcome the calamities that will appear in this world. The calamity of Reverse Arcana is only one of them."

"There are more?" Alex’s right hand trembled after hearing The Hermit’s revelation.

"Yes." The Hermit smiled wryly. "There is one more trial waiting for you in the Sea of Flames located in the Kingdom of Solara, but now is not the time for you to go there."

"When is the right time?" Alex demanded.

"You will know when that time comes," The Hermit answered. "For you will be desperate for it."

It was then that Alex remembered the anger that seemed to resonate from Reverse Alex’s entire being.

Seeing his expression, The Hermit sighed a second time.

"D-Does this mean that I will..." Alex wasn’t able to finish whatever he had to say because he felt like if he said it out loud, it would really come to pass.

"Remember this, Alex Stratos," The Hermit said softly. "Dark times are up ahead. Soon, you will have to choose between what is right and what you believe is right."

Alex looked at his hands, and then slowly closed them into fists. The Hermit’s words were like a prophecy that would come to pass, so the weight of this knowledge bore down on him like a mountain.

"We don’t have much time left. You can only ask me one more question," The Hermit said calmly.

"Then this is my last question," Alex replied in a solemn tone. "Can... can I go back to Earth?"

The Hermit smiled faintly. "When this world was created, His Excellency, Dim Dim, made sure that everyone would have endless possibilities. What is impossible in other worlds becomes possible in this world. So, in a world of endless possibilities, do you think that returning to Earth is impossible?"

Alex stared at The Hermit in silence.

His words sounded almost too simple.

Yet, the more Alex thought about them, the heavier they became.

A world of endless possibilities.

If what The Hermit said was true, then there truly was nothing that could be considered impossible in Arcana.

Even returning to Earth.

Although he already knew the answer, he still asked the question just to hear a confirmation from the Hermit.

"Then... Is it really possible to return to Earth?"

"Yes."

The Hermit nodded without hesitation.

Alex’s heart skipped a beat. He had spent many years on Earth and formed bonds with many people.

Those bonds were what kept him grounded in that world.

Bonds that helped him overcome the loneliness he felt back then.

Bonds that taught him what it was like to... fall in love.

It was then when the memory of a black-haired beauty flashed inside Alex’s mind. If possible, he wanted to see her again.

He wanted to hold her again.

He wanted to tell her the things that he failed to say before he was sent to Arcana.

"I know I said that I have one last question, but if you don’t mind, can you answer this question as well?" Alex inquired.

"And your question is?" The Hermit asked out of curiosity.

"Will I be able to see and talk to you again?" Alex asked.

"Once you pass the final trial, then we will definitely meet again," The Hermit replied with certainty. "But that is only if you pass the trial."

"Thank you." Alex was finally able to obtain the answers to the most important questions he had.

While he still had more questions to ask, they would have to wait until the next time he met The Hermit.

Now that their question-and-answer session was over, The Hermit snapped his fingers as Astrea’s time soon flowed back to normal.

"You return first," Queen Elyndra said to Alex. "I still have many things to tell my descendant, especially about raising draconic children."

Without even waiting for Alex’s reply, the Dragon Queen waved her hand. Soon, Alex found himself falling from the sky.

When he finally came to his senses, he realized that he was falling onto the Island of Hy-Brasil.

Summoning a magical shield in response, Alex used it like a surfboard to descend to the ground safely.

The moment Alex landed on the island, his friends immediately rushed toward him, surrounding him with relieved smiles while asking him where he had been.

But before he could even properly reply to everyone’s questions, Queen Elaris suddenly grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him towards her.

Aeris and Lapiz’s mother looked at Alex with a serious expression on her face.

"Young man, we have a lot of things to talk about," Queen Elaris said, her voice hinting that she wouldn’t take no for an answer. "You’re coming with me, right?"

For some reason, Alex felt like he was in trouble.

Big trouble.

He glanced briefly at Aeris and Lapiz.

Aeris looked at him with her arms crossed over her chest, as well as an evil smile plastered on her face.

Lapiz, on the other hand, was blushing furiously, unable to meet Alex’s gaze.

The young man didn’t need to be a genius to understand what was happening.

The strong vice-like grip that held his arm in place was more than enough to tell him that he wasn’t going anywhere until he and the Elven Queen had a proper talk.

And although it was funny, Alex thought that he would rather fight the cast of Reverse Arcana once more instead of having a one-on-one talk with the mother of the two young ladies that had pushed her daughters to be embraced by him... once upon a time.