Chapter 312: Secret Enemy

The day was sunny in the domains of the 11th branch of the outer branch.

Without warning, a Flying Boat tore through the fabric of space, emerging directly into the most restricted and sacred area of the branch—territory reserved exclusively for Elders and high-ranking authorities.

The vessel landed gently on the polished stone ground. At the very same second, a figure appeared from the void nearby.

Priam was the first to disembark, taking a deep breath of the dense, Ether-saturated air. Since he was only a Mage Master disciple, he had never set foot in those inner domains. But the return location crystal had guided him directly there.

Towering buildings stood just ahead, where the Elders lived and handled their affairs. This was where the greatest treasures and the most closely guarded secrets of the entire branch were concentrated.

"Greetings, Elder Leader," Priam said, respectfully bowing his head before Mishnar.

She nodded. Then, her eyes fell upon the five figures stepping down from the boat with unsteady steps and pale faces.

"It’s a perfectly natural reaction," Mishnar stated in her usual neutral voice. "This is the focal point of our branch’s Ether Absorption Formation. Coming directly from the mortal plane into an environment with such density causes severe shock to the magical circulation. In a few days, your bodies will adapt."

Priam nodded. The five took a while to realize the overwhelming presence of that authority. She was a Sage, an entity impossible to see in the mortal plane. But this one stood at an even higher level.

When they turned toward her, they immediately bowed, about to kneel.

"There’s no need for such formalities," Mishnar intervened, raising her hand. "You are neither members of the sect nor servants. In our doctrine, you are what we call *The Soul of the Sect*. According to the ancient laws of the Sovereign Goddess, the founder of everything, the families of Mages and allied races that have earned our protection are the heart that keeps the sect’s body alive."

Her voice took on a solemn and imposing tone.

"You will be protected, even if every Mage in this sect must fall before a single one of you is allowed to be harmed. You will never be treated as disposable pieces or subordinates. Nor are you required to obey orders; your only obligation is not to break the rules that have already been established. People like you are the ones who shape and nurture future generations of Mages. Our sacred duty is to care for each of you as part of our own blood."

The five raised their gazes, deeply impacted by the gravity of those words.

Priam smiled inwardly. Dandara had truly been brilliant back then.

By establishing such strict rules regarding the protection of civilians and family members, she had ensured that new generations of Mages would grow up in a safe and prosperous environment. As a result, besides developing with impeccable resources, these young people developed an unshakable and visceral loyalty to the sect.

"Normally, this kind of civilian structure exists only within the domains of the main sect," Mishnar continued, looking at them with an unusual gentleness.

"The secondary branches are designed strictly for disciple training and the isolation of the Elders. Because of that, you’ll feel somewhat isolated at first. However, on the day Priam becomes an inner disciple, he will have the right to take you to the Great Sacred City of Ironweald. There is a vast and prosperous society there where you can live your lives to the fullest. Until then... I ask that you endure the austerity of this place."

"That will never be a problem for us. We are immensely grateful for your generosity and protection," Boey replied, bowing with deep courtesy.

Mishnar nodded and turned toward an imposing building a few meters away.

"I reserved that building for your family. Previously, it was a temporary residence used by newly promoted Elders. It has everything you need for a comfortable life, in no way inferior to the palaces you lived in on the mortal plane. You will rarely be disturbed by the other Elders, as they are all immersed in their own duties and studies."

Everyone moved.

After guiding them through the palace and making sure they were settled in, Mishnar gestured for Priam to follow her to a private room at the back.

As soon as the door sealed shut, she took out two spatial rings and handed them to Priam.

"In the first ring are the two Young Mage Faction Leader emblems you requested. In addition, I included three maximum-authority passes. With them, you and the other two Mages of your race will be able to move freely throughout this restricted region."

She paused deliberately before continuing:

"In the second ring, you’ll find the tomes containing the Magic Arts and all the core knowledge of ten branches of the sect. The remaining knowledge from the other branches will be transferred shortly."

Mishnar let out a long sigh and looked at Priam with an extremely grave expression.

"The meeting I attended at the main sect had your report on the Sovereigns’ mission as its main agenda. As soon as I presented the facts and locations you provided, the High Council launched an emergency investigation at the highest level. During the few days you spent in the mortal plane, everything was verified, and the sentences were handed down."

Mishnar’s voice turned cold as ice.

"The Elder Leaders of the 8th and 4th branches were summarily removed from their positions. They were demoted to ordinary Elders and placed under strict surveillance, since their core disciples led the massacre orchestrated against the 11th branch."

"All the other branches that allied themselves with them also suffered severe disciplinary sanctions. As for the cowardly disciples who sided with the Sorcerers against you, but managed to escape death... so they can serve as an example to the entire sect, the sentence was immediate execution."

She continued, a dark glint in her eyes:

"As for the traitorous races... it hasn’t been 100% concluded yet. But the tracking done using the records you brought back and the interrogation of the souls of those involved exposed twenty-two entire races conspiring against the sect. All of them were captured and summarily erased from existence."

Mishnar sighed softly. "Thanks to your help, the sect got rid of a plague that had been spreading in silence. The entire upper echelon now knows your name. When you become an inner disciple, you’ll certainly have allies by your side."

"And possibly enemies in equal proportion," Priam added, wearing a calm smile.

Mishnar silently nodded. It was obvious that there were still conspiratorial races that had escaped. The news that Priam had been the key piece in exposing the traitors would inevitably spread, turning him into the secret number-one enemy of these rebels.

"Doing the right thing rarely makes a Mage’s life easier; in fact, it’s usually the opposite," Mishnar said solemnly. "All the sect can do is thank you and provide you with as much support as the rules allow, to accelerate your growth."

Priam gave a subtle smile. "I’m not afraid of enemies. But my family has now become a major vulnerability."

"As for that, don’t worry," she replied promptly. "In the Sacred City, a surveillance Inscription Matrix covers every inch of the perimeter. There are no crimes, and nothing happens without the council’s knowledge. That’s precisely why the traitors were forced to use other planets. Once your family is established there, there won’t be a safer place in the entire universe."

Priam nodded. However, he caught the hidden warning in the Elder Leader’s words: while they were there in the 11th branch’s temporary residence, their safety wasn’t absolute. At first, the traitors would be on the defensive, but if Priam took too long to reach the status of inner disciple, the situation would become exponentially more dangerous.

But he had not the slightest doubt about his own speed of advancement.

Reaching the level of Sage might present bottlenecks for ordinary Mages, but for him, once he assimilated even a fraction of the essence of the world he had conquered, the transition would be smooth.

"That’s all," Mishnar concluded. "By order of the Main Sect’s Council, until the sweep against the traitors is completely concluded, all branches will remain under quarantine. No disciple will be allowed to leave for other missions or external disputes. Even the recruitment of Mages will be heavily restricted this time. This measure should last one to two years."

Mishnar made a slight gesture with her hand, distorting the fabric of space. With a single step forward, her figure simply dissolved into the air.

Priam took a deep breath and spent a few minutes processing everything.

Then, he left the private room and walked toward the main hall, where he came across an emotional scene.

Shione and Lumiere had been summoned in a hurry and had just arrived.

Orlaith held the two young men in a desperate embrace, overwhelmed with tears, while both returned the gesture, trembling from the reunion after so many years apart.

---

Hours later, as Priam was preparing to go get Dandara and officially introduce her to his family, an Elder of the branch hurriedly appeared at the entrance of the building.

Priam went to the door to meet him.

"The Elder Leader sent me to inform you. Validar and the new Elder Leader of the 8th branch have just arrived personally to deliver what they owe you. But as soon as they arrived, they asked to see you."

At that very moment, Priam’s expression changed. His eyes lit up as a different idea came to his mind.