The Relic Fragments

Chapter 128 — The Relic Fragment

The deeper section of the underground facility was almost completely abandoned.

Blackridge had clearly moved its important personnel before Aether arrived, but they had been in too much of a hurry to erase everything.

That mistake gave Aether exactly what he needed.

Information.

He and Vaelira spent several hours searching the facility. Aether focused on documents related to Origin pathways while Vaelira examined records concerning her family's relic.

Eventually, she stopped in front of a sealed cabinet.

"I found something."

Aether approached.

Vaelira opened the cabinet.

Inside was a small silver fragment.

The moment it appeared, the spatial Origin Energy around them changed.

Aether immediately felt the Voidmoon characteristics inside his body react.

Vaelira stared at the fragment.

"That's part of the relic."

"You recognize it?"

"My family had three main fragments. Blackridge took one when they attacked us."

She carefully picked it up.

"It looks like they divided it after taking it."

Aether studied the fragment.

"Can it locate the rest?"

"Possibly."

Vaelira activated her Voidmoon Physique.

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The fragment immediately responded.

Silver light spread across the room.

Aether's Infinite Origin Physique reacted as well.

The System appeared.

[Spatial Origin Fragment detected.]

[High compatibility with integrated Voidmoon characteristics.]

[Potential enhancement detected.]

Aether considered the fragment.

"Let me try something."

Vaelira handed it to him.

He held it in his palm.

The spatial energy entered his body.

Unlike the first time he had attempted to integrate the Voidmoon Physique, there was significantly less resistance.

The fragment slowly dissolved.

Aether remained perfectly still.

His spatial perception expanded.

He could sense the walls.

The floor.

The hidden formations.

Even the tiny distortions caused by Vaelira's breathing.

But after several minutes, the process slowed.

Aether stopped.

Only a portion of the fragment had been absorbed.

Vaelira looked at him.

"Still not complete."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because the fragment contains a denser spatial structure than the portion of your physique I've already integrated."

Aether examined the remaining piece.

"My body can accept it more easily than before, but I'm still not strong enough to completely assimilate everything at once."

Vaelira nodded.

"Then keep the rest."

Aether looked at her.

"You don't want it?"

"We can use it later."

She smiled.

"And I don't think you should destroy your body just to prove that your physique can absorb something."

Aether laughed.

"Fair."

He stored the remaining fragment.

The discovery was valuable.

Not only because of the relic itself, but because it confirmed something else.

Blackridge had been collecting spatial artifacts for a reason.

The Origin pathways were real.

And they were actively searching for them.

Aether looked at the documents again.

Several locations were marked.

One of them was deep inside the Frostveil Mountains.

"That's where they're going."

Vaelira looked over his shoulder.

"The Frostveil Mountains."

"Yes."

She remained silent for a moment.

Then she asked, "Are you going?"

"Eventually."

"You don't sound concerned."

"I'm interested."

"In Blackridge?"

"In what they're looking for."

Aether folded the map.

"If those pathways are connected to the origin of this world's Origin Energy, then understanding them could help me understand my own path."

Vaelira looked at him.

"Your Infinite Origin Physique."

"Among other things."

They left the facility before nightfall.

As they traveled through the forest, Vaelira remained unusually quiet.

Aether eventually glanced at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You're thinking."

She smiled.

"You notice too much."

"It's useful."

Vaelira looked ahead.

"I was thinking that when I first met you, I expected you to leave once our goals stopped overlapping."

"And now?"

"I don't think you will."

Aether didn't answer immediately.

Then he said, "You're useful."

Vaelira rolled her eyes.

"That's a terrible way to reassure someone."

Aether laughed.

"You wanted honesty."

"I did."

She smiled despite herself.

The two continued toward the settlement.

The Frostveil Mountains waited ahead.

And with them, another piece of the mystery surrounding Blackridge.