Chapter 246: Hint On The First Oath

"Hold on a minute..." Caelestra gestured with both hands, as though trying to piece together the implications of Aelric’s explanation.

"You just said detecting the Aether Convergence Array was practically impossible, right?"

Looking curiously and inquisitively at Aelric, she tilted her head. "But how, then, did you know it was there?"

Hearing her question, Aelric let out a small, boisterous laugh, sounding like a man who had just heard the funniest joke in his life.

After his laughter subsided, he wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye before answering.

"While the Array might have been invisible to you, the same certainly couldn’t be said for me." He smiled. "And I know what you might be asking, but no, I didn’t use my Divine Sense to scan the perimeter or anything."

Aelric crouched down and ran his fingers along the precise geometric lines carved into the obsidian floor.

"You see, I already told you that I’m an expert when it comes to ruins, especially Forbidden Ruins like this. I know their ins and outs, and because of that, over the years and through my extensive experience, I’ve learned to recognize their patterns almost subconsciously."

He tapped one of the engravings.

"As a matter of fact, if necessary, I could explore this entire place with my eyes closed and wouldn’t even stub my toe against anything. And that’s without using my Divine Sense."

The group stared at him with incredulity flickering deep within their gaze.

Aelric’s statement had actually told them everything they needed to know about why he had remained calm from the beginning. As it turned out, he really hadn’t been bluffing when he bragged about his expertise in archaeological exploration.

Clearly, besides being the epitome of indifference and nonchalance, the green-eyed youth also possessed an almost absurd knack for navigating ancient structures.

Vaelorin’s lips twitched as he commented. "So you’re basically saying this place is your playground?"

"More or less." Aelric shrugged.

"That isn’t reassuring." Vaelorin said, gesturing towards the army of inanimate Terracottas assembled at the bottom of the dais.

Aelric merely smiled. He then stood and took several steps toward the sarcophagi resting at the center of the Array.

"Well, guys, since we’ve gotten over that little hurdle, I think it’s time we finally got what I came here for. Then after that..." He shrugged. "Well, you know. We can begin our journey to the Sanctuary."

He glanced over his shoulder with a smile. "Trust me. You’re going to love this."

But that statement did little to reassure anyone. Without hesitation, the green-eyed youth walked toward the central coffin—the one containing the body of the Grand Priest.

The others were still attempting to process everything that had just transpired when Regaleon followed after him.

"Wait. What do you mean, get what we came here for?"

Standing before the coffin, Aelric turned his head over his shoulder.

"What else?" His smile widened. "Did you actually think I followed you all the way here for a nice and leisurely expedition? Or perhaps just to watch Vaelorin lose himself to hysteria?"

The moment he said that, Aelric turned toward the failed Pyromancer whose eyes were already widened. He then shrugged before saying casually. "By the way, no offence, Vaelorin."

"Offence taken." The failed Pyromancer replied immediately, his expression resembling that of a man who had just been personally betrayed by the universe.

Aelric didn’t bother responding. Instead, he turned back toward Regaleon and continued.

"You see, Forbidden Ruins tend to contain very special Artifacts. Artifacts that, when gathered together, can lead their possessors toward unlimited power and glory."

He even added dramatic flair to his words, sweeping one hand grandiosely through the air while his eyes gleamed like a treasure hunter who had just discovered a mountain of gold.

Aureleah’s silver eyes narrowed. "Is this about the other mission you told us the Sanctuary sent you on?"

Her voice remained calm and composed, but her gaze seemed to pierce through Aelric’s theatrics.

"At last! Someone finally gets it!"

Aelric exclaimed, slapping his palm against the top of the sarcophagus.

"You see, right inside this container is something glorious..." he paused dramatically. "...A Key."

The moment he said that word, a sudden silence descended upon the group.

Aelric’s words had been embellished with such grandeur that the moment he finally revealed that the supposed treasure he was here for was a glorified key, the group was left perplexed by the sheer simplicity of it.

"A... Key?" Kaeloris repeated.

He stared at Aelric as though the green-eyed youth had suddenly transformed into an entirely different creature. Even Sylveris, the youngest among them, looked taken aback by the anticlimactic revelation.

It was almost as though Aelric had spent ten minutes describing a magnificent castle adorned with countless treasures, only for them to discover that he had actually been talking about an abandoned tent. How absurd was that?

Honestly, it was underwhelming enough to border on comedic.

Meanwhile, despite the awkward atmosphere, Aelric remained perfectly calm, as though he hadn’t just shattered everyone’s expectations.

"Yes, Kaeloris. A Key." He raised one finger and shook it. "However, it isn’t just an ordinary key. It is actually a piece of a powerful Artifact related to the First Oath."

Before anyone could bombard him with further questions, Aelric continued.

"Remember when I told you that this place is a location kingdoms would kill for? Even if you didn’t believe me, the fact remains that there was no fallacy in my words."

His expression became solemn.

"This is because, long ago, according to legend, those thirteen Etheryeans—or Knight Templars, whatever you wish to call them—came together and used their strength to create an Artifact so powerful that, the moment it was completed, the entirety of Aetherium trembled from its existence."

The words spilling from Aelric’s mouth sounded like the chronicles of some fantastical legend, something that belonged in an ancient bard’s tale rather than a crypt beneath the Crimson Forest.

Yet the group had little reason to dismiss him because why would Aelric lie? After all, tgere was nothing obvious he stood to gain from deceiving them; therefore, they continued to listen.

Aelric continued his seemingly extraordinary tale. "You see, back then, according to the legends, the condition of the planet had deteriorated to the point that, if nothing were done immediately, all life would have been eradicated."

His expression darkened.

"Seeing no other way forward, the Knight Templars had no choice but to sacrifice the last vestiges of their power to create the First Oath. Once it was completed, they used it to save Aetherium."

He paused before continuing.

"However, because of the immense power contained within that Artifact, they knew leaving it accessible would be dangerous. Therefore, they locked it away within a forbidden region and crafted thirteen Keys. Only when all thirteen were assembled together would they reveal the path leading their wielders to the First Oath."

He then let a small smile played on his lips as he added."Fortunately, the First Oath wasn’t lost forever because these Keys were entrusted to trusted subordinates, who were commanded to guard them even unto death."

If they were to strip away the ornamentation of Aelric’s storytelling and focused solely on the essential details, what he was saying actually made sense.

Even if the others couldn’t immediately accept it, Regaleon could. This is because unlike them, he had actually met those thirteen Etheryeans and had seen their desperate circumstances firsthand.

As a matter of fact, Regaleon couldn’t help but reconcile Aelric’s explanation with the vision he had witnessed inside the Reliquary. Using his deductive reasoning, he began fitting the scattered pieces together.

What if the First Oath was created because of the desperate circumstances I witnessed?

Although Regaleon couldn’t confirm his conjecture—he hadn’t witnessed the entirety of what had transpired inside the Reliquary—it remained the only plausible and reasonable explanation he had at the moment...