Chapter 1,408 – History Repeating Itself

Zac found himself returning to his seat. Any inside information about the Ultom Courts was priceless. Even if he didn’t end up using it for himself, weren’t there a bunch of highly motivated and exceedingly rich Flamebearers willing to buy the information? Problem was, Zac had a good idea what Astora wanted in return for the information. Still, he’d regret it if he didn’t at least try.

“Descartes did mention that word before,” Zac slowly said. “Unfortunately, he didn’t get the chance to explain much.”

“We’ll never get anywhere if you insist on pretending. There are no fools among those chosen,” Astora scoffed as her hand lit up with vast amounts of Imperial Faith. “Remember this?”

“How could I forget? I didn’t bring it up because I feared I’d failed Your Highness’s great expectations of me,” Zac said with an eager expression.

During their last meeting, Astora had declared that her family could wield some of the Limitless Empire’s providence. Not only that, she was able to use that power to impart a blessing to one more helper. His trip to the Peregrine Archipelago was partly a test to prove his mettle. Zac believed he should have passed with flying colors by thwarting a major plot and awakening Sevona.

Adding the fact that the soldier of the Arcana Division had been killed by Descartes on the island, that blessing should be in the bag. Nevertheless, Zac never raised the issue upon meeting the princess again. Frankly, he wasn’t sure he needed it any longer. They’d wanted the blessing to connect with the Mercurial Court’s threads of fate, but Idiche’s vision proved they’d already accrued enough achievements to get their hands on [Second Singularity].

Getting further embroiled with Astora Theomore at this point risked adding unnecessary variables to their plans. Not to mention, Zac was especially hesitant about accepting any more blessings from the Limitless Empire after accepting something similar just hours ago. He was afraid he’d end up a devout follower of the old Emperor if he didn’t rein himself in.

“If anything, you performed too well. Well enough that I can’t help but find it suspicious,” Astora said. “The threat here was far greater than we anticipated. You forced a Late-step Celestial into retreat, and the whole Archipelago would be teeming with corrupted invaders already if not for you. And you even took out the chosen challenger of the Belial Tribe.”

“As I said, that was—”

“A mysterious Centigrade Elemental no one else has either encountered or seen. The one who stole the [Fatesiphon Seal],” Astora nodded. “I remember.”

‘Fatesiphon Seal? That explains why Kaltosa Lu targeted my left hand,’ Zac thought to himself, suddenly thanking his lucky stars it fell into the Elemental’s hands.

As suspicious as Astora Theomore was of his identity and motives, she at least didn’t seem to notice Zac’s status as a fellow Flamebearer. Seeing as Descartes noticed straight away, the [Fatesiphon Seal] was the most likely culprit. It probably had the capacity to sense Sealbearers in its vicinity, like the hidden tracker on the Yphelion or the treasures Valsa Planur used to hunt Sealbearers in the Perennial Vastness.

“If Your Highness feels I am unworthy, then I can only continue to work hard in your service,” Zac said. “Now, the thing you said about Ultom?”

Astora answered Zac’s question with one of her own. “Do you know what your Realmsinger Seal represents?”

“That I have some fate with the Mercurial Court,” Zac shrugged.

“No. It represents a Karmic Link to Ultom. With its Mercurial Domain, to be specific,” Astora said.

“What did you just say?” Zac said as the table before him groaned from an inadvertent release of his strength.

“An Epoch-defining inheritance trial is about to commence for this Era’s Flamebearers and their Cycle of Protectors. Except, the Empire required those Karmic Links for another purpose. Adhering to the principle of balance, the Theomore Dynasty presented you Sealbearers with something of Equivalent Value instead,” Astora calmly explained, acting like her words didn’t hold such explosive secrets that Zac was left reeling.

“That’s the real reason why you opened the courts to outsiders?” Zac said, knowing he shouldn’t be surprised. No ancient faction was needlessly generous, least of all the Limitless Empire. “So, us lowly mortals won’t have the opportunity to visit Ultom ourselves?”

Zac had always wondered why the Sealbearers of the Outer Courts were called things such as Soultaker or Skypiercer of Ultom, despite only Flamebearers being chosen for the Flameseeking trial. It turned out they were actually supposed to enter the Ultom Courts instead of the Outer Courts. There were even domains with matching names waiting inside.

As to why the Empire needed those Karmic Links, it wasn’t hard to guess. Ultom’s Eternal Heritage was the core of the Fifth Pillar, and the Karmic Links were part of integrating it with the Grand Array. Furthermore, the Theomore Dynasty brought all the Sealbearers to the Outer Courts instead of directly sending equivalent rewards to their factions. Their presence was probably part of the plan, turning the Sealbearers into unwitting bridges between Ultom and the Outer Courts.

It was at that moment a hesitant voice entered Zac’s mind, triggering another storm. ‘Isn’t this our exact situation?’

Esmeralda was right. The trial that brought Zac and all the others to the Left Imperial Expanse was identical to the Theomore Dynasty’s Karmic transfer back in the day. Instead of being sent into the Mercurial and Hollow Domains inside Ultom, they were allowed to seize opportunities inside memories. They were even being led to the same locations as the ancient Sealbearers of the previous Flameseeking trial.

The System or the Limitless Empire was once more siphoning off the Karmic Links of Ultom for a massive, Heaven-defying project. The notion that the Limitless Empire might actually emerge from the path to reclaim its place in the Multiverse was starting to feel increasingly real.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Zac said with a hoarse voice, realizing he’d missed something.

“As I said, our solution isn’t without issues. For one, our family exhausted much of our Karma with Ultom. Secondly, forcing a transfer of destiny created an opening for the other families. The qualifications of my siblings are no longer secure, so to speak,” Astora said.

“What does this have to do with me?” Zac asked. “I’m not too happy about having my opportunity taken from me, but I won’t complain if it’s in the Empire’s interests. I also know the Theomore Dynasty hasn’t shortchanged us by opening the courts.”

“My blessing is not only a way to augment your Destiny. It will mark you as a member of my cycle and restore your link to Ultom. You would join me in my competition with my siblings or the outsiders who siphoned their fate. There were originally nine Flameseeking slots, but six were sacrificed for the undertaking,” Astora said. “If you join me, I’ll share everything I know about Ultom. You should know, I’ve been inside already.”

Zac had fully calmed down at this point, and the blessing had lost the last of its allure. He still wanted the inside scoop, but he knew it wasn’t meant to be. “You find me too suspicious to bring me onboard, but you’re willing to give me a chance. Let me guess, information?”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Exactly. What’s going on? Why does my bloodline recognize yours? Why do I feel this suffocating wrongness since I first saw you?” Astora said, gradually losing her composure. “Tell me the truth, and I’ll give you my full support. Both here and inside Ultom.”

Zac slowly exhaled. “I can’t help you.”

“You’re still saying it’s all in my head?” Astora growled, grabbing Zac’s hand so quickly he couldn’t avoid it.

“No, I’m saying that I can’t tell you,” Zac said, ignoring the growing roar from his danger sense. “Let me ask you something. Do you trust your ancestors? Do you trust the elders of the Mercurial Court?”

“Of course,” Astora said without hesitation.

“Like you said, there are no fools here,” Zac said as he slipped out of her grasp. Astora looked like she’d lost her soul as she stared down at her hands. Zac shook his head and walked toward the door, his parting words directed at himself as much as at Astora. “Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.”