Chapter 12: Shadow of the Arcane: The Forsaken Maw Beckons

Lucian was sitting on a bench in the side of crowed street.

He was just staring at his hands which were weathered by countless battle he fought to reach this state of peace and harmony.

He could heal his hands by the power Rahizel bestow upon him but what's the use of it.

What's the use of a such a power when you know that when you die your parents will also return to soul realm.

It's still a nightmare to remember the war between primordial beings which annihilate countless universe everytime the wield their hands.

Knowing all this he still choose to stand against them.

He was greatful to achieve everything he ever wanted, but still he have pain in his heart to remember how he left home.

He hug Selene and give a fairwell to his children in the best way he could possibly know.

He could come back in a year as time is relative between universes but still he can't be certain of it.

He don't know what could occur in his path and how much blood is going to be shed.

A darkesh purple portal tore the fabric of reality with a hizzing sound behind him.

He turn back and move through it with his eyes closed. The next moment he open his eyes he was standing in dark alleyway.

He saw a fragment of light far ahead in the end of the narrow lane.

He walk out of dark lane into crowded street and it was quiet different of what he expected.

Every person here could influence mana, even childern can use it like it was not a big deal.

He was suprise because in his world only awakners could manipulate mana.

He walk through crowd in curiosity to see more and more. He find an common thing in most of the shop, the word Velmora.

" It's must be the name of this place. Ehh.. Velmora a magical city of nobles"

Everything he glance give him a feeling of royalty, maybe because it's much different then modern civilization.

A city pulsed with arcane life. Crystalline lanterns floated on invisible threads, casting warm, shifting glows across cobbled streets.

Every flicker of light echoed the city’s heartbeat—magic woven into culture, status, and breath itself.

He was so much engulf in his thoughts that the next thing he know was he just sitting ideally on a bench, recollecting his mind.

A ray of light flash in his eyes, it was to bright to see anything. He stood up and walk towards the edge of other side.

He gripped the iron rail at the high street’s edge, the night wind sharp against his face.

Below, beyond the city’s last rooftops, a vast complex rose from the dark—towering spires, broad silvered lawns, and a long stone hall half-hidden among them.

He had never seen such a enormous structure before, it's almost thrice the size of Hunter Association.

Then light erupted. Brilliant white rays shot upward from the heart of the place, sweeping across the lawns and painting the towers in cold silver.

The beams crossed and flared like a silent night show before fading back into darkness.

He stayed still, staring, wondering what the place was—and who it was for.

A child beside him climb up the rail.

" Father, why is light dancing above their?"

A man standing next to child, hold him by his hands.

" That is light show of Arcadia Grand Academy. This is the sin that they will soon start a new season."

Lucian step back and look for an a place to eat something, he see an sign board Rune & Roast.

He without any other thought head their.

At an outdoor table, a nobleman flipped through a glowing parchment. Headlines danced in floating script above the page.

“Rutherford Patriarch Found Dead in the Forsaken Maw—House in Ruin?”

He paused, eyes narrowing.

What he wants is an identity and understanding of this place.

The head lines of Death Patriarch of a noble family can be consider a well stage to get deep in the locality.

But he can't just go ahead, he need more information to set himself up.

He murmured a soft spell, Mindweave Thread and sent a whisper of thought into the noble’s mind.

The man’s fingers slackened, and the parchment slipped from his grip. Lucian caught it.

The article detailed the fall: Edmund Rutherford, the house’s patriarch, had entered the Forsaken Maw, a cursed forest at Velmora’s edge a week ago.

He never returned. House Rutherford, once respected, now stood at the brink of collapse.

The heirs of the house, Magnus and Cadrina Rutherford remained struggling beneath political pressure and circling opportunists.

Lucian folded the parchment neatly and slipped it away before turning into a narrow alley.

The moment he stepped out of the crowded street, his expression grew thoughtful.

An idea had begun to take shape in his mind. Velmora presented him with an ideal opportunity.

He could enter the world quietly, move through its cities and territories without drawing unnecessary attention, and retrieve the artifacts before anyone realized what he truly was.

Especially the gods.

That was the reason behind all his struggles to remain hidden.

With his current power, Lucian could easily overwhelm most obstacles placed before him.

If he wished, he could force his way through the world and take whatever he needed.

But such actions would carry consequences. The gods who ruled over Velmora might notice.

And Lucian had no intention of attracting the attention of beings whose strength and authority he had yet to understand.

He knew nothing about the true nature of this universe.

Was Velmora a free world, much like his own?

Or did some primordial being stand above its gods, watching over everything that existed beneath it?

Until he discovered the answer, caution was necessary.

There were precautions he needed to take.

For now, he would conceal his identity, suppress the presence of his power, and move through Velmora as an ordinary traveler.

At least, until he understood the rules of this universe.

Only then would he decide how much of his true strength he was willing to reveal.

***

The next morning Lucian head to the residence of Rutherford.

The whole night he inspect the entire Velmora to guess where could it be hidden.

And he end up with two thoughts, one it could be the Forest where Edmund died or it will be hidden beneath Arcadia Grand Academy.

He visited the Kings Castle and found that the magic layers and mana power protecting the fortress is far more lower than the mana surrounding the academy.

What he sought was most likely already be found and is well under protection.

But they also wants attention in scarce and the risk of theft far lower, so it most likely to be in Academy.

It's just an assumption, it can be in the forest too. But still he got a feeling it has to be in Academy.

Also it can be a chance to learn and see the magic of this civilization.

But with his age and body, he can't get an a entry as an student.

So, if he could just restore his age everything can be done easily. And that when he got a thought.

If this power of darkness could bring back the dead ones can't it make him younger.

And so, he stood before Rutherford Manor—once glorious, now weathered and quiet.

Moss choked the marble lions at the gate. Banners hung in tatters. The air tasted of loss.

In the corner of the gate a guard stoop upright.

" What is your purpose to visit?"

" I have some important matters to discuss with the heirs of the Rutherford"

The guard step close to him, with a smirk.

" What important matters possibly a child like you could discuss?"

Lucian look him eyes to eyes, his crimson dark eyes scare the guard as if he directly look at his soul.

The guard head into residency immediately without an a second argument.

Lucian even without power is still considered beyond humans capabilities so he could naturally hear the conversation inside the manor.

Magnus Rutherford sitting at his table next to the window, drafting papers to mail.

Cadrina stood by a tall window, arms crossed, the last sunlight reflected in her jade eyes.

A soft knock interrupted the silence.

Servant came in from the door.

“My lord… a stranger has arrived.”

Lucian could easily see the situation as they were up at the front side of the residency near window.

Magnus " At morning? what he say."

Servant nervously open her mouth.

"He says he have important matters to discuss with the heirs of Rutherford"

Magnus’s brow furrowed. “ This was the words he choose to enter in?”

The servant was sweating.

“ Yes, my lord. This were the exact speech the guard told me, also the guard was quite tense up.”

Magnus glanced at Cadrina, who raised an eyebrow. Without a word, he nodded.

“Send him in.”

The doors opened. Lucian entered with measured grace.

He stopped beneath a shattered chandelier, voice calm but carrying centuries of gravity.

Lucian graze to Magnus “I greet the heir of Rutherford.”

Magnus step down from the stairs.

" What matters do you want to discuss."

Cadrina glare at the servant, because she never tell that it was child who wants to get in.

Lucian get a little closer to him, without any hesitation " Adoption. I will take your name. In return, I will make the world fear the Rutherford's"

Magnus’s jaw tightened as he hear such an absurd words “ Who do you think you are to make the world fear us? Even an 1-star magician would laugh upon you.”

Lucian move forward " Then try to make me fear you, fragile swordsman."

Magnus tempreture erupted. Within a second he unsheathe his sword and wield it next to Lucian neck.

Lucian remain calm, even if Magnus not have stop he could not be able to beheaded him.

Cadrina with an astonishing expression scoffed from back, sitting on a couch. “Why should we believe a stranger? Words are cheaper than magic in Velmora.”

Lucian’s gaze met hers, unwavering.

“Whether you choose to believe me or not is entirely up to you. I only seek a path that benefits us both. But if my offer displeases you, I’ll simply walk away.

Lucian start moving towards her.

"However, if you grant me a single chance—tomorrow is the starting of the new batch, I’ll enter the gates of Arcadia Grand Academy."

He sat on couch opposite to her.

"And not just enter… I’ll ascend. I’ll rise through their ranks, and by the time it ends, even the King will bow to us. And when I do, the name Rutherford will rise with me—etched in fire.”

Lucian understand the situation they are in and what possibly that wanted since onces his state was also same.

A tense silence stretched. Then, Magnus slowly straightened.

He saw it—not just confidence, but truth. Lucian eyes radiated something greater than promise. Power. Purpose. Destiny.

Magnus nodded once.

Magnus: “Very well. From this moment, you are an Rutherford. But what your name.”

Lucian "I am Lucian Blackthorne."

The first issue was that the idea seemed absurd, with a high likelihood of failure, as no one had ever thought of attempting it before—and even if they had, the chances of success would have remained slim.

But Lucian got nothing to lose. He either convence them or just manipulate their minds, both ways he could win the outcomes.

Cadrina "Then we have to forge some papers in your name."

Lucian "Sure."

As dawn spilled its silvery light across the frost-tipped rooftops of Velmora, the quiet stirrings of the market began to echo through the stone streets.

Lucian was out for a simple walk, taking in the sights of the city—an excuse, perhaps, to gather a few threads of information about the region.

He stepped into a small artifact shop tucked between two taller buildings. The bell above the door gave a soft chime as he entered.

Inside, an old man looked up from behind the counter, his eyes barely open, his posture relaxed as if he hadn't moved in hours.

Old Man pickup an artifact to clean it.

“Young man, what are you looking for?”

Lucian walkthrough behind him.

“Just wandering, really… I was curious about this town. What can you tell me?”

Old Man turn back and nodded as if he understood something .

“Ah, a newcomer then. Velmora is the largest town under the rule of the great King Regulus Leion. It's also a central hub for merchants—thanks to the vast forest nearby.”

He sighed, voice dropping into a more somber tone.

Old Man stand beside him to put the artifact.

“The Forest of the Forsaken Maw. A cursed stretch of wilderness separating Velmora from the forgotten wilds. It's taken many lives... even great ones—like Edmund Rutherford.”

Lucian tilted his head, to act a little like newcomer.

Lucian: “Is it truly that dangerous?”

Old Man: “Far worse than most believe.”

Just then, a faint glow pulsed at Lucian’s wrist—where he wore the enchanted band Magnus had given him. A quiet signal.

Lucian start heading back to the door “Seems I have to go. Thank you for the stories.”

Old Man grind his teeth a little. “Told you all that just to get you to buy something…”

Lucian chuckled and placed two gold coins on the counter.

“Then consider this payment—for your stories. Keep enjoying your craft.”