102 Mark on Stone

As he stared at the moonlit hill, the gentle humming of insects hiding around gave Emery a sense of soothing feeling, an ambiance that calmed his spirit. He became transfixed, gazing at the mighty rocks, but that lasted only for a moment when the black dragon's voice resounded. 

The dragon inside him said, "Whoever picked this location, they knew what to look for. Unfortunately, this formation was done poorly and it's broken."

Emery asked, "So, do I have to find another location again? I don't think I have enough time."

"You don't have to do that. This is suitable enough. I'll be able to stay here once you're at the Magus Academy. It'll be better for me to stay here than go with you. My presence will only draw unwanted attention. Still, with this condition it will take a long time before the spatial space for Khaos can be open again," answered Killgragah, disappointed.

"Okay, I understand. Is there anything I can do?" asked Emery.

"Nothing significant at the moment because your realm is too low and moreover, you have no understanding about the path of formations. However, there'll be something that you can do once you're back in the human Magus Academy," said Killgragah.

"What is it then that you need me to do?" asked Emery.

Emery's consciousness was sucked back into the dark illusion room where Killgragah, in the form of the faceless man, had always appeared.

He walked up to Killgragah and the faceless man said, "First, you'll need to learn formations, even at its basic level. Only then you'll be able to do something about this rock formation. The second is this." 

Killgragah then stretched his palm and showed it to Emery. At first, Emery thought Killgragah was messing with him again since he couldn't see anything. But when he took a closer look, there was indeed a piece of a pitch-black rock lying on white palm. And as he squinted his eyes, the pitch-black rock, which looked like a small egg, appeared to have something glowing inside it like millions to billions of small dots that sparkled, similar to how stars in the night sky twinkled. 

Indeed the first one would be easy to get, if he couldn't get inside the institute of formation, then he could probably get it through the Golden City, since it would be something basic anyway.

As for the second one, he had to be discreet in finding information about it. Maybe there was a library or something similar to the Magus Academy once he returned. Regardless, the bottomline had been stated. He had to do this both if he would like to use the benefits of Khaos once more. He was pretty sure he would have a hard time in keeping up with the other acolytes in the Magus Academy, so Emery needed this power of Khaos.

"If I am unable to find the item is there no other way?" asked Emery.

"There is another way," answered Killgragah.

Emery sighed. This black dragon really liked to withhold information at the last moment. He asked, "What is it?"

"Bring your lovely granny and kill her in this spot, so I can get back the power of Khaos she had stolen from me," said Killgragah with a tone of hatred.

Hearing Granny's name, Emery suddenly remembered what Granny had done and within a second, a blaze of fury rose inside him. Indeed he recalled Killgragah talking about how Granny had also stolen a part of the Khaos' power back in the spatial space. And as he thought about it eliminating her, he wouldn't have any qualms killing her, after what she did to Mistshire and Lanzo's family, and probably to other villages she had sacrificed to get back her youth preceding Mistshire, it would be for the best, he thought, to end Granny once and for all.

"Do you understand everything I have asked you, kid?" asked the faceless man.

Emery nodded. 

"Good, I am not expecting you to return with both of the things I have asked, especially the second task after you have finished your time in that human magus academy. So, don't come back unless you have both. I want to enjoy some peace and quiet," said Killgragah.

The dark illusion room faded and Emery slightly shook once he was back in the real world. 

"Let us proceed with the thing I need you to do in this place of power, so I can stay here for the meantime. I'll need you to bleed and mark the stone in the center in accordance to my instructions," said Killgragah.

Emery walked up the hill, to the very center where there was another slab of stone, lying on its back. As Emery's dagger hasn't been returned since confiscated by the guard when he entered the village, Emery found a small sharp stone and when he was about to slit his palm, he asked, "This won't hurt the people in the forest, will it?"

"No," Killgragah said sternly.

"How can I believe you?" asked Emery with doubt.

"You… Puny human! The words of a supreme being such as I is not like the loose lips of you lower beings! If you won't do it willingly, I shall force you if I have to!" Killgragah roared inside Emery's head.

"Yes, okay. Please don't get angry o' supreme being. I'll do as you ask," Emery replied. In fact, deep in Emery's mind, he somewhat trusted the dragon. He just wanted to ensure the villagers whom he shared his bloodline with wouldn't be hurt or affected by this at all. Nevertheless, he had given his word to this dragon and as a man raised by an honorable person, he had to keep it.

Emery slit his palm and ran it across the rough surface of the bluish-gray stone. He followed Killgragah's instruction of making sharp looking letters or symbols that appeared to be a bit like claw marks. And once he was done, a moment later, Emery screamed as he felt his scarred chest burning and out came a black wisp, similar to the one he had seen coming out of the elf's corpse in Elder's Respite, and entered the slab of stone. He suddenly became weak and his consciousness started to fade as he fell back on the ground.

Emery was still barely aware of his surroundings but nothing seemed to be happening for everything was silent. Only the buzzing of the insects around reverberated in the air, making Emery wonder if it had worked or not, but his question was answered when the ground he was lying on weakly shook, the birds from the trees downhill exited their homes and suddenly the stones lit as bright as day and the tremors became stronger.

Emery became blinded by the light, prompting him to close his eyes and finally fell unconscious. When he opened his eyes, he saw that it was still evening but when he got up the markings, which looked like scratch marks, he had drawn on the stone was no longer there. 

He lifted himself using the stone slab as a support and tried calling for Killgragah in his head. But the dragon didn't answer him. Once again, he attempted to contact the dragon even by shouting out loud with his actual voice, still there was no response.

He then leaned on the stone slab, waiting for the dragon to answer. After sighing, Emery figured Killgragah had indeed disappeared and was resting in the stones. He got up, deciding not to waste anymore time in waiting, and proceeded to walk back to the village. 

As he went down the hill however, Morgana, and Chief Brennus, appeared behind the treeline. 

Chief Brennus moved forward with his walking staff and said in a serious tone, "The High Priestess is wanting to see you, now."