Chapter 1238: Explaining Everything (6)

Chapter 1238: Explaining Everything (6)



"I never would have guessed..." Replicus said as he struggled to balance his body, on his face a jarring frown. "Honestly, if you hadn't been with Erlton, I don't think I would have believed you."

"From what you told us about your relationship with Somanda, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't," Soidon said with a shrug.

Elita shook her head and emitted a muffled chuckle. She too could hardly believe the tale that had just been told, however much she wanted to believe that the legendary dragon Jiggorrhax had the power to cleanse an Arch-Lich.

"Wow, you even sound like a Repented Lich," she said.

Silrat and Theurien found themselves feeling a bit agitated. To learn that this entire time, they had been sitting next to not one, but two beings that had formerly been related to Undeath was a great blow to their common sense.

"Suddenly, my world of politics between Families and Houses feels so insignificant," Theurien mumbled under his breath.

Silrat patted his shoulder. He could relate more than anyone else here. He glanced at Soidon, hardly daring to imagine what the man had looked like before.

Replicus kept his gaze fixed on the former Lich.

"So, you were acquainted with Somanda?" he asked. He didn't show any particular hostility with the question, but Soidon could tell that there was a bit of venom lurking behind it.

"No. Arch-Liches aren't inherently social creatures. We... They are very secretive. They don't invade each other's privacy; they don't visit each other or ask about the other's day. Most interactions are born out of hostility or mutual interest. Alliances - which are usually very short-lived and end in backstabbing - are the closest things that Liches get to having positive interactions. Even discounting this fact, there's millions upon millions of Arch-Liches in the Eminence's domain. Thus, I wouldn't know every single Lich personally," he said.

Replicus scratched his chin.

He didn't say it, but the fact that Liches seemed to all have names beginning with 'So-' probably didn't make things any better.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"I see. Millions upon millions, huh? Somanda ascended to Divinity not too long ago. How many High Liches are there?" he said.

Soidon was a bit surprised by the revelation. Replicus hadn't mentioned this in his narration before.

This Somanda had ascended?

"I wouldn't dwell on that if I were you. There's no point. I'm sure you are only concerning yourself with getting the other portion of your soul. That, while already extremely dangerous, is at least manageable - when accounting for the odds. If you somehow intend to contend against the full might of the Eminence, you'll find that it is no way inferior to that of Void and Serenity's treasure. As an undead minion of the lowest rank, I'm sure you never travelled the lands much, so you wouldn't know," the former Lich said.

Well, Soidon was right.

Replicus didn't have any intention of vanquishing Undeath. Even Serenity never asked that of him, meaning it was likely impossible for him; perhaps for him alone.

"Fair enough," Replicus said and he stretched his legs, feeling more strength returning. Good. This was good.

He didn't feel vulnerable anymore. That was a very distasteful feeling.

Elita frowned.

As the group moved through the flower-field towards their position, she again noticed that, just like when she first met Yuyui, she could sense nothing - absolutely nothing - about these people. She couldn't ascertain how strong they were with her senses.

She couldn't tell anything about their mana, or their Stage.

Of course, Elita could appraise them with her guidance field, but in her time outside Aigas, she had grown to know about Patronage Ranks. With a higher Patronage Rank, a user of the guidance field could give someone else access to the guidance field, and some of the ones she had come across could tell if they were being appraised. Most considered it rude.

If Replicus had achieved a high enough Patronage Rank, and acquired information about how

to manually manipulate the guidance field, his subordinates would be able to notice her

appraisal.

Replicus beamed at the group of seven.

He was happy to see them all and they were all happy to see him.

All of them were branded with the Stark Constellation on their forehead, and oddly, the Ju`wtte-constructed mark sparked violently on all of their foreheads, mirroring their collective, similar feelings of relief.

Yuyui.

Kenno.

Pherdanta.

Grim.

Baddan.

Savast.

Kintar.

Five humans and two Cluster beasts.

Replicus looked proud.

He gave a formal introduction.

"Silrat, Theurien, Elita, Soidon... These are my most trusted, most loyal partners. They also happen to be the strongest forces in my Order," he said, a smile cropping up on his face. "To isolate their value from the rest - not that I don't find worth in the others - I dubbed them the Unlimited Stars. I hope you will treat them with sufficient respect."