CH 128

After leaving Evan’s embrace, Riett realized that there was something she had not yet resolved. 

As she looked around, she spotted Perante not far away, his long emerald-green hair sprawled weakly across the snowy ground.

Evan noticed Perante and immediately grasped his sword with caution. However, Riett gestured for him to stand down, extending her hand to indicate that there was no need to worry.

Approaching closer, Riett saw that Perante still seemed disoriented, with his eyes closed. He must have not fully regained his senses after his previous encounter with Nylivian, where he had been angry and rushed to attack, only to collapse helplessly.

Seated in front of Perante, Riett gathered a handful of snow and lightly sprinkled it on his face. As the cold sensation touched his skin, Perante winced, and his deep blue eyes opened.

Upon recognizing Riett, Perante quickly got up, jerking his upper body. Then, he swiftly swung his hand, launching an attack.

A sharp gust of wind rushed towards Riett, but she effortlessly raised her hand, flicking her fingers, and the gust dissipated instantly.

“Don’t waste your strength.”

Riett stated as she felt the overwhelming power coursing through her body. With this overwhelming power flowing through her, she felt like she could accomplish anything.

However, Perante seemed to either not understand Riett’s words or chose to ignore them, as he attacked once again.

The snow beneath their feet lifted into the air, transforming into pointed shapes that soared toward Riett like arrows. Yet, Riett quickly shattered the snow arrows with ease and closed the distance between herself and Perante in a split second.

A swift movement from Riett caused the wind to billow around them, making Perante’s hair flutter in the air. Before Perante could react, Riett’s hand grasped the back of his neck firmly.

“Ugh…!” 

Perante whimpered, his delicate face contorted. Riett gazed calmly at him, then spoke.

“Stop it.”

Perante glared at Riett as if venomous emotions were emanating from his gaze.

“If you continue to attack, I’ll have no choice but to snap your neck.”

Riett’s grip on Perante’s neck tightened, conveying the seriousness of her words.

Veins popped on Perante’s forehead as he glared back. Observing his pale face, Riett released her grip.

Coughing, Perante collapsed to the ground. Riett watched him carefully.

“I know why you’re so filled with anger.”

Perante remained silent.

“The things you’ve been through must be too painful and agonizing for me to comprehend.”

Riett’s gaze toward Perante turned cold.

“However, if you’re consumed by this anger, nothing will change. Even if you had obtained the power of the Spirit Stone, it would have been the same.”

Perante still said nothing.

Riett flicked her hand, and a transparent barrier materialized around Perante, encapsulating him like a glass bead.

Startled, Perante pounded on the barrier fiercely.

Stop it! Perante’s voice filled with anger reached Riett’s ears, but she believed that this was the best choice for the current situation.

As she flicked her hand, the barrier enclosing Perante began to contract and eventually absorbed into his body. As the barrier vanished, Perante looked at Riett with a lost expression. Even without using Spirit Magic to confirm, she could tell that his power was gone.

Thump. 

Perante weakly kneeled on the ground. 

Soon, Avlam and Mishan appeared by her side. Avlam looked at his master with a sympathetic gaze. Now that Riett had sealed Perante’s powers, Avlam’s purpose seemed to vanish. No matter how much power he lent, Perante wouldn’t be able to use any Spirit Magic.

Avlam deeply bowed his head to Riett, but his intentions were unclear. Was he grateful for stopping his rampaging master, or was it a show of respect toward a powerful Spirit Mage? 

In any case, Avlam gently helped Perante to his feet and walked away with him. Perante seemed to have lost all his willpower, following Avlam without resistance.

Watching them go, Riett’s heart wasn’t entirely at ease.

Then, Mishan approached and put her hand on Riett’s shoulder.

“Well done. Avlam couldn’t cut him off on his own. Sealing his power might be good for both Avlam and Perante.”

Riett continued to gaze at the departing Perante and Avlam, contemplating her feelings.

‘Yeah, maybe it’s for the best.’

As Riett turned to leave, Mishan’s voice came again.

“By the way, Master.”

“Hmm?”

“Congratulations on passing the Spirit Stone’s test!”

Suddenly, petals fell from above, a visual effect created by Mishan.

“You disappeared so suddenly; I was so surprised. But I knew you would pass the test.”

Mishan grinned.

“Now, what do you plan to do? You have gained tremendous power!”

Riett still didn’t have a definite answer on how to use this power.

‘With great power comes great responsibility…’

Riett pondered, stroking her chin.

“For now, I’ll inform His Majesty about obtaining the Spirit Stone… and then, we’ll discuss it together.”

She imagined His Majesty’s face lighting up with joy, probably wrinkling as he chuckled.

Thinking of that image, Riett smiled faintly.

‘And…’

As Riett was contemplating her next steps, she blinked and looked up suddenly.

She felt Evan and Mishan’s gaze focused on her.

“There’s something I need to do before that.”

* * *

As soon as Riett arrived in the capital, she postponed her meeting with the Emperor and headed towards a remote rural area, far from the city.

The secluded mountain village seemed devoid of human life, with only occasional animal cries breaking the silence.

After walking for a while, the sound of flowing water in a ravine reached Riett’s ears. She knew she was almost there.

Soon, she spotted a familiar cabin and her eyes widened.

‘It’s still here…!’

Riett took a deep breath and stood before the cabin’s door. Slowly, she reached out and knocked.

Knock, knock.

A clear knocking sound echoed through the old tree trunk. However, there was no response from inside.

Riett tightly closed her eyes and knocked on the door again. 

“…….”

Still, there was no reaction.

‘…Seems like an empty house. Too much time has passed.’

She thought with disappointment, about to turn away.

Just then, the door creaked open. Through the opening, she saw an elderly man leaning on a crutch.

“Who are you, and what brings you here knocking on my door?”

Riett closely observed the man’s face, trying to discern if he was who she was looking for. 

‘……Somehow, I think he’s still got his eyes.’

Time had passed too long, making it difficult to identify him solely by his appearance.

Riett opened her mouth to ask for his name.

Unexpectedly, however, it was the old man who spoke first.

“You are…….”

The old man squinted and stared at Riett.

“Are you… by any chance, the person who saved me when I fell into the river?”

Riett’s eyes widened in surprise. 

“Then, are you… Kei?”

The old man dropped the crutch. 

“Yes, you’re right. I am Kei.”

Riett couldn’t close her mouth. She had come here in response to Nylivian’s request.

“If he is no longer in this world, then there’s nothing I can do. However, if he is living well, I want to express my gratitude. Thanks to him asking for my name back then, I was able to remember until now.”

Throughout her journey here, she worried that no one might be living in this cabin anymore. Sixty years had passed, and if the fourteen-year-old boy she met back then had survived, he would naturally be an old man now. As she approached the cabin, her anxiety grew.

‘But my worries were unfounded. I’m glad to see that he’s well.’

Except for the crutch, he looked well-dressed and had a healthy complexion. However, what was astonishing was that the place where Nylivian’s test took place was supposed to be a virtual world representing the past. But, it seemed like it wasn’t.

Furthermore, despite meeting Kei a very long time ago, he recognized her instantly.

“Well… Please come in.”

Kei, with a puzzled expression, led Riett inside the cabin.

The cabin was older than before, but it still exuded a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. However, there were no other signs of habitation, indicating that Kei might be living here alone.

‘Grandmother must have passed away.’

Riett thought, considering the age she must have reached by now.

She concealed her bittersweet feelings as she sat down on the chair offered by Kei. He, too, sat across from her with a sigh.

He was still holding his left leg up.

“As soon as I saw your face, I recognized you. But how…” 

Kei furrowed his brows as he stared at Riett.

Riett understood what he left unsaid.

‘How is it that I haven’t aged at all?’

Riett briefly explained the situation to Kei. He nodded silently, seemingly without any doubts. It was an unbelievable story, but Kei didn’t appear to question it at all. 

When the story was finished, Kei bowed his head and said, 

“So that’s what happened….”

“I apologize for approaching you with an ulterior motive. But I genuinely wanted to save you, Kei.” 

Riett offered a late apology. At that time, she refrained from saying anything that could hurt the young boy.

“It’s okay. Actually, I thought you were an angel, a noble being. But it turns out you were just a human like me.”

“An angel?” 

Riett appreciated the misunderstanding, but it still weighed on her conscience.

“Yes. Not only did you provide me with tremendous help, but you also gave me a platinum compass and vanished before my eyes.” 

It was because she heard Nylivian’s name that the test was over. In hindsight, she was relieved that she managed to pass the compass to him before vanishing. 

Thanks to that, Kei managed to sell the spirit stone compass that winter.

‘I’m sorry to Lucas, the original owner of the spirit stone compass, but I’ll make sure to tell him that I used it for a good cause.’

While Riett was lost in her thoughts, Kei suddenly stood up and walked briskly to his room. Not long after, he returned with a round object in his hand.

“That is…” 

The object in Kei’s hand was the spirit stone compass.