The hideout was hidden deep within a desolate canyon, its entrance concealed behind a cascading waterfall that shimmered faintly in the twilight.
Neron marveled at how well-hidden the place was as he and Lilith stepped inside.
The air was cooler here, and faint echoes of dripping water filled the cavernous space. After walking down a narrow corridor, they arrived in a large, dimly lit chamber lined with towering shelves that seemed to stretch endlessly.
Ancient tomes, scrolls, and relics of all shapes and sizes filled the room, each exuding an aura of mystery and power.
"This," Lilith said, her voice low with reverence, "is the last repository of the Great Sage's work."
Neron's breath caught as his eyes darted from one artifact to another. His fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and explore, but he refrained, sensing the weight of history pressing down on him.
"Lewis Griffith..." Neron murmured. "He really left all this behind?"
Lilith gave a small smile, running her fingers along a dusty spine of a book. "Lewis wasn't just a Sage. He was a pioneer—a man who reshaped what it meant to wield magic. And now, all of this knowledge belongs to you."
Her words sent a jolt through Neron. "Belongs to me? Why? What am I supposed to do with all of this?"
Lilith turned to him, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and seriousness. "Because the world needs someone who can handle what's coming. And Lewis always believed his knowledge should serve a purpose beyond himself."
Lilith guided him to the center of the chamber, where a single ornate box rested on a pedestal. The box was blackened with age, its surface engraved with intricate symbols and glowing faintly with arcane energy.
"This is what we came for," she said, placing a hand on the lid. "The Arcanas."
With a slow, deliberate motion, she opened the box. Four cards floated out, their surfaces shimmering with power. Each card was intricately detailed:
[The Tower]
, symbolizing space.
[The Hermit]
, representing time.
[The Sun]
, embodying energy
[The Hanged Man]
Despite his lingering doubts, Neron nodded.
"Alright. Let's do this."
"Don't be too excited, kid." Lilith's grin widened even more. "This is gonna be hellish training."
************
True to her word, Lilith put Neron through an unforgiving regimen.
Days turned into weeks as she pushed him to his limits, teaching him the unique properties of each Arcana.
The training was grueling, and there were moments when Neron felt like giving up. But Lilith's unwavering confidence in him drove him forward. By the end of their time in the hideout, he could feel the difference. His connection to the Arcanas was still in its infancy, but the potential was undeniable.
"You've done well," Lilith said one evening, her tone unusually warm. "You're ready to take the next steps."
Neron wiped sweat from his brow, exhaustion written across his face. "If I'm ready, why can't you just teach me the rest? Why stop now?"
Before Lilith could answer, the ground trembled violently. A deafening explosion echoed from outside, and the chamber was bathed in a crimson glow.
~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!~
Neron sprang to his feet, his heart pounding. "What was that?"
A booming voice reverberated through the cavern, shaking the very walls.
"I HAVE COME FOR YOU, LILITH! I CAN NO LONGER WAIT, SO COME OUT NOW... OR I WILL MAKE YOU!"
Lilith's eyes narrowed, and for the first time in weeks, Neron saw something like genuine concern flicker across her face.
She turned to him, her expression hardening.
"Stay here," she commanded, her voice cold and sharp. "No matter what happens, do not interfere." Read latest chapters at m_v-l'e-NovelFire
But Neron's jaw tightened, determination flaring in his eyes. "Like hell I'm staying behind. Who is that?"
Lilith didn't answer. Instead, she marched toward the exit, her movements calm but deliberate. The air around her seemed to ripple with an invisible force, her usual smirk replaced with a steely resolve.
Neron followed her with his gaze, his fists clenched tightly. The ominous voice echoed again, sending chills down his spine.
Whoever was waiting for Lilith outside wasn't just powerful—they were something else entirely.