The Legendary Mage (Alavin)

Chapter 220

Deep into the night, the Lord of Golden Scorch, Lawren, made his way to the secretive depths of the city to awaken the old Lord, Lanard.

"Father! I've just received wonderful news!" Lawren greeted with a bow, unable to conceal his excitement beneath his handsome and scholarly demeanor.

"I'm nearly one with the grave. What news could be so good?" Lanard, his hair as white as frost and his face lined with age, slowly emerged from the dim recesses. His gaze was still sharp despite his advanced years.

"The Mallister family... they are returning!"

"What has happened?"

"Do you remember Alavin?"

"Alavin?" Lanard pondered, then recognition dawned. "The Mallister's only son? The one sent to Cobalt Strike?"

"It's him! He served as a bondservant for eight years, and who knows by what stroke of fortune his strength soared so rapidly. Not only was he chosen to partake in The Clash of Eight Orders, but he also secured a top five ranking in the tournament."

"Oh?" Lanard expressed his surprise. Making a name for oneself in The Clash of Eight Orders was no simple feat, and to be among the top five was to become renowned across the Northlands. All content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

"Not even Cobalt Strike knows what's happened to him, but that's not important now. What matters is that the Cobalt Strike Commander has pardoned Alavin's servitude, elevating him to a Golden Protégé, and has even forgiven Stormcast!"

Lanard nodded slowly, then something came to mind, and he suddenly looked up, locking eyes with Lawren.

Lawren, unable to contain his excitement, nodded vigorously. "The Mallister family—they're returning!"

"Good! Very good!" Lanard exclaimed thrice in approval. "Who of the Mallister family still lives?"

"Just Zakar and Helna, aside from some others of no consequence."

"It's good that some survived." Lanard swung around, striding into the clandestine chamber. He made his way to the furthest corner, where he began rummaging around, only to unveil a sheer, stone chest of considerable bulk. Roughly three meters in length and a meter wide, the chest bore a cloak-and-dagger resemblance to a sarcophagus, shrouded in the room's deepest, darkest recesses.

"Eight years! It's been eight years!"

Lanard slowly opened the stone chest, and inside lay a heavy, ancient greatsword, unremarkable in its dullness and heft. Aside from showing its age, nothing else about it stood out.

Lawren followed him in, his heart racing at the sight of the greatsword within the stone chest. After eight years, they might finally unlock its secrets.

Eight years prior, they had received word that Cobalt Strike might be conspiring with Stormcast in a covert operation involving a mysterious relic that could ensure Cobalt Strike's enduring prosperity. Fueled by ambition, Lanard had acted on this information, ambushing a Stormcast's convoy and seizing all the tribute. Yet, after scouring the tribute, all they found was this ancient blade, and despite their efforts, they could not unveil any of its mysteries.

Initially, they believed they had been played for fools, risking so much for a worthless item. However, Cobalt Strike's subsequent fury and punishment of the Mallister family, as well as the enslavement of all Stormcast members to the mines, made Lanard realize there must’ve been deeper secrets within the ancient sword.

For years, he had pondered and strived to no avail. In his view, there were only two ways to unlock the secret – interrogate the surviving Mallisters or question Cobalt Strike.

The latter was, of course, out of the question, unless they had a death wish. The former was also unlikely, as the Mallisters were all held in Azure Mountain, and the Rocke family lacked the power to extract them from the heavily guarded mines. As years passed, the matter was slowly set aside.

"To think I might unlock the ancient sword's secrets in my lifetime," Lanard said, cradling the old blade with excitement. He was convinced it held a great secret, be it Combat Magic, a legacy, or a relic, any of which could usher the Rocke family to glory.

Lawren, gazing at the ancient sword, was overcome with emotion. "Father, if the secret of the ancient sword helps you break through to become an Archmage, our family will be free from Cobalt Strike's influence and establish a firm foothold in the lands of the Northlands. Your life will be extended as well."

Lanard gently caressed the old greatsword. "When do the Mallisters move out of Cloudveil Woods?"

"I've just received word they've started their to relocate. They're expected to leave within seven days."

"There are only three who may know the secret from back then, Zakar, Helna, and Alavin. Make certain you find out promptly, but be discreet—don't alert Cobalt Strike, and don't turn this into a spectacle. Do you understand?"

"Father, rest assured, I'll unearth the secret without anyone being the wiser. Neither the Mallisters nor Cobalt Strike will connect it back to the past events."