Read Novel Full Chapter 1210: Spirit Queen's Hidden Motive
Chapter 1210: Spirit Queen's Hidden Motive
As the situation calmed down, Yvaine's voice echoed softly in Armin's mind.
"Armin… you should know. The Dark Arts Tower has already been claimed. Lisa, the vampire who is Vale's old friend, endured her trials and was chosen. She is now the Tower Master."
Armin blinked, stunned. "Miss Lisa? She… she actually obtained it?"
Yvaine confirmed this.
"Yes. They believed that the Tower recognized her strength and talent. She is its master now, and through her, the students practicing the Dark Arts would have better assistance inside the tower."
Armin nodded. He also liked to become a Tower Master… Well, it wasn't surprising since every Arcanist probably wishes to obtain their Tower where they could explore more about their Arcane Path and Spells.
"That means I cannot claim the Dark Arts Tower anymore… I wonder if I can try the others."
Although he wasn't that great with it, he also learned Transformation Arts, and other Arcane Arts and it might be worth a try…
Still, his entire path had been built on Dark Arts. He had honed his spells, mastered shadow manipulation, and fought countless battles with that power.
To think that the Tower he was most suited for was already taken left him regretful.
"You can try the Mystic Arts Tower." Yvaine said.
"Huh? I'm not even an expert in Mystic Arts," he muttered. "How could I possibly claim the Mystic Arts Tower? That's not my specialty. I should have tried the Dark Arts Tower… but now it's too late."
Yvaine studied him, her eyes glowing faintly with Divinity.
"Do not underestimate yourself. The Towers do not only measure mastery according to Vale. They measure resolve, adaptability, and their fate…"
"Lisa was not the strongest among Vale's allies, yet she succeeded. You, too, can succeed, even in a Tower outside your comfort."
Armin hesitated. He couldn't help but doubt his abilities, but Yvaine's words carried weight.
Still, he believed that it was worth a try…
"Alright… fine. We'll do it. We've completed the mission anyway. Let's head back to Clovis City. If the Mystic Arts Tower is my path, then I'll face it."
Yvaine's form shimmered, fading back into his shadow. "Good. I can bring you there immediately, so you don't have to wait… Finish your matters first."
"Ahh? Alright…" Armin said, as he felt that he couldn't reject this matter.
Soon, the three reported the cult's destruction to the Arcanist Guild, handing over evidence and closing the case.
The Guildmaster praised them, but Armin's mind was already elsewhere, on the Tower, on Lisa's success, and on the challenge ahead.
After some time, Armin explained his situation to Ely and Rehan, hoping they'd understand his plans…
"What? So you're leaving us now?" Rehan asked, but he didn't really mind. After all, this seemed to be important.
"If it's that significant… Then just go ahead." Ely added.
"Thank you guys… If I became a Tower Master, I'll be helping you both!" Armin said.
Just like that, he watched the two's carriage roll out of the city…
Then, Armin turned to Yvaine, who seemed so excited for some reason.
'Hmm? Am I missing something?'
***
As Armin stood quietly, Yvaine finally straightened…
The Dark Spirit raised her hand, and the shadows around them rippled like water disturbed by a stone. From that darkness, ten other spirits emerged.
They were shapeless or formless entities, unlike Yvaine's graceful figure. They were little more than silhouettes of mist and shadow, but they had voices that only Spirits could understand.
"They're from the Spirit Realm and friendly…" Yvaine explained. "They will enter your shadow and assist you during the trials. Their strength is not like mine, but they will guide, protect, and amplify your essence when needed. I can't enter that place for some reason."
Armin frowned, uneasy. "Isn't this… cheating? The Tower is supposed to test me, not me and ten spirits."
Yvaine's eyes glowed faintly with Divinity. "Do not think of it as cheating. The Towers measure resolve and fate. These spirits are part of yours. Vale entrusted me to guide you, and I will do my best to assist you. Accept them."
Armin hesitated, but Yvaine's authority was undeniable. Slowly, he nodded. "Alright… if this is what Master Vale intended, I'll trust you."
The ten spirits dissolved into smoke and sank into Armin's shadow, merging seamlessly.
He felt their presence immediately, and there was even a strange calmness that steadied his heart.
"Good," Yvaine said. "Now, I will leave you to them. I have another task…" She muttered.
Before Armin could respond, Yvaine's form shimmered and vanished, leaving him alone with the ten silent companions.
Moments later, the shadows shifted again, and Armin found himself transported.
The world around him twisted, and when it settled, he was standing before the Mystic Arts Tower within the Shadow Domain.
This Mystic Arts Tower was not in Clovis City, but it didn't matter.
The place was lively…
"Whoa~ It's been a while." He muttered after seeing the huge tower. To be honest, he found Yvaine's move very suspicious, however, she had always helped him, so he couldn't bring himself to doubt her…
Because of that, he decided to just go with the flow and trust her.
"It still looked the same, huh…"
During his Academy days, he also entered this tower and only reached the second floor… Well, he was really bad at this path, so he didn't really care.
He was just happy that he tried…
Anyway, it was still shimmering with crystal patterns that seemed to change with every glance.
Around the base, dozens of Arcanists gathered. There were students, practitioners, even seasoned experts, all waiting for their chance to test themselves. The atmosphere was lively, filled with anticipation, and they were even talking about how they fared in their trial…
A group of younger students huddled together as they seemed to have just gotten out.
"I only reached the third floor," one admitted.
"The illusions there… they made me see my family begging me to stop. I almost broke."
Another shook his head. "I couldn't even stabilize the orbs on the second floor. My energy kept slipping. The Tower doesn't just test skill… it tests your control over Mystic Energy to such a high level."
Nearby, a pair of seasoned practitioners spoke confidently.
"The fourth floor is where the real trial begins," one said.
"You can't brute force your way through… You need insight. That's not something I can have."
His companion chuckled. "I solved some of its Formation Arrays, but after five or so, it twisted my mind. I swear the Tower itself was laughing at me."
Further along, a Master-Class Arcanist was boasting to his peers.
"I reached the fifth floor… A colossal figure cloaked in mist. It wielded a staff of crystal, and it's a bit too powerful… Maybe if I have divinity, I might be able to win."
"Haha… That's not new… I fought that for hours, but in the end… I was expelled."
"Fifth floor? That's incredible. Most don't even make it past the fourth."
Nonetheless, others spoke of failure with bitterness.
"The Tower rejected me outright," one muttered. "I didn't even get past the first floor."
"It's not fair. I've trained Mystic Arts my whole life, yet someone who barely practices it might succeed. Is it true that the Tower chooses by fate, not skill? Or both?"
Armin's ears perked at that last remark.
'Fate, not skill… Yvaine said the same thing. However, it was indeed true that it must be both.'
He remained silent, listening, absorbing every detail. The stories painted a clear picture… the Mystic Arts Tower was unpredictable. It didn't simply reward mastery.
As the crowd continued to buzz, Armin felt the ten spirits in his shadow stir faintly, as if reminding him they were there.
'Miss Lisa succeeded in the Dark Arts Tower. Now it's my turn. Even if Mystic Arts isn't my path, I'll face it.'
With that thought, Armin stepped closer to the Tower's gates.
***
Meanwhile, Yvaine had already arrived in a secure place, deep within Vale's Immortal Tower. It was a sanctuary hidden from the eyes of mortals and Immortals alike.
Inside, the Spirit Queen lay upon a bed of dark crystal. All this time, her aura was still fractured from the devastating battle against the Demon Lord.
Thud.
Yvaine knelt beside her and spoke in a respectful voice…
"I have sent Armin to the Mystic Arts Tower, as you commanded. He has accepted the ten spirits. He should be facing the trials by now."
The Spirit Queen's eyes opened slowly... She seemed fragile, but behind that weakness, there was cunning.
"Good… Vale's disciple must rise. I hope those ten spirits will be enough to help him be accepted by the Tower. Watch closely, Yvaine. His fate will intertwine with ours."
Yvaine bowed her head. "As you will, my Queen."
But the Spirit Queen's thoughts ran deeper than her words.
This was all being done without Vale's knowledge.
Well, Vale believed her presence in his Tower was simply part of their contract, a temporary arrangement while she recovers her strength...
However, she had something else in mind.