Chapter 307: Archibald's Secret (Part 2)

  "According to his elven lover, they seemed to always believe that the Leaves of the World Tree and the Sunwell were a power that could counter Armageddon Blade. However... it seems to me that it wouldn't be so. After all, although the essential nature of the power between the two can be considered opposite, the level of their power is not the same. To a certain extent, suppressing the sword's power should be possible, but to restrain it is absolutely impossible."

  After being stunned for a long while, Ethan finally let out a long breath, stood up, nodded to Moriel, and said, "Thank you for telling me these things. I finally know what's going on."

  This breath was indeed a long one, as if he had been holding it for a year or two. No matter how he adjusted his mentality or how he steeled himself to bear the responsibility, it was nothing compared to the relief, joy, and sudden enlightenment that came when he realized this wasn't a responsibility at all.

  Especially as this was a relief before his impending death, it felt all the more liberating.

  Everything that had happened had long left him bewildered and confused to the point of death, which was why he had resolved to ask Moriel to tell him everything. But when Moriel truly began to speak incessantly, Ethan regretted it. He regretted roaring at this ill-tempered Black Dragon, and he regretted saying "do with me as you please."

  These were indeed things that could not be known by others. Since she had said them, she would probably kill him.

  It wasn't that he hadn't thought of escaping or resisting, but judging from the strength the Black Dragon had displayed just now, he knew he had no chance at all. A Black Dragon who had completely recovered her vital energy seemed to be no match even for Archibald. Rather than resist futilely, it was better to calm down and listen carefully to the news he had exchanged his life for.

  He wondered what that old fellow Sandro would do if he heard these words. Ethan imagined his reaction and felt like laughing. It was a pity that it seemed he would not get to hear it.

  Aimee was being taken care of by Talise, so she should be fine. Sophia... she was so capable, there was no need for him to worry. Sandro, Aunt El... they were also people who didn't need his worry.

  And Talise... that silly girl. If he had the chance, he should apologize to her again. It was right that she didn't follow me... Thinking of this, Ethan felt a bit uncomfortable.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  But Ethan waited for a moment, and Moriel still lay atop the golden mountain, not moving. There wasn't the slightest sign of her standing up to slap him into a meat patty or turn him to ash with a dragon's breath.

  "What? You're not going to kill me?" Ethan couldn't help but ask.

  "What? Do you want to die that badly?" Moriel replied lightly.

  "You told me all this and you're not killing me... Aren't you afraid I'll go tell these things to the other Necromancers... and from now on, there will be no one who can complete the meditation technique to come here, and your seal will then..."

  "Since I've decided to tell you, I'm not afraid of you spreading it." Moriel let out a long sigh, her voice no longer possessing its former weight and imposing nature. "In truth, I probably don't have much longer to live."

  "What?" Ethan was stunned.

  "Having been separated from that drop of blood's life and soul for a long time, I had actually already reached my limit. Especially that last battle; it almost truly killed me. If you had the brand of The Black Star and could release a part of the seal, it might have been better, but now... I can probably live for another two or three years at most."

  "It's been five hundred years without anyone appearing, and you expect someone to appear in two or three years? If these matters were to die with me, with no one to know, it would be unfair to Archibald... especially since you later fools don't understand him at all... so I won't kill you." Moriel smiled at Ethan. Although the smile on a dragon's face looked more ferocious than that of most beasts, it held a hint of kindness. This was a genuine smile. "After all, you did save my life. Even if it's only two or three years of life, I still have to thank you. Do you really think dragons are creatures without feelings, who don't know gratitude?"

  "You... you just now... didn't you say..." Ethan felt dizzy. He didn't know if he was dizzy from the immense shock or from Moriel's words.

  "Archibald had a saying that was particularly good: 'Don't get into it with women, and don't try to reason with them.' Female dragons are the same. Besides, although you little one are quite stupid, you're not annoying. You have a frankness and simplicity that is rare in others, and it's fun to tease you like this. It's been too boring underground."

  Ethan opened his mouth but couldn't speak. After a great effort, he twisted his expression and said, "Then... I really should... thank... thank you."

  "Since you've said you want to thank me, you must express it with action."

  "Action? What action?"

  Moriel rummaged through the pile of treasure beneath her for a while, fished out a small, fist-sized crystal, and gave it to Ethan.

  "This is something left behind from the old Elven Empire. You just need to use magic to activate this thing in the Church's The Radiant Citadel, just like using a magic scroll."

  "Is this... something like a magic scroll?" It was a very uniform sixteen-faced crystal, emitting a gentle red light all over. Holding it in his hand, Ethan could feel a familiar natural magical fluctuation.

  "Those humans actually dared to plot against me. I originally thought that after killing you, I could release a part of the seal and go myself, but now I still cannot leave Nighon. So you will make this trip for me. And bring the sword hilt back, and return it to Diya Valley. Tell those descendants and followers of Archibald that Archibald is not a god, just a very remarkable man."

  After finishing off the corpses of the Temple Knights, the bodies of the two Dread Knights could basically move freely. With Sylka and Rodhart, Ethan left Moriel's cave the way he came. The solid ice blocking the entrance was completely shattered by one of Moriel's spells. The barrier the Temple Knights had created with all their magic was little different from a piece of paper before a dragon.

  The journey back was very peaceful. There were no traces of the Temple Knights, and even Talise and Aimee were gone. It didn't take long for Ethan to return to the entrance of the passage.

  Valthor's cabin was now a pile of ruins. The large cemetery outside was also a mess. The corpses that were once inside had now all been hacked to pieces and were piled together, burning. The stench of rot and burning flesh rose to the sky with the black smoke. However, Ethan did not find Valthor's body, but instead found a letter.