Legacy of the Dark Sage

Another thing to note was that Nolan knew Stella and her feelings for Kyran way longer before Cyneah came into the picture. He even considered supporting the former because of how much she was willing to sacrifice to help Kyran.

However, Nolan ultimately decided to support his nephew's decision. Besides, he appreciated how Cyneah gave Kyran a place to rest.

Kyran likely did not realize it back then, but he was too unstable to be left alone, and Nolan feared he would self-destruct. Fortunately, Cyneah gave Kyran a place to unwind. She did not even have to do anything because her presence alone calmed him and lowered his guard.

It might seem risky to have Kyran lower his guard, but Cyneah never once harmed him because of this. Some might argue that she already did when she induced him into a deep sleep during the Ylfaen Empire's conflict. However, those who knew the truth about what happened understood that she had done it to save everyone, including Kyran.

Because of Cyneah's sacrifice then, Nolan is convinced she will not lose out to Stella when supporting Kyran. Thus, he chose to support Kyran's decision when a time for that arrived.

Nolan did not anticipate this moment to arrive so soon, but he respected Kyran's decision nonetheless. However, he could not condone his nephew's choice to ignore Stella. He believed it was crucial for Kyran to confront her, to bring a proper conclusion to their 'arc', and to provide Cyneah with the assurance she deserved.

That was right.

Nolan believed it was essential for Kyran to face Stella, not just for their own sake, but for Cyneah and everyone who cared for them. He feared that Kyran's avoidance could strain their relationships, causing more harm than good.

Nolan's intention was reasonable. However, there was something he was unaware of.

Kyran did not avoid Stella because he was afraid to confront her feelings. He already rejected her properly when she confessed her feelings, after all.

Rather than avoiding, Kyran simply delayed the moment he had to meet Stella. This was because of the matter regarding the Realm Scion.

Kyran vividly remembered how Kairo pleaded for Stella's life when their conversation veered toward the Realm Scion, where he had to gather all the Ancient Magic Cores. Back then, he could not respond to Kairo and has been burdened by it ever since.

If there was something Kyran was avoiding, rather than avoiding Stella's feelings, it was actually about the fact that he was the Realm Scion.

Moreover, Kyran remembered how Cyneah reacted when she realized that for him to become the Realm Scion, he had to gather the other Ancient Magic Cores. He stopped her before she could fully share her thoughts, but he more or less guessed what she wanted him to do.

Whatever Cyneah was about to tell him then, Kyran knew she thought of it without the Soul Core's influence. That was why he managed to stop her, and since then, she had never brought up that topic again.

But what about Stella? Kyran never fully believed her feelings because he knew they were being influenced by the memories stored in the Time core. Even when she insisted that they were her own, he could not 100% trust her words.

Because of this, Kyran feared that if Stella learned about the Realm Scion, she would be influenced by the Time core and might even surrender it to him right then and there. Although he could avoid that scenario by ensuring she did not learn about it, there was no way he could 100% prevent it from reaching her.

Currently, the only one who could tell Stella about it was Cyneah.

However, Kyran could not ask Cyneah not to say anything and gave her something to stress over. Besides, if he brought it up himself, she might think he was giving her consent for them to discuss that subject openly. That kind of misunderstanding was something he wanted to avoid.

"Don't make that face, for f*cking's sake," Nolan grumbled, forcing Kyran to snap out of his mullings. "In the end, it is up to you how you want to deal with her."

He then looked at Cyneah again and added, "And Sisi, it is not good to suppress your thoughts all the time. If you find something unpleasant, say it out loud. Only if you do will this annoying brat will understand it."

"Oh, but I'm not suppressing my thoughts all the time. Besides, Kyran always respects how I feel and—."

"You don't have to defend him," Nolan cut her midsentence with a snort. He pointedly looked at Kyran and telepathically said, 'I'm sure you noticed something from Sisi's answer just now, right? She is such an honest child that she could not even lie about her feelings.'

'I get that,' Kyran replied with a slight frown.

What they noticed was that Cyneah only repeated Nolan's words up to the part 'all the time.' If one were observant enough, one could also interpret her response as 'I don't suppress my thoughts all the time, but I do sometimes.'

Nolan's ears perked as if he heard something, and he said, "Jared's done talking to Hughes. They will come in about an hour."

"You don't have to give a live commentary on what Uncle Jared is doing," Kyran replied wryly.

Nolan shrugged, "I'm this plane's Sovereign and am an all-knowing presence. I can't help but know everything that is happening."

His words piqued Cyneah's interest, and wanting to divert her own thoughts, she asked, "How does it feel, knowing everything that was happening in the Human plane?"

"Noisy as f*ck," Nolan grumbled before leaning his head on the couch's backrest. "Since a Sovereign doesn't necessarily need sleep, having your senses active like this all the time was not that exhausting. But that did not mean it was fine. On the contrary, I find it annoying."

"But can you hear everything clearly?"

"Yes. I can't go into details, but I can understand everything that is happening."

Kyran remembered something and asked, "Are the other nations still preparing for war?"

Before Ames brought most of the Regis Family's elite, the other nations attacked the empire on all sides. Nolan took advantage of Ames's desire to return to the Higher Realm as soon as possible because of Kyran's situation and created a situation where she had no choice but to help the empire if she wanted to leave. In the end, the empire successfully stopped the other nations' advances.

However, that happened almost half a year ago, and Kyran wondered if the other nations started making a move again.

"A dragon's might is a threat that no amount of alliance can just thwart," Nolan sneered. "Don't worry. If those guys made a move, I'll let you know so you can wreck their asses."

"..."

"A Sovereign cannot intervene with internal matters within the plane he governs. But that doesn't mean he cannot influence others to intervene..." Cyneah said with a wry smile.

"That's not exactly correct," Nolan replied, shaking his head. "I can't simply influence others in the plane. If I do, it is still considered as interfering, albeit inadvertently. I can only influence outside forces. Since they are not part of the Human plane."

"But Kyran is—."

"—no longer considered someone from the Human plane," Nolan cut in before Cyneah could finish her sentence. "The same will happen to you."

Kyran frowned, "What does that mean?"

"The Dragon Emperor has accepted the Regis Family as an official member of the Dragon Clan. That means you are no longer considered part of the Human plane. Sisi, here, is still part of the Human plane— however, not for long once she becomes part of the Regis Family."

"Wait, if that's the case, what about you?" Kyran asked. "You are also part of the Regis Family because of my mother..."

Nolan smiled mischievously before straightening his back and leaning forward.

"You are still as fast with the uptake. Good for you, brat. I'm sure you know how I'll respond, right?"

Kyran barely stopped himself from glaring at him.

'What do you think?'

As always, Nolan would not answer his question and only respond with that phrase.

"Glad you still remember me enough," Nolan sneered and leaned back again.

Meanwhile, Cyneah was at a loss at the exchange between the two. Before she could ask what they meant, Nolan supplied, "Don't worry, the brat will explain things to you later."

He looked at Kyran sternly and added, "I know you'll find the answer soon because I don't think the situation will stay the same for long."

"..."

Nolan looked toward the door and said, "Jared's on his way back. That's my cue to leave."

"You're not going to say?"

"Can't," he replied with a bitter smile. "If I stayed too long around people who are part of another realm, the consequences will be dire."

"..."

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"You will in time. Unless Kyran here thinks otherwise."

"..."

"I'll come visit again."

Nolan vanished amidst a cloud of black particles without waiting for them to respond.