Rivers of the Night

"Congratulations," Theron said with a gentle smile. He sensed Malaya’s breakthrough into Silver Mancy immediately.

Honestly, it was a bit surprising.

Malaya wasn’t exactly young, being already 18 years old. Her progress to Silver Mancy couldn’t be said to be slow, but it wasn’t on the same level as exceptional geniuses either.

However, the ease with which she entered Silver Mancy, so soon after gaining an Echo at that, told a different story.

How long ago could she have entered? It made him wonder.

Malaya blushed, lowering her head. "Thank you. It’s all thanks to you…"

Theron shook his head. "Some people have all the resources in the world and yet can’t do anything with it."

"Hey, hey! Is that a dig at me?"

A laughter came from the distance.

It was Sigil that approached from the distance.

Theron smiled. "How could that be? Haven’t you already entered the Fourth Silver Resonance now? If anything, you’re the exact opposite."

Sigil’s gaze flickered. "Little brother’s senses are as sharp as always. I’ve heard that a good woman can bring out the best in a man, I see that that’s truer than ever."

Malaya gripped her dress at the folds of her thighs, wanting to find a hole to bury herself in. She really couldn’t handle such praise at all.

"Of course. My wife has only brought out the best in me."

"I don’t doubt it. You’re the first I’ve heard of a Bronze Mancer becoming a Chosen of a Sect."

Malaya’s ears perked up. This was clearly the first she had heard of this. She looked to Theron subconsciously as though to confirm, but the very same gentle smile was there as though he was indifferent to praise and criticism alike.

It seemed that the Vermouth had hidden her brother’s injuries from her.

"Oh my, I’m sorry for being the one to break the news. I’m sure you wanted to show off to your wife a little bit," Sigil said with a laugh.

"It’s fine. Malaya isn’t easily impressed by such things, I’d much rather speak with her about the books we like."

"A good woman, indeed. I’m sorry, Miss Vermouth. I’ll need to steal Theron for a little bit if you don’t mind."

"No no, of course," Malaya replied, a bit flustered.

"Don’t worry, I’ll bring him back intact and full of stamina."

It wasn’t until they were long gone that Malaya seemed to register the double meaning in Sigil’s words and she almost fainted from the steam building up in her skull.

**

Sigil clasped Theron’s shoulders.

"It seems you’re enjoying married life. You came back from the Sect and went right to be with your woman, you didn’t even remember your brothers."

Theron chuckled. "Did the Dean want to speak with me? I just assumed that he would know what happened. I’m sure the Thistles have more than enough eyes and ears in the Sect."

"Don’t be like that, you know I’m not that type of person. If that was it, I would have just told you my old man sent me."

"Sorry, sorry," Theron put his hands up as they walked into Sigil’s dorm. Though, it was less of a dorm and more like a small chateau. "I guess I’ve been steeped in politics for too long."

"I don’t blame you. Part of the reason I did come was because I had a talk with my father. Here."

Something flew at Theron and he caught it.

"This is…?" Theron’s gaze flickered. The Verdant Bloomstone. "Did you ever figure out what it was?"

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"You don’t know?" Sigil asked with a meaningful smile.

"I can recognize Verdant Bloomstone, yes. I even tried to use the Fourth Year Botany Class to try and understand it. But a lot of the plants and herbs that make it up are beyond what I can even touch."

Sigil was a bit taken aback by Theron’s honesty, but eventually nodded. He recalled that Theron didn’t even know what Imbued Resonance was, so it made sense he wouldn’t be able to pick out all of these herbs by scent alone.

"That’s true." Sigil nodded. "This Verdant Bloomstone points out a location. More accurately, it points out a location within a Secret Realm. There should be a shocking deposit of Bloomstone at that location, and it will be invaluable to our future plans."

"Our?" Theron asked with a raised eyebrow. "What? Did you finally work up the courage to ask for my hand as a retainer?"

Sigil was stunned by Theron’s joke for a minute. The Theron he knew was quite gentle and reserved, but after a while, he burst into laughter.

"If you say it like that, you’ll make Miss Vermouth very jealous."

Theron smiled but didn’t reply.

"Honestly, Theron, I do not know if I can trust you. But if I hesitate any longer, it will be too late by the time I make a decision. A man needs to be decisive if he wants to grow as a leader. You’ve proven yourself to be more than talented enough to be a retainer of mine—in fact, your talent terrifies me a little bit.

"But I don’t want you as a retainer. I want you as a brother in arms. I will help you reach your goals, and you will help me reach mine.

"What do you say?"

Sigil reached out a hand.

Theron was a bit taken aback. He hadn’t expected this at all and wasn’t sure how to react to the hand for a long while.

His mouth parted slowly.

"Then…?"

There was a strong light that radiated out from Sigil’s eyes, a bronze aura radiating from him as waves of Wood Mana pooled into the surroundings.

"Thank you for not taking my hand immediately, Theron. I can tell you that if you agree to this, once I become a Gold Mancer, I will strike the curse on you to ashes. This I swear on my Core."

A rumbling filled the air.