Artemis Unveiled:The Descent

Untitled Part 62: Crystal of Arcana

Aria gazed at Mistral, who was pacing calmly along the cliff face, her eyes filled with confusion. "It looks so peaceful now, not at all like how you described it before."

Neven's expression grew deeper, his voice low and somber. "Mistral's calmness is just a facade; it doesn't mean it's not dangerous. I suspect there's some kind of binding here, perhaps a special seal placed by the Aether Chieftain to temporarily suppress its true nature. But you must understand, a seal can only suppress, not change. If the binding ever fails, Mistral's true form will wreak havoc, like a demon unchained from the depths of the Northern Forest."

Aria's worry deepened as she recalled the secrets Mistral had hinted at. Her mind teemed with questions. "Mistral mentioned some things about you," she asked cautiously. "Three years ago, when you led the legion to hunt down Mara, what was it really about?"

Neven's expression stiffened instantly, a flash of wariness in his eyes. "Mistral told you this?"

Aria nodded, her voice quiet. "He said he witnessed your pursuit and that you were after something Mara had."

Neven's gaze turned complex, as if weighing whether to reveal the truth. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke in a low voice. "The Arcane Crystal."

"Arcane Crystal?" Aria's breath caught as she stared at him in confusion. "What is it that you were willing to sacrifice three thousand lives for?"

Neven remained silent for a long time, pain flickering in his eyes. He began speaking slowly. "It's a secret Orion the Seeker entrusted to me before his death. I swore to keep it hidden, forever. Even in front of the Lunar King and the Moon Tower, I could reveal nothing, only admit that I had led the legion on my own to kill Mara."

Aria was shaken, struggling to believe that Neven had kept such a secret from her for so long. Her voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief and disappointment. "You kept this from everyone, even me. I thought we were always honest with each other."

"I swore to Orion the Seeker that I would never tell anyone, not even you. It's the most solemn vow I've ever made," Neven's voice was filled with deep regret. "But now, I believe you should help me keep this secret. If anything happens to me, we must ensure that the Arcane Crystal never falls into Mara's hands again."

A heavy silence fell between them, the tension thick in the air. Aria's mind was in turmoil, caught in a silent struggle. She wanted to ask more but wasn't sure how to begin.

Neven broke the silence, his voice laced with barely concealed pain. "I can never forgive myself for the loss of those three thousand lives."

Aria suddenly remembered something and lowered her voice to ask, "Do you know that Orion the Seeker was poisoned by Daphne Blackwood?"

Neven's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?"

Aria took a deep breath and recounted what she had seen in her dream, where she witnessed a conversation between Daphne Blackwood and Stormblade through a resurrection spell. Neven listened intently, then, after a long pause, he said, "You're right; the resurrection spell showed you some of his memories. Alexander also told me that Orion the Seeker was indeed poisoned."

"Was his death related to the Arcane Crystal?" Aria pressed.

Neven's voice grew heavier. "Yes, they were after the secret of the Arcane Crystal. When Daphne failed, she poisoned him and made it look like he had disappeared."

The sound of creaking chains interrupted them as a group of Aether warriors crossed the bridge, the wooden planks gently swaying under their feet. Once they had passed, Aria spoke in a hushed tone. "Why are they so obsessed with the Arcane Crystal?"