'We parted having such an ambiguous air between us. I am sorry.'
Stella's voice sounded in Kyran's head before she even finished what she spoke aloud.
Others might think Stella's speech was meant to annoy Layla. But it appeared she did it to conceal the fact she was talking to Kyran telepathically.
'You should not have come,' Kyran replied, his expression remaining unreadable.
Meanwhile, Layla was not happy at being ignored— not to mention getting her plans foiled by someone who was supposed to be her 'best friend's' successor.
Apart from that, that successor shared her best friend's name.
Layla was not stupid. She knew the two were talking telepathically.
Not that it mattered.
Even as a Time mage, it was impossible for Stella to halt time for long. For this reason, Layla chose to proceed with her next plan.
Since detaining Kyran had failed, Layla could only let him handle the rest.
It was common for someone to prepare backup plans when their initial plan backfires.
In Layla's case, if they could detain Kyran, she planned on having Ane, Soll, and Osric keep him busyThis was Layla's plan B.
However, she now had a plan C. She would still use Ane, Soll, and Osric, but only to buy time until Obstruction gets the help he set out to get.
As for who would deal with the rest of the 'high-level' members from Kyran's side, Layla already had those covered. Besides, once the veil completely shattered, she could release the Macabre Glacier's sentient and let it run amock.
With this in mind, Layla focused on using her magic to proceed with the plan.
"Speaking of being stubborn," Stella continued to speak. "I remembered my aunt telling me that in the First's diary, she had mentioned one of her 'best friends' was stubborn to a fault."
She looked at Layla with a wry smile before continuing, "I wonder if the First was talking about you when she said that."
While she said those things out loud, she continued to talk to Kyran telepathically.
'That is a very cold thing to say to someone who just saved your life,' Stella replied, feeling disappointed at Kyran's indifference. But she knew he only said that because he was worried— whether he was worried about her or the possibility that her arrival could also mean 'she' had arrived, Stella chose to feign ignorance. She would rather think his reaction was because he genuinely worried about her.
Before Kyran could reply, Stella added, 'Besides, if I did not interfere and you released your magic, True Void's awakening would have been compromised. His body would then be damaged and you would have been captured by the Macabre Glacier.'
Kyran's eyes narrowed at Stella's words.
It was evident from how she said those things that she was not merely making a conjecture. If he guessed correctly, she witnessed that scenario play out when she 'look' into the future.
At that same time, Layla replied with a curt laugh, "Why do you even bring that up? So what if I am stubborn? What does that have to do with anything?"
"Maybe to you, it is not important—" Stella paused dramatically, then continued, "Actually, it is important to you but did not realize it yet."
Then she turned to Obstruction, who watched the whole exchange silently from inside the Water Cage.
"You are a Sovereign from another plane," Stella started. "If I remember correctly, it is... Obstruction. A powerful Sovereign with Space innate magic— who developed while having Void magic as its basis."
Obstruction frowned at her words. As far as he was concerned, they had only met. How was it that she knew things about him?
"Oh, I do know a few more things," Stella added as if reading Obstruction's mind.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Like, how you are called a Sovereign but in terms of mage-level you are already above that."
Since Obstruction's face was hidden beneath a huge hood, and all they could see were dimly lit eyes from time to time, it was impossible to see his reaction; nevertheless, when the surrounding temperature dropped suddenly, they knew he was affected by her words.
Kyran, Tritus, and the rest observing the scene were surprised at what Stella said.
Tritus and several spectators were surprised that there was an even higher level than a Sovereign.
As for Cade and Kyran, what surprised them was how Obstruction's energy leaked out even when the Water Cage suppressed it. Aside from that, he was under Stella's magic influence. For it to leak out and affect the surroundings, even with all that, was proof of Stella's comment about Obstruction's level being higher than a Sovereign.
They already considered that possibility when he did not appear affected by the Sovereign's Cradle after entering the Human plane.
As a matter of fact, Kyran did not remember the latter activating when Obstruction descended.
Nevertheless, hearing Stella say it with such an affirmative tone only gave Cade and Kyran an incoming headache.
After experiencing the Tower of Tribulations, discovering that there were so many planes outside the Human plane, and knowing that the highest authority one could have on a plane was becoming its Sovereign, Cade and Kyran had wondered if being a Sovereign was truly the end of the line for a mage.
Because if it was, then their goal did not seem to be that too far off.
Of course, only Cade and Kyran would dare think this way. For normal mages, becoming a Master mage was already a task they could not even consider becoming a Magus in their lifetime.
In any case, if Obstruction's level was higher than a Sovereign's, their faction could truly be considered a contender for the big win in the upcoming War of the Sovereigns.
But that was not what gave Cade and Kyran a headache. It was more on the fact that Obstruction— even with such a high magic attainment— would still consider asking for help from the outside.
This could only mean that whoever he would call was stronger than him.
Could Nolan prevent them from reentering the Human plane if that was the case?
'What are you doing?' Kyran asked Stella, not understanding what she was really up to.
However, she did not reply this time around.
"You don't have to showcase your might to threaten me," Stella continued, her smile turning impish. "You can try and flex your magic energy for all I care, but you must remember that you are still inside my magic's influence. If you force it, your magic core will suffer."
"Time mage," Obstruction finally spoke after a few minutes of silence. "I have heard about you, albeit a little. If I had known, I would have first recruited you to our cause."
"Obstruction!" Layla shouted in indignation after hearing him.
"You do not have to sound angry."
"I do not sound angry. I AM ANGRY!"
"A Time mage is a rare existence. She will be a huge asset for the faction."
"So what if she could manipulate Time? It is not like she could reverse what already happened. If she did, then all of these would not have happened—."
"I did not expect how much you belittle what I can do."
Stella chuckled at Layla's 'tantrum.'
Layla scowled despite herself as she looked at the latter seethingly.
"You... are not going to say, you can actually reverse Time."
Stella looked at Layla and only smiled in response.
Hearing this exchange, the light underneath Obstruction's hood brightened slightly. Apparently, that notion sounded tempting.
Stella did not admit it, but Obstruction had seen and met so many people before— regardless if they looked human or not— and knew her smile just now was a silent admission.
'If we can also have her in the faction... Maybe... just maybe... he can have that back...'
'Stella!' Kyran could no longer stay silent and called out to her telepathically.
'I can only do this... buy time for you and True Void. Just as you said, I am not cut out for battle. I've always been sheltered and had few encounters with other mages. I will only be a hindrance.'
'I did not say that—.'
'Not you of this time.'
'You—.'
'I have not explored what else my magic could do. But I know that as the Time mage, I can reverse Time. However, that will only be a last resort.'
Kyran did not need Stella to elaborate on that.
Obviously, if she chose to reverse Time, everything that had happened would be nulled.
Becoming the new Void Master... the Chaos Era... even the existence of the original Dark Sage.
No.
Kyran shook his head.
That should not be possible.
Stella could probably reverse time up to a specific moment. It might not even be that long.
A few days? Weeks? Months. But not a millennia or more.
Still, she would have to pay a huge price once she did.
A price Kyran would never allow her to give.
Her life.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢