Chapter 506: Glimpse
"There’s something I’ve been curious about and you’re the only one who can help me with it, Amanda."
Nyxariel remained seated gracefully upon the luxurious couch inside her royal chamber. The witch, carrying a long wooden staff in her right hand, slowly approached the Demon Queen.
When she reached her, she placed a hand over her chest and bowed respectfully.
After straightening herself, she smiled. "Your Majesty, May I sit?"
Nyxariel let out an exasperated sigh.
"Enough with the act, Amanda."
She shook her head helplessly. "Are you making fun of me? We’ve known each other for decades. You’ve never spoken to me this politely."
Amanda covered her mouth before laughing softly.
"Hahaha...Well... the last time we met, you weren’t the Queen of the Demon Kingdom... or whatever."
As Nyxariel waved her hand casually, mana rippled through the room.
The soft cushioned chair resting in the corner trembled before silently sliding across the polished floor on its own.
It stopped opposite Nyxariel. Between them stood an elegant glass table.
Amanda sat comfortably, crossing one leg over the other before resting her staff beside the chair. She leaned back with a relaxed smile.
"So...What exactly were you so curious about that you summoned me in the middle of the night?"
Nyxariel folded her hands over her lap.
"To be honest...It isn’t just curiosity. I wanted to meet you as well. It’s been quite some time since we last saw each other."
Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Not that long."
She smiled teasingly. "We simply haven’t met for two years."
"And during those two years... You locked yourself inside your tower while trying to master that new magical art."
Amanda scratched the back of her head awkwardly before laughing again.
"Haha... you know how obsessed I become whenever I discover a new branch of magic."
"Yes."
Nyxariel nodded without hesitation.
"I know you better than anyone."
Amanda leaned forward.
"So...What is it?"
Nyxariel’s expression gradually became serious.
Her pink eyes met Amanda’s violet ones. "We heard about something...A Primordial Shard."
The instant those two words left Nyxariel’s mouth...
Amanda’s playful smile disappeared completely. The cheerful atmosphere inside the room vanished.
Her violet eyes narrowed. "...You’re serious?"
Nyxariel nodded once.
"I am and I’m not joking."
Amanda remained silent for several long seconds. Then a slow smile appeared on her lips.
"Oh my. Now that is truly interesting."
She leaned farther forward. "To think you actually came across information regarding a Primordial Shard."
Nyxariel observed her carefully.
"So you do know what it is, right?"
Amanda nodded slowly.
"Of course. A Primordial Shard is exactly what its name suggests. A fragment...A tiny piece left behind from the body of a Primordial Being."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Those beings existed long before the current races. Most people believe they’re nothing more than myths. But myths are often born from truth."
Nyxariel rested her chin upon one hand.
"We still don’t know whether what we heard is actually true."
Amanda smiled knowingly. "Fair enough. How did you come across this information?"
Nyxariel answered calmly.
"I’ll explain everything from the beginning."
For the next several minutes, she recounted everything in detail.
She explained how Lark had been hunted. How the two demons repeatedly demanded something called the Primordial Shard.
How the Arcadia Academy students became involved. How Xen and Nazi were ultimately killed.
She left out only one crucial detail.
The pendant around Lark’s neck. Since neither she nor the academy professors knew about it.
Only Amon and his companions had kept that possibility hidden.
When Nyxariel finally finished...
Amanda remained silent, tapping her fingers thoughtfully against the armrest. "Interesting. So the boy’s name is Lark."
She looked toward Nyxariel. "Do you think his family possesses some extraordinary background?"
Nyxariel slowly shook her head.
"We don’t know much about him. I’ve already sent trusted agents to investigate both him and his family."
Amanda smiled approvingly.
"Good. I think I’ll remain in the capital for a little longer."
Nyxariel chuckled faintly.
"I expected you’d say that."
Amanda laughed.
"How could I leave after hearing something this fascinating?"
Then she tilted her head.
"But I thought that wasn’t the real reason you summoned me. You said you were curious about something."
Nyxariel nodded.
"Yes. There is something else."
She opened one hand. A small crystal vial appeared above her palm. Inside floated a tiny amount of crimson blood.
Amanda looked down at it.
"...Human blood?"
"Yes."
Nyxariel gently placed the vial on the glass table.
"This blood was discovered on one of the demons’ corpses."
Amanda frowned slightly.
"So?"
Nyxariel proceeded to explain everything. How Nazi’s body had erupted from within. How flesh had burst apart across multiple locations. How human blood had been found inside every one of those ruptured wounds.
When she finished.
Amanda folded her arms.
"Oh... I see."
She looked thoughtfully at the vial.
"So you suspect that one of those human students possesses blood-related abilities."
Nyxariel nodded.
"Yes. My biggest suspicion is Amon."
Amanda looked at her curiously.
"Not Marcus?"
Nyxariel shook her head.
"Kael once reported witnessing the mysterious being known as Vetaal. He described powers related to blood.... siighed. You might don’t know about it. I will tell you in short."
Then she told her everything in short about what happened on island.
After a while Nyxariel spoke, "If Amon truly inherited something from Vetaal... then everything begins making sense."
Amanda rubbed her chin.
"You want me to determine whether this blood belongs to Amon or Marcus. And while I’m at it...You also want me to examine whether there’s anything unusual hidden within it."
"Correct."
Nyxariel looked directly into Amanda’s eyes.
"Can you do it?"
Amanda sighed helplessly before leaning back.
"Nyxariel, you give me too much credit. Yes. I’m a witch. And yes, I specialize in ancient magic and forbidden arts. But that doesn’t mean I can identify someone’s identity simply by staring at a drop of blood."
She gently tapped the vial.
"If you brought me blood samples from both boys... I could compare them. But this alone isn’t enough."
Nyxariel frowned.
"I can’t obtain that."
Amanda smirked mischievously.
"I know. The mighty Demon Queen sneaking into teenage boys’ bedrooms at night to steal a few drops of blood..."
She covered her mouth dramatically.
"...How disgraceful."
Nyxariel’s eyebrow twitched.
"Shut up. You insufferable witch. Just tell me whether there’s another method. If not I’ll simply send one of my royal spies. They’re experts in infiltration and stealth."
Amanda burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! There’s no need for that."
She smiled confidently.
"Actually...I do know another way."
Nyxariel’s eyes brightened immediately.
"The magical art I’ve spent years trying to master... I’ve finally succeeded in learning most of it."
Nyxariel leaned slightly forward.
"What exactly does that spell do?"
Amanda’s smile deepened.
"If I possess someone’s blood... We can observe fragments of that person’s future."
Nyxariel’s eyes widened slightly.
"...Really?"
Amanda nodded.
"Yes. But there’s a limitation."
Nyxariel listened attentively.
"The future we witness must somehow be connected to the person requesting the spell."
She pointed toward Nyxariel.
"In this case...You."
Nyxariel frowned thoughtfully.
"But what if that person and I never meet in the future?"
Amanda shook her head.
"It doesn’t have to involve the two of you meeting. The connection can be indirect."
"For example... If that boy performs an action that affects you. Or influences your kingdom...Or changes the fate of someone important to you...Then the spell can still reveal that future."
She smiled confidently.
"After all... The Demon Kingdom belongs to you. Anything that significantly impacts it is automatically connected to your destiny. And I know you will meet all students tomorrow when they will be departing from here."
She continued. "So your future with those two is fixed. And you will see the focus of vision on the person... whose blood we are using."
Silence settled between the two women.
Nyxariel slowly looked down at the tiny vial resting upon the table.
"...Interesting."
Very interesting indeed.
"This spell of yours is really amazing. People would kill many to know about future." Nyxariel said in amusement.
"Sure. But it’s not like you can watch the future of specific time, in specific place.... that of you want. The future could be very useless. Like you meeting them tomorrow."
"Alright. Let’s do it."
"Perfect!" Amanda said excitedly as a crystal-clear glass orb suddenly materialized above her palm.
The smooth sphere was about the size of a melon, its surface flawless enough to reflect the mana lamps illuminating the chamber.
She gently placed it upon the glass table between herself and Nyxariel.
"Now..."
She extended her hand toward the Demon Queen.
"Give me the blood sample you recovered."
Nyxariel nodded.
"Here."
She handed Amanda the small crystal vial containing the tiny amount of human blood retrieved from Nazi’s corpse.
Amanda carefully removed the lid. With utmost precision, she tilted the vial, allowing only a single crimson drop to fall.
Plop.
The lone droplet landed upon the center of the crystal orb. Immediately afterward, Amanda rested both hands around the sphere.
A surge of deep violet mana poured from her palms.
Buzz—
Ancient runes appeared one after another, revolving around the orb in intricate circles. The blood spread across the crystal’s surface like flowing water.
Within seconds, the entire orb had turned a deep crimson, glowing faintly from within.
The room itself seemed to grow quieter. Amanda slowly withdrew her hands before looking toward Nyxariel.
"It’s ready. Now place both of your palms on the orb. And close your eyes."
Nyxariel gave a small nod.
Without hesitation, she removed the black gauntlets protecting her hands and placed them neatly on the table.
Her bare hands rested gently against the smooth crimson sphere. The crystal felt strangely warm.
She slowly closed her crimson eyes. Curiosity filled her heart.
Seeing the future, even after living for well over a century, the concept still sounded almost impossible.
It was something that should never exist.
Yet, Amanda had spent years mastering this forbidden magical art. If anyone could accomplish such a feat. It was her. Nyxariel silently steadied her breathing.
According to Amanda, the vision could reveal anything connected to her destiny.
Perhaps, she would simply witness herself meeting Amon tomorrow before he departed the Demon Kingdom with the Arcadia Academy delegation.
That was entirely possible. Assuming the blood truly belonged to him. If, instead, the blood belonged to Marcus...
Then the vision would likely revolve around the young Lionheart heir and whatever future event connected him to the Demon Kingdom.
Whatever appeared. It would answer one important question. Whose blood had truly been recovered from Nazi’s corpse?
