Power of Runes Chapter 444: Legacy Crystal

Ash idly observed his fingers, the lingering softness of Elizabeth’s lips recalling that moment for a fleeting second. This brief mental detour was abruptly terminated by a sharp, judgmental glare from his side, Eva’s silent gaze piercing the air and injecting a palpable awkwardness into the room.

To shatter this uncomfortable silence, Ash immediately summoned Eric, who was loitering outside, not allowing the quiet to fester any longer.

{Why are you just standing there, numbskull? Get in here.}

These words, transmitted mentally, reached Eric outside.

-Ding!!

The shop door swung open, and Eric burst in.

"What went down here? Why was that person here...?"

Eric’s entrance was marked by palpable tension, his question laced with evident concern as his eyes rapidly swept the surroundings, his voice kept level.

Ash merely gestured dismissively, replying, "Nothing much, Elizabeth and I just became friends. No need for you to fret so much."

Relief washed over Eric at Ash’s words; his shoulders visibly relaxed, his mind finally at ease.

"---What?"

Eva, who had been observing this entire exchange, let out a sigh and materialized between them, her expression one of weary expectation.

{Don't worry, little brother, allow me to fill you in. Essentially....}

While Eva recounted the events in a measured narrative, Ash’s attention was engrossed by the crystal cradled in his palm.

The crystal, a smooth, clear, pure white object, bore faintly etched runic formations across its surface. His discerning gaze instantly grasped the runes' purpose without significant effort.

These particular runes were primarily employed for long-term preservation, safeguarding contents from external interference, and crucially, for the stable storage of memories or information, ensuring their integrity against alteration.

Upon fulfilling their function, these runes were destined for destruction, their intricate structures collapsing once their task was complete. Attempting to modify these runic formations was an exercise in futility, guaranteed to shatter the stored content, thus rendering them strictly single-use.

Even Ash harbored no illusions; he doubted his ability to tamper with the crystal's runic formations without destroying the information it held.

Yet, as Ash held this crystal, it would be disingenuous to deny the surge of excitement and, more profoundly, anticipation that coursed through him.

After all, this was a Legacy Crystal.

Bestowed upon him by Elizabeth, against all expectations she had chosen to befriend Ash and entrust him with this artifact. Ash, however, suspected this was merely her circuitous tactic to eventually draw him into the Transcendent Circle, favoring patience over coercion.

Still, he saw no reason to disrupt her grand design, especially if it held personal benefits. He too had taken a gamble with Elizabeth’s sudden appearance, but the outcome had surpassed his expectations.

Now, he possessed the means to awaken his Soul Flame.

Indeed, the Legacy Crystal contained the precise methodology for awakening one's Soul Flame—a method now resting serenely within his grasp.

Such Legacy Crystals were exceedingly rare, unobtainable even for seasoned members of the Transcendents. This particular one was personally crafted by the Eternal Supreme for Elizabeth's own Soul Flame awakening, making it exceptionally precious.

She had initially possessed three of these crystals. Having utilized two for her own comprehension and awakening, the sole remaining, an untouched one, was now in Ash's possession.

Elizabeth had divulged this entire history to him. Ash reacted with profound astonishment, primarily due to the casual manner in which she had surrendered such a vital item. He surmised, correctly, that she intended to foster a sense of indebtedness, a feeling he couldn't deny experiencing.

Despite Elizabeth's expenditure of two crystals to master the Soul Flame awakening process, Ash felt a strong conviction that he could achieve it with just one, placing his faith in his own capabilities.

Furthermore, with his Soul Library, even a single failed attempt wouldn't deter him; he could simply try again.

If his Soul Library could successfully catalog information pertaining to Runes, why couldn't it store the intricacies of Soul Flame awakening?

Beyond the Legacy Crystal, Elizabeth had left him one other item: an emblem. It bore the symbol of a golden-white flame, intricately adorned with countless invisible runic glyphs that pulsed faintly, suggesting an inherent, hidden authority.

This emblem served as his passkey, granting him access to the most prestigious educational institution within the Realm of Eden.

The Eden Realm Academy.

Countless races converge in the Eden Realm Academy, a sanctuary for burgeoning geniuses armed with abundant resources. This institution meticulously cultivates these talents into pillars of power, capable of supporting the heavens themselves. However, the competition within its hallowed halls is notoriously brutal, pushing even the most gifted individuals to their absolute breaking point.

Furthermore, the academy’s prime location at the very heart of the Realm of Eden meant that Ash remained wholly unaware of its existence until this very moment, as his prior influence had never stretched so far.

Discarding the emblem into his Soul Vault without a second thought, Ash treated it as mere refuse, akin to tossing trash into a bin.

The Eden Realm Academy was an unfamiliar concept to him; the games he frequented bore no resemblance to such a place. This unfamiliarity served as another deterrent, as Ash generally preferred to sidestep unknown variables unless absolutely compelled.

Even if the Eternal Supreme himself were to offer tutelage, Ash declared he still wouldn’t attend.

Turning his gaze to Eric, who had evidently absorbed all the information and now stood beside Eva, Ash noticed his posture. A playful smirk bloomed on his face as a memory surfaced.

Approaching him, Ash slung an arm around Eric's neck, drawing him slightly closer. “So, how did your date with Saskia go...?” he inquired, a teasing tone coloring his voice.

The question instantly ignited a flush of embarrassment on Eric's face, his reaction immediate and telling. Eva’s own demeanor shifted from its prior discontent to one alight with curiosity, her attention sharply focused on Eric.

“A-a-a date...? It wasn't a date; I was merely accompanying her,” Eric stammered, attempting a stoic facade. Yet, his blushing countenance betrayed the falsehood, rendering his words utterly unconvincing.

Ash’s grin widened at the sight. He lightly tapped Eric’s head with his free hand. “You rascal, don't try to deceive me. Have you forgotten who instructed you in these matters? If you're smitten, declare it fearlessly. Why the concealment from me?”

{He speaks the truth for once, little brother. You ought not to conceal things from us; we are your family. You can confide such matters to us.}

“What an impudent remark. I am correct most of the time,” Ash retorted to Eva's interjection, but she simply elected to ignore him.

Eric’s face was undeniably crimson. Then, something—perhaps a recollection—flickered through his eyes. His expression gradually normalized before settling into a stern resolve as he shook his head.

“No, I am not in love. I was merely flustered by your inquiry,” he stated firmly.

Shaking off Ash's arm, Eric walked away, his pace perceptibly quickening, as if eager to distance himself from the conversation.

Ash watched his retreating figure, the playful smile on his face slowly fading to neutrality. He then glanced at Eva, who responded with a simple, noncommittal shrug.

While he was reluctant to acknowledge it, Ash couldn't deny the truth. There was no way he could presume to offer Eric counsel when he himself had navigated similar waters, not once, but twice over.

Moreover, he was still actively seeking information about her and the World of Akumia, a lingering unresolved matter in his own life.

Ash shook his head. After all, who could comprehend better than him the adeptness with which men conceal their deepest feelings, maintaining an outward appearance of composure?

Ash understood the potential turmoil brewing within Eric, recognizing the nascent restlessness. Yet, being a man himself, he knew that offering unsolicited advice in such delicate moments could inadvertently exacerbate the situation.

***