Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 905: Stormy Quiet

CH905 Stormy Quiet

***

After Alex exited Uthvaazgol’s cavern, he found himself back outside the Tower Master’s door.

Alex heard Zora and Udara’s voices from behind the door, but he didn’t go in. Instead, he made his way to the top of the DragonHold Enclave’s main spire.

Alex sat at the top of the spire, taking in the breathtaking scenery, which allowed his mind to wander freely.

He obviously had a lot to think about after his recent discussion with his Master.

Alex pondered over what changes he should make to his plan and how he should allow this newly acquired information to impact his decisions for the future.

Alex sat there for a good half an hour, with very little coming to mind.

But then, he sensed someone arrive at the top of the spire with him.

He looked back and saw Zora’s smiling figure. He smiled back at her.

"What are you doing here? What about Udara?" he asked.

"Father is speaking with her privately. He told me you came here, so here I am," Zora replied as she came to sit by his side.

"What’s on your mind?" she asked.

"A lot, to the point that I don’t even know where to begin," Alex admitted.

"That’s nothing new. What’s the difference now?" Zora replied, then asked.

Alex just smiled and didn’t respond.

He turned back to the scenery below.

"A lot has changed since that time years ago when you brought me here for the first time. I was only a little boy in your eyes, but look where we are now. I am not so ’little’ anymore," Alex said reminiscently.

"Alex Fury, are you bragging right now?" Zora raised an eyebrow.

"No. I am just reminding myself how lucky I am," Alex replied smoothly, smiling at her.

"That’s good." Zora smiled back.

He turned back to the scenery. "Back then, I felt powerless, but I had clear goals. Snag the woman I had a crush on and build my specialist magic and power."

"The woman you had a crush on? You already had a crush on a woman while so young? How come I didn’t know you were such a bad boy?" Zora teased.

However, Alex knew better than to engage. Instead, he continued his monologue.

"Now that I have gotten stronger, it feels as if I am less determined or decisive about what I want. I feel like I am being pulled in many different directions, and things are becoming difficult—or rather, I should say, complicated," he said.

Zora’s expression became a bit serious.

"What exactly did you discuss with my father?" she asked.

"Well, basically, my future growth direction," Alex replied.

"What about it?" Zora frowned.

"Master wants me to plan towards $%^&," Alex replied.

"Towards what?"

"@$#&%."

It was only after seeing her reaction the second time that realisation dawned on Alex.

’She doesn’t have the authorisation to learn about Mythos?’

Seeing Zora’s confused, frowning face, Alex explained,

"It is something about my Class that is veiled by the Natural Order, according to Master."

"The Natural Order veiled something about your Class?" Zora was surprised.

However, thinking about everything she had seen Alex do in the past with his unique Class and the strange metaphysical events surrounding it—particularly the descent of the Tribulation of Heavenly Secrets those years ago—Zora didn’t doubt Alex’s claim.

"According to Master, it seems the Natural Order has taken an interest in my Class itself. It has some expectation of me that I am not sure I can meet," Alex expressed.

"The Natural Order has taken an interest in your Class? Should I call that a humble brag?" Zora said.

"I am serious, Zora," Alex responded.

"So am I," she said. "You are worrying over a position that many people would do anything to be in."

"Then again, I guess that’s just you after all," she added.

"So, what exactly is the problem?" she asked.

"I am trying to decide what direction I should develop my Class towards, essentially, in order to retain the interest of the Natural Order," Alex replied.

Zora frowned and immediately shook her head.

"Don’t do that," she said. "I understand that if Father told you about it now, it means there are some benefits to keeping the attention of the Natural Order. But that doesn’t mean you should focus solely on satisfying the Natural Order."

She pulled his face towards her and made him look at her.

"Do you know why you earned the attention of the Natural Order?" she said. "It is because a boy years ago decided on a goal. Rather than follow the norm, that boy chose instead to create a platform suited for himself—his own unique platform.

"Afterwards, as that boy grew, he came to realise that his unique magical platform was not only useful to himself, but it could be useful to others as well. So, he produced products for himself and others with this new magical platform of his until he eventually earned recognition for his efforts."

Zora placed her forehead against Alex’s.

"You got where you are now by doing what you want, what feels right to you, and what you enjoy. I might nag you for being reckless sometimes, but I know that is when you are the most you."

"I believe the Natural Order chose to acknowledge you because you were you. So, don’t go changing yourself to maintain its recognition. Since it chose you for being you, it will have to accept you continuing to be you," she said.

Alex’s charismatic, gemlike ruby-red pupils looked into Zora’s captivating icy-blue ones. Then he smiled. Then, out of nowhere, he kissed her.

And Zora reciprocated.

"As milady commands," he joked once they separated.

Zora looked into his eyes for a moment until she determined that he really was out of his rut.

"Good." Zora nodded ’imperiously’, causing husband and wife to laugh.

A moment later, Zora looked at Alex and asked seriously, "Now that your head is clear, do you know what you are going to do?"

"Roughly," Alex said. "Master said since I gave up spellcasting the traditional way, I can no longer be called a Mage. Also, since I wasn’t using a mage-specific meditation manual in the first place, I am thinking of fully diverging from the Mage path."

"How do you intend on doing that?" Zora inquired.

"Not sure yet," Alex said. "I will at least look for something, no matter how little, that can make me different from a typical Great Mage."

Zora looked at him sceptically. "Why do I feel as if you already have an idea in mind?"

"I really don’t have anything concrete—it’s a vague thought at most," Alex replied quickly. Then, in a weak attempt to quickly move the conversation along, he added, "I am also looking to increase the importance of my Rune-Tech platform to Pangea by pushing another Rune-Tech product."

"Which new product are you pushing?" Zora asked.

"It’s less a new product and rather more like upgrading an existing product in a way that makes it look like a new one."

Alex gave Zora a rundown of his plan.

"You are going to give up a lot of upfront value," Zora commented after listening to him.

"I am aware. But it’s like when the sale of Rune Phones started; the earnings from continuous services will beat one-off sales in the long run. The sacrifice we will be making now will make it easier for us to benefit later. With our current wealth and earnings projections, we can definitely bear the tide until the time comes.

"Besides, it’s not like it is all gloom and doom. If I do things right, it might be possible for me to leverage things in order to acquire resources money can’t buy from the major powers," Alex said.

Zora nodded in understanding.

When she took a figurative step back and thought about the project Alex had just explained to her, she came to agree that the realisation of the project would most likely result in another groundbreaking success for the Golden Palace.

’It’s no surprise he is recognised by even the Natural Order,’ Zora thought to herself as she gazed at her husband.

Unexpectedly, she found herself thinking back to her meeting with Countess Megan Fury, when the latter questioned her on her motivations for setting up a marriage agreement for her own husband.

’I would also like to have him all to myself, but I cannot allow myself to be greedy and end up burying his shine.

’He is someone who will achieve great things; however, he won’t be able to do it on his own. He needs help around him. And there is no better, safer help than from his wives.

’I will ensure that only those who can aid him get close to him, and that those who are close to him pull their own weight. I will not let anyone... or anything derail his greatness.’

A determined look flashed in Zora’s eyes for a moment.

She got closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

’This is good enough,’ she thought to herself.

Alex wrapped his arm around her in response, then the couple watched the breathtaking scenery silently in each other’s embrace.

A tender moment that neither would forsake for anything in the world.

***