Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1598 - 552: The Hidden Divine Artifact

"You are most gracious." With a slight bow, Elder Nasha motioned for Rein to proceed.

"The question I have is this: are you familiar with Fiend Demon?" Rein glanced about, making sure only Anna and the trusted group remained, before posing the query deliberately.

"Fiend Demon?" The elder's once cheerful and refined expression grew tense, her lovely gaze showing clear shock. She paused briefly, composed herself, then remarked, "Your Crown Rein, have you come across the Fiend Demon yourself?"

Anna, standing next to her, felt deep surprise at Elder Nasha's shift in demeanor.

Elder Nasha ranked among the strongest in the Elf Clan's council of elders, having endured endless hardships. At minimum, everyday events rarely stirred her composure.

"Indeed." Rein paused briefly, choosing honesty, and affirmed with a nod.

Without waiting for Elder Nasha's follow-up, Rein continued, "I ran into it inside a Federation ruin, and it proved rather challenging."

"Ah, so it happened in the Federation territory." Elder Nasha let out an audible breath of ease, adding, "Talk of Fiend Demon has faded from conversation for ages. Still, given the rising energy tides, its return comes as no shock."

"In the clan's old tomes, I recall entries from roughly ten thousand years back, when humans lacked a single Empire and ruled through scattered kingdoms. More temples honored the True Gods back then, locked in years of fierce battles against Evil Gods and Fiend Demons."

"Apparently, through some Divine Artifact, they managed to bind away the Fiend Demon and Evil Gods at last. Yet, wielding that Divine Artifact seemed to plunge the energy tides into dormancy."

"The clan's records hold prophecies from various Sages of that era, mostly foretelling that as energy tides return, Divines shall awaken, and Fiend Demons will emerge once more."

"Divine Artifact? Prophecy?" Rein stood momentarily dumbfounded by the revelation.

His intent had been to probe the ties between Evil Gods and Fiend Demons, yet this fresh revelation caught him off guard.

"Yes, that covers everything I'm aware of." Elder Nasha inclined her head in confirmation.

Rein mulled it over, opting to set aside the Divine Artifact and prophecy for now; priority lay in verifying if Evil Gods and Fiend Demons opposed each other as the mural implied.

"Elder Nasha, what can you tell me about how Evil Gods and Fiend Demons relate?" Rein inquired once more.

"Well... the Elf Clan's archives might hold deeper details, perhaps. If Your Crown Rein can spare the moment, a visit to Ferdinand Forest could prove fruitful." Elder Nasha shook her head as she replied.

Rein acknowledged with a nod, pondering the idea, and resolved to head there immediately. Naturally, the key driver was resolving this before delving deeper into the Floating City Ruins.

"Anna, how about I escort you home to Ferdinand Forest? It'd let me search for relevant records too."

"That sounds perfect, Rein." At the suggestion, Anna's eyes sparkled, and she clasped Rein's hand more firmly.

With their course set, the party soon arrived at the garrison square; just then, Anna recalled something, pulling Rein's sleeve with a secretive whisper, "Rein, I've learned to fly."

"Fly?"

"Yes!"

As Anna nodded emphatically, she released Rein's soft, pale hand, took a couple of light bounds, and vanished in a flash, replaced by a majestic Golden Eagle whose wings stretched wide across meters.

The Golden Eagle then fixed its keen, recognizable gaze on Rein, spread its wings, and launched upward into the heavens.

"Druid Transformation Technique, shifting to a Golden Eagle?" Rein stared upward in astonishment at the circling Golden Eagle, murmuring aloud.

Rein had witnessed a similar Golden Eagle shift before, from Lady Delana, Anna's aunt, though he hadn't anticipated Anna's proficiency so soon.

Word had it that acquiring this shift demanded great effort, and true command came with even greater challenge.

"Correct, Your Crown Rein. Anna has poured tireless effort into her training, bolstered by her innate gifts; her advancement has been swift. In terms of human wizard ranks, she now stands at Second Level Liquidation Late Stage."

Elder Nasha watched Anna gracefully aloft with a gentle expression, then addressed Rein to clarify.

Rein agreed with a nod, recognizing the impressive stride in Anna's development.

While the Elf Clan's Druid rankings lacked the precision of wizard hierarchies, possessing over three shift forms along with matching battle techniques, plus a handful of Nature spells, typically marked one as an Advanced Druid. Further elevation led to Great Druid status.

Before long, the Golden Eagle dove earthward, halting mere meters from Rein, and swiftly reverted to the vibrant, enchanting form of the Elf maiden.

"Incredible! Anna, I never thought you'd command the Golden Eagle shift so well; I last beheld it from Lady Delana." Rein approached grinning, took her hand, and offered his commendation.

"Yes, but I'm not quite at your level yet—I'll keep pushing forward." Rein's words filled Anna with sugary warmth, drawing a bashful smile from her.

"Incidentally, where is Lady Delana?" The thought struck Rein abruptly, prompting his question.

In principle, Delana ought to accompany her sibling Daryn Yueling, yet Rein had yet to spot her.