In a spacious hall supported by multiple pillars engraved with unrecognizable murals, a mana barrier was erected covering a large platform while the elemental energy was entering frantically as if something had sucked it inside.
Inside the barrier, Ian sat on a stone throne cross-legged, completely lost in meditation while the array on the floor conveniently poured all the drawn elements into his body.
However, the rate at which the array operated and supplied the elemental energy was visibly getting lower and lower, until at one point, the array itself broke apart, halting the process.
"Boom!"
With the disintegration of the array, the barrier that shielded Ian from the outside was also destroyed, revealing the ancient yet dilapidated hall.
"Hah..."
Ian breathed in deeply and woke up leisurely after knowing that the transmission process was over.
"That was something."
He felt that this feeling wasn't anything he had experienced before. It was just so magical that he even forgot the time and immersed himself in this sea of elements, absorbing it continuously.
"My mental power is almost at the Second-Class Wizard Apprentice."
Ian found out that his mental power had now reached the threshold of second class. However, since he didn't have any zero-ring spells with him, he couldn't increase his realm yet.
"However, my Knight Realm has increased dramatically."
Ian looked at his Life Seed in his dantian, the same size as before. The only difference was five colorful lines surrounding it: Blue, Green, Red, Black, and the last one was translucent.
"Guess I'm now an Elemental Knight then. Another power-up but nowhere to vent."
He couldn't help but think of Ethos, wondering if he could kill him in a close fight.
Although, after High Knight, he should be promoted to Grand Knight, Elemental Knight wasn't bad.
As far as Ian knew, it seemed the only difference between a regular Grand Knight and his Elemental Knight was this mark of elements.
What its use was, he hadn't figured out yet. But from his guess, its use should be known once he engraved the spell model in his mind.
Anyhow, it should be more practical than a Grand Knight's only increased physical strength.
Enjoy more content from empire
Either way, Ian was in a good mood as he noticed even his luck had increased by another 50 points. This incident was indeed somehow related to Carl.
Just when he was lost in his thoughts, a strong suction came, just like before, throwing him out of the hall.
This time, he was also caught off guard and landed on his butt with embarrassment.
"Ouch... damn... can't you be gentle..."
After standing from the rough landing outside the Ashen Spires, Ian couldn't help but curse. Everything was good besides this weird method of entry and exit.
"I don't know how much time has passed."
Ian thought while looking at the Ashen Spire, which was already covered with darkness, and saw no difference, just as before.
"Let's return. I also need to know how that plan was going. Hope there was nothing wrong."
Ian thought and walked towards the place where he left his horse.
However, once he arrived at his destination, he was bewildered.
"Eh? Where is my horse?"
Ian looked at the empty tree, where only a violently broken rope hung, and didn't see his horse.
"Did it run off?" Ian thought, looking at the signs.
"Maybe I took too much time."
After looking at the trace of struggle that was barely noticeable, Ian concluded.
"Sigh... Guess I have to run on my foot again."
Ian sighed bitterly, used the Veilborn Shroud expertly, and made a beeline towards the north. This time, his destination was the capital of Veilstirder Duchy, Duskmere.
...
[Outskirts of Duskmere City, Veilstirder Duchy]
Ian looked at the massive structure in front of him that was covered all around by the tall and thick walls and looked like a sleeping dragon with nostalgia.
Weirdly, being the heir of this capital city and the area it controlled, Ian didn't have much interaction with this place.
So, even when there were lots of members in the Veilstrider family, he was only familiar with the ones that were in the Imperial Capital.
"Four and a half months."
Ian mumbled the time he disappeared in the Ashen Spires, still in some astonishment.
When he walked out of that place, he went to a few cities along the way and inquired about the news. However, what he found out made him surprised.
He was actually sitting in that chamber for a full four and a half months and didn't even know.
"Father and mother must be worried sick. Fortunately, I covered up my destination when leaving, otherwise..."
Ian thought bitterly. Since he knew that he was going to the forbidden zone, he made extra effort to hide his track. So, his father probably didn't know where he went.
However, now that he disappeared for so long, even exceeding the time he gave to his father, he must be worried sick.
"Let's not delay any more."
Ian decided and sneakily entered the capital without alerting the guards.
As far as the public was concerned, they still didn't know that the only heir of the duchy had disappeared. So, there was nothing out of the ordinary in the area.
As Ian used his passive to increase his speed, while using the Phantom Veil to become invisible, he quickly came to the large mansion in the inner city.
The mansion was grand, and what luxury needed to be there was there in the right place.
Ian didn't want to alert anyone and directly went to his father's office in the mansion, as he recalled from his memory.
Fortunately, he heard his voice from afar, indicating that he was still there. However, he seemed to be scolding someone.
As Ian came closer, he quickly understood what they were talking about.
"It has been this long and you still don't know where Ian went? You can't even know what happens in your place, what is the use of your position?"