Chapter 118: Ruler's Throne

Chapter 118: Ruler's Throne

The black compass felt cold in Raven's hands. Its surface was smooth except for faint etchings that shimmered under the inn's dim light. He closed his eyes and channeled his spirit power into it, letting his consciousness sink into the depths of the artifact.

At first, nothing happened. The compass seemed like any other ordinary object.

[If you can find the imprint array circle easily, the Wizards from the Thorneville Family would've long found out about its true nature. I don't think even a Legendary Wizard will find the imprint array circle easily.] Zera said in his mind.

'Then, how am I going to find it?' He couldn't help but ask.

[Think. How did Jovie find out its true value?] Zera asked a question instead.

'Now that I think about it, she said she sensed different power hidden inside the compass, right?'

[Yes. Jovie must have used one of those powers to find its true worth. Most likely the power of death.] Zera said solemnly.

'And we captured the Fragment of Seer, an artifact capable of casting time spells. What if I use the 'Mind Eye' spell to probe it?' Raven instantly cast the 'Mind Eye' bloodline spell and observed every nook and corner of the compass artifact.

'I see strange white lines all around the compass.' He noticed all these lines were interlinked with the other invisible lines and seemed to cover the compass like a web.

After probing the compass, Raven noticed a strange minute array circle engraved on the brass.

'An array circle?' He tried to probe it by sending a small amount of his spirit power into it.

But Raven felt no reaction at all.

'Why is that? Didn't all artifacts work using one's spirit imprint?' He was confused.

[It's more complicated than what you think, lad. Do you believe the Thornevale Family has no wizard to appraise this artifact? Of course not. I've observed that twelve elemental energies are hidden in this artifact. Can you sense any of those?] Raven tried to probe it using all his elemental energies but couldn't pinpoint the elements other than the 'Time.'

'Am I missing something?' A frown appeared on his forehead.

[Yes. The wizards from the Thornevale family can't appraise this artifact using any elemental energy or spirit power mainly because of its uniqueness. You manage to find the array circle due to the 'Mind Eye' spell. Do you know how the 'Mind Eye' spell works?] Zera asked.

Raven's eyes widened.

'Spirit power and Time power?'

[Yes. That spell is a fusion of one's spirit power and the 'Time' elemental energy.]

Raven nodded in understanding and also used the 'Mind Eye' spell for probing. 

Within a second, he saw a complex 'Imprint' array circle engraved on the brass with minute precision and also noticed no other spiritual imprint was placed in it.

'As I thought, it's an ownerless artifact.'

Raven quietly condensed his spirit power with the 'Time-elemental energy' and sent it into the center of the array circle.

The next second, a small connection to the artifact appeared in his mind.

Within a moment, Raven noticed a strange space inside the array and was startled.

'It looks more like a spatial sub-space.' A sudden pull dragged his consciousness somewhere as he tried to probe it.

He felt the same feeling whenever his consciousness entered the Illusionary World.

A moment later, Raven stood in the middle of a dark, gloomy hall. A strange chandelier hung from the ceiling, giving the surroundings a greenish light.

At that moment, his hand and outer appearance appeared more illusionary, and he looked more like Thomas's.

'So my consciousness forms based on my outer appearance, huh? Now that I think about it, I always appear in Thomas's appearance when entering the dream world, too.' A look of understanding appeared on his face.

Casting those thoughts away, Raven looked around and soon froze as he gazed up front.

At that moment, Raven saw an iron throne on an elevated platform.

He also saw rows of chairs on both sides of the aisle, which looked more like a throne hall than a random room.

'What is this place?' Raven counted twelve chairs in the hall beside the iron throne and felt a strange familiarity.

As he looked closer, he noticed strange symbols were carved on the chair's top rails.

Raven's gaze soon lingered on the owl symbol atop the first chair. The intricate carving of the owl exuded an aura of mystery, its piercing eyes seeming to stare straight into his soul.

It was as if the owl caged in the Memory Library was looking at him through this symbol!

"A gathering place for the fragments?" he murmured as his brows furrowed.

He turned his attention to the rest of the chairs. Each had a unique symbol etched into its top rail, their details faint but discernible in the dim light.

The second chair radiated a fiery glow, adorned with a phoenix carved into its crest. The third bore the etching of a frozen wolf, exuding an icy chill. The fourth featured a soaring eagle with swirling wind patterns. The fifth displayed a skeletal clutching a withered rose, while the sixth was marked with a mouse symbol. The seventh chair showcased a centaur with a bow and arrow. The eighth showcased an electric serpent coiled around a thunderbolt, and the ninth was embellished with a radiant butterfly shimmering as though made of light. The tenth had a roaring lion wreathed in flames, the eleventh depicted a black cat, and the final chair was engraved with the image of a crow, its wings blurred as if in motion.

Raven felt a unique power radiating from each chair and was deeply startled.

'Each chair represents an arcane fragment, huh?'

But what puzzled him was that the two chairs among the twelve appeared shining in golden light.

One was the sixth chair with a mouse symbol engraved, and the other was the eighth chair with a small electric serpent carved on it.

'Why do those two appear unique?'

After some thought, he turned around and stepped on the elevated platform.

Within a few seconds, he arrived before the iron throne and noticed no symbol engraved on it.

'What elemental energy does the Iron Throne hold?' 

While asking, he turned around to look at the front and sat on the iron throne.

The dark throne hall shook violently the next instant, causing the iron throne to shine in radiating white light.

At the same time, a familiar energy came out of his consciousness and sent out a rippling wave in all directions!

'Wait…. Isn't this the 'Ruler's Domination' skill? Why did it activate on its own?'

Raven felt his consciousness suddenly connected to the iron throne, and he received information about this space in the form of images.

"Ruler's Throne? Seven seals? This throne hall is sealed by its owner and needs to meet certain conditions for activation?"

Surprisingly, the first seal was already activated, which could allow the 'Ruler' to gain control over the Throne Hall for up to 10%.

'Ruler? Is it mentioning me? What does this 10% mean?' Raven furrowed and tried to focus on the 'Ruler's Domination' skill.

In the next instant, his consciousness expanded and covered the dark throne hall. Even though it was his first time experiencing this phenomenon, Raven felt he could control anything within this small throne hall space.

'What is this? Why do I feel I could control or even create anything in this space?' He suddenly thought of something and waved his hand.

A moment later, a mirror appeared before him and started hovering mid-air.

Then, his illusionary appearance changed from Thomas's to Raven's!

'Oh? Interesting.' Raven continued to experiment using this strange ruler's power and checked the extent of this power.

'I can create small objects like mirrors, hats, etc., without restraint. But if I try to create large objects like tables or another throne, I feel a drain in my mental energy. This is only for creating new objects.' As he muttered, he calmly shifted his gaze towards the front and lifted his forefinger.

The next moment, all the twelve wooden chairs started to rise and hover in mid-air.

'It's more like a Telekinesis skill. Still, I heard that using telekinesis causes one's mental strain. But I feel nothing at all.'

What was strange was that he felt that he could destroy anything in this room with a single thought.

He put the chairs back and pondered.

'Next question is: can I bring these objects to the real world?' Raven quietly left the compass with a thought and returned to the real world.

Unfortunately, no mask or mirror appeared before him.

'Zera, I think I need your help.' Raven started telling her what he had experienced in that dark room.

[A domain-like space capable of creating objects, huh? You said you feel like you are invincible in that space, right? Hmm, it's an intellectual artifact like me.] Zera's words surprised him.

'All intellectual artifacts have souls, right? Does that mean it let me take control over it?' Raven asked in confusion.

[Most intellectual artifacts choose their owner, not the other way around. The reason it didn't kick you out of that dark space and even allow you to take control of a part of it might be because of the 'Ruler's Domination' skill you possess. And you are not right about all intellectual artifacts having souls. Take the arcane fragments as an example. These fragments are artifacts that were once ranked as legendary or natural artifacts. However, as time passed, they started gaining awareness and soon formed consciousness. A consciousness capable of thinking independently takes thousands of years. We call these artifacts as Arcane Fragments. These consciousnesses take shape in various forms, like living creatures or objects, and roam independently. However, due to their limited abilities, they mostly rely on humans or other living beings for survival. The next one should be Arcane Relics. Although these artifacts are only in consciousness form, they can create a small space within the artifact and control it to the fullest.]

At that moment, Zera's memory library appeared in Raven's mind.

[You are right. This compass is definitely an Arcane Relic like me.] Zera said.

'What about the Arcanum Apex Cognitum?'

[Those artifacts are in a different league. They have separate souls like living beings and can also create domains in the outside world. If you even meet one, run for your life. Anyway, the darkroom inside is similar to the memory library. In that case, you can create materials based on your imagination and let others' consciousness enter under certain conditions. You will have specific control over others' consciousness in that domain thanks to the artifact's approval.]

'Oh? Can I erase their consciousness?' Raven asked.

[You can. But I advise you not to do anything reckless like that. If a person reaches Rank-4, they can enter one's Sea of Consciousness and even create multiple clone consciousnesses. And that Jovie you met yesterday can already achieve that stage.]

'So even if I erase their consciousness, it will be their clone consciousness only, huh?'

Raven furrowed and decided to ask the next question.

'Then what do those symbols engraved on the two chairs represent? Why do two chairs glow in golden color? Are they related to the twelve arcane fragments? Does that mean the first seal is unlocked because of those two chairs?'

[Those chairs must have some link to the real arcane fragments in the outside world. That's how the compass also pinpoints the nearest arcane fragment's location.]

'Does that mean I can communicate with the other arcane fragments through these chairs?' Raven questioned.

[I don't think that's easy. But it's better to check it out. Try linking your mind with those two chairs and see if they react. Before that, try your best to hide your consciousness form. If those chairs are capable of summoning consciousnesses from outside, it's best not to get your current identity exposed. You can use the space's power to change your face, body shape, or voice.] Zera warned him.

Raven nodded solemnly and entered the Ruler's Throne room again.

'Should I reveal myself as Raven?' He pondered.

A second later, his face changed and became Raven's original look.

'Now, shall I look at what those two chairs are hiding?' Raven linked his mind with the two chairs and instantly realized he could summon the consciousnesses linked to the chairs. 

…

Noble's Lane, Darkcross Town, Baron Alexander's Territory, Zenith Empire

At that moment, a blonde-haired woman in her late thirties was in the middle of correcting test papers in her study room.

A tiny illusionary mouse lay on her left shoulder, half asleep.

Suddenly, the mouse jerked up and stood up with two legs in shock.

"Eli! Get ready-" Before the mouse could warn the woman, a mysterious force appeared out of nowhere and pulled the woman's and the mouse's consciousnesses somewhere.

…

Ancaria City, Unknown Continent, Eclipse World.

A young boy, around 10 years old, sat in a shabby wooden house and was cooking using dry wood. He had shabby brown hair and greenish eyes, and strange tumors appeared on his nose, cheeks, and forehead.

At that moment, he stirred the pot filled with eerie blackish liquid and quietly took three eyeballs from the nearby plate before dropping them into the pot. He then used a wooden ladle to stir the liquid and added ingredients like finger bones, strange blackish flesh, and dried fruits.

Suddenly, a strange snake tattoo on his left hand shone in golden light and startled him. A moment later, a darkness invaded his mind before he could understand what was happening, pulling his consciousness away.

…

Ruler's Throne Room.

Raven slowly saw two people suddenly materialize in the illusionary form right next to the chairs and was deeply startled.

One was a familiar blonde-haired woman in her late thirties, while the other was a brown-haired young boy.

'Teacher Elizabeth? How did she come here?' His gaze slowly shifted to the illusionary mouse on her shoulder.

'That mouse is one of the twelve Arcane Fragments of Merlin? Now that I think about it, her name itself is Elizabeth Octavia Merlino, right? Could it be she is a descendant of Merlin?' A thought crossed his mind.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth looked around in panic and looked up ahead at the iron throne.

"Raven?!" She asked in a shocked tone.

"You are the Throne's Master?" Even the mouse Whis was startled deeply and asked.

Raven nodded at Elizabeth and turned his gaze toward the brown-haired young boy.

The strange tumors on his face and hands made him look a bit ugly, while his creepy red teeth even gave Raven goosebumps.

At that moment, he stared blankly at the surroundings with opened mouth and looked shocked.

But Raven frowned deeply because of the strange electrical snake coiled around his neck and looking in his direction.

"Long time no see, Levinthar!" The mouse stood on its two legs and waved its tiny limbs at the strange electric serpent on the young boy's neck.

Meanwhile, the snake named Levinthar slowly turned its head towards the mouse and tilted its head.

"Have we met before? Wait, how can I understand your language?"

A strange silence appeared in the throne hall.

"You lost your memories, too?"

"Ahem!" Raven cleared his throat first and decided to ask the necessary questions first.

"Whis, can you tell me more about this Throne Room?"