Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3644

Chapter 3644: Death Rites (Part 1)

"I wasn't lying when I said I wanted the Fire Dragons to carry the torch Pharek dropped." Lith looked her in the eyes. "The bloodline of the apprentice to whom Ripha entrusted the Ears is broken.

"All of Pharek's techniques and secrets are lost forever. If the Fire Dragons have to learn how to use the Ears from scratch, it will be decades before they can even come close to tapping into its true potential.

"I have no intention of sharing Ripha's lessons with them, but we owe the Fire Dragons that much. We owe it to Valtak."

"Is it me, or are we missing context here, Nyka?" Kalla asked.

"It's not you, Mom. I'm completely lost, too."

Solus pondered the issue for a while before answering.

"I'm not fully convinced, but I agree with most of your reasoning." She paced around the room. "This is not only about us or Kalla, it's also about keeping Mom's legacy alive. Mom?"

"Yes, darling?" Ripha tilted her head in confusion.

"We can't make our decision without consulting you first." Lith replied. "As Solus said, it's your legacy, Ripha. We have no need to guess what you would do in our shoes. We can just ask you."

"Thank you, I mean-" Menadion was taken aback, needing a few seconds to recover from the surprise. "I'm not going to lie, I'm jealous of my secrets. Yet I taught everything I knew to my disciples and gave them the pieces of the Set because I wanted Forgemastery to keep thriving after I passed away.

"To give Epphy- Solus the competition she needed not to sit on her laurels or become complacent once she got my tower. Solus is not Epphy anymore, but I believe you guys need competition.

"Even better, you can use this to get access to the Ears and justify any major breakthrough in your Forgemastering techniques. After all, with such an artifact and my 'help', the sky is the limit to your abilities.

"I agree with Lith. You should share the secret of the Garden with the Fire Dragons."

"Wait, so I get to share the Ears with you too?" Kalla frowned. "One third of the time instead of half?"

"No." Lith shook his head. "Only from time to time and only to keep up appearances."

"Good to hear," Kalla sighed in relief. "Mind sharing the Mogar's Garden part with me as well?"

"Sure." Solus explained everything to Kalla and Nyka via a mind link.

"Good gods!" The Wight trembled in horror. "Are you telling me I have to waste my time in a park just to learn how to use the Ears?"

"You are free not to do it." Lith shrugged. "Yet it will take you much longer to master the Ears and progress with your research."

"Fine." Kalla grumbled. "Does it count as rest, dear?"

"Only if you spend the time in the Garden with me and Nok, Mom." Nyka replied. "If you practice the Ears, it is still work."

"But it's boring! Like using Accumulation." Kalla whined.

"It's still work." Nyka's answer brooked no discussion, and the Wight gave up arguing.

"Do you mind if I conduct the negotiations?" Lith asked. "I already have Erghak's rune."

"Not at all." The young vampire chuckled. "You are doing me a favor. I doubt that poor Dragon's nerves have yet to recover from his last conversation with Mom."

In the blink of an eye, the Fire Dragon was all smiles again.

"Thank you, little brother." Erghak said. "This more than makes my bargain with the Wight fair. It tips things in my favor, actually."

The Fire Dragon took a brief pause before asking:

"Not to doubt your goodwill, but why am I only hearing about this now? You could have added it to the rewards and increased the number of your allies against the World Tree.

"We would have lost far fewer siblings and maybe Valtak would still be alive." Erghak didn't sound diffident or angry, just sad.

"Because I just learned about it." Lith looked just as sad. "Ripha had never visited a Garden of Mogar until a few days ago. She recognized the value of the Garden when she accompanied my family for a picnic.

"Without her, I would have no idea of the treasure I was sitting upon…"

"And you called the First Ruler of the Flames back from the dead only after saving Solus. I see." Erghak completed the sentence for Lith. "Since we are already talking about this, would Master Menadion be willing to teach us?"

"Don't push it, punk." Ripha stepped forward, joining the call. "I have one descendant alive, and my legacy is for her."

"It was worth a shot." Erghak bowed politely. "Still, I feel like I keep taking from you and giving nothing in return. Is there anything I can do for you, little brother?"

"You could lend me the Ears from time to time." Lith proposed. "With its aid and Ripha's guidance, I could craft amazing pieces."

"I would have done that anyway." Erghak shook his head. "The Ears belonged to you, and without Master Menadion's help, we would have all died in the Fringe. I owe you that much."