CHAPTER 281: ANCIENT

"Sis... are you aware of what you’re saying?" Mirela blurted, finally grasping the gravity, which is far from a bad joke.

Liora began speaking, her expression thoughtful. "I was already suspicious when he first revealed his bloodline talent. I didn’t dwell on it much, since he looked so much like us, but when he awakened the second bloodline talent, I became certain—he isn’t actually a Velari."

She took a deep breath before continuing. "First of all, the idea that Velari are one of the Elder Races doesn’t hold up. I’ve lived for hundreds of years and studied our history extensively, including both written and oral records, relics, and archives. There is no concrete evidence tying our bloodline directly to the gods."

Since Adyr awakened his first bloodline talent, Liora had meticulously examined the records and heirlooms of their ancestors, even consulting with King Vale Von Velaris to trace the origins of their people. The more she researched, the more certain she became: the Velari were far younger than many assumed, one of the youngest races in the Outer Region, and their lineage could not be traced back to gods.

"So what is he, then? I don’t know any other race that resembles us this closely," Mirela said, her face hardening as she processed her sister’s words, trusting the seriousness in Liora’s tone.

Seeing the rising tension, Liora allowed herself a small, almost easing chuckle. "Don’t be too alarmed. Even though I feel he’s hiding his origins, it doesn’t mean our Velari are completely disconnected from him. During my research into our ancestors, I found some interesting parchments mentioning a race we might have branched from through crossbreeding."

She paused, returning to a serious tone. "If I’m correct, he is likely a pure-blood of that race, while we Velari are the descendants, evolved and separated from the main branch over the years."

Lucen listened calmly, while Mirela and Malrik were left stunned, processing the revelation. They knew the world held countless races, including mixed-lineage subraces, and that their own origins were linked to an older race. But hearing it so clearly, from someone who had researched for centuries, was striking.

The mention of an ancient, unseen race made the matter even more mysterious.

"We don’t know where he actually comes from, or if others from his race still exist, but since we’ve never encountered anyone like him before, it’s likely one of the oldest Elder Races—possibly extinct long ago, or diluted through crossbreeding, leaving only some pure-blooded individuals like him," Lucen said.

There was no doubt in their minds that Adyr descended from an Elder Race as a pure-blood; his two bloodline talents were proof enough.

"A lost race, huh?" Mirela murmured, sinking, legs drawn up as she pondered the revelation.

The truth didn’t change much—though distant, the Velari were still related to Adyr’s race in their theory. Even if they weren’t the same, the connection was undeniable.

"It must be a race considered ancient even among the Elder Races, isn’t it?" Malrik said, his expression easing as he accepted the truth. "That explains why he’s so talented, growing at an impossible rate. I feel slightly better now."

Having been the first to meet Adyr when he was only a newly awakened Rank 1 practitioner, Malrik understood the disparity in talent all too clearly. Accepting that such a strong cause underpinned Adyr’s rapid rise offered him a small measure of comfort—at least he could rationalize it as a kind of ’cheat.’

"Now we have even more reason to make him reproduce and bring back the pureblood race," Mirela’s thoughts wandered, her colorful eyes gleaming again as various plans began to form in her mind.

In a world where power ruled and bloodline dictated potential, the idea of restoring the Velari’s original branch, long ago stripped of its true bloodline, made perfect sense.

"Being a pureblood, his genes should be dominant, right? What if we had a child—would they inherit from him? Maybe even awaken their own bloodline talents?" She lifted her head, her excitement barely contained. Years of solitude had left her hyped at the mere thought of offspring with such limitless potential.

"Are you sure he would choose you to breed? If I were him, I would choose Lady Liora—she has stronger potential than you," Lucen said, inspecting the smooth surface of his sword in the monochrome sunlight, checking for areas left unpolished, his expression calm and detached.

"Lucen, just say it straight if you want to die," Mirela snapped, her fist raised and teeth clenched, clearly irritated.

Lucen ignored her and turned his gaze to Liora. "No offense, Lady Liora," he added, his voice carrying a faintly apologetic tone.

Liora only chuckled and continued. "Anyway, don’t let him overhear this conversation. As I said before, there must be something important compelling him to hide his origins—or perhaps he doesn’t even know himself. Whatever it is, the truth will emerge when the time comes. Right now, all we need to know is that he is one of us, and everything he has done for us and the Velari race alone is enough to make him belong to us."

Being of the Astra Path and naturally good-hearted, as were Velari, Liora, and the others, accepted the truth without probing further.

If anything, they never suspected that Adyr would bring them harm; considering his past actions, it was clear he would bring them only a better future and fortune.

They nodded quietly, each silently acknowledging her words and aligning their thoughts with hers.

"He is coming," Liora said, turning her gaze to the dark sky as massive white wings rapidly approached, the distant roar of a Sonic Burst

echoing through the heavens.

Soon, Adyr caught up to the still fast-moving Collossith, flapping his wings to land gracefully on its large head beside the others.

"I finally caught you," he laughed. Collossith, though not so fast, still required Adyr to regularly use his Spark skill to keep pace. Fortunately, Burst Hop consumed minimal energy, leaving his crystal reserves mostly unaffected.

"Brother, come, come. Sit. We still have a long way ahead—rest a little," Malrik said, standing to greet him and placing a friendly hand on his shoulder.

There is something different about him. Adyr, observing quickly, noted subtle changes in Malrik’s movements, tone, and expression.

Looking at the others, aided by his Gaze bloodline talent, he detected minor shifts in their attitudes toward him as well—even Lucen, the hardest to read, was not exempt.

They seem tenser around me than before, as if struggling to mask their feelings, unwilling to let me sense any discomfort.

Did they finally realize I’m not a Velari at all? Adyr silently concluded; such a behavioral shift could have no other explanation.

In fact, he had suspected their growing awareness ever since showing them his Grace ability. He had noticed subtle reactions from Lucen and Liora, hints that they were beginning to see through him.

Now, clearly, a detailed conversation had occurred in his absence, leading them to the truth, which, by all appearances, they had accepted without issue.

Aren’t they just too naive? He thought, quietly amused, reflecting on how warm-hearted and innocent the Astra Path Velari remained, even in the face of such revelations.