SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

Sea Ancestral Temple…

Morning sunlight dimly flew over the coral walls of the guest chamber.

Kent sat cross-legged on a mat of sea silk, his body wrapped in a loose robe, his eyes half-closed, meditating in stillness. His aura was restrained, yet undeniably vast.

A knock came at the jade door, light and rhythmic.

“Come in,” Kent spoke.

The door opened, and Princess Nyara entered, clad in the ceremonial robes of a Sea Priestess. Her expression was solemn, and her usually mischievous tone was replaced by a heavy seriousness.

“Kent,” she began, her voice low, “thank you for agreeing to meet me this morning. I won’t delay things any longer. It is time you know the task.”

Kent stood, adjusting his robe slightly.

Nyara walked closer, her footsteps soft, yet filled with a pressure that made the atmosphere dense.

“This task… it’s not a test in the traditional sense. It is a trial, one even most of our Naga elite would refuse. Our ancestors buried a secret beneath the Sea Beast Lair – the final resting place of ancient sea beasts and warrior souls.”

“Is it a forbidden place?” Kent asked, his brows furrowing.

“Indeed. The lair exists beneath layers of compressed soul waters, the deepest part of our ocean floor. That place is haunted by remnants of powerful sea beast spirits and cursed tides. Only a true inheritor with a scaled body and beast commander can enter it and live.”

Kent didn’t flinch. He folded his arms.

“And you believe this is where I must prove myself?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “Our clan’s elders think it is madness. But my father agreed, after my persistence. If you succeed, not only will it convince the clan, but also awaken deeper legacies that may aid our future.”

Kent sat down again, calmer than before. His golden eyes glinted faintly.

“What is the goal once I enter the lair?” Kent asked with a serious look.

“You need to know this before anything. Failure means death… there is no alternative.” she warned with a calm tone, through her eyes betrayed a flicker of concern.

Kent nodded silently. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing for a long time.

“You don’t seem surprised,” Nyara noted, walking slowly around the room with her hands behind her back.

“I’m not,” Kent replied. “You told me this task could change the fate of your clan. I never expected anything simple. Also, if it is simple, you won’t be travelling a million miles for a human.”

Nyara smiled faintly but then turned serious again. “You will enter the Sea Beast Lair. That place is the resting tomb of our ancestral sea beasts. Their souls linger still, guarding the divine soul fragments of our bloodline. You must retrieve a fragment and inherit the memories from it. Only then will the elders accept you as the fated one.”

“And if I can’t retrieve it?” Kent asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Then you will die, devoured by the spirits or torn apart by the black poisonous water that even Naga can’t withstand.”

Silence fell again.

Just then, an abrupt knock echoed at the door. Kent turned his head. Before he could speak, a soft voice came through.

“Kent… it’s me, Sana. May I—”

“Leave,” Kent’s sharp voice cut her off without hesitation.

Nyara blinked, surprised by the sudden harshness in his tone.

Outside, Sana frowned, lips trembling. “When should I—”

The door slammed shut by Kent’s magic seal.

Turning back to Nyara, Kent said in a steely tone, “Continue.”

Nyara raised an eyebrow but said nothing about the incident. Instead, she walked to a glowing conch embedded in the wall and placed her palm on it. An ethereal image of an ancient map projected into the air, showing an abyssal whirlpool.

“The entrance to the Sea Beast Lair lies beyond this abyss near the edge of the Forgotten cave. It’s a place even our royal guards dare not tread. The last person who went in was my uncle. He never returned.”

Kent’s eyes were glued to the projection. He could sense the pulse of danger even through the illusion.

“How long do I have to prepare?”

“Three days,” Nyara said. “Use them well.”

Kent nodded. But before Nyara could leave, Kent took a deep breath and asked…

“One more thing. When can I meet Muni Naga?”

Nyara stopped. Her body stiffened slightly. “Muni Naga?”

Kent reached into his robe and pulled out a small, round token. It was carved with the image of a coiled Naga, its eyes embedded with faintly glowing opals. The token shimmered faintly, pulsing as though recognizing its origin.

“This was given to me by the Ancient Naga old man. He said Muni Naga would help me craft a weapon after seeing this token.”

Nyara stared at the token, and for the first time since she entered, she looked genuinely shaken.

“Where did you get that? That token… it’s older than our current patriarch. Even I’ve only seen a drawing of it in the ancestral hall.”

Kent’s tone was calm, but his eyes were determined. “The ancestor Naga told me that only Muni Naga can craft the weapon I require. And only obey with this token.”

Nyara stared at Kent long and hard, then finally sighed. “I tried to say this before… but I’m afraid of disappointing you. Muni Naga lives in isolation near the molten roots of the Sea Serpent Volcano. He rarely speaks to anyone, not even to the patriarch.”

“But you can take me to him?”

“I can try. He may accept the token… or he may not. He is not bound by anyone’s will.”

Kent nodded. “Then after I return from the Sea Beast Lair, take me to him.”

Nyara stepped closer and gave him a nod of respect. “You continue to surprise me, Kent. I don’t know what kind of fate ties you to us… but I’ll help you walk this path as long as you don’t falter.”

Kent simply replied, “I won’t.”

As Nyara opened the door to leave, the tension in the room faded slightly. But Kent remained where he stood, eyes gazing at the token in his hand.

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Tq “@aaaninja” for SuperCar! Tq so much!