Riner shrugged and remarked, “We should make a move and try something. He won’t open the doors if we just sit here.”


    Richard chuckled at Riner’s statement. After spending some time together and sharing their thoughts, they had a rough understanding of the kings’ personalities. Fire King Riner was all about action, not much for borate nning. He wasn’t the best for discussing intricate scenarios; he preferred a direct approach.


    However, in this instance, there wasn’t much room to argue with Riner’s perspective.


    “You’re right. Let’s take some action,” Richard agreed.


    “It’s probably wiser for us to act together rather than individually. We might have to learn through trial and error,” Kasser suggested.


    The other kings nodded in agreement with Kasser’s proposal. So, Richard and Nichs stayed put while the four kings ventured beyond the buffer zone after dusk. With the dry season upon them, there was a higher chance of seeds sprouting at night than during the day.


    After they had ventured a certain distance from the castle, Riner piped up, “The seeds will sprout here.”


    They found themselves halfway between the kingdom’s borders and the buffer zone encircling the Holy City.


    “Shouldn’t we go a bit further?” Kasser inquired. Riner shook his head.“They’ll sprout right here,” he insisted.


    “How can you be so sure?” Richard queried.


    “Because I’ve tested it,” Riner replied matter-of-factly.


    The three kings fell into a thoughtful silence. Riner had already discerned the boundary where the seeds wouldn’t sprout around the Holy City. Essentially, even in the buffer zone, nobody would dare attempt such a reckless act in close proximity to the Holy City.


    ***


    After summoningrks using forbidden sorcery, the ancient tribe splintered into three distinct factions. Interactions between these factions ceased, and intra-tribal marriages became a strict rule.


    The sorcery that controlled therks was crafted by the faction known as Death and Resurrection, during a time when the tribes had no contact with each other. However, the sorcerer who created the spell used their own blood as a conduit. Consequently, only those who were descendants of that sorcerer could wield the sorcery.


    Yet, with the disappearance of the Death and Resurrection faction, the sorcery became effectively obsolete.


    “There’s this rare sorcery that imposes restrictions on the sorcerers themselves. I stumbled upon it in the library long ago, but I couldn’t activate it because I didn’t meet the criteria,” Alber confessed with a nervousugh.


    “Anika meets the criteria… Yes. Since it’s not documented, Mara must have deduced it,” Eugene mused.


    “I suspect the wanderers might have informed him,” Eugene added, suggesting Mara had assistance from beings simr to Alber, though indirectly. He also brought up the wanderers’ circumstances, perhaps to offer some justification.


    Alber furrowed her brow, initially listening in silence before sighing resignedly. She felt it wasn’t her ce to intervene in the wanderers’ decisions, especially concerning such a delicate matter.


    Eugene cautiously nced at Alber before continuing, “I shared a piece of the magic with the wanderers… It seemed like a fragment of forbidden sorcery, the same kind the ancient tribe divided among themselves.”


    “What did you say?” Alber’s expression turned sharply serious, causing Eugene to unconsciously swallow dryly. The disappearance of Alber’spassionate smile sent a chill down her spine, even though it was all just a figment of her dream.


    “I didn’t give them the entire magic. I left out some parts,” Eugene exined, detailing the process of discovering the technique. “Since it was found within the Arse lineage’s heirloom, it suggests a close connection between the ancestors of the Arse lineage and the ancient tribe, doesn’t it?”


    Alber nodded thoughtfully. “The Death and Resurrection faction was led by a priestess unlike the others, possessing extraordinary abilities. Though the specifics remain unknown, if she passed down the forbidden sorcery, her descendants may be eligible.”


    Eugene recalled Dana’s ability to perceive people’s energy with her eyes.


    “It’s a shame,” Albermented. “I would have liked to witness that technique.”


    “I remember,” Kasser said, surprising Alber.


    “I didn’t know when I’d meet you, but if I did, I wanted to share it with you. So, I diligently memorized it.”


    Eugene murmured, “How should I write this down?”


    Alber smiled with pride, admiring her capable and intelligent descendant. “It’s your dream. Write as you see fit.”


    Following Alber’s advice, Eugene thought, <i>I wish I had writing tools</i>. Suddenly, paper and pen materialized on the table, eliciting a gasp from her. Quickly seizing the pen, she sketched the ritual meal on the nk paper. Ironically, she had been mentally rehearsing this ritual while reclining on the couch, soothing her unborn child’s tantrums. Thanks to this, she filled the paper without hesitation.


    “It’splete,” she announced.


    Alber epted the paper Eugene handed her and skimmed its contents. She then closed her eyes, nodded approvingly, and reopened them. “I’ll need to contemte thister. Thank you, Jin. It’s truly a treasure.”


    “Um… Did you memorize everything?” Eugene asked, astonished.


    Alber smiled at her descendant’s reaction. “After all my years of practicing sorcery, let’s return to the topic of Mara’s sorcery. To activate it, a qualified sorcerer is needed, but you’re unable to use it.”


    “Why not?” Eugene inquired.