Chronicles Of The Shadow Sovereign

If a student can pass the trail of "the shattered veil" in just one minute, it means they will likely ascend to Order 1 Echo in future through other gates.

Similarly, if a boy takes two minutes to complete the trail, he is expected to reach Order 2 Echo in the future. This pattern continues, with seven minutes representing the ascend to Order 7 Echo.

This conclusion wasn't reached overnight. Scholars, after centuries of observation and analysis, have determined this correlation. While there may be slight variations in individual cases, the majority adhere to this established pattern.

All eyes turned to Dorian, waiting to see if he would agree to the bet. Frustration and anger were evident on his face as he glanced at the elderly men standing behind him.

His gaze settled on the family butler, a man with streaks of white and black hair mixed on his head and a dignified presence. The butler, already observing Dorian, gave a subtle nod and declared, "Young Master Dorian has agreed to the terms. He will also pay the 2,000 Solari if he fails to awaken an Order 5 talent."

Among nobles, rivalry is a tradition passed down through generations. Dorian, Lysander, and Garret were no exception.

From infancy, they were taught to seize every opportunity to outmaneuver and weaken their adversaries. This bet was just another move in their endless game of power and prestige.

The seven ancient gates stood tall before the black castle, their presence a testament to time itself. They had existed since the beginning, unchanging and eternal.

Levi stood in front of them, waiting for their inevitable opening.

The shadows of the other Sovereigns had long since vanished, leaving only him and the Archangel in silent anticipation.

Then, without warning, seven brilliant stars ignited in the night sky.

A single star emerged at their center, forming a perfect eye, an unblinking gaze that peered into the depths of the Dream Realm.

Levi's smile widened. Turning to the Archangel, he spoke with a strange mix of reverence and amusement.

"Honorable being, I don't even know what to call you… but I have a request."

Across the other side of the Dream Realm, the same scene unfolded—a constellation in the shape of an eye, its gaze piercing through the veil of reality.

Dorian froze as his eyes locked onto the celestial omen. A single word escaped his lips.

"Impossible…"

Without another thought, he turned and strode away, his mind racing, his steps driven by instinct alone.

Elrya was absorbed in her writing, too preoccupied to notice the celestial shift right away. But after some time, she glanced up, not by conscious will, but as if something deep within her had urged her to look.

A flicker of hope stirred inside her, even if the odds were one in a million. Could the letter's words truly be real?

The moment her eyes met the sky, the pen slipped from her fingers.

A constellation in the shape of an eye shone above, exactly as foretold in the letter she had received from the Verythas family. Who had sent it? She didn't know.

But who could have predicted this?

She recalled the final request written within the letter:

If you see the constellation, go to the Dream Realm. Alone.

And then, the words echoed in her mind once more:

"Elrya Moretheine, this world has given you nothing but pain and suffering.

"Remember my words, without pain, metal remains metal. It will never become a blade, never be shaped into something precious or powerful. The suffering you've endured has forged you into a gemstone."

Elrya clenched her teeth, fury rising within her.

"I will return this pain twofold to those who gave it to me," she vowed.

Without hesitation, she turned and began her journey toward the Dream Realm. She knew that only someone extraordinary could predict a celestial phenomenon like this. Taking the risk was the only option.

For a brief moment, she faltered, her steps slowing. Thoughts of her little sister gripped her mind. What will happen to her if I disappear into the Dream Realm?

But still, she walked forward.

Because she knew the truth—only a Sovereign could have foreseen the appearance of this constellation. And that meant the path ahead, no matter how dangerous, could lead to something far greater than she had ever imagined.

When Elrya and Dorian vanished into the Dream Realm, Dorian had been idly entertaining himself, watching the students undergo their trials.

Then, without warning, a black halo materialized around him—and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared.

Only one person noticed.

Kael.

His gaze sharpened as he observed the phenomenon, but he remained silent. Then, following Levi's silent instructions, he gestured toward a boy.

In an instant, two figures emerged taking forms of Elrya and Dorian, appearing as if summoned by unseen forces.

Kael's smile widened.

"Who would have thought… a new Sovereign, born within the veyrathis family?"

A chuckle escaped him, laced with both amusement and intrigue.

"They scour the world for threats, yet the greatest danger has been in their own house all along."

His expression darkened, eyes glinting with something dangerous.

"Perhaps… our chance for revenge has finally come."

Levi had expected the constellation's appearance.

In the Dream Realm, it was an unchanging event, no matter the life, no matter the era, the stars aligned at the same time. And each time, he ascended to Sovereign.

Now, he stood before the Seven Gates of Life, each one representing a different domain of the Dream Realm.

Then, without warning, three figures materialized before him.

Dorian. Erya. Anderson.

Their eyes flickered with confusion, fear lingering as they realized they had been separated from their respective groups and brought here by an unknown force.

Anderson was the first to react. His gaze landed on Levi, and his face paled.

"Young Master… what's happening?" he asked anxiously. "I was at the Temple of Erytheia, watching the trials, how did I end up here?"

Levi, unfazed, turned slightly and bowed his head to the Archmage.

"Thank you for bringing them here," he said.

Then, his expression darkened slightly as he added, "I have one more request—remove the memories of a certain person—"

Before he could finish, a voice interrupted.

"So, one of your companions refused to heed your letter?"

There was an amused pause before the voice continued, "Very well. It is his choice. I will erase only the memory of you sending it the letter to him."

The three blinked, exchanging glances. They had no idea whom Levi had been talking about. The presence speaking to them remained unseen, unknowable.

Then, Erya stepped forward. Unlike the others, there was no fear in her eyes.

"Was it you who sent the letter?" she asked, her voice steady.

Levi met her gaze, his expression unreadable.

"Yes."

"Why?" she demanded.

Dorian and Anderson were silent, but they, too, awaited the answer.

Levi's response was cold, devoid of emotion.

"To make you my Archons."

A heavy silence followed.

Those who knew of the Archons understood the weight of those words.

Archons were not mere warriors. They were domain keepers of the Dream Realm, beings far superior to Echoes, standing directly beneath the Sovereign himself.