Legacy of the Dark Sage

If Nolan did not even recognize his own nephew, it was either because he had not met him before, or it had been a while since he saw him. After all, Nolan had a bad habit of forgetting people's faces. Even those people he knew, unless they did not change much or left a big impression on them, would soon be forgotten

When Kyran said someone 'trapped' him before 'suggesting' to talk, Cade was already convinced that someone was Nolan. The main reason was his familiarity with the latter's character.

Nolan did not care about other people. But if he met someone whom he found interesting or was related to someone he knew, he would give that person a chance to talk. Of course, Nolan would make sure he had control over that person's movement if he did suggest to talk. That was just his character. Once he deemed that person as 'safe,' he would not entirely lower his guard but he would at least stop threatening him.

As for Cade, regardless of the person's identity, he would not lower his guard. He would even appear unguarded but his imposing aura was enough to let any person he was talking to hesitate to make a move.

Kyran, on the other hand, after Cade guessed his identity, realized something.

It seemed like his father's essence had no idea of what had happened to his original self. He was different from Olivia's essence who seemed to be in touch constantly with her original self.

It was a little disappointing to Kyran. Truth be told, he was hoping his father's essence still had contact with his original self. If he did, maybe he could speak or leave a message to his father about his plans.

There was also another thing that bothered him. It was the fact that his father's essence did not look 'bothered' that Rin had a son. Not to mention, he did not consider he was her husband and that Kyran was his son.

"What's your story? How come Nolan did not know who you are?" Cade finally asked after a few seconds of silence.

True Void instantly buckled at Cade's questions. Without waiting for Kyran to answer he shouted, "What's the point of knowing the answer to your questions?"

Kyran's eyes widened and he lifted his left arm to look at True Void, "Oi!"

Cade raised his brows as he looked at Kyran and then the bracer.

"It seems that is not a simple equipment you have there," he commented.

An illusory vein snapped at True Void's forehead after being regarded as a piece of equipment. Earlier it was an item, then an automaton, now equipment? What's next?

"I'm not an equipment!" True Void burst as he disengaged what was remaining of the shape-shifting plates and turned into a miniature armor. Because of the destroyed plates, the armor was smaller than the previous one. Before he was at least two feet tall, now he was half a foot smaller.

Kyran sighed in his heart. True Void had been scared out of his wits earlier, but now he seemed to have forgotten his fear and took the initiative to show himself.

Cade chuckled, "Alright. Who are you then?"

"I am True Void—mphf!"

Kyran instinctively grabbed True Void and covered his mouth before he could answer.

But.

"What are you doing Void Halfling?" True Void glared at Kyran.

Black lines appeared on Kyran's head as he belated realized that True Void was not exactly talking with his mouth and it was useless to cover it.

"You're the one who said 'do not slip too much'!" Kyran hissed back.

"That was Loar! We're talking to your father here—!"

"OI!"

Kyran felt his blood drain from his face.

True Void also realized what he just said and gasped in a very exaggerated way as he turned to look at Cade.

Cade, who had been watching their exchange in silence, gaped at them with a blank expression. He initially did not have a blank expression. It only did after hearing the 'your father here' part of their conversation.

"... Father?" Cade repeated directing the question at Kyran.

Seeing Kyran avoid his eyes as well as his hesitation, Cade's expression turned colder.

Silence ensued inside.

A palpable awkwardness lingered between them that True Void even in his spirit form could not help but feel suffocated.

[Sorry, Void Halfling. I... slipped... ehehe.]

Kyran wanted to strangle True Void but since it would not change the fact that Cade already heard their conversation, he could only sigh.

After what seemed like a very long time, Cade finally spoke.

"Remove your mask."

Kyran and True Void could not help but flinch at the coldness in Cade's voice.

The coldness in his voice was not because he was angry. Kyran was sure of that. It was more with him masking his emotions. The voice Cade was using now was very much the same his father had used on him during their spars. That in itself, caused Kyran to shiver. It meant, his father was very serious now.

Nevertheless, Kyran was surprised that Cade was more interested by his identity than how True Void called him 'Void Halfling. It was as if he already knew it. Then again, his parents had kept a lot of things from them.

Could it be that even before Kyran was born, they already had an idea of what he had to go through?

Kyran reluctantly removed his mask with a slight wave of his hand. The shape-shifting plates disengaged, flying toward True Void, and merged with the rest of the plates. However, even after removing his mask, Kyran refrained from looking at Cade. He might only be an essence, but that did not matter. 'Cade'  was still part of his father.

The moment Cade looked at Kyran's face, his expression remained indifferent. However, inwardly, his heart had begun to pound heavily in his chest. Not to mention, the looming dread he felt earlier, had become evident.

'No wonder he kept a mask. If I had seen his face, I would've recognized him,' Cade thought as he sighed in his heart.

Kyran's resemblance to Cade was impossible to miss. Right now, if others could see them, they would probably mistake them as twins.

Okay, that was pushing it, Kyran looked younger, people mistaking them as brothers would do.

Cade closed his eyes and sorted his thoughts. He was worried about his original self and at the same time, the reason Kyran was here. As far as the memories he had of his original self, if he ended up with Rin, he planned to keep their child within the Regis Estate and find a way to seal the child's magic for good. Clearly, that did not happen. Seeing Kyran's proficiency in using his magic, was proof of that.

After sorting his thoughts, Cade finally started, "About twenty years ago, I lost connection to my original self."

Cade did not start with a question. Instead, he opted to start at this point. After all, if not for this reason, he would not be left in the dark about Kyran.

"Before this day, all I have are conjectures as to why it happened," Cade continued and looked at Kyran. "If I put the pieces of the things I observed at this point from you, I'm guessing something happened that involved Nolan, which also affected my original self."

Kyran looked at Cade incredulously. Would someone really guess something accurately with just a simple observation?

[Uwaah... You're father's thought process is way advance than you.]

True Void commented.

"How did you come up with that?" Kyran could not help but ask.

Cade raised his brows, then an amused smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he explained, "The fact that Nolan did not know who you are says a lot. Nolan is a siscon, did you know?"

Kyran's brow twitched. For some reason, he could not see Nolan being a siscon.

"He will never leave Rin's side for long. Unless it was a situation that staying with her will put her in danger. Nolan was forced to leave. Most likely, he was involved in something that had to do with the Royal Family," Cade explained.

At this point, Kyran could somehow follow Cade's train of thought.

As long as Rin and Nolan stayed with the Regis, no one would dare to touch them. Not even the Three Noble Families or the other three factions. Only the Royal Family would really dare to, after all, they rule the whole Ylfaen Empire.

"How old are you?" Cade suddenly asked Kyran.

Once again, Cade's question caught Kyran off guard. But he answered almost at once, "Eighteen."

Cade's eyes narrowed, "Going nineteen?"

"No. I just turned eighteen."

"I see. That's what happened," Cade replied with a sigh.

"Wait, what?" True Void suddenly said, looking first at Cade then to Kyran, before looking back at Cade. "What did you see? What happened?"

Kyran looked at True Void with a bitter smile.

Apparently, True Void had gotten over his fear now that he decided to reveal himself.

"My original self likely got crippled. At most, a damaged magic core. This will explain why I lost my connection with him," Cade answered, looking at True Void in amusement.

"How did you come up with that after asking Void Halfling's age?" True Void demanded.

'Will you stop calling me Void Halfling?' Kyran could not help but complain.

[No! To me you are Void Halfling.]

True Void replied with a snort.

Cade only smiled at True Void's question, it seemed he had no intention of answering this time.

Kyran understood Cade's reasoning. But decided to keep it to himself. After all, it was personal and had something to do with his parents.

"What? Not going to tell me? That is not nice! Humph!" True Void complained while crossing his arms and huffed loudly. But he did not insist, because he could tell it was a sensitive topic. Anyway, he would know the answer soon. He would pester Kyran when he had the time.

"Do you have the rings?" Cade asked Kyran, changing the subject.

Kyran thought of the jade rings he got from his parents and nodded, "I do. But Nolan took them."

Cade chuckled. "It's for the best."

"How?" Kyran could not help but ask with a slight frown.

"To put it simply, those rings are cheat items, especially inside the tower," Cade replied.

He paused for a moment before diverting the conversation back to the topic, "You coming in this tower to train, is not my original self's idea, right?"

Kyran took a deep breath and nodded slowly, "Yes, you're right. It was Nolan's."

Cade paused again before asking, "What happened to the Regis Clan?"

True Void, who was listening to their conversation in silence was once again put into a frenzied mood.

"For cyring out loud! Why is it that only you two could follow the conversation?" He complained. "Did I fall asleep at some point without knowing and missed some important things?"

Black lines appeared on Kyran's head. He immediately told him telepathically, 'I'll explain it later,' to pacify him.

[You better be!]

True Void replied grumpily.

Cade observed the short interaction between Kyran and True Void. He could tell that they were talking telepathically, but did not bother to interrupt.

"About the clan," Kyran started after a short pause. He finally looked at Cade directly and replied, "I'll try to keep it short."

"That's okay. Tell me all the details," Cade replied.