Having finally pieced together the rudimentary dynamics of his newly awakened Tier 10 power, Jai felt a profound, almost dizzying clarity. The immediate next step was obvious: clarify the script's murky lore. He found himself standing before Beatrice's private chamber, a door of dark, lacquered wood that seemed to absorb all sound.
He raised a fist, knocking twice—a soft, respectful rhythm. "May I come in, Miss Beatrice?"
A crisp, immediate response cut through the silence. "Yes, you may come in."
Jai opened the door and entered. The room was not ostentatious, but practical—a large desk covered in ancient scrolls, a heavy bookcase, and a single chair where Beatrice sat it in the top of the small stair case, her posture as straight and unyielding as a drawn sword. Jai moved directly before her and executed a deep, respectful bow.
"What is it you require?" she asked, her voice low and edged with a familiar, barely contained power.
"I want to ask you some questions about this script," Jai stated simply, holding up the mental image of the lore he had been studying.
She interrupted before he could continue. "And what questions could you possibly have that warrant this visit?"
Jai met her gaze. "Do you know how this particular power truly works? I have many doubts, and I wish to clarify them with you. Specifically, do you know the history of this power? Did anyone awaken this particular ability before your era or your parents'?"
A flicker of genuine curiosity crossed her face.
"I only know her powers and how they function, but I am utterly ignorant of the deeper dynamics and the true ceiling of this power," she admitted. Her gaze grew distant, filled with memory. "The only one recorded to have mastered this power was the Emperor Dominatrix herself. No one since has possessed the power, or the sheer, terrifying will, to awaken it. And let me be clear, this power is not a birthright tied to your bloodline. Anyone whose spirit and body align perfectly with the Emperor's will can achieve it. I simply don't know much more about its specifics."
Beatrice suddenly shifted, leaning forward. "Come here, child. I must tell you something."
She uttered the single syllable—the Whisper spell—and a thin, shimmering border of spiritual energy briefly encapsulated them. Jai stepped closer, standing right at the lip of the Tier 2 spiritual pressure that pulsed invisibly around her. It was heavy, stable, and commanding—a sudden, clear understanding dawned on him: This is the wellspring of the family's deference. This Tier 2 pressure is her true strength.
Beatrice reached out, her cool, aged hand closing firmly around Jai's. "The thing is, your grandfather, Smith Chenwongo, was my own brother. I never liked him," she confessed, her voice now a low, pained monotone. "He constantly made my parents and me worry. He sought endless conflict, fighting the people of other kingdoms, driven by jealousy because he never achieved the power he desperately craved. He chose the wrong path. When he grew mad enough to attempt to execute our entire kingdom, I stopped him. I killed him."
She squeezed his hand, her eyes searching his for judgment. "Even though your parents are his children, I see them as my own. I see you as family. Don't carry the weight of your grandfather's ambition. I still feel the guilt of that day. I am just a warrior who stood in the gap to protect my people. Please understand this and don't harbor any anger."
Jai's heart felt heavy, but his mind was clear. "Miss Beatrice, you don't have to worry about that. My mother and father always spoke of you with reverence, like a mother figure, even if they sometimes feared your formidable presence. Rest assured."
He paused, then asked the question that had truly driven him here. "Do you know who 'Yaowang Ming' is?"
The color drained instantly from Beatrice's face. She recoiled, a cold sweat breaking out on her brow, the visible sign of Tier 2 spiritual pressure momentarily wavering.
"Why... how do you know that name?" she choked out, her voice barely a whisper.
"I saw him in my dream," Jai explained. "There were unfamiliar faces surrounding him."
With visible effort, Beatrice regained her composure. "I only know he was the strongest figure of his era. He ascended to Tier 1, almost touching Tier 0. He allied with the Dragons and intended to wipe the entire planet clean. He wanted to be the King of Aethelon."
"How was he defeated?" Jai pressed, recalling the violent dream. "I remember seeing a woman in a black dress finish him."
Beatrice nodded slowly. "I believe that was the Emperor Dominatrix. She and several other Kings and Queens combined their forces against him. The Dragons betrayed him during the final confrontation. Yet, he fought the entire world single-handedly and killed approximately nine hundred million people before he grew exhausted. That was when the Emperor and the combined royal forces struck him down."
"The Emperor ensured his memory was erased, but I found some scripts from my grandmother detailing his existence."
"Why tell me now?" Jai asked.
"Because you awoke her power. You have the right to know about the greatest threat she ever faced," Beatrice said, her voice firm once more. "But understand this is merely script and history. I know nothing more. You must practice relentlessly. The power is a gift, but it does not make you strong. You have to earn that strength in battle."
"Yes, Miss Beatrice. I will become someone whose family name—Chenwongo—is spread across the entire world for the right reasons."
As Jai turned to leave, she offered a soft parting sentiment. "Thank you again for speaking to my daughter with kindness. She thinks of you as a son . Please see her that way after all this."
"Yes, ma'am." Jai bowed again and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
If I am to become the strongest, I have to explore this world, he thought, striding down the hall. My journey must begin now.
He considered the vast map of Aethelon and immediately settled on a destination: the Dwarf Kingdom of KHAZADCOHER. The name itself sounded like a challenge—a place of stone and forgotten might.
The world of Aethelon will soon know the Chenwongo name because of me, Jai vowed internally. This is my new beginning.
That evening at dinner, he announced his intentions to the family. To his surprise, everyone accepted his decision with nods of solemn encouragement. Then, his cousin James spoke up, setting down his cutlery.
"I want to explore the same kingdom, Jai. If you'll have me?"
Beatrice, who had been watching them both, smiled faintly. "Excellent. You two shall go together." She produced two identical silver bracelets, each containing a small, vividly glowing red stone. She handed one to Jai and one to James.
"If you are ever in inescapable trouble, just press this red stone. Our guards, or one of our family members, will come to your immediate rescue."
James strapped the bracelet on with a cheerful grin. "I hope you don't need to think of me, Jai, but I can't guarantee you won't need that thing."
Beatrice simply motioned them to start. "Begin your journey tomorrow morning."
The next day, two young men set out on the open road. The world of Aethelon waited, ready to judge whether this journey would forge a great warrior, or simply unleash a bad disaster.