Aegis

The palace training grounds were a vast expanse of lush greenery, neatly trimmed hedges and flower beds, and winding paths that led to different areas designed for physical training.

The area was enclosed by a high stone wall with guard towers stationed at every corner, and the entrance was marked by a towering arch that showcased intricate carvings and intricate decorations. The air was thick with the sounds of swords clashing, grunts of effort, and the occasional yelp of pain.

It was a place of discipline, where warriors of all kinds came to hone their skills, and where the occasional magical explosion could be seen emanating from one of the more advanced students.

Konami stood in the middle of the training grounds, the morning sun casting a warm glow on his stoic face. He held his hand out to Xander, urging him to focus on his breathing.

"Every living being has a core," he said softly. "Tune your breathing to the pulse of your core and let go."

Xander closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the erratic beat of his heart. He focused on the center of his being, feeling the energy within him stir and flow.

With a sudden burst of energy, he released a blast of his anima from his fencing sword, but it dissipated before it could reach its target.

Xander groaned in frustration, "Why can't I do this? I've been training for days. That psychotic General could come knocking down the palace's gates any moment. I have to be ready!"

Konami smiled reassuringly. "It's not an easy task, Xander. But you can do this. Remember how you released your light anima from your hat. Anima is a part of you, treat it like you treat breathing and you will get it. It's the same technique, just with a different focus. Recreate that feeling."

Xander nodded and tried again. He imagined the light anima flowing through his body and out of his sword, recreating the same feeling he experienced when he released his anima from his hat.

This time, the burst of light anima shot out of his sword, hitting the dummy in the center.

Konami clapped his hands in delight. "Well done, Xander! You're getting the hang of it. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to control your anima with ease."

"Haha!" Vladimir slaps the fencer on the back, causing him to fall over.

"Hey, not everything is as sturdy as your rock head!" Xander glared at Vladimir.

"Light anima is versatile and precise, the more you compress it, the stronger it gets. You have a rare attribute, both of you."

"That reminds me Vlad, what's your attribute?" asked Xander

"He doesn't have one" Konami answered in his stead. "I didn't sense it when we fought."

The large man laughed with his arms folded. "That's right, it's very rare to have an anima attribute, you two are lucky."

"Can we go to the tower now?" Konami whined. Whenever he was close to entering the Library, something seems to always stop him.

Having spent the past two days talking tactics with the king, the nightshade guild didn't get any time to visit the library.

Xander wore a determined look as he turns to the other practice dummies. "You two can head over to the library, I want to continue training."

"You sure you're not coming with us? There are a ton of exciting books to see!" The assassin exclaimed, unable to hide his frustration.

"I will be sitting this one out as well, I'm not a fan of books or reading." Vladimir said seating on the floor.

Konami pouts. "Fine," He begins to sink into his shadow, he was going to use his shadow step technique to move fast. Legard's capital was a large city. The tower stood at the center of the capital, with the palace stationed in the southern regions.

Moments later, Konami finds himself staring admiringly at the tower.

The Great Library tower looms tall and proud, stretching towards the sky with its elegant white stones that gleam in the sun.

The stones have been intricately carved with depictions of legendary figures, mythical creatures, and ancient runes, telling the stories of the past in a language of stone. Each level of the tower has large, arched windows that allow the light to pour in and offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

The tower's peak is adorned with a massive statue of a wise scholar holding a book and a quill, as if contemplating the mysteries of the universe.

The entrance is a grand doorway with ornate carvings of winged beasts, framed by a marble archway that leads inside to a vast collection of knowledge and wisdom, waiting to be explored.

"Finally," Konami heaved a sigh of relief as the two guards standing in front of the entrance greeted him.

"Welcome, Konami Kodo, The Arch Mage has been waiting for your arrival." They stepped aside and gestured for the assassin to carry on. Konami nods at them and made his way inside.

As Konami enters the great library, he's struck by its breathtaking beauty. The vast space is filled with towering shelves of books, ancient manuscripts, and magical artifacts. The soft glow of the enchanted lamps illuminates the room, casting an ethereal light that dances across the walls.

Konami can feel the weight of centuries of knowledge and wisdom that this place holds.

An old man carrying a rod approaches him, and Konami quickly notes that the man's pressure was incredible.

He exudes an aura of power and authority that demands respect. "I take it you're the Arch mage," Konami says, bowing his head slightly.

The old man laughs while stroking his long, white beard. "Indeed, I am. And you must be Konami Kodo, you look exactly like your father."

Hearing those words, Konami's hand instinctively manifested his shadow daggers, but the man raises his hands in a calming gesture.

"I don't mean to startle you, young Konami. Please, this is a sanctuary of knowledge and wisdom. We do not allow violence here."

The man leads Konami to his office, a spacious room filled with more books and scrolls than Konami has ever seen in one place.

The walls are adorned with ancient tapestries depicting epic battles and legendary heroes. The Arch mage motions for Konami to sit in one of the plush armchairs by the fireplace, and he takes a seat across from him.

"Your father came here when he was about your age. He met your mother in Legard," the Arch mage says, his voice soft and reverent.

Konami expresses his shock over finding out that his mother was from Legard. "I had no idea. My father never spoke much about his past. Not that we ever got to talk since…" He didn't finish as his expression darkened.

The Arch mage nods understandingly. "Forgive me If I awakened old wounds. You sought to protect this place because of the deal you made with the king, I believe?"

"How did you know that?" Konami asks, surprised.

"I am one of the strongest mages in the world, young Konami. Us mages use anima differently from others. Be rest assured, I bear no hostility towards you. But you should be warned, the path you are about to take is going to change you in many ways than you can imagine. Especially if you plan on using the eyes of the void, or should I say, the eyes of Apophis."

"What do you know about this relic?" Konami asks, intrigued.

"The first wave of relics that came to this world during the Akashic wars contained some of the most powerful relics ever known, the primordial relics, and the one in your possession is one of seven. These relics have the power to alter the course of history."

The Arch mage stands and gestured for Konami to follow him. He takes Konami to the section of the library that contained books on ancient mythologies.

Konami excitedly lunges forward, absorbing as many stories as he possibly can. Having lost track of time, Konami turns to see that the Arch mage was not with him anymore.

"The old world, it's filled with so many mysteries. I want to know more," Konami whispers to himself. "I can't wait to uncover more stories."

Suddenly, Konami hears a commotion from downstairs, and his curiosity gets the best of him. He heads out of the office and sees the Arch mage conversing with a man dressed like a knight.

The knight looks up and spots Konami, and a smile spreads across his face. Konami felt unease at the mere sight of the man.

He can sense that there's something off about him, something menacing. Despite his unease, Konami tries to brush off his instincts and approaches the knight.

"You are not supposed to be here, not without permission, you dare disrespect the sacred laws of the tower?" says the Arch mage, drawing Konami's attention.

The knight chuckles softly. "And you dare house a criminal?" he says, eyeing Konami with interest. Konami feels a sense of discomfort at the knight's piercing gaze.

Konami smirks. "I keep meeting interesting fellows one after the other," he says, masking his uneasiness. "Who the fuck are you supposed to be?"

The knight's smile fades, and his expression turns serious. "Konami Kodo," he says, his voice cold and calculated. "Under the orders of the Head commander of Aegis, you are under arrest."

Konami's heart races at the mention of Aegis. He knows that organization all too well, and he's aware of the kind of power they wield.