Chapter 17: Tracing

Apollo, upon losing consciousness saw Jeremiah's big notification popping in front of his face.

"Wait so I am inside my consciousness?" The boy was about taken aback however he soon looked at the rectangular screen in front of him, and a smile suddenly formed on his face.

[Congratulations Creator you have awakened your hidden bloodline.

Hidden bloodline: Blood of the Summoner

Skills: Enables the mage to form contacts on spirits no matter the level or number. Grants the mage the capacity to make an infinite amount of contracted spirits.

It's the bloodline of your mother, Isabella, Creator congratulations]

"Thank you, Jeremiah"

[It's my pleasure to help you, Creator, now we still have a problem at hand]

Apollo sighs knowing what he is referring to.

"That damn seal"

[I already analyzed the seal and it was an ancient magic, a spell called Signare inimicum. It was a magical seal that could seal all opponents' abilities and skills for a duration of 100 years]

"So how long I have been sealed"

[Analyzing.....]

Apollo waited until he heard a ding sound.

[It is approximately ten years ago Creator]

"What so I got this seal when I was just three years old?"

Anger suddenly crept in making Apollo's galaxy-looking consciousness turn dim and dark.

"So it was in Lionheart duchy" he finally calms down returning his mind to its previous state.

"So it's either a family enemy or.." he stopped for a moment thinking everyone inside the duchy.

"Or one of my siblings"

[It must have been them, they were pretty jealous of the attention to have when you were younger]

"Yes and soon that attention turns into hatred when they saw my falling statistics" he chuckled a bit as he continued "It turns out the reason why it failed was because of this damn seal"

For a moment he thought if no one put this seal on him would he be loved? Will he be accepted? However soon enough he erased such thoughts.

"A love based on you being useful is not something I should think of"

"Jeremiah since it is an ancient spell only a handful of mages could only use it"

[That's true]

"If I am not mistaken the secret library has records of wizards who have mastery over ancient spells, look through it"

[Affirmative Creator]

[I have found fifteen names of mages who were all experts in ancient magic]

Apollo looked at their names and saw a label saying expert in alchemy or expert in black magic. Apollo didn't find it weird since mages known for black magic could also be good at sealing magic. They can't rule out possible candidates based just on the things they were written as good at. Apollo needed more than that so he ordered again.

"Look through the archives and see if they have authored any published book on any ancient sealing magic or anything related to it"

[Searching through archive]

[Search completed!]

The rectangular screen in front of Apollo changes and switches to the book titles and their authors.

"Let's put a mark on the people we find suspicious... there done" The boy felt contented as he saw the fifteen names marked by a star.

"Next Jeremiah show me their addresses if I am not mistaken the Record keeper's book kept the addresses and the family of these mages"

[On it Creator]

"If only I had a record of their past movements it would be easier to guess who made contact with Lionheart Duchy"

As he contemplated his options Jeremiah showed Apollo what he was looking for.

"Hmmm...I see we five here who live near the territory of the duchy" Then he put another star over their names.

[Creator how do we get back to them all these mages are on the same level as a Tower master]

"Jeremiah anyone can be killed you just need to find the proper timing and preparation to be successful"

"However what we need to do is meet them one by one so that I can do my next plan"

[And that is?]

"Tracing"

"The banquet would be a great place I guess since, they should at least show their respect towards the imperial family"

Spells cast have something they all have in common and that is mana signature. The mana of the caster will remain on the spell which is why it was called mana signature. If Apollo can harvest the remaining mana signature on the seal he could somehow trace its caster. There are just two problems Apollo is currently a novice when it comes to tracing and how much signature mana remains. Some spells over time lose their caster's signature especially if the spear is lower level.

"Hopefully I could learn how to do tracing"

He was still in the process of thinking when a voice interrupted him.

~"So should we break it now or wait for the boy to wake up"

Wait this voice isn't this Auntie Maya's voice? Then another came in.

~"I suggest we let him wake up first, knowing the boy he won't like it if we make the decision"

This time it was Silvia's voice curious about the situation Apollo decided to see what was going on. As his consciousness resurfaced he could somehow feel all his senses return, now he could hear their conversation much more clearly. While they talked Apollo heard a sudden warning making him nervous.

[Warning an immense amount of murderous pressure is about to arrive....

Proceed to erect mind barriers..]

As soon as he heard those words an unspeakable amount of killing intent filled the room if Jeremiah hadn't put barriers around him he would have lost his consciousness again.

"What now" he could only think while the killing intent morphed into a fog.

....

Back into the present Apollo entered a villainous chat with Alger. His words were all things Apollo could do to make his enemy suffer. However, Nickolas appears to bring all of Apollo's favourite snacks.

"I knew you would say that that is why I brought this" In Nicholas's hand is a grimoire, it was a thick magical book which shows signs of ageing and how well it was used by its owner.

"Use the contents and trace the caster" With a knowing gaze Nicholas let those words inspire Apollo.

Happily, he accepted the magic journal of the old wizard and said in his mind.

"This is what I need the most... Jeremiah scan now"

[Scanning.....

Data stored...

Updating archive...

Update complete]

Apollo smiled even more as he heard those words.

"Well then I'll leave these all to you and, Alger, we need to return to the Black Tower"

"Wait we do?"

"Yes the mountain of documents needs to be settled dear Head, now let's go" Nicholas bid his farewell as he dragged the reluctant old wizard.

"Man, they sure are funny" Apollo could only say as he looked at the two old mages arguing outside his room.

"Now then Jeremiah have an analysis over the seal while I form a research about Grandpa Nick's grimoire"

As soon as Apollo sorted out his next move he looked at the one direction of the room, it was where Ifrit was standing.

"Young master" the demon spirit said waiting for Apollo to speak.

"Have you reported this to Mother?"

"I haven't Young master since I was waiting for you to recover"

"Now I am better so bring a message to my mother "

"Yes, I will and what message is it?"

"My plan will never change, say that to her, that's all you may go"

The fire demon spirit bowed down before disappearing into sparks of flames.

"Jeremiah give me the status of the seal"

[Status:

Spell name: Signare inimicum

Type: Ancient Black Sealing magic

Duration: 90 years

Current stability: 50%

Affected areas: 75% of the Creator's mana

Body Constitution in an unawakened state

100% of the Creator's Ki

Total Statistics Debuff]

Apollo couldn't help but clench his fist.

"I should have known, the fact that I don't have ki is already a giveaway that something is off with my body"

He was always being told that he was trash thus he thought that he was lacking or a disfigured individual that is why when he found out he didn't have ki, he thought it was natural that he didn't. The boy always thought that he was a defective child which is why if he finds something is wrong with him it will only be natural that he has one.

He soon stood up from his bed then he approached the basket full of his favorites. He was all smiles until he saw a note.

"Dear little Sun I know you are a workaholic kid that is why I put a sealing magic on the door blocking you from leaving. For now, you are also banned from the laboratory and aren't allowed to sleep late. Just give yourself a week and rest don't worry about the Black Tower's projects, just take a break.

Always reminding

Grandpa Nick"

Apollo suddenly felt baffled he was okay it was just a seal he could handle it.

"A week of ban from the laboratory" he suddenly began to sulk, first he wasn't allowed to hunt and now he wasn't allowed to the laboratory.

"If they found out I made Jeremiah inside the library will they ban me there as well?"

Suddenly Apollo felt scared he began to vow that nobody would find out about Jeremiah.

"I absolutely can't tell anyone about this!" He could only say this in his mind as he hid using the blanket of his bed.