Genetic Ascension

Chapter 2106: Teach Me

Sylas knew nothing of the conversations that Slithering and Scurrying Madness were having. He had also forgotten about Weaving Madness after he left the region.

If such a powerful entity was interested in him, there was little he could do for the time being. He would, of course, prepare in his own way. But something told him that he wouldnʼt have to worry about those few for a while.

The one that he really needed to worry about was whoever had managed to take control of Nosphaleen.

That matter was very odd to Sylas as well. Logically, Nosphaleen had awakened the Virtue of Envy. If it worked like the other Virtues did, she should be in full control over herself and her Sin—thus making it a Virtue.

But there had been something very off about her Will. How could it be both?

”Thank you, Sylas.” Fanelei said again, lowering her head in a real bow. ”I do not know how to repay you. I also want to apologize again for what I did. I wasnʼt in my right state of mind, but that is no excuse. It wonʼt happen again.”

Sylas looked at Fanelei for a while.

She was quite the interesting woman. Despite having the appearance of a woman in her peak, her voice sounded like that of an old woman. It crackled, had a bit of gravelliness to it, and it was to the point it was clear she was doing it on purpose.

Maybe not that she was actively changing her voice, but instead like she had let her throat age in a way she wasnʼt allowing the rest of her body to.

This was probably some sort of cultural convention of the Analei. They lived for so long, and had so many lives, that it was hard to tell exactly how old they were based on appearance alone. So they signaled their real age with their voices instead.

Sylas still remembered the first time he had heard her voice. He had expected to come here to see an old woman, but instead there was quite a youthful beauty instead.

Well, not entirely youthful, but close enough that the differences hardly mattered.

Sylas had never actually thought about Fanelei in that way because in general, he just never really did have that thought about random women he came across in the first place. The voice certainly didnʼt help. But it was hard not to when she quite literally pressed her breasts against you.

Clearly, Sylas didnʼt have as much control over his Lust Seed as his Pride Seed. It was the latter that guided the former, but if the situation was ridiculous enough, he could see his Lust Seed making a harder push.

His gaze flickered for a moment.

That sounded a lot like what might be happening to Nosphaleen. Just because it was a Virtue, didnʼt mean it couldnʼt be tugged and imbalanced toward the wrong direction. It needed to be fed as well.

The point of a Virtue was for it to actually be used. Sylasʼ Pride was so powerful because it was practically constantly active.

But he never let his Lust Seed out to ”play”. His Greed Seed had also been a real problem… until he started dissecting corpses.

Sylas could also still remember the illusion of the little boy tearing bodies apart with small, bloodied hands, just trying to get a better understanding of them.

That vision couldnʼt have been real, he would remember that. It was more like it was showing him a version of himself that could have been had he not suppressed it.

His Lust Seed, however… he had constantly stoked its flames but never let it erupt. That might very well be a problem in the future if he didnʼt find a way to deal with it.

Half of him wanted to get rid of it, replacing it with another. But the more he thought about it, the more important he thought it was to maintain all the Seeds that he had naturally awakened himself.

Pride and Lust were both his own to have.

ʼMaybe itʼs time to build the next generation of Grimblades.ʼ Sylas thought to himself. It was far earlier than he thought it would be necessary, but at this point… his sister was already giving him a huge headache, he might as well. What would be the difference?

”You donʼt need to worry about it. Letʼs focus on this.” Sylas said, pointing at the Madness Key around her neck. ”If you can integrate with your seventh soul once again, your strength will likely rival the strongest of the Skai Heaven Mortal Realms. Including the Thryskai.”

Fanelei nodded, a faint light of excitement in her eyes. But she took a breath and exhaled.

”That wonʼt be enough. The Cryst Heaven is very powerful.”

”Then it will be up to you to bridge that gap.”

”I…” Fanelei hesitated, then she looked up at Sylas with firm eyes. ”I need help.”

”Explain.” Sylas replied calmly.

”My comprehension of Rune Mastery is lacking, and my path, though I believe in it, the best it can do is reach the pinnacle of the Skai Heaven as youʼve said. The Will Paths have always been… lacking. The Legacies available in the other Heavens are far more powerful.

”I want to do my part to pay you back, but the best I can do right now is help you with lesser powers. Even if I reach my goals, Iʼll at most tie with the best of the Weaver Guild, I wonʼt be able to protect you from them if one person ties me down, and the situation would be even worse against stronger enemies like the Thryskai, let alone the Cryst Heaven.”

Sylas just looked at her, not saying much.

”I need you to teach me.” Fanelei said seriously. ”Your Rune Mastery is the likes of which Iʼve never seen before.”

This was a lot easier said than done. What Fanelei needed guidance on was concepts of the A-tier, a tier Sylas was far too far away from.

”Show me.” Sylas said.