Legacy of the Dark Sage - Chapter 958: Wanting To… (2)

Cyneah noticed Yalen’s favorable impression of Kyran long before the younger woman openly admitted it.

At first, Cyneah believed Yalen’s admiration for Kyran was akin to what an apprentice apothecarist felt for a senior and talented apothecarist. However, after some time, it became apparent that Cyneah underestimated Yalen’s seemingly innocent and pure admiration for Kyran, especially after accidentally hearing the other female Eidums teasing the younger woman for always asking news about him.

Cyneah thought their teasing was nothing but empty words used to fool around because, as far as she was concerned, complete beings would never be attracted to anyone who was likely to be an Imon-spawn or a Tainted one. But then the teasing became frequent to the point that even Oded, who was also learning with Yalen under Cyneah’s tutelage, would also tease her whenever he had a chance.

Cyneah feigned ignorance and simply took it as the others taking their teasing too far. But then something happened that made her stop disregarding the younger woman’s admiration for granted.

The incident happened after the situation in Armakea had settled down, and Kyran requested the Eidums to take care of the injured.

There was a time back then when Kyran also assisted in concocting potions to distribute to the injured. Cyneah had been busy healing others using her magic and wanted to ask Oded to assist Kyran. Before she could say anything, though, Yalen volunteered herself.

Initially, Cyneah did not think much of it and agreed to Yalen’s request. Cyneah even remembered feeling proud of the latter for volunteering because it showed her willingness to learn Apothecary from someone with higher attainments in it. But then Oded teased Yalen for having an ulterior motive. Before, the latter would ignore the former’s teasing. However, at that time, instead of ignoring him, she retorted, “So what if I have an ulterior motive?”

Cyneah felt as if she was struck by lightning after hearing Yalen’s response. A part of her wanted to question them about what ulterior motive the younger woman would harbor for Kyran. However, she could not bring herself to do so. For one thing, the Eidums believed Cyneah treated Kyran as her benefactor. If she reacted in a way that would make them think she saw him otherwise, who knew what kind of misunderstanding they would create, especially when she was supposed to be engaged with Nahir?

Although there had been an instance where Kyran seemed to harbor deep feelings for Cyneah, especially when he and Nahir first encountered each other, there had only been a few Eidums present. What happened then also did not spread to the others. While Hilam was there, he did not babble about what had happened between Kyran and Nahir.

Apart from that, Yalen was Cyneah’s assistant, and compared to their age, she appeared closer to Kyran’s. Cyneah could not show a hint of being interested in Yalen’s feelings for Kyran or even acted as if she was jealous because it would definitely spell trouble.

In the end, Cyneah kept her composure and acted as if she did not hear their bickering. She did not even stop Yalen from assisting Kyran. Besides, even if Yalen was interested in Kyran, Cyneah knew the latter would not be moved easily.

At least Cyneah trusted Kyran would not be moved.

Unfortunately, her insecurities had reared its ugly head once more.

Compared to Cyneah, Yalen was younger and could see Kyran with her own eyes.

True Kyran always wore a mask, which meant no one had actually seen the real him. However, it was the same with Cyneah. What was more, even if she used her magic sense, she would only be able to see his features at most. She would not be able to see the color of his eyes or his hair.

Cyneah felt that her insecurities were too shallow. But wasn’t every insecurity the same? Regardless of it being shallow, though, only the person experiencing them would think they were a big deal.

In the end, Cyneah wanted to at least see Kyran before anyone else. Even if she could only see his features, she would settle for that.

As for those who had already seen Kyran without a mask, Cyneah did not care. Since those people were not interested in him— except for sister Stella.

But Cyneah did not mind Stella. As a matter of fact, if Kyran showed interest in sister Stella rather than her, she would not mind. Because to Cyneah, Stella could be considered an ideal woman for Kyran.

Of course, all of these thoughts were only in Cyneah’s head. If Kyran even learned any of them, especially how she believed Stella was far more compatible with him, he would definitely be annoyed. He would not show it, but that did not mean he would not be vocal about it.

While these things were running inside Cyneah’s head, they finally appeared outside the room where members of the Kingdom of Cretea’s Council were gathered.

Two mages guarded the entrance to the room. When they saw Euan approaching, they lowered their heads in respect.

Following Anshel’s reformation, he freed Euan and appointed him as his aide. Previously, this position was given to Deception, but after he declared his desire to reforge the relationship between their kingdom and the Eidums, as well as establish good relations with Armakea, he declared removing her as his aide.

Anshel gave a very simple reason for doing so. He no longer desired to form an alliance with an outsider.

Frankly, his reason was quite contradictory, especially when he was already working under an outsider. Then again, only a few were aware of it— these few consisted of outsiders, with only Nahir and Nachum as Somulians— which practically meant no one else knew. Since no one else knew about it

“Lord Nuwen,” the two mages greeted Euan.

Nuwen was a pseudo name that Euan used in Somuli. This name was given by Anshel himself before he was reformed. Euan had a choice to change it but decided to keep it since it was already stuck.

“Is the council still in session?” Euan asked.

To be honest, he knew the council was still in session, but he still asked the mages outside just to be sure.

“Yes,” the two mages answered in unison. “Would you like us to announce your arrival?”

Before Euan could respond, Cyneah stepped forward and addressed the two, “Please announce the arrival of the Land of the Eidum’s Saint.”

Euan looked at Cyneah with wide eyes. He did not expect her to actually reveal her identity just like that. While there were Nobles who knew she was the Saint, the two mages guarding the room were definitely not one of them.

Proof of their clueless selves was how they scrutinized Cyneah from head to toe. They might not have met the Saint up close, but they felt that something appeared different from the Saint they once saw to the one before them.

Cyneah, as the Saint, would normally wear her hood to hide her face. But at that moment, her face was exposed, allowing the two mages to scrutinize her from head to toe.

Kyran did not say anything when Cyneah declared her intentions to be announced. Nonetheless, he did not lower his guard in case something untoward happened to her. After all, every one of the subjects under Anshel would be present. They all knew what the Saint did to Anshel. Although, at the moment, the latter seemed to have already given up pursuing the Saint, that did not mean the other subjects, especially those in the opposition, would no longer be interested.

“You may announce my arrival and the Land of the Eidum’s Lady Saint,” Euan told the mages to confirm Cyneah’s identity.

The two mages gasped at this and immediately prepared to open the twin doors.

Midway from pushing the doors open, though, they turned to look at Kyran before looking at Euan questioningly.

Kyran had already covered his head with his coat’s hood. This was to prevent them from seeing his dark hair and eyes. He had a choice of transforming his mask and using any of the complete beings’ features he had saved in it. But he did not want to hide his identity.

Besides, it would be easier to scare all the complete beings inside the room if he appeared as an Imon-spawn.

Sensing what the two mages were trying to ask when they looked at him, Euan nodded his head and confirmed, “He is the Lady Saint’s bodyguard.”

Sensing what the two mages were trying to ask when they looked at him, Euan nodded his head and confirmed, “He is the Lady Saint’s bodyguard.”

Kyran’s brow twitched slightly at the identity Euan gave him. He did not try to change it, though, and simply went along with it.

The two mages still eyed Kyran suspiciously but no longer asked any questions. They opened the door and allowed the three to enter the room while they announced their identities.

“Lord Nuwen has arrived with the Land of the Eidum’s Lady Saint and her bodyguard,” the two announced in unison.

When the two mages opened the doors, a heated discussion ensued inside the room. But after they announced the names of the new arrivals, the noise died down in an instant, and everyone focused their attention on them.