Jasmine nodded and said, ’I told you before that I was seeking to recover my hearing by treating the Cindral Rot curse... that’s not a lie, but it’s not the full truth... I am searching for my real parents if they are still alive, to understand what really happened.’
’I see... do you have any clues?’ Levi asked.
’Unfortunately... nothing.’ Jasmine shook her head. ’I have been traveling the world with my father to run international rescue missions and such, but the main goal was to seek clues... but we struck out.’
’What about N’ibby?’ Levi frowned. ’How can she also possess relations to your bloodline and somehow find you here?’
This was the biggest mystery to Levi at the moment... Ash’Kral had been keeping watch over Levi for years, and still, when they signed a contract, he had no connection to Void or Sun Laws.
Meanwhile, both Jasmine and N’ibby shared the same connection to Ink and Erasure... two Laws that had been claimed to have no one else to command them after the disappearance of the Primordial Tree of Creation and Erasure with its followers.
How... how could those two find each other throughout the seemingly infinite universe?
’That’s a topic for another discussion.’ N’ibby swiftly shut it down. ’You had your Neuralens devices turned off for more than five minutes... the authorities will be notified if you keep them off for longer.’
Hearing this, Levi knew that she wasn’t comfortable yet sharing the truth, just like him refusing to let out more than he needed... instead of pushing for an answer, Levi nodded in agreement.
’You’re right, we have reached a new ground today, and I am satisfied with the results.’
’Me too.’
Jasmine smiled sweetly, feeling like a massive weight was removed from her heart... to know that Levi and Arthur knew her truth and didn’t seem to feel any differently about her was one of her dreams... to be accepted as she was.
’What about Shia, Nurah, and Jojo?’ Arthur suddenly wondered.
’No... not yet.’ Levi rejected. ’I care for them as my friends, but I am not going to bring them in on my secrets unless I am certain I can trust them fully.’
Levi trusted Jasmine because she didn’t hesitate to abuse her Laws to save his brother and the others... her utmost loyalty to her friends was borderline naive. But he liked that about her, as it made him feel more comfortable bringing her into his inner circle.
Most importantly, she was also a holder of an Origin Seed... he could discuss the subject with her and seek assistance when needed.
Shia and the girls were still not at that level yet.
What he meant by this... he wasn’t sure yet that the girls were going to keep up with him if he continued reaching newer ranks. Jasmine could definitely keep up, while Arthur had a chance to keep up if the Titan’s plan succeeded.
As long as Levi wasn’t sure they could keep up, he wouldn’t drop such bombshells on them and leave the truth burning a hole in their minds when he decided to climb past them.
It was the same situation with Rayan, Sergio, and Jamal... he cared for them dearly as his friends, but he wasn’t foolish enough to tell them his secrets when he knew that their paths might not cross again someday.
’I see...’ Arthur murmured.
’Arthur... don’t make me regret this.’ Levi hardened his tone, knowing that his little brother was a softie with a big mouth.
’You kidding?’ Arthur shook his head. ’My lips are sealed... I will never disclose matters that can endanger you... not to anyone.’
’Good.’ Levi smiled.
As for Jasmine? He didn’t need to worry about her... N’ibby cared about her protection more than anything else. He could tell that it was her idea to test if he would keep his word and recover Jasmine’s memories or not.
’Alright, let’s head back... we will continue this discussion later.’
***
After Levi returned to his apartment with his brother, he didn’t tell him about his plan to have the Titan inhabit his Shadowlife Seed. He told him to focus on his growth and reach Warden Rank first... then, he could see what he could do about his dormant Radian bloodline.
When Arthur heard this, he didn’t know how Levi was going to achieve it, but he left it to his brother to handle.
He closed his room’s door behind him, deciding to use all his remaining Growth Totems to push his progress as fast as he could, knowing that the resources he had were enough to help him buy more.
’That went better than expected.’ Levi smiled as he watched his brother focus on his growth without pressuring him with more questions.
This was what he liked about his little brother. He trusted him fully and didn’t need too many answers... just enough to have his heart at ease.
Levi planned on bringing him even closer into his business, but he required access to his Spiritual Leywell so they could talk there freely without needing to shut off the Neuralens each time.
N’ibby might have used the Neuralens excuse to dodge the question, but she was right... Levi knew that if the Neuralens device was turned off for too long, it would raise alarms in the department responsible for supervising their data... it was even more serious for high-value Daywalkers like them since it might mean that they were in danger.
’Ash’Kral... do you have anything else to add?’
Levi’s tone suddenly turned cold as he stepped inside his Spiritual Leywell, finding the Titan and Ash’Kral playing a board game to pass the time.
’What?’ Ash’Kral gave him an unbothered side glance. ’Stop being so fussy over nothing... I told you I was planning to tell you when you are close to Warden Rank. If you were to know about it, that’s the only thing you would be thinking about, and it might ruin your development.’
Levi stepped closer to him and placed his hands on the table, leaning closer to Ash’Kral’s face... then, he uttered coldly, ’Ash’Kral... I don’t care if you hide information about your past or your fcked up goal. But with matters related to me and my evolutionary path, I expect to know everything! You’re not my father to decide for me. I am already going through hell as it is... don’t make it harder than it is.’
’If you see me as a partner, act like it... Otherwise, I am not playing this game anymore.’
’I told you.’
The Titan chuckled while moving a piece on the board, anticipating Levi snapping at Ash’Kral sooner or later. He knew that Levi’s patience was running thin with Ash’Kral in such matters.
Now, with his persona faintly corroded to the dark side, it was easier to snap than to hold it in. Just like what happened with Yanhuan.
’How bothersome.’ Ash’Kral massaged his temple and said, ’Fine... if you reach Warden Rank, you will have limited access to a Dominion... but since the Dominion belongs to the Ancestral Tree and not yours, the punishment and payment aren’t something easily manageable... You saw your little girlfriend’s condition after abusing it.’
’What do you mean by that?’ Levi frowned, taking a seat next to them.
He knew that other Seed holders unlocked a Dominion as a reward after reaching Solarbound Rank... but the Dominion was based on their evolutionary path. If they focused on a single Aspect from the very beginning, the Dominion would match it with a reasonable authority.
However, if their powers were all over the place, the Dominion would be weaker since it wouldn’t favor a single Aspect but multiple ones... this left their Dominion with a split authority.
But to use the Ancestral Tree’s own Dominion? That was something new.
’Ancestral Dominions are based on Laws, not Aspects...’ Ash’Kral explained. ’The Dominions you are used to seeing involve a single Aspect or multiple ones under the same Law... but in the case of Ancestral Dominions, you are bestowed with the authority to command all the Aspects falling under that specific Law it wielded.’
’Such as?’
’If you used the Ancestral Sun Tree’s Dominion... you would be given control of Radiation, Fission, Fusion, Sunflames, Plasma, and even lower Aspects like Fire,’ Ash’Kral added. ’The same goes for the Nine Senses Tree and the Void Tree.’
’That sounds too powerful... no wonder Jasmine managed to escape from Azhukar’s Dominion.’ Levi held his chin thoughtfully. ’But why? Why is such access given if it demands such a grave price?’
’It’s simple really...’ The Titan replied with a soft, elderly smile. ’If you manage to push an Origin Seed to a Pre-Mature Tree stage, it sees you as a decent host that might help it achieve its cycle... while it can’t give you full access to its Dominion, a limited one to save yourself in an emergency isn’t too bad.’
’...’
When Levi heard this, he couldn’t help but gulp a mouthful as his gaze switched to the three celestial Seeds in the sky... he realized that such a reward was based on a single Origin Seed desiring to help its host survive for the sake of fulfilling its cycle.
But... what he had wasn’t the same.
’Heh, see?’ Ash’Kral snickered. ’You were living in peaceful ignorance, and now... your mind will be consumed with the idea that these three Divas will leave you to eat dirt before bestowing their Dominion access to you if you don’t satisfy their needs first.’
’Shut up.’ Levi’s lips twitched. ’I don’t care... tell me everything, always. I will deal with it as I see fit.’
’Well, if you say so...’ Ash’Kral coughed. ’I got one more thing to say.’
’Hmm? What is it? Spill it out.’ Levi frowned, not having a good feeling about this.
’I lied before... Seraphis can be revived through a special Array as long as I have the Pride Fruit, which contains his evolutionary knowledge and bits of his soul.’
’Huh?’ Levi was left stunned.