Fire Mage-Chapter 649: Sage Hero

Chapter 658: Sage Hero

A brief silence followed, then a calm, amused voice responded from inside.

"The door’s open. Come in. I’m curious to see who you’ve brought this time."

Charles let out a sigh of relief.

Finally.

Griven pushed the door open and walked inside. Charles followed close behind, eyes scanning the hall curiously.

The Elder Hall was beautifully decorated with tapestries depicting scenes from ancient poems and stories. Candlelight bathed the room in a soft, welcoming glow. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

At the center sat the renowned Sage Hero Elre Sylcyne. His silver hair fell like moonlight around his shoulders, and his eyes held deep, ancient wisdom. He wore a robe woven from silken threads that shimmered like starlight. In his hand, he held a silver staff, its surface etched with delicate, shifting patterns. A matching silver crown adorned his head, marking his status and grace.

Though his face radiated youth, his thin and frail frame told another story—a quiet suffering carried with strength.

As they entered, Elre welcomed them with a warm smile. His presence was both approachable and commanding.

A Rank-6 Mystic... His divine power is incredible. But I can’t figure out what class he belongs to, Charles thought. Then, without hesitation, he silently cast [Curse of the Overlord]. To his surprise, Elre didn’t even react.

"Welcome," Elre said, interrupting his thoughts. "There’s something unusual about you, young man. What brings you here?"

He sensed the spell... but thinks it’s some sort of connection?

Charles stepped forward and spoke carefully.

"Respected Sage Hero Elre Sylcyne, I am Vesryn Miramaris, a humble poet once taught by Tasar Pabella. Today, I come seeking your guidance and wisdom. Your name is known far and wide, and I hope to learn from you."

Elre’s eyes twinkled with amusement. He gestured for Charles to sit across from him.

"Well said, Vesryn. I can sense something in you—a potential for greatness in the poetic arts. What inspires you? What drives your passion for poetry?"

Charles nodded, grateful for the opportunity.

"I want to capture life in all its shades—its emotions, its moments, the beauty hidden in the everyday. I hear melodies in the world around me and feel compelled to express them in words."

Elre nodded with approval.

"That passion is where true poetry begins. Emotion, vision, and curiosity—those are the tools of a poet. If you are willing, I’ll guide you on this journey. I’ll share what I’ve learned over the years."

"Teacher?" Griven blurted out, wide-eyed.

He accepted him that easily? I knew Vesryn was special, but I didn’t expect this. He must truly be a prodigy.

Meanwhile, Charles bowed, his eyes filled with determination.

Time passed like verses in a grand poem. Charles listened intently as Elre shared his experiences—stories of triumph, hardship, and the wisdom gained from them.

He’s a perfect pawn, Charles thought, and an excellent listener. By nightfall, both the Teacher and his loyal student will be completely under my control.

"Teacher," Charles said, "will I be able to meet the other Sage Heroes? My dream is to earn the title of Imperial Songsmith from our Divine King Phoebe."

Elre chuckled. "Ambitious, aren’t you? I haven’t earned that title. But I’ll introduce you to the others. Griven—bring our young prodigy to the Sonneteers’ meeting at the Royal Palace tomorrow. Let’s see how he impresses the rest."

"With pleasure, Teacher," Griven replied, a smile of pride spreading across his face. "I look forward to watching him rise beyond even the most gifted poets."

After their conversation, Charles and Griven bid farewell and left the Elder Hall.

Night had fallen over the city. Charles returned to his lone house and lay down quietly on the stone slab, thoughts stirring.

Three days... and I still don’t know the real origin of these Corpse Devourers. The month’s almost up.

His eyes narrowed as he formulated a new plan.

Their pure, honest nature works in my favor. Suspicion only strengthens their trust. If I play this right, I can enslave all the Sage Heroes—and gain access to the Corpse Devourer serving King Phoebe.

But he knew the true challenge wasn’t the Sage Heroes—it was deceiving the Demi-God-level figure behind it all.

Even if he’s just a replica, he might have the memories of the real Dream God Phoebe. I have to fool him to get the Bracelet.

Still, one thing concerned him more than anything else: the Bracelet itself.

If it can recreate a whole ancient city with protectors... it won’t submit easily. But even Dream God Phoebe only felt an eerie presence from the beads, not actual resistance.

Then a chilling thought struck him.

What if something truly omnipotent is sealed inside the beads?

His breath hitched.

First things first—get the artifact. Shaking his head, he pulled out the Crystal Dimension stone and focused on improving his [Chaos Eye] spell.

In the heart of the city, along Noble Street, stood the Royal Palace—a grand structure with a gleaming white dome. It towered above the surrounding buildings, its size and elegance making a clear statement of authority and power.

The palace was fortified with thick castle-like walls, and the elite Karr Guards were posted at the four main entrances. Clad in spotless uniforms and armed with polished weapons that shimmered in the sunlight, they stood tall and vigilant. Their presence projected discipline and loyalty.

Yet, something seemed off.

Despite their composed stance, a closer look revealed subtle signs of unease—tensed shoulders, furrowed brows, and anxious glances toward the palace interior. Their attention seemed less focused on external threats and more on something troubling from within.

Clearly, something significant was happening behind those walls—something that even the elite guards couldn’t ignore.

At that moment, Charles, Elre, and Griven arrived at the palace’s northern entrance. They immediately noticed the tension in the air.

"Something’s not right," Charles said, narrowing his eyes. "Why are so many guards stationed outside?"

Only a handful of guards are usually posted here, and that too just for show. Why the sudden increase in security?

Griven jogged ahead to speak with one of the guards. After a brief exchange, he returned, face grim.

"Two Celestial Guards have disappeared," he said. "They were the ones who guarded the passage to the outer world. No one knows what happened to them."

Charles blinked. "Celestial Guards? Outer world?"

"They’re handpicked by the Divine King himself," Elre explained as he adjusted his grip on his silver staff and started toward the entrance. "They guard the gates that connect our world to what lies beyond. No one is allowed to travel in or out without their approval. We don’t know much about them—only the Divine King has authority over them."

Even the disappearance of just two Legend-rank guards is enough to make everyone this uneasy, Charles thought as he followed closely behind.

He glanced sideways at Elre. "Outer world? You mean there’s another world like this one?"

Elre hesitated for a second before replying, a trace of uncertainty in his tone. "It means the world outside our own. I’ve never been there myself, but I’ve heard stories—monsters, nightmares, things beyond imagination. Even the Divine King warned us not to speak of it casually."

He paused, then added quietly, "Still... what’s wrong with learning about it?"

Griven chimed in with a puzzled look. "What about the other Saint Heroes? Have any of them gone there?"

Elre shook his head. "No. None of us have. Only the Celestial Guards are allowed to enter. They usually return within two or three days using an ancient teleportation circle near the Temple of Dreams. It’s been that way for centuries. But this... this is the first time someone didn’t come back."

They passed through the courtyard, walked by a grand fountain, and reached the main entrance of the palace.

"Don’t speak of this again," Elre said firmly. "Not here. Wait until we’re inside the Hall of Poetry."

He led them past the reception, through a long corridor lined with elaborate doors. They passed the Dining Hall, Banquet Hall, Music Room, Hall of Poetry, and Library before finally arriving at a towering three-meter metal gate.

"Griven," Elre said, pausing, "bring Vesryn to the Hall of Poetry and introduce him to the other Sage Heroes. I’ll go greet the Divine King."

He turned and pushed open the large metallic door.

Charles glanced toward the Throne Room, tempted to look inside, but held himself back and quietly followed Griven instead.

The Hall of Poetry exuded a solemn yet warm atmosphere. Tapestries depicting moments of artistic brilliance adorned the walls, and soft candlelight cast gentle shadows across the room.

At the center stood a large round wooden table surrounded by about twenty Karr beings, all engaged in an intense discussion.

As they entered, every eye turned to Charles. These were Sage Heroes—renowned poets and scholars whose names were revered for their unmatched literary contributions. Their expressions were a mix of curiosity and scrutiny.

Eight of them are Expert-level Legend Rank. The rest are around Rank-4 or Rank-5, Charles assessed. Not that it matters.