Yuric momentarily opened his mouth in awe at the overwhelming sight. As a historian-minded mage himself, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration and emotion at this historic moment.
With the passing of the last Dragon Knight, Reigenstein, Arcanum had lain dormant for two hundred years. It was Yuric’s first time setting foot there in those two centuries.
“Familiar spirits of comrades can be felt.”
The Earth Dragon Alaldur sensed the lingering presence of other dragons like old hands, briefly indulging in nostalgia. Yuric slowly walked inside, touching the cold objects that were devoid of warmth. The accumulated dust had formed thick layers over the past two centuries.
While surveying the headquarters, Yuric noticed a stone plaque attached to the wall, adorned with numerous names.
“These must be the predecessors of the Dragon Knights.”
After carefully wiping off the dust on the plaque, Yuric bowed respectfully before it. As the successor who would carry on Arcanum, this was a gesture of gratitude and respect to the predecessors who had paved the way.
After a profound moment of reflection, Yuric began writing down all the names engraved on the plaque onto paper, believing it right to inform their descendants of these commendable achievements.
He meticulously wrote down every name and surname, then proceeded to sketch the layout of the Arcanum headquarters.
The chandelier-draped round table.
The stone plaque inscribed with Dragon Knights’ names.
Ancient decorative items.
Bookshelves filled with ancient books.
Rusty equipment.
When he finished drawing, it was already dawn, and the underground area bustled once more for today’s business.
Yuric returned to Tristan’s house and greeted him early in the morning.
“Sir Elder, may I show you something?”
He placed the drawings and the paper with the names from the plaque on the table one by one. Tristan examined them closely, wondering what they were.
“The headquarters of Arcanum.”
!
Tristan’s eyes widened in astonishment. Yuric nodded slightly with a faint smile.
“I found it. Finally.”
“How could this be…”
Finding the headquarters of Arcanum wasn’t an easy task, even for lifelong researchers dedicated to Dragon Knights. Not even experts had managed to discover the entrance, let alone the headquarters itself.
Yet, Yuric had discovered it overnight!
“Where was it? Was it really in the underground area?”
“Yes, it was there. The entrance opened in response to Draconic Magic.”
“Did you learn Draconic Magic?”
Yuric revealed that the will of the Earth Dragon Alaldur had infused his consciousness.
This was shocking. He had always shown a peculiar interest in Dragon Knights, but no one expected such a background.
“Then, have you taken up the lineage of the Dragon Knights again?”
“I believe so.”
“…This will cause quite a stir.”
Tristan thought of Yuric as a constantly revealing onion, layer by layer.
Realizing he needed help from the elder, Yuric asked for assistance.
“Sir Elder, could you lend me a hand?”
“Of course! Just tell me what you need. I’ll do anything within my power.”
An emergency meeting was called by Elder Tristan. It took place in the underground area.
Prominent professors and countless historians gathered along with the elders. There were nearly sixty participants.
“Why are we here?”
“Perhaps a clue to another treasure was discovered?”
News of Yuric’s arrival in the city had spread throughout the entire Mage Tower. Given the urgency of the meeting, it was clear this wasn’t an ordinary matter.
Tristan and Yuric expressed their gratitude to the assembled group.
“What brings us together today?”
“We have discovered the headquarters of Arcanum.”
!
No Mage Tower mage could be unaware of the Dragon Knights. They knew that the lineage had ended with the last Dragon Knight, Reigenstein, two hundred years ago.
All knowledge about the Dragon Knights had been lost, and despite the efforts of many historians, the headquarters remained undiscovered. Thus, they concluded that finding the headquarters without being a Dragon Knight was impossible.
A mage with some knowledge of Dragon Knights raised their hand after hearing Yuric speak.
“There are speculations that the headquarters might be in the underground area, but no one has ever found it.”
Even after searching for two hundred years, rumors suggested it was all a ruse.
“The entrance requires Draconic Magic to open.”
“No one can use Draconic Magic now.”
Instead of answering, Yuric smiled and nodded.
They instinctively felt something extraordinary was about to happen.
Yuric walked towards the stone wall, took a deep breath, and shouted powerfully:
“Open!”
A significant amount of Mana spread around, and the stone wall began to move dramatically. Everyone was awestruck, their mouths agape.
An arched entrance was formed. Yuric addressed the mages:
“This is the entrance to Arcanum.”
“Incredible…”
Not only the historians but even the elders were amazed. They momentarily forgot that Yuric had used Draconic Magic. No one expected to see the entrance to Arcanum’s headquarters before their eyes.
“Shall we enter one by one?”
Like automatons, the mages entered the entrance one by one, marveling at the vast corridor.
“I never imagined seeing this in my lifetime.”
“It’s not a dream, is it?”
The collective of Dragon Knights known as Arcanum, passed down through legends, felt surreal.
The journey to the headquarters seemed like a dream.
Upon reaching the end of the corridor, the mages felt a gasp-inducing wonder at the sight before them.
The headquarters, where the legacy of the Dragon Knights still breathed, vividly brought back two centuries of history.
“This is truly…”
The mages’ hands trembled. Historians were even more shocked.
Even Dural’s treasures paled in comparison. This was humanity’s history itself.
Arriving last, Yuric stood before them, extending his hand to introduce the place:
“This is the great place where the will of the Dragon Knights resides.”
Yuric explained why he shared this place with them:
“I bring you here because I have a request.”
As he walked toward the plaque, the mages followed.
“The names inscribed here are those Dragon Knights who dedicated their lives to the freedom and peace of the continent.”
The mages listened solemnly.
“I wish to inform their descendants of how valuable their ancestors’ work was.”
Over sixty names were listed. This was a daunting task for Yuric alone.
“But to find their descendants, I need your help.”
Elder Tristan stepped forward.
“I will dedicate all my time and effort to assist you. If you’ve studied history, you know that humanity’s history couldn’t exist without the sacrifices of great heroes!”
Tristan spoke loudly.
“If we cannot uphold the will of our ancestors, if we cannot cherish the righteous deaths of these individuals, who will fight for this land willingly again!”
He continued:
“Why do we study history? What wills shaped history? What will shape history in the future?”
Tristan paused, his eyes burning with intensity as he looked at the mages.
One of the elders, Elder Diocles, stepped forward.
“I too will spare no effort. Yuric, I deeply appreciate your decision.”
The elders and professors all declared their commitment to this endeavor.
Yuric bowed deeply.
“Thank you very much.”
Everyone bowed their heads in silent reverence before the plaque.
In a research lab at Bemberg Mage Academy.
Diligently studying while smoking, the Dragon Knight expert Adele Reigenstein received a letter after a long time. A person from the Mage Tower even came to deliver it personally.
“…Mr. Yuric?”
Looking at the sender, Adele recalled the past. The handsome benefactor who had generously lent her a laboratory.
She tore open the sealed envelope and read the contents.
“Dear Mr. Adele Reigenstein,
I hope you have been well and that your research has progressed.
I am delighted to send this letter to you.
We have finally discovered the headquarters of Arcanum, the sacred place where your ancestors dedicated themselves to humanity.
It is a place filled with traces of many great Dragon Knight ancestors.
I have resolved to find their descendants to ensure their legacy is honored forever.
I invite all descendants, including yourself, to visit. If you can spare the time, please visit.
I eagerly await meeting you.
Sincerely,
Mage Yuric”
Adele jumped up immediately upon finishing the letter and searched for the person who had delivered it from the Mage Tower.
Surprisingly, he was a prominent historian from the Mage Tower. Such a person had come all the way just for a single letter.
“Is it true? Did you really find the headquarters of Arcanum?”
“Yes. I saw it with my own eyes.”
He offered his hand for a handshake.
“I sincerely express my respect to your ancestor.”
Adele shook his hand gently, moved.
“The Mage Tower invites all descendants. We welcome you whenever you decide to visit.”
“I’ll go right away. I want to see it.”
“Let’s do that. When should we start?”
“Can we leave tomorrow?”
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
Returning to the lab to gather her belongings, Adele suddenly remembered her father’s research notes.
“Dragon Knights will surely be reborn. The one who continues my research, even though I won’t see that moment, you might witness it.”
Father, Father…
Tears streamed down Adele’s face.
The long-held wish of the Reigenstein family had finally been fulfilled.
