Eryx stepped out of the flying shuttle and stood in front of a massive building that stretched high into the sky.
This building was the Eon Archivists of Solhaven City. The size of the building was overwhelming, and its walls gleamed like polished metal. It seemed to glow under the sunlight, giving off a majestic and ancient feeling.
Two huge words were engraved at the entrance of the building: Eon Archivists.
Eryx took a deep breath and entered the building.
The inside was even more impressive. As soon as he stepped inside, he felt like stepping into another world.
Looking up, he could see the ceiling was high, and strange glowing lights hung from it. These lights were casting a soft golden glow over everything. The walls were lined with large bookshelves. Each of these bookshelves was filled with books and strange devices.
Not long after he entered the building, a gentle-looking middle-aged man walked over and greeted Eryx with a smile before asking, "May I know if there is something you need from our Eon Archivists? Are you here to borrow an ancient book or look for a forgotten part of our world's history?"
Eryx was taken aback at first but quickly composed himself, saying, "I have an appointment with Ember Queen. Please let her know that a student from Star God Academy is here."
The middle-aged man was also surprised, not expecting Eryx to have a meeting with the Ember Queen. It was completely unexpected, but he quickly recovered. His smile became warmer as he introduced himself: "I'm Yoca Marcus, and I'm in charge of taking care of the books you see on the shelves along the walls. If you ever need anything, feel free to come to me."
Without giving Eryx a chance to respond, Yoca added, "I'll go ahead and inform Ember Queen of your arrival now."
Leaving behind the stunned Eryx, Yoca left with a big smile on his face.
Since Eryx was able to make an appointment with the Ember Queen, it clearly indicated that he was not an ordinary person. After all, not only would common people be denied access, but even Yoca himself, as a member of the Eon Archivists, did not have the privilege to meet her. If Eryx hadn't mentioned having an appointment, Yoca would have quickly sent him away.
Even if he suspected Eryx of lying, it wasn't Yoca's place to judge. The fact that an appointment was claimed meant he had to inform the Ember Queen.
That was the rule, and no one was allowed to break it.
Within five minutes, Yoca returned with a beautiful young lady. This beautiful lady looked to be around his age, but her strength was definitely above the Mental Core Realm.
Yoca introduced her politely, "This is Lady Nyra Dune, a trusted aide of the Ember Queen. She has come to bring you to her."
Eryx nodded and accepted her presence without hesitation.
Nyra didn't say much but gave a slight nod, signaling Eryx to follow her. As they made their way up through the building, Eryx couldn't help but observe his surroundings.
The walls were lined with even more books than he had seen on the ground floor. Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling. Everywhere he looked, there were symbols, devices, and tools that he couldn't even recognize. This place was a treasure trove of knowledge and history.
By the time they reached the third floor, Eryx noticed something different. He saw powerful Psionic Warriors standing in various spots. Each of them was armed with different weapons. These warriors seemed to be guarding the area with full focus. The atmosphere was tense, and it was clear this floor was highly restricted.
Nyra led him through a few more hallways before stopping in front of a large door. She knocked gently.
A few seconds later, a soft and ethereal voice came from inside, "Enter."
As the door opened, Eryx stepped into the room and was immediately stunned by the sight before him.
The room was large, and its walls were covered with luxurious drapes of deep red and gold. There were shelves of books and ornate furniture that looked both elegant and ancient.
The air inside the room was filled with a calming fragrance and medicine. There was a large window on one side that let in sunlight, making the whole room glow with warmth.
But it was the sight of the two women inside that truly left him speechless.
On a large, soft bed, two beautiful women could be seen together.
One of them was lying down with her eyes closed. She looked weak and fragile. Her long red hair flowed across the pillow, but her skin was pale, almost sickly. She was covered in a soft quilt.
Just one look and Eryx could tell she was unwell.
The other woman was sitting by her side. She was extraordinary as well. She had fiery red hair that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, and her eyes were bright and sharp.
Just one look at her gave Eryx the impression of a powerful warrior.
Her beauty was beyond words. Every feature of hers was perfect. Her skin was flawless, and there was an aura around her that made Eryx feel both attracted and intimidated. She was not just beautiful; she had an ethereal presence that made her seem almost otherworldly.
Eryx could not take his eyes off her for a moment. He had never seen her, but his guts told him that she must be the Ember Queen.
As Eryx stood there, the Ember Queen finally raised her eyes to look at him. At first, she frowned, as if something about him bothered her. But then, her expression softened, and she relaxed.
"You must be Azadin Sullen, the youngest son of Omar Sullen, one of the candidates for the Sullen family's Head."
Eryx was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to know so much about his background. After all, he should be just a common person in her eyes, not worth anything. But he quickly composed himself and nodded. "Yes, that's me."
Then, he explained why he had come. "I'm here for the assessment. The principal told me you would explain the test. I only know that it has something to do with helping your daughter."
When he mentioned her daughter, the Ember Queen's face became serious. She glanced at the unconscious woman lying beside her. For a moment, sadness filled her eyes. Then she nodded softly.
She looked back at Eryx and spoke in a quiet but firm voice. "Yes, the assessment is tied to my daughter's condition. She's been like this for a long time, and I need help to save her."
Eryx was stunned.
How can he even help her?
He doesn't even know about her daughter's illness yet.
The Ember Queen did not explain more. She gestured for Eryx to come closer.
Eryx hesitated for a moment, but then he moved towards her, standing by the bedside. He looked down at the unconscious woman lying there. Her pale face showed no sign of waking up.
The room felt tense as he waited for the Ember Queen to speak again.
The Ember Queen began to explain. Although her voice was calm, Eryx could tell it was filled with worry.
"This is my daughter, Celina. Last year, not long after she returned from the Morning Snow Pocket Dimension, she was affected by a special cold. This special cold was named Ice Poison by me and other senior researchers of Eon Archivists."
Eryx listened closely as the Ember Queen continued. "Ice Poison is very dangerous. It has invaded her body, especially her organs, and has been slowly making her weaker. Her health has been getting worse for a long time now."
"We tried many things to get rid of Ice Poison, even called top Psionic Doctors, but to no avail. The more we tried to get rid of this poison, the faster it spread inside my daughter."
The Ember Queen's face showed a touch of sadness, which stirred Eryx's heart. But he soon calmed down.
On the other hand, Ember Queen continued, "After searching for a long time, our senior researchers discovered that there is only one way to cure her. Deep inside the Morning Snow Land, there is something called the Icy Flame Source. It's a special kind of cold flame that can burn out the Ice Poison from her body."
She paused for a moment, then added, "But there's a problem. The place where the Icy Flame Source is located can only be entered by people who have not awakened their Mind Power and Mental World yet. In simple words, only ordinary people without psychic abilities can enter that place named Icy Flame Valley. But it's a very dangerous place. Even powerful Psionic Warriors at the Mental Core Realm could lose their lives there."
"Because of this danger, no one is willing to take the risk. So, I sent out a request to all the academies and training schools, hoping to find someone who meets the requirements. I didn't expect the Principal of Star God Academy to send a student so soon, but it seems you are the only one who can help."
After hearing everything, Eryx immediately understood why the principal had given him this assessment.
He was the only person who hadn't awakened his mind power in the entire Star God Academy, making him the only one who could enter the dangerous place and retrieve the Icy Flame Source.