Y’SE IYLOX

Lynne only felt gentleness, warmth from the slender, snow-white arms as they wrapped around his neck. Soft like silk, warm like sun, he was briefly stunned, unable to respond in any way. His blood surged like fire, crying like a little child who had finally found family. Lynne didn’t even attempt to calm it; rather, he, deep down, knew he couldn’t. This resonance was far beyond simple recognition. What screamed was a very faint and small part of his whole, yet it screamed so it tore through all barriers the rest of him formed.

He felt as if he had drowned in strange delirium, one found only when a person learns tranquility beyond measure. This sort of peace was a chance encounter, one that can never be repeated out of will. Similarly, Lynne extended his arms – almost subconsciously – and hugged the woman back. Two sat wrapped in each other’s embrace under the strange gazes of Thalia and Gru. Yet, rather than simple feeling of romantic love, the scene exuded something much deeper, something that runs as deep as a person’s core.

“Khm, khm,” Thalia coughed, interrupting the tranquility after a few moments; she even felt slight guilt over it. “Hello?”

“Ah,” the woman finally let go of Lynne as she sat up next to him, her gaze still fixated wholly on him. “Do you feel it?” she asked Lynne instead of replying to Thalia.

“… yes.” Lynne mumbled as he still fought to regain his composure.

“Wow, I’ve never seen you this flustered.” Thalia said, tilting her head.

“Ha ha,” Lynne laughed weakly. “Rather than flustered… it’s more akin to confusion. I’m so fucking lost right now.”

“Hey, you and me both buddy.” Thalia said.

“Damn Boss, you really get all the fine ladies!” Gru interjected from the side.

“Alright, alright,” Lynne shook his head, forcibly calming himself that. “Let’s go over this slowly. You called me brother, right? That’s impossible.”

“Eh? How so?” the woman asked, smiling slyly.

“Do you even know my parents?” Lynne asked casually. “It’s a wonder they screwed once. Hah, even I’m just a lucky chance. You? You’d be a gigantic fucking miracle.”

“Ha ha,” the woman suddenly laughed sweetly, her calming voice like cold rain after raging inferno. “I imagine both your parents still have their below parts,” she continued casually. “Just because they aren’t poking each other doesn’t mean they aren’t poking – or, well, being poked – others.”

“… hmm, interesting,” Lynne said. “But no.”

“Alright, fine,” the woman said. “I’m not your sister in the sense you’re thinking.”

“What other sense is there?!”

“Aah, that will require some backstory first,” the woman said, getting up. “Why don’t you guys join me at the top, and we’ll talk while drinking some sweet tea, huh?”

“Tea?” Thalia grumbled as she got up. “You better bring out the strongest alcohol you’ve got woman.”

“I concur.” Lynne said.

“Whatever Boss said.” Gru added.

“Oh, fellow drinkers?” the woman smiled sweetly as she moved toward the stairs. “Always a pleasure to meet kindred souls.”

“Yada yada, just lead the way.” Thalia said as she moved closer toward Lynne and took his hand, forcing him next to her. “If you plan on sticking your dick into that, you and I are done.”

“Oi, oi, what kind of a man do you think I am?” Lynne cried defensively. “I didn’t even stick my dick into you, how could I go about sticking my dick in others?”

“… really? You’re going with that line of thought?”

“Yup, not my finest moment.”

“Ugh…”

“Hey, don’t ‘ugh’ me!” Lynne cried as they stepped onto the staircase and moved upwards. “This is also the first time I’ve seen her! I know I’m incomparably charming and that every woman under heaven wants to hug me, but even I’m slightly shocked!”

“Yeah, sure, your dick is coated in milk and mead…”

“Others mostly said it tastes salty.”

“Oh. My. God.”

“Yeah, heard it too…”

As the group kept climbing up, they were yet again shocked by the sheer number of books, despite the fact that they knew the exact number of them. Finally, after about half an hour, they reached a strange, steel hatch. The woman up front flung her sleeve lightly whereupon the hatch opened, leading them into a rather cramped, round room. With another flick of her sleeve, the woman cleaned up the floor full of books and materialized a table and four chairs.

Two elderly men quickly got up from their seats and hurried over toward the group, bowing before the woman up front.

“Our Queen.” the two spoke in unison. Queen? Could it be…? Lynne thought for a moment.

“You two can take a rest,” the woman said, smiling. “Today’s a joyous occasion. I don’t want two ugly corpses ruining it.” Oi! That’s brutal!

“Yes, my Queen.” rather than hurt, the two elderly seemed to be overjoyed as they hurried down the hatch and disappeared.

“Now, let’s sit down,” she said as she flicked her sleeve yet again, this time procuring four bottles of translucent, almost glistening liquid, and handed one each. “This drink is known as ‘Heavenly Ale’. Although it’s called ale, it’s really more sweet than sour. However, it hits harder than a fucking iron whip.”

“…”

“…”

“Uh, so, brother?” Lynne asked as he sat down and took a gulp, immediately being besieged with fire akin to that inside the Emperor’s Flame realm. However, having already been accustomed to it, he battled it with relative ease. Gru was slightly uncomfortable, but he also managed to endure as he was Empyrean. Thalia, on the other hand, chortled and nearly spat out as she began coughing.

“Ha ha, easy, easy,” the woman said, sending a stream of white light toward Thalia, whereupon the latter seemed to have immediately recovered. “Didn’t you hear me say that it hits harder than a twenty inch dick?”

“Wasn’t it an iron whip?” Gru said.

“Ah, potato, potato.” the woman said casually, sitting down herself. “Now, let me first introduce myself: my name is Y’se Iylox, the Queen of the Tower of the Knowledge and overseer of the Eastern Domain.” So… she really is the Queen that voice mentioned? Lynne pondered for a moment but said nothing.

“So, the brother thing, then?” Lynne asked.

“Indeed, we’re not directly related by blood as you may think,” Y’se said, smiling. “However, the same blood still runs through our veins. You also felt it: that strong resonance, it’s not something you can feel between just distant family members. However, I’d like you to answer a question of mine first.”

“Hm?”

“How did you awaken our Bloodline?” Y’se asked with strangely curious expression. “Usually, Bloodline of our clansmen is known immediately upon birth. An instance of late awakening has never been recorded before.”

“Eh?” Lynne looked at her, far more confused than anyone could imagine; suddenly, a crimson light flashed within his eyes whereupon a child-like figure with crimson hair appeared next to him. A moment later, another chair materialized next to Lynne whereupon the child sat on it.

“I believe I’m the reason.” the child said faintly. Y’se scrutinized him for a moment before a glint of understanding – and surprise – flashed through her eyes.

“Sanguine God,” she muttered. “No wonder.”

“Okay, as a direct subject of the conversation,” Lynne said, slightly annoyed. “I’d like to be clued in as to what the fuck is going on.”

“Immediately upon rousing it,” however, the child continued speaking to Y’se without even looking at Lynne. “I hid its presence. It wasn’t until I felt your blood that I let a faint trace seep out.”

“So, you immediately knew whose Bloodline it was?” Y’se asked, curious.

“Knew? Not really. There’s a whole bunch of you, how could I know the specifics?” the child smirked lightly.

“Ha ha, indeed. Regardless, thank you; both for helping him out and protecting him along the way.”

“Eh, indeed, it’s a hard job,” the child said, sighing. “This fella, wherever he goes, he just stirs up trouble.”

“Hey, fuck you!” Lynne cried out angrily. “Wasn’t I really low-key recently? Huh?”

“You battled an Accio God,” the child said dismissively. “And even beat him back. How the hell is that low-key?”

“… okay, fair point. Anyway, seriously, clue me in.”

“You and I hail from the same clan,” Y’se turned toward Lynne and began explaining slowly, taking a sip of the alcohol from time to time. “Although we are commonly referred to as Ancient Clan, it’s far too broad of a generalization. In reality, if we go by history, there are over twenty Ancient Clans. It kind of hurts me that they group us all in the same bottle, but fuck them.”

“Our Ancient Clan is situated in the Yonngash Divine Realm,” Y’se continued calmly. “And is one of the leading forces there. I imagine that you were born outside of Clan’s direct knowledge, but, even if you haven’t, you’d be ordinary member at most. Despite being referred to as power to be reckoned with, our Clan’s general power is at the far bottom. Nearly all of our members have no talent in Magic, and can – at most – reach the peak of Foundation Realm.” Dad, then… Lynne thought, not interrupting.

“However, our strength lies at the very top,” Y’se continued. “Once in a while, a member in Clan will be born with the strength of our Ancient Bloodline. If nothing goes awry, it is almost guaranteed that they can reach the pinnacle of Magic. Publicly, our Clan stands tall because of our two Great Ancestors: both of which are Divine Mages.” it was then, finally, that Gru and Thalia couldn’t suppress the shock they felt. However, the following sentence struck them like thunder from the clear sky. “In reality, though, our Clan has four Divine Mages. While we can’t compare with others on a smaller scale within the Magus and Grand Realms, we are unrivaled when it comes to top dogs.”

“… so, I’m your brother by… proxy?” Lynne asked, slightly less shocked than Thalia and Gru who couldn’t close their mouths as he didn’t fully understand the impact of that number of Divine Mages.

“Although I’m much older than you,” Y’se continued, nodding. “In the grand scheme of years, we still belong to the same generation. Technically, you would probably be my nephew, but that makes me sound older than I am. In addition, besides me, you’re the only one in the past two million years to have awakened our Bloodline. To me, you’re my little brother. So, from now on, call me big sis!”

“F-f-our Divine Mages?” Thalia muttered. “HOW THE FUCK IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!” she suddenly shouted, causing Lynne to nearly fall over.

“Ha ha,” Y’se laughed lightly. “Many things in this world are hidden from the eyes of the curious,” she said, smiling. “It’s not like we’re the only Clan who has multiple Divine Mages. Nearly every Ancient Clan actually has at least two. While, for the neo-clans, it may be difficult to procure even a single Divine Magus, for those with Bloodlines of the First Men, it’s only a matter of time really.”

“I can’t tell you how happy I was when I first felt the resonance,” her gaze then turned back to Lynne, eyes brimming with love and warmth. “I thought: finally, I’m no longer alone. I know you have a lot more questions, but, considering your current strength, it’s perhaps best we leave them for later. Hmm?” she suddenly narrowed her eyes as she scrutinized him yet again. “Wait… do you have a secondary Bloodline as well?” she asked, somewhat shocked.

“Ah, yes,” Lynne said, sighing. “My name? You know, Lynne Hyorn? Hyorn Clan?”

“Oh my.” Y’se’s eyes suddenly widened and then she burst out in laughter. “Ha ha, I can’t believe it! Wait, you are Yunchi’s child? Ha ha ha!”

“Eh?! How do you know?” Lynne asked.

“This is straight-out fucking comedy!” Y’se laughed. “Let me guess: she fucked someone from our Clan without her Clan’s permission, and you were never allowed inside the Clan?”

“Hm,” Lynne nodded. “Something that like.”

“Ha ha, oh my fuck, I can’t imagine the faces of those old shits in their Clan if they knew who they discarded!” she simply couldn’t stop laughing, nearly falling off from her chair. “Aah, I have to rub this in one day. Hey,” she then began talking in a mocking tone. “Hyordians, remember Yunchi’s kid, one you discarded because he wasn’t planned properly? Well, he also has Ancient Bloodline of the First Men, and is sure to become Divine Magus within hundred years! Man, I imagine you’re shitting your pants, but cease that smell, ‘cause he’s actually my little brother! Ha ha ha, aii, if only you came a bit earlier, we’d have had the funniest show of the decade.”

“Eh?” Lynne looked at her, confused, thousand thoughts spinning in his mind.

“Ah, I just came back from south,” Y’se said, smiling. “It just so happens that your dear mother and her clansmen are there.”

“Wait, what?!” Lynne exclaimed.

“Aye, they’re attempting to kill a good friend of mine.”

“True Dragon?” Lynne asked, arching his brows.

“Eh? How’d you know?” it was Y’se time to be surprised.

“… I was told to find it.” Lynne said, sighing. “By another True Dragon.”

“Oh?” Y’se scrutinized him yet again, her smiling face beaming like sun. “Ryuuk took liking to you? This just keeps getting better, hahaha! I bet the dead ancestors of those bastards are rolling in their grave!”

“Eh? Ryuuk?” Lynne asked.

“Aye,” Y’se nodded. “True Dragon of Darkness.”