"I... told her your name, and... I told her you want to talk." Iqra stuttered.

Armad sighed. The damage had already been done. He just had to figure out how to deal with the aftermath. "Can anyone trace us using the message?" He asked.

"No, master. The network is untraceable and no one can even differentiate it from the system used by the First Worlders. Additionally, only one person can see it. Even if Nostalgia decided to share it with others, they can't see it. I'll also know if her answer is not what her mind holds."

That last sentence caught Armad's attention. "Are you some kinda mind mage? How will you know if she lies or if she tries to trick us?" Armad felt he'd the right to be paranoid.

"No, no, I'm not, master. His Majesty created the network in a way it can detect any lies or uncertainties. The message is directly sent to the mind and the answer has to be clear."

Armad heaved a sigh of relief. Sending the message might not necessarily be a bad thing. It would depend on how Nostalgia reacted. And what her intention in saving him in the first place was.

"You still haven't told me whose voice was that in the fallen city." Armad asked.

"That's my previous owner. His name is Amraikugyu Bayajidda. He learned about The Secret and the First Worlders clipped his wings. He's closely related to your friend Tyren. I think they're distant cousins or something."

"Why the hell are you calling him my friend? Is there something you would like to share?"

Iqra hesitated a bit but he finally told him. "He's the same blood as you. I don't know how he managed it but his Wilberforce blood is strong despite not being a Wilberforce. Probably, one of those retched rituals used before The Descent. Just be careful when you meet him next. He was hiding his real strength when you fought."

"He was hiding his strength?!" Armad raised his eyebrows in confusion.

"Er... It was subtle but I picked it because I'm a soul. It was like his soul is just a part of a whole. Like he has three different pieces; two missing. I think he used just a third of his strength. Probably less."

"Probably less, huh? Well, that's interesting. Looking forward to fighting him again."

Arms fell silent. What really bothered him was The Secret, not Tyren. "So your former owner somehow found out about the secret. He went against the First Worlders and he lost."

"Exactly. And I think the sword worshippers are also planning to go against the First Worlders. Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence that they know about the fallen city and The Secret when nobody does? Even if my former owner and the sword worshippers aren't connected, the sword worshippers are definitely planning something against the First Worlders. I think that's why they stopped treating you as an enemy. They simply recognized you as an ally. We should be able to confirm everything from Nostalgia as soon as she responded to our message."

Armad nodded. He slowly understood the situation. "The Secret! What will happen when the world knows about it? How will the lower worlds react?"

"My former owner had the same questions. It will be something to see. But, I just don't think the inhabitants of the lower worlds has the stomach for it."

Armad mulled it over. It was like Iqra said. The world was not ready for this kind of information yet.

"Exactly, the world isn't ready for it yet." Iqra said. "It's like a chain. First, Triple-factor found out about The Secret and the First Worlders put a bounty on him that forced him to go into hiding. But just before he disappeared, he told my former owner, lord Amraikugyu, about it. The First Worlders clipped Amraikugyu's wings and left him to rot in the interworld dungeon. Now the sword worshippers. I don't know how they are all linked to this and I certainly don't know how their story will end. But if they are going against the First Worlders they would be your greatest ally."

Armad narrowed his eyes in thought. Uznu Urúrú, and in extension the First Worlders, would be hunting him down. He needed allies. Powerful allies. But he'd to be careful about it. "The sword worshippers can't be allies. At least not yet. Now, you said Triple-factor told your former owner about The Secret, right? And you were with him when he told him, which means you've seen the Triple-factor. You must have seen him. Tell me, Iqra, who's this Triple-factor?"

"Wo, slow down. We've met but I didn't see him. We met in a temple on the Seventh World. We weren't allowed inside the temple. We stayed outside while he was inside. Our meeting used telepathic relays throughout."

"So, you've never seen him?" Armad said, deflated.

"Y... yeah. My former owner had some ideas about the identity of the man but we'd never confirmed it."

"Then who's that old man that saved Tyren during our fight? Don't tell me he's your former owner."

"No, no, he is not. That man is the first Bayajidda, the founder of the tribe. Both my former owner and Tyren are his descendants. I've seen my former owner summomed him a few times before. Wait, how did you even managed to see him? The Bayajiddas believed only they can see him. My former owner said the reason I could see him was because I was a soul."

Armad just wanted to confirm the identity of the man, and he did, so he moved to his next question. "is your former owner dead?"

"No, no, they couldn't kill him. Listen, there's something about the descendants of that old man, especially those with the Gift. They just can't die. Remember how Tyren refused to die during the final battle of the rebellion? My former owner was the same. He received hundreds of fatal wounds during his final battle with the First Worlders, but he refused to die. The First Worlders had no choice but to imprison him in the interworld dungeon. If my guess is right, Tyren is trying to free him."

"The way I see it there are three major players fighting against the First Worlders. House Wilberforce, House Bayajidda and the sword worshippers. Whoever they are." Armad concluded.

"Yes, master. I would suggest forming an alliance with one of them. Or both."

Armad thought about it for a while before he decided. "Perhaps, you are right. But just because we are all fighting the First Worlders doesn't mean we can be allies. It would depend on our reasons for fighting the First Worlders. I wouldn't be surprised if one of us betrayed the others for a handful of coins. Take me for example, I would settle for nothing less than the total abolishment of slavery. Which means I'll definitely end up fighting the First Worlders, the same way as my ancestors. But this may not have the case with the sword worshippers and the Bayajiddas. They probably just want something from the First Worlders which is causing them to rebel. Once they've that thing they will stop fighting. They may even turn against me."

"I would say master is being paranoid but, unfortunately, master is right. My former owner believed he'd the right to sit on the Divine Throne and rule the First World and the lower worlds. In fact, all the Bayajiddas, including Tyren, believe the Divine Throne to be their birthright. I know little about their claim but they are rebelling because they want the throne. They just want to rule. Besides, I don't think you can take down the First Worlders even if you all team up. So it's better to hold any alliances until absolutely necessary."

So many things were becoming clear. Armad now understood The Rebellion. What he didn't understand was why his mom was a part of it.

"Do you know why the sword worshippers are rebelling?" Armad asked.

"No, actually, and it would be safer to assume they aren't rebelling, yet. At least till we confirm things from Nostalgia." Iqra said.

Their discussion continued in that direction for a few more minutes before Armad brought up the ring.

"Listen, you mentioned something about a spatial ring. Are you sure this ring has some spatial powers? Such thing is rarer than a Pharaoh."

"It is. I'm sure of it. Just send your life energy into it."

Armad rubbed the runes on the otherwise speckless red stone and he sent his energy into it.

A small window appeared in front of him.

Your life energy is reacting to the signature of the spatial ring.

Energy is compatible.

Granting access....

Access is granted.

Do you want to check out available slots? Y/N?

Armad grimaced. Someone must have read his energy signature and then synch it to the signature of the ring. Only mind mages and soul mages could pull this off without his knowledge. The only person he could think of was... Nostalgia.

He pressed yes.

Internal storage is compartmentalised into two: 1]Armad, gain access? Y/N? 2]Nostalgia, gain access? Y/N?

"Freaking sword worshippers!"