Legacy of the Dark Sage

Function Hall 1 had been redesigned for the Array Creation's new rules. Cabinets full of materials were lined on each side, and six ten-meter radius Array circles were drawn on the floor. Three were lined up on the right, and the others on the left.

It was not active yet, but Kyran noticed the circles had three layers. The outer layer was a Support-type Array, and the layer after it was an Offense-type. Last, the third innermost layer was a Defense-type.

'So these circles are the calculations we have to decipher,' Kyran thought. He was surprised that the Courtenay Family managed to create a multi-layered Array.

So far, there were only three people he knew who could do something like this; Noir, Nolan, and his father, Cade. His father hinted his grandfather, Aron, was also good in Array, but Kyran had not seen any of his works yet, so he could not tell.

'The level of each Array circle is only at low to mid-tier, so a mage studying Arrays could more or less follow its calculations. But it will still be impossible for them to decipher. In the first place, if they can do that, they can be promoted to an Array Specialist. Unless...'

Kyran looked to the right side of the hall where the Courtenay participants were gathered.

'...they achieved that level without declaring it to the public.'

Such an instance was not unusual. One good example was Styx. Being an Abjurer, his Array knowledge was above average. If he took an assessment, he could become an Array Specialist.

Cade and Nolan had their assessment under the Regis Clan, although they probably did not want their level reassessed after acquiring more knowledge in the Tower of Tribulations. Both would likely have been promoted to an Array Legend or even a Saint if they did.

In any case, Kyran knew the Three Noble Families all employed at least one Array Specialist. It was not impossible to nurture a couple more if their Array Specialist took on disciples.

'Right, that person is also studying Array,' Kyran thought as his gaze fell on one of the Courtenay Family's participants.

Millie.

Millie's face brightened and waved enthusiastically when Kyran made eye contact with her.

Kyran already noticed her gaze when they entered the hall but chose to ignore her. But now that he had looked over their side, it was impossible not to make 'eye contact,' so he returned her smile and nodded his head slightly.

"Ah, Lady Millie... One of our regulars with Lady Mimi. To think she is one of the Courtenay's participants," Owen sighed. "Then again, Lady Millie's Array knowledge is actually good. It is a little regretful that Chairman Noir did not take her as a disciple. I remember she had been the strongest contender."

"Oi," Hamish elbowed Owen.

"Ow," Owen protested and looked at him. He was greeted by Hamish's stern look, who was also furtively tilting his head toward Kyran. Realizing what he had said, Owen laughed uneasily and added, "Ahaha... It is just a 'little,' though. Just a 'little.'"

Kyran chuckled and looked at Owen, "Relax. She was a strong contender, but in the end, I am the one who became Master Noir's disciple. That means her talent is so-so compared to mine. She's not impressive enough. That's why she was not chosen."

Owen and Hamish could not help but twitch at Kyran's arrogant answer.

Right. They almost forgot about 'Tyr's' arrogance because he had been quiet since his match with Lev. Because he was feeling under the weather, he also looked a little docile. In the end, his being sick did not affect his arrogance.

Anyway, they did not intend to refute him. After all, 'Tyr' could back up his arrogance.

'Tyr' did own all the events he participated in. He might have tied against Lev in his previous match, but the latter had been unstoppable. Moreover, 'Tyr' was not an Abjurer and only possessed support magic, yet he could hold his own against Elementors, not to mention a Summoner, by utilizing his Array knowledge.

In their opinion, 'Tyr' was setting up a new specialization for mages.

"Do you know anything about those two?" Kyran decided to change the subject.

He furtively glanced at the two men with Millie.

Just like Millie, both men had blonde hair and olive-green eyes. One had short curly hair, while the other had long straight hair tied in a ponytail.

Kyran recalled their names were Malcolm and Deite, respectively. But the Conclave's information on them was superficial— like both came from the main branch and were studying Array under the Courtenay's Array Specialist.

"Malcolm and Deite," Hamish replied. "Apart from the information provided by the Conclave, they are also regulars of the order. But they rarely come in person. Their Array knowledge is average compared to Lady Millie's. Though, from what I've heard, both are smart and can achieve better results if they are really serious about studying Array."

"They're studying Array just for fun?"

"More like, the elders of their family require them to study it."

"You probably are not aware of this, Disciple Tyr, but most prodigies from the main branches of the Three Noble Families can't choose their specializations. The elders will choose for them depending on the family's needs," Owen chimed in.

"The only exceptions are those geniuses like Lady Mimi," Hamish added. "The level of her innate magic is high that's why they let her be. Although, she has been studying under the Patriarch because she is one of the future leaders of the Courtenay Family."

"What about Millie?" Kyran asked. He remembered the level of her innate magic was not that high; thus, she was sent to the military school instead of the magic school.

Owen sighed, "She is only from the branch family, so whatever she chose did not matter. But her innate magic is not that powerful. That's why she really devoted her time to studying Array."

Owen and Hamish did not notice it, but Kyran's expression changed slightly. His eyes narrowed as he fell into contemplation.

'From the branch family? Impossible, I remember she is from the main branch. That's why when that happened, the Courtenay Patriarch did everything to hush things up,' Kyran thought. 'He even wanted to silence me. That did not happen because the headmaster told him I am a Regis. In the end, he left me be and I was able to stay in military school.'

Still, if Millie came from a branch family, Kyran could not execute his plan.

Kyran closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to revise his plan.

'No,' Kyran opened his eyes and looked at Millie again.

Millie, who seemed not to have taken her eyes off him, smiled at once.

Kyran did not return her smile this time. He only looked at her in silence.

'She is definitely from the main branch. Something might have happened. In any case, the fact she is always with Mimi must mean something. I need to understand the Courtenay Family's structure,' Kyran decided.

He could not leave the Courtenay Family alone, given how they were invested in studying Array compared to the other noble families.

"We will now commence with the Array Competition!" The Courtenay representative announced as soon as he arrived.

The crowd inside consisted mostly of the Three Noble Families. There were few from the Royal Army and none from the Conclave.

After what happened on the island, Noir and the other council members forbid their members from watching the matches. It was to ensure their members would not be in danger when something like that happened.

And they knew something would happen again. Kyran had already warned them of it.

Though he only told them the Three Noble Families would participate in the Field Operation event, that already said a lot.

Field Operation was the main highlight of the joint military exercise. Accidents on or before the event would definitely occur.

"I will now explain the rules of the competition," the announcer continued.

The layers inside the six Array circles lit up one after another.

"Each participant will be assigned to one of these circles. On each circle, three types of Array had been created. The first layer is a support-type array. The second is an offensive type, and the third is a defensive type.

"The participants will be given an hour to decipher each layer. In the event that a participant fails to decipher a layer during the given time, his or her score will automatically be counted as 0. The layer will then be removed, and he or she can decipher the next one.

"Participants, please keep in mind that it is forbidden to ask your fellow members for assistance. If you require any items, please feel free to take them from the materials cabinet provided on your side.

"Last, the first team who succeeds in deciphering all nine, or at least the one who deciphered the most Array, will be the winner."

The rules were pretty straightforward. To the point, it had many flaws. But Kyran was not about to complain. They were here to complete what they were asked to do without giving away too much of their 'trade secret.'

Kyran glanced at Owen and Hamish, who both nodded in return. They already devised a strategy for deciphering the Arrays without 'showing' the crowd their techniques.

This had only been possible because the rules were too straightforward.

If the head committee had come up with a meticulous one, Kyran would not have suggested doing it.

"Thirty minutes," he said. "Let's finish early."