Lith Verhen/History/Volume 11

## Chapters 1263 - 1366

Solus stores the Eye of Kolga in the tower's underground crystal mine, connecting it to all the other crystals. Lith and Kamila visit the Fastarrows, where Lith talks to Protector and Solus about his meeting with Mogar and Carl and the revelation of him being an Abomination. Protector admonishes him and tells him he is different because he had chosen to protect life rather than destroy it unlike Abominations, urging him to take his time to appreciate what he has. Lith explains his tribulation to the family, though is sidetracked by the reveal that Elina had invited Kamila's parents Crefas and Kima Retta to their home for a second visit. Elina also reluctantly reveals that Orpal had visited with news of Trion's death, which Tista and Lith react angrily to. The family descends into an argument in which Tista and Lith refuse to believe Orpal's redemption and brush off Trion's death while Raaz and Elina try to argue leniency.

Lith, Kamila, and Tista contact Count Trequill Lark, informing him of Orpal's return. Lark shows him he received a card marked "Past" similar to those Balkor had sent to the Griffon Kingdom's noble houses in the past. Lith meets with Friya, Nalrond, and Quylla who share their experience in Nalrond's Fringe and encounter with the elves, and reveals his Abomination origin. Phloria nonchalantly accepts it and Nalrond shrugs it off, instead asking about the Eye of Kolga and Hands of Menadion. After slight hesitation, Friya and Quylla reaffirm their friendship with him. Lith discusses Orpal's return and Trion's death, and the group deliberates whether the two events are linked.

### DoLorean

Lith asks Friya for help in crafting a gift for his parents to let them travel safely, as she is the only one of their group who knows how to operate dimensional runes thanks to her apprenticeship under Professor Rudd. Friya practices creating Warp Drives repeatedly to the point of exhaustion. After every failure, they revise the blueprints and adjust the position of the pseudo cores, giving Friya's Forgemastering hammer the time to recharge. Lith decides to create his first power core instead of an artifact with multiple pseudo cores in order to accommodate its intended non-mage users. He combines a Warp Drive, Construct core, and many other smaller pseudo cores to assemble into a power core, with Friya and Solus gradually increasing the number of mana pathways surrounding the heart of the enchantment. The pressure they generate keep the power core stable and helps Lith in the assembling process.

Lith reveals the new DoLorean to his family and takes them on a trip over the Trawn Woods before landing in Lutia. The villagers' overt shamelessness in proposing wives and mistresses to Lith cause the Verhens to depart immediately after, though Zekell Proudhammer sneaks in. They visit Count Lark's mansion, where the magic-obsessed noble enthusiastically takes the DoLorean on a joy ride while the adults rest and snack. Lark thanks Lith for the exhilarating opportunity, but Lith thanks the Count for having provided the foundations for the start of his magical career. They return to Lark's mansion for dinner where Lark mentions Leria and Aran's magical education. Dinner talk of the children's recent magical misdeeds lead Lith to bring the two on a magical bootcamp.

### Magic Bootcamp

Lith is notified by Marchioness Mirim Distar of his invitation to the Royal Gala to celebrate the fall of Kogaluga. He attempts to bring Leran and Lilia along to the bootcamp, but Protector declines as Selia is sending him away with the kids on their own trip. Elina pesters him about bringing Kamila along and having children. He Warps Aran and Leria along with their magical beast companions Abominus and Onyx to Derios before taking the Gate to Xaanx cityand then Mount Sartak.

Aran and Leria witness life from the perspective of commoners and non-magic folk for the first time. Lith imparts lessons on magic responsibility and caution to help them understand and control their powers, though Solus reins in his more pessimistic and cynical outlook on life. After a brief meal at the Hot Pot inn, they climb Mount Sartak. The kids complain about the inconveniences without magic, though Lith stokes the fire of competition between them as motivation. He teaches them the basics of magic and about the circle of life by having them hunt their own food for the first time.

While the children rest, Lith reflects on his proto-guardian form from his tribulation and how it allowed him to fight like a violet core. He practices using Accumulation on and studies his organs' vortexes, though makes little progress. The group returns to the inn for the night, when they are disturbed by a confrontation between two merchants and their mercenaries. The mercenaries attack Lith with the intent to rob and frame him, but a brief show of force makes them submit. He summons a Royal Constable after making a call to the Mage Association before smoothing things over with the inn occupants.

After Aran and Leria master the basics of air and water magic, Lith moves onto light and earth. Kamila visits Lith but upon discovering he'd been holding a magic bootcamp, ends the training and retires the group to the Hot Pot Inn. However, after learning that Lith had never had a proper childhood, Kamila comforts him, and the children snuggle together with the couple at night. Lith shares his struggles with achieving the violet core and Kamila gives advice. Kamila has Lith bring the children back to Xaanx city and shop around. The next few days they travel between cities watching the children play on the beach, sightseeing, and eating, with Kamila trying to get Lith to enjoy the moment despite him thinking it's a waste of time and money. Lith reminisces about his childhood with Carl and agrees to relax, playing with making sand sculptures with body casting.

The following day Lith brings the kids shopping in the city. Aran confides to Lith his doubts about his magic talent due to having fewer streaks than Leria, and when Lith reassures him by reminding him of other talented male mages, Aran gives unflattering descriptions of mages like Protector, Marth, Vastor, and Manohar. Suddenly, a group of robbers cause a commotion nearby. Lith swiftly incapacitates them practicing chore magic body casting while demonstrating to Aran how to use magic in combat. He subdues the leader, Iskha, but after Aran refers to Lith as an Archmage, Iskha shapeshifts into his Vagrash form intending to rob him. He attempts to capture Aran as a hostage, but Lith stops him and sends Aran away with Solus. Though Iskha surprises Lith with gravity fusion, Lith kills Iskha in a fairly one sided battle.

News of an Archmage's mastery of gravity magic to the point of going toe-to-toe with an Emperor Beast spreads throughout the Kingdom. When he returns to Lutia he receives a notice from the Royals categorizing the DoLorean as Forbidden Magic and forbidding production until it has been tested. He also receives a letter from Salaark inviting him to the Blood Desert as his "Grandma" along with compliments and cosmetic suggestions for the DoLorean.

### Blackest Day

Jirni privately invites Lith to the Ernas mansion where she reveals the spread of Balkor copycat cards and informs him about the upcoming Royal Gala where Phloria's trial will likely conclude. She suggests Deirus intends on making his move after the gala and recalls the Ernas sisters back home for their safety. Lith consults Quylla about his violet core theories, gaining inspiration after realizing the link between fusion magic and vortexes.

A Warp Gate is constructed in the Verhen's barn and Faluel's Awakened academy resumes. Kalla is invited as a guest lecturer on behalf of the Awakened Council to teach people about undead. Kalla explains the nature of undead and the difference between Baba Yaga's children and Liches. Lith shares his conversation with Mogar and Abomination origin with Faluel and Kalla, who insist he is perfectly acceptable as he is and warn him away from Chaos magic.

Lith is practicing Fusion Magic when he receives a call from Queen Sylpha. Appalled at the humble state of his home and frustrated at his refusal to spend a penny for a more lavish one, she announces she will construct a mansion at her own expense that he will live in, despite his protests. The following day he follows the Royal summons to the Royal Court for his DoLorean's field test. He is accompanied by the Royals, the Ernas couple, Marchioness Mirim Distar, and Constable Tyris. Jirni and Orion successfully simulate infiltration and smuggling activities before arriving past the Kingdom's borders in the Gorgon Empire where Valeron had first established the borders of the Kingdom. Tyris thanks Lith for the opportunity to return and find closure for her lover's death, and they are greeted by Empress Milea Genys and a disguised Leegaain.

Sylpha decides to classify the DoLorean as Tier 1 Forbidden Magic, prohibiting its production. Milea disagrees and reminds Lith the Empire will always have a place for him before ordering the Royals to leave. Sylpha gives Lith a Royal Order to suspend all activities until he has produced a copy for Mirim and one for the Royals. Meron approves his request to make a copy for Count Lark, but denies one for Kamila Yehval in order to tie him down to the Kingdom.

Lith updates Friya on the events that transpired, having not mentioned her name to avoid conflict of interest between Friya's familial duty and agreement with Faluel. Faluel begins teaching Morok, Lith, and Solus the basics of true Domination. Lith recuperates with a night of "rest" with Kamila. The following day, Faluel introduces the basics of Spirit Mastery and has them practice enhancing and manifesting elemental aspects in pure mana.

Lith and Tista return home to discover Kamila's parents Kima and Crefas Retta along with Orpal in their home. Lith provokes Orpal by dressing frivolously and lures Kima into exposing too much in her attempt to lure Lith into their business, allowing Jirni to arrest them for their crimes. She also discredits Orpal's fake backstory after he reveals too much due to his ego and desire to outdo Lith. Orpal reveals his true colors and Jirni kicks him out of the house. Vastor advises Lith get children of his own soon, with the looming conflicts on the horizon.

A month later Lith masters Domination for his five eyes up to Tier 3 spells. He also becomes able to body cast up to Tier 3 and constantly practices weaving runes at every available opportunity, even while walking. He takes a break to celebrate Blackest Day with the kids after learning that three members of Salaark's Nest are watching his home. He pampers Frey and Filia after seeing their meek behavior due to Fallmug's abuse and takes them flying.

News of Count Lark's murder by the Balkor copycat cancels the festivities. Lith lashes out at Jirni and Mirim after learning of the mansion's inadequate defenses. Kamila takes leave and drags him to Belius, where the elemental sealing arrays suppresses his powers, calming him down. She holds him as he mourns, insisting he rest, and comforts him when his Hybrid Form accidentally hurts her in his grief. Contrary to expectation, he discovers that his Abomination Touch avoids her touch and doesn't harm her.

### Council Introduction

The following day, Faluel offers her condolences to Lith and brings up the issue of Friya being a liability due to the Balkor cards. To resolve this, she Awakens Friya. The Awakened apprentices are formally introduced to the Council, with Lith and Friya at the center of attention due to being the first potential hybrid between the Phoenix and Dragon species and a hexa-streaked human, respectively. Salaark performs the Blood Imprint on Lith, manifesting his Phoenix side and confirming his relation to her. She renews her invitation to the Desert and he promises her the DoLorean he had planned on giving Count Lark.

Salaark introduces him to her children Crevan Gershal, Lenanna, and Jhet who had been tasked with protecting Lutia. They inform him that unless he joins the nest in the future, their protection won't last. Gentor the Golden Dragon chimes in saying that Dragons are better off on their own. Qisal the Wyvern interrupts and provokes Lith by insulting and disparaging his human friends, including Lark and Kamila. Lith shoots back and the situation escalates with Lith drawing War from his omnipocket, whose ability to talk shocks all those present. Salaark reprimands Lith for his insults, though promises that she would protect Kamila and his bloodline if he has children with her, to the extent of exterminating the Wyvern bloodline or those that threaten them.

Qisal invokes a Spirit Duel. Initially, the Wyvern’s centuries of combat experience and superior body put Lith on the back foot. When Lith regenerates his wings which he had lost in a physical clash with Qisal, the Blood Imprint's effects persist, causing them to regenerate as red-veined black feathered wings. Lith's constant practice with his vortexes ever since Quylla's advice evolves his Hybrid Form and he summons Demons of the Lava, leveling the playing field. His life forces merge further with every spell he casts, though he handedly defeats Qisal before they can merge, and the effects fade after duel’s premature end.

Lith continues practicing body casting, becoming able to circulate four, nearly five elements at the same time with fusion magic. Solus does the same in the hopes it would help her regain her human body faster. Mirim contacts him about the location of his new mansion, and he settles with a clearing in the eastern Trawn Woods that used to belong to the Rath household due to the presence of a hidden mana geyser. Mirim reveals herself as a fake Awakened and her position as Lord Commander of both the Queen's Corps and Queen's Corpse. Lith meets Amyla Farg again who is assigned as his liaison to the Corpse. Mirim apologizes for how she treated him at their first meeting and explains part of her past before expressing her heartfelt affection for him.

Lith becomes reserved, prioritizing mastering Spirit Magic, Dominance, and acquiring a violet core over spending time with his family. Kamila serves as his only anchor by threatening to break up with him to break him free from his obsession. He attempts to give Kamila a DoLorean but she declines. She takes him to a new establishment in Catreesh city called Haug's Traveling Tavern where he meets Parmegianno Haug, an elder from the Council.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 1263: Family Business (Part 1)
2. ↑ Chapter 1266: Black Sheep (Part 2)
3. ↑ Chapter 1270: Solus' True Power (Part 2)
4. ↑ Chapter 1275: Craftsman’s Pride (Part 1)
5. ↑ Chapter 1282: Safe Travels (Part 2)
6. ↑ Chapter 1289: Road Trip (Part 1)
7. ↑ Chapter 1293: Circle of Life (Part 1)
8. ↑ Chapter 1300: Fear and Dead Men (Part 2)
9. ↑ Chapter 1310: Hands and Muscles (Part 2)
10. ↑ Chapter 1316: Weak Points (Part 2)
11. ↑ Chapter 1317: Call Me Grandma (Part 1)
12. ↑ Chapter 1321: Joint Interests (Part 1)
13. ↑ Chapter 1325: Royal Summon (Part 1)
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Chapter 1329: Domination (Part 1)
15. ↑ Chapter 1336: Artificial Mana Flow (Part 2)
16. ↑ Chapter 1342: Monsters Among Us (Part 2)
17. ↑ Chapter 1345: Into Blackest Night (Part 1)
18. ↑ Chapter 1349: White Streaks (Part 1)
19. ↑ Chapter 1353: Blood Imprint (Part 1)
20. ↑ Chapter 1355: Parents and Gifts (Part 1)
21. ↑ Chapter 1361: The Verhen Mansion (Part 1)
22. ↑ Chapter 1365: Travelling Tavern (Part 1)
23. ↑ Chapter 1366: Travelling Tavern (Part 2)