Now, in Dorian's case, the dilemma is different. The Veylmont family has both wealth and power, enough to acquire any memory they desire. Shadow Duelist, Ciphermage, Voidcaster, the possibilities are endless. As humanity evolves, so too does the Dream Realm, offering new types of memories, shaping itself like a living consciousness. They can buy whatever they want, but there lies the true issue, an Echo Memory cannot reach its full potential without a Domain Gate's aura.
That is why those who fail the Shattered Veil Trial weep. For them, there is no future. Without passing, they cannot even purchase an Echo Memory, no matter how wealthy their family might be.
Echo Memories are expensive, but more than wealth, fate itself determines who can enter the Domain. If the Domains open in their era, they might have a chance. They might step into Order 7's Shattered Veil Domain, seeking weapons, treasures and mysterious items they could either sell for a fortune or wield for themselves.
The Veryathis and Veylmont families are two sides of the same coin, separating them would be akin to destroying them both. Yet, the Veryathis family is eternal, unless a second Sovereign lineage rises to challenge them.
The irony? Within the Veylmont family, competition in wealth among kin is encouraged. They fight, scheme, and accumulate power, but one rule is absolute, challenging the Veryathis family is forbidden.
Not only their kin but even their influential members adhere to this unspoken law. Why? Because they know, they sit at the same table as a Sovereign lineage only because that lineage allows them to.
Without that protection, their wealth is nothing.
"Gold is a treacherous ally, loyal today, a stranger tomorrow."
And that is where the true power of the Veryathis family lies. With their backing, their presence in the market remains unrivaled, save for a few competitors, the Draymoor family being one of them.
This is also why the Veylmont family remains bound to the Veryathis. The Veylmonts are famed for their calculative minds, their ability to amass wealth across generations. The Veryathis, on the other hand, are strategists, masters of mind games but to play the game, wealth must first be secured.
The Veylmonts provide the gold.
The Veryathis dictate the game.
Other families forge alliances as well, for survival in the southern continent is brutal especially at the heart of the Nyxian Flow River, standing before the vast Pontus Expanse.
And with 20% of the world's trade passing through the Pontus Expanse Sea, this region isn't just harsh, it's more alluring than any other land.
That's one of the reasons this region has no crown, the nobles here refused to submit to a single ruler, choosing instead to carve out their own territories and keep power in their own hands.
Alistair's voice carried unquestionable authority rejecting his oldest son suggestion. "No. If I don't teach him a lesson now, he'll only repeat the same mistake. Your punishment is simple, you'll earn the two thousand solari from the bet yourself. And once that's done, we'll decide, based on your performance, what Echo Memory to grant you."
Seraphina, seated beside him, added smoothly, "Don't worry about the arena fight for now. I'll seek counsel from Levi's mother, she's an Oracle. She'll choose the most fitting memory for you. For now, your focus should be on earning that money."
Dorian fell silent. Arguing was pointless. After all, in this family, these two had the final say, his parents.
Then she spoke again, her tone leaving no room for delay. "Start eating."
And with that, the feast began.
The night bled into morning, its pale light spilling through the windows, casting long shadows over the hundred books strewn in chaos before him.
From a distance, it looked like a child had been playing with them, but a closer look revealed the truth, Levi was searching. His eyes, tinged red from exhaustion and the lingering strain of his dream realm journey, flickered between pages with relentless focus.
He flipped through one book after another, searching, repeating the process, never stopping.
A sudden, forceful knock on the library door snapped him back to reality.
"If I were in your place right now, I'd be dining in a lavish restaurant, boasting to my friends," a voice drawled.
A young man stepped in, slightly older than Levi. His features bore a strong resemblance, though more defined, with a more muscular build.
A smirk tugged at his lips as he continued, "Oh, but I forgot… you don't have friends. Or am I wrong? Maybe you do. A book that makes you laugh that's the friend who tells jokes, a tragic book, the friend who never stops complaining about his misfortunes. Then there's the serious one, the friend who gives unsolicited advice. And, of course, the romance books… Oh, I forget you don't have a girl.."
"Shut up and get out if you have nothing useful to say," Levi cut him off, his voice laced with irritation.
Cassian, his second brother, let out a low chuckle, unfazed. Leaning against a bookshelf, he propped one leg up in a casual stance.
"Quite the temper," he mused. "I was actually considering helping you decode that Arcana language you've been struggling with, but now? Now you've annoyed me. "Call me 'Second Brother' and ask properly 'Help me find this in the ancient scrolls, brother' and maybe, just maybe, I'll change my mind.", his voice laced with quiet derision.
"Oh, I didn't realize titles were being handed out like festival trinkets. Should I start addressing the stable boy as 'Your Majesty' too? I call Valerian 'big brother' because he's earned that respect. And you? Respect isn't something you demand, it's something you deserve. Try earning it first."
A scoff came from behind him. "You... Do you even understand a joke? Do all bookworms have to act like grandmothers, handing out wisdom at every turn?"
Levi didn't respond, flipping another page.
Cassian crossed his arms. "You do know I have a Ciphermage's memory, don't you? I can decode Arcana language, unlike you, squinting at those pages like a blind man fumbling in the dark. No shame in admitting that you don't understand magical symbols and Arcana texts from the previous eras."
Levi remained unimpressed. "No need. I'm just looking at the illustrations."
Cassian sighed dramatically. "Oh really, whatever you say." Then his expression shifted, amusement dancing in his eyes. "But I did hear an interesting rumor… Apparently, my little brother actually laughed. Why not show me that legendary smile?"
Before Levi could react, Cassian grabbed his cheeks and stretched them, forcing a grin onto his face.
Levi, deciding to play along, exerted pressure in return, his lips curling into an eerie, unsettling smile, the kind that belonged on a lunatic rather than a laughing man.
Cassian recoiled instantly. "Eek! Alright, I take it back. Clearly, I shouldn't believe every rumor I hear." He took a step back, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeves as if wiping away the unsettling sight from memory.
As he turned to leave, he threw one last remark over his shoulder. "Oh, I almost forgot, Mom wants your help in sending invitations to the noble families. A banquet to celebrate your Echo talent. But considering you've been up all night, don't forget to visit her after returning from the academy."
His voice echoed through the silent library, fading as he disappeared beyond the doors.
Levi tapped a finger against the book's worn cover, deep in thought. "Hmm… so he hasn't noticed anything strange about Mother.That means Valerian hasn't either."
He also wouldn't have noticed anything unusual either, if not for the fact that he had known the cold woman as his mother in the dream realm. There was no difference between the two. The same eyes, cold, detached, as if they weren't real.
With a quiet exhale, he refocused, his gaze sweeping over the scattered tomes.
A Ciphermage's Echo Memory… I've already learned most ancient languages in the dream realm. There isn't a single book in this entire library I can't read, yet still, not a single trace of the Luminara Order's past. No clue as to how they seized control of the Time Domain…
Closing the book with a soft thud, Levi rose to his feet, his mind still churning with unanswered questions as he made his way out of the library toward his room, preparing for his day at the academy.