Ael could have gone on lecturing forever, and Daylan wouldn't have cared—his ears hung on every word that had anything to do with his father.
However, Ael's expression and tone spoke volumes—while he didn't seem like he was hiding anything, it was equally clear that he wasn't going to be entirely truthful either.
Ael cleared his throat, the words playing softly on his lips. "I was your grandfather's apprentice. Back then, your father was just a teenager—but even at that age, he was one of the strongest people I'd ever met. Ax's aspect never worked on him…
Ever since I obtained Ax, I've used its aspect on many—but I've never been foolish enough to use its lullaby on anyone of higher rank. Your father, however, was the only one who overpowered the aspect, even in his sleep. His mind was just that powerful."
His expression darkened, the shift in his demeanor stark and chilling. "But that doesn't change the fact that you killed my grandson. And for that, you must atone."
Daylan's mind hardly registered Ael's final words, his mind reeling. "How exactly did you become my grandfather's apprentice?"
"Your grandfather never liked being called the strongest, and your father is the same. Master Albert was undeniably the most powerful man in all of Honor City, yet he chose a humble life—running his shop and managing his organization."
He paused for a moment, letting his words settle in the silence. "His prowess was undeniable, and I knew he could teach me things even the Divine Academy couldn't. As the heir to the Bastian family, I needed the strength to truly deserve that title. He refused me many times, but my persistence paid off—I eventually became his apprentice."
Ael's words raised more questions than they answered. Daylan tried to piece them together, but this was a side of his family he had never known. As much as he wanted to hear more about his grandfather's abilities, the need to understand ran deeper than the urge to simply listen.
Moreover, from Ael's words, it was clear he knew something about the Phantom—just as Daylan had suspected. But judging by his tone and the nostalgic look in his eyes, it seemed his understanding of the organization differed from the one Daylan and Astara knew.
A closed mouth gathers no relief—he knew that much. "What organization? And a shop?"
Ael smirked and shook his head. "There's something about Ax's ability I didn't mention. Once you're caught in the lullaby, I can glimpse some of your memories—mostly the recent and recurring ones. For instance, I know you want your sister to stay with us… because your mother is the leader of the Phantom."
Daylan was shocked but held his tongue, simply staring at Ael with an expression that was unreadable and devoid of bias.
"You've got to be careful. Either you train your mind to block others from reading it, or you train hard and raise your rank—because most warriors out there can read minds. Almost every Worth ability comes with at least a glimpse into someone else's thoughts."
Had Daylan heard this on any other day, it might've piqued his curiosity. But in that moment, all he truly heard was, get stronger, and I know everything about you.
However, the fact that Ael knew why he was there—knew about the Phantoms—and yet they were still breathing the same calm air… that, at least, was a good sign.
Daylan let out a sigh. "In that case, I'm sure you already know all the questions we were going to ask."
Ael rose to his feet, gave a brief gesture toward Astara and Daylan, then turned and made his way out of the hall. Daylan and Astara followed suit.
"Every Rhys has their own way of leading the Phantom. But once their reign ends, they're required to leave a distinct mark on the organization. During your grandfather's time as leader, the Phantom wasn't seen as a threat—it was an opportunity."
He paused, tilting his head toward the sky.
"He hunted demonic monsters and, using his Luck-based possession ability, crafted potions from their blood—potions people eagerly bought to gain demonic abilities. He was the only Rhys who had people work for him willingly and the one who led with the largest following."
A soft smile played on his lips.
"Your father never wanted anything to do with the organization—he was too free-spirited for that. With his Worth artifact, a cursed aspect sword, he was practically untouchable. He jumped from woman to woman, ate without paying… a literal menace. He never paid for anything, and no one could stop him—his artifact had manifested at Light Mastery level, a feat even royals rarely achieve."
Daylan listened with quiet focus, his expression calm as he devoured each word like it carried weight.
"I doubt I could even hold a candle to him, even at my current rank. His Luck ability—still a mystery to this day—was something Albert once said would make Gerald unstoppable if he ever mastered it. I worked alongside them for nearly a decade, and still… neither of them ever spoke a word of it to me."
"Just how strong was the aspect? Did he curse everyone or something?" Astara asked.
Ael smirked. "Even he didn't fully grasp the extent of the aspect's power. He never paid much attention to it—like I said, he was free-spirited and barbaric. Magic didn't interest him. His physical strength alone was enough."
His expression darkened. "But from what I saw… once the aspect was activated, it released a dark, smoke-like aura. Anyone who inhaled it was likely to be cursed—either with death or complete possession."
Each word from Ael made Daylan realize just how little he truly knew about his own family. Since arriving in this world, he had believed the Elite rank was the highest an ability could reach—just above the High Mastery rank. But the fact that his father's artifact had manifested at the Light Mastery level spoke volumes.
It was safe to assume that by the time his father died, his artifact had reached either Peak Mastery or even the Early Elite rank. And that raised a chilling question: how powerful was his mother if she had been able to kill someone that strong?
As his mind wandered, Ael's words cut through his daze.
"Not long after your grandfather passed, your mother joined the Phantom. How she and your father fell in love and became a couple is beyond me."
The words weighed heavily on Daylan. If he had been asked before the conversation started what he would do with such information about his family, he might have given a more profound answer. But in that moment, the words felt like a sweet poison—he was glad to have heard them, but they spiraled his thoughts in ways he hadn't anticipated.
"I suggest you two leave. I'll send someone to fetch your sister tomorrow. And a word of advice—don't go after your mother. But if you must, make sure you're stronger and have gathered enough information about her… and her team."
Ael's expression darkened, and his words left no room for argument—firm, commanding, and unmistakably dismissive.
And that's exactly what happened—neither Daylan nor Astara said a word. They simply turned and made their way out, the guards along the path bowing repeatedly to Astara.
Their mission was complete—and more than that, they had left with crucial information. But Daylan needed time to clear his mind, and even in silence, Astara understood that perfectly.
Little did she know, Daylan was preoccupied with how he would convince Zira to come to the Bastian house, especially after promising her they would explore the city the following day.
Night was already falling, and despite the swift pace of their carriage, there was no way he could have enough time to explore with Zira before the next day.
Moreover, there was a bigger problem than the one he'd been stressing over—how was he supposed to get Zira to live with the Bastians? He had just asked her to live with him, hadn't he?
The river of thoughts may flood, but the tide knows when to rest.—he sighed.
The carriage moved in a quiet rhythm with their silence, and before they knew it, they had arrived home. In that moment, one thing was clear to Daylan—he had to find time with Zira before her departure, even if it meant making Ael's guard wait.
The moment they arrived, Zira greeted them with a warm, cheerful hug that instantly lifted their spirits and pulled them from their thoughts.
However, their spirits quickly sank again after tasting Medora's food. It was as bad as it gets, but with Zira persistently urging them to eat, they couldn't bring themselves to refuse—especially Astara, who simply couldn't say no to anything Zira asked of her.
After enduring what felt like hell, Daylan and Astara cleared their throats and began to share everything they had learned from Ael earlier with Zira and Medora.