Reunion

After returning to the Church of Dragon Communion, Lu Mingfei learned the three incantations—Dragonfire, Dragonbite, and Dragonclaw—from the old knight without much effort. He learned so quickly that even the old knight could not help being astonished.

"Your speed in learning incantations would rank among the top three in the history of the Storm Knights."

The old knight watched Lu Mingfei use the Dragon Communion Mark to summon a gigantic dragon head that breathed fire, his tone complicated.

"The Tarnished's reputation for battle is well deserved."

Lu Mingfei was currently immersed in the excitement of gaining new power.

The three incantations, each comparable to a Word of Power, delighted him so much that he completely failed to notice the old knight's steadily darkening expression.

"Enough!"

The old knight kicked Lu Mingfei squarely in the backside.

"Stop playing around!"

Only then did Lu Mingfei sheepishly put away the mark, hunching his neck as he retreated to the old knight's side.

"Do not become addicted to the power of Dragon Communion."

The old knight spoke to him sternly.

"Dragon Communion is a dangerous weapon, and it can only be a weapon. Though you have not developed a craving for Dragon Hearts, you still cannot treat Dragon Communion as a child's plaything."

"Yes, Teacher."

Lu Mingfei nodded.

"Tell me," the old knight asked blandly, clasping his hands behind his back, "what are the strengths and weaknesses of these three incantations?"

Lu Mingfei seriously recalled how they had felt when cast.

"They all require preparation time, making the caster an easy target.

"Among them, Dragonfire takes a long time to cast fully, while Dragonbite and Dragonclaw are faster.

"Dragonfire and Dragonclaw are suited for dealing with larger groups of enemies, while Dragonbite is better for one-on-one fights."

The old knight nodded slightly, wearing an expression that said the boy could still be taught.

"Not bad. You've made some progress."

"But, Teacher."

Lu Mingfei suddenly remembered something.

"There's something I don't understand. Why could the Storm Knight seniors in the Fringefolk Hero's Grave cast Dragonfire without summoning a dragon head, with almost no casting windup?"

The old knight frowned, barely grasping the entirely new term "casting windup," then sneered.

"You think the Storm Knights spent all those years practicing Dragon Communion for nothing?

"That is Improved Dragonfire. Only Storm Knights can use it, and it is one of the order's closely guarded secrets.

"Your next task is to learn it."

As expected, the old knight began teaching him Improved Dragonfire without holding anything back.

Lu Mingfei learned extremely quickly and grasped its essence in less than two days.

Compared to the original Dragonfire, which required summoning a dragon head and charging power, the improved version was downright absurd. It consumed half as much mana, could be cast with a mere raise of the hand, could be fired repeatedly, and could be chained after any attack. It was practically a godly skill.

Lu Mingfei practiced with great enthusiasm, his eyes shining with thirst for knowledge.

"Old man, are there any other improved incantations? Ordinary ones are fine too. Don't tell me there are only these three?"

Slap! The familiar boot struck his backside again.

"You think Dragon Communion Incantations are Erdleaf Flowers growing by the roadside? Only three? I'm telling you, there are only three!

"If you hadn't met me, you wouldn't have learned even one!"

The old knight roared.

"Not every Storm Knight walks the path of Dragon Communion. Most specialize only in Dragonfire, precisely because they fear being consumed by desire!

"You think everyone is like you?!!"

Lu Mingfei looked embarrassed and lowered his head guiltily. He really had been dazzled by the power of Dragon Communion and forgotten its severe side effects.

The old knight realized this as well.

Lu Mingfei suffered no aftereffects from performing Dragon Communion, so naturally he could act without restraint.

The old knight let out a deep sigh, his silver breastplate rising and falling slightly with his breathing.

He looked toward the gloomy sky outside the church and slowly said,

"There are, naturally, High-Tier Dragon Communion Incantations, but I do not know them either.

"Only by hunting those high-tier Flying Dragons and swallowing their Dragon Hearts can one obtain those powerful incantations with overwhelming force."

Such Flying Dragons were often immensely powerful, ruling over their own territories, and possessed several hearts.

The power of those Flying Dragons was enough to burn away a weak person's will in an instant."

The church fell into a brief silence.

"Lu Mingfei."

The old knight suddenly turned around and stared into those golden eyes.

Lu Mingfei was startled.

In the past, master and disciple had called each other "old man" and "brat." Lu Mingfei rarely called him Teacher, and the old knight had never addressed him by his full name.

For an instant, he thought his attitude just now had angered the old knight.

However, the old knight's expression was calm, and his voice was as still as an ancient well.

"After you learn Dragonfire, I will have nothing left to teach you.

"I have taught you everything I know: the creed, combat techniques, and incantations passed down by the Storm Knights since ancient times.

"My mission is complete.

"You never willingly came here to learn in the first place. From now on, whether you consider yourself a Storm Knight or not does not matter.

"Whether you pass these combat techniques and incantations on to others or not, I will not interfere.

"I know you have a mission of your own. Go. Carry out your own mission."

Lu Mingfei stood frozen where he was.

He opened his mouth, but did not know what to say.

The old knight still stood there, his silver-white armor neat and orderly, exactly as it had been when Lu Mingfei first met him, as though he had never changed.

"Old man..." he called out instinctively, but his voice was low and hoarse.

The old knight did not respond. He merely turned and walked toward the headless dragon statue.

His back looked especially lonely, the scratches on his armor clearly visible—some old, some new.

"You should have left long ago."

The old knight's voice was calm, as though he were stating the most ordinary fact.

"You have always carried impatience in your heart. Whether learning combat techniques or incantations, if you had nothing you needed to do, why would you work so desperately?"

Lu Mingfei clenched his fists. He wanted to say something, like "I haven't fully mastered dual-sword techniques yet," or "You still haven't told me where to learn High-Tier Dragon Communion Incantations."

But when the words reached his lips, they became,

"...Can I come back?"

The old knight's back paused.

"The church will remain here," he said. "But you do not need to return, and I may not be here either."

Those words were like a dull blade, slowly piercing Lu Mingfei's heart.

He suddenly realized that the old knight had seen through him long ago.

He had seen through Lu Mingfei's fate of eventually leaving, through the soul that did not belong here.

And the old knight, too, would eventually face death.

"I..."

"Go."

The old knight interrupted him. His voice remained calm, yet brooked no argument.

"Do not make your mission wait for you."

Lu Mingfei stood there, feeling turmoil churn in his chest.

He wanted to say "thank you," wanted to say "take care," even wanted to say "come with me." But in the end, he merely slowly bent down, placed one knee on the ground, and performed the most standard knight's salute, just as he had on his first day here.

"Teacher."

He spoke solemnly, as though making an oath.

When he straightened, the old knight was still standing where Lu Mingfei had first encountered him, his back turned toward Lu Mingfei, as though he had never turned around.

Lu Mingfei turned and slowly walked out of the church.

At that moment, one final piece of advice came from within the Church of Dragon Communion.

"Don't die, brat."

The voice was still as rough as stone, still impatient, yet it brought tears to Lu Mingfei's eyes.

He did not look back. He merely waved, then strode toward the Site of Grace.