"An Astral Spirit."
"Ah, if the Sage hadn't brought out the knowledge of the Homunculus in a Bottle, that Astral Spirit probably wouldn't have sensed it."
Miya, the Ring of Radiance, sighed softly. "The knowledge of the Homunculus in a Bottle belongs to the Creator. It's the terrifying power to create life. An Astral Spirit certainly wouldn't allow such knowledge to leak."
"Then why give it to me? Surely she wasn't trying to get me killed." Kroya hefted the book in his hand. It was incredibly heavy, probably over a hundred tons. Had he not been a Legendary, he would have struggled to lift it.
"No."
"Because you're an Astral Spirit."
"Oh." Kroya remained perfectly calm. At this point, what was there to lose his composure over? He had already had more than enough excitement.
Now he only wanted to know...
"Can Sage Miya still be saved?"
"I don't believe Ilyst deliberately had Sage Miya bring out this book just to get her killed by an Astral Spirit. She must have some way to save her."
The moment he finished speaking,
a bang came from beside him.
Space shattered like glass, scattering everywhere. Ilyst emerged with a furious, dark expression, the lingering spatial storm still coiling around her. "I did have a few ideas."
The Legendary Mage's face held anger and the gloom of a failed scheme, but none of the sorrow of losing her "mother." Clearly, she was certain her mother would not die.
"An Astral Spirit's prison isn't necessarily a bad thing."
"Anyone imprisoned by an Astral Spirit won't die. More precisely, the Astral Spirit will ensure they remain alive to endure the prison's eternal punishment."
"My life force can't keep Mother alive for long. This was the only way. Only this could ensure she stayed alive and