When the tragedy struck Stan, the Dragon Roar Faction searched tirelessly for ways to heal him. They consulted many mages who specialized in healing, but none were able to cure him.
This failure led Elder Rooney to dive deep into the Pendragon Book of Knowledge, hoping to find a solution. Eventually, he did, but the answer seemed nearly impossible to achieve.
The book revealed that only someone who possessed "peace energy" and could control it in specific ways could heal Stan. However, Elder Rooney faced a major problem—he had no idea what peace energy was or how to find someone with it. Fortunately, the book provided additional details.
It mentioned two beings capable of wielding this energy: a peacemaker and a unicorn. These were the only ones who could heal Stan from his dire state.
At first, they thought Alex might be the answer. But after further investigation, they realized Alex didn't match the descriptions in the book. Worse, at Alex's current level, even if he had potential, he wouldn't be able to handle such a complex process.
Luckily, not long after, they discovered a unicorn—one of the beings listed in the book. This gave them hope.
When Stan learned about the unicorn, his first thought was to request its help. However, things grew complicated when the unicorn recognized Stan's family name. Stan needed to confirm the unicorn's identity and intentions before moving forward.
Once everything was resolved, and the unicorn, Qudsiyah, agreed to help him, it seemed like the problem would finally be solved. But for some reason, Qudsiyah ended the healing process just as it began.
"Fate Aura? What does that mean?" Stan asked, his voice rising with confusion.
"I don't expect you to understand it, at least not at your current level," Qudsiyah replied calmly.
"But can you explain what it is?" Peter demanded.
"Of course, I can," Qudsiyah said, smiling slightly.
"You see," she began, "Fate Aura, also known as the Universe's Will, is something that appears in higher beings, such as gods and demigods. These are people whose actions matter deeply to the universe and have a powerful influence over it."
"The purpose of this Fate Aura is to guide high beings when they're about to take an action that could cause a great disaster—either to themselves or to the people around them. Think of it as a kind of warning sign that appears when high beings attempt bold actions," Qudsiyah explained.
She paused for a moment before continuing, "It's important to understand, though, that Fate Aura doesn't have the power or will to stop anything. It's just a warning."
"So, are you saying this Fate Aura is warning you against healing Stan?" Peter asked, frowning.
"It's not warning me from healing Stan," Qudsiyah clarified. "If that were the case, I would know. It's more accurate to say it's warning Stan from being healed—at least, not yet."
"But you can heal him anyway, can't you?" Caspian interjected.
"I can," Qudsiyah replied simply.
"Then go ahead and do it," Caspian said firmly. "You've already said it's just a warning, not a barrier."
Qudsiyah sighed, her expression growing more serious. "It's crucial you understand what happens next. If I heal Stan now, based on the amount of Fate Aura surrounding him, it could become a problem—not just for him, but for any one of you standing here. I need you all to realize the consequences of going against the universe's will."
"For all I know," Graham muttered, crossing his arms, "this Fate Aura thing could just be some nonsense—a made-up story, not something real."
The group fell silent. The tension in the air thickened as everyone pondered Qudsiyah's words. Finally, the unicorn broke the silence.
"You see," Qudsiyah began, her voice quieter now, "when Arthur decided to hunt the unicorns… he almost succeeded. Trust me, he had every chance to wipe out our entire race. But he didn't."
She looked at them pointedly. "Do you think Arthur spared us because he suddenly felt pity for a race being punished for another's crime? The answer is no."
The group leaned in, listening intently as she continued.
"Arthur didn't wipe us out because he saw it—the Fate Aura. As he prepared to carry out his actions, he recognized what it meant to go against it."
Qudsiyah's gaze swept over the group. "Let's say Arthur ignored the Fate Aura back then. If he had, I wouldn't be here right now. As you stand here searching for a solution to Stan's problem, understand this: Arthur's decision to heed the warning is the reason I'm alive today."
Another silence followed her words, heavier than the last. The group exchanged uneasy glances until, finally, someone spoke up unexpectedly.
"What use is your life if you can't fulfill the reason Arthur left you alive?" Theron asked coldly. "Maybe this Fate Aura is a lie after all."
His statement brought a mix of expressions to the others' faces—shock, doubt, and curiosity.
"She's right!" Elder Rooney declared, cutting through the tense atmosphere. His voice silenced the aura in the room, drawing everyone's attention. He had been quiet for a long while, but now he spoke with authority.
"The Fate Aura is real, and countless ancestors have warned against defying it," Elder Rooney stated firmly.
"How do you know that?" Peter asked skeptically.
"Are you dense? I'm the one with the Pendragon Book of Knowledge. It contains vast knowledge about the universe, and it's clear that the universe is not something to challenge lightly," Elder Rooney retorted.
"But what I don't understand," he continued, "is this: the book says the Fate Aura only appears to high beings. You've said the same thing. Yet none of us here are high beings—we're nowhere near the divine stage of evolution."
At this, Qudsiyah let out a soft chuckle, which drew sharp, annoyed stares from several people in the room.
"In the past," Qudsiyah began, ignoring the looks, "dragons were said to be born at the peak of the world's power. That means every dragon starts life at the highest level and grows from there—if there's even a higher level to reach."
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room before continuing, "You all have dragon blood running through your veins. And yet you think you're just normal beings?"
Her eyes landed on Stan, who stood close to her.
"You, Stan—you activated your bloodline power and wiped out half of a high-level beast horde with a single attack. You didn't even break a sweat. Do you think an ordinary being could achieve that?"
She turned back to the group. "For all I know, every decision a Pendragon makes—whether it's a baby's innocent choice or an adult's calculated move—could destroy an entire planet or race. That's the kind of power you hold as Pendragons."
A heavy silence fell over the room again, broken only by the sudden sound of slow clapping. It came from Peter, standing to the side.
"Thanks for hyping up our family like that," Peter said with a wry smile. "I wish we were even half as powerful as you're making us sound. It would've solved all our problems by now."
He sighed, frustration clear in his tone. "So, what do we do now with this disappointment?"
Peter's voice grew sharper as he vented. "We've spent so much time searching for a unicorn to help us. And now we've finally found one, only for it to refuse to help us—because of some ridiculous reasons."
Everyone knew how long they had waited for this moment. They had fought, struggled, and sacrificed to reach this point. They had found the solution to Stan's problem, but now it felt as if it was slipping through their fingers.
It was like leaving a glass of water in front of a thirsty man and telling him he couldn't drink it—because it might be poisoned.
"Trust me when I say this—I want to help you. I can still heal him. I just need you to understand what's at stake. If you command me, I will go ahead and heal him," Qudsiyah said firmly.
Peter's fists were clenched tightly, and so were many others in the room. The tension was palpable, and everyone seemed tempted to take the risk and proceed.
"That's enough, Peter," Elder Rooney interjected, his voice calm but resolute. "I've seen what defying this could lead to. The devastation it brought upon people in the past was overwhelming. I didn't even realize how many times this concept appeared in the book until now," he admitted with a heavy sigh.
"We already have more problems than we can handle," Elder Rooney continued. "Adding the wrath of the universe on top of that is a mistake we can't afford. I believe there must be another way."
A silence followed until, unexpectedly, Cressida spoke up. It was unusual for her to contribute in meetings like this, but today she had something to say.
"I have a suggestion," Cressida began.
All eyes turned toward her, but before she could elaborate, Qudsiyah cut in sharply. "I can heal any living thing. You just need to say the word, and I'll proceed with the healing process. Don't question my abilities."
Cressida blinked, surprised by the interruption. She nodded apologetically before continuing. "Alright, I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention. I was just wondering—since Stan can't evolve any further as a warrior, maybe it's time he tried something else. Perhaps... being a mage?"
"You don't mean that, do you?" Graham asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Yes, I do," Cressida replied confidently. "I think it's time Stan unlocks his mana core and starts evolving as a mage."
Her words hung in the air, stirring mixed reactions. Some stared at her in shock, while others seemed lost in thought, considering the possibility.