Hearing the final words from Ossë, Sylas felt his heart stir.
In Valinor, the Valar unquestionably stood at the apex of authority. They were beings who embodied the laws, mysteries, and fundamental order of the world itself. To be able to learn directly from such existences was an opportunity beyond measure.
History itself was proof of this.
Sauron had once studied under a Vala, learning divine craftsmanship and forging techniques, ultimately creating his own independent magical system and rapidly elevating his power.
Gandalf, once a disciple of Nienna, had learned compassion for all living beings, boundless patience, and immeasurable wisdom.
Saruman the White studied under Aulë, mastering industry and forging. Radagast learned from Yavanna, gaining deep affinity with nature and life.
And the Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando, were guided by Oromë, learning the ways of hunting, vigilance, and long pursuit.
It could be said that the Maiar were not merely servants of the Valar, they were students, agents, and extensions of divine will. Those who earned a Vala's recognition were taken as disciples and granted access to knowledge that no mortal race could otherwise obtain.
Every such disciple became an elite within their chosen path.
If Sylas could truly gain the favor of a Vala and become an apprentice, then his rise in power would be inevitable, a shortcut countless beings could only dream of.
After absorbing everything Ossë had explained, Sylas bowed sincerely.
"Thank you, Your Highness Ossë. If you had not told me this, I would have remained ignorant and utterly lost in Valinor."
Ossë laughed heartily, his presence vast yet relaxed.
"There is no need for thanks. Even if I had not told you, you would have learned of this soon enough."
Then, with a knowing smile, he added:
"Being able to study under a Vala is a rare chance. You have already caught the attention of Mandos, and your chances of being accepted as a disciple are far greater than most."
"Opportunity does not descend from the heavens on its own. One must choose a mentor worthy of respect, and then actively strive to earn their approval."
Sylas's expression grew serious. He bowed again and asked earnestly:
"Your Highness, could you offer me some guidance? I would be deeply grateful."
Ossë nodded, his gaze thoughtful.
"I have long heard of your many talents. The steamship, which ushered in a new era of maritime technology, was born under your guidance."
"If you wish to refine craftsmanship and technology, you may seek Aulë, the Vala of forging and creation. With your abilities, you will surely attract his interest."
"If you wish to hear the voices of spirits and grasp deeper wisdom, then go to the Halls of Mandos. Mandos was one of those who agreed to grant you passage to Valinor, and he already holds you in high regard. There is a strong chance he would accept you."
Ossë paused briefly, then smiled faintly.
"And if you wish to follow the greatest among the Valar… you may ascend the highest peak of the Pelóri Mountains."
"The summit of Taniquetil, where the palace of Manwë stands."
"The Valar love the creatures of the sky," Ossë said, amusement glinting in his eyes.
"You created the Thunderbird and the Phoenix in the Central Continent. You have already earned the favor of many Great Eagles."
"If you visit them and bring those creatures with you, your chances will be, considerable."
Hearing Ossë's guidance, Sylas finally understood.
Ossë had deliberately named three paths, each corresponding to a Vala most likely to accept him:
Aulë, for Sylas's unmatched craftsmanship and inventions, magic staves, divine weapons, artifacts like the Crown of Wisdom, Golden Chalice, Invisibility Cloak, and Philosopher-class magic stones.
Mandos, whose domain aligned with Sylas's understanding of souls, resurrection, fate, and death, and whose favor Sylas already possessed.
Manwë, King of the Valar, whose affinity with the sky, winds, and great birds resonated with Sylas's creations and achievements.
Among them, Mandos seemed to be the one who had already shown the clearest inclination.
Mandos, the Vala who judged fate, oversaw the dead, governed reincarnation, and guarded the resting place of spirits, stood at the boundary between life and eternity.
Among all the mysterious powers of Arda, Mandos was undoubtedly one of the most enigmatic and influential beings.
Sylas was particularly deeply impressed by him.
After all, it was because of the Resurrection Stone Sylas had created that he had once drawn Mandos's attention. That single, lingering gaze was something Sylas had only ever experienced once in the Central Continent.
And the result of that gaze was undeniable.
In that brief instant, Sylas's soul had been subtly strengthened, drastically shortening the time required for him to advance to a higher realm. Ever since then, Sylas had suspected that Mandos's interest in him stemmed from the Resurrection Stone itself.
After all, although the Resurrection Stone could not truly summon souls, it blurred the boundary between life and death. It allowed one to summon soul phantoms, echoes that should not exist in the living world.
Sylas had even used the Resurrection Stone to summon the soul phantoms of Fëanor, Celebrian, and several other master elven craftsmen. Under their guidance, he had successfully forged the Earth Ring, Kaiya, an artifact completely unaffected by Sauron's Supreme Demon Realm.
Such a creation was bound to attract Mandos's attention.
Of course, Sylas also considered another possibility.
Mandos was the Judge of Fate, a being whose foresight surpassed that of nearly all others. It was entirely possible that Mandos had glimpsed some future potential within Sylas himself.
After the defeat of Morgoth at the end of the First Age, after Morgoth was cast into the Void, Mandos had openly spoken of a final prophecy: that Morgoth would one day break free of his chains and return to Arda, bringing about a final apocalypse.
Even Manwë, King of the Valar, had expressed admiration for Sylas and personally approved his passage to Valinor.
As the one who had once sent the Istari to the Central Continent to aid its peoples against Sauron, Manwë had always closely observed the affairs of Middle-earth.
As Lord of the sky, winds, clouds, and birds, Manwë could perceive the world through the heavens themselves. Eagles and all flying creatures were his eyes and ears.
Sylas's actions in the Central Continent had never escaped his notice.
Thus, it was no coincidence that Sylas had drawn Manwë's attention.
However, Sylas was also clear-headed.
Even if he had gained Manwë's admiration, becoming Manwë's disciple would be extraordinarily difficult. Manwë, second only to the Creator God Eru Ilúvatar, ruled over countless followers and Maiar.
This was precisely why Ossë had ranked Manwë last among the Valar most likely to take Sylas as an apprentice.
That assessment aligned perfectly with Sylas's own judgment.
Although Sylas did not fully understand why Ossë, a sea lord he had only just met, would offer such sincere guidance and invaluable information, he chose to accept this goodwill without suspicion.
After Ossë finished speaking with Sylas, Uinen finally spoke.
"Sylas," she said gently, "according to my attendants, you were searching for the oldest and hardest grains of sand. I had them retrieve some from the seabed farm. I wonder, will this suffice?"
With a graceful wave of her hand, a beautiful mermaid swam forward, holding a large seashell. The shell slowly opened, revealing a bowl filled with sand.
The grains were incredibly fine, almost like dust, yet they felt astonishingly heavy. Even seawater could not erode them.
They shimmered like crushed diamonds, reflecting a faint silver glow.
More importantly, they carried a distinct aura of time.
Despite having endured tens of thousands of years of erosion, they had not worn away, instead, they had grown more brilliant and refined.
The moment Sylas saw them, his eyes lit up.
"Thank you, Lady Uinen," Sylas said sincerely.
"This is exactly the material I need."
Uinen smiled softly.
"If you require more, how much would you like? I can have the mermaids gather as much as you need."
Sylas shook his head gratefully.
"Your generosity is more than enough. For now… this will suffice."
...
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