Faen raised an eyebrow in surprise. "...Divine Sword Dancers?"
"Yes. Divine Sword Dancers."
Lady Xan nodded and continued, "They projected the positive emotions of Ionia from the Spirit Realm—bravery, resilience, and unyielding will—and used those emotions as blades to slice through the fabric of the world itself. In ancient legends, during the battle against the giants, our ancestors used this method to cut through multiple spirit domains, seizing the reflected essence they needed to turn vast armies of giants into ash in an instant."
Hearing her words, the family members felt a surge of awe and longing.
They didn't know what the 'giants' were—the legends were far too distant—but it didn't stop them from imagining that level of power. If they stood on equal footing with Karma, how could a Divine Sword Dancer be weak? In terms of combat capacity, they might have even been superior to the Enlightened One, who was better known for her prophecy and longevity.
"Unfortunately, while the Enlightened Ones were more powerful than the Vastayashai'rei, they did not merge with the spirits of nature. Thus, their bodies in the Material Realm remained mortal," Lady Xan sighed. "The Vastayashai'rei gained longevity and powerful physiques through their transformation, traits they passed down through their blood."
"In contrast, though the power of the Enlightened Ones was greater and could be used to reinforce them beyond human comprehension during battle, they were still flesh and blood. Their lives were not much longer than a regular person's. And this talent could not be passed down as easily as a bestial trait."
Lady Xan looked at the younger generation of her family.
"In the past few millennia, less than ten members of the Xan family have awakened the talent for the Blade Dance, including myself. With Irelia, that makes eight. It is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because the power and knowledge it represents are far beyond human understanding. Even a tiny fragment of that knowledge allows one to excel in any specialized field, achieving results that leave others in awe."
"But it is a curse because it is too cruel for the one who possesses it."
The family looked puzzled. Lady Xan paused before explaining:
"Unlike the enlightenment received by Karma, the power held by our ancestors was too destructive. True, they slaughtered the most giants during the ancient wars. But the act of 'cutting the domains' had a severe impact on the veil. Even if it wasn't our ancestors' intent, that massive power blurred the boundary between the two realms."
"In the end, while Karma remained in the Material Realm to guard Ionia, the other Enlightened Ones either vanished into the depths of the Spirit Realm or returned to live as mortals, aging quietly. Our ancestor was one of the latter."
As they listened to the explanation, the family looked at the memorial tablet again. The word 'Dance' written in flamboyant calligraphy now held a different meaning for each of them.
Before, they saw it as a family tradition—the Silk Dance. Now, they realized it represented a hidden, ancient legacy from the dawn of time.
Irelia's mother asked softly, "So when you say 'unfortunate'..."
"It is because even if we possess the talent, we cannot practice this power during times of peace."
A trace of bitterness appeared in Lady Xan's eyes.
"The Blade Dance first condenses one's own fighting spirit, and then condenses the will of Ionia itself. This is the power of the Spirit of Ionia. In an era of peace and balance, using this power recklessly risks destabilizing the two realms. Therefore, neither Karma's will nor the remnants of our ancestors' power would allow us to master it in peaceful times. At most, we could only comprehend fragments of the theory."
"To sit upon a mountain of treasure but only be able to take a single coin... it is a form of torture for anyone who wishes to advance on the path of knowledge."
Lady Xan looked at Irelia, her eyes full of intense envy.
"But you are different, Irelia... A new era has begun. War has sent towering waves crashing through the Material Realm. Whether for yourself, your family, or Ionia itself, the conditions to unleash the Blade Dance have been met."
As she spoke, Lady Xan looked at Faen's right arm. Since reaching the front lines, Faen had stopped hiding the Mark of the Twin Dragons, displaying it openly to avoid unnecessary conflict.
"Coming back to the Xan estate with Mr. Faen at a time like this, even if it seems like a coincidence, has indirectly informed me of the Enlightened One's opinion. The Karma of this era is perhaps different from any who came before. And so, I envy you."
Lady Xan's voice was thick with helpless bitterness. "In this unfortunate era, you have reaped the first piece of luck I once craved with all my heart."
Irelia opened her mouth to speak, then whispered, "But... Grandmother, if I can learn the Blade Dance, can't you use it now too?"
Lady Xan shook her head regretfully.
"If it were ten or twenty years ago, perhaps. But now..."
She looked at her withered palm and shook her head, leaving the rest unsaid. Instead, she turned to Faen. "Thanks to your foresight in the Placidium, Irelia has already made her initial breakthrough. Now, to truly grasp the essence of the Blade Dance, she must step onto a real battlefield."