novelraw Chapter 134 - 133 - Aether Sect
Chapter 134 - 133 - Aether Sect
Shoti stood over the 2 captured aether children while confirming both were mid Stone Tier in strength. Why? Why were aether children targeting them of all beings? The anger in the face of the man and resolution in the woman's was also mystifying. It was as if they expected to die.
"Who are you and why–" Once more, Shoti tried to ascertain the facts but the man gave her no chances as his darkness and water elements strained against hers. Whatever his specialty was, it was not an offensive skill.
"We will die before we surrender anything to you! Kill us!" Shoti nearly lost control of her two Qi whips but her deep confusion could not be hidden. To the best of her knowledge, she had not offended any group like this. She had indeed offended many groups due to her antics but it was only to the level of remembering her, not forming a grudge.
Qing was only ever out with Lind, otherwise she healed people inside the sect grounds so it could not be her either. Annabelle never even made a list as she had her entire life accounted for. Lind, despite his many troubles, would never dream of pushing aether children to the point of hating him, so what was going on?
"You can't force us to betray our comrades, more will come after us!" Now the woman was speaking. She was a rare combination of darkness and light. Shoti actually worried she would break free from the dark whip around her but thus far neither strained too much.
"Could you 2 give me a moment to speak?!" Shoti stared down at the 2 idiots and collected her thoughts. Her reaction was not what they expected but they seemed both about to start again when a new voice made them all jump.
"Perhaps it would be best if I spoke at this point, honorable Maiden." A broad shouldered aether child seemed to emerge from the very air itself. If Annabelle was using her illusions, she would have found a kindred spirit. The man was pure green in skin color, a pure air aether child!
He was also clearly at the peak of Gold Tier!
"Master, run, we will not give anything up!" The water and darkness aether child was shouting again but Shoti was glad to see the girl looking more confused than ready to shout more insanity.
"Kelvin, please be quiet. This is an honorable member of the Heavenly Maiden Sect. They are not our enemy." The large man made no move to free his comrades but neither did he threaten Shoti. Yet, she knew he could crush her easily.
Shoti let the dark cloak fall to reveal her white battle dress beneath. The golden emblem on her right breast was impossible to miss. Both of the captured aether children looked stunned but then confused at their elder. A long sigh came from the older man that Shoti recognized having been on the receiving end of one most of her discipleship in Soul Realm.
It was the sigh of an elder looking for patience with a stubborn junior.
"I apologize for their actions, could you please let them go. I promise we will not attack you." Shoti had no choice as even if she wanted to hold on, the Gold Tier in front of her could act before she commanded her Qi to do anything, but his asking meant a great deal.
The 2 Qi whips vanished as she recoiled her whip to hang at her belt. The 2 former prisoners were now confused until a familiar aura to Shoti appeared.
"You are much more level headed than before, little Shoti. I was wondering if you would be defiant until the end." A demoness floated down from a flying artifact. It was very short range but the clear mark of the Stardust Emporium told Shoti that Elder Yi was working to ensure the peace of Cimmeria.
"I have no desire to die needlessly." A smirk spread on Shoti's face as now it was the 2 Stone Tier aether children's turn to pale at the power of the Maiden in front of them. Shoti only hoped someone would start to explain soon as she did not enjoy being made target practice.
"There has been a misunderstanding between our sects. I am an Inner Elder of the Aether Sect." Shoti almost went to grab her whip. A sharp glance from Elder Yi stopped her but only just. A chagrined look passed over the Gold Tier aether child. "I understand your reaction, but as Senior Yi knows, there are 2 forces within our sect. One is sadly more well known than mine."
"Master, we have to fight! We cannot stan–" Kelvin was shouting again but was then smashed into the stone roof beneath their feet by a solid block of air. Shoti felt shocked as she had not felt anything until it happened. That indicated it was the older man's innate skill cultivated to match his tier.
"Speak again and I will not be lenient, Kelvin. Sasha, please rein in your brother and listen to us." The old man was now rubbing his temple and Shoti had to fight a grin from forming on her face. If she had a Sky Stone for every time her seniors had done that to her, she would be insanely rich beyond any merchant in Cimmeria.
"I will take over if it is easier, Junior Sage." Shoti's eyes bulged. She bowed to the old man immediately. The show of respect had more effect than any words at Kelvin as he was now staring wide eyed in confusion.
"Respected Senior Sage, this junior greets you." The Aether Sect was known as a gathering of disruptive aether children. It was not entirely without cause to exist but like so many powers, there were those that abused it and made it radical to get resources. Groups of aether children had become little better than bandits when coming across anyone associating with aether children.
Innocence did not matter, all that mattered was their justification to steal and kill to vent their dark impulses. Elder Sage, on the other hand, was a highly respected member of the cultivation world that had served in the Blood Valley Battle over 250 years ago.
He had single handedly used his overpowered control of air to drive back the wicked sects that had come to invade Sarth. Most would have tried to blow through their enemies, instead he robbed them of air. Sky Realms and below still needed to breathe and more they lost control of their own ability to control air themselves.
It was the terrifying power of an aether child's specialty.
"Eh, so even the new generation knows of me. I had hoped most would forget that horrible time. I did what I needed to, no more and no less." His humble attitude aligned with what Shoti had heard but it did not answer why his supposed students were so vicious.
"If I may presume, why was I attacked?" Shoti decided to be direct as she had little time for political niceties. Qing may tolerate them, but Shoti absolutely did not.
"The young man you were guarding was believed to be a part of the abuse taking place not from where we stand." Shoti was shocked and confused. She was shocked that somewhere in Cimmeria aether children were being abused and confused how anyone could believe Lind, of all people, meant harm to the same group.
"I presented the best evidence ever, Little Shoti. Junior Sage saw Lind teaching wee Annabelle how to hone her cultivation and taking care of her. Anyone with eyes can see the true affection in her face when she looks at him, plus his great care of her." Elder Yi was stunningly praising Lind! Shoti almost wondered if it was an impersonator with her face but nothing she could see was false.
Elder Yi may be a Heavenly Maiden, but she was still a demoness who enjoyed walking harshly on her juniors to encourage them to become stronger. The sect used her skills to cull applicants that were simply looking to use the name of the sect for their own ambitions or to lord over others.
If they could overcome her harsh standards, they would be wonderful additions to the sect and truly understand the responsibility of becoming a member.
"We noticed he was assisting the 'men' trying to deal with that folly called folded space. I apologize as we made an assumption and planned to deal with him due to what he has done." Shoti's hand really gripped the handle of her whip but her white knuckles did not unleash it. Her anger was clear to all but while Elder Yi only giggled, the other 2 aether children grew pale realizing how powerful Shoti was.
Despite being slightly lower than them, she gave off the aura of a high Stone Tier.
"As I said, we were wrong and I hope to ask for your help saving my people." Shoti waited and was clearly done with the dance. She tried to be direct and everyone kept dancing around the subject.
"Why should we ask a human for help?" The girl finally spoke but her tone was reasoned so Shoti only glanced and moved back to Senior Sage. They all looked at him as he seemed uncomfortable.
"I believe this human is different as he has done something we have longed for. He did it freely without prejudice or ulterior motive. Honorable Maidens, please help me save the poor souls held by Captain Drake and his men." Shoti was now completely confused. She was not a fan of Drake's attitude but as a guard he seemed fine.
"If what Junior Sage has told me is true, we need to catch them red handed. Elder Shoti, please come back with me to the sect. We need to talk about what is really happening over there." Elder Yi grabbed Shoti and Sage took his juniors before all of them were pulled up into the air by the artifact floating there.
Shoti really was tired of people dancing around the topic but she saw tears flowing down the girls face as she suddenly grasped her battle dress.
"Please, stop them. We are not things to be consumed." The whispered words made Shoti's blood run cold. It couldn't be. Stardust Emporium may tolerate slavery but there were certain things no one could do in their own backyard. It could not be what this girl was intimating. It was a grave crime that invoked karmic retribution per all known records.
She looked to the pristine white tower and wondered if this century's contest would be ruined by a battle. She prayed to the spirits she was wrong and she prayed Lind would walk away from whatever the Aether Sect wanted.