novelraw Chapter 182 - 181 - The World Darkens
Chapter 182 - 181 - The World Darkens
Lind felt a knot long held in his heart fade as Shoti, Qing, and Annabelle sat with him at a table provided by Sage. The tents were constant work for all those that could heal or had expertise in alchemy. He had been surprised there were not more elixirs but it had only been 6 years.
"So how many need help?" Qing was the first to break the pleasant silence but he smiled at her topic. Of course she saw all the suffering but Lind frowned.
"So far as injuries go, I just finished the worst of them, but as for heart demons or simply mental wounds, it could be centuries." He was very familiar with heart demons and had seen so many manifest at once when he emerged from the Relic. "On top of that, the powers that attacked were not without legitimate grievances that are difficult to mediate. Right now, they withdrew because the Maidens and Divine Sword Sect Sky Realms were here."
He looked at them curiously as he was extremely stunned when he recognized the emblems and robes of the Sky Realms he called out to. He assumed the aether children's elders had stayed but held back for some reason.
"Are you aware of what happened 5 years ago? All the jade slips you prepared resonated with what is now called the Heaven Jubilation. Tribulation clouds appeared but rather than pressure or judgment, it was as if the Heavens rejoiced." Qing spoke as the other 2 produced very familiar jade slips.
Lind examined them and was stunned as he recognized the imprint as his own that was not there originally.
"I broke through about 5 years ago. I remember feeling connected to the world and feeling very giddy. It was not like that when I reached the Stone Tier but even now, I feel open to the world around me. Afterall, my dantian is the world and the world is my dantian." He spoke the same words he had felt at that moment but the feeling at the table shifted suddenly.
He looked up to find all 3 women had fallen into a state of enlightenment. He was confused but then realized his mistake. Just as when he explained his theories on element relationships, the revelation of how he viewed the World Realm would have similar effects to those close to understanding it already.
He waited as only a few sticks of incense burned before they snapped out of it. The changes were minor but he noted that Shoti especially seemed to have solidified her foundation far more than the other 2. Likely her focus on combat and trickery had led her to different comprehensions.
Even so, they all looked at him warmly and he felt it too. The feeling of his research producing results and his joy of discovery.
"There is a lot to talk about but I need the Relic kept safe. There are no dangerous artifacts, even the flying artifact I found is more difficult to use. The entire thing is a teaching mechanism for cooperative use of primary elements together." He saw Qing nod before she send a message via jade stone.
Annabelle was practically glued to his side but he needed to shift things while he had time.
"Are there any developments I can hear about aside from your obvious advancements?" He wanted more time to talk about those but before going back to wrap up any lingering injuries of others that he could, he wanted to know of anything important.
The moment the words left his mouth the mood shifted.
"As you may have heard, the idiotic actions of the Aether Sect had a lot of ramifications. Mostly, the slave lords now kill aether children on sight unless wearing known sect robes. Even then, they attack first. Sadly, even we can't blame them for that." Shoti spoke first and Lind felt his heart grow heavy.
It was the same on Earth. A member of an organization causes mass death and destruction but the response is just as overboard as the initial action. In all of it, innocents are killed for no reason yet it is understood why.
"Midnight cast out all aether children in his organization as well. He had to and generally the treatment of aether children in Indelia has become worse than even in Rith." Lind held Annabelle close and she smiled at his over protectiveness. She was stronger now and very famous to boot.
Only an idiot would attack a Maiden to begin with but only an suicidal fool would come after her.
"There are rumors the Demon Empire is on the move again. The Dread Desert had seen a lot of forces roaming it as they had in the past. They claim it is merely their own issues being dealt with but any move beyond Demon's Teeth is considered provocative." Shoti just kept shooting out things that made Lind frown but both of those were broad things.
He would learn about them whether he wanted to or not. He looked at Qing and Annabelle but they did not make eye contact with him for a change. He looked back to Shoti who was now playing with her vegetables she had been eating just moments before.
"What?" His mind was thinking of very bad things. Had something happened to his family? Was Cyntilla in danger? The mark on his right cheek was still intact so he hoped she was safe otherwise.
"The–the Kingdom of Altair has announced the Regent as the new ruler. He will officially rule until his death and his son will take over with his queen." Annabelle was the one to finally speak. Lind was confused. They all knew he loathed that place. Why bring it up at all? His eyes went wide but then in unison they all calmed him down.
"Your sisters are safe. The Frey Clan has been left alone in general since you 'died.' The Lotus Empire, on the other hand…" Shoti let her words trail off. Lind now understood. When he had been revealed as a rising star, the Lotus Empire had worked to punish the political moves of the Regent.
When Lind 'died,' their justification vanished and the Regent jumped on it. He was surprised it took 6 more years to pull it off as backwater powers were generally left alone by the higher powers. He then remembered the very reason he even existed.
The enmity between the Lotus Empire and the Kingdom of Altair had threatened the flow of resources to Darkmoor proper. The forced peace and holding of hostages had been the result. The fallout of the 2nd Prince's actions followed and Altair had suffered a great deal when their main royal family was killed.
The Lotus Empire had suffered a great loss with Jia Teng but obviously the Regent would not care about that. Lind shuffled through all that and found it uncomfortable but still no reason to mention it to him. His confusion was clear as Qing cleared her throat.
"Her Highness, 2nd Princess Astrella will be the new queen of Altair." Lind had not expected his feelings to flair. It was not like when Cyntilla had been pursued by Ryu but he felt anger. He knew how Altair viewed women. Worse, he knew what they would happily do to Astrella once she was in their grasp.
"How is that possible?" The Lotus Emperor was a man that would rather die than lose his family. He had been forced to kill his own sister and punished Lind as much as he could without crossing Darkmoor's authority.
"They had no choice. It was give in on that or face a war they would lose. The Lotus Empire lost a lot of prestige when you were revealed. Your offer of a staff to the Academy gave them some face, but many powers that respected them being in charge of a cache of Ruins lowered dramatically." Qing revealed a surprise. Lind had not heard about that. He had expected it a bit, but it was still his home. He had not abandoned it as was evidenced by his actions.
"Then I died?" Lind asked and all 3 nodded. He closed his eyes and waited.
"Since you were gone, and the major powers lost interest in courting you by any method possible, the Lotus Empire lost many allies they once had. The Southern District was an exception." Lind looked up but did not see any smiles. Qing continued. "The Frey and Gu Clans have largely been left in peace. They did not grow arrogant and were wise."
Lind finally felt some relief. The Old Man and Granny did not believe in flaunting their power and truly even some vindictive clans would be put off as the revelation of what the Frey Clan had been through was enough to garner respect for their ability to get revenge for their members.
"Members of a delegation from Altair are in the Southern District but they have behaved so far as we could determine." Lind felt his chest tighten at Shoti's words. There was only 1 reason to go so far south for Altair. The 2nd Prince was still alive. He was no longer useful but he had other children in the Frey Clan.
"They used my siblings as pressure?" Lind saw all 3 nod and anger rose in him but he no longer let it rule him like in the past. No allies, and the memory of his life hung over them for even more guilt.
"Cyntilla is still free, but she is most likely…in the Dread Desert." Annabelle volunteered a different piece of news but unlike their expectations, Lind closed his eyes. The feel of his aura flowed out but it was not just being displayed, he was clearly manipulating Qi.
Demonic Qi suddenly appeared where none had been before but then it moved north and west before dispersing.
"She is that way." Lind pointed exactly where the demonic Qi had dispersed and he looked grim. "I think the Demon Empire is looking for her now. Likely Trynith has succeeded in his negotiations or tribute and with my death his daughter is a commodity to them once again." Demons were highly pragmatic but sometimes their coldness stunned even Lind.
"If you can find her, are you going to go after her?!" Annabelle knew Lind had been worried for years but could do nothing as he was just a Soul Realm. Even his status as a Forger would not allow him to protect Cyntilla at all.
Lind looked down at the array of white tents surrounding the lake. He wanted to go. He wanted to leave immediately, but he knew his presence was all that kept the sect safe. If he was gone, it would all go to hell once again.
"I want to go, but I can't just abandon them all. Plus, if I did, she would kick my ass for being so selfish." Cyntilla was an odd demoness. She valued her mother so much she made an oath before Heaven and Earth. She risked severe punishment to give Lind the puzzles he loves so much in his 2 years at the Lotus Academy. She went out of her way to watch his family when he could not.
She was also the one that saved him from being completely possessed the 1st time.
The mark on his cheek was reassurance and when it was found on her, they would know he was alive as well. Imperial Prince Yor would not care much personally but Viola would. Maybe she could sway him as she seemed important to his highness.
Lind sighed and got up.
"I have a lot of work to do and no time to waste. Please help me!" He bowed to them and they smiled back. The 4 of them marched out and began the long work of mediating the disparate forces. Lind took responsibility as he had caused it in part but also because he had just worked to save all those lives, he would not let them die so easily once more.