novelraw Chapter 198 - 197 - You Owe Me
Chapter 198 - 197 - You Owe Me
"You are still worrying but things have not gone so bad." A balding old man sat in a resplendent office with pale violet drapes drawn aside from the windows letting the sunlight in. The office had many scrolls, jade slips sitting on shelves neatly organized by the young woman with a bright blonde mane of hair.
The 2 couches in front of the golden wooden desk were deep crimson, but most of the colors used to decorate the room were violet, white, and black. The ornate wooden doors had powerful formations in them but also a decorative lotus at the center of them.
"Head Elder, Altair has stepped up their moves. I have finished my assignment and wish to return to her highness." Silvia had been at the Lotus Academy to keep an eye on a rather large contingent of students from Altair that arrived in the freshmen classes for the last 2 years.
The Emperor could not interfere at the Academy, but they were able to send a trusted attendant to the Head Elder. Thus, Silvia had been sent and the Zephyr sisters became the constant companions to Princess Astrella.
"I agree that the students are not acting normally but the steps you have taken will settle the issues here at the Academy. I suspect you are correct in that they are here as insurance against any overt action by his Imperial Majesty." The Head Elder felt all the centuries of his life. The tension and war between the Lotus Empire and Kingdom of Altair often had minor skirmishes between members at the Academy.
So long as the Academy rules were followed, he could not interfere but they did investigate abuse of those rules. Some students would try to bait targeted rivals or enemies to face them in life and death battles. The Academy refused to be used as a proxy so before a life and death duel could be approved, the grounds for it were heavily investigated.
The issue was volume. If enough students issued such challenges within the rules, it would tie up powerful cultivators at the Academy when there were far more students to attend to. Silvia had been investigating and confirmed enough to know the Altair students were prepared to bring chaos in the Academy by at least such challenges.
They had set up legitimate and overblown grievances for that very reason from what she could tell but held back the last step of issuing challenges.
The opposing parties held back due to the fact powerful senior students of the same power were standing behind them to protect the younger students. Such things were not uncommon but the sheer number had become unusual in less than 2 years.
Silvia had essentially taken some steps to make sure their own people knew what was going on and had begun to leave less duels possible but only that. The 2 sides were not interacting in a vacuum but with many other powers young cultivators gathered together. Some were on the side of the Lotus Empire or at least opposed to the Kingdom of Altair tactics.
Thankfully, that discouraged those that would act unbridled to egg on Altair and the Lotus Empire as the cost was greater than any benefit. The knife edge of events was one of many lines of attack the Regent had sent against the Emperor.
Now that Astrella was set to be engaged, Silvia wanted to leave immediately as she had sworn to protect Astrella with her life.
The insanity could not be stopped but she would never abandon the princess so long as she drew breath.
Both jumped when one of the arrays began to glow. It meant the student filtering guests had come across one they could not turn away even while the Head Elder was in an important meeting. It also meant that the Head Elder was specifically requested as well.
A jade slip was infused to unlock the doors that opened on their own. The nervous male student bowed and then waved in someone in a black cloak that was clearly a high Stone Tier but that was all either of them could tell.
That was odd because both of them were in the Gold Tier and it should be simple to perceive a weaker cultivator's tier and elements but they only sensed their aura.
"Thank you, please close the door." A distorted voice revealed the truth. The cloak was clearly designed to hide the identity of whoever wore it. Neither Silvia or the old man could tell if that voice was a man or a woman.
The Head Elder was about to speak up but a feeling stopped him. Something about the person was familiar but he could not place it before the door was sealed once more. Silvia was about to move when the person held up a gloved hand to stop her.
"You look far better than the last time we met, Lady Silvia." Both were instantly on their guard. Only a few knew she was there as she currently was under the name Olivia and sent to assist the Head Elder from his clan. The number of people that could identify her on sight was very short.
"Who are you?!" Silvia was not indecisive as she pulled out her sword. Darkness and earth entwined around it. It made the blade sharper and harder to see but they were both stunned when the Qi dispersed into the air instantly.
"I am very tired of people wielding weapons at me even if I understand why." The figure moved their hands and pulled the hood down to the shock of the other 2 in the room. "Take a seat, please Lady Silvia. Head Elder, it is a pleasure to meet you but I am afraid I never caught your name."
The Head Elder looked in chagrin at Lind Frey. The once very young boy was now a much more mature young man. He could see several signs of harsh experiences but he had been made far better for it.
He was about to speak when Silvia fell down to her knees.
"Stone Tier, you are a high Stone Tier!" He did not see why she was focusing on that until he used his senses to see how Lind was doing. He had seen many 6 elementals stumble into the World Realm over his near 4 centuries of life, but Lind Frey was fine.
His foundation was solid and without flaw while his strength felt more like Iron Tier but the quality was definitely Stone Tier. How was that possible?! He had never once heard of a successful breakthrough for a 6 elemental without ruining their foundation.
"Sigh, yes, but before we begin, I think we should know where we stand." He produced a platinum and silver badge. Silvia and the Head Elder were unable to process anything. A grade 4 badge! It made Lind Frey on equal, or higher standing, to them!
"Greetings, Master Frey, I am Milton Elar and was granted Head Elder status of the Lotus Academy 2 centuries ago." Milton took a formal tone that freed Silvia from her shock as she stood up and bowed to him but Lind waved that off.
"I am here in my capacity as a grade 4 elixir master. I am also here to address the..annoyance...in your academy." They both looked at him in surprise as he smiled back. "I met with her highness and I have a few sources keeping an eye on my family for me as well. They are safe but while I could head home without guilt, there is someone I owe."
Lind looked at Silvia but she only looked confused until her eyes dimmed a bit.
"She was doing–" Silvia was about to dismiss any debt but Lind's aura flared and his face became cold. The stark difference from the boy they knew was shocking. What had he been through?
"She died for me. She died to keep me from those bastards. She allowed my clan to vent their repressed rage like we wanted to so badly. I owe her." Lind was solemn and unflinching. The clear aura of a professional grade 4 came off of him.
"What exactly do you want to do here?" Milton would be glad for something more overt to resolve their current issue but the smile on Lind's face made a chill go down his spine.
Elixirs began to appear on the narrow table between the couches but both Silvia and Milton were stunned at what they saw. There was grade 1 through peak grade 3 but then a low grade 4 and then a mid grade 4!
"My students have improved but I found I had to guide them to progress once more. The Heavenly Maiden Sect has many resources but elixir masters and Forgers have to feel their way and I feel the best way to officially announce my return is to hold a massive recruiting lesson." The shocks just kept coming from Lind.
Milton was shaking. It was more than they could hope for! Altair had already declared Lind Frey the heir to the throne. If he came back alive, the plans the Regent made would collapse, but it would not be straightforward.
Strength dictated everything and while Lind had the backing of many powers, they would not simply obey his whims. His skills were in high demand and clearly the potential high but the Heavenly Maiden Sect and Starfire House had resources far beyond the 3 continents to focus on.
"Those are not my only contributions but it is where I will begin." Lind then laid out several jade slips. Milton sank his senses into it and nearly toppled over. He stared at Lind as Silvia felt her heart rise.
"Do you understand what you are doing?" Lind smiled but then he summoned his staff which extended in green flames. Milton recalled that treasure that had bound to Lind so long ago.
"I have some conditions, however. I will have final say on what I teach for these sessions and after 1 month I will head to the Southern District." Milton frowned but Silvia beat him to the punch in expressing herself.
"You will abandon her highness?!" Lind stared at them and something in his dark green eyes made them retreat. If anyone knew a Stone Tier could make Gold Tiers sweat, they would call such a person a fool.
"Abandon? I owe you, Lady Silvia, but the Imperial family owes me. This academy owes me. I was isolated, left to fend for myself and then assaulted in my own quarters." Lind's tone was cold but neither could deny his rage.
"Maste–" Milton tried to mediate but then a final elixir was placed on the table and both of them were silenced. It had a bright sparkle to it that they both recognized from the descriptions of the auction in Cimmeria.
"Peak Heaven Realm grade 1. I can make it more consistently but not enough to change my badge yet. Do you understand now?" Lind was a mortal grade 4 elixir master, but if he achieved Heaven Realm grade 1 elixir master, there was no Sky Realm that would not bow to his will in the 3 continents.
"Make no mistake, Head Elder Milton. You owe me. I am only starting here because I owe Lady Silvia and will resolve this issue now. Anything else, I expect the Academy to obey my demands." Both Milton and Silvia finally understood.
This was not a visit with an offer. Lind Frey was telling them how things would unfold and they were expected to make it happen. The young boy that was a 6 elemental had been replaced by a grade 4 master.
Both bowed to him and he nodded as he stood up and left the room with his hood pulled low. The gears were shifting but Lind Frey had snuck by his obstacles to reveal himself to the Lotus Empire and the world at large.
He was ready to fight.