novelraw Chapter 227 - 226 - Dissolution
Chapter 227 - 226 - Dissolution
Princess Astrella had Silvia following her as they enjoyed the banquet in Altair. She never thought she could come to Altair with joy in her heart. Her marriage was gone from her heart and Lind had ascended the throne.
He would be a wondrous neighbor. Her Imperial Father had not asked for anything of her but she knew she should try to mend fences. Her older brother was too busy with his own nearing ascension to the throne. Their father was preparing to finally breakthrough to Diamond Tier and head for the Floating Isles to see if he could chase the Sky Realm.
"Master Frey has come farther than anyone expected. I saw him earlier and he is definitely in the Iron Tier." Silvia's skills were fearsome in gathering information so Astrella nodded but she was stunned. Lind had just been in the high Stone Tier less than half a year ago.
Compared to the Soul Realm, he seemed to be burning through the World Realm. Could other 6 elementals do the same? She truly looked forward to that if possible as there were several sects and clans that had pulled in 6 elementals for their power at the Soul Realm.
"2nd Princess Astrella of the Lotus Empire?" A young woman in pale crimson robes bowed to them as she seemed to have matching eyes to her robes. A human with demon blood?
"I am Silvia, her attendant, what can I do for you?" The girl bowed to Silvia and handed over a jade slip. Silvia sank her senses into it and arched an eyebrow but gave it to Astrella. She put her Qi into it and was stunned.
[Princess Astrella, I have some issues to discuss with you in the castle. Please follow Reya to my quarters. Bring Lady Silvia along as I have some news for her as well.]
It was rather short but it was definitely Lind's way of speaking. She also felt his signature aura imprinted on the slip to confirm it was genuine.
"Please lead the way." Astrella and Silvia followed the servant who seemed able to part guest easily as if they feared her. She was mystified since the girl was only at the Sand Tier. She then did a double take as the feeling of her fonts were nearly on par with a Stone Tier!
The castle was quite ugly, as if the person who made it was intent on making it stand out in the worst way rather than inspire awe. She had heard stories of the decorations and special rooms but as Reya led them up the stairways and halls, she saw none of it.
The fine drapes of her own imperial palace were far more luxurious than the spartan stone halls she passed through. There were rather small rooms every so often in a hallway but there was nothing inside save a stone slab with a cushion.
"Silvia, are those–" Reya snorted suddenly then blushed.
"I apologize but those once vile rooms are no more. Lord Frey abolished them on his return from the Trial of Stone." Reya seemed very devoted to Lind and if even half the rumors Silvia dug up were true, she could imagine why. Lind was wholly antithetical to the way Altair had been run until the present.
"No need to apologize to us about that." The tower they were ascending made Silvia look around but there were no arrays to attack or in any way incapacitate them. Despite being invited by Lind, Altair's reputation warranted being wary as a woman.
Finally, they came to a large open area where more food and tea had been set out. A friend, or at least an old acquaintance, was waiting.
"Your hair is still far too bright, Astrella." Cyntilla smirked slightly at them but both women were stunned to feel Gold Tier aura coming off of her. How had she become so strong so quickly?
"You look stunning, Cyntilla. I am so glad you reunited with Lind." Astrella meant it. Cyntilla was the only one brave enough to defy the Empire's and Kingdom's isolation orders. Astrella could only ensure no one reported it.
"Lind will be here shortly but he had a rather rough meeting with the great powers' representatives and he wanted to look over some things before sitting down." Cyntilla offered chairs while Reya served the tea. It smelled wonderful and Silvia nodded in approval. It was no offense to Lind but Silvia had her job to do.
"He was in that meeting for some time but not as long as I expected." Cyntilla looked a little grim at Astrella's words but she did not respond to it. Instead, she changed the subject.
"Will you go chasing after that lovestruck fool in the Profound Dual Sect?" Astrella nearly choked on her tea. Silvia smirked but made no comment.
"They are the Profound Yin-Yang Sect! There is no such thing as a Dual Sect!" Cyntilla was laughing but did not let Astrella off. It was too much fun!
"What was his name, Ethan, or was it Nathan? He had freckles and was hopelessly nervous as I recall." Silvia was now visibly shaking while turning her head to the side. Astrella was scarlet as she stared at her feet. Wasn't this supposed to be a serious meeting?!
"His name was Sethan and he was the direct son of the sect leader. He was also one of the very few to ask better questions when I seemed lost in the select classes I attended. He also wore a tattoo on his face as part of their cultivation technique." Lind's voice jolted them but Astrella was stunned Lind knew so much about the man.
"Oh? Perhaps we should find him a good woman then?" Shoti now spoke up behind Lind but Cyntilla simply nodded while Qing and Annabelle looked on. Annabelle was blushing but kept silent while Qing seemed aloof from it all.
"Greetings Princess Astrella and Lady Siliva, welcome to my current abode." His word choice seemed to change the tone but before they could move on, Lind turned back to Shoti and seemed serious. "Shoti, so long as he is happy, we should not meddle but perhaps he might want to know if we have any plans for Princess Astrella?"
It took a moment as shocked silence descended on the room before Cyntilla broke into laughter while Silvia could not hold on anymore either. Shoti went from shocked to looking chargined to have been called out by Lind of all people.
"Are you all quite finished?!" Astrella felt like her heart was going to burst out of her chest and her face could not possibly get any redder. Lind bowed in apology before sitting directly across from her.
"Some levity was needed after my last meeting but truly, Sethan reached out to me once I ascended and pleaded to annul your engagement to Lewis. It was easily done." Shock flooded her veins to realize such an event occurred but before she could process it, Lind nodded to Reya.
The sound of scuffling was heard as a bright mane of blonde hair was dragged in. Lewis looked like he was not really aware anymore but his cultivation and life were intact. Astrella looked confused as to why he was there but the serious look on Lind's face was turned to Silvia.
"I believe you found everything you needed. I did not do anything to him as I felt it was not my place." Silvia looked grateful to Astrella's eyes as she recalled the report from the spy they had captured. All of the many avenues of attack politically on the Lotus Empire came from the Regent but his son had been the architect of the Academy issues.
He was also the one that forced the proposal on Astrella with his father together. She had heard the Regent burned his lifeforce to try and kill Lind but Lewis remained. She also wanted to know about the nobles but they would be under Lind's control with so many great powers backing him.
"My Lady, what do you want me to do?" Silvia awaited orders but Astrella took time to think. She could get petty revenge but she was raised better than that. After carefully considering the best benefits, she settled on her orders.
"Take him back to camp and get all the information on the remaining threats to the Lotus Empire. They may have tried to keep Lind out of them so I want to make sure. You do not mind?" Lind smiled and waved his hand. Silvia quickly took hold of the boy and sealed his cultivation. He did not resist as he was escorted out.
"So, your Majesty–" Astrella was about to begin formal talks when Lind held up his hand. He waited for Silvia to return which was not too long after. No doubt she had been able to summon guards to escort Lewis away and came back.
"Altair is finished." Lind dropped a sudden declaration on them. Astrella felt lost instantly as the thought of having an unstable power next to them would be a constant danger but then 2 jade slips were slid across the table.
Both women examined the contents.
Silvia nodded in approval while Astrella felt the blood drain from her face. Was that man the same she had once known at Lotus Academy?! That boy would never condone what was in that slip!
"I have negotiated with Darkmoor for stability but I need somewhere for the mortals to go that do not wish to stay. There are many unsettled lands in the Lotus Empire as well as districts in need of people. Would that be allowed?" Lind's questions knocked the shock out of Astrella as she realized what Lind was asking.
Having more citizens, even mortals, was not a bad thing but the issues of Altairan attitudes made her wary. As if reading her mind, Lind relayed what he found in the mortal villages.
Astrella was shocked to her core while Silvia's knuckles cracked the arm rests of her chair. Her Gold Tier aura was very suppressive.
"I have already had Qing head up a party of her best healers to begin the work needed but honestly, getting away might be best for them. I will let them decide but I would truly like them to be welcomed where they went." Astrella noticed Reya staring fervently at Lind as he spoke. She had no doubt Reya had once been such a woman as he described.
He was still there. The Lind Frey she had known was still there but Altair brought out the brutal anger in him. All of it that led to that terrible heart demon incident in the Academy clearly still weighed on him. She wondered if he had truly overcome that heart demon or not.
"I will have to talk to my father but surely you understand there is no perfect haven for them? I would like to think they would not face a similar issue in the Lotus Empire but such criminals are found and punished every year." Lind nodded to show he understood but it was still far better than Altair ever was.
"I think his Imperial Majesty would see the benefit of welcoming those that would be fervently loyal to the Lotus Empire and reducing issues at the borders at the same time." Silvia's words resonated with Astrella and she saw the angle that could convince her father. Better to control the problem than to foment resentment against them.
"Give me a day to talk to my father and we can settle this issue." Lind smiled wide but then turned to Shoti. She produced a communication jade stone and placed it on the table. A flickering image took shape and Silvia knelt to the Emperor of the Lotus Empire.
"I am up to speed but you are there, my daughter. Etrigan agrees it is a sound idea but what do you think?" Astrella looked at Lind coldly as her father really should have been present but she suspected he did not want to taint the talks. The Emperor and Lind had a negative history to say the least.
"After all I have seen, I think Lind's idea is a good one. We will get loyal citizens and more manpower in the future." It was a simple choice once she knew her father was on board but he smiled broadly in the image before bowing to Lind and disappearing.
"Apologies but I really want this done today as Altair finished. At sunset, it will no longer exist." He spoke as if his word was law and for that moment, it was. The last King of Altair was destroying it.
"I can't say I am against it but it does leave one last issue." Astrella looked reluctant to bring it up and she noticed all 4 women put an arm on Lind to calm him but he seemed to become a stone at that moment.
"I will deal with him as well." Astrella nodded while Silvia looked like a great weight was lifted from her shoulders. The serious talks were over but Lind withdrew to allow the women to chat and catch up in some cases.
Altair was destroyed not by war, but by the spurning of what should have been a favored son's patience. The future had a great deal of chaos but it would be regulated chaos. The disaster was avoided because Lind took steps to prevent as much as he could.
Come the next morning, many former nobles would be found dead in their estates. Their former servants could not be found and Lind did not bother looking. The brutality of some of the deaths did not surprise him but it showed just how delusional the nobles still were that they thought they could go home when their cultivation was stripped or oaths in place to stop them from fighting back.
The last evening of Altair was over and it was no longer his problem in the new day's light.