novelraw Chapter 375 - 374 - Returning a Favor
Chapter 375 - 374 - Returning a Favor
The Lotus Empire had seen a tumultuous era. Their long standing enemy had been wiped from the continent and a student of their Academy had gifted education that spawned goodwill and benefits that spurred the growth of the empire.
Emperor Etrigan had begun his rule nearly 40 years ago when his father finally wanted to let go of the throne. The loss of family and the compromise of so many things had weighed heavily, but Etrigan never pushed.
He was an excellent Emperor. He valued his people and made sure to enrich the various districts that made up his empire. His wife had given him fine sons and daughters that had made marriages of love and political gain.
His in-laws from the Zephyr Clan were very happy with how he treated them as well.
Compared to a couple centuries ago, the Lotus Empire was on the rise to perhaps becoming a low level power in the Darkmoor Kingdom. A large part of their progress could be laid at the favor of Darkmoor and Lind Frey.
Despite all the good, there was still bad.
Princess Astrella had never married nor had she felt the need to do so after the near disastrous attempt from Altair. She instead became the new 3rd Princess of the Lotus Empire.
Silvia was still by her side but gray hairs now lined her temples as she reviewed the newest reports. As the Empire grew stronger, its issues also grew more problematic.
Some nobles thought they could hide their dark dealings but Astrella was vicious in her pursuit of justice. She was also very protective of her nephews and nieces.
The once bubbly girl was far too serious to Silvia's tastes. Jia Teng was serious about her duty, but she made sure to drink of life to the fullest while she could. Astrella seemed hell bent on being worked to death.
The courtyard of the 3rd Princess was large, much larger than even the crown imperial prince, but not without reason.
Silvia had started to feel her age as her fifth century started to loom. She knew she was running out of time but she worried what would happen to Astrella when she was gone.
She picked up the next report when her instincts began to scream at her of danger. She pulled out her daggers and looked around her office but nothing stood out. There was no sign of disturbance but she trusted her instincts.
"Even all this time, you remain very astute, Silvia." A man suddenly appeared out of thin air! She had not even seen her door open, but then true shock filled her as she recognized him!
"L-lind Frey?!" Lind smiled wide as he scratched the side of his cheek. His innocent move cemented his identity but then she realized she felt intimidated by his presence. She suddenly recalled he had Ascended!
"Apologies sen–" She was about to bow when he grasped her hands. She looked up into his dark green eyes and saw the innocent boy from so many years ago.
"Of all people, you have no need to bow to me. I owe you and Jia more than I could ever achieve. I am only here because of you 2." His words made her eyes glisten. She wished Jia could see him. Her efforts were not in vain!
"Ahem, well I assume you are not here for fun?" Silvia reverted to her normal voice and Lind smiled wide at her as he nodded.
"I have come to pay a very old debt. I wish I could do more, but this is all I can do." Lind then plopped down an elixir. It glowed with sparkling light of all 6 elements but Silvia had heard of such elixirs. Only the man in front of her could make them.
"What is this?" She picked up the glass vial and examined the elixir but she wanted to be sure.
"I meant what I said. You are a major reason I have come so far. I would not have the woman I owe languish in the World Realm. That will cause you to comprehend your elements to the peak and if you wish, to take the next step. It will also give you a restoration of vitality of about 100 years." Lind enjoyed seeing the shock on her face.
The rumors did not do the elixir justice!
No wonder it went for thousands of Sky Stones!
She then frowned up at him.
"What about Astrella?" Silvia used only her name but Lind waved her off. He only pointed to where the princess was resting before putting a finger to his lips.
Silvia truly wished Jia had lived now, she would have enjoyed the joke!
Lind moved to the door but he made very sure nothing untoward would happen. He had no desire for his wives to kill him after all.
"Princess Astrella, I demand your attendance!" A stern tone came from Lind as he unleashed his Sky Realm aura. Silvia had to cover her mouth as laughter made her shake from the sudden sound of a body crashing to the ground.
After a few more sounds of what had to be a wardrobe crashing and a woman cursing, Astrella appeared. Her vibrant green and violet eyes were flustered as her lilac hair was now much fuller and longer compared to before.
Her austere robes were more subdued compared to their last meeting but her shock was clear as she saw Lind's face.
"Wha–" She suddenly realized that despite being a Diamond Tier, she could feel oppressed by him and her face broke into a smile. "You broke through!"
She hugged him, which caught both Lind and Silvia off guard but he smiled and returned the hug.
"I did." Silvia felt tears fall as she saw her princess return to the rambunctious girl she had been over a century ago.
She almost wished Lind would never leave.
"Please tell me everything!" Lind nodded and began with how he found a Divine Inheritance and learned he was a progenitor now. He held nothing back from them as of all people, he owed them so much it could never be repaid.
Both were shocked and dismayed by his story. The rumors they were able to gather were only thanks to Darkmoor envoys. Still, the details he relayed made those rumors mere fodder for campside tales.
"So, why have you come here?" Astrella found herself feeling lighter just being around him but she was stunned when he looked at her so seriously. It was as if all her secrets were laid bare before him! She found it embarrassing!
"You saved me with allowing Cyntilla to give me gifts at the Academy. Further, you lost much so I could be at the Academy at all. I do not forget that, nor that you still considered me a friend even after all of it." Lind then stood and held out his hand.
She looked at it in confusion but she slowly took it and was suddenly somewhere else! She had been through many teleportation arrays, but she had no idea when they moved that time!
She realized they were far above the Lotus Empire in the sky!
"I have kept track of your progress and know you could advance if you wished. I can understand honoring her memory, but Princess Jia did not strike me as the indulgent type." Lind's voice was no longer that of an old friend but a fearsome senior.
His eyes were terrifying as they looked out at the Lotus Empire. Despite its size, she understood he could cross all of it in an instant. It was nothing to him but he valued it as his home.
"I am honoring her memory by being the 3rd Princess. There is so mu–" She tried to explain but his aura silenced her.
"The duty never ends. You are running away from the path because you were tired of it. Also, we are the same. We do not like leaving our past behind, but we must to advance." Lind then took her farther up and she felt oppressed by the Qi there.
"I am going to leave the lower world behind. I am sad, but Jia Teng was a storm. She could not advance but she did not mind it. She chose to stay and defend her family and home. You have done well, but you can move forward. Do not let her memory die with you." Lind only knew the history and the very end, but Astrella knew far more.
Her eyes glistened but she felt like she had to shoulder the burden. Yet, when she looked into the resolute eyes of Lind, she wanted to advance once more. She wanted to see what was beyond the horizon like when she was young.
Lind saw the change and smiled as he took her far beyond the borders of the Lotus Empire. She saw the capital of Darkmoor and the main buildings of the Divine Sword Sect and Heavenly Maiden Sect.
She saw the wondrous city of Cimmeria from far above. In just a few breaths she had seen the whole of her world and wanted more!
They returned to the Lotus Empire and it looked so small compared to the world she had just glimpsed.
Silvia calmed down as she made sure Astrella was ok.
"Lind, thank you." He smiled at Astrella's words and put another elixir. In her case, she already had the potential, but it never hurt to have a recovery elixir for when she faced Ascension.
"With this, I hope to see you both again one day, but you will have to work hard and join me in the Floating Isles." Lind never mentioned the fact that the Lotus Empire would produce not 1 but 2 Sky Realms where it had never produced any before.
He spent a few days reminiscing but no one else knew he was there before he left as quietly as he arrived. The news that both Lady Silvia and Princess Astrella broke through to the Sky Realm shocked the Empire and other powers.
They were the first!
Neither spoke about Lind and both expressed the desire to advance to the Emperor who wished them well. Etrigan embraced his sister for the last time as she flew off into the skies and he hoped she would keep moving forward.