Altura

I liked parties. Really, I did. I’d been to so many of them that I had to. But there were parties, and then there were parties. The first was a normal, friendly affair between friends, the second was a ridiculous political affair that really just showed off a particular force’s power and wealth.

Sadly, the one I was going to was the latter. I was told that some, if not many, of the invitees were hostile towards me and at least one wanted me dead. Fun times. Now, can I please have my cash back? I would like to not attend this. Especially not in this monster of a dress.

And that brought me to this dress. A twirling red thing that basically rendered my combat ability moot. A prime example of too delicate, too fashionable and far too uncomfortable. I needed to get out of this as fast as I could. But it was the best dress that Lady Illiana could have made that didn’t focus on emphasizing things I didn’t have.

I was still 11 after all. In fact, due to how aging with cultivation worked, I was actually still a bit less than ten biologically, and that difference between my actual age and biological one would only increase.

I sighed as I stepped out of the room, careful not to take too large a step and destroy the dress. I’d had to stick to the guard headquarters because the treehouse would have been impossible to climb down from in this dress.

“I see that the dress fit, your grace. Come, the guests are waiting.” Lady Illiana said as she began walking towards the Roalt mansion.

“Yes, that is my intention. Now, can you tell me who has arrived exactly?” I asked as I followed her.

“Of course, your grace. Of the five duchies, only the duchy of Merden has sent its heir, Artin Conserus, to the party. The rest have only sent gifts. Of the twenty-nine counties, seventeen Counts have arrived, with the rest sending representatives. Thirteen of the twenty-one Marquises and thirty-three of the fifty-one Barons have arrived, your grace.” Lady Illiana replied.

“That is quite a showing. What of the other Treeling forces?” I asked.

“Nothing, your grace. There are a few representatives from Merchant guilds and a few of General Aswelth’s old acquaintances, but the Treeling forces are making it clear that they still consider you inferior.” Lady Illiana replied.

“Ah, good, that means that they won’t attack me just yet. I hope we continue being the inferior one for much longer. Right up until we’re not.” I said. Actually going to war with these so called Treeling forces, or even catching their attention, wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Given that this was Xianxia, they were very likely to prioritize their own interests above everyone else’s and cause a mess. Anyway, we had now arrived at the party. Or at least the entrance of it. The party, as it was, was being held throughout the interior of the forest. It had to, with the amount of people we were expecting.

I nodded to the Ducal guard guarding the place, Aswelth had chosen to keep the more powerful ones in the Fortress, so there were only Late Seedlings and a few Early Saplings guarding here. If anything did happen and Aswelth and I couldn’t handle it, then the guard would be mostly useless.

Though, the Late Saplings had been held back to conduct evacuations just in case. Anyway, I had a party to attend.

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Jade Inner Sect Elder and Organization (Shadow Prince) Member Faurris

Fuarris looked on at the forest around him in fear. When he had been told that this forest had beasts powerful enough to kill even Treelings he had scarcely believed it. But now he had no choice, it was just too scary a forest. The trees were too high, the forest floor too clear. The further he went in, the more Fuarris feared the forest.

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Fingering the tool in his hand, he contemplated just blasting it out, but he knew that he would be killed if he did so. The Shadow Prince wished for the forest to attack the duchy on its borders, and for the Jade Sect to be blamed for the attack. That would once more put the Kingdom and the Sect at war, and profits would start rolling in.

But that did nothing for Fuarris. Why had he thought that joining the Organization was a good idea? Sure, they had helped him get to the Plant stage, but their demands had been getting more and more ridiculous. Last time it had been to sneak a suspicious looking man in. The same night, the head of the Jade Sect had died, and her baby daughter had gone missing. That was ten years ago. Now there was this.

But Fuarris endured, it was just a hundred more meters before he reached the optimal location. The Organization had detected several large groups of beasts in the forest. This was the one closest to the duchy. Fuarris’ job was to throw an explosive into the group, an explosive that was covered with the scent of the Archduchess of the duchy.

Fuarris shivered as he rounded a rock. Rocks were the hardest, you never knew what could be waiting for you, it could be a normal rabbit…or a turtle with spikes that was emanating the aura of a Treeling. Like the one staring at him with murder in its eyes. Panicking, Fuarris threw out the tool, hoping that it would allow him to escape. Sadly for him, it failed. The tool just emanated a large amount of a suspicious gas, not exploding at all, just aggravating the turtle-beast. Fuariss didn’t even have time to realize that he had been betrayed before a stake pierced his heart.

But the tool had done its job, the turtle-beast roared as it let out a gout of fire into the air. This part of the forest seemed to thrum as a literal army of beasts moved out. Not hundreds, not thousands, but hundreds of thousands moving in unison with only one thought in their primitive minds- ‘Enemy! Eat! Eat Enemy!’

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Altura

I had to say, I was quite enjoying this party. The nobles were obnoxious and proud, but there were exceptions. I’d been able to hold some very interesting conversations with a few of them. If all went well, the duchy could be entering trade talks with them as soon as next week.

Trying to be more social, I moved around looking for my next conversation, but before I could do that, I was interrupted by Aswelth calling on me.

“What is it Aswelth?” I asked, surprised to see Aswelth panicking like this.

“The forest, your grace, the forest is invading the duchy. The fortress just reported that a mass of beasts has moved out towards the duchy. There are likely more waves behind it. I would suggest moving all forces there at once, your grace. If the threat is as great as the fortress’ message made it, then even a call to arms may not be enough.” Aswelth let out in a single breadth.

Uh oh. Just why - Of course. Xianxia land. Nothing could ever go easy,, huh?

“Aswelth you remain here and herd these nobles out, I don’t trust them to not attack us while we are weak. I shall go to support the fortress.” I said.

“No need, your grace, I shall keep watch here. Leave for the fortress, it stands under greater threat than you think.” Lady Illiana suddenly said from behind me.

I turned towards her, wondering how she was so sure of this, only to find her standing there looking all serene. And then I felt it, like a flower blooming, subtle but decidedly not. The aura of a Tree. It could be nothing else.

“Who are you?” I asked, my tone reserved. Yet another surprise. When would they stop? At least this one was a good surprise.

“I am Lady Illiana Quarenar, the youngest daughter of the First Lady of the Valley, or version of what you call ‘the Founder’. I cannot interfere here, my mother would literally kill me for breaking our neutral stance, but I can assist you this much. None of the nobles will dare disobey me, and my presence shall make them fear attacking the City in your absence. Please go, I have enjoyed my stay in your duchy and the Selrin duchy, this is the least I could do. After all, all I have to do is sit around and eat your food. And you can’t say no.” Lady Illiana said.

I would doubt her if she wasn’t a Tree. But a Tree would have no reason to deceive us, if she wanted me dead she could have killed us long ago. But no, she had helped us. Helped us greatly and was now doing it again. Guess there were good people even in this world.

“Thank you, Lady Illiana, your kindness will not be forgotten. I know that this means little, but if ever in the future you require the aid of me and my duchy, then you shall have it. Just as we have yours today.” I said, it was the least I could do.

“Oh, my dear, the promise of the Archduchess of this duchy is hardly a little thing. I do not doubt that it will be worth much one day. But I digress, it is time for you, Archduchess, to go to war.” Lady Illiana said.

I smiled as I started walking towards my Treehouse, this dress was decidedly not one to go to war in, but I couldn’t help leaving one final comment. “The power of tomorrow is nebulous, it is that of today that holds true power.” I was pretty sure I saw a smile stretch across Lady Illiana’s face at that.