Ikrei P.O.V.
Newspaper Clip [https://i.imgur.com/YOa4pJK.jpeg]
I was reading the newspaper version of the Zunar Bell News. The commotion was big enough to be printed and distributed with all available means.
“Did you have to knock me out cold?” I was still a little unhappy with everything.
“Sorry my man, there are a few things you cannot know of yet. It can affect your mental state and your progress. Just bear with it, please.”
Krigsain was behaving apologetically for the past hours. I decided to let it go for the time being.
“What now?” I questioned.
“Nothing much brothers, everything goes on as planned, except that since you intervened on my behalf, I will be singing “Me” with you on the piano. That way you will have a worldwide hit on your hands, Brett. We will practice until you get it right.”
I was glad for the offer but I still had a small gripe with that arrangement.
“So I’m off with performance of Krigs little panty tale?”
“What are you calling panty tale? It is all true!” Krigsain’s retort made Ixur laugh like mad.
“It is true my dear brother, I knew her. Besides, it is the Titty, we don’t want to disappoint your and my investors. But yes, Krigs will be doing that number. There’s plenty of good music to go around. We are doing Queen of the Night as a special number for your girl. Fair trade.”
Ixur explained dismissing away my worries.
‘She is my deadly consort not exactly my girl but correcting her might be unhealthy for me, right now.’
“Fine, fine. Let me hear the special number then.”
With drinks, reflective lights, and an incredible tight security courtesy of the Heavenly Demon outside. Krigsain grabbed a non-amplified magic ketar with a craftmic and sat next to the phoenix for a round.
They played an “acoustic” version of Queen of the Night for the present.
Hau Yǐngr, Sochu, cultivator Konoe were all smiles with the song.
“Brett, it is good to show that you are always fearless with your material.”
My boss was adamant with her estimation.
“As long as you tell songs with elements of truth it will always resonate with somebody.” Cultivator Konoe offered a closing remark on the subject.
‘He’s awfully calm for someone that the Zunar kingdom wants to put its claws on, after all the destruction.’
The mini final preparations and the impromptu jam continued.
“Me” was played for hours. And by hook or crook, touching the keys I was happy, happy to be, well, me.
‘Here’s to you, Anya, the Malgrunian with a rose.’
Assistant Tayfal was nowhere to be found.
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Sarkan P.O.V.
“Lord Sarkan, the Zunar kingdom expects a full explanation. We want to know what is truly going on?”
‘That makes two of us.’
“We will help you with the rebuilding efforts in the affected area. And to answer your inquiry, it is just Malgrunian intervention. They were trying to prevent our antiwar efforts with one of their idols.”
“Curious how peace efforts turn deadly.” The head female knight spoke unkindly.
“It is a regrettable consequence.” I was truly sad.
“What about the presence of demonic cultivators in all of this?”
“It seems it is the doing of the Singing Phoenix. She is fearful of her own kind after what happened.” I gave her a half truth.
“It is a strange thing to see demonics at odds with malgrunians, don’t you think?”
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“A strange woman for a strange situation. Some would start a war just to possess her.” I explained again.
The female knight was clearly displeased with my last statement.
“The Eternal Moon denies any involvement with the deaths of the people. We haven’t been able to corroborate anything since all malgrunian forces left the scene. There were at least two high level kotari in the scuffle. Are your blades dulling, Lord Sarkan?”
“We were able to minimize the rampaging damage from the cultivators. There are war considerations to ponder in our decisions. Once again, we will mitigate possible new trouble.”
I offered a not so palatable reality to her.
“The kingdom will require further compensation if this happens again. The Queen wishes you to know that she expects a 15% increase on your future orgon crystal exchanges with her, every time this reoccurs. Either that, or you will have to give up 33% of the orgon mines. She has estimated that this will not be a one off.”
“Very well, I’ll take it up with the elders.”
The female knight left my sealed space. I was left with vexation.
‘You are already causing casualties. You are half a finger from getting the rug pulled from under you, chosen.’
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Ciel P.O.V.
The atmosphere at the starfeast felt lively with the recent events.
“Half of our class is going to the show, bookie.”
“Yeah, a coalition of cultivator forces is descending upon Clariun to prevent any more accidents.” Iru pointed out.
“We got a special table. Krigs doing, we will be seating with Ikrei.” I said.
“Maybe, we will get to meet our brother’s unofficial woman. Want to see what Krigsain is capable of when it comes to that.” Puri spoke munching on some lamb.
“Don’t get your hopes up too much, just do what you must do and you will get yours.”
“I want to see those artifacts, should be interesting.” Kletay was looking forward to tomorrow.
I also ate but was a little put off by the death toll news.
“It’s distasteful at the minimum to call for peace on the corpses of the innocent.” I said.
“Demonic cultivators are what they are and we aren’t much better, benefits and outcomes.” Iru detailed passing some bread around.
“So, what are you guys wearing? Going all out with the fashion?” Puri asked one of the pertinent questions.
“I’m just wearing a proper suit, nothing fancy. I am going for the special drinks our magic parchment flier indicated on the back.” Iru’s interest in fine dining was showing.
“I am dressing up, who knows if we might mingle with great artisans, craftsmen and the like. If the show is as legendary as the singer, the high nobles and many experts will stay for the crystalink replay immediately after the show.”
Kletay was thinking of networking considerably.
“Which elder will be going? Any news?”
“No details but a couple from the council, they say.” I answered.
“Malgrunians, andurians, former zurians, cultivators, high ranking nobles, courtesans, bards, politicians, generals, knights, magicians, adventurers and mercenaries from all around the world, all in the same place?” Iru asked.
“Nothing will happen or we are headed for a bloodbath.” I offered the truth.
“Playboy’s music better be as legendary as he thinks it is. The crowd is a special bunch.” Kletay’s tone was filled with finality.
We continued with our activities with just a tinge of worry for the coop master.
‘Good luck, Brett.’
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Fuko P.O.V.
“We were betrayed.” I stated the truth.
The abandoned training circle felt uninviting.
“The phoenix managed to send and receive soul communications through the sealed space. Her consort sisters intervened.” Tosen spoke in his unflappable tone.
Tosen threw me a set glyph recording of our entire fight. Tosen wasn’t only throwing teleportation glyphs around during the confrontation.
I grabbed it with one hand.
“I’ll report to father; this will not end like this.”
“We are in the clear with this. I will also inform the High Priest. The consorts are about to get theirs, some in the Kolga have been waiting for an excuse to reel them in.”
“Young master.” Ethola came to report.
I waived for him to speak.
“We have received new orders coming from the Duke.”
I opened the magic parchment and it dissolved after a couple of minutes.
“We are laying low for a while, I’ll prepare targets for you once the truce ends.” I gave the order.
“It has been a fruitful cooperation, Kazardim. I’ll see you around. Use the artifact I gave you if you need me.”
“You dealing with those three nosy bastards?”
Tosen walked away without an answer. He was going to do something; soul communion teaches you a few things.
‘I need to reach Core Condensation and the team needs to get stronger. Time to head into the forbidden rifts. I’ll deal with them too, in my own way.’
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Yun Hee P.O.V.
Day of Ioƛl, a few hours before sundown. Walking in downtown Zunyl. The main streets of the capital, surrounded by a bustling crowd amidst shops, establishments and other places.
“You seem to like ice cream quite a lot.”
“It is more the place than the sweet.”
“I need the break just as much as you do, is this fun, Yika?”
“It is Brett, how am I looking?” I turned for little lord.
“Like a proper noble, really.” He motioned me to follow him to a shop.
‘Can’t you say I look beautiful? Are you a scrooge with your compliments?’
We were being chaperoned by cultivator Li, Ikrei’s guards and a couple more that I knew not from the shadows.
Entering the shop to look for trinkets, I let my displeasure be known.
“I’m in a great mood, you should be matching my energy, Brett.”
Ikrei was going around checking the different little things available. The place was a mix of a souvenir and a pawn shop. I was also walking around among the curious.
Little lord was taking his time.
“Isn’t this the time when a girl receives a flower or something?”
After rummaging for a while longer, Ikrei came next to me.
“A flower for a walking garden is a bit much.”
He placed a small pin on my dress, right next to my left breast. It was the old Zunar kingdom sigil. A winged lion surrounded by several extinct fearbeasts in a circle.
“It isn’t the gift, not when you are rich like you. It is the intent, the person and the moment, let’s make a memory, paramour.” He spoke softly in my ear.
He paid the shop owner and with those eyes of his, he gave me an order.
“Follow me woman, we are heading to the venue.”
My feet moved involuntarily without the need of coercion or influence. I started licking my lips.
‘Interesting, you are turning out to be very interesting.’