Chapter 0130
A sense of foreboding pressed on Skylar as she watches the money grubbing little girl leave for the Assignment Center with a cute little boy in her arms. The Augar Kingdom may seem glamorous on the outside but every royal know about the scheme and power struggles that happens in the shadows. Due to her high light and lightning affinity, she was protected from the life threatening plots that happens all too often in court. Fawning, flattery, tricks, schemes, swindling and other plottings were allowed.
The Sedonis had every intention of sending Skylr to the Eternal Spirit Guild to so she can strengthen their factions within the guild or at least prop up their factions should anything happen to her grandfather or Bastion Sedonis.
The Sedonis tend to give birth to children who had a high talent for cultivating the body as their immortal potential. Overtime, most of the resources for cultivators were tilted towards body cultivators as well. They became complacent with Bastion Sedonis in a position of power in the Eternal Spirit Guild.
About 300 years ago, Bastion Sedonis nearly died from an encounter with the high-level magical beast. With Bastion’s status unknown, the other countries surrounding the Augar kingdom started causing trouble. Small skirmishes broke out along their borders which lead to bigger skirmishes, which then lead to bigger fights, which lead to outright war. Three countries declared war on the Augar Kingdom.
The Augar Kingdom may have deep foundations and strong cultivators but they realized distance water can not quench a nearby fire. Many of the cultivators they were grooming in the Heavenly Mountains couldn’t make it back in time to protect the kingdom. The other countries set up a series of road blocks, effectively stalling most of the reinforcement the Augar Kingdom called upon. The other countries might have fewer cultivators than the Augar Kingdom but their cultivators were mages.
Some align themselves with the culture of the Heavenly Mountains that they felt no attachment to the Augar Kingdom at all so they didn’t even bother to come when the kingdom needed them. Others felt the Augar Kingdom was doom to fall without Bastion propping them up so they felt rushing to help the Augar Kingdom was akin to rushing towards their death, so they did nothing.
Therefore, the Augar Kingdom was left with no one to rely on in their time of need. Luckily for them, Bastion recovered in time to prevent their complete and utter demise but he couldn’t recover the land the Augar Kingdom lost during the war.
The Augar Kingdom change their policy towards cultivators, tilting their resources into grooming powerful mages. It takes a long time and massive amount of resources to groom a powerful cultivator from any immortal potential. Within the last 300 years, the Augar Kingdom had produce only two powerful mages, Skylar and her grandfather, Yurteiv Sedonis.
The Augar Kingdom desperately need intelligent powerful mages capable of stepping into Bastion shoes, so they trained Skylar to be a leader, exposing her to the schemes of the court from an early age. They protected from life threatening attacks but everything else is allowed.
Skylar’s instinct developed during this time. Her instinct was telling her she stepped into a pit of vipers, and it may cost her her life if she wasn’t careful.
“Nobody moves until we figure out what is going on!” a loud voice boom over the entire courtyard and Skylar realize she already in trouble.
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Slapped.
Skylar fell to the floor clutching her face, starting at her grandfather, Yurteiv Sedonis with worried eyes.
Skylar was told her grandfather rushed over from the Eternal Spirit Guild to Augar Kingdom once he hears she was born with high light and lightning affinities. She knew the Augar Kingdom needed a stronger presence in the Eternal Spirit Guild and that her destiny was already determined once the test showed she had great potential to be a mage. Even though Skylar was a tool used to benefit the kingdom and she was trained to lead the next generation of mages, her grandfather still showed the utmost care and concern for her well being. He may see Skylar as a tool, but he also saw Skylar as a person.
Yurteiv was always calm and collect when during their time together. They would always have lively educational sessions where all topics can and were discussed, from the current policies the kingdom was trying to implement to the love affairs between the guard and a maid. Yurteiv would gently explain the motives and interpersonal relationship behind each discussion and waited for Skylar to come to her own conclusion.
She had never seen him angry and frustrated, until now.
In the Augar kingdom, her grandfather can guarantee her life. There are too many powerful forces in the Eternal Spirit Guild. He can’t protect her here. Yet her duty is here.
“You stupid girl! What are you doing, causing trouble when you just entered the Eternal Spirit Guild?” Yurteiv harshly chastise his granddaughter.“I’ve taught you better than that.”
“It wasn’t Skylar’s fault.” One of Skylar group mate, Sili Vensede, tried to defend her but she shut up under Yurteiv’s glare.
Yurteiv’s turned towards the other members of my group and subjected them to the same glare he gave Sili. Three of the shrank under his scrutiny while the other two stared back, unperturbed.
Grandfather didn’t show his emotion, but Skylar can tell he was please with the two people who stood up to him. A dragon doesn’t live with snakes. Only those with strength and courage can thrive as a cultivator. The four were already relegated to servants under Yurteiv’s eyes. The two people with a backbone can be treated on equal grounds with Skylar.
“Skylar, explain!”
“When we got to the Assignment Center, I saw a girl taking the space bag of another girl, so I stepped in to stop her. Before I could proceed further, Hannah, the girl being robbed, rushed into my arms crying. The other girl insulted us. They argued until the girl saw the space bag was being stolen by someone else, so she took it back. I took the space bag back and gave it to Hannah, but the girl snatched it back. I snatched the space bag back and the girl would snatch it away from me. I showed her the Disciplinary token you gave me to stop the back and forth game. Instead of stopping, the girl stole the Disciplinary token from me and activate it. One of her group mate came and pulled her away from the confrontation. She left right before you came.”
Yurteiv nodded. Skylar’s statement matches with the witness’ accounts. “There were many people there. Why didn’t you let them stop the girls instead of doing it yourself?”
“They weren’t doing anything. Should I stand by while Hannah was being robbed right in front of my eyes? I know our faction is weak in the Eternal Spirit Guild, but we still have our pride. If we do nothing now, then the other factions would take it as an example and come to cause trouble at our door.”
Yurteiv sighed. “You need to train your observation skills more. Have you ever considered why everyone was standing aside instead of getting involved?”
Skylar lowered my head in shame. She never did consider why the stronger mages didn’t stop the two girls from fighting even though it was against the rules. She was not the strongest mage in the Eternal Spirit Guild. Aside from her position as a princess from a powerful kingdom, there is nothing special about her.
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“From eye witness accounts, it was Hannah who was in the wrong. Hannah destroyed the charms the girl was selling. It was Hannah who attacked the girl first. The girl was only defending herself. She took Hannah’s space bag for compensation for the charms Hannah destroyed.” Yurteiv stressed his point.
“But Hannah said the girl was trying to rob her.” Skylar protested. Hannah had always been a sweet gentle girl.
“Did she? Then why did she slip away when the Investigation Squad came to the scene?”
Skylar sank to the ground as she realizes what her grandfather was trying to tell her. Hannah, her good friend Hannah is a two face scheming fox. Like a sneaky fox, she slipped away when she was about to get caught and let Skylar take the blame.
When?
When did Hannah become like all the others?
Was she even sincere to me in the first place?
Was she only a tool to Hannah?
Was all their affections for each other nothing but a charade?
Does it even matter anymore?
“You’re lucky you found out about her duplicity now rather than later. If you continued to trust her implicitly, then she might have pulled you into a bigger mess.” Yutriev comforted Skylar, yet another person immediately interrupt him.
“The trouble she causes is already enough to destroy the Augar Kingdom I’ve built with my blood, sweat and tears!” Everyone gasped and fell to their knees as the intruder barged in with his power flaring.
Bastion Sedonis, a beautiful man with blue eyes and brown hair with blue and blond highlights, flopped elegantly into the chair while staring at his descendant and her group.
“Ancestor!”
“Yutriev, is this how you trained your granddaughter? You have been too lenient on her!”Uncontrolled anger oozed out of the powerful mage, stifling everyone in his presence.
Yutriev immediately appease his ancestor. “I have been too lenient on her. I’ll do better next time.”
“Next time? There better not be a next time!” Bastion was not satisfied with the empty promises made by his descendant.
“Forgive me ancestor for the trouble I’ve cause, but may I know the reasoning behind your dire statement?” Skylar knew she was in trouble, but she didn’t think the little girl had such a big background she can threaten the entire Augar Kingdom. She had to ask because she can’t defend herself or appease the ancestor without information. Looking back, her previous action did seem stupid. She should have asked what was going on before stepping in. The gossipmonger among the spectators would have easily told her the situation.
“You don’t know what you did wrong?! How can you be so stupid?” Bastion slammed on the chair, vaporising it in an instant. Skylar was glad it was the chair and not her head. Bastion Sedonis held the position as the Divisional Leader of the Hall of Punishment for a reason. He was able to control his power even though he was angered beyond words, one of the many qualities which made him a good leader among the emotional maniacs.
“I’ve memorized all the people who I should watch out for. The girl was not among them. I was not aware there is a person among the new recruits I should be careful of. Please enlighten me?” Logical yet repentant. It was the best way Skylar knew how to appease the ancestor.
“Yes, it is only a new recruit. Maybe it can be salvaged.” Bastion mumbled under his breath before explaining the current situation in the guild. “Cardis had accepted a Successor.”
Another round of gasps can be heard. Cardis is legendary for his many exploits as well as his steadfast refusal to accept a student. If you line up all the mages who wanted to be Cardis’ student, the line would wrap around the Cardinal Realm least twice, if not thrice!
Who could make the legendary mage change his mind?
“His Successor is a young True Daughter of Storm.” It made sense now. How rare is a living True Child of the Elements? They are not as rare as a Child of the Elements but most tend to die before they can crawl. The power of the spirits is too much for their fragile bodies to handle.
“It was inferred by the Council of Elders the reason why Kataigida, the True Daughter of Storm was able to live as long as she did was because she found her Resonance Bond. Rumor has it Cardis isn’t too fond of his Successor’s Resonance, so before started training Kataigida, he tosses the girl into the courtyard of the Sphere of Spiritual Influence to induct her into the guild the normal way. Everyone has been taking notes of all the females with wind, water or lightning powers with an unclear background. They have narrowed down the choices to three people and the girl you quarreled with was one of them. Think! Who is brazen enough to sell their charms in the Assignment Center without concerning herself with the consequences?”
The blood drained from Skylar’s face as she realizes the dire consequences of her actions.
“Ancestor, what’s done is done. We should focus on rectifying the issue instead.” Yutriev was scared of the consequences as much as Skylar, but he lived much longer than his stupid granddaughter. He was clear minded enough to seek a solution to their current problems.
“Money!” one of Skylar’s group mate blurted it out.
“What?” As one, everyone turned towards the black hair boy.
“My name is Anvis Dest, third prince of the kingdom of Kurain.” Anvis introduce himself before explaining his previous statement. “The girl was selling her charms in the Assignment Center. If she wasn’t in dire need of money, why would she risk potential trouble to earn money? Granted, there is no rules against selling the charms in the Assignment Center, but one doesn’t break convention without a strong reason. The girl maybe ignorant, but she isn’t stupid or unreasonable. She might have defended herself against Hannah. I can’t say for sure since I was present during the altercation, but I did witness her battle against Skylar. She didn’t use any attack spells. She only use movement spells to go after the space bag. Furthermore, I heard her yelling ‘600 silvers’ so she wasn’t out to take what wasn’t hers, just her fair compensation.”
“Yes, she did give me the impression she was a money grubber.” Skylar chimed in with an observation of her own.
“We can appease the girl with fair compensation, emphasize Hannah as the true culprit while Skylar was a betrayed friend. It portays Skylar as stupid victim but it is better than having Kataigida as an enemy. When we do this, we can publically break off any relations Skylar has with Hannah.”
“And if your suggestions don’t work?”
“Buy her group mates off. Given the prosperity of the Augar Kingdom, a few elemental stones won’t be a problem. I’m sure her group mates doesn’t want the Augar Kingdom as an enemy over minor issues as a game of tag.”
“A game of tag?” Bastion narrowed his eyes at the boy before him.
“Yes, a game of tag. Neither side attacked each other. Instead, they were merely snatching the space bag. What else could it be beside a game of tag?”
“We’ll do as the boy says.” Bastion said while directing his gaze at Skylar.
“Yes grandfather.” Skylar said while nodding gratefully at Avis. She hopes this plan work. She truly did.