Everyone was flabbergasted. Nineve couldn't believe this.Sealmaster liked Queenie more and more. "She might look weak, but she has a backbone. A woman among women, I daresay."Nox was surprised. Queenie might look gentle, but she had great power lying underneath."You insolent wretch!" The annoyed Nineve started throwing a tantrum."If anyone here's insolent, it's you. I'll teach you a lesson in your father's place! I am the heir to the path of the sword. My other mentor is the Master of Swords himself. You know how powerful one of the Three Paths is, don't you?" Queenie growled. She had pride in herself, and she wouldn't suffer anyone who tried to abuse their power.Like Nox, she believed that justice was not one person's possession. As long as they knew they were doing the right thing, they had nothing to fear."Why you…" Nineve jabbed a finger at Queenie, but she couldn't even say a word. "Fine, if you think you're so good, then let's fight!" Queenie got hasty and wanted to c
They both saved Nox's life from certain death, and that was how they had his heart. Nox was speechless. He couldn't argue with that, since that factor did affect him a lot. Back when he was training in Mystia, his mentors always taught him about morals before they taught him manuals.When it came to love, Fiery Ignis left an impact on him. He said the people who usually looked weak and useless might save him when he needed it most. If he ran into anyone like that, he could trust her with the rest of his life.Dominic was like a mentor to Nox as well. His mentors were people like him, who chased after the same belief. That was why Dominic admired Queenie.Nineve was throwing a tantrum because she hated herself for not throwing everything behind to save him when he needed it most."I'm not mad at you…""You're not, but you gave them your heart! Even a traitor like Aphrodite has more of your attention than me!" Nineve cried, trying to poke holes in Nox's answers.The Masters were go
The residence was cordoned off, but it wasn't deserted. The guards Nox sent to protect her were here. They bowed to Aphrodite the moment she showed up. The leader quickly came out. "Welcome home, mistress."Aphrodite followed the soldiers into the residence, and some were inside, cleaning. It felt like nothing had changed. She then remembered what Nox told her. 'Life can be found, even in the harshest of deserts, so long as you remember to hold love within yourself.' Now, she finally understood what he meant."I'm home. Imperia is where I shall be." Her once-dead soul was reawakened once more. She was ready to give.Back to Nox. He and the ladies were still making their way to the Greenshades' abode. The crying and wailing princess was hopping and prancing around happily. "My father's right. The darkness will always come to an end, and now we're facing a new dawn. Our future won't come until we chase the villains out of the land."Queenie was smiling as well. They were in a good mo
Nineve's lips curled. As if she was alone, she said, "That's what the Greenshades are like. Very just people, and very stubborn. Obsessed, I'd say." She knew what the Greenshades were like. The wall might be there, but it didn't change the fact that they were family. They wouldn't hesitate when it came to the more important things.Still, Queenie was a little sad seeing Daniel looking so defeated before his own son."I told you, they're stubborn. No one can change their minds once it's made up. Besides, if Nox never cared about them, why would Aphrodite even capture them?" Nineve grabbed Queenie and marched into the residence like it was her own house.Daniel and Nox were left. Nox held his head high and tried his best not to shed his tears. He sighed. "Do you know why I can't let it go? Mom had it rough. She only loved two people her whole life. Me, and you. She had no idea the situation the Greenshades were going through. All she knew was her lover dumped her, but she was too kind
Daniel wanted Nox to know he was kneeling to the Sovereign, not his son. He knew what he did was wrong, no matter the reason. Even if he did right by the people, he still owed Nox's mother a big debt."Nox knows, Daniel. He's just trying to speak for his mother.""Perhaps we should take his mother back into the family."Claude and Winston spoke up. Daniel wanted to do that a long time ago, but the Sect Alliance still held a lot of power, and so did the Mousses. He couldn't risk his family for his own desires. Now that the hazards were taken out, no one could stop Nox's mother from returning to the fold."She is my woman and a hero of the family." Daniel nodded.Nox went into the garden in the back. As usual, Nox's grandmother was on her rocking chair, basking in the sun. Unlike her usual depressed self, she was smiling a lot. Nineve was great at cheering old folks up, and she easily made Penelope laugh.Nox was not a lord or Sovereign here. He was just a lad who wanted his grandm
Nox thought the heavens took pity on him, and the gods in the temples healed his mother, but he eventually found out it was just terminal lucidity. His mother said Nox got it all wrong. She didn't want the soup for herself; it was for him.She blamed herself, especially after knowing she was going to die. How was her son going to live? Her dismay filled her soul, and she spat blood, drenching the temple's pillar red. Nox's soul was inside that dream, and he stared at the pillar. The blood illuminated the dim dragon on the pillar.The dragon flew high into the skies, and four sacred beasts stood in the four cardinal directions. Azure dragon, white tiger, black tortoise, and vermilion bird. Nox then saw the younger him falling unconscious.In her final moments, Nox's mother pulled her son into her embrace and used what little heat she had left to keep the boy warm. She whispered in his ear, "I had a dream, Nox. You were the god of this world. Everyone bowed to you. You must live on, N
Nox could see that he and his mother were just bait. The Sect Alliance used them as an excuse to destroy the Limerents and the Greenshades. Jacques wanted to be the next emperor."How'd they get out of this? Quilo was barely a Supreme, and the Greenshades were even weaker. They couldn't have stopped the Sect Alliance," Nox murmured. Even with the taboo in place, the Sect Alliance controlled almost all the powerful factions in Faeast.Half the military's generals were on the path of the martial's side. Nox thought they would lose the fight.…Nineve noticed Nox sweating and looking pale. Confused, she asked, "What's wrong with him, Penelope? It's springtime. He shouldn't even feel chilly, much less sweat from it.""No, it doesn't seem like he's poisoned." Worried, Queenie wanted to check on Nox."He's fine, girls. He's in a dream." Penelope seemed to know everything, and she told the ladies to calm down.Nineve circled Nox a few times, muttering, "My father told me about this. Wh
The Greenshades weren't doing too well either. The Mousses, the military, the sects, clans, and families, were attacking them. But then, a young Aphrodite stood in front of the Greenshades and defended them.Nox was stunned. He only met Aphrodite after coming back from Mystia. The only girl he was close to was Nineve, but she was just about seven years old back then, so she didn't know much.Aphrodite was in her early teens, and she was smart beyond her age, so her soul was about twenty something years old. Why would she stop her own family? That was what Nox wondered. Then, Daniel and his brothers attacked."Daniel, you need to go. I'm the family's heir. They won't take another step as long as I'm here," Aphrodite shouted. The look in her eyes baffled Nox. She seemed to only care about Daniel's survival."I am the leader of this clan, girl. I chose them over my son and wife. I have committed a grave sin, and there's no way back for me. The only choice I can make is to go forward.
'What?' The Generals were confused, and White Tiger was a little frustrated."Milord, do you think we won't be of help? If she can come with you, why can't we?" Azure Dragon pointed at the princess. "Azure Dragon and the others might be useless, but I'm not!" He just got on the princess' bad side and annoyed his friends."Can you shut the fuck up?" Azure Dragon smacked White Tiger's head. An angry Nineve kicked him too.'He's looking down on me?'"I don't have much time. Stay back and keep an eye on Faeast. I have my reasons for taking them with me, and I need you guys to do something for me," said Nox.Azure Dragon could guess what that was. "You need us to summon Kirin?"'Kirin?' White Tiger shut up and said nothing more."Yes. I'm not sure if I can come back alive. It's time for him to join us." Nox nodded."I understand." Azure Dragon did as he was told. The other Generals did the same."Shit. That monster's coming out again." White Tiger was nervous. Kirin tormented him a
Nox had no choice but to take the ladies along. Queenie was fine with it, but Nineve could be a problem. Nox asked solemnly, "Will you come with me? I can't promise your safety, though.""You think I'm a coward? I don't need your protection! Besides, I can't stop you from saving your grandpa. And if I die out there, I don't have to be the empress anymore. I don't want to work all day like my dad did!" she said angrily, but Nineve wasn't afraid. Her family had no cowards.Atlas's reputation was the worst of them all. He worked with the Mousses at one point, but he never betrayed the country even in its darkest hour."Come back, Aphrodite. I know you're still there!" Nox shouted into the distance. And he was right. Aphrodite came back looking all smug."You've always been efficient, especially when it comes to important stuff. I knew you'd come to a decision soon enough." She smiled."Enough. I don't have time to tell the family, but Grandma probably knows what I'm doing. She'll exp
'Grandpa went to Celestial Domain.' Nox looked solemn. Nineve and Queenie had never seen him looking so grim before."I see. So that was an SOS. He must've been in trouble last time, but I wasn't powerful enough, so he didn't tell me anything. That communication spell must've taken everything he had," said Nox darkly.Time was not on their side. "I need to go now. I know the place. You're not coming with me, Master. Besides the founder, no one's strong enough for the journey," said Nox."What?" Nineve's jaw dropped. The Masters were all Pinnacle Legend Realms, and Sealmaster was a powerful Emperor. If not even they were powerful enough, that place must be a dangerous one.Nineve made it obvious she didn't want Nox to go. Queenie grabbed Nox's arm tightly. She couldn't dissuade him, but she wanted him to take her along. Aphrodite watched the drama unfold. She wondered what Nox would do."No." Nox frowned."Damn right you are!" the Master interrupted. "I can't tag along, but Nineve
"I know. They don't want their family broken up, but death is a release for you, Penelope, especially if living itself is painful." The Master sighed. If Nox heard that, he'd curse him, but Penelope thought it made a lot of sense."You have to live for yourself once. Death is another form of life for people my age. I couldn't do anything for myself while I lived. Death is how I will fulfill the promise I made when I was young."…Back outside, Aphrodite sat on the stairs and lit up a cigarette. She went through three before she said, "I presume you know what happened back then."Nox frowned. 'She knows everything.'Nox's reaction was the answer Aphrodite needed. "You overestimate my power. I don't have any spies in Imperia anymore, and no one can keep an eye on you."Nox almost shouted. Aphrodite had no idea he knew about the truth. That was just a ruse so she could observe him and get her answer."The mission is simple. Save Cassian and retrieve a treasure," said Aphrodite."W
'One of us will die? I need to make a choice again? Will I repeat my father's mistake?'Nox stared daggers at Aphrodite. "That is nonsense! Even if that prediction is right, we'll either get out of it together, or we die together! We will not live if the other dies!"Aphrodite paled. "That hurt my heart. Well, you are the Sovereign, and you won't give in to anyone. Even in death, you will be glorious." She smiled sadly.Nox didn't care about Aphrodite's prediction, but Queenie took it seriously. She knew Aphrodite wasn't talking nonsense."Shut it. Did you come with the Master, or did he invite you?" Nox didn't like Aphrodite at all. He didn't want to see her unless it was something important.Aphrodite knew Nox didn't like her, and she couldn't blame anyone. She did it to herself. "I know you don't like me. I would never come uninvited," she said.Nox narrowed his eyes. So that meant the Master called her here. Then, the drunken Master sobered up. Penelope opened her eyes as wel
"She called you a commoner! A peasant!" Nineve snapped."But is she wrong? I am a commoner." Queenie clicked her tongue. She didn't really care about her background.Nineve felt like crying, and Nox pulled her back. He said coldly, "And why are you here, Aphrodite? Why were you with a Master?"Aphrodite arched an eyebrow and answered slowly, "I can come and go as I please, Lord Nox. Remember, I saved this clan once."Nox's temples throbbed. 'How dare she try to pull another one!'Before he could fly into a rage, Aphrodite added, "If I hadn't escorted a Greenshade back to her home, Cassian couldn't have communicated with you. Though Penelope has lost her powers, she can still cast some spells as long as she has the right tools."Nox's face was twitching. Aphrodite was a sharp woman. Even now she could keep him at bay easily. She did help the family once back when she was younger. No one could compare to her intellect, save for the heavens themselves.She was just like the legenda
Nox had no idea what the High Heavens looked like, but he wasn't answering Nineve. There must be a reason his grandfather tried to communicate with him. Faeast's threat wasn't defused yet. The path of the martial was still after them.Many of the path of the ancient divine's factions were keeping an eye on Faeast all the time as well. "What was he trying to tell me? What did he want me to do? Wait, Sealmaster summoned the founder back then. He must know something."Nox realized he could get some answers from Sealmaster, and he wanted to leave for Magic Mountain right away. Just when he was wondering how to settle the ladies down, one of the Masters and Aphrodite came to the Greenshades' abode.The Master told Aphrodite, "It's Daniel's wedding. I have to send my best regards. I represent Magic Mountain, after all."Aphrodite answered, "You know I can't go in, given my circumstances. Lord Nox must have some questions for me.""Very well. Then I shall leave you for now." The Master l
Neither managed to guess what Nox was thinking. One wanted him to look on the bright side, while the other wanted him to let it go, but Nox had reached the truth. He had ascended. He knew all of this, of course."They eventually ended up together? No, they're already separated by a veil of death. I will never give in to anyone. I will not repeat this tragedy. I will always, always finish the job. Even if I made a mistake, I would see it through!" Nox said. These were his true thoughts.Ironically, Aphrodite knew exactly the kind of man he was, and that was why she betrayed him. She knew no one could change his mind once it was made up. Alas, fate did not smile upon them.Though Queenie and Nineve couldn't guess his mind, they would try their best to keep up with him, especially Queenie. If Nox was going into hell itself, she would follow him."I think we can bring this case to a close for now. Grandma will handle the aftermath. You guys stay out of it as well. My clan's filled with
Daniel flew out of the house. The other Greenshades followed him as well. Queenie and Nineve helped Penelope to the entrance. More than a decade ago, the Greenshades mobilized to fight for their lives. Now, they were going to welcome their hero back home.On the street outside the house, a thousand Forbidden Army soldiers escorted the remains of Nox's mother home. They were all clad in white armor. The royal family members were in red. They were holding a red casket, while Atlas was standing before it, walking toward the Greenshades' abode.The accompanying band was playing a sad yet triumphant tune. Daniel remembered something, and he quickly went back inside to change into a tattered crimson shirt. This was the one he wore during the battle all those years ago. It was the one Nox's mother made for him.Nox's parents never had a wedding, so Daniel wanted to fulfill that wish. Atlas stabbed a banner into the ground and announced, "By the decree of the late emperor, His Majesty Quilo