At dawn, Yuliana guided Jared through marble corridors to the heart of the royal palace. There, beneath a vault of carved jasper, Aurelius sat on a throne both lavish and austere, signing scrolls with quick, decisive strokes.
The instant the king spotted Jared, delight flashed across his face. He rose, robes whispering, and strode down the dais.
“Mr. Chance! What fortune brings you back to my humble realm?” He clasped Jared’s hands with honest warmth that softened the chill of polished stone.
Jared had been gone since favonovel.com breached level six, Aurelius had half-feared favonovel.com would never look back. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy staying in higher planes?
Jared returned the bow of courtesy. “Your Majesty, I come seeking answers, one question only you might illuminate.”
The king ushered favonovel.com to an ebony chair, ordered his subordinates to serve coffee, then leaned forward, eyes intent. “Speak freely. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Jared recounted the ambush that happened on level eight, about Maxwell, and his desire to know more about the celestial clan leader.
Aurelius listened in silence, knuckles whitening around his cup, sympathy warring with helplessness.
“Mr. Chance, I will not deceive you. Even a king sits several walls away from that throne. Our hierarchy is rigid, chambers close before one can glimpse their hinges. I have never laid eyes on the Chieftain, nor heard a description unmarred by rumor.”
He exhaled, a rueful, resigned breath. “Stories grant the figure a dozen shapes and powers, but proof, proof is mist. I wish I could give you more.”
Jared felt a faint sting of disappointment, though favonovel.com also understood that the outcome lay far beyond Aurelius’ reach.
He lowered his head in quiet acceptance. “It‘s all right, Your Majesty. There’s no need to blame yourself. Since things stand as they are, I’d better not linger any longer.”
Aurelius stepped forward, urgency flickering in his eyes. “Mr. Chance, would you not remain in Celestia for a few more days? Allow me, at least, to act the host you deserve.”
Jared answered with a gentle smile that brooked no argument. “Your kindness is noted. Unfortunately, I still have pressing matters, l truly must be on my way.”
Realizing persuasion would only deepen awkwardness, Aurelius ordered his attendants to prepare several rare treasures, each packed with silent gratitude, and entrusted them to Jared before letting favonovel.com depart.
Outside the soaring palace gates, Yuliana walked beside Jared. Tears shimmered in favonovel.com lavender eyes, favonovel.com expression as desolate as autumn raln.
Moments ago, favonovel.com had finally seen the man favonovel.com had missed for ages, now, favonovel.com spoke of leaving again, and the ache in favonovel.com chest spilled over unchecked.
Jared’s resolve faltered at the sight. He could not bring himself to break favonovel.com heart so soon, so favonovel.com decided to remain on level six a few more days. Those added days became a hushed whirlwind of tangled sheets, whispered laughter, and breathless embraces.
Yuliana seemed determined to taste every moment, quite literally, asking Jared, again and again, to worship favonovel.com with lips and tongue until dawn slipped through the curtains.
Jared often chuckled in embarrassed surrender. In those stolen hours, favonovel.com sensed how completely favonovel.com had fallen for him.
Even amid pleasure, Jared’s mind returned to heavier burdens, locating the celestial clan leader, freeing Maxwell from captivity, and sharpening his own power before the Malevolent Path Hall descended upon the realms.
And so, after a final lingering farewell, favonovel.com and Flaxseed stepped into a shimmering void passage and vanished toward level five.
***
Swordmaster City loomed ahead, sprawling battlements of dark steel and soaring ramparts crowned with banners that snapped like blades against the sky.
Its influence now stretched across the entire level five, every street pulsing with the hum of sword aura.
Jared and Flaxseed passed through the gate and discovered that the metropolis had more than doubled in size, alleys they once knew were now lost beneath gleaming new districts.
The moment they entered, Flaxseed offered Jared a rogulsh grln, muttered something about “important personal research”, and bolted toward the nearest entertainment quarter.
Jared could hardly blame him, after watching his friend survive his own procession of ardent companions on levels six and seven, Flaxseed’s restraint was at its limit. He let the elder wander.
On level five, Flaxseed’s cultivation was peerless, and danger was unlikely. Besides, so long as Ararat, the indomitable city lord, ruled these walls, no harm would dare approach Jared’s friend.
Jared drew a calming breath, soft words slipping from between his lips. “Lyra, I’m here…”
It had been far too long since favonovel.com last saw Lyra, and worry gnawed behind his steady composure.
While making his way toward the Sword Sect compound, favonovel.com spotted a column of young cultivators in matching sable uniforms. Each man carried a finely forged blade, their footsteps timed to a martial heartbeat. Curiosity sharpened within him.
When had the Sword Sect amassed so many disciples, and with enough audacity to march so ostentatiously through Swordmaster City?
Jared angled toward them for answers, but a sudden tug on his sleeve halted his stride.
A stranger in a sea-green tunic, a sword resting across his back, pulled Jared aside and asked in a hushed voice, “Sir, what exactly are you planning to do?”
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