Chapter 233: A Not Warm Welcome

The Great Slavensen Nation was on what was considered the lower part of the Jarkalon Abyss.

The Ki there was roughly 2 times more dense than in the lowest levels of the Furnace below where the Horned's Nation was, but it was still a rather poor area in the Jarkalon Abyss for training.

However, there was thousands of youth in the Great Slavensen Abyss that thought it was the best place in the world. They lived in what looked like large domed buildings of various bright colors, and almost every morning went outside and trained before spending the rest of the day creating plants to sell.

Of course, like many societies, there were always those who weren't happy with the current state of things. Lasinda's father, Mernan, was meeting with three senior advisors discussing what would happen if Mernan died in the next week. One of them, a man with almost blazing orange hair seemed almost happy that the discussion was going on while the other were on the verge of tears. 

However, Mernan, looking out the port window at the children in various beautiful outfits smiled while seeing joy sprout up on their faces. This wasn't a bad week to die. If he did die, he had a feeling Lasinda would be able to take care of everyone.

"It's hopeless that she finds a Jade Stem Herb, or plant, or whatever you want to call it!" The tallest of the three advisors said, grinding his hand into a ball. "And, we're almost out of soldiers! Ever since you got sick, the Grey Neck Warriors have been hunting us like dogs or robbing us blind! How can you be so cheery and optimistic! You're daughter has been gone for three weeks! Don't you find that odd!"

"Calm down," The orange haired advisor said, patting the tall man next to him on the back. 

He had spent weeks hoping that Mernan's death would come sooner than later. His name was Alanx, and he had spent his entire life serving Mernan. However, for some reason, he couldn't help but smiling every few minutes. 

Alanx had spent almost his entire life picking up after other people and had been trained to be a royal advisor to Mernan's family.

He hated it. He hated that they raised him to pretty much be at the beck of call of Mernan. Unfortunately, in the Great Slavensen Nation, this was how it worked. Each family and family member had a specific job that was given to them at birth depending on what the nation thought was their best skills.

Alanx did really well on a leadership test when he was a child, and since then his destiny had been given to him. He just couldn't help but laughing when he was alone! Soon, this stupid, wretched system that the Great Slavensen Nation would be in his hands! Lasinda, too, would soon be his! All he had to do is wait for the damn king to die! The king that never gave him anything but second best!

"Alanx, what's wrong? You seem especially upset," Mernan said, looking at the one man turning his head into the shadows in the room.

It was a regal room, with plenty types of lavish furniture that belonged to his family for generations. Some of the chairs and bedding was completely made out of a golden material. Alanx couldn't help but scoff seeing it. It completely pissed him off!

"It's nothing," Alenx replied, wiping a tear out of his eye. "It's just that you're going to be dead soon if Lasinda doesn't succeed. I don't understand why you'd send her out."

"One of my plants is called the Summer Spring Root." Mernan replied, forcing himself to stand in his white robe. He looked so sickly, it was hard for two of the advisors to watch him come to his feet, yet he slowly walked forward. "It-it has made me make many good decisions in the past, and when I was around Lasinda in the morning when she left, it turned gold. It only turns gold when extremely good things are on the horizon! I know it was the right decision."

"Hmph, you and that plant," The tallest advisor said, "It's the reason why we lost so many soldiers!"

"It's also the reason we're alive!" Mernan screamed out before he coughed, and dropped back onto the bed. "Sorry, I'm sorry. It's just some soldiers had to be sacrificed. We couldn't let the Grey Neck People get close to us. The other two nations have been kept at bay as well."

"We should just contact the Arthraku," Alanx responded, walking over and hugging Mernan gently. "They would have no problem finding a Jade Stem Plant. All we'd have to do is give them some extra resources every year. We could make an alliance with them?"

"You know that's a bad idea," Mernan said, "You can't trust the Arthraku. Once someone is more powerful than someone else, they will almost always take advantage of the one weaker than them. The Arthraku will most likely let us serve them for a few years before they gradually take over our Nation in secret. They did it to other small nations right? Took over their government, rigged who the leaders would be, and then slowly increased the taxes." Mernan shook his head. "I will not let our people fall into the trap! Not-not when I'm in such good health!" 

Cough* Cough*

Mernan fell down onto the bed and laughed before Alenx sighed and put the blanket on him.

"Foolish, I will go look for the Jade Stem Herb myself," Alenxs said, turning around and facing the door. "Look, you have at most 5 more days to live. I don't want to just give up!"

"No, you're staying here and protecting the children!" Mernan shook his head before he cleared his throat! "Ah, damn it! The plant glowed gold again today! I know it's a good sign! I know she will be arriving today."

"I have the same plant, and it was black today,"; Alenx said, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but the Summer Spring Root is wrong one out of every ten times right? I'm sorry, but there is no way today is unlucky for me, and lucky for you." Alenx walked over to the window. "Look, if Lasinda was here, we'd see her right now! She promised to come at twilight where no one could follow her. Do you see anyone?"

"Father!"Lasinda screamed, running into the town. 

Howard, behind her, smiled while a large group of children swarmed her. 

"Hehe, we finally made it." Howard said, smiling at one of the children greeting him. He could sense some strange intent coming from the distance, but ignored it. "Now… where's your father? He needs the plant right?"

"Lasinda! What are you doing here?" Alenx said, grabbing her arm. "Come with me right now! We have to have a talk."

Alenx attempted to grab Lasinda with all his strength and yank her away from the children before he found a hand against his wrist.

"Please don't touch my future wife like that," Howard twisted Alenx's arm back. "With that intent of yours, I'm literally three seconds away from killing you. Do you understand?"