Chapter 174: The Ylfaen Emperor

Inside the cottage, located at the heart of the forest outside Noser,  Zephyr remained seated at the foot of the bed as he looked after Kyran. At this moment, they were the only ones in the cottage because Anette went outside to find something to eat.

Initially, Zephyr wanted to tell her that he smelled some food inside his master's storage but stopped when he remembered that they would not be able to take it out.

Kyran's space storage was a bit special, and he was the only one who could open it.

As Zephyr sat in silence, he thought about the events that had happened.

The truth, Zephyr had not completely processed all that had happened this day. For one thing, it happened one after another.

Early this morning, Zephyr was still inside the ruins hiding from the pursuit of the Templar Code. Then in the afternoon, he met a human who had the Dragon Lord's power. He was thrashed around by this person before taking him away. Right after that, he was subjected to the Sigil and ended up having a new master.

To be honest, Zephyr had not fully submitted himself to Kyran. But since the Sigil's seal was already inside him, he could not go against Kyran. He could not even think of going against him, or else the Sigil would bind him again.

Zephyr looked at Kyran and sighed. He recalled how Kyran promised to protect the Shaiha if something happened to him within three years. He felt mixed emotions.

Kyran did not know what the Shaiha was. If he did, he probably would not have made the promise. But since he made the promise, Kyran could not go back on his words. Zephyr would not let him either.

Knowing this, Zephyr had calmed down a little. Still, he was worried about the shrine. If those people from the Templar Code found the dead bodies of their people, they would definitely look for him. He wondered if they would force their way inside the shrine if they could not find him. If that happened, could the shrine hold without him?

Kyran promised that he would improve the shrine's array. But how long would it really take? Zephyr did not believe he could complete it in a week. There was also the question of how they would go back in the ruins...

Zephyr suddenly remembered that Kyran could warp, and his insides made an involuntary turn from the memory of his warping experience.

'D-Do I have to go through that experience again?' He wondered and shivered at the thought.

Shifting his focus away from his churning insides, Zephyr recalled his conversation with Anette.

Before Anette left, she explained to him their current situation. She also answered his question earlier about how the Templar Code could detect him if he left the cottage.

As Anette explained, she accidentally entered the ruins with Nolan and Gage. After leaving the place, the Templar Code found out, sending their people after them. Their people were now scattered around the forest, searching for them. And these people might be carrying magic devices that could detect aura or magic signature.

After hearing Anette's explanation, Zephyr felt his head throb in exasperation. The humans around his master appeared to be troublemakers. He felt fear for their future.

Because of this, Zephyr wondered once again why his new master needed his stone. He hoped Kyran would not attract trouble because of it.

Zephyr really hoped his new master was not a troublemaker like the other humans around him.

'He is not probably but it does not mean that he will not attract trouble,' he thought with a sigh.

Kyran possessed two of the Four Great Magic. His destiny was bound to be arduous. Even if he chose to keep a low profile, his extraordinary existence would definitely attract the Fates. After all, Fates were existences from the Higher Plane who loved to watch extraordinary existences from other planes struggle.

Then there was the matter on Kyran's magic cores. It was normal for him, who possessed the power of nothingness, to have more magic cores. Since he also possessed the power of dragons, having five magic cores was not surprising.

The surprising part was the state of Kyran's two magic cores. Normally, it should have a trace of either the power of dragons or the power of nothingness. But both cores did not have them. Instead, there were four different types of energy within the third core, while the fourth core remained unoccupied. This factor further emphasized how extraordinary Kyran's existence was.

Others might feel honored to be acquainted with someone with such an identity, but Zephyr felt the opposite. He was a little fearful.

Heaving another sigh, Zephyr closed his eyes and leaned his back on the wall.

'There's no point thinking right now. Once he wakes up, we'll just have to talk.' He decided.

He would not ask the humans around his master for information. To him, it was better to hear it directly from his master.

Half an hour later, Anette returned to the cottage. She caught a few freshwater fish from the nearby stream and picked some herbs. 

They made small talk while she moved around the kitchen, checking all the cupboards for cooking wares. When she did not find anything, she took out lumps of clay from her coat pocket and molded her own wares.

Zephyr observed Anette while she worked. He was surprised by how convenient her ability was. However, he noticed that although her ability was outstanding, her magic level was not that high.

No. To be precise, Zephyr could not gauge her level. But he felt it was not because she had very high magic attainment. Instead, her magic level could not be measured in this plane. Same with his case.

'She's... not an ordinary human,' he thought and could not help but glance at his new master again.

It seemed he got himself a troublesome master.

'The future... is bleak,' Zephyr thought with a sigh in his heart.

====================

The sun had just set in Meliora City.

One after another, the lights in the city square lit up as the night market came alive.

At the northern part of the city square, there was a circular 60-meter high thick wall surrounded by a moat. The small bridge that led to the gates was currently decorated, and soldiers were lined up on the side. And the normally closed gates were presently opened.

The lamps along the stone-paved road were also decorated with flowers and lights inside the gates. Reg flags with and embroidered Ylfaen Family Crest, a gold Pheonix with its wings spread out on its sides, hanged alternately on the lamps.

Each side of the road was filled with neatly organized flowers and decorated horse bushes.

Near the end of the road was a stoned courtyard with a huge fountain. In the center of the fountain, there was a statue of a beautiful woman with long wavy hair in a flowing white gown, sitting on a stone. The statue was made of white and black marble, with her hair made of pure gold. Her enchanting blue eyes were also made of genuine Sapphires.

A few meters from the fountain, there was a marbled step where palace guards stood in red and white uniforms that led to an arch.

Behind the arch stood a magnificent white marbled palace that appeared to glitter in the night. On a closer look, the glittering effect came from real diamonds embedded on the marbled wall.

Suddenly, a trumpet sounded and filled the air.

The head palace guard, in a red and gold uniform holding a stave, who stood at the top of the marbled step, straightened and bellowed, "The Emperor has arrived!"

All palace guards moved at the same time and drew their swords. They stood straight and raised their swords a few centimeters before their bodies.

After a few seconds, led by four knights in red and gold armor on armored white horses, a white and gold-painted carriage with the Ylfaen Crest carved on its roof made its way to the courtyard. Behind the carriage, three smaller carriages followed.

The white and gold-painted carriage stopped in front of the marbled step, and a manservant in red and white uniform got off from the front seat and opened the door.

The four knights also dismounted from their horses.

A middle-aged man with long braided light brown hair, and amber eyes, stepped out. He was not overly handsome, but he had a regal air. He wore white leather armor beneath a long red cape, and above his head was a golden crown.

This man was the Ylfaen Emperor, Euan Arthall.

"Salute to the Emperor!" The head palace guard announced.

All at once, the palace guards lifted their swords 45 degrees, and a red carpet magically appeared from the top of the marbled step.

Led by his manservant, Euan went up the stairs.

As soon as he arrived at the door leading to the palace's reception hall, an older man with long gray hair and black eyes wearing a red mage robe greeted him. 

"Your majesty," the man greeted while lowering his head in respect.

"Hm," Euan nodded his head in response. "Master Aiden, you're here."

Aiden was the Head Royal Mage, and he had been serving the Royal Family for almost thirty years.

"Yes, your majesty."

Euan did not stop and walked straight up the grand stairs leading to the first floor.

Aiden, with the four knights, followed behind.

"Did you also receive the message?" Euan asked Aiden.

"Yes, your majesty."

"What are your thoughts?"

Aiden bowed his head and replied, "Given the request to see you as soon as you have arrived, what the Grand Marshal has to say is probably related to a highly confidential subject."

Euan frowned. He also thought the same. After all, Grand Marshal Gael rarely requested to meet him himself.

"And?" Euan urged Aiden to continue.

"Before he sent a request, we have received a movement report from the Special Ops."

Euan's frown deepened.

"Their destination?" He asked.

"South."

Euan stopped in his tracks and looked at Aiden.

"Did you find the reason why they had to go south?"

Aiden shook his head, "Not yet, your majesty. Our people lost them after arriving at the Bearch City."

"Find them as soon as possible," Euan ordered with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, your majesty." Aiden replied and lowered his head.

Euan turned and was about to continue making his way up the stairs when a beautiful young woman appeared at the top of the stairs.

The woman's long wavy light brown hair that hung on her shoulder was loosely braided. She was dressed in a light pink off-shoulder, long dress, which made her sapphire blue eyes appear brighter.

"Father!" The young woman's melodious voice echoed through the reception hall.

Euan looked up, and his stoic expression changed into a warm smile.

"Haylee."

Haylee, beamed and went down the stairs. Then she stopped at least a meter and a half away from Euan and extended her hands.

Haylee did not say anything but only gave Euan a sweet smile while fluttering her eyes.

Her action immediately made Euan laugh. Even Aiden and the others could not help but smile at her action.

"Ahaha, my sweet little princess, I have just arrived and you are already asking for your present?"

Haylee pouted as she lowered her hands.

"I am no longer a little princess. I'll be sixteen in five days!"

Euan chuckled and nodded his head.

"Yes. Yes, but to me you will remain my little princess," he answered affectionately.

Haylee smiled sweetly and finally took the remaining steps toward Euan while spreading her arms.

"I missed you, Father~." She said and wrapped her arms around Euan's waist.

Euan returned her embrace and smiled, "I missed you too."

Haylee looked at him and said, "Mother is waiting in the living room."

Euan nodded, "We must not let your mother wait."

"Okay."

Euan looked at Aiden and the four knights.

He said, "We'll reconvene in the throne room in two hours."

"Yes, your majesty." They answered in unison.

With that, Euan and Haylee continued their way up the stairs. The rest of the servants followed behind.