Chapter 177 - (10)

"We?" Matriarch Lilac asked with a raised brow and Lucy smiled at her question.

"Do you think me one for charitable acts?" she asked the matriarch.

"I have never held such illusions. Like I said, this stone is important, but it is only one in a key set. With just this stone, you think us partners?" Matriarch Lilac asked.

"Partners? I work alone. Payment is a better way to see it. This lady does not care about how the battleground is run, used or controlled. This gate, I only wish to use to cross realms when I need to. Worry not, it will not be frequent; I quite detest travelling." Lucy said. The matriarch turned solemn as she weighed the meaning of Lucy's words.

"Even so, the stone is not enough." the matriarch said.

"Yes, you lack one last thing." Lucy's words caused her to frown. This lady before her, how much did she know about her operations? How did she know she had acquired all others in the key set? With this stone, only one remained lost to her. Was there a mole in her nunnery? No, she trusted everyone of her nuns. Then how does this lady know this?

"The quarter bloom tree grown with water of an underground pure spring." Lucy said.

"You have this?" Matriarch Lilac asked Lucy. This was not just any Thraine, this was a direct descendant, probably the most scary through out the entire linage; such feat was not beyond her.

"The late Marjiont valley head had an underground pure spring in his courtyard. To him, it was a precious source of spirit water. But he had not even begun to understand how precious it was. This was no ordinary spring, it was one with a gemstone core." Lucy said and Matriarch Lilac's eyes shined.

"A quarter bloom seed planted in such a spring, in the middle of a windy quarter; how much do you think it must have grown by now? What size do you think it will be when it is time to enter the alignment battleground?" Lucy asked.

"You have thought this through." Matriarch Lilac said softly.

"Coincidence." Lucy replied.

"What?" Matriarch Lilac frowned.

"It was a coincidence, the entire situation. When I heard of the existence of the spring by chance, I was reminded of the quarter bloom seed always sitting on my night stand. I wondered if it had finally gotten a home." Lucy said. The tone of her voice offended the matriarch greatly. She prided herself a person of certain grace and wisdom only age like hers can bestow. Yet, at this moment, she was strongly resisting the urge to get up from her chair and vent her anger on this lady before her. If possible, connect a few slaps to her little cheek. Coincidence? Who would believe that? Why would you even be in possession of a quarter bloom seed? Just sitting on her night stand? This lady before her, could really infuriate someone.

The look on the matriarch's face told Lucy she did not believe her one bit, but Lucy couldn't care less. "If I give you the location of the tree, you would be able to go ahead with your plans." Lucy said. Her words calmed the matriarch a little.

"Your intention is a flashy show for the Harnian gate; I do not object to this reasoning. What time would you think would make the most entertaining show?" Matriarch Lilac asked. She did not fault Lucy's reasoning. If Lucy was fighting anyone, it must be those that killed her mother; the Harnian gate. Those were their enemies too. It was only right that they get a show worthy of the Thraine name.

"The opening of the alignment battleground. This lady has never sponsored a show before. This dedicated work of art, I require a worthy audience to sing it's praise." Lucy said.