Chapter 149: Vita's puzzling request

"What?" Laurel's hand shakes, so the tea spills on her lap.

Federline and Lemuel hold their breaths for a few seconds. Everyone in the room tries to adjust to the sudden change of plans. Now, they are not just consulting the Fairy Queen, but they are going into someone's lair to kill the owner.

"Did she mention the reason?" Laurel tries to think of any connection.

Kyrie mumbles and his pupils shiver sideways as he recalls.

"T-the Fairy Queen was involved with the escalation in the conflict of the god realm because she kidnapped Phanes. W-well…That is according to Vita recounting what happened back then."

Kyrie tastes the bitter aftertaste of the hot tea drank to warm his body. Remembering his conversation with Vita again, he lets out an incredulous laugh. 

[I can't believe she asked me to kill… But this whole thing feels more from the fuel of something personal than something for the greater good. But why?] 

Kyrie rubs his tired eyes with both hands and lets them remain on his face to cover the light. His lack of sleep makes his eyes burn from the light.

[Does that mean Phanes is with the Fairy Queen? If Phanes is alive, then why is she hiding? Is Vita looking for her? No… Vita was talking to me as if Phanes is not alive or with the Fairy Queen. She never mentioned rescuing Phanes, bringing her remains, or even finding out about Phanes.]

"Why?" Laurel still cannot comprehend. Her thoughts are not piecing together.

For this entire time, they have been looking for information about this dead goddess. Kyrie has not said much about the reasons, but what he has told her before does not completely piece together. They are trying to save the world, so how is it related to a dead goddess? Why does goddess Vita want the life of a fairy?

"Laurel, at this point, I think you should reshape your thinking of what is good and what is evil."

Until now, everyone Kyrie has met is in the gray zones. He also believes that no one can truly be purely good or purely evil, including the very gods they worship. 

"Is… the goddess…" Laurel starts to break in a cold sweat.

"I am not saying that the goddess is evil. If she is, then the world will be upside down. She mentions that the Fairy Queen has joined hands with a fallen god."

"Just… Just who is this goddess named Phanes? Kidnapping? The fairy queen joined forces with a fallen god?"

[I have yet to reveal much about Phanes to Laurel… It is just that Imogen has not revealed anything, so should I? If only Laurel does not have such a dangerous fate… Maybe I would-.]

Kyrie remembers Phanes's tired eyes. The emerald eyes vibrantly shine while he was in the underground city of Udarr. But, her older self has eyes that carried storms.

[Phanes was tired of the god realm. She wanted to leave and run away… Yet, gods are still chasing after her whereabouts to this day. What did she have that drew so much attention?]

"She is Vita's sister," Kyrie replies, giving out an excuse for the time being.

Laurel is an obscure character inside the novel. There is not much said about her until she met Imogen near the later half of the novel. Yet, the actual Laurel is different. Kyrie grumbles that his uncertainties maybe stem from overthinking. However, he still cannot let go of the unsettling feeling inside.

"The goddess wants revenge?" 

Kyrie shakes his head, "Because the Fairy Queen has joined hands with a fallen god, she has been slowly degrading into a calamity. If we don't stop her, then many people will die."

Calamities come from corrupted essence. Since essence roots in the soul, if the soul is corrupted, the energy as well. However, no creations can live without pure essence inside them unless they originate or turn to chaos. Joining hands with a fallen god is like exchanging one's life for someone else's demise- perfect when it comes to revenge.

[Indiscriminately at the cost of everyone beside you, whether friends or foes.]

"Let's concentrate on our current situation." Kyrie cuts anyone from further dipping into a rabbit hole of unanswered questions. This kind of questioning will only deteriorate their minds.

He needs the Midnight Queen so that he gains more information about Phanes. The Fairy Queen still needs the flower to regain her vision from the damage she suffered for hosting Chaos energy in her body. As for Vita's request to eliminate the Fairy Queen, he will determine his choice when the time comes. 

---

The day of the tournament finally arrives, and the people fill the stadium to the brim. The buzz fails to die down with time since the excitement is contagious. No one fails to bring in a smile, and all cheers despite the tournament have yet to start.

No one can blame them! This year's tournament is different from previous years. The protectorate has successfully attracted powerful participants from all over the continent. The adults gather like kids talking about their favorite warriors and bicker about who will win the tournament.

Many expect a fight of the century. The audience can feel their anticipation in their mild tremors running underneath their skin. To add to the excitement, the audience turns their heads around to get a glimpse of the seventh prince and the holy paladin through the high windows.

There is no doubt that it would be exciting with what the seventh prince could bring! Everyone already knows about the military strength of the Lorian Empire. There will be no lack of heart-racing power plays!

However, the attention is still more intense on the paladin and his phantom guild. The paladin has yet to make his debut outside of the Kingdom of Aria. Even if he is the son of a marquis, people only hear about him from baseless rumors. So, no one outside of Aria truly knows how he looks or how strong he is. There is even a point when people doubt his existence, that he is just mere propaganda from the Kingdom of Aria, and that the incident of overthrowing the unrighteous king is just a political game's move.

Now that the news has spread that the paladin has arrived at the protectorate to participate in the tournament, curiosity gets tickled. Although the paladin is not actually fighting on the platform, his guild members are! Many are looking forward to seeing the power behind the mysterious guild.

Over the benches where the audience sat, a ring structure connected to the stadium's open ceiling. The structure comprises multiple rooms used for important guests like ambassadors and royals who attend such tournaments. This year, Lord Analybe opens three rooms: one for the seventh prince, the other for the paladin, and the last one for his own use. The front of the rooms is built with magic glass where they can see the platform perfectly despite being high up in the air. Behind them is a room where they could go if they get tired of watching the tournament. Finger foods and refreshments are lavishly prepared. Servants are just a door away if the guests have anything they want in addition.

The fights are one on one, but the participants can register under a guild. From the phantom guild, Laurel, Federline, and Sulfrid are participating. Although all the guild members want to participate, half of them are busy with their own tasks, so they are not even in the protectorate. The rest are on standby in case something happens.

Lemuel's eyes sparkle as he leans his head as close to the glass as possible to get the entire view of the stadium and the gathering audiences. Due to his identity and closed-up personality, he has not gone to many places, unlike his sisters. So watching for the first time so many people getting together makes Lemuel awe. 

Kyrie has gone to enough tournaments to be indifferent about them, so he sits on the couch munching on some tuna crackers while re-reading the letters that Ian sent. He lifts his eyes off the letters when he hears the gasps and murmurs and smiles at Lemuel, finding the dude cute despite being of similar age. Well… On the outside…

Lemuel turns to Kyrie after looking at the magic screen floating in the air that shows the tournament participants. Even someone as shut in as Lemuel can recognize some of the names. 

Worried, he turns to Kyrie, "Are they going to be alright? There are so many strong contestants…"

Kyrie lifts himself from the couch. Lemuel asks the right thing just in time! He has been eating his boredom away, so he might as well go around to check out the place.

"Wanna go check on them?"