Chapter 875 Dove of Peace
It feels like such a long time since he looks at the view from the throne.
Since the time inside the Banished Realm flow slower compared to the material realm, it must've been equivalent to a month or more training for Rex. No wonder he feels foreign about the throne room or the castle in general.
'Hmm... Naela and Kyran were the only ones here, the others should be outside'
Rex scanned the castle with his senses.
But a frown then appeared on his face when he realized that Adhara shouldn't be out, there was nothing for her to do except be inside the city, 'Something must've happened while I was comatose, the war should've started already. I need to be filled in'
Nodding his head, he sat on the throne with a light groan with Evelyn standing beside him.
"Okay, tell me what happened while I was unconscious"
"Well, there are a couple of things worth mentioning. But I think you can already guess"
Evelyn started telling him about the envoys from allied forces that express their concerns about the older generations of Supernaturals that might attack them, it's the problem that needs to be addressed quickly and Adhara is the one handling that.
In addition, she also told him about Ryze that surprisingly came back.
"I sensed his presence near the castle earlier, but I didn't manage to see him. I think he went with Adhara to handle the problems with the Allied forces. Out of the things, at least that is a good thing"
"Is it...?"
Contrary to Evelyn's expectation, Rex raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Upon hearing this, she immediately understands what he meant and looked down, "I was tending to you, so I couldn't do it myself. But can't we trust, Ryze? Despite his appearance, he's still a kid. Surely, he's not sent here by someone"
"Are you going to take responsible for the lives of the people?" Rex asked back leisurely.
Knowing that she was wrong, she could only remain silent.
No matter how certain she is about someone, even to the likes of Ryze, it's always best to be safe and make sure that he's not an enemy. For all they know, Ryze could be a dangerous person that could risk the lives of the people.
Right now, it's not only the Silverstar Pack within these walls.
"It's alright, I'm not blaming you. It's my fault that I didn't foresee this to happen and prepare countermeasures for this kind of situation" Rex waved his hand nonchalantly. At this point, he could only blame himself.
Despite wanting to say something back, Evelyn couldn't mutter any words.
"Anything else?"
"Ehmm... It's- It's about Gistella"
"Gistella? What's wrong with her? Did she go with Adhara, too?"
"N- No..."
Although it has been fine up until now, she knows that it's not going to be fine with this.
Evelyn fidgets for a moment like a 5-year-old that was caught doing something bad, she looks down and seems to be hesitating to say the things she wants to say. Her lips trembled with effort, but the words were stuck on the tip of her tongue.
It takes time before she is eventually able to blurt it out, "I think it's my fault..."
"I- I was stressing about y- you and Gistella saw it and said that she was going to do something to make it right. B- But I don't know what she's trying to do, and now she has gone miss- missing for a couple of days" She added, clenching her fists tightly.
Upon hearing this, Rex could only exhale deeply while massaging his forehead.
Normally, he would've flipped when he heard this.
Knowing that fact, Evelyn was also expecting him to be angry. Surprisingly, he only sighs one time, deeply, before his expression recovers to normal. Almost as if he was insouciant about the situation regarding Gistella.
"I'll tell Flunra to search for her, she shouldn't be too far" Rex eventually said.
Pondering for a moment in silence to garner his thoughts now that he knows the situation, he then remembered something and asked, "Where is Calidora? I need to see her right now, there are things I need her help with"
"She left after she brought you back here" Evelyn replied without hesitation.
Rex instantly whipped his head towards Evelyn with his eyes widened.
He thought for sure that Calidora would stay inside the castle and make use of his wounded situation to her advantage, and yet, she instead left the city. 'What is she doing? I already told her to stay in the castle because I need her for something, why did she leave?'
A moment before he went unconscious, he already told Calidora that.
'What a timing. I'm stressed enough already with the progression of the plan, and now she's not here. Without her, I can't ask the Witch for help in cultivating my curse source. Does that mean I need to stick with the Jar of Malison?'
It was the Witch's instruction for Calidora to stay by him for a week optimally.
Now that she's not here and possibly went back to her parents since Queen Shanaela is still helping Adhara, he couldn't do that and would need to hunt on his own. His progression will definitely be slower.
'If I want to finish the plan to take down the Executor, then I need to move fast'
Remembering the plan that he has already orchestrated and moving accordingly, he needs to quickly increase his curse power so that he would match Calidora. Only then does the plan will work.
On top of that, he also needs to prepare for the World Awakening.
'System, how much to buy the method to reach the tenth-rank realm? I need to know'
<Tenth-rank realm advancement book will cost the user 12 million gold>
'Hmm... I need about three million more gold. I could send Devo and Amanir to search for more Elemental Stone Mines and reach that. But for now, let's take care of what I can first' Rex thought, he already organized the thoughts inside his mind.
A flash of killing intent sparks in his eyes, 'I can't wait to see you beg, Executor...'
Just as he was thinking of the sight of the Executor kneeling in front of him, his eyes darted to Evelyn on the side who seems to be troubled. But it's not hard to guess what's on her mind right now.
Sighing lightly, Rex then gestured for her to come close.
It's true that he's still mad at her, very mad if he wants to be honest. But it was time for him to have a bigger heart and calm her down. At least that way, she would be more motivated in helping as that's what he and the city need.
Evelyn approached lightly before she tensed when Rex suddenly holds her hand.
Feeling her tensed hand when he grabbed it makes him smile lightly, Evelyn is usually fiery and graceful but now she has become like this solely because of the doubts and fear inside her mind.
Rex then stands up while still holding her hand.
Not even saying anything, he pulled her and started to descend from the throne.
"W- Where are we going?"
"I have something to do, and there are people that I needed to meet right now. Since I'm at it, you'll have to come with me. While I'm dealing with some matters, can't you be the charming dove of peace?"
"Charming dove...?"
"Evelyn, you're still the Luna. My Luna. In a way, you're the queen. Our people are in uncertain times. So isn't it your job, as the queen, to be the rain to quench their fires of fear and uncertainty?"
Upon hearing this, Evelyn's eyes widened before her face instantly reddened.
Due to her blazing red hair that she inherits from her parents, her blushed look always matches her appearance perfectly. It has been quite some time since Rex has had time to appreciate this view.
Averting her gaze downwards, she quickly fans her burning face, "Y- Yes, I can do that"
"Great, I'll be counting on you then, Queen Evelyn" Rex teased.
~
Meanwhile, Dark Elf Kingdom.
Lady Lauren was dropped off alongside an army of Awakened that is great at close-quarter confrontation, there are around a thousand of them that were ready to bolster the Dark Elf's military forces.
Throughout the day, she has been making connections and learning more about the Dark Elf.
Out of the allied forces, they were the most friendly.
But she finds it natural when she learns that a daughter of one of the Dark Elf's noble families has been betrothed to the Silverstar Pack. At first, Lady Lauren was surprised, thinking that it might be Rex.
In reality, the daughter was betrothed to Kyran instead.
Aside from being taken around the Dark Elf kingdom to see the wonderous place the Dark Elf lives in as well as being introduced to the military forces such as General Theodas, she also has a meeting with King Jorik personally.
During that meeting, Lady Lauren learns that the Dark Elf worries about the Undead.
Undead in the ancient eras was all about the knowledge and chasm understanding of death or related magic, it also them that finds interest in cursed energy that the Witches use to empower themselves.
In a way, for the Undead, the cursed energy is somewhat similar to death energy.
A great interest was then developed.
Skim past one specific incident, there was a breakthrough in the knowledge of cursed energy. One of the Dark Elves was the one was the cause of it, finding that cursed energy doesn't comes from the same plane as other energies.
It has a plane of its own, and that leads to more advancement in cursed understanding.
But that sparks a huge conflict with the Undead race where one of the stronger Basilichs, Gower the Intellect, a leading knowledge seeker was envious of the discovery and starts pettily hating against the Dark Elves.
Saying that it's unfit for a lower-rank Supernatural race to achieve such a breakthrough.
Gower was laughably petty that he started to take over the trade between the Undead and the Dark Elf to increase the tax rate, lying about bad products, and even accusing them of giving fewer supplies than promised.
Having one of the highest seats of power, he's basically untouchable by the Dark Elf.
Although he was petty, it doesn't go overboard. It's only an inconvenience at best for the Dark Elf. But what worried King Jorik is Gower's followers, they were all fanatics of him, and would actively seek to bully Dark Elves.
In addition, Gower's followers, the Deep Ones were also very strong.
Listening to this could only make Lady Lauren shakes her head. No matter the era, there will always be people like those, she has dealt with many people like that in her career inside the 25 Golden Crest Families.
"Well, it's alright. I can enhance physical strength through mind link, we'll be fine"
Considering that this is the First Breath where physical power is king, Lady Lauren being here is a good deal for the Dark Elves. She could make people stronger physically through her Mind Spell.
But as the two were discussing the matter, they both suddenly glanced to the side.
Sensing a powerful ray of energy from the side.
Boom!
Crash!
Out of nowhere, the sound of glass shattering followed by a huge crashing sound can be heard. It was so powerful that even the ground beneath them started to shake, alerting Lady Lauren as well as King Jorik.
In an instant, the two dashes outside to see who came unannounced.
Gazing down from almost the top of the sacred tree, both of them saw a figure landing at the center of the kingdom that is now already surrounded by the Dark Elves guards. Even General Theodas was there.
Swish...
Just as the debris and smoke fade, a figure coated in black emerges.
Standing in the middle of the crater that the figure just made, the figure then raises his face.
Upon seeing the figure's face, Lady Lauren's eyes widened in utter shock. She couldn't believe what she was saying right now, this man is known by many thanks to the incident that hits Ratmawati City not too long ago.
The friend of the Traitor.
"Edward?!"