Chapter 130

Chapter 130

As Matt left Lilly he wanted to look at his parents' information packet, but despite having fond memories of Lilly now, he couldnt bring himself to open it. Something inside of him felt that it wasnt the proper time, and he followed his instincts.

He eventually told Liz, I don't know why I can't open it. It feels like I should be able to but I just can't hit the button.

Are you afraid of what you'll see? Her question got to the heart of the matter, but Matt shook his head.

Not quite that. He stared aimlessly ahead, collecting his thoughts until he finally said, It's more like if I look at it, everything is real. Despite me knowing they're long dead and gone, it feels like the weight of it will just crush something.

Liz nodded, understanding and graceful enough to let the subject drop for the time being. After leaving Lilly, the three of them had started crossing the Empire as fast as they could manage with the normal teleportation schedule. Their destination was the capital of one of the true kingdoms; it was governed directly by a royal in the more distant regions of the Empire.

Tur'stal was hosting the Tier 10 tournament this time, and her kingdom was two full kingdoms away from Lillys position in the Empire. With little less than a year to reach the capital, they had to rush to move through the hundreds of intervening planets if they wanted to arrive early.

Most of their travel time was spent sitting around teleportation platforms, which meant that Luna was able to hammer in some last-minute magical training.

To help counter his mana control problem, Matt broke through to Tier 10 immediately after leaving Lilly. As they expected, the doubling of his mana pool directly reduced his mana control to worrying levels. With 1280 mana at his disposal, Matt was a force to be reckoned with, but regaining his abilities with his mana required constant training with Luna and Kurt.

The exercises started with simple things, like moving a small ball in a controlled pattern, then they slowly evolved into battles of control against Luna. Once his control returned to the minimum acceptable level, they started working on his elemental manipulation skill control.

For all her issues, Luna was an excellent teacher, and was always able to identify when Matt was consciously or unconsciously using crutches for his abilities. But she always had suggestions on how to improve his skills.

Aster joined Matt at Tier 10 with her own breakthrough, but Liz resisted the urge to Tier up, as her deal with her parents was only effective until she reached Tier 10. She knew they would flock to her side immediately if she broke through.

It's better if I wait until we arrive on East Flower to break through. We only have a few more weeks of freedom left. Liz said it was like there was an executioner's axe hovering over her head.

It was a feeling that Matt understood but for the opposite reasons.

While Liz was apprehensive of her parents wild and flamboyant behaviors, he was growing more and more worried about having parents again. In-laws or not, they would still be his parents as well.

What if they don't like me? I know what Keith and Travis said about them, but I don't know them well enough to predict. Should I bring them a gift? What can I even give a Tier 48 couple? They have literally everything they could ever want, need, or toss away a million times. How could I give them something of any true worth, or value.

I'm so screwed.

Matt was in a constant state of stress that slowly built until he was about to explode. Luckily, he had their arrival to take his mind off things, as they had finally reached East Flower. They stood with hundreds of other Tier 10 Pathers, who were also arriving early.

It looked like a lot at first glance, but the impression was misleading. A large number were showing up now, but it was nothing when compared to how many would be arriving in the final three months.

They were five months early for the final check-in time and start date of the tournament. The majority of those present wanted to get one last delve in, or practice their abilities just that tiny bit more. But Matt, Liz, and Aster needed to arrive early so the bipedal members of their group could set up their identities to participate.

The Tier 10 tournament lasted for exactly one standard Empire year, and hosted thousands of smaller competitions simultaneously with the big three.

The big three were the main attractions of the tournament; everything was centered around them. The length of the event ensured that he and Liz could swap between their identities without issue, until their real identities were quietly lost in the middle ranks.

The first was the largest attraction, where most of the prestige and rewards came from: the team duels.

The second of the big three was the solo duels. Although popular as well, the solo matches had slightly smaller rewards compared to the team event.

The final portion of the big three was the crafting event. None of them had any hope of competing in it, and they didn't intend to even try.

As a part of their deal for competing, their cover identities would be shooting for the top spots in both the solo duels and team battles.

Matt was slightly peeved at the rules for the solo duels, as they made it impossible for team members to fight against each other in the lower brackets, and the structure of the top fifty ensured that they couldn't fight there either. The final rounds of the competition were a point system, where each contender would fight everyone in the top fifty at least once, before the process was repeated with the top ten, then five.

If team members met in the finals, it would be considered a draw, to prevent hard feelings from a loss and missing out on earning points.

He had been looking forward to fighting Liz for the tournament victory spot, but had to hope that he earned more points than her against the other contenders.

Other than wanting to win in both categories, there were a few of the lesser competitions Matt had his sights set on as well.

There were a number of single weapon or fighting style tournaments that had fantastic rewards, but were less prestigious, that he wanted to get involved in. The reported rewards never changed, but never lost their value either.

Legacies.

Matt had only seen them in movies before, and they were purportedly extremely rare, with strict requirements to create and use. But, over its time as one of the Great Powers, the Empire had amassed quite a few that were suitable for cultivators under Tier 15. They offered use of the Legacies to the top three winners of each style.

He had to ask Kurt about them. The movies were fairly accurate in their representation of Legacies, but a few details were lacking.

They were incredibly rare rewards that were found from Tier 45 rifts or higher, with incredibly strict requirements to use them. The person who wanted to create a Legacy needed to satisfy three requirements.

First, they needed to be Tier 45.

Second, they needed to have an Aspect.

And finally, the individual needed to have experienced an inspiration about the topic that they wanted to pass down at some point in their cultivation journey. On top of the maddening prerequisites, Legacies were known to fall apart after a random number of uses.

Sometimes, they lasted for only a single use, but they could also last for thousands of years.

It was completely random, which was why the Empire restricted their use for all except motivated and skilled cultivators that resonated with a specific Legacy.

There was a longsword only bracket with a longsword Legacy that Matt desperately wanted to get his hands on. It was the main goal of the tournament for his true identity.

Matt was brought out of his musings once the teleportation countdown started, and his nerves built into a crescendo.

As the familiar feeling for swapping worlds enveloped him, Matt felt nauseous. He wasn't sure if it was his fear of meeting Lizs parents for the first time, or the rougher than usual teleportation, but it took him a few seconds to clear his head as they arrived on East Flower.

His first impression of the Tier 43 planet was that the name was apt. Tur'stal was the fifth strongest royal, with her Tier 1 Talent that made nature love her, and her Tier 3 that warped the environment to her will.

Even inside the teleportation hub room, it felt like they were outside with the number of flowers lining the room. Vines crept up all of the walls, washing everything with greens and browns.

That first impression was dwarfed when they exited the building to the city proper, and found that the greenery didnt stop there. The metropolis seemed to be more of a well-curated garden than a true city.

He had seen green cities before, but they were like a snake trying to imitate a dragon. Just from their first steps onto the street, Matt saw half a dozen gardeners taking care of the variety of plants, trees, and flowers that lined the streets. Though, he didnt know what they were actually doing if Tur'stals Talent worked as he believed.

Tur'stals vision of a perfect city seemed to be one of beauty and aesthetics, as every flower seemed to already have its perfect place in the city landscape without disrupting the city flow.

As far as he could tell, there didnt even seem to be cracks in the sidewalks from the trees growing along their borders.

The majesty of the sight was only enhanced when Matt felt the ambient essence pressing down on like a heavy blanket. The Tier 43 planet was the strongest world he had ever been on, and the essence was on a completely different level than the essence he knew from other planets, or even the rift monsters.

That illusion of grandeur was shattered when he noticed the absolute absence of mana.

He had been on planets with a worryingly sparse amount of mana, but he had never encountered something like this before.

There was no mana in the air at all.

Spreading his awareness out, he felt the buildings drawing in what little ambient mana the passersby leaked from their full mana pools, like starving men fighting for every scrap.

From what he could feel, everything was spatially expanded to a crazy degree. The closest building was a skyscraper taking up half the city block, but as his spiritual sense pierced the outer layer, he found dozens of businesses inside the small fraction of space he could feel.

His investigation was cut off by the overwhelming feeling of a presence locking on to them as Liz said, Here we go.

Following the pressure, Matt saw two familiar-looking people watching from the end of the street.

Before seeing them, Matt had thought the saying that people vibrated from repressed energy was mostly a metaphor. But seeing the two royals, he had to reconsider his position.

The duo were actually vibrating, and at a speed which made their edges transparent.

Matt felt Liz crunch her essence cores down and step into Tier 10, and at the same instant, the two vanished and reappeared to embrace their daughter in a group hug.

Mara reached Liz first and picked up her daughter in a massive embrace, in which her hair feathers stood straight out and quivered, while Leon picked both of them up and bounced from foot to foot.

Oh, babycakes, it's so good to see you. It's been too long! Oh how we've missed you. Maras voice came out muffled from where she had been smothered by Leons larger frame.

Lizs father didnt miss out on the reunion, and he said, Oh, you've gotten so big. It feels like it was yesterday when you were just learning to walk.

Liz was trying to say something, but her voice wasn't able to make it past the couple's ramblings.

Matt felt glad for Liz to have such loving parents, but felt a bit like an outsider as he watched from the edge with Aster in his arms.

As if sensing his feelings, Leon and Mara finally let go of Liz, who took a dramatic, deep breath while the overjoyed parents turned to Matt.

With expressions of glee, they looked from him, to each other, and then back to Matt, and he froze with Aster like a rabbit spotting the shadow of a hawk.

Haha Whoops! Honey, we went to the wrong hotel again.

Mara looked up from her conversation with Liz and Aster before saying, We're at the Feathered Nestled Inn. How is that wrong?

Liz rolled her eyes and said, You two are idiots. Theres a giant floating circle of gold above us. Howd you mess that up?

Mara laughed before turning and leading them away and back down the street, until they reached an even larger building that boasted a giant flaming red feather floating over the lobby. It radiated a gentle warmth that washed over them as soon as they entered.

Mara nodded. That's better. I was wondering where my feather went. We were just in the wrong building. Silly me.

Theres no way she meant that its literally her feather, right?

Matt was stupefied at the sight.

Its at least three hundred feet long, and not even from a wing. The shape is all wrong for a wing feather. How big are her wing feathers?

He gave it another look, probing it more intensely with his spiritual sense, but it felt utterly identical to the woman skipping alongside them.

Just how big is her other form?

He had seen videos of Maras fights, but he had never gotten a good scale of her before. Seeing the feather forced him to reevaluate all the videos he had seen with a new perspective.

As they rode the elevator to the top floor, they reached a set of rooms that divided the building into six equal suites.

Aster asked the question before Matt could. Why are there so many rooms? I thought you would have the entire floor.

Mara laughed as she skipped along. We keep the top floor available for all the royals. Lets us have an area that we can be ourselves in without bothering whoever rules the place.

Matt nodded until the number stood out to him. There were six rooms when there should have only been five.

The Emperor one. Mara and Leon the second. Rusty, Tur'stal, and Harper. That only equaled five.

Do you each have a room here?

Leon shook his head. No. We installed the sixth room recently. Spoiler alert to the start of the proceedings, but we're getting a new royal. It's been kept quiet, but the official announcement will be made at the opening ceremony. His name is Fredric or something.

Mara rolled her eyes and spun around as she opened the door. You know his name, dear. Dont be a spoilsport because he beat you in the royal poker game night.

Leon pouted as thunder clouds started to circle his head, and he murmured. He beat me with a bluff. It's not fair. How was I supposed to know reflective sunglasses would let him see my cards? Who could have guessed?

Matt was still laughing at the absurd image of all the royals playing poker and the two goofballs being themselves when they entered the suite.

With the outward size of the building, he had expected something grand and opulent, but it was the exact opposite.

The place was downright homey.

The five of them entered into a smallish living room with two couches and a loveseat centered around a wall-mounted screen. It was playing a kids' show that he recognized with a mouse and cat getting into various shenanigans. Even from where he stood, he could see a decent-sized kitchen, but it looked well lived in instead of fancy.

Liz noticed his perusal as she brought him through the living room to a small hall with only four doors.

She stopped at the first and opened it to show him a massive workout room and connected sparring room. Workout and sparring here.

She passed the next one saying. That's my parents' room. Don't go in there unless you want to be scarred for life.

Maras head stretched into the hall from around the corner and said, We told you not to come in if the door was shut, little chick. Sex is natural. How do you think we got you?

Liz shoved her mother's head and extended neck back around the corner before she opened the third door, on the same side as the sparring room. Library. Feel free to peruse at your own leisure. They have everything you can think of in paper form. Even some restricted and higher Tier tomes.

She opened the room next to her parents' room and said, And home sweet home.

Inside, they dropped off their spatial bags and started unpacking for an extended stay. But as they worked, Matt asked, That's it? What about your siblings? It all just seems too small.

Liz shook her head. They use the same layout for all their apartment condos. And the place can expand or shrink at will. There are a few dozen rooms of various sizes tucked away right now. As my siblings arrive, they'll extend the hall. Otherwise, the building feels too empty and lonely. This way, it feels more homey. Also, for all their faults, they will respect our privacy in our room. But everywhere else, expect them to be watching.

As they finished putting their things away, Aster pranced in with a new bow tied around her head.

She inspected the room before jumping up onto the bed and yipping, I'm going to be Queen after Mara!

Matt turned to her, Oh? What made you want that?

Aster rolled over and wiggled as she said, Mara said being Queen means everyone has to listen to you! Then I can get all the ice cream I want. Ill even make new ice cream flavors! There will be a Queen Aster ice cream flavor! Itll be heart and bunny flavored.

She salivated at the thought, before popping to her feet and adding. Also, Queen Aster has a nice ring to it.

Through their connection, Matt understood that her last point was her real motivation. At least aside from the ice cream idea.

Aster thought the name sounded cool, so she was going to aim for one of the royal positions.

Matt just rolled his eyes at his bonds antics and let her prattle on. He was sure that she would forget about this in a week or two, so just let her have her fun. Aster, as she was now, was far too immature to be a ruler.

Oh, shit. Mara is a Queen. Aster can't be any worse, can she? Well, I don't know how Mara acts in official meetings, to be fair.

Matt just hoped his bond forgot about the idea sooner, rather than later.

He pulled Liz down to sit next to him on the comfortable bed and asked, How are you feeling?

She leaned her head on his shoulder and returned the question. What about you? I know how much my parents can be. Are they too much for you? I can tell them to tune it down.

Matt shook his head. No need. I find your parents adorably charming in their eccentricities. They're fun, and everything I imagined. They arent pushing it too far at all.

Liz sagged next to him and pulled him back onto the bed as she fell backwards. Oh, good. I was so worried. They can be too much for me, and I grew up with them. But you answered your question. I'm happy to be back. The small messages we sent back and forth weren't enough. To be honest, I did miss them.

The three of them were chatting when a burning smell came into the room.

Matt followed his nose to find Mara and Leon snacking on what looked to be overcooked chicken wings.

He didnt miss that to cook them, Mara just blew a stream of fire at the bowl, and they grabbed a few of them out. They didnt care at all about how over or undercooked each piece was.

Unable to take the affront to cooking, Matt asked, Do you mind if I cook something if youre hungry? That doesn't look very good.

Leon nodded like a chicken. That would be great! These are awful.

Mara nodded right along, which forced Matt to ask, Then why are you eating them?

Leon gave a hearty laugh and honestly answered, This is about the only thing we can cook.

Sensing they were joking with him, Matt deadpanned. That's not cooking.

Mara shrugged. It was the best we could do when we were delving. We never really got better.

Matt could just imagine the two of them as a young bonded pair, with the flame sparrow Mara roasting whatever they had to eat with no control. It was a memory that he could understand, but he knew that the two of them could cook. Liz had mentioned them making various dishes for her growing up.

If you wanted me to cook, you didnt have to butcher the meal. I would have done it anyway.

Leon popped up and struck a triumphant pose. Yes! Our plan worked!

Mara clapped for him. Good job, dear. It was brilliant!

Matt rolled his eyes, but repressed a smirk as he asked, This is how you get Aunt Helen to cook for you, isn't it?

Two nodding heads met his gaze with not an ounce of remorse.

Matt laughed as he made his way into the kitchen and inspected what they had for him to use. To his surprise, he found all the cabinets were spatially expanded, which was a fantastic idea that he noted down to replicate when he got his own house, and started cooking.

Now, he just needed to impress the in-laws.

How hard could that be?

He poked his head out of the kitchen to spy Leon taking a pointed bite of nearly-raw chicken wing as he smirked.

Not hard, apparently, but Matt would still try his best anyway.