Chapter 376 — Negotiations at the Border

The Giant Sun gradually climbed to the highest point of the sky. As the magic from the sun grew abundant, brilliant radiance began to flicker above the dome of the Pact Keep; the arcane materials set into the dome absorbed the magic in the sunlight, then drove that heavy gate, sheathed in violet steel, to swing slowly open.

A master of ceremonies emerged from the castle and began to play music before the drawbridge.

A quarter hour past noon, the hazy patterns on the Giant Sun's surface grew distinct, and two parallel processions of carriages appeared upon the broad avenue leading to the castle. One flew the sword-and-shield emblem of Anzu, the other the shield-and-crown banner of Tifeng.

The soldiers lining the road grew tense, and a low noise of armor plates rubbing together rose on every side. Silas Loren too tightened his muscles, staring fixedly at the two processions moving toward the castle gate. He did not know which carriage held the king, nor which held the Emperor of Tifeng, but he knew every carriage contained at least two high-ranking knights and one high-ranking mage, and that the entire procession was guarded by two legendary powerhouses. Under such rigorous protection, nothing could theoretically go wrong.

Yet still he could not help but feel tense. After all, this was the moment that would decide the fate of two nations.

The king was guarded by powerhouses directly sworn to the royal house; he, the Duke of the Eastern Frontier, was responsible for the security of the entire Pact Keep.

Nothing happened. Under the watchful eyes of Silas Loren, Berke Loren, and Anluo Wendell across the way, the procession bearing the rulers of both nations and their ministerial retinues drove through the gates of the Pact Keep.

Fifteen minutes later, the heavy gates of the Pact Keep swung slowly shut, and above the castle, the skylight in the dome of the main building opened. Two beams of bright magical radiance shot through the skylight straight into the sky.

At the sight of those two beams, Duke Loren let out a slight breath of relief.

They were the signal released by the legendary powerhouses who had entered the castle as close guards: beside the King of Anzu and the Emperor of Tifeng stood one legendary-level spellcaster each. Once inside the castle, they would link their own life force to the sovereign they served, and then send a signal through the dome's skylight. So long as those signal beams remained, it meant the hearts of the rulers of Anzu and Tifeng were still beating.

Next, according to the previously agreed proceedings, the monarchs of the two nations would first hold a face-to-face private conference lasting half a day, and only afterward would the public, formal negotiations begin—negotiations in which Silas Loren, Duke of the Eastern Frontier, would also take part, and at last, before all as witnesses, the two nations would conclude a formal peace treaty.

Silas Loren pondered the proceedings to come, and raised his head slightly, gazing at those two signal beams shooting into the heavens above the castle, beams that stirred the hearts of all present.

A small bird flew across the clear sky. It seemed curious about those two unusual beams, circling a few times between them, then giving a pleasant chirp as it spiraled higher and higher, until at last it vanished from the edge of Duke Loren's vision.

A bird singing above the Pact Keep... perhaps that was the symbol of peace.

Though a warrior, Duke Silas Loren was occasionally given to a poet's thoughts, and he sighed softly within.

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