Chapter 673 — Two Empires

This was the central sanctuary, which only clerics of bishop rank might enter. Those gathered here were the true core backbone of the Long Dusk order.

Figures emerged from thin air one after another. Bishops in white, black, or pale-gold robes appeared in the corridors and walked toward the central council hall, and Daniel fell in with the stride of the other bishops, heading in the same direction.

The civil war in Ansus had ended, and one of the three great dark sects had perished with it. A vast and ancient kingdom was reshuffling its cards—new configurations of power, new challenges and opportunities. As one of the dark sects, the Eternal Sleepers would of course not stand idle—especially now, when Ansus's new sovereign would be that dreaded "Outlander," which made it all the more necessary for the order's upper echelons to deliberate carefully on the direction to take next.

Entering the circular council hall, Daniel found his place and sat down at the table, chatting casually in low voices with the bishops he knew around him, until a light appeared at the far end of the oval table and a woman of gentle expression and serene temperament emerged into everyone's view along with the glow.

The bishops offered their greetings one after another: "Good day, Lady Selena Guelphon."

"Good day, brethren," Selena Guelphon said, sweeping her gaze around the assembly and giving a slight nod, her voice soft. "Let the meeting begin..."

...

When the thin mist began to rise, standing in the highest chamber of the Obsidian Palace and looking down upon the imperial capital was an experience unlike any other.

People commonly took "Mistfall" as the season of fog in Aldernan, but in truth it referred only to the period when the fog over the Xuanque cities was thickest and lasted longest. Beyond Mistfall, at every turn of the seasons, the mist would descend upon Aldernan unbidden, no matter the month.

When such days came, the whole city seemed to float in a hazy dream. The buildings, high and low, lost their true forms in the fog and turned dim and illusory; only the spires and gate-towers thrust their heads from the mist, bathing in brilliant sunlight, gilded with a layer of gold, like islands rising from the surface of the sea, for the sun pours its light upon the world evenly, yet only those upon the sea are granted such honor.

Pei Yi??Wendell and Luo Yan??Augustus stood shoulder to shoulder before the window, looking down upon the prosperous and wealthy capital of the Empire. The sunlight was gradually strengthening, and amid the drifting fog the towers and spires of the Obsidian Palace glittered and shone.

There were tens of thousands of rooftops in Xuanque City, but when the fog came, only these high towers entered the sight of the Obsidian Palace.

"Your Majesty, word comes from Anluo: Changfeng Fortress is reinforcing its troops, but for now it is unclear which unit is taking over the defense."

"Gao Yang??Cecil is a cautious man, and he has never let down his guard against Typhon," Luo Yan nodded slightly. "He will guard against our attack at the first opportunity. That is only to be expected."

"The Empire's main legions are ready, Your Majesty," Pei Yi lowered his head. "The First and Second Mage Corps and the Winter Wolf Knights are assembled at the border, awaiting your command at any moment."

"For a time, I almost thought you had become one of the anti-war faction, Lord Pei Yi," Luo Yan turned his head, wearing a faint, barely perceptible smile. "And the nobles of the war party believed you were wavering."

Pei Yi's expression was grave: "I have never stood with any faction, Your Majesty. I stand on the side of the Empire's interests. When the losses outweigh the gains, I am of the anti-war faction; when the Empire stands to profit and the cost is acceptable, I will naturally support war. It is only that Anzu's recent changes make it hard for us to grasp just how much strength it truly has... on that point we must still tread carefully."

"We will be cautious, but before that, Anluo must be prepared," Luo Yan drew back his gaze from the window and looked at Grand Duke Pei Yi beside him. "Whether what enters Changfeng Fortress is an elite force or the battered remnants left after civil war, it will be for her eyes to judge."

Grand Duke Pei Yi's expression was solemn: "She will not disappoint you, Your Majesty."

...

In the north of the continent, the city of Sacred Frostroost.

The ancient streets had been washed clean, colored banners and cloth drapes hung along both sides of the roads, and valiant knights and soldiers patrolled the streets around the castle district. An atmosphere of solemn dignity, tinged with a hint of celebration, hung over the city, so that even the dullest of souls could sense that something great was about to happen within these ancient walls.

The day of the Emperor's coronation drew near.

A cargo ship under close guard by warships had entered the southern harbor of Sacred Suniel in the early hours of the previous morning. The army had cleared the area in advance and sealed off the road between the harbor and the castle district. According to those who had glimpsed it from afar, a large transport cart had carried some manner of cargo into the castle, covered by a thick tarpaulin, setting the citizens to speculation.

Within the Silver Keep, Gao Yang sat behind his desk, a stack of manuscripts spread open before him, writing with furious speed.

Amber stood beside him and glanced at Gao Yang, head bowed over his writing. "You've been scribbling away at these things whenever you have a spare moment these days... what exactly are you writing?"

Gao Yang did not look up: "You can look, if you like. I don't mind."

"Better not. I've been fooled more than once. I glance at it carelessly, and the next thing I know you've piled a mountain of new work on me..."

Gao Yang laughed but said nothing more, only turned a page and wrote down new words.

But Amber clearly could not endure the quiet. She held out for barely two seconds before speaking: "Hey, let me tell you, you're about to be crowned, and writing away with your head down right before a great event like this looks an awful lot like drafting a will..."

Gao Yang's pen finally paused slightly. He raised his head, glanced at Amber, and pointed the tip of his pen at the nearby wall: "Do you think this wall is flat?"

With a swish, Amber vanished into the air, leaving behind only a startled cry: "I'm going out on patrol!!"

Gao Yang looked at the spot where Amber had vanished and smiled, then lowered his head to look at the manuscript, which was nearly finished. A few seconds later, he lightly rubbed the mithril ring on his finger.

The ring gave off a faint warmth, and Mei Heng??Pernia's voice came from within: "The Mithril Vault is at your service at all times. Do you require business consultation?"

"Yes. I want to store a few things."