As if on cue, a mountainous aura erupted from within like a volcano. It was so overwhelmingly powerful that it pierced through the defensive layers of the palace like nothing. If not for the thousands of Magic Arrays fortifying the cavern structure, then it might have collapsed from the sheer pressure! It penetrated through the twelve cities and into the sky. For an instant, the day darkened into night! Color was turned upside down, and it seemed like time froze. No one could move a single muscle! And it was not limited to living beings either. The waterfalls solidified like ice, the wind stopped blowing, and the world turned silent. Nothing moved! Or rather, nothing could move! Before anyone could notice a thing, the aura receded entirely and vanished. Time started to move once again…
The doors opened as endless light spilled out. Graceful steps sounded as a woman appeared, silhouetted like a fairy. Her skin was fair and unblemished, reminiscent of white snow. Her hair was silky and translucent like the gemstones around her. Her body, curves, and face were practically perfect in every way. It looked like she jumped straight out of a painting! She was the very embodiment of beauty, perfection, and immortality! It was hard to imagine that a person like this could exist… The strangest thing was her eyes. They seemed to alternate between blue and gold with faint flickers of energy crackling. Most importantly, she looked human! But at the same time, not entirely…
The lizard ruler stepped forward and kneeled obediently. He looked nothing like the proud ruler of the Twelfth Descent, a civilization greater than humanity! Speaking in a strange language, he said, "Exalted Drifting Snow Serenity Emperor, have you finished your training?"
Here, exalted was merely a form of respect, not her title. Her true title was Drifting Snow Serenity, while Emperor referred to her Rank! Only those who reached the preeminent level of Rank 4 could call themselves Emperor! This world had a brutally strict hierarchy of power. Although she was not affiliated with the Twelfth Descent in any formal capacity, because of her incredible strength, she could reign supreme! Much like how her aura penetrated through the twelve cities instantly, Drifting Snow Serenity possessed enough power to erase the Twelfth Descent! It was completely different from humanity. They were too primitive for any one person to dominate which made them reliant on systems like nobility or royalty.
She ignored the lizard ruler and looked up. The three lizards were confused but said nothing. Then, Drifting Snow Serenity reached out her hand and casted an extremely large and complex spell. Its power and scale were unlike anything ever seen before! Magic Energy was actually crystallizing into solid form around her! The lizards were nearly frightened to death! If she did not limit her aura around her, then she would have killed the lizard people instantly. And they were accomplished Rank 3 warriors as well… Drifting Snow Serenity seemed to be experimenting with something as several hundred spells popped in and out of existence. But her casting speed was ridiculously fast. Everything happened in a matter of seconds.
Finally, she succeeded! Crack! The sound could be heard across the palace like the shattering of glass. With a wave of her hand, space shattered! Once someone reached her level, they could achieve such things! The lizards paled by several degrees because spatial power was extremely difficult to control. Even in the vast world beyond humanity, there were not many people that could accomplish this. It was controlling the fabric of space and time! Of course, Drifting Snow Serenity had not reached the level of truly manipulating the world around her. That was the domain of gods! Before the lizards could close their gaping mouths, the woman stepped into the fractured space and disappeared. Teleportation!
A similar spatial tear appeared in the sky above the Twelfth Descent as she stepped out and appeared. She floated in place as her clothes fluttered in the breeze. Her face seemed permanently locked into stoicism. The woman seemed to have reached enlightenment and transcended mortality. Such was the meaning behind her title, Drifting Snow Serenity: Aloof and free, travelling wherever the wind took her, as pure and untainted as the snow-capped mountains, and as tranquil as the calmest lake. But currently, her furrowed brow locked onto the direction of the Alzar Kingdom, an unbelievably massive distance away. A sense of coldness surged across her eyes. It was a long time since Drifting Snow Serenity showed any emotion! With a flash, she disappeared…
***
In the Zino Kingdom, Freon was sitting in a room in front of a seductive older lady. She had an intimidating presence that screamed of elegance and nobility. Wearing a robe of the Celestial Council of Magic, this woman was surprisingly another Ten Dawn, Rosemary Arkfell! Normally, it would have been hard for Freon to stay calm and avert his eyes. But right now, his mind was elsewhere, and his face was gloomy. He had no time to entertain those young thoughts. After his home was destroyed and Uncle Avin and Yuna were placed in critical condition, Nassandra decided to contact her senior for help. Ten Dawn Rosemary was a kind older sister who agreed in the end. This was around an hour ago.
That said, it did not mean her kindness transferred to Freon as well. No matter what, she was a senior and it was her duty to help Nassandra. Nassandra was also a child, so she felt it was necessary for her to educate the girl properly. However, Freon was a different story entirely. He was twenty years old, just considered an adult. Why would Ten Dawn Rosemary care about him? But that was not the only reason. She was actually the Headmaster of the First Celestial Magic University! Although she was often busy with matters from the Celestial Council, she had a firm handle on important matters. Gifted individuals like Yuna and failures like Freon were well within her notice.
"So, tell me what happened," the woman asked while crossing her legs. Toward Nassandra, she might be kind, but now, she was unconditionally stern and sharp.
"It's like this…" Freon started. He decided to omit details about the Arcellius Family for now.
"Oh? Is that all?" she wondered thoughtfully.
Freon smiled wryly. "That's right."
"Do you have any ideas on identity or motive then?"
He shook his head. "They didn't say much. They seemed to be focused on killing us, and there was nothing obvious about their identity. Now, their corpses are buried under all the rubble…"
"The city guard is investigating as we seek, so we should hear from them very soon," Rosemary said. "For the time being, you can stay here in the Arkfell Family. Treat this as a favor to Ten Dawn Nassandra."
"Thank you very much!" Freon stood up and bowed politely.
"This all came about because you siblings decided to live in the commoner's district," she pointed out.
Indeed, when one compared the two, Freon and Nassandra lived in a rundown second-floor flat of a wheat store owner. With two bedrooms, the main living room, and a washroom, it was the barebones essential for anyone living. There was nothing luxurious about it at all! It was so indistinguishable from every other building that there was no way to describe it. This was largely why Shirley or Avin spent so long finding this place, despite directions from the neighbours. Because there was nothing special about it! While this gave it, in a sense, a weird level of privacy, it also invited danger. Unlike the Engelsheft district, security in the commoner's district was pitifully low. Crime was rampant. One day alive and happy, the next dead and stinking. It was all too common.
On the other hand, Ten Dawn Rosemary Arkfell was the matriarch of the Arkfell Family, an Engelsheft Family. As one of the premier families of the Zino Kingdom, they occupied an excellent plot of land in the heart of the capital city. Although it was far below a Grand Nobility Household's massive estate, the Arkfell Family owned a large manor regardless. It could fit fifty to a hundred people comfortably within its wall. They also had private guards, a mixed combination of martial artists and Arcanists, that deterred anyone from evil thoughts.
Lady Rosemary simply wanted to point out that with Nassandra's status as a Ten Dawn, she had the qualifications to live comfortably and safely as well. The Zino Kingdom would be happy to accommodate them. This situation was entirely avoidable had they not stupidly decided to live like commoners. And as the older sibling, the responsibility ultimately fell upon Freon. His failure in understanding this basic logic caused Lady Rosemary's opinion of him to sink further. Freon sighed. Because he knew he was in the wrong here, he did not argue back.