As soon as Valerian finished his sentence, he began to cough violently. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand and turned his back to the rest of those gathered.
When the fit stopped, Valerian removed his hand from his mouth. To others it seemed like the vampire was just having a fit but Valerian knew that he was coughing blood.
When the fit stopped, Valerian removed his hand from his mouth. It simply disappeared after it came into contact with the air. The increased toxins in his body coupled with the damage to his soul had, had a seriously negative effect on his body.
The toxin spreading was well within expectations, he was not happy about it but it was unavoidable. The servants and guards were not capable of surviving the tribulations when world laws were involved.
The surprise was the soul damage. Valerian knew how powerful his soul was. Even he did not understand its complete mysteries. The damage done was insane.
An equivalent comparison was an average human punching a mountain with all their strength and instead of shattering bones, they managed to break off a good chunk of the mountain.
'Enoch...' Valerian thought.
"[Enoch]: I know Val, I am checking and running calculations. Please be patient."
Valerian turned around and looked at everyone there. His golden irises seemed to suck everyone in.
"I apologise. I am not at my full strength and stopping the Retaliation without advanced warning seemed to take a lot out of me." He turned his gaze at Uriel.
His eyes held a myriad of emotions in them but the only one Uriel could identify correctly was anger.
Interrupting someone when they were controlling world laws was extremely dangerous for both parties without proper preparation, which is why Val did not stop her and tried to protect who he could, then cancel out the backlash.
Uriel's arrogance and sense of superiority shrunk under the attentive gaze Valerian cast on her. No words were needed. She looked less like herself and more like a child who had been unmercifully scolded by her favourite parent.
There were actual tears in her eyes but Valerian did not care. He felt that he had spoilt Uriel and had only now become aware of how dire the consequences of this action was. The world they once knew had changed.
The other three Seraphs seemed to want to plead on her behalf but as soon as Asura opened his mouth, Valerian's eyes turned to them and they too had no choice but to retreat while swallowing the words that were trying to escape their mouths.
The mistakes made by his ignorant, powerful and nonchalant subordinates could no longer be simply ignored or cleaned up with a wave of his hand or blinking his eyes. He could no longer ignore this problem. He could only act when the time was right.
Valerian closed his eyes and sighed as if exhausted. He opened his eyes again but this time they were back to their original state...emotionless.
"Navin, I will give you a chance to ask me for anything you desire. I will grant this as my gift to you for your name day." Valerian had no gift prepared for his own son while the items he did have were in his personal storage and each one could cause countless ripples that could spell disaster in the wrong hands.
Navin, son or not, was not ready hold that much power. His human heart aside, the power and knowledge along side the gifts he already had was already enough.
So he left the choice of what to give him to Navin himself. If the boy was too hungry for power, Valerian would save himself the future headache and send the boy back to training.
Navin bit his lower lips and knelt down.
"Imperial Father, I ask for three years to go out into the human world as an adventurer."
"Three years? An adventurer?!"
With this one request Valerian's eyes immediately lost their emotionless state.
'Why do they all want to make my life so difficult?'
Valerian's mood slightly soured. Did this child want to run away or was he so confident?
"I need to know your reason." Valerian spoke. "Your request is not simple. The world is going through changes and the things to come will not be simple. Being far from me will increase the risk to you. I have made many enemies. Those who faced me are dead but I am unsure if there are any others. You as my son would definitely be a target of revenge."
Val wanted the boy to gain experience definitely but the boy knew of the Traveller and the goal to bring back Az'Talon. This request was not selfish. Valerian had been prepared for a selfish wish but this was just stupid!
"Is it your human heart that is making this request?" Valerian went on. "Did you only ask to be a son of this House only to receive benefits thinking there was no responsibility tethered to it?"
A wave of energy shot out of his body. Valerian released an intimidating aura to test the boy.
For a brief moment, Valerian's body released a serious amount of killing intent. Soon after the wind picked up and all the Praetorian Guard who had been revived began to appear all around them. They were using teleportation skill after feeling their Lord's desire to kill.
By the time the wave reached the Black Forest, it was not as powerful as before but the rest of Umbra Guard recognised it without doubt and returned to the Tomb. That wave was filled with strong intention behind it. They dared not waste time. After all their primary duty was to protect and serve Valerian. Failure to do either was to reject their purpose and thus reject their reason for living
The presence of all these powerful vampires made Alexander and Oswald feel anxious. Navin was not in a better position. He felt the pressure the most as he was the weakest among those gathered as well as being the one who Valerian was targeting in the first place. It can be certain that without the [Holy blood of the Celestial] Navin would not be able to withstand it.
"My Lord..." Asura wanted to plead on behalf of Navin.
Valerian saw Asura's desire to stand up for others and wondered if these battle oriented being was always so willing to seek peace.
"Do not speak or I will assume that the boy's request does not reflect on his misplaced priorities but on your failed teachings." Valerian replied.
Asura swallowed the words in his mouth once again and bowed his head in submission.
"Do you not want to speak now or do you want others to speak for you, boy?" Valerian asked.
Navin could not look directly at Valerian. Half ashamed and half pressured by the dense mana in the air. If he were still half human he would have died long ago.
Valerian sighed.
"You get one year from today. You will come with Oswald and me then you will go where your heart desires but only on this continent. You will stay on this continent. and I mean it. No more and no less. In this one year you are not allowed to share the things you have been taught by the Seraphim. You will have the identity of a noble, some money and that is all.
"Do not call on anyone under my command for one year unless your life is in the utmost jeopardy. If you call on Uriel or Lilith then I will take that as your decision to leave the human world behind and accept that you are no longer one of them. These are my terms." Valerian stated and his tone made it clear that there was no room to negotiate.
Navin got what he wanted but he felt odd. He was confident in his travel because he knew that if he ever got into any serious altercation he could be saved anytime. Now that was not an option. Anything he encountered, he would have to deal with on his own or else end his excursion early.
The young prince opened his mouth but the words did not seem to want to come out. He cleared his throat and spoke, "...I understand. Thank you to His Imperial Majesty."
Valerian's starry golden irises held a somewhat different emotion. One he had not felt in a long time. He worried for someone else. For all intents and purposes, this boy was now his son.
With nothing left to say on the matter, Valerian waved his hand in a dismissive manner and the entire Umbra Guard left as quickly as they had appeared. The pressure in the air subsided but the image of Valerian's imperial form was imprinted in their minds.
This was the true art and prowess of all the ancient founding monarchs in the past. The ability to turn even a cave into a royal court, a place of power and leadership that would secure their descendants' reign for generations to come.
As a father, He heard the child's wish.
As a ruler, He questioned him on it.
As a father, He warned him of the risk.
Asa ruler, He reminded him of the responsibilities.
Oswald felt deep reverence once again, wondering what it must have felt like to serve at the pleasure of a monarch such as this when they were at their prime.
He looked at the Seraphim who held this man in the highest of regard if not bordering on fanaticism, a man who balanced both immeasurable power and forgotten wisdom on the tip of his tongue yet managed to unify both. If only modern leaders were so adept.
It is not wrong for a father to spoil a child every now and then but for a child who will rule millions, the time and number for such perks and advantages was even less so.
A being such as Valerian who could be a father and a ruler at the same time without deviation or distraction was a being worth following. At the very least, he was worth watching.
Valerian turned his gaze to Oswald. "Is it not time to depart for the Rayon Kingdom?"
"Whenever you are ready, Lord Valerian."Oswald nodded. He dared not rush Valerian. He was watching this monarch carefully.
A lot had happened to Oswald over the last few days.
He had seen the strength of a true ancient powerhouse!
He had fought with him and lived to tell the tale!
He had seen an arrogant human prince receive life threatening slaps!
He found someone to avenge him and seen two beings use the power of Laws!
Yes, he would watch this House of Jata carefully.
"Lilith and Asura, take Lilian to question her and follow the magic signature of the Umbra Guard to a place called the Black Forest. Bring the rest of the staff with you. The Guard is carrying out a special project for me. I need both of you to use your expertise to help them."
Lilith and Asura bowed after receiving the decree. Lilian was slow only because she was afraid. She slowly bowed as well yet she was unsure if she was a servant or a prisoner.
"Alexander, I will ask you to take..." Valerian paused for a moment he was unsure of what to do. Alexander had been useful. He deserved rewards but now he would suffer a bit. "...Uriel and sort out what ever matters that are necessary. I need those properties as soon as possible. If anyone seems to cause trouble turn to Uriel." Valerian turned to Uriel. "Be clandestine in your operations. Alexander will be in charge. Your behaviour will determine you punishment."
Uriel who had been chided would not dare break this command.
Uriel and Alexander bowed their heads.
"Gabriel, you will come with the rest of us to the Rayon kingdom."
With their orders, no one was left with nothing to do. Everyone prepared to depart.