"The princess travels around too?" Lilia looked to her in surprise.
Lotus nodded, "That's right. She told me it's because her mother is worried she may want to pick a partner from the human society in the future. However, if she does that, there's a chance that the tribe will try to take her life. They aren't keen on exchanging their knowledge with the outside world after all. That's probably why she doesn't have any plans to marry out of her family yet. No matter how strong you are, if you are unable to protect those around you, power is pointless. Even as a cultivator and a princess, she has her own fears, it seems. As for what those are, I don't know. She doesn't have any familial attachments to her birth family. No memories or resentments. Yet, she never stops pursuing to becoming stronger... Ugh... This is why I don't like to stay in contact with her often. Those with big goals tends to face bigger obstacles in life. This is how the world goes. These are the words I heard from an old man next door told me before I left. He was a cultivator before an incident rendered him unable to cultivate and reverted back into a normal man. While teaching me how to craft weapons, instruments, and various objects, he would often share his wisdom with me. However, in the end, he was deemed a luggage by others as he wasn't able to cultivate. They neglected him while he was ill and he died a painful death. If it weren't for him... I'd probably had rejected the acceptance letters from the school out of spite for cultivators and magicians, like I would in the old days."
"You hated magicians?"
Lotus sighed, "It's an old story. Like I told you, my mother was a magician, but she was also not a very powerful one in her society. Even as a magician, the other kidnapped women pushed me and her out as she was too weak and lacked enough knowledge in magic. Instead, she ended up keeping in contact with those who could not use magic. Perhaps it was due to this that I didn't understand magicians as well as I do now. Before I thought of them to be the same as cultivators. Arrogant and selfish. Always thinking ways of manipulating their own children around them. However, even they do not live long in the tribe. However, even then, they are also people in the end. The old man told me once that the hearts and desires of people are always unimaginable. They can't be completely seen through or understood. To say that you can "see" them is never completely true. The more you know them, the more you realized that you've only scratched the surface of understanding them to a certain extent. In the end, I also could not understand the old man, so it seems that he was right on this aspect. As I also did not understand others, I can't really say that everyone is like them. In the end, even the old man turned out the way he did. The world is a pretty big place. It's too bad that the tribe refuses to see it the way it is."
Like before, Lilia didn't expect a fifteen year old to say so many things as though she wasuch older and experienced. In the past, he had shared this with Silver and Malleus, but he didn't expect to hear these words from Lotus who's only fifteen. Though the world is full of strange experiences, he can't help but feel nervous when hearing such a young man say these words. No, rather it makes him worry about her. Just what horrors and hardships did she experience to end up saying these things without batting an eye? It reminds him of the first time he and the others witnessed Ren verbally abused by his parents in secret, but they couldn't say anything about it. With the majority of wars over, the world is supposed to be a better place. Aside from absolute peace, everything has calmed down and everyone has become more open minded. Yet, how is it that they were witnessing two children experiencing something that is simply too harsh on them? Where was their imagination? Their dreams? What about small trivial goals and long term plans? Worries for the future and their growth troubles?
People's desires, evil tendencies, what they need to prepare for in the coming years to keep themselves alive like a veteran. Those aren't worries of teenagers. Rather those are the concerns of adults! Could this be why Ren felt a deep connection with Lotus?
"Then, how much do you know about this year's fairy gala?" Lilia questioned curiously as he changed the subject.
She shook her head, "All I know is that the queen may touch on a bunch of themes this month because the princess would be traveling out of the kingdom more often over the next ten years. I figured she told me this because this had something to do with me. The princess usually never tells me things I should not know. Events held by the fairies are one of them. However, it seems the fairy gala might have something to do with me this time."
Hearing this, Lilia became more relaxed. After having asked so much questions, he finally felt that it was safe enough to at least let her stay for a few weeks as they assemble the information about the princess and Lotus. With that, he even led her to her room before taking his leave. With him out, Lotus set the stone down as a new array quickly reappeared from the stone.
"Zhang Li." She called out softly.
The woman then appeared swiftly from the window as she greeted her, "Master."
"How was the situation while I was gone?"
"All dorms were calmed and guided back to their rooms by Kalim and the other vice-dorm leaders. Only Pomefiore dorm suffered a brief moment of chaos. Our people have already calmed it. It seems some may be interested in the position of dorm leader."
Lotus sighed, "If Epel wants to maintain his chances, he needs to work on his poison so the others do not outsmart him now. After all, Pomefiore is not like Heartslabyul. Anything else?"
"Diasmonia's dorm leader and vice-dorm leader has been seen visiting the ruins of your dorm during your absence. It seems that the vice-dormleader is about to reach the end of his time."
Lotus nodded quietly before she took a seat on the bed in silence before she sighed, "I see... How is the dorm leader taking this?"
"He has yet to hear his caretaker's words clear."
"When the time comes, he would become unprepared for it, unless he was fortunate enough to know beforehand." Lotus concluded with a frown.
"Master." Zhang Li said hesitantly, "Will they be all right?"
"Perhaps." Lotus responded after a deep thought, "However, the question is how will the prince understand the true meaning of loss? Will he flip out or..."
Hearing this, Zhang Li gasped in horror, "But, master! If the prince overblots, then this pocket dimension is done for!"
"Enough."
Zhang Li quiets down with great agitation upon hearing this. Lotus sighed as she continued, "Even after the loss of his parents, the queen avoided the chance of overblotting and she is more powerful than her grandson. The prince has also managed to avoid seeing their last moments due to not having hatched from his egg back then, however, he did not get to see them at all either. The royal family is fortunate to have tasked such an open minded general by his side to raise him during those years. After all, the Zigvolt general is known for his strict training and strong loyalty to the royal family. With the prince still an infant back then, it could cause a moment of confusion to a child and, as a prince, he can't get distracted from his duties later on as an adult. As for the current situation... Hah... When there is satisfaction, there is agitation. If he does not experience loss now, he will still experience it later on. However, did you hear it clearly from his own mouth that his life is coming to an end? Without clarification, there is no way to tell for sure."
"I heard the general said this when he saw that the planets in the solar systems had aligned in the night sky. He had said that it would be his last time seeing it and my brother has overheard his son converse with Ignihyde dorm leader one night. after the conversation, he mentioned how his father was about ready to leave him or nearing his time." Zhang Li responded.
Lilia was given the title of the elusive general not just by the others in the kingdom but also outside who knew of him. In the past, her god grandfather feigned death to hide and work in the shadows for the royal family. she recalled that was also around the time that Sebek was around nine or ten years old or so. It was after that that he appeared around her more often and only those deep inside the palace of briar valley and few leaders knew of his presence. The leader of S.T.Y.X. being one of these people for various reasons. If it had not been for this, the queen would've attended this matter herself, which would probably already give her unnecessary trouble to take her by the hand and talk with him.
If it was known that even the retired Elusive General passed away, then things could get dicey. However, the prince and the other two whom he trained were all talented in their own fields. Sebek has the massive strength, especially in the jaws which he inherited from his grandfather and mother, while Silver has the knowledge and comes up with great tactics thanks to the tutoring from such a tactical general father. The only set back to all three is that Malleus is from the royal family so his duty is not entirely on the front line. Sebek is quite stubborn and would not listen to anyone but Malleus and Lilia. Silver would also need to do a lot more convincing to move him. Finally, Silver has inherited the curse and, one way or another, it ended up giving him constant drowsiness enough for him to sleep no matter the place or time.
Peony thought to herself quietly in deep thoughts. While pondering on what to do, she finally decided to push the matter aside as she sighed in dismay, "Forget it. They still have time. First, I have to clean up my own mess. Zhang Li..."
"Yes, master?"
"Tell me..." She said after hesitation as she pouted to the side away from her, "Did the prince started laughing once he opened the box?"
"This..." Zhang Li hesitated as well being uncertain on what to say. She had heard that the prince had been told not to laugh but he still laughed. Was this more crucial than Lilia's life?!