The sky opened up and a massive airship came through. Elaborate mansions came into view as the airship touched down. There was a small forest with rivers, hills, valleys and baby energy beasts running around the mansions. This was no doubt a flying city.
Cheers rang out as the people of stardust came to welcome their City Lord and Patriarch who had been away for several months. Xasha was flanked by Megan and Xara, who all had relaxed smiles on their face as they went to greet the crowd. Their strike teams stood behind them in formation.
Xasha's face hadn't seemed to notice all the years that had passed, as he looked the same as before. The aging process slows down with cultivation, therefore, rapid breakthroughs made by the members of the Falling Stardust made the aging process all but stop for them. Almost the entire guild looked like teenagers despite being dozens of years old.
The doors to Saxon's office swung open and Xasha along with, Megan and Xara strolled in. Saxon and Verra, who were going over documents, froze in place as if caught red-handed.
"You're back so soon. Is that a good or bad thing?" Saxon said to the new arrivals, hiding his nervousness.
This was a futile attempt, as everybody in the room could tell he was hiding something. The fact that he was sneakily rolling up the documents he was going over with Verra didn't help. Verra walked over and gave a warm hug to all three, "welcome back guys. Why did you come straight here and not take a rest after such a long journey?"
"Because I missed my fool of a husband," Xara stated as she made her way over to her husband and wrapped her hands and around his waist. Pulling him close like a man would a woman, then placed a kiss on his lips with a calm smile.
Saxon's face lit up, "I missed you too hu- hey what are you-" while he was distracted Xara had already snatched the document from his hand and was inspecting it after locking the panicking Saxon in a box made of compressed mana.
Xasha and Megan came over to take a look as well. A moment later, they were looking at Saxon with a questioning gaze. "why were you hiding this?" Xara inquired.
Saxon approached, "you guys don't think this is a big deal?"
"Well, it's to be expected, isn't it? He hasn't taken a break for the past 9 years. This is just one more thing to celebrate. Where is he?" Xasha stated in excitement.
Saxon was now the one confused. "Alexi not only surpassed you but passed all 100 assessments while you are still at assessment 86. Aren't you worried about the message that sends to the world? It means you are inferior to him. He might even challenge your position." Saxon was agitated. No one seemed to understand the situation. He was just talking to Verra about how they could handle the situation when Xasha walked in.
Xasha chuckled. "I'm not worried about that. Alexi isn't the only mage in Stardust City more powerful than I am. Plus, Alexi has no political ambition. He just wants to get out into the wilderness and start exploring."
"Well, with this, we've triggered the prerequisite to start the operation. What do we do now?" Verra asked.
"We stick to our word. Call Alexi, so I can congratulate him. We will make the announcement in a few days and begin preparations to mobilize immediately after. Within a few months to a year, we should be ready to launch."
Everyone in the room nodded, but Saxon was obviously unconvinced. He couldn't calm the worry in his heart, no matter how calm everyone else seemed. "What happened during your trip? What was the verdict reached by the council?"
Xasha turned to his father, intending to answer his query, but then a golden light flashed and a green-haired beauty rushed out and tackled him to the floor. "Daddy! I missed you so much. How are you? Are you back for good or are you all just taking a break? What happened on your trip? Did you bring me a gift?"
Xasha's smile brightened at seeing his little girl in such a good mood. He glanced at her grandmother after hearing her barrage of questions. Xara turned her nose up and huffed in indignation. She knew exactly what he was referring to, but would never admit to anything.
"I'm fine Tower Lili, and of course I brought something back for my princess." Xasha took something from his void ring and handed it to her. It was a box tied with a blue ribbon. She grabbed the box from her father's palm and bolted across the room to Saxon's desk, not bothering about her mother and grandmother.
With no reserve, she ripped the ribbon to pieces and opened the box. Inside, she saw four brown pastries resting at the bottom of the box, and her eyebrows shot up. "Is this?" She turned to her father with an expectant gaze.
Xasha nodded while picking himself up from the floor. Lili squealed in excitement and immediately stuffed a brown pastry in her mouth.
"Did you bring anything back for your baby bro?" Xeik approached with a smile and helped him up.
"Of course, did you get taller?" Xasha said mischievously.
Xeik's face immediately soured. He actually pushed his brother he was just helping up back to the ground. The room burst out laughing. Everyone knew what was up. Xeik was already in the Gold Realm at 15 years old. He began cultivating at 13 years old. Because of the suspended aging process, he will have a 13-year-old appearance for the foreseeable future.
He may not have an adult appearance until several hundred years old. Xasha had warned him against it, but he was in such a rush to prove himself, he disregarded his advice and dove into cultivating.
Xasha got up with a bright smile on his face. He tossed a fruit at Xeik, who caught it with his eyes glowing brightly. A toothy grin grew on his face. "You got it! You got it!" He ran and dove into his brother's embrace. "Thank you. Thank you so much, I want to eat this right now." Xeik grabbed Blossom's arm and ran out of the room, also forgetting his mother and sister-in-law.
"Wait."
Xeik froze in place. Xasha tossed a golden fruit toward Blossom, who caught it with care and gave a polite smile before being dragged away by her overly excited boyfriend. "Thank you," her voice travel over from outside the room.
Megan chuckled, "those two are so cute. Any day now you will have another grandchild on the way."
"Tsk." Xara sucked her teeth in indignation. "That boy? He's too focused on competing with his brother to do anything else. I really wish he could get over this and focus on being himself. I'm just happy he found that girl, she's turned him into a social creature at least. Keeping him outside the training arena, before he ends up like that Alexi."
"What's wrong with him being like me?" The gruff voice of a youngster walking through the doors already left open by Xeik traveled over.
"Everything is wrong. You only know how to train and fight. You have no social skills whatsoever. When are you going to come out of that training arena and start living life? How are you going to make friends and start a family if you keep this up?" Xara minced no words as she placed all the youngster's flaws on the table for all to see.
Alexi's confident smile left his face and was replaced by an embarrassed one. He did not have the words to refute Xara's as they held true. "I am not worried about any of those things. Life is long, there will be chances to find friends and raise families after I've accomplished my goals."
"Useless thing," Xara huffed as she grabbed Saxon and dragged him out of the room, not dissimilar to her son and his lover. "Congratulations on passing the assessments. You should at least take some time off during this time." With that, she and Saxon disappeared.
Ari chuckled at the spectacle unfolding before her.
Alexi glanced at the smiling Ari but retracted his gaze shortly after, almost as if frightened. His actions went unnoticed only by Lili, who was preoccupied with the pastries brought from the Culinary God Guild in the East Bay Province by the Endless Ocean.
Everyone knew Alexi had feelings for Ari, but she had never really shown interest in anyone, so there was nothing to be done. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Lili finally looked up. It was then she realized her grandparents were gone and Alexi was now in the room.
Realization flashed on her face, then a mischievous grin took its place. "Alexi, how are you, brother?"
"Hello miss Lili, I am doing fine. Congratulations on passing your first assessment," Alexi kept his polite demeanor.
"Doesn't my big sister look ravishing in that dress?" Lili queried with a bright grin. The mood in the room immediately changed, but Lili pretended not to notice. Not even Ari's glare at her gained any form of reaction.
"Miss Ari is as beautiful today as she is every day. I hope you don't me saying." To Lili's dismay, he actually handled that situation well. She turned around displeased and went back to her pastry.
"Of course I don't mind, it's always nice to get a compliment from someone as talented as yourself," Ari's response was just as polite, but everyone could feel the undercurrents filling up the room.
Verra couldn't take it anymore. She turned to Xasha and said, "the council is already assembled in the Sky Habitat, ready and waiting for your report."
"Why the Sky Habitat? Did something happen?" A concerned frown formed on Xasha's brow.
Verra did not reply but glanced at Alexi. Xasha nodded in understanding. He turned to Alexi. "Alex, come with me. With what you have accomplished, you have earned yourself a seat at the table. It is not official yet, but you should hear this report now because I will not be delivering it again once you've officially become a council member."
Alexi immediately became serious and gave a stern mage salute. His blood was boiling at this moment, his years of relentless effort were bearing fruit before his eyes.
"Congratulations Alexi, I had no doubt you would make it this far," Ari approached and gave Alexi a hug, "I will wait and see what you accomplish next."
"Thank you for your confidence in me, miss Ari, I will try not to disappoint you."
"Good, I expect nothing less." With that, she left the room, leaving behind a mystifying aroma. Alexi felt like he was floating as it passed by his nose. The hug she gave him left her scent, and he felt like he could never change his clothes or take a shower again.
"Alright lover boy, reminisce on your own time." Xasha grabbed his hand and disappeared with him and Verra, leaving the room silent.
After a few moments, Lili looked up from the box with a satisfied smile on her face. She licked her ten fingers, patted her belly, then declared, "Dad, this is the best pudding I've ever had in my life. Sir Clover has outdone himself this time."
However, there was no reply. In fact, the room seemed to be a bit too quiet. She looked around, only to find herself alone in the once-bustling room.
"Where is everybody?"