"What were you thinking?!" Lind had a red welt on his cheek as he knelt on the ground in front of Teyla. Teylin was right next to him. He had 2 red welts on his cheeks. The Old Man was looking dejected in a corner while Granny stood imposingly over him. While she may have agreed on giving Lind a chance, what happened in that tournament was far beyond any acceptable limits!
Teyla raged, pacing the room in the Frey Clan as celebrations could still be heard in the late afternoon. Lind had returned to find Garnt kneeling by Granny and Teyla standing with her arms crossed beneath her chest. Her gold tinged eyes could have burned a hole in the world. In fact, Lind could have sworn he saw flames spewing from them occasionally.
Apparently, the upset Lind had caused in the tournament had spread like wildfire through the Southern District. No doubt the part with him beating the crap out of the Overseer's son had helped but Lind would rather be back in the ring than face this wrathful big sister of his.
"You could have been crippled! You could have died. Did you think of how hiding this from me and then having that happened would have felt to me and your mother?!" Teyla's words were admonishment at first but then the hypothetical scenario did not cow Lind but inflamed his rage. The secrets he had learned about himself and his blood siblings came back roaring like a whirlwind.
Emerald flames suddenly spiked all around Lind as his elements strained to escape, which made Teyla jump back quickly in shock. All in the room suddenly felt their dantians react to Lind but it was more soothing yet it could even affect World Realms. Lind stood up and his dark green eyes made Teyla wilt despite being his senior by 2 minor realms.
"How would it make you feel? How did I feel when I found out what you were all hiding from me? I can understand my mother never wanting to touch on the topic, I will never blame her, but my brother is her nephew and my 2 sisters do not know what to think of me. They were all banned from even telling me we were family. How do you think I am feeling right now 'Big Sis?'" Lind's rage caused a pressure unlike anything they had ever felt from him, but the scariest part was the gentle boy was nowhere inside the person in front of them.
They had no words to refute at first but then Granny moved forward with a sad look in her eyes.
"It was an Imperial Edic–" Granny tried to explain but Lind once again exploded and cared nothing for etiquette or what was expected of a junior to his seniors in the cultivation world.
"I do not care if you had stone tablets from God direct from on high! I am their brother! I have family beyond my mother and me. They were banished to a terrible courtyard and treated like punching bags for years before I asked for better chances. If I had not come along, what do you imagine their fate to have been?! None of you have any right to tell me what to do with my life or how I choose to risk it! None of you!" Lind stormed off out of the courtyard as he had seen the tears start to flow on both Granny's and Teyla's faces. The fact Teylin nor the Old Man did anything to stop him left Lind with a bad taste in his mouth.
None of his words were fair. He knew that but it felt fantastic to yell. It felt like a poison had been drained from his body that had festered for weeks during his frantic training. It resolved nothing aside from assuaging his rage. Lind felt only a blur as he moved back to his courtyard before alchemical smells mixed with the fresh herbal garden he called home.
His rapid pace stilled as he stared at the memorial stone and bush around it. It was his aunt's favorite bush and the stone was simply a tradition of this empire. Instead of a grave, the body was burned if it could be recovered and a place was created if the family desired to remember their relative.
He did not even know her name. All of their names were stricken from all records and only the relationships left. He could not accept this aspect of his new world. The strict hierarchy made them accept impossible things that burned his heart. Lind gently sat on his favorite stool and forced himself to remember happy memories.
"I never got to know you my aunt, but my mother loves you even now. She always made a point to bring me here to enjoy meals and teach me. She sang me to sleep here. I wish I could say your son was well but I only know his situation has improved. I will demand more. I do not care what happens to me for it. I will never abandon my family." Lind mumbled words and again felt like a poison left his body but it was more positive this time. It was a vow to himself after learning the truth of his life.
"Lind?" The gentle voice of his mother pulled him out of his reverie. He looked up and found her framed in the gentle background of the herbal garden as smears of alchemical powder were on her face and smock. Lind felt tears start to flow as his heart shattered. His innocence had been destroyed by the truth and his old life, the life of a human with a morality far more gentle than this place had been destroyed as well.
Firm arms embraced him as wails of pain wracked his body. He had achieved victory in his goals today. He had made a massive leap forward in his cultivation. He had received acknowledgement from the masses of the arena as well as the young Mistress of the Gu Clan. None of it made the fact he was the result of the darkest act he could think of. He felt like he should not exist but he truly loved his mother and did not want to do that to her. She loved him as clear as the sun in the sky.
He was unsure how much time passed but Lind knew people had gathered. He did not need to look to know the twins had come, but Kor was now with them. Two older girls were with them as well. Lind realized Granny and the Old Man looked on at the entrance of the court yard. Twilight had come upon them and Lind had to stop letting his emotions run rampant. If nothing else, it was very bad to let his cultivation become unstable due to it.
"Why?" He only asked one word but it caused the twins to flinch. One word but the vast depth of grief and pain it covered could not be grasped by any there. Kor began to cry and his older sisters suddenly rushed forward. They had made massive advancement in their cultivation like Kor and left Lind behind quickly. Even so, they only made it to the 6th tier of Soul Realm. Kor was at 3rd Tier but he was quickly catching up.
Many arms embraced Lind. The oldest was Seyla, at 18 she was an excellent healer with water and light as her elements. Nya was next at 17, a rare single element of light that had been a huge commotion when she was finally allowed to break through. Kor was a 4 elemental of the primary elements. The 4 siblings were finally together and encircled by Mira with tears. No one interrupted them.
"We can't make up for what has happened, Lind, but to hell with Imperial Edicts. You are right. We can't keep all these secrets from you of all people when everyone else knew." Lind felt his mother tighten up but he hugged her fiercely. He had meant it when he said he never blamed his mother wanting to shield her young son from darkness. He never doubted her love even if he could not understand it.
"I could not agree more with Grand Mistress Yue Frey." A voice suddenly came from the sky and all jumped as they looked up to find a floating platform with 2 individuals on it. They were impossible to make out to the others, but Lind could clearly see them. World Realms and powerful ones. He could see the elements bend around them as if in awe. Given a comparison to the Old Man and Granny, Lind would guess they were 1 full tier at least above them.
Lind suddenly saw everyone bowing and was confused. Did he miss something?
"Interesting, do you not know who I am, boy?" Lind looked back up and saw pale green eyes bore into him but he saw what she wore finally beneath the Qi flowing around her. It was a bad habit he had to first see what he could learn about someone, but World Realms were voids to him unless they allowed otherwise. Suddenly, Lind made his body move on instinct and launched himself up and to the right as the other woman appeared behind him.
Shock was on her cream colored and narrow face that a measly Soul Realm had evaded her. Even the woman in the sky arched an eyebrow, but no anger was felt from either of them. The rest of the members in the courtyard felt sweat break out, but it was not their place to speak.
"I have no idea who you people are aside from at least peak Stone Tier or above World Realms. I also know that one," Lind pointed to the violet eyed woman, "has the darkness element with either water or earth to pull that off." The floating woman clapped in appreciation of a quick if shallow analysis.
"Why not an artifact?" She was curious and even the others in the courtyard wanted to know how Lind knew such a thing.
"Artifacts, weapons, treasures, and so forth cannot hide from my eyes." Lind was not being arrogant. He had trained for 4 years to focus his eyes and it paid off instantly as he avoided a trap laid at some point along his path. His evasion was not missed by the 2 women and clearly they were impressed.
"So in addition to Soul Touch, 6 elements, and Soul Eyes, you are an innate cultivator?" The tension in the courtyard suddenly could be cut with a knife. If there was one thing Lind had been drilled on endlessly, was to hide he was an Innate cultivator. He was never told why, but attention was never something he wanted in the first place. Even in his deepest rage, he never thought to reveal that. What had given him away?
His confusion was clear but neither woman moved. Lind noticed confusion on the violet eyed one that was on the ground with him so both looked up at the floating platform for answers.
"While one could train Soul Eyes extensively in 4 years, the storm of Qi caused by an innate cultivator is the only explanation for such a precision filtering between items and a living being so easily when on a person. Also, I saw you break through at the tournament. Your foundation was way too easily solidified for just making it to tier 4." Lind winced. He had really not wanted to break through for that very reason. Some would let it slide, but a knowledgeable person would recognize what he was.
"Enough, Silvia, we are not here for trouble, but for compensation." The cloaked woman stopped moving as the other finally descended. "I am the 3rd Princess of the Lotus Empire, Jia Teng. Do you know me now, boy?" A mischievous smile was on her narrow face and Lind felt a little numb.
"Oh crap!" His words made the Princess break out in laughter as her bodyguard seemed to sigh in long standing resignation of her wards personality.
****
Grand Master Fu felt like he had aged centuries in the last few moments. Lind had no reason to agitate or ignore royalty, but his eyes were a 2 edged sword. While they conveyed a lot of information, he had a bad time piercing the storm of Qi with new people stronger than him to see them clearly. He made a note to focus more training on that.
The group had moved to the reception hall and gathered all the Elders. Opposed to how she had been talking to Lind, the 3rd Princess was now cold and austere. It matched the rumors he had heard on the few occasions the clan heads had been summoned to the capitol. She was fierce in her duties and terrified the hell out of the Empire's functionaries if she arrived in their powers.
"Thank you all for gathering. I realize there is much going on tonight and I do not want to hold up young Lind Frey for long, but first, business. Silvia." The cloaked woman suddenly vanished and a chill feeling went down Fu's spine as 7 Elders suddenly died instantly. No one saw her, save Lind. He did not look too disturbed but he was likely feeling a little hollow emotionally after the day he had.
Fu saw his 3 siblings were protectively standing near Lind. The boy's request had been honored and Yue had seen no reason to withhold who had helped them. They had known who Lind was but also that Lind was not allowed to know. It meant he had helped them simply because that was who he was.
The remaining Elders flinched but made no other move. The Princess was within her rights to act as she wanted if she had proof. The cloaked woman reappeared without a speck of blood on her.
"Apologies, but I wanted Lind especially, and his siblings, to see and hear this. On behalf of the Emperor Teng, Light of the Lotus Empire, Guiding Hand of the People, and Vassal of His Majesty Ferran, I offer a humble apology for our failure." The Princess then knelt and so did the woman Silvia. Fu was not sure if he was dreaming or not. What was going on?
"Please, you cannot bow to us, Highness, but please enlighten us." Yue was quick to recover but surprisingly, it was Lind who answered.
"The Overseer was supposed to hold the hostage, wasn't he?" Lind's knuckles cracked in the silence, but no rebuke came at him for his rude question. Fu suddenly felt rage, long buried, rise in his chest, but his long life helped him stay calm on his face.
"Yes, young Frey. As such, combined with the facts we have uncovered that the women given to the hostage never should have been, was why those men died. Many others have died this evening, including the Overseer and his son." These revelations left the hall shocked but Lind finally seemed to join them. How many people had been part of this exactly? "I am here for 3 reasons. First, Clan Frey shall be given special dispensation for the failure of the Empire to protect its citizens from unlawful actions. You will not be required to submit members for war service for a period of 100 years and your clan will receive resources specifically for the family members affected by this horrific events."
Fu felt light headed. This included Yue and himself! They were old, but they had some potential left to break through. They might be able to reach the peak of Stone Tier! None of it showed on his wrinkled visage but he glanced at Lind and saw dissatisfaction there. An internal sigh was all he had time for, before the Princess continued.
"Second: I bestow this admissions token to Lind Frey for the Lotus Academy admittance ritual 2 months from now. He is not required to do this but if he accepts, he will not have to go through the elimination of the commons and be put into the testing directly." Shock rocked the hall now. Many Elders that had spurned Lind and his actions as people favored him now made them shake in fear. Lind would become very powerful even being a 6 elemental with the help of the Lotus Academy.
It was the best institution in the Empire! After 3 years, Lind could return as a World Realm in the Stone Tier above them!
"Last: I am here to punish the guilty as I see fit. Take me to him now." The cold voice doused the hall from its unstable emotions and only Lind felt like it was finally going in a direction he approved.