"Finally, it is time," Ezio said as he looked at the portal that appeared in front of him. This would take him outside, and if he didn't take it, he would be trapped until the domain opened once again. Previously, it would be ten years, and Ezio could survive ten years there, although he wouldn't prefer it. But this time, it wasn't certain if it would be opened or not.
Ezio left the domain and looked around. Everyone alive had appeared with him. The Second Prince had cauterized his arm and looked okay other than that. The Third Prince, Adrian, and Lu Ru were also healthy and looked around curiously, because, at the moment, the square they were expecting to be filled with people was empty.
When they first entered, the citizens were there to see them off. They were excited and partying. Many disciples of three sects were also there. They thought it would be the same upon their exit, but it wasn't. The square was devoid of people saving some elders from sects.
"Grandma." The Third Prince walked to the Sect Leader, Qiu Tu. She was looking fidgety, and alert despite no obvious danger around.
"Oh, thank god you are back." She said with tears in her eyes, as she hugged the Prince and Adrian. Although the latter was feeling confused, he didn't stop her.
"Others didn't make it?" She asked as she sighed.
"No, grandma, sorry. I am weak, please punish me." Lu Ru said as he trained her eyes on the ground.
"It is not your fault, dear." She said as he pulled Ezio closer. "You come with us, too, Ezio."
"What is going on?" Ezio asked. He felt something was wrong.
"I will explain in the sect, come with me." Qiu Tu said with a crestfallen look. Ezio was not sure what was going on, but he felt a cramp in his stomach.
Before they could leave, Li Long, the Sect Leader of Zeus's Fury walked up to them and asked the Third Prince, "Did any of my disciples survive?"
"Sorry, no." The Third Prince said coldly.
"I understand, thank you, Prince." Li Long said and turned to leave. The Second Prince also left with the Sect Leader of Prometheus's Suffering. He was injured and tired, he had no energy to care about other people. Although the sect didn't want to support him anymore, they could gain some information from him, before kicking him out for good, now that he lost his use.
They arrived at the sect not long after. Wherever they walked, it was devoid of people. As if it was a ghost town, of course, Ezio could see people in their houses pulling the blinds, looking at them sneakily. It reminded him of lockdowns, where tyrant totalitarian states prisoned their citizens in their own properties.
He had some guesses. Xiao Chen got half of the inheritance. Although he didn't hear him when left the castle, he knew for a fact that he hadn't awakened the full title yet. Then what could Xiao Chen do? He didn't have full control, nor could he force others to obey him yet. But by showing carrots and sticks, he could control them to some extent. Adding Taro Mars to the equation, it wasn't impossible.
"What is wrong with the city, grandma?" The Third Prince asked as soon as they stepped into the meeting room. He failed to see three people sitting at the table. All three looked arrogant as if they owned the place.
"Before that, let me introduce the Venerable Envoys of Earth Kingdom." Qiu Tu said as she gestured to three people. "They came from far away to protect us."
"Hello, Envoys, you honored us with your presence." The Third Prince bowed and others followed, except Ezio. The Envoys looked at him dissatisfied, but let it go. They lived deeper in the continent where many other races lived, they had seen many cultures, and knew that traditions couldn't be forced. Although at this backward place, they would normally not take such insults, from his face, it was obvious that the kid wasn't local.
"Hmm." The one sitting at the head of the table nodded. "Come and sit, tell us what happened."
"Thank you, Lord Envoy," Prince said and sat down. Adrian and others sat beside him, while Ezio sat on the other side of the grandma.
"Xiao Chen opened the heritage site by using the blood of five descendants…" The prince explained everything in detail except the fact that Adrian too awakened the same title. He added his theory at the end. "I believe Xiao Chen didn't get the full title because he wasn't able to control the domain. He could feel where the exit was, but he didn't just create one like it was told in the legends."
"It may be because he is weak now." An Envoy said.
"No, it is not possible. Once you get the title, you get all the benefits." The Head Envoy said as he held his chin. "This is worth looking into. Good job."
"You praise me too much, Lord Envoy." The Third Prince answered modestly. Not overbearing, nor servile. After the Envoys left, Grandma asked questions about what had happened. To Ezio's surprise, they didn't tell her about Adrian's situation either. They only spoke about other members, and what happened in the month they spent inside the domain.
When their conversation ended, Ezio looked at Grandma. Something inside of him was holding him back, but he had to ask. He didn't know what that feeling was, but he hated it. He hated the cramp in his stomach, he hated the beating of his heart and he hated the whispers in his ears.
"Grandma, where is my master?" He finally uttered. His voice was so low, yet it was so loud. Qiu Tu looked at him with pity and sorrow. She didn't answer for a full minute, but the silence was the strongest answer sometimes. Ezio hated that everything he felt before he asked the question was nothing compared to what he was feeling after.