Ways of the Spirits (1)

3 weeks later

The Azure Sect was as busy as it had ever been during these past few weeks.

As most of the elders, instructors and the youths themselves were preparing for the blessing awakening ceremony. The Azure sect found itself trapped within a peculiar busy period. The most promising of the youths were particularly struggling, trying to balance their arduous cultivation schedule whilst trying to prepare for the ceremony.

The mood around the sect was also somewhat tense, as word from the human kingdom had spread across the blue mountain. The King and Queen of the Lucien Kingdom had already sent their envoys towards the blue mountains. That was four days ago, their arrivals were expected to be imminent and would possibly be crossing the borders onto the Azure lands by the next morning.

Currently, within one of the most guarded rooms within the mountain. Five highly esteemed figures had taken their respective seats around a lavishly constructed stoned table, carved out of from a rare pale wood usually found in the deep northern forests where the snow Elves lived.

Within this spacious glass hall, pale cedar pillars aligned the walls. With lime stoned busts of ancient heroic elves decorated beside them. Seated around the table, Three male and two Female Elves. Currently these fellows were recognized as the most important figures across the 5 tribes.

Amongst the seated folk, there was one Elf in particular who would catch the eyes of any red blooded fellow around. Even the women could hardly steer their eyes away from the Amazonian beauty. The warrior Princess, Lady Eleanor from Ludwig Valley.

Lady Eleanor sat with her arms folded, she was tall with a flat stomach, thick legs and a curvaceous large ass. Her noticeable assets were her massive bosoms that were incredibly lewd looking. She carried long golden blonde hair and lovely cat like eyes. Despite her incredibly sexy and beautiful appearance, no one dared to trifle with her. Nor show her any king of disrespect considering she was considered one of the strongest Elves around.

Also present, was a Shrewd faced middle age Elf. He wore an expressionless face and donned a sleek fall of green hair, trying his best to look dignified, despite the enormous pressure he was feeling bearing against him from the intense cold look Eleanor was giving him. The other female Elvf carried a full head of silken white hair, she was aged but her skin was as smooth as the days of her youth.

Varriel, the green haired Elf cleared his throat before he addressed the assembly “I’ve received word that we should be expecting the human envoy shortly. I imagine we are all prepared for their arrival?” The four Elves nodded in unison.

“Good-good I must say we haven't had this much anticipation for a group of our hopefuls in a very long time. The Lucien Kingdom has expressed its gratitude in the alliance, and tends to make sure we are supplied with an abundance of resources this year. I have also been told we will be receiving a new form of body tempering potions to help aid our cultivation speed.” Three of the Elves showed their appreciation, Eleanor however wasn’t moved.

“What are we giving up for the sake of this?” she asked stiffly

“Nothing we wasn’t prepared to give up before. More talented youths to serve their nation.” Varriel vaguely spoke, making sure his eyes didn't linger on her for too long.

“So once again we’re sending Elven slaves to help fight a war started by human greed. I thought we vowed to never use Elves to satisfy the lustful greed of humans again? Our ancestors destroyed our kingdom treating Elves this way.”

Eleanors words brought a reflective silence amongst the room. Of course, they sat quietly; she was perhaps once of the few fellows who could speak on the matter considering she fought in a few wars alongside the humans.

Amongst the seated folk, the self professed chief and head of the Azure sect was also in attendance. He was a middle aged Elvf with short combed back black hair and a sharpened salt and pepper forked beard with a trimmed moustache.

This esteemed fellow was considered the temporary leader of the sect, considering the Azure sect already had a patriarch, who was currently spending his days in a deep sleep. Raziel was almost the uncrowned king of his people on this mountain.

He also fought in a few wars, but his achievements weren't close enough to what Eleanor had claimed during their younger days as knights. But what separated Raziel from everyone else was his temperament and charismatic attitude, especially amongst the human races. He had expertly achieved what other tribal chiefs couldn’t do. Brokering a beneficial peace and alliance between the Elves and human.

Raziel thumbed his nose bridge, “Eleanor you have to underst...”

“Lady Eleanor to you! MY grandfather was your king. Don’t forget your place” Her cold voice sent chills across the seated guests. Raziel bit his tongue, knowing he couldn’t challenge the brazing Elf in such a way. He creased a false charming smile, “My apologies. Lady Eleanor! I understand and agree with your concerns, hence why we have been making sure all contingencies are being taken. What we shan't be doing is sending our youth to die in a useless war. This is merely to help aid their strength. Believe me.”

Eleanor snorted but held her words. Raziel exhaled a breath of relief.

“I have listed all the Elven hopefuls whom we’ve all agreed shall venture the mainland.” Raziel tapped the cold surface three times, and an ominous wind appeared and placed four opened sheets of scrolls in front of each of the seated leaders. Eleanor glanced at the names, her eyes briefly widened but swiftly settled back into her expressionless gaze. No one caught the smile she freckled for a few seconds. Once the three tribal heads finished scanning through the names, they couldn’t help sharing looks of confusion between one another. The green haired Elf raised his arm,

“Raziel...these names. Though I have no interest in how the selection process is carried out, I noticed a name here that perhaps...well I can say that all of us seated here share the same confusion as to why he’s been listed here...considering?”

“Considering what Varriel?” Raziel asked sternly.

“Sigh...I really don’t like making these sorts of problems, but you’ve listed Lady Eleanors son. And we all know he cannot cultivate to the first stage let alone be considered one of our most talented hopefuls. Doesn’t this smear the authenticity of the selection process if we’re showing favors' to him, simply because of his mothers standing...”

“Lord Varriel! Your son...Do I not recall him struggling with the basics of sensing Qi at one point?” Raziel voiced

“What? B-but that was when he was a few years old-”

“And wasn’t it by the grace of our companionship here that we were able to constantly supply the sickly child with enough remedies to counteract this minor problem? He was lucky that YOU his father, had been chosen as one of the staples of this coalition else his name wouldn’t be anywhere near that list. My point is the one thing I can guarantee every one of you seated here, is that your sacrifices will not be in vain. What's one name added to the list, in comparison to a lifelong stable kinship that we all share together.” Varriel was left silenced, he could only tighten his fist in anger, but he held neither the strength nor the authority to truly speak more on the matter.

Instead, the other concern arrived from the beautiful pale headed Elf.

“As that may be. What of the blessing ceremony test? I heard the boys been bed ridden for a few weeks now? He’s missed the ceremony so is it truly safe to send an Elf to the mainland without a spirit blessing?”

Her words were indeed held more reasons than that of Lord Varriel. Whom of course was the father of Marco, the culprit that left Eleanors son healing very serious wounds in the first place. Eleanor wasn’t fazed by their questioning looks, for even Raziel couldn’t get her out of this one. she lowered her scowl and sighed, her incredibly large breasts rose up and down, sending an awkward looks to appear across the males seated.

“Don't worry yourselves with the wellbeing of my son! He isn’t a full blooded Elf who needs to be so reliant on such things. Besides, I have already arranged contingencies for his protection.” No one else held anything more to say on the matter. After all if the boy died, then it would be no one other than the mother’s fault. Not theirs.

“Good that concludes this meeting.” Raziel finished his announcement with a nervous chuckle, and the Elven leaders begun to exit the meeting chambers one by one. Just as Eleanor was poised to leave. She caught Raziel gesturing towards her to wait behind.

“What do you want?”

“There’s no need for this animosity between us Eleanor. Considering the sacrifices I’ve had to make for that boy of yours.”

“Pfft that boy of mine is the sole reason your boy was able to overcome his bottleneck. Or do you not remember the amount of our people’s taxes you wasted on scouring the realms for answers. You and the rest of those so called leaders tend to forget just how important my boy has been to you all.”

Raziel couldn’t refute her, he narrowed his brows slightly and turned away for a brief moment. Eleanor wasn’t wrong, despite the lack of cultivation the boy possessed , he was a theoretical genius, who showed early signs of harnessing the powers of the ancient seers from a forgotten time. Raziel had even played with the idea of personally training the boy into becoming his personal advisor. But he understood Eleanor wouldn’t comply.

“Whatever it may be, I am willing to protect the boy-so refrain from treating me like your enemy.”

“If you stand on the correct side, then I’ll have no reason to treat you like one. Anyway are we done here?” she asked in her usual cold manner

“Sigh…just don’t forget the deal we made.” Raziel opened his eyes, unable to contain himself from ogling at the incredibly large assets of the well proportioned Elf seated before him. His lustful gaze made Eleanor slightly squirm. But she was a strong female, quite accosted to her appearance causing men to lose their sanity.

“O-of course. Just don’t get carried away. I’ll meet you at the same time…goodbye now.” She tried to hide her blushes before she swiftly stomped away. Raziel couldn’t hold back his lustful gaze trailing her equally large ass swaying beneath her tightly fitted clothing. Once she had left he leant back against his seat and allowed his tense shoulders to relax. He remained in this position for a short while enjoying the rare piece of silence afforded to him.

“I know you’re there…Lord Varriel.”

A shimmering outline suddenly appeared across the table, eventually revealing the green haired Elf. The proud Varriel folded one leg over the other. A clear look of designation drawn across his face.

“You know humans have a term for fellows who enjoy peeping into places they shouldn’t be.”

“Hmph don’t give me that crap! You knew I was present from the very beginning.”

“Indeed, which begs the question why you think Eleanor couldn’t sense you as well.” Razziel said as a matter of fact .

Varriel’s eyes widened, he couldn’t hold back the sweat gathering against his forehead.

“You think…”

“Who knows, but if you wake up with a sword aimed at your neck you’ll have your answer.”

Varriel took that advice very seriously, he sat quietly pondering his next words carefully.

“You’re planning something aren’t you? And whats this so called deal you’ve made that’s allowing that weak brat to enter the mainland.”

“Hmm? Whats this obsession your family has against that boy? Raziel couldnt help but ask him

Varriel looked embarrassed whilst trying to shift his gaze elsewhere.

“N-nothing it’s just that…he’s a damned half ling ain’t he.”

Raziel erupted into a rolling laughter. “So that’s what it is. You’re still harboring that old hatred towards humans? I suggest you let it go. The right humans are much more beneficial to have as partners rather than enemies. And if I was you, id refrain from troubling that brat once they set off from this mountain.”

“Why is that then?”

“Because Eleanor has decided upon herself to act as the steward on behalf of the five tribes, and once our warriors arrive at the mainland Kingdom she'll be our official overseer.”

“W-what! How is that possible…why would you even allow that considering what she did last time?”

“Use your brain for once my friend. She is the closest thing we had to an Elf gaining a seat as one of the 13 thrones received from the heavens guard. You think I can tell a woman like that no? And also, you forget whom that brats father was.”

“I haven’t forgotten. He was a human right, a gold starr Knight who was killed during the Dalvardian war. I heard his feats we’re impressive but what must we fear from a dead knight?” Varriel quipped back in response

“Only someone who doesn’t understand anything would say something like that. Let me tell you... I am someone who is very thorough with things. Whispers eventually turn into conversations. And that human wasn’t just any golden starred knight. But he was also the illegitimate son of a mainland Queen!”

“A what!”

“Hmph and that’s not the last of it. The Queen of the Lucien Kingdom is considered as almost an ethereal figure to the humans. Her power is supposedly just above those 13 monsters seated on those thrones. And her affair as such was kept well hidden. For various reasons of course, one of those being the sort of fellow she had an affair with.”

“Explain…what sort of figure could bed such a Queen then?” Varriel has become absorbed in the stories being told.

“The kind that your best not asking further questions about. Lets just say that the mainland is filled with powers that you and I are best not meddling in.” Whilst Raziel spoke this, he shivered unwillingly, causing Varriel to feel slightly concerned. Since there wasn’t many things in this world that he knew of, which could visibly frighten Raziel, the brazen chief of the five tribes.

“B-but shouldn’t that mean we need to do everything in our power to suppress the c-child.”

“Fufufu the boy is harmless. You think I’ve only just known of this truth about his father? It’s my duty to ensure our people are safe. And a half blood could so easily displace the balance for what we’ve built here. No…once he was born, I made sure all Elves understood that procreation with humans would lead to unfortunate outcomes.” Varriel narrowed his eyes, that devious smirk against Raziel only meant one thing. And once he realized it, his eyes widened with great shock.

“Wait a minute. You didn’t?”

“Hahaha of course I did. Or are you foolish enough to believe that fate played a hand in making that boy a cripple? Look at the talents of his parents alone! He was destined to be something neither one of us could control. At least now his cultivation isn’t something we need to worry about.”

“What are you talking about Raziel. Did you actually poison that child…destroying his future in cultivation?” The thought sounded so absurd Varriel had to ask it again just to be sure.

Raziel merely glanced his way and scoffed.

“Suddenly you’re sentimental? Well, it was a painless poison and can never be traced back to me. I told you before my old friend, having the right human as an ally could benefit our cause…speaking of which. I hope you’ve gotten ready. I’ll need you to make your way to the mainland ahead of the departing envoy once they’ve arrived. I have a contact I need you to meet to discuss the next phase of our plan.” Varriel merely nodded, he felt such a fear inside his gut that somehow, he even felt a little sorry for the boy he was only momentarily plotting against.

This conversation had dutifully reminded him, about the one Elf he must never offend. The self-professed Chief of the five eastern tribes. Raziel the brave.