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Chapter 386: Surfaced Enmity
🕑 Added 2022-06-10 17:03:45 +0000 UTCALDIR
Lord Indrath’s great hall was as full and loud as I remember it ever being. Representatives of all the great clans were present, but Lord Thyestes had brought an unusually large entourage, rivaling even the Indraths in number. The other clans mingled between the dragons and pantheons, but not freely. One only had to open their eyes to see how the political turmoil shaped the room.
The Eccleiah Clan of the leviathan race had also brought a large delegation, and the leviathans carefully moved between Indrath and Thyestes, making sure to give both clans time and attention.
That was in contrast with the Mapellia Clan, chief among the hamadryad race. Their alliance with the dragons was as old as the foundations of Mount Geolus, and they honored it unflinchingly, lingering among the dragons while giving the pantheons only perfunctory greetings.
The titans, on the other hand, had long been friends of the pantheons. Though they showed no outward signs of enmity toward the dragons, the members of the Grandus Clan gravitated to my own. Conversation between my clan and theirs was open and accessible, whereas the few titans who spoke to dragons did so in a more formal manner.
There were few sylphs in attendance, as the carefree people did not enjoy subjecting themselves to such tensions. Lady Aerind had come herself, however, and the few of her clan to accompany her mingled carelessly between the other clans.
Even fewer were the phoenixes. Their antipathy toward the dragons was deep-rooted and slow to burn, and the Avignis Clan largely kept their people out of both politics and courtly turmoil. After their predecessors, the Asclepius Clan, were removed from the Great Eight, it had been difficult for the Avignis Clan to rebuild trust between the phoenixes and other races of Epheotus. Lord Avignis and his daughters kept to themselves amidst the frustration and anger of the pantheon warriors smoldering in the air.
As I scanned the great hall, my brother caught my eye. It was rare for Kordri to attend court, but, as Taci’s trainer, Lord Thyestes would have demanded his presence. The death of an asura—any asura, much less a pantheon warrior—at the hands of a lesser was unheard of. Our clan demanded answers.
“Ah, General Aldir.”
Turning from my brother, I realized that Lord Eccleiah had appeared at my side. The leviathan was an elder of his long-lived race, nearly as old as Lord Indrath. Unlike the lord of dragons, Lord Eccleiah wore his age proudly. His pale skin was thoroughly wrinkled, and the ridges that ran along his temples had lightened from the deep-ocean blue of youth to a light, nearly transparent hue. A milky-white film covered his once sea-green eyes. Even of those with several working eyes, only few could see the world as clearly as he seemed to, however.
“An unpleasant setting for a pleasant meeting,” he continued. “It’s been at least a hundred years, I’m sure. Far too long. Please, allow me to extend my great sorrow for your clan’s loss.”
He held out a hand to me, palm down. Taking it gently in my own, I bowed and pressed my forehead to the cold skin on the back of his hand. “Thank you, my lord.”
He smiled, deepening the wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. “Should Lord Indrath ever allow you even a moment’s rest from your duties, you must visit our clan, Aldir. Zelyna still harbors feelings for you, I believe. She’s settled down a bit now, you know. Not quite the firebrand she used to be.”
I said nothing, and Lord Eccleiah’s cheek trembled as he tried to suppress his amusement. “Well, can’t be seen playing favorites between the clans. I suppose I’ll have to find some dragon to talk with until Lord Indrath makes his appearance.” He gave me a quick wink, turned, and melted away into the crowd.
After my odd conversation with Lord Eccleiah, I kept to myself, exchanging simple greetings with a few dignitaries, but otherwise doing my best to avoid being pressed into conversation and staying to the rear of the crowd. There was a gnawing sort of guilt growing in me, and it sharpened each time I heard Taci’s name. Although I had no way of knowing the truth, it was possible my actions had contributed to his death.
While I had hoped he would fail to wipe out Virion Eralith and his refugees, I had never imagined he would die in the effort. He was a pantheon. A youth, perhaps, but with decades of advanced training within the aether orb. Had he returned form his mission, he would have been welcomed back as an adult.
The white flames of Lord Indrath’s throne flared, interrupting my thoughts. The myriad voices filling the great hall went silent in an instant.
Lord Kezess Indrath appeared before his throne, stepping through the flames. His perpetually youthful face was carefully impassive, lightly welcoming, and entirely controlled. When his purple eyes swept across the still, silent crowd, however, there was a predatory intensity to his gaze.
Indrath didn’t speak until the silence had reached the point of discomfort. “Lords and Ladies. Greatest among your great clans. It is too rare that we meet in this way. You stand in the heart of my home, and I welcome you.”
As one, the attending asuras all bowed. “Hail and welcome to his grace, Lord Indrath.”
The ceremonial greeting carried a rough edge, drawn begrudgingly from the lips of my clansfolk. Though I was certain Lord Indrath noticed and kept a carefully mental tally of all who replied without the expected vigor, his demeanor didn’t change.
Once the last asura had stood, Indrath eased himself back on his throne, the white fire dancing harmlessly around him. “I have brought you all here because one of our own has been lost. We all understand how easy it is for lies and misinformation to spread among our people, which is why it is essential you know the truth of this unfortunate death.”
Lord Thyestes stepped forward but did not immediately speak. Instead, he waited for Lord Indrath to address him.
Lord Indrath looked him in the eye but continued speaking. “As war with the Vritra Clan creeps closer, pruning our relationships in Dicathen is ever more important. It was also an opportunity for me to see for myself how the young pantheon, Taci of Thyestes Clan, handled himself on the battlefield.”
Lord Thyestes took a firm step forward, putting himself directly in line with the throne.
“The rumor has already spread that Taci was defeated in battle by the lessers,” Indrath continued gravely. “At best this is a ridiculous falsehood born of fear. At worst, a cruel lie meant to disrupt relations between the clans.”
“And who would wish such a thing?” Lord Thyestes snapped, speaking out of turn. My clansfolk burst out with a low rumbling of support for our lord, and those present who were not already watching him carefully turned to stare.
Indrath’s face stayed cool and impassive as his attention settled back on Lord Thyestes. “Ademir. Go on then, speak. You clearly cannot contain your thoughts any longer.”
“Nor should I have to, your grace,” Lord Thyestes shot back.
The lord of the Thyestes Clan, Ademir, was tall and lean, like most pantheons. His four front eyes stared fearlessly at Indrath. His long black hair was shaved along the sides, revealing two additional eyes, one on each side. These bright purple eyes tracked with a jittery quickness across the faces of the other asura, no doubt scanning the room for support.
Lord Thyestes was in a difficult position. Our clan demanded answers and satisfaction, but if he pushed Indrath too far, the Thyestes Clan could fall just as quickly as the Asclepius Clan had. But pantheons were not easily cowed, and Ademir would find it difficult to back down from Kezess’s threats in front of his peers, a fact Kezess understood full well and would not hesitate to take advantage of. We were a warrior race, and we responded to threats with strength.
“Taci was a talented and promising young pantheon,” Ademir said, his words directed to the half of the great hall where the Thyestes pantheons had gathered. “I was unsurprised when Lord Indrath expressed interest in testing the boy. Taci had trained extensively within the aether orb with Kordri, had studied alongside young dragons in this very castle, and was whispered to be a suitable heir to learn the forbidden World Eater technique, currently safeguarded by General Aldir.”
A few eyes turned in my direction—most notably Lord Indrath’s—but most of the hall remained fixated on Lord Thyestes.
“But this will never come to pass, because his future has been taken from him, and for what? Why have we been deprived of a son, a friend, a pantheon with thousands of years of grace, strength, and life remaining to him?” Ademir’s eyes turned back on Kezess, who hadn’t moved, not even the flicker of an eyelash. “Tell us, your grace. Explain this escalation. First you fail to destroy the outcast, Agrona Vritra, then you break our treaty with him by using the Thyestes Clan’s forbidden mana art, and now you lose a pantheon warrior to the lessers.”
As Ademir spoke, his tone became harsher and sharper and the force of his mana swelled until it distorted the air around him. “You must forgive us if some of your subjects have begun to question your judgment.”
Raised voices crashed through the great hall like waves against a rocky shore, rising and falling, tumbling over one another as asura turned against asura.
“How dare you—”
“—not a justification for—”
“—removed from the Great Eight immediately—”
“—damned good question!”
A shadow fell over the hall, and the outpouring of Indrath’s power stole the oxygen from the air, quenching the arguments like candle flames. Each asura in attendance was considered among the strongest of their clans, and yet we all flinched away from our lord, knees going weak, breath shuddering out of our lungs.
Lord Kezess Indrath didn’t move. He didn’t scowl or even frown. His eyes became a slightly darker shade of purple, perhaps, but that was the only outward sign of his displeasure.
“You forget yourselves,” he said after a long moment. “We are asura. We do not squabble and yell like lessers.”
Lord Thyestes’ hands curled into tight fists, his own King’s Force radiating around him, pushing back at Indrath’s aura. But he kept his silence.
“It is unfortunate that you over-represented Taci’s abilities to me,” Indrath continued. “Had you been more open, I could have sent another.” Ademir’s scowl deepened, but Indrath kept speaking. “For it wasn’t a lack of martial prowess or control over mana that condemned Taci, but a lack of wisdom. He was not defeated by the lessers but tricked into destroying himself. There are no lessers in either Alacrya or Dicathen that post a threat to us. That is the message you must take home to your clans.”
“What a load of—”
“Enough,” Indrath said, smothering Ademir’s curse. “My decrees are not subject to discussion, even among the great clans.” Indrath’s gaze traveled through the room, and he finally withdrew his King’s Force. “You are dismissed, for the moment. We will reconvene when tempers have calmed so that I am not forced to do something…dramatic.”
The sudden dismissal after so short a meeting caught the room off guard, but I didn’t wait for Indrath to repeat himself. Moving quickly, but not so quickly as to draw attention to myself, I was at the doors by the time the guards heaved them open. Both snapped into quick salutes as I moved past.
I took the first side hallway, then turned again, and then again, losing myself in the sprawling interior of the castle. Tempers among my clan were sure to be running hot, and I had no desire to be drawn into the indignant debates that were certain to follow such a heated conference.
I hadn’t gone far, though, before I became aware of the steps shadowing my own. At the next corner, I took a careful look behind me, but whoever it was kept out of sight. One of the guards? I wondered. Or perhaps Kordri, or some other member of my clan sent by Lord Thyestes to track me down.
Despite my desire to stay away from the well-trafficked areas of the castle, I took the most direct route to the front gates, which stood wide open. A cool breeze blew in, carrying little eddies of cloudy fluff that dissolved almost immediately. The sun winked off the translucent, many-colored bridge that spanned the gap between the two peaks of Geolus.
I hesitated before stepping foot on that bridge.
“Where are you going, General Aldir?”
I resisted the urge to sigh deeply and turned to face the man who had been following me. “Windsom. I didn’t see you at the council.”
“I hardly stand out among so many asuran leaders,” he said, giving me a small, humorless smile. “You left very quickly.”
“I’ve decided to return home,” I said immediately, making up my mind that I would do so in the moment. “I will be away from the castle for some time.”
Windsom's brows rose. “And have you informed Lord Indrath of this leave of absence from your duties?”
I didn’t reply. We both knew full well I hadn’t.
“I have become aware of two small but interesting facts, Aldir, which is why I sought you out.” He gave me that smile again, and I felt an incomprehensible tremor run up my spine. Windsom was a dragon, but he’d spent his long life minding the lessers. He was no threat to me.
So why do I feel so threatened?
“When I returned for Taci, I discovered that the lessers’ sanctuary was empty, but a tomb had been left behind. A tomb for one of the Lances, who you were meant to have killed.”
I felt for the threads of mana that connected me to my weapon, Silverlight. “That is because I let them go,” I said slowly, watching for any hint of aggression from the dragon.
He inclined his head slightly. “I know. I appreciate your honesty, though I should expect nothing less.”
“And what is the second interesting fact?” I asked, unsure what game Windsom was playing.
“There was a certain amount of…carnage left at the lessers’ sanctuary,” he said, his nose wrinkling. “A large number of Alacryans were brutalized. Based on what I saw there, I am certain that Arthur Leywin has returned to Dicathen, and that it was he who killed Taci. Additionally, I believe Arthur to be the same person as this mysterious Grey who killed the Scythe, Cadell Vritra, at Agrona’s Victoriad.”
“You believe quite a lot,” I said, crossing my arms and looking out over the edge of the mountaintop. There was nothing but an endless sea of clouds below.
Windsom took a step toward me. “Aldir, come with me to Lord Indrath. Throw yourself on his mercy, tell him what you’ve done.” He paused as if weighing his words carefully. “Offer to go to Dicathen and complete your task. Prove that you can still be a leader among the asura.”
“When did being a leader among the asura come to mean destroying lessers…people who once relied on us, called us their allies,” I said, trying to sound musing, but my words came out hard even to my own ears.
Windsom waved a hand dismissively. “The lessers of Dicathen only exist because of Lord Indrath. We both know very well what he’ll do if it becomes necessary to wipe them out and start over again. What is a handful of lesser lives when held up against the well-being of all of Epheotus?”
Windsom's words slammed shut a gate in my mind. It blocked the way forward…or rather, the way back. This immediate and unthinking acceptance that Kezess could determine which lives had value and which did not, and that we were expected simply to be the tools of his will, was too much. I couldn’t accept it.
“Anyone capable of labeling one group of lives as unimportant can just as easily make the same determination of another. How long until the dragons determine the phoenixes’ lives do not matter, or the titans’, or the pantheons’.” Windsom opened his mouth to respond, already wearing a condescending, dismissive smirk, but I quieted him with a pulse of my King’s Force. “The asura have lost their way. We have been led astray by the corruption and selfishness of Kezess Indrath.”
Windsom darkened. I saw the edges of his true form flicker around him, the alchemy of fury, fear, and frustration boiling into something only barely controlled. “You know what this will mean,” he said through clenched teeth. “Do not expect that Lord Indrath will tolerate such seditious speech just because of your long service to him, Aldir.”
“I hardly expect loyal service means anything at all to him,” I answered, spinning on my heel and marching across the bridge.
The colors flared wherever my feet touched, and I wondered what Kezess was sensing. It hardly mattered. He would not make a scene here, now, not with Lord Thyestes and so many of my kin in the castle. No, he would wait until a more convenient time.
As I expected, nothing happened as I crossed the long bridge. I had hardly stepped off it when a figure stepped out from the shadows of the tree arch. I stopped, again reaching for Silverlight, but did not summon it.
“A bit edgy, are we?”
I felt the tension ease from me. “Wren Kain. It’s been a while.”
The frail man looked as disheveled and emaciated as ever, hardly living up to the name of titan. His dingy hair hung down over his face, which was covered with uneven stubble. But I knew there was a steel-hard core to his outwardly feeble appearance.
“Lover’s quarrel?” he asked, looking past me to the castle gates. Windsom was no longer standing there.
I grunted, unamused. “Epheotus is changing.”
Wren chuckled and scratched his chin. “Is it, Aldir? Or is it you who has changed?”
I bent down and took up a handful of soil. It was dark and moist, full of potential. Full of life. I’d never noticed before. I hadn’t looked.
Maybe I had changed. But…I didn’t understand what that meant. If I wasn’t General Aldir, keeper of the World Eater technique, then who was I?
Wren wiggled his fingers, and the soil came alive in my hand. It shifted and ran together, forming a small wolf with dusty clouds around its neck and tail. “Did you know that’s the form Arthur’s acclorite manifested? Fascinating, huh? Heard from the boy lately?”
“Don’t bury your meaning with me, Wren,” I said tiredly. “What are you doing here?”
He tutted, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms as if I’d offended him. “Just because Lord Grandus didn’t see fit to invite me to the party doesn’t mean I wasn’t curious about what’s happening inside.”
The animated wolf in my hand melted back into soil, which I let trickle between my fingers. “Windsom believes Arthur killed Taci,” I confided, curious what Wren might think of that. “But Lord Indrath wants the great clans to assure everyone it was a fluke, a trick.”
Wren whistled, a low sound thick with disbelief. “What are you going to do?”
I straightened, careful of each word and movement. Wren had never been sychophantic in his service to Kezess, but this was a dangerous moment for both of us. “I believe my service to Lord Indrath has ended.”
Wren’s nose twitched. “You’ll go to Dicathen, then? To Arthur? Try to teach the lessers the way of the pantheon warrior?” He gave me a wry smirk. “So that maybe, in a hundred years, they’ll be slightly less incapable?”
I shook my head. “Nothing is certain at the moment.”
Wren tapped the side of his nose, giving me a knowing look. “You know, Aldir, I’d love to get a closer look at that weapon of Arthur’s…”
Comments
DriftingFarandWide
I think it’s reasonable to assume that Mordain is alive in some capacity somewhere. The phoenix mythos in both the real world and the phoenix wyrms in TBATE leads me to strongly suspect that even if Kezess did kill him, Mordain either reincarnated or reformed.
its supposed to be like that , it adds depth to the world and addresses different feelings of characters , as we can see here. Aldir was loyal his entire life , becoming great pantheon warrior that got world eater's technique , but only now he realized how foolish and selfish kezzez is, he was blinded by his duty and status as asura to see through him
Also, you should not complain about such things at all and not in such a rude way. 1. Be grateful to turtle you even got tbate. 2. Only turtle has a greater understanding of how the story will unfold so if he deems something necessary to write, then it is.
This is exactly what makes tbate great, take away the pov‘s and the worldbuilding and focus only on the mc, then you get the standart isekai. By all means not a bad one but you complain about what makes tbate stand out.
HO HO HO MY FELLOW READERS IT HAS BEGUN
Cameron H
Really interesting to see Taci introduced in the comics and at the same time getting his death acknowledged by the Asuras.
If the MC isn’t getting “sucked off” then he isn’t a good MC.
Relaxel
Can't have the story focussing on anything other than the mc and anyone else sucking him off 24/7 amirite?
Francesco
So I'm imagining Aldir and Wren siding with Art, so a faction with the world Eater, Aert, the Majestic and his creator, Caera, Seris and all of Dicathen and Alcryan that doesn't wants to stay with the Asura
Dwayne
Yeah I wonder if he’ll be able to influence them with actual runes. His students in Alacrya had the bestowal ceremony to give them stronger runes maybe he can do the same but with better ones that also adds some kind of increments of Aether.
Ezekiel2517
Wouldn't mind Regis and Alice working in concert to fully heal the Lances (Regis accumulating aether in Varay's shoulder while Alice focuses healing mana) while Art starts accelerating the Lance's mana talents like his presence did with his students. Bairon additionally mastering Taci's spear while Wren Kain (golem armies) and Aldir (training/mana enhancement) support Art and Regis's preparations would be cool too!
Dwayne
I enjoy Aldir’s POV due to the fact that he’s switched his belief in Lord Indrath. What Windsom said to him that made him stick to his decision was even better. It also shows that Lord Indrath hasn’t grown at all and is stuck in his ways of thinking. The same with Windsom. Lord Indraths lack of accountability is signs of a shit leader. I’m excited to see who from all 3 continents sides with Arthur, Aldir and Wren is a great start for the Asuras. We finally got a chance to know the other top clans of each race of the Asuras and how some of them feel against each other. It was awesome to see that not all of them are friendly with the Indrath clan. I’m also curious as to how Virion is holding up since it seems he’s finally has some time to step back a bit. I wonder if Art has had a chance to talk to him and when he’ll finally get to talk with his mom. Another great chapter Turtle! You sure know how to get the impact of these events that occur. From the perspective of the Asuras in Epheotus to the Alacryians. Art has managed to upset both the Indrath and Vritra clan!!! The impact of these events is incredible due to the fact that Dicathen is considered to be the under dogs.
Ossif
Bruh Aldir is such a Chad trash talking Indrath in his own castle I love this guy also hyped about Wren showing interest in coming with Aldir
Jesse Gibson
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻yes!!! Me too! I’m excited to see just all who join!
Tim
Yea, Vritra are just a clan of Basilisks, the Indrath are just a clan of Dragons. The Great Eight are just the most influential clans of their respective races. Its like if you take Native Americans, they are all Natives, but they belong to different clans.
Tim
Have you actually read a book before? Go read a Song of Ice and Fire and come back and tell me GRRM only followed Jon Snow. Hell, even 80% of LNs follow different perspectives. Its called world building and you cant do it from one guys eyes. At least not in my opinion.
Ready for Seris and Caera to join them next~!
Soundd Wavess
@Jordan Lb respectfully tf are you talkin bout 🤨
Jordan Lb
If you are im sorry for you family or people around you, hope you will win but good luck for them.
Jordan Lb
Life is more complicated than''he bad, im good''. Do you think everyone in Russia are coward because they dont stand against Vladimir Putin or somthing similar?
I absolutely loved this chapter. I don't think every chapter needs to be around Arthur and should give more light and insight onto how he will have a fighting chance with new allies and alliances. I can already see a 3rd representative in this war, with Arthur gathering forces from not only the asuras but also from Alacrya. I'm super excited to see this unified force take on the world.
I guess that would make the most sense yeah
Dear TurtleMe, A lot of us keep asking for less or more or different in your writting. I wanted to assure you a lot of us do prefer the way you write. It's a matter of perspective, but I find it kind of rude to ask again and again for the author to change or add to his Novel. But it also translate the importance TBATE has for us I guess. Have a great sunday.
Jesse Gibson
I think that it’s just a characteristic of the race, like some people have blonde hair and some have black. Kordri is super strong too and but maybe less than Aldir (since Aldir was chosen for world eater and not him) and he had more eyes than Aldir. Aldir has three and kordri had four. I think it’s just.. luck of the draw kind of thing. What you’re born with 🤷🏼♀️
Jesse Gibson
That’s like stagnant water right? It may have started out with pure intentions but over time and with so many years of owning that power and believing everything you do is right-no questions- then there’s no way it wouldn’t end up corrupted. Same with followers… they’ve been set in their ways for so long that, even if they consider themselves wise and above lessers, they are merely stuck and have no way to clearly see themselves. They have had no “reason” for change or rebellion. After all, they chose the current system in the first place. To admit it’s not actually working and that they need to reevaluate hurts their pride.. and to reevaluate because of some “Lesser” even MORE appalling and unthinkable. But… the stone has been throw.. and there are ripples even if small.. and they are spreading.
Jesse Gibson
Totally 100% agree about Windsom. I thought that his time with Arthur would have helped develop and grow as a character out of his prejudices and ignorance but instead he chose.. definitely CHOSE to continue to stay a piece of shit. He deserves what’s coming to him.
Jesse Gibson
LMAO! Wouldn’t Arthur be dad and Wren be gramps? Bahahahhahahaha too funny
Breh, they barely mentioned his name. All of Epheotus should be trembling in fear at the thought that there is a God Slayer living among the lessers.
Zaphod
Bruh we got a chapter dedicated to other characters because of what Arthur did. How is that not revolving around Arthur?
It should though to a degree. He’s the MC.
Logan4103
I actually kind of like them. They give depth to the world and makes it seem like the world doesn’t revolve completely around Arthur
Wow...Turtle needs to chill with these entire chapters dedicated to other characters 🤦🏽♂️.
Soundd Wavess
@Tim i personally think through democracy we’re getting closer and closer to some kind of ideal power system slowly but surely. Free speech is the key i think. But i guess that might be what turtle was going for. The asuras think themselves above the “lessers” but they are JUST like them except theyre a little better with mana. Cecilia will definitely be a game changer
Tim
Lol, youd think that...but people are stupid. Especially people who are willing to follow a caste system and become mired in tradition. Just look at the world today. We do the. Exact. Same. Shit. Even though there are millions of us who can see how jacked the world is, we still follow those we put in power and swallow the horseshit they feed us. And there is no argument against this because it is literal fact, lol. Does it make it right? Well, no one else has come along with a better system...yet.
Nik D
YESS!!! Kain ganna crew up!!
Xandralas Chaos
Since all Scythes are save to say beyond white core without any materials to boost them into beyond white it will be impossible for Vren to train them at Scythe lvl, even more so since Aldir trained them as well back in the war.
Soundd Wavess
Basically im saying youd think 2,000+ year old beings wouldve figured out by know that dictatorships based on fear never work and living your life based on doing whatever you want instead of trying to be a good person/being leads to corruption and selfishness
Soundd Wavess
@Tim yeah i get that theyre strong but i dont think theyre strong enough to vs all of epheotus, if they were they would have already. Also the peace treaty thing was nearly meaningless because agrona went straight to mettling with alacrya and kez created the lances in dicathen and is now straight up sending death squads after them. He also directly allowed arthur into epheotus specifically to counter the scythes and killed the dwarven monarchs.
Kautuk Nag
I can't wait for the day Aldir kills Windsom
Kautuk Nag
Yes, not just that. Maybe they can build a defensive stronghold, by pooling their knowledge, which can hold out against Alacryan armies and Asura attacks. Also, Wren properly training the lances, having them come up to Scythe level or a normal Asura warrior level. We need more human heavy hitters as Arthur will be up against leader level Asuras.
Tim
Keep in mind that the dragons are literally considered to be nigh Gods. Even if all of them stood against them, the entire world would be changed and not in a good way. This is also the basis of the peace treaty (we wont fight because we would likely destroy all our land and resources).
Tim
I would say low, personally. He seems a pure researcher and is probably much more interested in WHY Regis is Regis and not just a sharp stick...which is most likely due to the presence of the three different mana signatures along with aether and Sylvies sacrifice. My guess is when Sylvie sacrificed her body to save Art, Regis gained a bit of it.
Jason
No matter the character POV I always get sucked in within the first few sentences. Another great chapter.
I believe he was taking on more of an advisor role rather then training people mana arts know by only the asuras
Note
What are the odds that Wren is using Aldir to get close to Arthur for nefarious deeds?
Irakli Jishkariani
Love this chapter. Aldir and Windsom's talk was most interesting. That's what I'm waiting for, how things will go for aldir. And this is a start. I like how aldir developed. His inner conflict almost resolved but now outer conflict began. And I really hate Windsom. He is really a piece of sh*t. He had business with 'lessers' for centuries and learned nothing and just stayed kezzess' minion.
Dillon Bulfer
Wooo arthur just gained 2 asuran comrades! Woohoo!
Bernardo De Cabrio
Now what do you think would happen if Gideon and Wren were to meet each other? Pair that with Arthur's knowledge about futuristic guns and bam, you now got magic guns, a lot of magic guns...
Autumn Hunter
lmao! I can so see Regis doing that! The Sass that is going to happen between those two!
Soundd Wavess
Even if he is strong he wont kill every asura in every clan in Epheotus. If a bunch of the races simply came together in unison to maybe not fight him but make him listen to what they have to say, there’s no way he would just thanks snap them away. Especially with agrona breathing down his neck.
Bernardo De Cabrio
So, the Vritra clan are their own faction (let's just count the other basilisk clans neutral for now) and are the general enemy to Epheotus and the Lesser resistances. Then we have the Indrath faction, which clearly consists of the dragon clans and the hamadryad clans. Currently ruling Epheotus simply because of Kezess Indrath. The neutral faction consisting of the leviathans and the sylphs. And then we have the phoenix and the pantheons (backed by the titans), who are most certainly unhappy with the Indrath faction. If I've gathered this information correctly, that means the neutral faction had no contact with Arthur through any means at all. Both the Vritra and the Indrath faction leaders see the lesser as disposable, both have meet Arthur, played their cards with him, deemed him as obsolete in their gains and got the short end of the stick by doing so. Now, the asura of the faction that's dissatisfied with Kezess however seems to coincidentally have the most positives for an alliance with Arthur and the lesser (if you take out the World Eater incident). But for that to happen, there is still Mordain the lost prince missing from the picture. We still don't know what he has been doing all this time. Or if he is even still alive (and not some decorative feathers hanging in the halls of Taegrin Caelum)
Breamson 𒉭
Tbf, it mostly seems to be fear. Like Kezess seemed way stronger than anyone in this room. Like those were the heads and strongest soldiers of the great 8 and once Kezess unleashed his intent, they all flinched
Kautuk Nag
I knew it Wren Kain is also coming around.
You are talking about tachi human form, he had more pairs in his pantheon form
Well I recall that Taci only having two eyes is a rare characteristic. I don't remember the ch tho
Does anyone know the reason behind the diffrent amount of eyes each of the pantheons posses i would assume it has to do with power and age but i find it weird that aldir would not have more
Bernardo De Cabrio
This chapter is an information gold mine. I think we have all of the eight asuran races now. Dragons, basilisks, titans, pantheons, phoenix, leviathans, hamadryads and sylphs. Yeah, I think that's all of them, right?
Bernardo De Cabrio
Now that you remind me, I think he also trained Tess. But that doesn't seem to be a problem at the moment.
Bernardo De Cabrio
Edit: As stated above already He has his own version of it and I'm guessing that Kezess uses aether for his version too, given how the asura react to it the same way the people that Arthur used it on did.
King's force is simply how the asuras are calling bloodlust.
Anrike
Could be better🤔🤔
Xandralas Chaos
But he allready trained the lances?😅
Sean Defrank
Absolutely wasn't expecting Arthur to get an asura support squad, can't wait for Regis to call Wren Kain dad just to screw with him.
Soundd Wavess
It’s crazy to me how a race of beings so wise can end up being so naive. They allow one being to stand above all of them and create all the rules and wonder why everyone is miserable.
Anrike
Aldir becoming Arthur's advisor? Possibility of training the lances?
Kenneth Evans
We have a new form of power Arthur could potentially use “kings force”
Kenneth Evans
Alder should be the next leader of Epheotus
Aaron
So if ephesteos is in civil war, and alycrya is in civil war...then art can focus on the most powerful opponents (for example art+aldir challenge kezzess) I'm not saying WHO will fight WHO but since generic vitra will have their hands full with a revolt and asura lord against lord will make it hard for kazzess to mobilize, there will be many opportunities for any in the 3 way fight to launch a tactical strike during the growing disorder
Using aether isn’t very obvious at all. The only ones who can use it, and poorly at that, are the dragons. It would be almost inconceivable for anyone else to be as good or better than the dragons at using aether
Carth
*sips* ☕️
Felipe Araújo Parodi
Thank you for the hard work
Tim
Negative, Ghost Rider. Aldir had no clue Ellie was there, and Art knew Tess wasnt Tess. That doesnt change facts it was her body...but Art was a soldier and a king and he understands orders. I think Art will be the least of Aldirs problems. The biggest will be the lances and the elves. And rightly so.
Jesse Gibson
I’m so glad we got to see what dumb shit Kezess was trying to spew and what some of the thoughts the clans were thinking about Taci. I’m glad Aldir finally cut the ties from Kezess, seriously wished he would have slapped Windsom a good one to the face but I guess I can’t have it all. I knew as soon as Wren popped up his crazy personality was going to make him super curious about Art and Regis. Wren despite his cranky and sarcastic attitude towards Art, you could tell he really liked him. Just like Kordri, who treated Arthur with respect despite him being lesser. I hope he comes with Aldir when they go but… their clan kind of seems out for blood for Taci and Art being the one who killed him… might not have such a good vibe right now. UNLESS they realize that Taci was used as tool by their shit leader and decide he’s the real cause of his death- miracles can happen, right? Thanks TurtleMe! Ugh another day spent in bliss reading the new chapter and excitedly counting down the next!
Curvedlines
Just remember that Arthur watched Aldir attempt to kill Tess and Ellie lmao
Tim
Yea, Im betting Aldir is gonna hafta come hard with the apologies...like, not just a fruit basket. Lol.
AntiMatterDynamite
it's like every episode in book 10 is both extreme fan service and important to the plot... i love it
TheAverageNerd
I'll be currious about Arthurs reaction to meeting Aldir again. Especially as he knows what happened to the elves home land...
Kevin Catambay
Ayoo Aldir and Zelyna official art for this year’s Christmas art?
Kevin Catambay
Also it boggles me Kezzes’ play is to straight up lie about it when it’s pretty obvious there’s an aether user bouncing around killing Scythes and shit Like when the rest of the asuras find out, it’s over
