The Lotus Empire had been ascending only a handful of years ago, but the Emperor was now feeling pressured by Altair and Darkmoor both.
The death of Lind Frey had been a turning point no one expected
The Regent of Altair had quickly begun to solidify his power and authority while setting up his son to be the new king.
The treatnt of the 2nd Prince of Altair had been brought up once more and even his children used as leverage against the Emperor once more.
What seed like a tantrum or a simple maneuver turned into a nightmare for the Lotus Empire.
Many powers held the Empire accountable for the death of Lind Frey as he was essentially driven away by being isolated and penalized for being the son of the 2nd Prince of Altair.
At least, that was the story the Regent spread and used as pressure to bring down the reputation of the Lotus Empire.
He carefully avoided the Lotus Academy since Lind Frey had gifted one of his Forged staves for a 6 elental to use.
The end result was frustration and no recourse for the Emperor as he had made the decree himself about Lind Frey.
Darkmoor was able to wash their hands of it as Ryu had already resolved the relationship with Lind Frey through battle.
The Regent was not idiotic enough to insinuate any issue with Darkmoor anyway but it still slowed him down to leave Darkmoor guilt free in his assault on the Lotus Empire.
The end result was a new promise to have the 2nd Princess Astrella marry into the Altair royal family made of the Regent's son.
There was a weak blood relation in their family but it was the reason he was made Regent in the first place.
None of the nobles in Altair objected as the old royal family had brought them humiliation in their actions causing Darkmoor to punish them.
The Regent, on the other hand, had carefully rebuilt their kingdom and now brought them true victory.
They would ta the shrew of the Lotus Empire and the Emperor could not stop it.
The Imperial Crown Prince Etrigan was incensed but there was nothing he could do as a prince.
The once vibrant Imperial Palace was much more subdued down to even the servants.
The bright sunlight seed an offense to the mood of the pristine white halls draped in black and violet colors.
Lind carefully kept his hood low as he was escorted deep into the palace.
He had co as a guest elder of the Heavenly Maiden Sect that had made an appointnt to Princess Astrella.
The reason given was that a guest elder had no power to induct her but could still relay ssages if desired.
Altair could not complain as it was only words without any binding power.
Lind was careful as so people he recognized could recognize him.
His dark cloak and black insignia told all what he was so most ignored him.
A few took a longer look but no one stopped his progress as he followed the servant to an ornate stone door.
"Highness, the representative is here."
There was a pause before the door opened and the servant bowed them in.
Lind bowed to them as he quickly entered and the door closed behind him.
The last ti Lind was in the palace was for his short visit with the Zephyr Sisters and was stunned to find them both before him.
They were flanking Astrella but Lind was joyful as Leah was pregnant and Cassandra had a toddler sleeping on her shoulder.
He was glad they were happy.
"Greetings Heavenly Guest Elder.
I have sent many ssages to your sect but they ignored , why have they answered
now?"
Astrella's hair had beco more violet as she progressed into the mid-Iron Tier.
Her eyes, however, retained their mix of vibrant green and violet.
Her cream colored skin seed pale but he made no comnt as he bowed.
"There was so issue with interfering in Darkmoor internal affairs but I convinced my seniors to at least send
to listen."
Lind was not lying.
He had learned on their arrival a week ago that the Heavenly Maiden Sect had been forced to hold back as Altair had publicly spread they were biased against them.
While it was true, the political world suffered from insanity as interference was viewed very negatively.
Reason and logic were dismissed and Darkmoor warned the Heavenly Maidens not to intervene.
The loophole with guest elders was their lack of power.
Essentially a ssenger that could not threaten Altair in the mont of eting was impossible to stop.
A frown on Astrella's face was mirrored on the 2 Zephyr sisters.
"So sending you was a courtesy then?"
Her cold tone reminded Lind of the day his new status was handed down but he was long past being affected by it.
She had lost her sister and her father had made an edict.
Her own feelings were not known to him and he hoped he still had a friend.
"Not at all.
I specifically asked to see you but I am glad to see you have made friends with Cassandra and Leah."
All 3 won froze as Lind pulled back his hood and smiled at them.
Shock flooded through their veins before the Zephyr sisters bolted forward.
Well, Cassandra bolted while Leah waddled.
Lind was crushed under hugs as he hugged them back.
Astrella stared at him in pain but he moved in front of her and bowed.
"I thank you for protecting Cyntilla's actions for my tenure at the Lotus Academy."
Surprise flooded her face before she could control it.
He smiled and brought out his own tea set.
He then sat and the Zephyr sisters were shocked until they saw his badge.
Platinum.
He was a low grade 4 master!
"It had been almost a decade since I last saw you, highness.
I have been told several things but I hope you can clarify a few for ."
The steaming pot was poured into 4 glasses while Lind also produced a treat for Cassandra's toddler.
The tea soothed their nerves but Astrella looked troubled.
Lind smirked as he realized the issue.
"I have faced my heart demons and I know you had no choice.
You also lost your precious older sister.
I would be a true fool if I did not understand that."
A weight seed to lift from her as they caught up.
Apparently Cassandra had another child that was with his father training while the little girl in her arms was too young to do anything at the mont.
Their mid-Iron Tier auras told him they had been diligent but it showed the vast difference between lower and higher powers.
The sisters had been cultivating diligently for the near 8 years since he had left but their odds of reaching Gold Tier were up in the air.
He resisted giving elixirs as it would give away his identity.
"So we have caught up, but I have yet to hear about the idiots bothering you."
Astrella frowned but then put down her tea as Cassandra and Leah moved to stand behind her.
Lind noted that Leah was in front of Cassandra to denote their different status as well.
"Regent Castellos has been patient.
You gave him so headaches with your success but it is now clear he always ant to use you as a legitimate heir to pressure us."
Astrella outlined the issue as she continued.
"I am to wed Riall.
He is the new heir to the throne with the best claim.
The Regent worked hard to leave no other conclusion for his son."
Lind was confused on that point.
He understood the Regent working so political shequaiary to make his son heir but why bring Astrella into it?
He looked at her and she looked suprely unhappy.
"Altair always wanted our bloodline.
We have a natural gift to reach at least the Gold Tier if not the Diamond Tier.
Father tried to stop it but Darkmoor simply overrode him to resolve the issue."
Lind frowned deeply as that seed very wrong.
Darkmoor had stopped the self destructive war and it made sense, but why interfere in that issue?
"Was there sothing that threatened their interests?" Lind was trying to understand but saw both Zephyr sister's frown at his question.
What had he asked that was wrong?
"The issue was you."
Astrella's words made him feel a headache.
His isolation was due not only to the Lotus Empire but also Darkmoor Kingdom proving they kept their word to the lower powers under them.
Honor was a high consideration for them and Lind was the sacrifice to it back then.
"They wanted to avoid any scandal since I died."
Lind wanted to punch a wall at the idiocy but most politics made him feel that way.
The obsession with looking good while vile things occurred would be easy to bla but oaths bound Darkmoor as he well knew.
"You are Stone Tier?!" Leah suddenly blurted out and he smiled as let his aura flare and all 3 won were stunned but Cassandra worried as she glanced at her daughter.
She was surprised to find her just fine.
"I would never harm your children."
She blushed but nodded her thanks.
Even so, they were all stunned as they confird Lind had a perfect foundation and fonts from what they could tell.
"You really did it.
I am glad."
Astrella smiled at last and Lind scratched the side of his cheek.
He had much to confirm but he was getting closer every day.
"I found a Relic that allowed
to comprehend how but I still have far to go to learn all the truths I need before sharing my revelations."
Astrella bowed to his words but she moved back to the topic at hand.
"They used your sisters as leverage as they are of royal blood but as they were your sisters, we could not allow them to be taken.
It would have ant even more loss of face."
Lind found it idiotic but did not mind it protecting his sisters.
Basically it was as he had learned.
He had died and the Lotus Empire was blad for driving him out into the world.
If they had allowed his siblings to be used by Altair when his stance had been clear to even perfect strangers, the Lotus Empire would have been reviled even more.
"I have co to help but I need to understand my options.
The Regent made
an heir but I never investigated what that ant.
I need to understand and see if I can help you.
Will you assist ?"
Lind laid out his thoughts and Astrella felt stunned but a feeling of hope blood in her heart.
The Zephyr sisters smiled wide as Lind was still Lind.
"Very well, let's start with your cultivation foundation."
Astrella beca serious as she started with the issues Lind would have to face if he was set on helping them.
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