Chapter 1278 Ancient Scroll
Their welcome into the Netherborne was neither friendly nor hostile. The clan and its members seemed unthreatened by them, a testament to their belief that nothing could harm them in this world. Rain noticed some wondrous details about the clan itself. She was indeed mesmerized by the black torches, walls, and lightning practices, but that was not all. While the guards led them through the clan, they pa.s.sed by something utterly bizarre.
A field of floating boulders greeted them after turning a few corners, grabbing their attention and even forcing Rain to stop. She saw some figures atop the boulders, chained while they howled or screamed. The screams shook the fortress, but the walls seemed to absorb the sound instantly, making it audible only from a close distance.
"What is this place?" asked Rain, prompting Benjamin to turn, even though he seemed disinterested.
"These are the wrath boulders. They are a place for the Netherborne Clan members to master more wrath than they can handle, and as you can see, not many people handle it well."
Rain resumed walking as the group left her behind, although the other two were just as mesmerized by the sight. Lightning exploded from the boulders, striking the nearby ground and pulverizing it.
The guards led them through the fortress until they reached a pavilion, serene and peaceful. Water flowed through the artificial ca.n.a.ls before pouring into a pond. Beside the pond was a pair, sitting in a lotus position, with their eyes closed. The man and woman wore black robes, with ashen hair, and cracks covering their skin.
"You must wait for the Patriarch and Matriarch to finish their meditation. Do not disturb them, or you will suffer their wrath," said the guards before nodding at them and leaving.
Benjamin found a boulder to sit on, taking off his cloak and putting down his sword. The rest were confused, exchanging glances between themselves. Rain was about to say something when Benjamin placed a finger over his lips. Raheem and Sapphire picked up the cue and sat down on the ground as well, waiting patiently.
The Netherborne Clan was a lot more forgiving than one would a.s.sume. Rain thought they would need to fight their way into meeting the clan heads, but they were simply allowed inside. After finding a place to sit, Rain enjoyed her short escape from the constant climbing and traveling. The sound of flowing water and the smell of lilies reminded her of the lake that Lyle and Anna resided by.
Their wait stretched for hours until the Patriarch and Matriarch opened their eyes. A pulse of strange energy echoed from the two, pa.s.sing through their visitors and the entire clan. A strange calmness descended on their minds once the energy washed over them, as if clearing any fog their minds could have. The four turned toward the two clan leaders, and they rose in respect.
"Greetings, Esteemed Patriarch, Honorable Matriarch," began Benjamin with a bow of sincere respect. "My name is Benjamin Silvera, the guard that you appointed fifty-six years ago."
"We know the man who kept our mountain peaceful all this time," answered the Matriarch with a smile. "You have not climbed this mountain ever since we delegated that task to you, so what changed now?"
"I had visitors from a faraway land," Benjamin answered as he rose, gesturing toward Rain and the rest. "And they brought a piece of strange news to my ears. One that would make me disregard the vow I made fifty-six years ago."
"As long as it"s something important, then we will not hold you accountable for breaking the vow," rea.s.sured the Patriarch with a thin smile.
"You have my infinite grat.i.tude, sir," said Benjamin as he bowed again. "These guests each have a different matter to ask of you, and I wish to go last, after they fulfill their goals. After all, I guaranteed their safety."
"And who are these guests you speak of?" asked the Matriarch as she studied the group with interest. "A man with innocent blood on his hands, a princess without purpose, and a pirate with too many secrets."
The woman with ashen hair laid their truth bare for them, marginalizing them into a few words that needed no further definition. However, they sensed no disdain or arrogance from the woman.
Raheem looked ashamed, clenching his hands while lowering his head. Sapphire was stoic as she stood aloft, glancing at Rain to be the first among them.
"My name is Rain, a pirate from the Lesser Blood Ocean," she introduced herself. "I came here with the same purpose as the purposeless princess: to find my ex-mentor and the current fugitive of Sourna, Valeria Storm."
"Thank you for stating your purpose," the Patriarch answered with a smile. "And what do you wish from us?"
"Benjamin said that Valeria Storm indeed visited a few days ago, and he allowed her to climb the mountain because she was an old friend. Please, let us meet her, if she is here."
"Benjamin did not lie. Valeria Storm is indeed a friend of the Silvera Family and the Netherborne Clan. Thus, we will not divulge her plans, motives, or whereabouts."
"We just wish to have a meeting with her," said Rain as she stepped forward. "We mean no harm."
"I do not doubt that, but the princess behind you thinks otherwise," said the Matriarch with a smile. "You came here to find her, but she came here to kill her."
Rain was silent, knowing that these two had seen through their individual intentions. However, she couldn"t reveal that she was merely fooling the Wis.e.m.e.n and Sapphire just to reach this point.
"What are the other matters?" asked the Patriarch after seeing her hesitation to ask them anything more. Raheem composed himself and stepped forward, summoning his courage and burying his guilt.
"I came here as an envoy of the Wis.e.m.e.n of Sourna. In my recent battle near the northern borders, I was attacked by a humanoid creature of black metal which the elements failed to affect."
"And you came here suspecting that we had something to do with it, or that we might make a move because of the recent merge of the world," the Matriarch observed with a nod. "You have the right to make such a.s.sumptions, but they are false. We have not sent our soldiers nor do we have any intention to attack Sourna."
"That is a great relief," said Raheem with overjoy, but then his expression crumbled as another question popped into his mind. "But if the creature was not yours…"
His question did not need to be voiced, because everyone shared the same question. Was there another enemy that Sourna needed to watch out for?
"This is the extent of our knowledge," said the Patriarch with a shake of his head. "We don"t know about any soldier that has interfered with Sourna"s affairs. And my clan does not need to answer for something we did not commit."
"Ah, yes, of course," approved Raheem with haste, afraid that he might anger them. "Thank you for your great hospitality, honorable clan heads."
Raheem then retreated under the gentle gazes of the two clan leaders. Then, it was time for Benjamin to step forward and reveal the most shocking matter out of the three.
"Honorable leaders," began Benjamin with a complicated gaze. "You a.s.signed me the task of protecting the clan after failing to master the black lightning. I was forbidden from using the name Netherborne, even."
"We do remember the reasons. What changed?" asked the Matriarch with confusion, oblivious for the first time.
"I still don"t have an ounce of wrath. But these guests of mine brought me news that I worked to verify as the truth. My d.a.m.ned son bore me a grandson, and he announced himself as the King of Wrath throughout the entire universe."
"How could that be?" asked the Patriarch as his expression crumbled. "We heard of no such thing."
"Because of the wall that we built around Mount Ehler, we remained oblivious to the outside world," said Benjamin as he turned to Rain. "I confirmed with her the truth using my runes."
"How are we to believe anything you verified using that power?" asked the Matriarch, her easy-going façade now gone. "And we forbid your entire lineage from using a name other than Silvera."
"My son left this place long ago, and I had no intention of bearing another son. However, what he does in the outside world is not my fault," said Benjamin. "But that"s not what matters. What matters is that my grandson can wield wrath, just like his ancestors. And once proven, he has the right to learn the Ancient Scroll."
"Have you lost your mind, Benjamin?" asked the Matriarch as black lightning leaked from her body, each tendril zipping while pulverizing the ground. "You know that the Ancient Scroll will go to our heir. She has mastered the Nine Paths of Enlightenment!"
"If the King of Wrath is indeed my grandson, then he deserves a chance to prove himself," Benjamin stood his ground without wavering. "Please, reconsider!"