Chapter 919 New Perspective
A force of 1,000.
At face value, it didn't sound quite as grandiose, at least to the average common man who didn't quite understand Maqi's reputation.
The grave tone in Darwel's voice, however, would have been enough to spell out just how big of deal this was, despite Opungale having millions of combatants at its disposal, all very strong and firm.
To realise such a military force, which had a startling degree of unity and discipline was only possible for Opungale, because the entire continent was also a single, united nation.
Because of the importance placed on tradition and culture by every individual Sif, a sense of uniformity and unity persisted through generations of life on the continent – stemming from the universal belief in the sacred of natural elements of the world and the purity of water which sustained all life.
A firm belief in Listafelle of the seas.
This advantage that the Sif had over humans extended to many aspects of their lives, even their fighting force on a mental level, yet, despite that uniqueness, Opungale trembled at the mention of Maqi's forces.
"So that's how it is..." Skullius said with an even voice. "If they announced this less than a day ago, they must be taking their time to get here. They are giving you time to prepare as much resistance as you like. That sounds like them for sure."
Darwel wore a dry smile, though she questioned Skullius' last sentence a little.
"Yeah," she said. "They have a lot of pride and confidence. They believe that even if we prepare, they will win. The sad thing is... none of us can confidently refute their confidence."
Skullius emitted an airy laugh.
As they turned right from the gloomy, narrow corridor leading to the odd room Skullius had been sealed in, they stepped into a wider one which had the view of a gorgeous courtyard to its right.
Three fountains could be seen positioned in a triangular shape, cool water swirling and spraying from them. Large rocks, similar to the ones used to make the floor of the corridor – glistening, shining and even – could be seen around the fountains and the huge sycamore tree at its centre.
Skullius ignited a pair of dark pupils in his eyes and he saw the monochromatic version of this picturesque view.
It inspired nothing in him at all.
The left wall, which spotted thick, neat vines rising to the ceiling with pretty, glowing flowers blooming in perfect rows along their girths... also did nothing to touch him.
It was merely... tastelessly nostalgic.
"Why is it that Maqi is attacking?" Skullius asked as they turned down the end of the corridor.
"The message they sent only said 'Your penance is overdue'," Darwel said sadly. "We think it's because of the alliance Pelian signed with Opungale, but... my parents have a feeling there's something else. Not just brutish hatred."
"Needlessly dramatic..." Skullius commented with a twitch of his lip and again, Darwel found his words a little odd.
It did indeed seem like the matter with the alliance was what brushed Maqi's feathers the wrong way, but if that was the case, their attack would have come soon after the Pelian Royal Family agreed to a pact with the Sif.
Not more than two months later.
That didn't make any sense.
As the trio passed a group of servants who bowed, Skullius faced in their direction for a moment.
'Hmmm. Now that I have more than one case study, the comparison tells that every Sif has a flow different to that of a human. It is phenomenal and apparent even in servants,' he thought, but the subject flitted past in his mind.
"How well have you prepared?" Skullius asked.
"Well, we've convened with the trees and gathered up a lot of mana and life energy for our warriors to use. It's more than likely that we're going to fight even if my parents do wish to talk to the Ode instead. The best we can do is at least limit our real losses and use our numbers advantage to our benefit. We're not exactly weak, especially in a battle of attrition," she said.
Skullius processed what she had just said several times.
"Life energy?" he finally said curiously.
"Yes. Oh, I forgot. You wouldn't know. We have a deep connection to nature, you see. It is more profound than humans realise. To those truly in tune with nature, it is possible to share life with the trees and heal with their gathered energy."
"Is that so? I presume your peopl... our people, learned of this when the Giants took a trip around the world and educated them about Listafelle?"
Sevill and Darwel felt a brimming sense of pride when Skullius said 'our people' and the latter nodded eagerly with a bright smile.
"Of course! Water is life and that life is better manifested and stored through plants than other living species. We just learned to appreciate and borrow it," she said.
Skullius wore a small smile and nodded.
"I'll have to participate in that appreciation soon, won't I?" he said.
The three finally reached their destination – a place where Sevill had thought would be most fitting for Skullius as his first stop.
Sevill gave the large, arched door bordered by lovely green vines a light knock and soon it opened, revealing a pink-haired lady with focused, downturned eyes.
She was adorned in a simple silver vest that made apparent her underwhelming chest and loose, white, linen pants.
As she saw who was at the door, she shook, and her first instinct, as it were, was to cover her chest with her arm as though it was bare.
"Relax. It's just blind ol' me, Maxim," Skullius said with a haughty smile.
Those few words caused discord within Maxim, who had gotten used to not seeing any men since her stay here began, causing her to relax her habits; she had almost felt betrayed just now.
She softened and blinked a couple a times as she looked at the Hybrid Luman.
"It's you..." she said softly, a frown of deep set conflict on her face.
Not that many things had happened between her and Skullius that day, when they were participating in the Royale, but even though they were few, they were meaningful.
Skullius walked toward Maxim and reached within a few of inches of her face. She narrowed her eyes at his and they stood frozen for a while.
She then smirked and shook her head.
"So, you're a divine, charcoal, prodigious, sort-of-undead, lightning skeleton, huh? Never would have guessed. Explains a lot, really," she said.
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