472 It's Too Late
Naida's smile shone with a hint of amusement, "She must have really made an impression on you for you to be this eager to get back at her."
Asher cleared his throat as he shrugged and said, "I hate to admit it, but…it is what it is. I overestimated myself."
Naida softly blinked as she said in a comforting tone, "Don't take it to heart. You are still so young, and you have never gone up against an old and shrewd one like her. That is so like Esther. Even when we were young, she always dealt with people in a way that made them feel pathetic or useless. She is so good at putting down people like that until she gets things done her way. Most of the time, she uses her strength, but against you, I suppose she couldn't do that. So she had to resort to something…simple but effective."
Asher, absorbing every word, felt an uncomfortable truth settle within him. Esther did indeed make him feel just as Naida described, with an efficiency that left him grappling for footing in their interactions.
As Naida's hands gracefully moved to caress the petals of a nearby flower, she continued, "And the reason she is able to do that is mainly because of her bloodline and the arts she practises. Most of the Thornes are incredibly cold, like ice, to the point they won't let any emotion affect them, especially whenever they make important decisions. They go through rigorous and harsh training to learn how to control and suppress their emotions to the point they can make decisions objectively. This, coupled with the Death Arts they practise, allow them to completely detach themselves from emotions...like a corpse that moves and breathes."
This revelation shed light on Esther, explaining her seemingly impassive demeanor. His intrigue deepened, prompting further inquiry, "But what about her children and Rebecca? They don't seem like people who are calm and highly objective despite being of the same bloodline."
Naida explained with a raise of her brow, "I didn't say all Thornes are the same. Only most of them, and sometimes certain members of their bloodline, develop their personalities in different ways depending on how they train. Rebecca used the cold in her blood for precision and control of her powers instead of using it to control her emotions and senses. She also trained herself in the Death Arts to maximize her combat strength instead of using it to control her mind. In essence, it is like her emotions and senses, like pain and pleasure, have been severed from her mind."
Asher pulled together his brows as he felt things were now starting to make sense.
Naida added, "That is why she is more powerful than Esther in combat. She was never one to follow the conventional ways. As for Esther's children, their personalities naturally developed despite getting trained by their mother. It's a coincidence that those three aren't like their parents."
Asher absorbed the complexity of the Thorne family dynamics, understanding the diverse ways the same bloodline could manifest in its members. He now realized why Rebecca was so different compared to her sister.
He also understood why Rebecca was so strong and even went toe-to-toe with Lysandra despite Lysandra holding the elemental advantage over her. If that advantage didn't exist, he felt she might have a slight edge over Lysandra.
With a sigh, Asher sought guidance for the looming challenge ahead, "Then how am I supposed to deal with her?"
She stood up, her elegant figure outlined against the sun, turning her attention to Asher with a narrowed gaze, "There is only one way, but it could end up costing you a very dear price which you might not be willing to pay. So are you sure you want me to tell you what that way is?" Her voice, soft yet firm, carried a warning that intrigued Asher.
His interest piqued, Asher's eyes narrowed in determination, "I am not afraid of taking any risks as long as it isn't impossible. But why don't you tell me first before I decide," he responded, his voice laced with the readiness to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
He had to somehow conquer Esther to get what he wanted. If he doesn't, his future and that of his kingdom would have less chance of surviving all dangers looming outside the kingdom, and so will his plans for vengeance.
Naida's smile was enigmatic as she proposed, "Why don't you come with me later today to a certain place. I can show you what that method is and let you decide after you see it with your own eyes. It is not really a place where a king like you should visit. So you would have to disguise yourself."
Asher agreed, eager to uncover the mystery Naida hinted at, "That won't be a problem. I can't wait to see what kind of special method you want to show me," he declared, his resolve shining through.
—
Hours later, as Naida prepared to leave her castle, a deep yet elegant voice of a man echoed from behind, "Naida, where are you going at this hour? The sun will set soon. I don't remember you mentioning any plans for today."
Naida turned to face her husband, Vernon, offering him a smile that belied the depth of her thoughts, "I have a small errand to run but nothing noteworthy enough to make me feel like I should let you know," she explained, her voice carrying a hint of mystery.
Vernon's expression showed a mix of worry and inquiry, "Does it have anything to do with the king's visit here? After your return from the Draconis Kingdom, you seemed to have earned this favor. I wonder what you did when so many others failed."
Her smile, light and carefree, shone through as she said, "All I did was make him feel happy with what I could offer him. As they say, keep your king happy, and our people shall bask in prosperity and strength. Isn't that what you want as well?"
Approaching her slowly, Vernon's concern was palpable, "Yes, but...I wouldn't want you to push yourself too much and do something that could bring about unpleasant ramifications. You won't do that, right…for the sake of the House and our children?"
Her response to his concern came with a soft chuckle that seemed to dance through the air, light yet carrying an edge, "Why would you worry that I would do something like that?" she asked, her tone light but her eyes briefly betraying a deeper emotion.
Vernon's sigh echoed softly in the vast space, his gaze on Naida filled with a tender concern that seemed almost out of place in the regal setting, "I am just worried for you. I wouldn't want you to get hurt in any way," he admitted.
Naida's gaze swept the room, taking in the shadows that played across the ancient walls before returning to Vernon with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "Don't you think it's a bit too late for that? You already know that nothing can hurt me anymore. So you shouldn't waste time worrying about pointless things. I wouldn't want you to tire yourself like that. You are already exhausted, having taken good care of our house ever since you were a child. So you should just continue what you have been doing for all these years," she said, her voice calm but her smile carrying a subtle sharpness.
Vernon's expression flickered as his eyes shone with complicated emotions, "Naida, I-" "I will be back soon," she assured him with a smile that seemed to promise more than her words could say, interrupting him before he could finish his sentence.
Then, with a grace that belied the tension of their conversation, she turned and walked through the large doors of the castle, leaving Vernon alone with his thoughts.
As the doors closed behind her, Vernon remained still for a moment longer, his eyes closed as if to shut out the thoughts in his mind. With a heavy sigh, he turned around and walked away. —
As twilight bled into the crevices of an old town, a carriage, small and weather-beaten, trundled into view. The town itself, shrouded in shadows and an eerie silence, seemed as though it had swallowed the sun, refusing to let any light escape its grasp. The few souls that dared to walk the streets moved like ghosts, their footsteps whispering tales of a darkness that clung to the very air.
The carriage halted with a final groan of its wheels before a 7 meter tall building that seemed to shrink away from the touch of the dim light. Its entrance was guarded by small iron doors, as if the building itself were a creature, wary of intruders, its iron jaws clamped shut.
From the carriage emerged two figures, a man and a woman, cloaked in mystery and the semblance of adventure. Cloaks draped over their forms, concealing their intentions as effectively as the cloth masks hid their expressions. Yet, it was their eyes, dark orange and flickering with an inner fire, that marked them as outcasts, members of a lower class bloodline, yet undeterred and fierce.
"What kind of place is this? I had no idea such a place existed just outside our kingdom," the man, Asher, whispered, his voice a blend of curiosity and surprise.
Naida gave him a brief glance before her gaze returned to the foreboding iron doors, "This is the Sunken Sky Town...a very infamous place to get things that you normally won't get in the usual markets. This town is run by powerful people from different clans and kingdoms, respecting a mutual agreement to protect this town to benefit them all. Only those who have a clear purpose of coming here and capable enough can survive a night here," she whispered back, her voice as soft as the shadowed air around them.
As she approached the iron gates, Naida's hand lifted in a gesture that seemed both daring and desperate. She knocked softly, the sound echoing like a challenge in the silent town. Asher, curious, moved to join her, standing a step behind as a small opening in the door revealed a pair of eyes, dark green and assessing.
"What business do you have by coming here?" The voice that followed was as menacing as the town itself, a growl from the shadows.
Naida's response was calm, her eyes narrowing slightly, "Please tell your boss that the sun would never bleed as long as she is alive."
The guard regarded them, the silence stretching before the small opening slid shut, leaving Asher to wonder if they had been turned away. Yet, the iron doors began to creak ominously as they opened.
"Let's go inside," Naida said, leading Asher into the darkness beyond the doors.
Vernon suspects anything or....?
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