313 Disturbance
In a distant space, disconnected from the worlds where everything seemed frozen, nothing moved.
Stillness prevailed. The only existence there, a being resembling a woman, was compelled to open her eyes.
A greenish energy surged within her — an energy so powerful that it could be one of the most strongest forces, if not the strongest. It struggled against chains that bound her.
The being opened her eyes, and the stillness faded, revealing her deep black eyes with green pupils.
"The price has been paid," she declared, noticing how the chains resisted her power.
"It will revert itself," she murmured, closing her eyes once more.
A pulse of green energy emanated from her, causing the chains to disintegrate into dust and vanish from existence.
However, these chains, whatever their nature, didn't react aggressively like they had to the purple energy that had appeared earlier.
Balance had to be maintained, and anything altered needed to return to its original state.
***
At the Neville Estate,
The head of the Neville Family reflected on a recent meeting. It was the first time he had witnessed their plans go awry.
It wasn't just a few years of planning that had been thwarted; it was decades of preparation. He was acutely aware of the machinations behind their actions.
Not everyone was privy to their covert alliance.
The Neville Family had always kept its distance from other elite families, except for those in Belvoria.
Tap! Tap!
His fingers tapped the table incessantly, the thought of betrayal ever-present in his mind.
"Let's wait for a bit; I shouldn't rush this," he murmured to himself.
He had instructed Gavin to maintain his friendship with Leonard, Osbert's son and he still had other cards to play.
But he didn't know that his very own son was operating under the influence of another, working against Leonard Tarvian.
The End Year Tournament was drawing near, as was the gathering of the High Council.
"Let's step away for now," he decided, allowing his distrust to grow within him.
Osbert didn't possess the influence akin to that of the Elite Families, who enjoyed significantly more freedom than the World Association.
This compelled him to rely on others, and his choices were the Nevilles and the Allisters.
The head of the Allister family struck a deal with Osbert. Even the head of the Neville Family wasn't privy to the details, but he could surmise the nature of the agreement.
The Neville Family was presented with what they currently lacked the most: power.
They had influence and resources, but they were in dire need of power.
None of the three Elite Families in Belvoria — Martell, Hargrave, and Neville — were allied with one another.
Hargrave boasted Xarax, the SSS Rank Hunter, while Martell had ties with the Artisan's Association.
This positioned him in a spot where Osbert's offer seemed particularly appealing. The amount of power he had accumulated until now appeared to justify the alliance.
However, he was also aware that despite their towering achievements, their foundations were fragile. Just as it had happened a decade ago, it could all crumble in an instant. Foundations built on betrayal were destined to collapse.
"I guess after that plan failed, this was bound to happen," he muttered.
It had been a year since their 'Grand Plan' faltered at the first step.
Far from the Greville Estate,
"Allow me to clean this up," Hassan said, glancing at Nathan.
Nathan looked to his side and nodded.
Lying around them were the dead bodies of hunters, ranging from S Rank to a few SS Rank.
Nathan wasn't bothered by the blood on his greatsword; he was accustomed to it.
Yet, a frown marred his face.
He recognized that those who had come were targeting the twins, especially since he had sensed the presence of an unknown S Rank Hunter near his estate.
What puzzled him was that none of these attackers tried to retreat, even though they were clearly outmatched and bound for death.
Fear was evident in their eyes, yet they resisted.
It was a bizarre sight, something Nathan hadn't encountered in his entire life.
Their movements were fearless but he could feel that they were terrified to fight him.
All met their demise swiftly, having self-destructing artificial artifacts placed near their hearts.
Initially, Nathan intended to keep them alive, evident from how swiftly he disarmed them by severing their limbs upon confronting them.
Nathan's personality around his family and others often made people forget how cold-blooded he was.
Hassan, who had spent years beside Nathan, knew about this. He knew how terrifying the person he served could be.
But he didn't know that the Rune of Eirdin also made Nathan so much more numb to such humane emotions.
Nathan departed, leaving the grisly scene for Hassan to manage.
Upon arriving at the Abyss Guild's Headquarters, Nathan made his way directly to his personal chamber, a space tailored for his stay and training.
He was careful not to train too close to the Estate, wary that his mana might inadvertently endanger the twins.
"I might miss their tournament," Nathan mused, recalling the upcoming End Year Tournament a few months away.
If he chose to utilize the SSS Rank Mana Gem, regardless of the outcome, his return would take months.
During that absence, he wanted the twins to be at the World Academy. Although he had reservations about Farnus, he recognized that the World Academy was the twins' safest haven when he wasn't around.
Due to his Mana Oaths, Farnus was bound to protect every student from any external threat.
However, if the threat came from within, such as from the students themselves, the twins would receive no assistance from him.
"That brat can handle it anyway," Nathan remarked.
He trusted Asher to safeguard the twins within the World Academy. Having witnessed Asher's prowess firsthand, Nathan altered his original plans.
Had Asher not displayed his exceptional talent to the world, Nathan wouldn't have intended to bid for the Mana Gem in such a way, making himself a target for every SSS Rank Hunter.
Yet understanding the potential outcomes in three years' time, when Asher would graduate from the World Academy, Nathan realized he had to ready himself for future challenges. This decision solidified the moment he observed Asher successfully inherit his Ancient Rune.
"That brat has me doing so much extra work," Nathan lamented.
With a talent surpassing even that of Ivar, Nathan was aware that those who had been passive for years would soon become active.
Two months passed in tranquility.
There were no updates about Zephyr or any other disturbances. Initially, even the World Association suspected that several factions might emerge after the inflammatory declaration from the masked man. Oddly, everything returned to its usual state, almost as if Zephyr had never existed.
However, this didn't mean that people became complacent. Even the authorities remained vigilant. Zephyr was slapped with the highest criminal charge, and a decree was issued stating that anyone affiliated with Zephyr would be arrested on sight.
Some speculated that, following his failure, Zephyr had gone into hiding to escape the World Association's fierce retaliation.
"I told you, these people are mere troublemakers who vanish when pursued," a young man remarked to an older gentleman.
"Concentrate on your tasks," Edward advised, glancing at the novice Mage apprenticing under him.
Several other mages were also training under Edward Amaris, an Elder of the Mage Association.
"Forget them. You should be working on your research paper," a female mage reminded the young man.
"Don't worry, I'll surpass yours this time," he replied confidently, but she merely shook her head in response.
Edward paid no heed to their banter, engrossed in crucial preparations.
A delegation from the World Academy was due to visit, and Silvus had instructed Edward to guide them to the Sanctuary of Mages.
Upon receiving details of the visiting students, Edward was taken aback by the first name.
"He's a mage?" Edward murmured, noting Asher's name.
His bewilderment was so profound that he overlooked the last name on the list of three: Alyssa Astaria.
The Sanctuary of Mages wasn't a place even Edward could access freely.
It was significant that Silvus permitted someone outside the Mage Association to visit without any contribution to the Mage Association.
While some Elders voiced their opposition, they were quickly silenced upon learning the visitation was requested by Farnus Calmort, a name with enough clout to quell any dissent.
As far as Edward could recall, every video of Asher Greville that was circulating, and all the rumors about him, praised his sword art.
So he didn't understand why a swordsman would seize this opportunity to visit the Sanctuary of Mages.
The sourc𝗲 of this content is fre(e)webnovel