Aetherios System: Whirlwind

Chapter 23: Guppies

The palace courtyard of Athrastas was bustling with noise and motion, a hundred banners billowing in the wind, each bearing the sigils of noble houses, guilds, and academies across the Empire, and beyond. Under such standard bearers were groups of people who milled about, talking and interacting cautiously.

Distinct factions were easy to see at a glance, some groups taking care to maintain distance from others, or being more friendly.

Tension was held in everyone’s expressions, even if many showed smiles on the outside.

Alex and the others stood among it all. He watched as all around them, mages in ceremonial robes whispered and jostled for position among whatever politics they were playing. At the same time, soldiers clanked in formation at the edges of the large open area in front of the palace gates, some patrolled the upper terraces like vigilant gargoyles.

Even now, Alex could feel the aether pressure in the air, the emotions of the gathered people was so thick and charged that it tickled his skin.

A few of the gathered groups caught his attention as he looked about. Specifically, were the groups that stuck near the banners to two other Empires from one of the continents. Or vast martial sects. Factions with sigils that Alex recognized from his research into the top merit holders.

The Serakham Imperium, and the Adamant Empire. He identified the closest banners. The former having a cluster of robed figures with their faces covered by cloth, reavealing only the tops of their faces. While the later was almost entirely composed of dwarves.

Each contained powerful Peak Adepts, and behind them stood figures that looked to be handlers or bodyguards in the Magus Tier.

One of such guards looked Alex’s way, and he hastily pretended to be looking elswhere.

After that, he tried to be subtle, glancing this way and that to not draw attention to himself and the rest of his team. They were all exposed, standing among a few soldier servants of Lady Xhiu’s family house. Their “faction” was tiny by comparison, in both power and prestige, despite Lady Xhiu’s family being related directly to the Uhrara royalty.

We’re small fish. He thought.

“Oh yes, guppies,” Obby added. “No, guppies eggs maybe. Is there something smaller than that? Sea worms perhaps?”

I wasn’t asking you, Obsidian. He seethed.

“My, my, a bit out of sorts are you? Why, because you realized you’re not the big powerhouse you thought you were? I told you tht you needed to upgrade your enchantments. You’ve been slacking in your [Glyphcraft] skill even after your little elixir project. You’ve been spending too much time with that tiny elf woman. If you—”

Yeah, yeah, I know how you feel about my time management. You don’t need to say anything.

Obby’s little projection appeared in front of him with cheeks puffed out dramatically. The little body spun lazing upside down a moment, then huffed before popping into nothingness.

Alex ignored Obby’s emotional fit. He was surprised the little rock could even express such moods. Though he was almost certain the item wasn’t just an arcane object. Not anymore.

He returned his attention back to groups arranged in the area. His eyes landing on a small group under a banner containing a stylized thunderbird. He’d seen that particular sigil before, many, many times. It was the Aeralith Kingdom.

His gaze instantly fell on a single person among that group. A person wearing white plate armor, with a sword sitting at their hip. Their hair fell aroudn their shoulders, and their face was covered by a white mask. Even with the face covering, Alex could see the person was staring back at him with two yellow orbs gleaming through the eye-holes.

It was the prince. The one that had sent him the message not too long ago.

So then, it looked like the grudge between them wasn’t quite settled yet.

Alex shrugged before turning away, ignoring the man entirely. Just like them, Aeralith was a small fish. He had other opponents to worry about.

They waited for hours, penned near the back of the plaza, the black marble underfoot reflecting the heat up around them and making Alex sweat. He started to wonder just when this whole thing would pop off.

Then, the mood changed.

It began as an invisible wave that rippled across the crowd, silencing murmurs one after another. Above them, the sky darkened a shade, shadows bending around everyone present. A single streak of blue-white flame tore through the clouds above, splitting into a thousand motes.

And then she appeared.

Empress Yue.

She rose from the far end of the courtyard, suspended on a platform above the palace gate. The platform looked like it was made of pure frost, frozen water and aether in a glistening mirrior smooth surface. Her presence so overwhelming that Alex’s breath stilled in his throat when he saw her.

Her hair flowed like liquid silver down to the small of her back, and he robes looked to be made of a material that was both fabric and energy both, becoming a soft powder blue color that matched her eyes.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

All around the courtyard, people took a knee, Alex following along with them, even if his Wyrm-heart pulsed angrily inside his soulspace in reaction.

When she spoke, her voice carried effortlessly over the space. It sounded as a warm female tone but it was laced with a chilly cold. “Children of the Urhara Empire, and esteemed guests” she began, “the hour of Inheritance draws near.”

The crowd erupted in a smattering of subdued applaud at her words.

“The gates of the Inheritance Dungeon open once every few hundred years. Within it lies the legacy of a long ascended Supreme Aegis. Therefore inside is knowledge, power so grand as to grant the right to ascend beyond mortality. As decided by the Aegis on its creation, and through guidance with the Heavens, only the early generations of the world may enter its halls. Only the worthy may step through its threshold.”

From what Alex understood, the Empress was referring to the tokens the System had given out. Tokens couldn’t be handed off or transferred, and the System only ever gave them to promising Adept Mages. Meaning whatever criteria that the Dungeon had, it didn’t allow anyone above Adept Tier to enter.

Empress Yue’s gaze swept across the masses, thousands of faces frozen in anticipation. Even the scions and guardians from the visiting Empires awaited her to continue.

“But not even the Heavens could anticipate such a large collection of candidates.”

Alex knew that was a lie. The System knew what it was doing. The Dungeon could probably easily accommodate thousands of entries. But if the Urhara Empire let so many people into the Inheritance, how could they maintain control of the people who entered? And how could they ensure they got their slice of whatever rewards they came out with?

It was about getting their pound of flesh.

“To decide who among you is worthy, the Empire shall host the Inheritance Selection Tournament,” the Empress went on. “One month from today, the chosen shall battle for the right to enter the sacred depths.”

A roar of sound filled the courtyard, cheers and shouts of pride rippling across the groups.

“Those who fail will still serve,” the Empress continued, her cold tone silencing the uproar, “for every wound, every death, every drop of blood spilled will strengthen the Empire’s path to eternity. And those who succeed will have their shot at ascension.”

Then she lifted her hands, and the dark sky exploded into plums of crystalized water that refracted hues of color over the area for miles before taking on various moving shapes.

It was like fireworks of aether blossomed overhead, phoenixes of gold and crimson, dragons of black and azure, all weaving through illusions of ancient humanoid heroes. Music rose with the display, fountains burst into flame and frost.

The celebration had begun, but Alex and his team didn’t have time to enjoy it.

Lady Xhiu coughed loudly from behind them. “Follow me,” she said simply.

They were guided away from the cheering throngs to a private pavilion just outside of the courtyard’s edge . The structure was veiled in translucent runes, enchantments to keep prying eyes and spells away. As Alex and the others entered they felt the air inside was cool, perfumed faintly with mana-rich incense.

Xhiu gestured for them to sit. Her eyes lingered on each of them in turn. “Congratulations,” she said softly. “Your accumulated Merit has earned each of you qualification for the Tournament.”

Even knowing they had worked toward something like this, the words still sent a palpable hit of relief through Alex’s body.

Garret gawked. “Wait, we’re in the tournament?”

Xhiu’s lips curved faintly. “Not in the final round, no. You have been accepted into the preliminary selection brackets. One thousand will compete from across all of Dawnlight. But then only the top two hundred and fifty will win a right to enter the Inheritance Dungeon.”

A long silence followed. Only two hundred and fifty, out of a thousand. For only one in four would earn their place, if that.

Devon exhaled. “Two hundred and fifty out of a thousand? That’s... insane.”

“At the start, there were three thousand Tokens given out by the System. Between many… tragic deaths, and the wittling down of hopefuls from the Merit rankings, only one thousand remain. So you are correct,” Xhiu said. “The fact that you made it this far is insane. You will be facing not only imperial prodigies, but the scions of other continents. Adepts with bloodlines older than some nations, heirs to first-tier academies. And more besides.”

Cole leaned forward. “So its true, we’re not just fighting locals.”

“No,” Xhiu replied. “You will fight the continent’s very greatest elites. Those who have never tasted loss. Those who were born to inherit the power you stumbled yourselves into.”

Kate narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “So then, if we win this Tournament?”

“Then you will earn what all who kneel before the Empire dream of, the right to enter the Inheritance Dungeon.”

“And if we lose?” Allie asked quietly.

Xhiu’s smile didn’t waver at the question, but her gaze hardened around the eyes. “Then you lose, and you watch your betters earn their rewards. Maybe, you might die in service to something greater. Either way, the Empire gains.”

The sound of celebration outside bled faintly through the tent, laughter, and music. So bright, so distant, in stark contrast to the stilled and tense silence they found themselves in.

“So, we have only a month to prepare to fight this planet’s most powerful Adepts Tier mages?” Alex asked pointedly.

“Yes,” Lady Xhiu nodded. “And as I’m sure you’ve gathered already, you are not ready. Even with the mentors I’ve provided each of you, I’d be surprised if more than two of you make through. And that’s being hopeful at best.”

Alex sucked in air through his teeth. He had guessed as much based on what Master Sionna had been telling him. He was working with a high stat lead, sure, but that wouldn’t be enough to close the gap. It was a cut throat world out there, and the System didn’t exactly play fair all the time.

There were always favorites.

“Luckily, we have options,” Lady Xhiu continued. “Since the merit push is now over, you will have more time. So we can improve your training schedule. Your next month will be filled with grueling practice, and many, many appearances.”

“Appearances?” Holly asked.

“Yes, we need to start earning you all some sponsors.”