Chapter 304 - The Cursed Alliance (1/2)
”BROTHER, why do you look awkward?” Soleil asked her brother who was acting strange now that they were about to reach Solarium. Currently, they were on a carriage sitting opposite each other. Kalel, on the other hand, was seated beside him. But the Black Serpent was sleeping quietly. ”Aren't you excited to see our people again after such a long time?”
”Soleil.”
”Hmm?”
Winchell laughed awkwardly while scratching his cheek. ”I actually forgot that I have descendants now.”
”What?!”
”Well, it's been a long time since I ascended the heavens,” her brother said defensively. ”I forgot that before I ascended to the heavens, I left an heir.”
Well, it hadn't been that long since the Beast Gods ascended the heavens.
If her calculations were correct, it happened seventy years ago. But she had to say that a lot of things had indeed changed since then. She was just glad that when she returned, the Fire Mage clan was already a strong nation.
The only thing that she could ”complain” about the clan was that the members were a little bit overprotective of her. Even though they knew that she was strong enough to protect herself, they still treated her like a baby.
And she didn't want to say this but sometimes, she felt awkward whenever she would feel that they sort of worshipped her.
”That sounds lame,” she said while shaking her head. ”But Brother, I can't blame you. To be honest, our clan hid your son to protect him from people who wanted to destroy our clan. Apparently, only a select few know that you left an heir before you left our clan. The leaders of our family spread a rumor that unlike the Blue Dragon and the Golden Tiger's clan, you didn't need to leave a child because the gods promised that they would return me to the Rosenbergs. It might be the reason why even you erased it from your memory. Forgetting about your child is probably your own way of protecting him.”
”Oh,” he said while blinking several times. ”I think I vaguely remember granting the Sun Priestess's wish that I forget about her and our son for their protection.”
The Sun Priestess that her brother mentioned was Lady Cyra Amelia. She was the lady chosen to carry the Red Phoenix's child in her w.o.m.b. In short, Lady Cyra Amelia was Winchell's partner and the mother of Solaris– her nephew.
But physically, Solaris was older than her. Thus, they shared the same position as leaders of the Fire Mage clan.
While she was the symbol of power, Solaris served as the authority.
”Solaris grew up well, Brother,” she said. ”His daughter, Solenn, is the new Sun Priestess. The two of them are doing a good job in helping me run our small nation.”
Since Solaris had the blood of a Beast God, he stopped aging when he reached his thirties.
And Solenn, on the other hand, was a young maiden in her twenties. Solaris had her when he was already in his fifties. After all, being the leader of a clan was hard. Solaris had to put their nation as his top priority before himself.
Anyway…
Even though Solenn was physically older than her, she still treated her with utmost respect. Sometimes, the Sun Priestess would even tease her and call her ”grandma.”
”The Fire Mage clan is doing well, Brother,” she said proudly. ”Solaris and Solenn did a good job expanding our territory until it became a strong and respectable nation. Aside from training the Fire Mages to fight properly, Solaris also made our nation prosper by using the rare spirit stones found in our land. And Solenn keeps the people's faith in gods stronger than ever. I almost have nothing to do thanks to them.”
Her brother scowled. ”Ah, dear Soleil, why does it sound like you're telling me that our clan doesn't need me anymore?”
”That's not true, Brother,” she denied while shaking her head. ”The Red Phoenix is the Guardian of the Fire Mage clan. Of course, we need you.”
”Really?”
”Of course,” she said with a smile. ”But I hope you don't treat Solaris and Solenn coldly, Brother.”
”What do you mean by that?”
”You're only kind to me,” Soleil said in a sad smile. ”I hope you extend that kindness to your family, Brother.”
Winchell smiled even though it looked like he didn't take her seriously. ”I understand, Soleil,” he said. ”I'll do everything for you.”
***
”ARE YOU a Beast God?”
Elis Ripperton scowled when a ”man” with blonde hair and green eyes blocked his way.
Well, the man could pass as a human. But since he wasn't an ordinary person, he could tell that the person who introduced himself as Harred wasn't a real human. He could smell human blood and flesh in his mouth.
Disgusting. The Crades are known as man-eating monsters so it looks natural whenever they eat humans. But now that they evolved to look like their ”food,” they look more disgusting.
”I am here for Auro Moonchester,” Elis said, ignoring the nonsense coming out from the human-like Crade. As soon as he entered the palace of the fallen kingdom that Auro Moonchester just invaded, this ugly being greeted him. ”I believe he's expecting me.”
After all, he had been in contact with Auro Moonchester even before he descended back to earth.
To be honest, he didn't want to travel all the way to an unknown land just to meet a brat like Auro Moonchester. But since he wasn't really that thrilled to meet his descendants, he decided to make a detour and check on the brat first.
He was a little curious to see the evolution of the Crades after all.
But now that he had seen it, he realized that it wasn't worth seeing.
I'm wasting my time here.
”You didn't bring Soleil Rosenberg with you?”
”Excuse me?” he asked with a raised brow. ”You don't have the right to mention Soleil's name with that filthy mouth of yours, you disgusting monster.”
Harred didn't seem insulted by his words. In fact, he just laughed like a lunatic that he probably was. ”Auro Moonchester told me that Soleil Rosenberg is going to be my bride.”
To say that his blood boiled in anger would be an understatement.
That was never a part of the plan.