144 Ascension (1/2)
Everything in sight was white, the snowfall from the grey sky continued to pummel down onto the earth. Glittering frost had taken over every visible surface on the mountain peak.
This was a big, wild mountain, prone to high winds and ferocious low temperatures, especially at high altitude.
A place where glaciers claimed the peak as its own, and the howling wind sounded like the screams of wild wolves.
Prince Jian stood with his two protectors at his back, small icicles were beginning to take shape and cling to his brows and beard, transforming his facial hairs into a frosty fuzz.
At this altitude the air temperature alone could freeze lava, even a xanthian wasn't completely immune to the discomforts of this harsh environment .
Fifteen meters away to the right, his older brother Prince Dong stood pensively, snowflakes lazily landing around him.
The wind hummed loudly, no one uttered a word, instead they all stared at the enigmatic figure whose back was facing them.
This sturdy man, standing at a height of 1.9 meters, was father to the two Princes and King to the country. A man making his first public appearance in a decade, and possibly his last.
His aged and handsome face stared out over the landscape with melancholy. Seemingly lost in his own thoughts and paying no heed to the extreme cold.
Thousands of people stood exposed to the weather at the foot of the mountain, straining their eyes to get a glimpse at their mighty king through the falling snow.
A king that had stood at the peak of the saint realm for nearly a decade.
The place was abuzz with chatter and excitement.
Hartley and company among them.
”This will be a seminal moment in the history of Aidonia and the Aldoran continent.” King Yulan spoke clearly without turning to face his sons.
In a casual display of might to the people below, a simple wave of the king's hand sent a flash of lightning darting out with an echoing clap, splitting the skies like a mirror with a pulse of light.
Thick white branching lines of electricity crawled diagonally upwards, sending the blanket of incessant snowflakes flurrying away to the sides, exposing himself clearly to the masses below.
A rumble of thunder followed soon after, sending vibrations through the earth as the whole mountain trembled.
Oohs and ahs echoed out from the excited spectators below, many finally having a chance to look upon their king without the snow impeding their vision.
”This is a day that will inspire many generations of cultivators. Pushing them to strive to reach the top of the cultivation world and transform into dragons and immortal legends.”
The King spoke solemnly, casting his gaze at those gathered below with his hands folded behind his back.
King Yulan wore a simple blue robe that audibly flapped around like a flag in the wind.
His shoulder-length silver hair billowed randomly from side to side as if in competition with his robe.
”The real question is,” the King said as he turned around:
”Will my sons ever stop squabbling over this mortal realm and set their sights higher?”
There was silence once again, no answer came to the King's ears.
He waited patiently while the blustery winds whistled, flurries of snowflakes swirled and curled around the group, starting to transform their clothing white.
The atmosphere grew tense. Both princes turned their heads to scowl at the other with discontent, neither acknowledging the other with words.
Each had come hoping to be named as the next rightful ruler of Aidonia and would accept nothing less.
The one anointed as rightful ruler would hold great advantage, primarily through the distribution of propaganda to the common people. King Yulan was loved and admired, the masses would be more inclined to respect his wishes.
The prince who gained his father's approval could campaign to the throne with rhetoric of righteousness, proclaiming himself to be the chosen one.
This was important because they both knew neither would give up the fight for the throne once the king was gone.
”Father, I think I should be the first in line...” the eldest Prince talked with fresh flecks of snow falling from his robe, he was about to make his case for the throne, but was promptly interrupted by the scholarly looking Prince Jian.
”Age is different from competence brother, something you are severely lacking,” the young prince snarled aggressively, about elaborate further on all his brother's failures.
King Yulan raised his right palm with a swoosh, stopping the squabbling siblings and sending the loose snow scattering.
”Seems you two are set on clinging to power like panicked children clinging onto a toy.
Be wary of what you seek, and sure it's what you want.
A king in name can only rule by consent, not until you let go of your thirst to rule and instead thirst for strength can you truly rule.”
The king closed his eyes and inhaled the crisp cold air, then his face softened as he looked at his sons, remembering that he was once just like them.
Remembering how he had once also hungered to rule the country, hating anyone who stood in his way, even his own brothers. It was the cut-throat curse of royalty.
Back then he thought his life's greatest achievement was banishing his brothers and ascending the throne.
His inflated ego internally declaring himself the god of the kingdom, ruling over the strongest men simply by birth right.
Only to be rudely awakened to reality, his euphoric bubble popped unceremoniously by a group of visitors from a higher plain, apparently here searching for a mystery runaway woman.
To this day the once conceited king still felt the shame of having to humble himself like a child, skipping to do the strangers orders and demands like a pet dog.
Lacking the strength to even lift his head.
Anyone who opposed those strangers were mercilessly cut down.
The strongest legends the continent had to offer rushed to the king's aid... But they were slaughtered within a single exchange by the strangers overwhelming might.
Leaving him, a renowned king in name, bowing and scraping pitifully to preserve his puny life.
His sons won't know how vulnerable and weak the mortal plane is, or how important real strength will be.
Telling them couldn't begin to portray the enormous gulf between plains, not until they too face beings from beyond the mortal realm would they realise their own insignificance.
Just like he had all those years ago.