Chapter 271 World Over (1/2)
CHAPTER 271
WORLD OVER
Ella was currently standing near a crimson-dyed lake stacked with starfish, overlooked by tall oak trees looming over it. She had a tranquil expression, her eyes dulled with now-distant memories of the past. It has been so long, she mused, since she stood on this very same spot as a young girl as her Father showed her first stages of cultivation.
Sounds of footsteps crackling the leafs and branches startled her back to reality, forcing her to turn halfway and looked behind her. An old, kind-looking man with a face full of wrinkles walked briskly, his hands tied together behind his back, donning a plain-looking, brown robe. His eyes were half-closed, thick, white eyebrows arching over them.
”Patriarch.” Ella smiled faintly, nodding, as the old man walked up to her and stopped, also focusing on the lake.
”Do you know why the color's red'” he asked.
”I do,” Ella replied. ”Apparently, [Dried Lull] grows beneath the lake's bed, spitting out red dye ever so often.”
”... when I was a kid,” he chuckled. ”I thought this was the place we dumped all the blood in. Hoh, to be innocent.”
”... indeed.”
”Congratulations, by the way,” he said, glancing at her and smiling. ”And thank you for letting us know.”
”... ouch.” Ella smiled back awkwardly. ”I was going to surprise you, you know?”
”Oh, sure. Of course.” the Patriarch chuckled faintly before donning a serious expression. ”The entire continent is up in arms, El'. Pretty much the only thing holding it all together is the fact that Anton surfaced.”
”... is he on the hunt?” she asked with concern.
”No,” he shook his head. ”He's holding the Seat for the time being. But, it won't be long. What Level are you?” he asked with a faint curiosity.
”I've just recently gotten my Fiend Title,” Ella replied. ”Not quite there just yet.”
”... still, over 10,000 Levels in a span of a decade...” the Patriarch chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. ”The world is truly unfair. But, you're right. You can't come into light just yet. What happened?” he asked, seemingly finally braving himself enough.
”... what does always happen?” Ella asked, sighing. ”He was pissed off enough to extinguish light... and it certainly wasn't over an ill-spoken word.”
”How strong is he?”
”... I'm not too sure myself,” Ella replied with a frown. ”I do know that at least by Vitality and Strength, he puts all of us to deep-end shame. With Laws, from what I gathered, he's begun the mastery of Time and Death.”
”... hah...” he sighed, lamenting silently. ”His story eerily parallels Eldon's.”
”... they are somewhat similar, if stories are true,” Ella chuckled. ”Save for, perhaps, one thing.”
”What?”
”Eldon was far more forgiving.”
”... figures. Rumors have it that Elysian has abdicated. Is it true?”
”... yes.” Ella replied.
”... eerily... eerily similar.” the Patriarch shuddered. ”It's a shame we've no one who lived through the Eldon's time to compare the two Births.”
”... it can't really be compared,” Ella said. ”I gather that only the top figures of the Great Descent and a few hermits have managed to endure it. Eldon's was targeted... his was... raw.”
”Did you come to warn us?” he asked.
”... to warn and prepare,” Ella said. ”I don't hope you will stand with him, I just hope you won't stand against him.”
”... I can't make that decision alone, El'.”
”I know,” she added. ”I'm not asking you to. But, if we apply the well-being of the Clan to it, they should listen.”
”Hm?”
”... if we manage to get out of this unscathed,” she said. ”We'll become de-facto ruler of the Holy Continent.”
”... you really think highly of him.”
”You would too, if you met him,” Ella chuckled, her lips curling up into a warm and honest smile. ”It's not even the matter of strength... just his natural charisma. He has a way of making people believe he can do it, no matter what that 'it' is. In my heart of hearts, I don't think I ever doubted his ability to achieve whatever he set his eyes on. It's... eerie.”
”... it's eerie because you're looking at a mirror,” the Patriarch chuckled faintly. ”I'll do my best, and I'm fairly certain your parents will have my back. If I were you, I wouldn't show up just yet -- at least with that big of a belly. My seat is waiting for you, El'.”
”... sorry,” she smiled apologetically. ”I'm afraid you're gonna have to keep sitting on it.”