Watching Ararat leave, Jared felt a mix of emotions. Lyra hurried to his side, worry glinting in dark eyes. “Jared, are you hurt?”
Jared shook his head, then glanced at Corin, who junior disciples were lifting. “Master Morden, how do you fare?”
Though his face stayed pale, Corin managed a weary smile. “I’m fine… However, Lester will not give up easily. We are in big trouble.”
Flaxseed scratched at his chin, gaze drifting toward the horizon. “That geezer has woven roots through level five for years. Should rally every sect knows, even Mr. Goizeder‘s shield may bend.”
Jared offered no reply. He could sense that danger was lurking. Lester’s vengeance would come sooner and far more brutal than any of them dared imagine.
***
Elsewhere, inside a jolting carriage, Lester sat with a stern face. Each bounce of the wheels stoked the fury simmering behind his eyes.
Inside the carriage, Kael, his arms brutally severed, his cultivation shattered, lay sprawled lifelessly. His face had drained of all color, and the only fires left in his eyes were hatred, slowly giving way to a chilling, vacant despair.
“Dad, I’m going to kill him!” Kael snarled, his voice ragged, raw. “I’ll tear Jared to pieces!”
The outburst tore open the half-healed scabs on his shoulders. Blood beaded, then trickled, and his strangled scream seemed to shake even the lantern chains above.
Lester slammed a fist against the carriage wall. Wood splintered, the panel buckling inward.
“Easy, son… He will beg for death,” growled. Lester thought could destroy the Sword Sect by bringing Qivius and other sect leaders. He did not expect Ararat to protect Jared.
If Ararat was present in Swordmaster City, no one could defeat him. “Jared…” Lester hissed through clenched teeth, “You think you can survive in the Swordmaster City forever?”
Lester decided to find help. Sacred Sword Manor was famed for its sword forging. With enough incentive, was confident they would help him. He also knew that Jared had a beef with the Celestial Palace. Drystan had visited Jared before.
An enemy’s enemy becomes an ally. Lester decided to visit Drystan on level six.
***
Three days later, a plain black carriage rolled out of Sacred Sword Manor, wheels hissing over frost-stiff turf as it headed northwest.
Inside, Lester watched the landscape blur past while his thumb traced the carved grooves of a short obsidian blade. Its surface was etched with unnerving charms.
Sacred Sword Manor’s ancestor forged the short blade using mithril. It was carved with charms.
Lester decided to gift Drystan with the short blade, so they could team up to deal with Jared.
Amid clouds coiling around jagged peaks, a palace of black crystal hovered in the open sky. Six blood-red orbs crowned its roof, each one throbbing with a dread.
Lester climbed the steps, lifted the short sword high, and shouted, “Lester Windham of Sacred Sword Manor requests an audience with Mr. Hexford!”
He dared not storm the threshold. Behind the Sixth Hall was the Celestial Palace. Celestials lived in the Celestial Palace. Even Sacred Sword Manor could not offend the celestials.
Silence swelled, deep and weighty, until even the distant peaks seemed to lean closer, listening for the verdict yet to come.
Nearly a quarter hour had crawled by. A croaking voice appeared. “Mr. Lester, what’s the purpose of visiting Sixth Hall?”
Lester’s entire body jolted while sweating. “I’m willing to gift this short blade to Mr. Hexford. I want to kill someone!”
“Oh?” The voice teased, “Who is it?”
“Jared Chance!” Lester’s answer cut the air with a chill sharper than steel. At that name, Drystan rose so fast his crimson cloak snapped behind him. He had long hungered to kill Jared, but Isabel had threatened not to pursue Jared. However, Enaricus had ordered Drystan to kill Jared.
It was great timing when Lester visited the Sixth Hall. Drystan could oblige and obtained a new magic sword.
