The instant the guard cried out, the remaining two spun on their heels, their spears carving twin arcs through the humid forest air as they rushed to help. Flaxseed flicked his wrist with practiced nonchalance.
A Binding Charm snapped open, its Inked glyphs burning gold before lashing outward like living rope. The nearest guard was yanked mid-stride, limbs cinched tight.
Beside him, Jared swept his blade in a low, savage crescent, the shockwave forcing the second Celestial Guard to stagger backward, boots skidding through dead leaves.
Seizing that heartbeat of vulnerability, the young lady let fire bloom at fingertips. A flare of molten gold slammed Into the trussed Celestial Guard’s breastplate. Metal shrieked, blood sprayed, and toppled.
“Who are you people?!” the leader of the Celestial Guards snarled, teeth bared in panic. “Do you dare meddle in matters of Celestia?!”
“Leave,” Jared said, each syllable dropping like ice. “Follow us again and you die…”
Golden fire bled across Jared’s shoulders, a silent corona of power that pressed down on the clearing. The Celestial Guard’s face drained of color. Without another word, hauled his injured comrades and fled into the trees, armor clattering in frantic retreat.
When the echoes faded, only Jared, Flaxseed, and the female celestial remained among the trampled ferns and smoldering leaves.
The woman folded divine power back into herself, jade eyes sweeping over the men. There was no gratitude in that gaze, only highborn wariness, and a pride as sharp as honed steel.
She dabbed fresh blood from shoulder with two fingers, turned, and started for the shadow-choked depths of the forest without offering so much as a nod.
“Hey!” Flaxseed called after her, voice half-teasing, half-indignant. “We just risked our necks for you. If you’re not planning to warm my bed In thanks, a simple ‘thank you’ would do!”
She paused, a single heel grinding into moss as looked back.
“Human cultivators, do not presume that saving me grants you the right to command me. Had my strength not been depleted, those three weaklings would have fallen in moments,” said, voice cold.
With that, slipped between the trees. A heartbeat later, even the echo of presence was gone.
Flaxseed stood gaping at the empty trail, beard bristling, fury sputtering like wet firewood. “What in the blazes? Are all celestials this arrogant? I ought to drag back and teach the meaning of courtesy!”
Jared only sighed and shook his head. “Let it go… Celestials are prideful. Still, let slip something useful. Celestia plans to ally with Celestial Palace’s Sixth Hall and marry off to Enaricus’ son. That changes things.”
“An alliance?” Flaxseed’s brow bunched. “Celestia is against Celestial Palace, no? Why team up now?”
Jared’s gaze drifted toward the distant horizon. “Shared profit always mends old wounds. If Celestia teams up with Celestial Palace’s Sixth Hall, eliminating Drystan becomes that much harder for us.”
Setting the encounter aside, the two men launched skyward again, arrowing toward Roaring Storm Mountain.
More Celestial Guards of Celestia crossed their path, sweeping the skies In widening circles. Each time they spotted Jared and Flaxseed, they hesitated at the oppressive aura of Flaxseed’s Earthly Immortal Realm Level Nine’s aura and chose discretion over valor.
Flaxseed’s easy grin never left his face, but Jared felt the tension winding tighter with every encounter. Celestia was clearly hunting the vanished woman.
After nearly three hours, a lone spire shouldered into the clouds ahead.
Mist clung to its crags, and atop the peak, the silhouette of a solitary monastery glimmered beneath a single thread of gold lightning dancing along its roof, majesty made manifest.
“That has to be Roaring Storm Mountain!” Flaxseed exclaimed, excitement sparking in his eyes as surged forward.
Wind roared past them while the mountain swelled, its cliff faces streaked with veins of thunderstone. Flaxseed could hardly contain himself, skimming the last stretch like a stone across water.
They landed at the footpath. Two priest guards in sea-green robes barred the way, palms pressed politely together. “Honored travelers, state your purpose for visiting Roaring Storm Church!”
Jared matched their gesture. “I am Jared Chance. This is Flaxseed… We come seeking Abbot Infinides.”
The priests exchanged a knowing glance. “So you are Jared. Please… Follow us immediately!”
Jared’s curiosity flickered. “You already know my name?”
“Abbot Infinides instructed us that if a man called Jared ever arrived, was to be brought straight to him, without delay,” one of the priests said.
Jared had not Imagined that Infinides would predict his every move, much less foresee that would climb all the way to Roaring Storm Church in search of him.
Guided by the priest, Jared and Flaxseed followed a winding trail that sliced upward through ancient pines. Resinous needles whispered overhead, and each breath carried the scent of sandalwood and celestial energy.
After roughly an hour, the path straightened before a pair of towering gates. Carved from dark rosewood and inked with age, the doors bore the name of the place.
On either side, stone lions crouched, emanating the aura to suppress evil.
