The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

The sky was as clear blue as an ocean on a calm day. Not a single snowflake could be seen for the first time since he arrived in Frostveil City, only the bright two suns beaming down on the entirety of the city. Even the winds seemed to have died down, barely mustering a breeze that carried a faint warmth. Flying overhead, Oscar glanced down at Frostveil. Snow no longer blanketed the roofs and streets, swept and melted away by the ardent work of fellow Exalts. Great houses of timber and stone lined the streets on both sides, and people stomped around outside, laughing and wandering around with lively strides.

"It's all thanks to you, Oscar. That portal closed down after we left. I don't think the Black Tortoise Empire can use those means again." Charles crossed his arms, laughing heartily to himself.

"Everything seems lost on him. What a pity." Robert sighed from the side, frowning. His beard moved as his lips formed a smile. "Well done to you all. More work remains for us here, but your battles will move elsewhere. May we meet on the fields of battle again."

Celestina tossed a small object that caught the light of the two suns, glinting like a jewel. Oscar caught it and looked up from his hand to her in shock. She shrugged in response as if it wasn't a big deal and said, "It's my sigil. If you brandish it around, you represent me and my authority. Being the Pavilion Master's grand disciple and the Warden's disciple can be enough, but this will ensure no one bothers you."

"While I feel it might bring me more trouble, I won't dishonor the sigil." Oscar clutched the sigil, a small coin that bore a dragon inside a white flower, signifying her status. He bowed deeply along with the rest of his Black Aegis Order. "Farewell then. May we meet again soon."

Bidding his last farewells, Oscar turned to his Black Aegis Order, eyeing Fred, who was still bandaged, not as severely as yesterday, and mobile, though helped by Emily. He was relieved each time to see his friend was alive, still shuddering from the memory of Fred being covered in arrows and wounds. Biting his tongue slightly to rouse himself back to reality, he raised his hand and shouted, "We fly back home!"

Everyone cheered and set out with the two suns rising on their left. Oscar breathed in the clean morning air, devoid of poisonous snow, the smell of victory bringing his lips up to a smile. Shortly after, his eyes steeled, and he raised his speed, tearing through the air. His mission here was done. Now, he only needed to receive the next one from the Pavilion Master. Still, Oscar allowed himself the short respite to enjoy the great scenery of the great mountains resting under a colorful sunrise that moved light like paint and drew on the white canvas snow in vibrant colors of purple, red, yellow, orange, and pink.

…….

A few days later, Oscar arrived at the Blue Ocean Pavilion. Not much had changed since his last stay a month ago. The Divine Essence flower still towered over, reaching high as its petals loomed over the Pavilion. At the golden and sapphire walls, the guards, clad in blue armor, stopped them but stepped aside instantly the moment Oscar showed his token, a real and usable one for his identity. None of them bothered to hide the admiration in their gazes as he passed through, some holding their breath in his presence.

A familiar sight of marbled paths winding up and down green hills greeted him. Bridges arched over streams of clear water. Young Exalts wandered everywhere along the paths, an immaturity displaying in their hurried and uneven strides and panicked faces. The peace here was admirable. It was a shame this peace couldn't extend to everywhere else.

He wasted no time and told everyone to stay and rest in the vicinity before setting out for Triton Hold. Emily dragged Fred somewhere, a welcoming sight. Oscar turned away and rushed to the largest palace, a fortress with great spires shaped like tridents and thick walls of gold metal. He ventured inside, ignoring the stares surrounding him. Being a hero had its downsides, and he entertained the idea of wearing a helmet like he had done in Drakken Port.

"Excuse me. Is the Pavilion Master inside?" Oscar walked up to one of the elders, a Marshal Exalt.

"Why, if it isn't the great hero?! Hohoho!" The elder stroked his beard, laughing while patting his stomach. He cleared his throat and shook Oscar's hand. "I'm afraid the Pavilion Master is not in at the moment. He left for an important meeting with the Dragnar Ancestor. He said he won't be back until nightfall."

"Nightfall? It's midday…." Oscar groaned, deflating after having psyched himself for the meeting.

The elder reached his arm around Oscar's shoulder and whispered, "I may be brash in asking, but will you be willing to meet with my granddaughter? I'm positive you'll like her. We can even set up a marriage contract right now!"

"Sorry. I'm already married." Oscar snuck out of the elder's grasp, an easy task since the elder wasn't serious about holding him in place.

"There's no rule against having more than one. I realize you love your wife dearly, and I'm not pushing for my granddaughter to be the main wife. Let me set up a meeting. I swear you'll fall for her at first sight." The elder requested.

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"I have no time. I have to see my master now. Thank you for your time." Oscar walked away, but he hastened his steps the moment the elder was out of sight.

'The Pavilion Master did say he would spread the news of my survival to everyone. But I feel it's more trouble than it's worth now.' Oscar felt a bad headache coming on and rubbed the sides of his head. He wouldn't put it past the Pavilion Master to also spread his face around. He had never met or known that elder until today, and already, he was almost forced into a marriage meeting. Noticing a few elders approaching him, he dashed through the main gates and flew above, flying toward Abyss Prison.

Covered in Ein, he dove straight into the deep waters and swam until the light no longer reached him. Oscar spotted the faint lights of the Abyss Prison and landed squarely on the large terrace. The seemingly depressive sight of a jagged and dark terrace facing bleak underwater darkness was welcoming to Oscar. At least here, he found the space to relax, complete silence enveloping him.

"Welcome back, Oscar!" Aunt Rosett waved cheerfully out of nowhere and hugged him from behind. Her pink hair scattered around, some hanging down his shoulder. "I heard what you did up north. Well done."

"Aunt Rosett. How are you here? Does my master permit you to come here now?" Oscar separated from Aunt Rosett, who nervously chuckled while scratching her faintly scarred cheek.

"Maggie is away because of the intensifying war on the western border, so she's out of the picture. I followed you once you came back. You're my ticket inside here anyway." Aunt Rosett hummed around the terrace, glancing all over for his master.

"How is the work on that thing?" Oscar asked. A month ago, he gave Aunt Rosett several blueprints for specialized weapons and golems for the war effort. Sitting on a chair, he waited for her answer, expecting something to have been achieved after a month.

"Expensive. Very expensive." Aunt Rosett frowned. "The Gunghir alone was a ludicrous invention, far more expensive after that Elder Saul configured the whole thing to have a teleport ability. Little wonder your little golem friend was once a Primaere. Only a Primaere will have all the resources to create some of the more outlandish inventions you gave me."

Outlandish….Oscar recalled he gave her the more tamer ones. He could imagine her shock if she knew about the far superior and extravagant inventions. Smiling, he turned his head, but his master was nowhere to be seen. Then, someone tapped him from behind. He jolted and punched out reflexively.

His master, garbed in black clothing and clad in a tri-pronged helmet, grabbed his punch, stoic and unmoved as usual. "Good greeting. Never let anyone take your back like that."

"Draven! Why were you so late?" Aunt Rosett said inquisitively. "It's not like you to keep your dear disciple waiting."

"How was the north?" Draven blatantly ignored her, and Aunt Rosett slammed her foot into the floor, gritting her teeth. He patted Oscar's body from head to toe and mumbled, "You're in peak condition."

Oscar allowed Erden out from his cloak and rested him on the floor. He bowed to his master and greeted him, "I've returned. It was a long journey. But I come baring a gift."

"A gift?" Draven leaned forward, his unseeable gaze within the darkness of the visor intensifying like a void that would swallow everything. "What sort of gift can my student give to me?"

Oscar solemnly reached into his space pocket and retrieved the purple gem, the Imperial Jewel, a swirling mist of stars and Ein pulsing inside the dazzling surface. He placed it on the table and pushed it toward his master. His head lowered to touch the table as his hands rested on his knees into a deep sitting bow. "Please accept this gift. I know no one more suitable for it than you."

"Oscar…this is…." Aunt Rosett lost her voice, stammering inaudibly.

Draven was silent. He grabbed the Imperial Jewel and held it close to his visor, turning it over in his hand. His attention soon turned to Oscar, a piercing stare that froze Oscar instantly. "It seems my disciple found a lucky encounter. Imperial Jewels are a scarce resource. That Robert is intent on purchasing or finding one." His laughter rang out, louder each second. "Why don't you keep this for yourself?"

"Because I'm too far off from it," Oscar answered. "Besides. If I did want an Imperial Jewel, I'd want at least two more. One for my wife and one for Erden."

"How sweet! You've become quite the romantic." Aunt Rosett teased with an adoring smile. She peeked at Draven and coughed. "If only someone else were like that."

"You realize I can't use this now?" Draven spoke, ignoring Aunt Rosett again. "Any King Exalts are forbidden from fighting. What value is there in keeping this now? What value would it give you after the war?"

"It's my student fees. As for the value…being the disciple of a King Exalt and the grand disciple of another King Exalt will be terrific." Oscar grinned. His master scoffed and put the Imperial Jewel away, asking how he had found it. Oscar eagerly retold the happenings in the palace, omitting the parts about the divine people and the Ancients.

"For there to be so many elemental elixirs to facilitate the advancement to the Marshal Exalt realm…it's strange." Aunt Rosett traced her finger around the edges of her teacup, emptied during his recount.

"So what will you do with those elixirs?" Draven munched on a cookie.

"I'll give them to the Pavilion. I already kept some for myself." Oscar said, patting Erden's resting head.

"That old bastard doesn't deserve anything. Leave it be and keep it." Draven sipped from a steaming cup.

"I object!" A powerful voice sent the waters around the terrace into a rage, and violent waves crashed on the invisible barrier. The air cracked into a rift, and Remulus Grant, the Pavilion Master, stepped out, wiping his bald head with a napkin. The powerful, nerve-wracking Ein that forced Oscar's breath out of his lungs vanished. The Pavilion Master landed on the terrace and swiped some snacks for himself. He said in his usual aged yet clear voice, "I arrived just in time. Well done on securing the elixirs, Oscar."

"Greetings, Grandmaster." Oscar bowed. "May I ask first, what was the reason you called me back?"

"Oh right, priorities first." Remulus rummaged around in the pockets of his simple blue robes and pulled out an envelope sealed with the royal sigil of the emperor, a three-headed dragon. Anything with that sigil meant a missive of the utmost priority. "You've been invited to the capital."

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