The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

Ignoring Avila's complaints, Oscar whisked Avril up and mounted Erden, hugging her behind as his arms wrapped around her stomach. He rested on her soft bed of hair and felt calmer by the second. Avril giggled and leaned back, nestling deeper in his embrace. Erden trotted forward, having the sense not to disturb the peace as he had done earlier, and the three merrily went out together, with Avila following by the side. She seemed to have given up on recovering her sister from his clutches.

The four traveled through parts of the ruins. Parts of the newly built walls had already been destroyed, and the rest scorched black and still smoldering fumes. He could guess he'd get no rest in the morning. Serit's meeting, followed by the recovery efforts as well as crafting new armaments for him and the others, didn't ease his troubled mind. Even though the night was terrifying, the purpose was quite simple: defending and destroying the enemies before them. But the day offered a whole slew of irritating challenges, and he preferred fighting monsters compared to them.

"Our Lord has come!" As he neared the main building, someone called out in a boisterous shout that could only belong to the burly Desmond, who waved and clanged his axes together. Inside the meeting hall, everyone, including the Togros and excluding Serit, Astrid, Renn, Gloria, Hector, and Helen, knelt, a few even digging their heads into the dirt. He never had a good feeling about the worship they showered him in, the mindless chants of zealots numbing his hearing. He glared at Serit, who simply shrugged as if having no words to sway them.

'I can handle being the leader but not their hero.' It turned out that nothing would go the way he wanted. The fierce loyalty exhibited here surpassed the fervor of the Black Aegis Order and the others of the Brilliant Drake Empire, who regarded him as the hero. He feared a far more devastating outcome and gritted his teeth. A slight finger scratched his arm, coming from Avril, who knocked her head a few times. There was no need for words between them. She was telling him it was alright. Exhaling sharply, Oscar had Erden lay down, and he remained mounted, opting not to sit on the stone throne.

Fenu and Marcus stood at the sides, sharing a pointed gaze at one another, ever so competitive. The rest lifted their heads, remaining kneeled. Despite the ordeals from yesterday, Serit walked firmly with straight steps, opening his arms in a greeting to all. "Congratulations to everyone. We have survived the first night. But we mustn't be arrogant. Truthfully, I thought we might suffer heavy casualties or even be slaughtered to the last man. But I trusted in the words of my Primaere, the great Ollanar, and the promises of the Snail Primaere. Trust in him." Serit stepped back and gestured toward Oscar. "Were they wrong?"

"No!" The crowd of Haven Academy, Defiants, Azure Sea Company, his group, and others raised their arms, stretching toward the sky. Oscar looked on instinct, locking eyes with Serit, and for a moment, Serit nodded with deep satisfaction in his gaze. There was a thunderous applause of feet stomping on the earth, and everyone shouted his name. Being a good orator, Serit left Oscar no room to rebuke their chanting lest he undo the courage rising in their hearts, all stemming from the belief in him.

Playing the part well, Serit calmed the crowd and addressed the topics of the meeting. Firstly, the issue of supplies, especially food, and one recalled passing through a herd of sheep nearby. With Serit's orders, that person set out with another to coral the sheep and bring them here. The most important part of surviving in eleventh heaven was the utilization of the resources at hand. Oscar listened as plans were drawn to dig deep and erect wells for a steady supply of water. He had no role in this meeting other than to be the silent lord in the back while the vassals fought for him. Undeniably, however, the sense of unity between all was unlike yesterday when the groups seemed content alone.

Curiously, Auren stepped forward, waving like a child on his first trip to town, meeting and greeting everyone. His eyes swept over as if looking for someone but finding no hint of his quarry, and he deflated, seemingly depressed. The young Sixth perked up, cleared his throat, and said, "After observing the battle yesterday, I believe some adjustments must be made to the barrier. The strategies we enacted yesterday still drained most of our strength. If not for our Lord's power, we'd be dead."

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"Each entrance will have one designated person who will supply a steady flow of Ein to a node. That will fill in the gaps, giving the defenders a chance to recover. Our Lord's accursed will keep fighting beyond the shut entrances. Once the designated ones can't hold up, they will reopen the gaps and recover while our fresh warriors bash into the accursed!" Auren slammed his fist into his palm and winced, shaking the reddened hand. "How about it? My Lord!"

"Impossible. What kind of barrier is that? I've never heard of such a formation." Phoebes Togros said in disbelief. "We aren't sitting on a wellspring of Ein as cities do. You'll overdraw from the crystal."

"Nope! On the contrary, it is quite simple." Auren scurried around and lifted a stone, planting it near the center. With Ein, he drew on the surface, and quickly, a complicated formation of hundreds of points and lines covered the stone. He spoke at length in an incoherent ramble of theories and applications, the brilliant mind the New Dawn nurtured at full display. Marcus and the others smiled like proud parents as the rest stared in wide shock.

"Then, implement it. I leave it to you, Auren." Oscar spoke for the first time.

"I won't fail you!" Auren beamed a bright smile.

"That's the end of the meeting. I want people to work on the walls. Dig up more stones if you have to. Alchemists should work on more recovery elixirs. Fabricators need to get the furnaces working right now. We're sitting on a mound of ores with nothing to process them." Serit clapped his hands. "That is all. Disperse and prepare for the second night!"

The crowd dispersed and carried on to accomplish their directives. Serit escaped before Oscar could talk to him. Clicking his tongue, Oscar patted Erden onward and held down the frustration brewing within. He really didn't enjoy the feeling of being propped up to be used.

"Dad!" Gloria's joyful shout drew closer as she rushed ahead, holding up the hem of her dress in the same manner as Avril. She bounced and zigzagged before leaping on, sitting in front of Avril and gripping Erden's antlers. "Uncle Erden is amazing in his beast form."

"Sorry for her behavior, Father. She's trying to cope with Aunt Maia vanishing again." Renn didn't scold her this time and made a rare excuse for her childishness. He also seemed quite weary, failing to hide the worries breaking in his expression. Oscar thumped his son's chest over the heart and gave a slight smile, and Renn regarded him with the same. The children's connection to the Claude woman was not something he agreed with, but he could tolerate it.

"Avril, the alchemists are gathering. You should head out." Avila turned from behind a set of ruins and crossed her arms, wearing a firm smile. She chuckled when Gloria waved cheerfully and waved back, but her eyes focused on Oscar.

Oscar got off Erden and said, "Avril, go and take them. I will have a word with your sister."

"Don't fight. She doesn't want to see family fighting." Avril pouted and lifted Renn on Erden, giving one final glare at both of them before departing. Oscar smiled weakly. She sure had a way of instilling fear in him without fighting. Was it because he feared disappointing her? Avila coughed and caught his attention, his head snapping back as the smile waned.

Shockingly, Avila bowed her head and said, "I'm sorry for Serit's actions. But he has good reasons."

"Is there a point in making me into your savior?" Oscar asked. "I am not going to destroy the Primal Council, nor will I fight anymore after this year."

"Can you imagine hearing of Isaac's heir for the decades since your first appearance in the world? How the Great Ollanar sang praises of you and of the one whose will you inherited? More than that, you're the perfect Reis body passed down in old legends. Many doubted before, but after yesterday, they're all wholeheartedly serving the cause as you saw today," Avila sighed. "I imagine Serit already sent word to the agents hiding in the other factions."

"I refuse to lead them." Oscar rejected it. If it weren't Avila he was speaking with, he'd have yelled and forced them away. "Fight your own wars."

"But for this year, you will fight, no? That is enough. Some are more zealous and have been waiting to fight under you, and others have waited to see what you are capable of. You've shown everyone that the Great Ollaner wasn't wrong. Do what you want afterward, but don't deny them the light of hope you've granted them." Avila bowed again. "Please. For just this year, be the savior they need. The Defiants have long been waiting for someone to lead them."

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