Chapter twenty-two (13)

The next day came a little bit too fast. It was as though the universe was too excited for the alignment. Those interested in the battleground had long started their journey to the Lucen mountains. This century, Lucen Nunnery was hosting the alignment battle.

Drums sounded.

One could see heavily coated nuns drumming away in an icy arena. A central circular ice plain with tall ice pillars held up nuns drumming away on massive drums. 

The Ligrel and Ostie clan were the first of ancients to arrive, each arriving in a flash of light. One look and one could tell who they were; their heavy-lidded round eyes, pale skin and slender form aside, their flowing soft cotton robes with wide-length sleeves, were a big signpost. Their hair, black, silky and long, fluttering with the icy wind; a sight to behold.

The rest of the ancients followed; the Vigron looked regal in their heavy silk, while the Bloom Thraile isle stepped out of thin air into the ice arena in dark fur. Looking from one end to the other, one could recognise their dark skin and spongy hair pulled, into complicated weaves by hair pins and combs made from human bones. These features, coupled with their dark fur attire, made the clan of women look like ladies from hell. They made their way to the stands with their younger generation representatives and took their seats in the section bearing their clan crest.

The drums changed beat, signalling the arrival of the clans from Other-side. The Flutti looked completely regal in their elaborate silks and pasty skin. The Lantanier and Lancier clans looked wild in their strong polished leather, plaited back hair and many tattoos climbing up their bronze skin from their leather collars, unto their necks and faces; their skin glistening so much under the little sunlight, one would think that they were standing back in their arid lands during the heat quarter, being baked by the sun. The Avrid looked slender and scholarly, bearing the same features as the Ligrel clan; from their physical features to their wide-length sleeves.

With the arrival of other independent powers, all the powers of Thriegor now sat in one place. Tension could be tasted in the cold air. All leaders and chiefs arrived with their representatives, who were young geniuses from their clans participating in the battle.

The drums changed beat, calling the attention of all to the new arrivals. Of course, a gathering of this magnitude would be incomplete without the appearance of Thraines.

Lady Xier and Linna were first to step out of their portals onto the icy grounds. Everyone was so curious about the Thraines, that the lively arena quieted. The two came with a small entourage, but no participant; making one wonder if the Thraines had any interest in the battles at all.

Lusa and Kyla stepped out just after. This was the first time anyone had seen this many Thraines; the tension had reached another level.

The grand dowager empress of Khul and Vion stepped out after them, causing excitement to ring through the arena. So many Thraines, how will they interact with each other? Do they interact with each other? Matriarch Lilac finally made her appearance; she was standing on the highest platform, watching the Thraines that had arrived approach her. The Thraines did not even bother to nod at each other, making their way to join Matriarch Lilac on the platform. They had taken their seats before Lucy arrived. She walked out of a portal with Walter, Helen and Professor Lorgh, as her only entourage. The Ligrel clan froze in their seats at the sight of Helen walking behind Lady Wickshire. Protector Klienn trained his eyes on the person whose arm Helen was holding.

"What is Helen doing here?" the Ligrel clan chief asked.

"That person beside her must be Lord Steinhouse" Protector Klienn sighed and the Ligrel clan head frowned. Though Lady Wickshire's position was quite far, all that sat in the arena were martial artists who could see afar with ease. 

The Ligrel clan head could feel the sneer from other ancients; they all knew that Helen was abandoned by them and were happy to see this outcome. Helen was a person Lady Wickshire now took to such things. A person like Lady Wickshire was a backing every power wanted. Now, their clan had lost such an opportunity. They felt as though they had been poured a bucket of mud.

Lucy made her way to Matriarch Lilac's side and took a seat with her entourage. Matriarch Lilac was now the only person left standing. She raised her hand and the drumming stopped instantly.

"Every hundred years, the realms align. A window opens for young heroes to stand on a grand stage; a stage of fortune and misfortune. Those who wish to stand on this stage, step forward with your token!" Matriarch Lilac was an old power. She could speak softly, yet magnify it to enter each ear seated in the arena.

Young masters representing their clans stepped forward and revealed their tokens. One could tell that others who no one knew had a token to send a representative, had still taken one out. This made one wonder how many tokens were actually available to be given out. The Thraines, did they have more and only gave out as they wished?