DISORGANIZED DEBATES

A frowning man in dark green robes emerged from the Chastity Tower. It was Master Gi Shan, the cousin of General Gi and the man who had raised Marshall. Or rather, his master, whose hair had turned half grey out of all the anger the disciple put him through.

"Shei Marshall, where on earth have you been?" he chided.

However, as soon as his eyes set on the snow deity, Master Gi Shan's expression turned formal.

"Young Lord Chioni. Welcome back," he bowed his head and stepped aside to let them enter.

Wyn returned the greeting, waiting for Marshall to enter first before following inside.

"You are right on time. We are about to begin the meeting," Master Gi Shan told the snow deity as they walked up the endless marble stairs.

➳ ➳ ➳

Marshall was supposed to sit patiently in another hall with the rest of the disciples while the officials discussed the demon invasion.

He had no relations to any of the powerholding families, nor was he wasn't a deity or an official. However, there was one thing he had—audacity.

He crept up to the conference room and opened the door just a crack to peek inside.

From his point of view, he could see the snow deity stood across the room, behind Lord Chioni, who was seated at the round table along with General Gi and Arbiter of Justice.

Muyang was also present, standing next to his brother with a watchful expression, fiddling with the corner of his sleeve. The boy's expressions changed as quickly as colors in the sunset sky. His thoughts were clear to anyone who glanced at him. 

The clamor inside the conference room was worse than the market on the weekend. Officials of Sky Oriels Sect talked over each other.

"...such a massacre! The Stygian Regions should pay! We cannot allow them to trample over our lives with no consequences!"

"Collect the heads of the demons and poke them on stakes for everyone to see!"

Marshall bit back a chuckle. How was that official planning to put a demon's head on a stake if the demons bodies dissipated into black dust shortly after being killed? 

"Spewing nonsense at a time like this! Do you wish to provoke the Stygian Regions? Have we not lost enough lives during the invasion?!"

Arbiter of Justice quelled the clamor, "Let us keep our manners. I ask of you to refrain from making unnecessary comments."

He continued, "As we all know, General Gi has created a rift between Sky Oriels and Stygian Regions. It has been effective so far, however, it is but a temporary solution."

"Due to the damaged protective barrier around Sky Oriels, we must send a unit to the Tainia stronghold to trigger the defense mechanism. The process is straightforward."

Arbiter of Justice looked to Wyn, then to his own daughter, indicating the task would fall onto her shoulders.

"I believe it can be entrusted to our young talents. Young Dame Calla, will you form a unit of disciples you deem most capable for the mission?"

Marshall thought it was strange to hear Calla Akeya be addressed by her title by her own father. The Chastity Tower was too formal. 

Calla Akeya straightened, her determined gaze turning a deeper blue as she accepted the task without hesitation.

"Consider it done."

Her brother's eyes flickered anxiously next to her. Calla Kai seemed to understand that their father would send him along even if he didn't want to. Both of the siblings were a part of the Four Season disciples, practically joint at the hip, yet not too friendly.

Calla Akeya took the chance to speak up, "If I may, I would like to suggest we seek out the Stygian Overlord for negotiations to settle the war."

The rest of the descendants—Calla Kai, Wyn and Muyang—had not uttered a peep during the entire meeting, as it was uncommon for the kids to make suggestions.

Hostile silence stretched over the room. The officials exchanged indifferent glances, dismissively clearing their throats. It seemed they didn't want to consider anything that came from a mouth that wasn't theirs.

Wyn observed the frowning, aged faces with an unreadable expression, then stepped forward.

"I support Young Dame Calla's suggestion. The protective barrier has been broken once. There is no guarantee the demons will not it again."

Lord Chioni watched his son with a pensive nod, eventually agreeing. "Correct. We must find out what his goal is in order to gain the upper hand."

One of the officials choked at the mere idea of it. "Lord Chioni! Meet the Stygian Overlord?!"

Lord Chioni remained calm. "Once we find out what the Stygian Overlord seeks, we will be able to mitigate the disaster occurring in Sky Oriels."

"I beg to differ! It is too dangerous!"

Lord Chioni's calculating gaze swept over the room, stopping at the door. Marshall could have sworn the wintry eyes lingered on him momentarily. Even though his stare wasn't as harsh as Wyn's, something about it sent a shiver down his spine. 

"We will meet the Stygian Overlord during the same time Young Dame Calla's unit sets off to restore the barrier. It will ensure their safety," Lord Chioni assured the official.

Master Gi Shan, who had followed Lord Chioni's gaze, noticed the disciple peering through the narrow slit. His face changed colors to the same green shade as his robes.

He tried to shoo the disciple away by subtly shaking his finger towards the door. Although it was more amusing than intimidating, Marshall sighed and quietly shut the door.