Court of Blood_3

"Elder Sham, you are accused of murder, my attempted murder, and espionage, all these things come down to a single charge. Treason. While you have already been sentenced for death, we will begin your trial." Edward was in a great mood and was going to enjoy every moment of his show

"My Lord Patriarch, I will not speak in this man's defense. I will however provide proof of assassination towards the Young Lord." Tossing Roose's storage ring to Kayce

"This ring was the Young Lords personal hand boys. Gu of spirit beast and spirit stone. The weapon and bribe paid to the servant." Master Hao enjoys his final part of the night

"Yes my servant Roose has been missing for a few days. It seems you have taken care of him for me Grand Elder! HAHAH" Edward continuously finds amusement 

"Bring him before me to admit his crimes, Master Hao"

[Do not overextend Young Lord] Master Hao whispers a warning 

"Young Lord, I am afraid that's not possible." Lord Gregor interjects 

"Explain My Lord"

"Upon your orders we have investigated and found multiple pieces of evidence, Inside of Elder Shams chambers. Correspondence between him and the Grotish King Ivar, and this charred corpse. We believe this to be Roose, Young Lord!"

"Elder Sham a snake that talks with its tail and strikes with its mouth is weak and easy to predict. You do not have courage. You are a small man who despite lacking honor, this court finds you lacking redeeming quality. You are here by sentenced to having your middle core destroyed beyond repair. Your lower core will remain whole, and you will spend 200 years sealed in darkness. If you survive these 200 years, I will allow you the grace to die by my sword. Your fate will serve as warning to the easterrn king."

"But the young lady was-" Elder Sham who was desperate for his life fell blind to his fate. Thinking of any way to survive he plays the loyal servant card, but the soul of Edward exerting its pressure on him, made him break and admit his defeat

"You said something of my sister? Repeat yourself goat fucker!" pressing against the floor Edward doesn't give him the chance 

"Liam the traitor lost his voice. Disable his middle core and then sever the spirit veins in his torso"

"Yes master!" Liam who was holding his old sword again was happy, experiencing the power of being unrestrained by the people who held his leash, he instead was in part holding their leash now. Stomping on the back of Elder Sham, like a light switch, there on second and gone the next, his middle core vanishes. Spearing his back with his hands now, Liam sends his Chi into the spirit veins of Sham and slices them.

"Now stand guard" Edward was showing to court that Liam was his loyal sword. Willing to act his will Infront of the patriarch, solely on Edwards whim. Liam was seen as a knight in the eyes of the court.

"The Seventh Elder is here by stripped of all he owns, and sentenced to imprisonment. Who speaks in his defense?" Kayce Albert confirms Edwards arrogant judgment as he had spoken for them all, and ordered punishment not agreed. The Elders all look at each other before Elder Dame speaks up "Young Lord, would it not be wise to interrogate the traitor?"

"It is a complete waste of time. This spy has been here more than he has been in Vinland. He knows nothing of the current Grotish millitary or plannings. His punishment we will make famous, say he is Ivars bastard. Spread the word that every Viking in Terrene is a criminal without recompense. A hostile force that we are currently at war with."

"Young Lord. Lets talk-" Kayce tries to interject

"All elders spread the word!" Edward cuts him off

"SON" Kayce now livid 

"Spread the word. Any warrior that can prove he slew a Viking from now, until the wars end will be rewarded handsomely. Spread the word so that those that would stand behind me in the vanguard, as I prove my superiority through this conquest, a chance to witness history." Edward rising to his feet as the spectators behold the decision on their leader

"The North has failed to expand a single inch beyond when it was founded. I see this as intolerable. I will fight to expand my house. I will fight so my name is across the four corners of this realm. I will lay myself bare upon my enemy on his best day, and will cover them in an illusion of my scheme. I will constantly be fighting to attain a higher position than I currently hold. I am a selfish leader. I will be demanding your all for the sake of my vanity. I will prove these words and my choice by victory. I will take the lands that the Vikings call home, and destroy their history along with it. That is how this country will dominate ocean to ocean. After that I will rearrange the order of the three houses of Terrene. If there are cowards among this court, retire from your post immediately. The path this family walks under me does not tolerate weakness in leadership." Edward was giving orders that everyone felt certain in

The Terrene Kingdom was just three large clans in coalition. While there was a royal family, all three clans ruled their land independently from each other's influence. That is why despite only being three kingdoms the continent is known as the five kingdoms. Throughout the tens and thousands of years and history, the power of each clan had always shifted. The generation of current houses were maintaining equal balance to the public, already the Alberts were the dominate clan, but Edward said he would shatter the stalemate. Something like this would require him to sperate himself as a successor far greater than the other two. 

"I will take all Grotish holdings, and allow the only thing written of them is they are losers. This will make us the dominate faction on the continent. All those in favor say aye."

[Elder brother has the attention and support of the entire country on his side. Now he wants to take on all its responsibility by himself. Conquering the Grotish, revenge for mother and brother. Im in!] Rhea Albert was the first to say aye. Followed by the six elders and Master Hao

Staring at his vessels father, who was calmly still in his throne "Lord Patriarch, now we must act. For somethings past and all things future." Edward was telling Kayce to play along 

"After the Young Lord returns from the Sacred Forest we will declare our conquest to the world. The Young Lord will be given command and men to lead as the vanguard of the war. He will be the one to charge at Ivar, while we take his towns and villages under our rule. Court dismissed." Kayce annoyed whispers to Edward [Do not leave. We still need to talk]

The room became bare very quickly. Master Hao who wanted to get a jump on his work flew out the hall in haste as soon as dismissed. Follwed by all the elders, Liam and Lord Gregor move the prisoner, and Rhea looks back upon her family feeling left out. 

"What needs to be said my Lord" Edward was tired and ready for bed after such a party

"Follow me" Patriarch Kayce rises from his throne and walks through the wall behind it. Into a room dark and quiet Edward realizing he stepped into an array but could not see was feeling excited.

Kayce Albert manipulates his fingers activating light from multiple arrays "Edward Albert, the 38th Albert to wear the ruby ring. Witness your family's true inheritance." Summoning forth his scroll, and summoning its array, six people emerge from the shadows of the room and kneel towards the patriarch 

[That is a simple receiving array, granted it is decently high grade. It can be used across large distances but is still trash]

"Array mastery is what truly enabled your ancestor to become a hero. These six men are my knights. They have learnt some of these arrays, they are the top of this clan. You who wear that artifact must learn these arts to become The Norths true heir." Kayce was just testing the waters of what Master Hao told him

"HAHAHA" Edward was genuinely taken aback by Kayce thinking the array in his hand was superior to the storage artifact

"Father you say these drawings are this family's true inheritance. Not this artifact on my hand. You couldnt be anymore wrong! This artifact has bended the rules of the heavenly dao. Its power was wasted on our family, unable to grasps a portion of its ability. You have a small imagination father. That piece of paper is merely a receiving array, to tear the void and arrive where its other half rests." Edward was feeling even more cold towards Kayce

"You know arrays Edward?" [Master sage. It seems you speak the truth]

"Arrays of that level I can replicate with a small effort. Same for this rank 7 illusion im standing in. You thought I wouldn't notice the seventh knight standing beside me?" Edward weaves hands signs, and takes control of the array revealing the warrior

"Edward if you truly know arrays like you say... You can improve upon this scroll. Teach these men to use teleportation freely?"

"I could. I could even have arrays in all our major cities, that lead directly anywhere there is an array. Let alone these men with experience, an army of array masters is possible. But why would I? These aren't my men and I have things to prepare." Edward was asking what is in it for him 

"These men are loyal to me yes, but they are the best we have. I will give you four of them until the Banquet of Three. Use them as you fight our war, teach them, grow them, then send them back to me."

"You offer me four Grand Unity warriors, who arent submissive to me and call it fortune. Father I will reject such a gift."

"These men will carry out your will. As long as your will is not in my way then there is no issue. The Vikings have many Grand Unity warriors, you and your knight cant handle them all alone."

Edward begins to draw and array smaller in scale than the array in the scroll, but of much more complexity than any the eight have seen. The thousand radius array was both the signal and receiver, creating a small-scale teleportation capable of traveling anywhere there is a copy of the array

[These monkeys are looking at me like I just discovered fire]

"This is an array you people seem the most interested in. When I return from the forest, I will prove you wrong about this artifact and take the four who comprehended the most."

Edward walks out the room, past the false wall and out of sight he vanishes from the southern tower and back into his bed chamber. Not giving his father a goodbye or letting him say goodbye he lays on his body. His soul which was housed in his body firm and stable begun to damage it, again.