Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Arriving

“Excuse me, sir,” Loyd began, trying to sound respectful and earnest. “I was wondering if you could tell me more about Princess Chloe—her likes and dislikes. I want to avoid any more misunderstandings.”

The old man raised an eyebrow, sensing the desperation in Loyd’s voice. “Why the sudden interest?” he asked, his tone plain although he is curious but Loyd is nothing more than an ant to him, even if he plans to harm Princess Chloe he can easily kill him.

‘Hmm, I might not even be needed , Aiden is enough to dispose of him’ Old man thought.

“I just want to get along with her and Aiden,” Loyd replied, forcing a smile. “I think knowing more about her will help me fit in better.”

The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Princess Chloe is a complex individual,” he started. “She loves nature and animals, especially her Seasonal Deer. She has a passion for swordsmanship and enjoys exploring new places. As for dislikes, well, she can’t stand cruelty towards animals, and she values honesty above all, lastly her mood has no limits , she can be happy one time and sad another time”.

Loyd listened intently, committing every detail to memory. ‘This will help me win her over,’ he thought, determination burning in his eyes.

“Thank you,” he said, bowing slightly. “I appreciate your help.”

The old man nodded and said “Remember, true intentions can’t be hidden forever,” he warned. “Be genuine in your approach.”

‘ Though not like you can win past Aiden anyway’ Old man inwardly added

Loyd nodded, though his mind was already racing with plans. ‘I will make sure Aiden is no more in her life,’ he vowed silently as he walked away, formulating his next move. He would use this information to create opportunities to impress Chloe and undermine Aiden, all while appearing genuine and kind.

Soon the Sunset casted his last glow over the World for today, as Aiden and Chloe returned after a walk.

Old Man looked at them and saw various shadows protecting them, he nodded at them amd then those shadows vanished leaving the care of Princess and Aiden in old man hand.

Tonight was another peaceful night.

*****

The next day, Aiden approached the old man and asked, “When will we arrive?”

The old man glanced at Aiden and replied, “We’ve already completed 90% of the distance. We should arrive by evening tomorrow .”

Aiden nodded and turned to leave, but the old man called after him. “Wait!”

Aiden stopped and turned back. “Yes?”

“What do you think of Loyd?” the old man asked, motioning for Aiden to sit with him.

Aiden took a seat across from him and responded, “Just a monkey in heat.”

The old man chuckled, clearly amused. “What a way of putting it.”

Shaking his head, the old man continued, “No need to be overly concerned about that kid. He’s just another one hoping to achieve the sky by sitting on an eagle’s back.”

Aiden smirked. “No, need to worry, I never see him as a threat?”

The old man’s expression turned serious. “Loyd has potential, but he’s misguided and impulsive. As long as you stay focused, he won’t be able to touch you.”

Aiden nodded, understanding the old man’s perspective. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good,” the old man replied, relaxing back into his seat. “Now, enjoy the rest of the journey. We’ll be there soon enough.”

Aiden nodded and returned to the carriage. They resumed their journey, moving steadily toward their destination.

By lunchtime, they arrived at a small village located just before the city. From a distance, Aiden could see around twenty houses surrounded by wooden fences. The village was quaint and modest.

As they passed by, a middle-aged man approached them and said, “My lords, how about resting in our village?”

Hearing him, the guards stopped and looked at the old man for guidance. The old man nodded, and everyone changed their course to follow the middle-aged man, who seemed eager to welcome them.

Upon arriving at the village, the old man nodded to the guards, and they quickly set up camp, constructing temporary houses for Aiden and Chloe. The experienced guards completed their task in just ten minutes.

The old man then ordered them to prepare food, which they did swiftly. Once everything was set, he dismissed the guards.

Aiden observed as the guards entered the houses, where a few female villagers greeted them with bashful looks. Curious, Aiden turned to the old man. “What kind of village is this?”

“It’s a village for those who were unfortunate to lose their spirits or those who never awakened one,” the old man replied. “The world is cruel, Aiden. Here, only power matters. The bigger your fist, the bigger your life will be.”

Aiden looked puzzled, so the old man continued, “As for why those women are so eager to invite the guards, it’s because they hope to give birth to children who can at least awaken a spirit, no matter how low the grade might be.”

Aiden understood, nodding solemnly. He looked at the houses, which were enveloped in spirit energy to prevent any sound from leaking out. He noticed some men outside the houses, their expressions ranging from guilt and hope to despair.

He sighed, reflecting on the harsh realities of this world. “It seems this world is too partial,” he thought. “At least in Celestaria, those who lost their cores or never awakened them were given odd jobs and not thrown out of the city.”

Chloe, meanwhile, was exploring the village with her usual curiosity, chatting with villagers and observing their way of life. She seemed to be enjoying the break from their journey, unaware of the deeper issues happening inside the village.

As the afternoon wore on, Aiden and Chloe sat together for a meal, joined by the old man and a few villagers. The atmosphere was warm, but Aiden couldn’t shake the thoughts of inequality and hardship faced by those less fortunate.

Later, as the sun began to set, the village grew quieter. The guards, having finished their meals and interactions with the villagers, returned to their posts. Aiden and Chloe retired to their temporary homes, reflecting on the day.

In the stillness of the night, Aiden lay awake, pondering the conversation with the old man and the harsh realities he had witnessed. He vowed to remember these lessons as he continued on his path, determined to protect those he cared about and to bring some measure of fairness to this world, if he could.

At evening, just as the old man had said, they reached the city. From afar, Aiden noticed a long line of carriages waiting to enter. The city’s most prominent features were its imposing grey stone walls and the two lifelike statues at the entrance.

The statues depicted a young man with a Thunderbird-like spirit behind him and a young woman with a large snake-like spirit. Their expressions and poses exuded confidence and power.

“They were last year’s champions,” the old man said, noticing Aiden’s interest in the statues.

Loyd’s ears perked up as he gazed at the imposing figures. “Champions?” Aiden asked, intrigued.

“Every five years, there’s a championship for the titles of King of Spirit Kings and Queen of Spirit Queens,” the old man began to explain.

Aiden and Loyd listened attentively while Chloe slept peacefully beside them. “It’s an ancient tournament where only youngsters below eighteen can enter. They must also have a cultivation rank below Spirit Emperor. The participants fight for the title of the strongest King and Queen.”

The old man paused, letting the information sink in. “Although not visible from here, at the center of this city stands the statue of the one who comes first in this tournament, the Supreme King.”

Both Aiden and Loyd dreamed about the title of Supreme King. The old man nodded, seeing the competitive spirit ignite in their eyes. He turned his gaze to Loyd, thinking, “It would be better if I could train him to be our kingdom’s pillar. If not…” A fierce glint passed through his eyes as he considered the alternative.

Unaware of the old man’s thoughts, Loyd envisioned a future where he stood triumphant over Aiden’s dead body, Chloe in his arms, and the title of Supreme King secured.

Aiden, on the other hand, was more practical. He pondered how many opportunities and challenges the tournament might present. Both boys smiled as they gazed at the statues, each lost in their thoughts.

They weren’t alone in their aspirations. Many newly awakened spirits looked at the statues with determination, dreaming of the day their own likenesses might stand in such a place of honor.

Above the city wall stood two figures, gazing down at the long line of carriages. They observed the newcomers and conversed quietly, their eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

The city itself, sprawling and vibrant, waited just beyond the gates, ready to welcome the hopefuls and test their mettle in the trials ahead