Chapter 58


    "This is Lord Marak of Lord Viperbane," announced one of Marak''s guards haughtily.


    "Ha," Marakughed, nodding, expecting Celesse to be impressed or at least look at him differently


    upon hearing of his status. But he was disappointed; Celesse showed no interest whatsoever.


    "We are not receiving guests today. Please leave," Celesse insisted for the third time.


    Tyral cautioned, "Lord Marak is a distinguished guest of the Cobalt Strike order, and as a Golden


    Protégé, Lady Celesse represents the image of our order. Shouldn''t you be a bit more polite?"


    "No harm done; it''s our first meeting, and we''re still getting to know each other." Marak was


    uncharacteristically magnanimous. His smile was unwavering as he nced at vin, who was


    bending over with arched eyebrows, looking back at him.


    vin adjusted his breath, slowly rose to his feet, and met Marak''s gaze.


    Marak purposely asked, "And who might this be? Is it customary to appear before guests without


    proper attire? How does Lady Celessee to associate with such a boorish individual?"


    "I''ll say it onest time, please leave. You''re not wee here." Celesse outright invoked her


    Combat Magic, a semi-transparent energy ripple pulsating silently around her.


    This was the mark of an Advanced Mage, an energy shield!


    At Novice Mage Stage I, there would be a single transparent ripple, with Stage II producing two


    layers, and so forth, up to Stage IX with nineyers.


    Marak ignored her, and asked vin again, "Am I speaking to deaf ears?"


    Tyral chuckled to himself. "Ha, just as I expected." Marak, with his haughty nobility, meeting a


    beauty like Celesse, and vin, the tough-as-nails individual, was sure to stir up trouble.


    vinughed in irritation. "It''s my own house; why should it bother you whether I dress or not? If it


    offends you, feel free to leave. Did I ask you to stay?"


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    "How dare you!" Marak''s guards shouted in unison, incensed that someone would dare talk back to


    their lord.


    Tyral stepped back with a snicker, "Fight, let them fight, and may it be fierce."


    Marak sneered, "Interesting. Lady Celesse, is he your hound? He barks quite fiercely on your


    behalf."


    vin cocked his head, a mischievous smile on his face. "To hear a man''s words as a dog''s


    barking, have you, Lord Marak, ever questioned your own lineage?"


    The swords of Lord Viperbane''s guards rang as they were drawn, pointing at vin.


    Celesse''s tone was icy as she stepped in front of vin to confront Marak, "Lord Marak, I must


    insist on respect. I ask you onest time, leave this ce!"


    Marak acted as though he hadn''t heard her and didn''t take vin seriously, continuing with a smile.


    "I have traveled far to visit, mainly to see you, Lady Celesse. Might I have the honor of inviting you


    to enjoy the exquisitendscapes of Cobalt Strike?"


    Tyral, ever the instigator, egged on, "Servant vin, step aside! Do not disturb Lord Marak and


    Lady Celesse."


    Marak gestured to his men. "Come, assist Lady Celesse in handling her pet."


    "At once!" The guards acknowledged in unison, but as they stepped forward, the iron gate behind


    them suddenly swung open, and a chilling cold air swept into the courtyard. "Who dares to be so


    presumptuous in Cobalt Strike?"


    Marak turned with a cold frown, prepared to rebuke, but the sight that met his eyes left him


    dumbstruck.


    A stunning woman entered the courtyard. Her presence diffused a frigid chill, pure and ethereal as a


    lily rising from the water, untouched by earthly grime. Her delicate features were veiled in white, yet


    even through the gossamer fabric, her transcendent beauty shone through, refined and


    otherworldly.


    Her long hair cascaded over her snow-white gown, soft and lustrous, shimmering with an almost


    translucent ck. The woman carried herself with a dignity and grace that was aloof yet notcking


    in elegance.


    Where Celesse had stood peerless before, now two beauties vied in splendor, casting all else into


    shadow.


    Marak was stunned, and his guards, too, were secretly taken aback, their vigor waning.


    If Celesse''s beauty was as a tulip in the garden, the woman before them was akin to a rose on a


    mountain peak, each with their own charm, utterly captivating.


    "Mari?" Tyral was incredulous at the sight, wondering if he had mistaken the person.


    The Elite Protégé of Botanic Haven, Mari? How had shee to this ce?


    Celesse, Mari, Liyana, these three were all stunningly beautiful and shrouded in mystery, rarely


    seen. Among them, Celesse and Mari were most oftenpared, not only for their beguiling


    looks and aura but also because their talents and standings were equally matched. Although


    Mari was not a Golden Protégé, her status as a Protégé of Botanic Haven, and as the sole Elite


    Protégé taken in by a Botanic Haven Elder in recent years, did not fall short of Celesse''s.


    Not just Tyral was surprised; vin and Celesse were too – why had shee here?