Two pairs of feminine feet, both in expensive shoes of the latest but vastly different fashions, shook with the same nervous energy as their owners were sitting in a luxurious waiting room, attempting to look as small as possible. Neither were intimidated by the expensive furnishings or the grand displays of wealth and authority since both were raised in similarly opulent environments. It was the anticipation of meeting the owner of the room who invited two girls that got their hearts pounding.
Nicole and Tiana had been busy all week trying to suppress and obscure the news of what happened that day when they received a sudden summons to the Headmaster’s office. The Headmaster of Trident University being none other than Anthony Trident the Third, The Blood Trident, one of the strongest living historical figures that helped shape their world and established the very city and university they lived and learned in. Only making a few planned appearances a year, Sir Trident was a living legend, few had the privilege of even glimpsing. The two girls were terrified, but equally excited about the unexpected honor.
Having prepared as best they could, the two rushed over and were surprised to meet when led to the same waiting room. The two sat in awkward silence for the first few minutes, unsure of their circumstances.
The two girls exchanged nervous glances from time to time, wishing to at least confide in each other, but withheld the urge. Their families currently looked to be at the brink of war over a failed trade deal with another Gate City that had been vital to both families. Each was blaming the other for the fault and neither was backing down. If anyone reported the two cavorting with the ‘enemy,’ there would be consequences.
That didn’t mean they forgot the conversation they had with Jun before he fled. It wasn’t difficult for the two princesses to covertly communicate with their vast resources. It was only ever the nerve to take the first step in properly bridging the gap that had been lacking. Now that they had, with Jun’s help, the only thought was that they should have done so sooner. Having something like a shared secret, like Jun’s matters and their shared efforts in helping him, had allowed a budding friendship to finally bloom. A secret friendship at that.
Now that they were secretly in regular correspondence, they could plan their ‘enemy encounters’ to fool their families while finding times to hang out in between. It was the only bit of fun the two reslished now that both girls had moved onto the next steps of their professional careers. Any time the two could squeeze out to hang out were treasured moments, but the inside of one of the most politically and physically powerful people’s waiting room was not the time or place to let their hair down.
Two pairs of hands fidgeted and tapped with the same nervous energy as their owners pondered left and right. Was it because of their families’ tensions? Why would he call them instead of their fathers then? Was it because of their suspicious activities this week?
Tiana had tracked down all witnesses and verified if any other recordings were made while spreading different rumors that the visual effects that made Jun look like an S Rank awakened were a part of the rune presentation that was never made because of his shock of betrayal. She wasn’t kind with what she said about the adulterers, but seeing as how many of the details were already widely known; she felt it would be more effective to simply further muddy the waters.
Nicole had contacted the president of the official Jun fan club (of which she was a secret member) and asked the group to not widely reveal what had been seen and to guard any existing copies of footage from the live stream. When asked for a reason, Nicole had merely stated that Jun’s life may be threatened if the wrong people were to learn of his ascension. The reply came after a long pause but promised that not a single viewer of the Silent Sculptor’s legendary live stream would betray his safety. There was no way for Nicole to feel confident with such an empty promise, but what other options did she have?
A rattling of the door awakened the two of their rambling thoughts. They both stood with etiquette and waited. The door opened. A beautiful woman that was impossible to ignore glided in, the door shutting loudly behind her. She had beautiful shining silver hair that flowed behind her while wearing a gorgeous dress of layered sheer fabrics of such quality neither princess had ever seen.
Nicole and Tiana were frozen in shock at the unexpected meeting with such a renowned celebrity and almost fell over with how she introduced herself.
“Hello Miss Silverwind and Miss Firestorm. Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. My name is Celestia Luna, President of The Silent Sculptor Fan Club. It’s a pleasure to meet you both. Now, who is threatening the life of my god?”
---
A new barrier had been erected within the Student Square of Trident University. For the last week, the curiosity of all students and faculties burned to explore the interior that so few had been fortunate to see personally. The stories of that day had already become a new legend of the University within a short time. It was impossible not to when almost everyone that had been there had transformed in one way or another.
Many were moved by the supposed generosity of vision, many were moved by the beauty of the fantasy garden come alive, many rune-smiths had turned into fanatics, proclaiming the arrival of a new Rune Grand Master, while everyone marveled about the magical centerpiece of the installation. A magic sculpture that showed everyone something different and if one was lucky, might even experience a Cleansing.
It was this last rumor that had the school in a frenzy of excitement and anticipation. If it was only one or two instances, then most would have brushed off such claims that a statue could invoke a Cleansing as mere coincidence, but it wasn’t just one or two. Out of the close to three hundred witnesses that had visited the Garden, over twenty Cleansings had occurred within the following few days.
Four of those Cleansings occurred in those elderly professors that had been confined to the second Cleansing for decades, including Professor Kindly and even the Dean of the Rune Studies department, who now praised Jun as his greatest student. No one knew who gave him the black eye the next day.
Even those that had not achieved a Cleansing, many felt a marked improvement in their cultivation as well as a feeling of rejuvenation.
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Right now, visiting the ‘Garden of Miracles’ was the number one goal of every single person at Trident University. The Hunters and Mecha Departments wanted to cycle every student and staff through for a potential level up while the Rune Studies Department held daily rallies, demanding access to study what their student had left behind as a ‘gift.’ It was theirs!
Well, it didn’t matter. The word came down, and the barrier went up and no word had been given for when that would change. Who was responsible for this decision? Which scoundrel was denying so many the opportunity they longed for? The Headmaster? As in The Headmaster?
Waiting helps temper the mind.
Training the mind was good for the soul.
—
A lonely back stood in the center of the Garden. No one, perhaps not even he himself, knew how long he had stood there. He was a man of honor, discipline and warfare and could stay standing and vigilant for many days without fatigue. He stood straight and proud as he led his ships into impossible odds. He stood straight and proud as the world he vowed to protect crumbled around him. He stood straight and proud as mysterious tears in space vomited hordes of tasty monsters. Through the greatest obstacles the world could throw at a mortal, he stood straight and proud and only looked forwards.
The proud man did not stand straight today. Bent was the back that held the world. He trembled with old emotions, too consumed with what he bore to care for his uninvited guest.
Soon it was two lonely backs that stood in the center of the Garden.
It wasn’t until after many moments of reflections that the newcomer finally choked out his question. “What is this?”
“…What do you see?”
“I see… I see…. Someone I owe too much.”
“Bwahaha! In that we are the same, it seems.” The sudden laugh was harsh on the ears, unpracticed in the art. The Stellar Star looked at his old friend in momentary shock but thought it normal if he was seeing someone of similar importance.
The old memories flooded back as he looked at the face of someone he had no right to forget as he had.
The old soldier thought of the cranky old beggar that was never honest and never completely able to hide his warmth. If he saw how the indomitable General was hunched over so pathetic, he’d have gotten a beating.
Anthony slowly straightened his shoulders. Something so second nature was strangely difficult that day. It took moments more to regain his intimidating bearing, softened by a few degrees.
“There was a report of an ‘extraordinary student’ at my school leaving an ‘extraordinary gift’ with ‘extraordinary benefits.’ Then I got a surprising call from the new Sky Piercing Tower Master, requesting assistance regarding this Garden.” The Stellar Star squirmed a bit. He had been so overcome with emotions when he saw the completed work that he had not thought to coordinate with his daughter. Of course, she would have taken action. His daughter was not one to handle the things important to her carelessly. Like he did.
“There were too many conflicting reports, so I had the area barriered until I could examine it myself and I must say, I think this is the first time that I read a report with twenty insistences of ‘extraordinary’ to be understated.” Anthony chuckled before breathing in a large lungful of the ‘extraordinary’ air. He felt clean and clear and emotionally detoxified. Extraordinary.
“So,” The General finally looked to his old friend. “Seeing as how this matter has even brought your all-mighty ass down to the ground, it must be important. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on, Joey.” He asked, shrugging off his friend’s piercing glare. “Joey, I am not calling you ‘The Stellar Star,’ and if you call me ‘The Blood Trident’ again, we’re gonna have a repeat of the Christmas party. We’ve been over this. It’s stupid and we’re two old men, not cosplaying children.”
Choosing to ignore the jab, Joey asked his question. “Have you investigated the boy?”
“The creator?” Anthony asked. Joey nodded.
“Jun Hopper. Orphan. Had his first cleansing at twenty, so decent talent in Body Refinement. Graduate of the Department of Rune Studies master’s program. Supposedly highly talented in rune reading, and was Kindley’s favorite pupil. The rumors say that his fiancée left him for his best friend right before his thesis, so his personal life is messy at best.” Anthony shook his head. He was over two hundred years old and never married. He never understood the point. Nothing good came from women. Case in point.
Joey found it hard to concentrate on anything else than the sculpture in front of him. The sculpture of someone who would also laugh at his new moniker. Maybe they would say he had never outgrown the child that played superheros and villains.
“As for this sculpture,” Anthony continued, and Joey was finally attentive. “Some eyewitness reports of its creation say that there was a moment where they believed he’d sculpted something sinister before it became a woman. Once the boy and his group left, it changed once more into something that was different to everyone. Some of the professors believe it to be related to the mysterious runes but can’t measure any mana coursing through it, so it hasn’t been confirmed yet.”
“What do you mean, sinister?” Joey asked, intrigued.
“Something tall with wings. Only a few claimed to have seen it, and even for them, it was only for a moment before they all saw the same sculpture of a woman.” Anthony replied his findings.
“And what about the sculpture of the woman? Did you see it?” The Stellar Star hadn’t forgotten the original reason for his visit.
“No, I didn’t. Not too many had seen it in that form from very close, so I’ve only had vague descriptions in the reports. Young woman in a tattered old dress. Why do you ask?”
“I was watching the live stream for this event.” Joey said instead.
“So you saw the sculpture of the woman?” Anthony wondered what the significance was. It seemed to be the reason his old friend visited for the first time in decades.
The length of his stoic friend’s hesitation to answer only cemented his conclusion, but did nothing to prepare himself for the revelation.
“The Lion’s Daughter.”
The Blood Trident didn’t need more than those three words. He was an old monster that knew how to connect the dots.
The revelations from that year. The love that wasn’t meant to be. The rumors that surrounded her escape. The age and history and talent of the boy and his flight from the city.
“So Jun Hopper is the child of that man and Ella.” Anthony sighed with a stuffiness in his chest as a small hope was sparked before reason dashed it. She had survived that day and raised a child, but based on his history and this Garden, it was likely that she was no more.
“Where is he now?” Joey asked.
Anthony knew why his old friend would want to see the boy. Hell, now so did he, but it was too late. He related to his old friend what he’d learned about the destruction of the boy’s home and his sudden departure from the city afterwards. That had been a week ago. Who knew where the boy was now?
Joey sighed with disappointment. He had hoped to see the boy and do something for the guilt that had plagued his restless heart. Like always, he was a step too late.
Seeing his friend’s helplessness, he comforted, “Don’t blame yourself for those matters of the past. There was no way to know the Golden Lion’s reactions back then would be so extreme. He used to be famous for how he treasured his daughter. How were we to know he’d try to kill her when he found out about her elopement with a commoner?”
Joey did not respond as he lost himself to the memories of the past and the foolish things he did in his pride and the things he lost because of it. Anthony didn’t say anything further as they both went back to looking at their respective memories under the crystal canopy.
For such a blessing to his Gate City, having been gifted from the progeny of the Lion’s Daughter was such a strange feeling. Although his own involvement in those matters wasn’t direct like this brother, they still played a role in her downfall. If the boy knew, would he take it back? Did they deserve to stand there even if he didn’t?
The Blood Trident stood by the Stellar Star and were troubled together with the shadows of the past.