Pillar of Yita

Rosetta turned around in surprise upon hearing the voice. Two guards from the Guard of Dawn, clad in Elf Chainmail, entered from outside the courtyard first, taking positions beside the door. It was then that Briana—Kalanxil—Miaoxing, in her flowing white robes, gracefully stepped between them into the courtyard.

Fang Hong was slightly startled to see the elf princess, not expecting to encounter the hero from the Battle of Bain once again.

As Briana entered the courtyard, she deliberately glanced at him and nodded her head in greeting.

This subtle gesture left Fang Hong dumbfounded, even forgetting to return the gesture. Did this legendary elf princess recognize him? He was oblivious to the events that had transpired previously, thinking himself merely as an apprentice alchemist from Kapuka, with no connections to her. How could she possibly recognize him?

Big Cat’s reaction was much more subdued; originating from the Wilds of Grey White, the distant plains above Rota, his people from the Lion People were generally indifferent to the outside world. Though he had heard of her, he did not lose his composure. He placed his paw on his chest and bowed slightly to return Briana’s gesture.

As for Parker, not being a Chosen from the China Competition Region, he was very unfamiliar with everything concerning Colin Ishurian. He simply stared with his shiny black eyes at the deep blue gemstone on the princess’s attire, thinking something to himself.

”Lady Miaoxing, why have you come here in person?” Rosetta was very surprised. ”I was actually planning to have Aisha deliver that letter to you, but——”

”I did not come for that, Rosetta.” Briana’s gaze fell on Fang Hong. ”It’s Mr. Ade, I am here to take him to meet someone.”

”Him?” The Old Dwarf was startled and subconsciously looked towards Fang Hong.

Fang Hong was also somewhat at a loss; he had not figured out how the elf princess knew him, and now she was taking him to meet someone? He was just a newcomer among the Chosen, without friends or family in this world, who would want to meet him?

”But——” The Old Dwarf hesitated. He had certainly guessed that Aquitez had done something significant, but relative to what this young man had shown in terms of talent, whether it was Kapuka or Elpaxin’s performance in this competition seemed trivial.

He had already thought of keeping this young man at the Elpaxin Artisan Association, the Colin Ishurian Alliance could wait. But suddenly Rosetta remembered something and asked somewhat surprised: ”Lady Miaoxing, are you taking him to meet that person?”

From the Old Dwarf’s tone, Fang Hong almost simultaneously thought of that possibility.

Kurufen—Noveli, another one of the three elf heroes, the Feather of Morning Breeze, the Wanderer from Hemirfin, the lord of Summer’s End Tower, the Oathkeeper of the Elf King, the Construct Master—rumored to also be an outstanding alchemist, perhaps even the closest to the title of Great Alchemist in this era of Colin Ishurian.

”No need to ask further, Rosetta, that person does not like being mentioned by others.”

”Oh,” the Old Dwarf suddenly realized. ”Indeed, Kurufen has always been a reserved person, but I am not afraid of him. I was much better than him when he was learning alchemy, you can easily let him come to me—”

Briana revealed a sly smile, offering no response but looking towards Fang Hong. ”What about you, young man?” she asked softly.

”Me?” Fang Hong was somewhat puzzled: ”But—”

”You still have buts?” the Old Dwarf was even more anxious than Briana, his voice rising an octave: ”Young man, do you know who wants to meet you, do you know who this lady is?”

Fang Hong of course knew, but he replied helplessly: ”But what about my assessment?”

”Assessment?” The Old Dwarf only then remembered that such a matter existed, slapping his forehead in frustration.

At the same moment, inside the Elpaxin Artisan Association—

Sir Agar paced continuously, moving through the sunlight casting down from the tall arched windows, the light and shadow intermingling, his mind always on the affairs of the Chosen.

The internal dynamics of the Colin Ishurian Alliance were not as stable as many imagined. The old king had died, leaving a young new king, with the political landscape dominated by the old king’s brother, the young king’s uncle, Prince Coleman.

Yet beneath this towering power lay an unstable foundation.

On one hand, rumors of cruelty, indifference, and unilateralism alienated the regent king from his ministers. On the other, the new king, even at the young age of fourteen, surprisingly proved shrewd and capable in political strife, aggressively gaining decisive victories over his elder uncle on several occasions.

A crack seemed to have formed atop the old dynasty, merely awaiting a time to collapse and dissipate into dust.

In his view, sending Prince Coleman to oversee the Continental League in Elpaxin was perhaps a sign. In Eteliria, there was a saying—Giant Dragons do not lightly leave their territories, meaning the more powerful the person, the more they rely on their own foundations and do not venture into dangerous territories lightly.

He had met the Prince in person once before, just as the rumors described—ugly, indifferent, and proud, with black eyes so calm they were memorable. The man did not seem foolish, but he did not understand why he would make such a decision; perhaps there was an ulterior motive.\\

But everyone on this great ship sensed the looming disaster and began to seek refuge, a sign of impending downfall. Agar’s own family was not from Prince Coleman’s line, and in such a situation, there was no middle ground—the Praetor, Earl Shanduo, was a sensitive and clever man who had early thrown his support behind the young king. Making a decision now, he feared, might not be effective anymore.