Pillar of Yita

Barbaltan finished speaking, got up and left the throne.

Only then did Fang Hong notice how tall the aged King was when he stood up, even taller than ordinary Istania people. As the King of Sand rose, the murmurs in the hall suddenly quieted down, but the people continued to whisper and cast curious and surprised gazes towards the two young men in the center of the hall—Fang Hong and Aleph.

After Barbaltan left the throne, two attendants immediately hurried forward to attentively drape his robe and fasten his cloak, also tidying the fur on the cloak. Barbaltan was calmly surveying the hall with a steady gaze, and after a moment, he spoke loudly: ”Begin the ceremony—”

He descended the steps, and the courtiers on either side quickly stepped out of line, following this ruler in order.

Fang Hong wanted to further ask Aleph what was happening, but Barbaltan had already approached them, glanced faintly at his eldest son with his deep eyes, and succinctly said: ”Aleph, follow me.” Aleph quickly lowered his head and touched his chest, simultaneously turning his head to signal Fang Hong to follow him.

Thus, Fang Hong could only follow in bewilderment—

The King of Sand was leading the group outside the hall, with Aleph walking beside him, followed by the courtiers and other princes. Even Count Nulman was a step behind them, his daughter at his side, and Lavali was looking this way with a kind of unbelievable gaze.

In the same rank as Count Nulman were two others, one of whom was aged, dressed in a white robe, a color with meaning in this occasion. Count Nulman could only wear a long robe of brownish-yellow, while the woman wore traditional attire of gold base and red patterns. It made one speculate about this old man’s identity; perhaps he was a former minister from the recent era of the King of Sand, no longer in the central command, yet still held in high regard.

The elderly man, in his old age, seemed close to his end, his aged face like a piece of tree bark with deep ravines, drooping eyelids, yet Fang Hong always felt that the man would occasionally glance in his direction. But that was normal, as now everyone seemed to be looking his way—with curiosity and surprise in their eyes.

The old man’s gaze, however, seemed somewhat different.

The other individual, likewise grey-haired, also an old man though somewhat younger, gripped a cane in his hand, dressed in a black-grey robe adorned with patterns Fang Hong couldn’t discern—this man’s expression was fierce, staring at him, revealing an undisguised intent to kill. Fang Hong was startled, puzzled as to where he might have offended this person.

Judging by his status, he seemed not inferior to the previous old man or Count Nulman.

However, Lavali’s father was deeply trusted by the King of Sand, evident as only he and two others were walking at the forefront, him being the youngest among them. Numerous princes were still behind the trio, let alone many courtiers, behind countless concubines, Fang Hong looked back but couldn’t see the end.

Only now did he understand the meaning behind Lavali and the others’ surprised gazes...

He and Aleph were right behind the King of Sand, ahead of all the courtiers and princes. For Istania people, this position carried a clear significance. Fang Hong, though an Earthling, understood this—this high honor might not mean much to the Invoker, but to the Native attendees, it was irrefutable food for thought.

Even Fang Hong couldn’t help but think further; though what he thought might differ slightly from the others:

Did the King of Sand act out of whim, or was there another reason why Aleph and he were granted such honor? The implications were worth pondering; he certainly wouldn’t assume the King of Sand specifically wanted him and Aleph to join him just because of a Tower-Style Magic Conductor Furnace.

The crowd moved slowly forward, exiting the grand hall. The moonlit platform stood in the nighttime, extending all the way to the heart of the lake—Fang Hong surveyed around, secretly marveling at the beauty of the scenery, though in the darkness the night wind came softly, the temperature dropping drastically—the night above the Sand Sea sharply contrasting with the day.

From this high platform, one could overlook half of the Royal Palace, where there were groves of palm trees, interspersed with sparkles of firelight or perhaps some pavilion or side hall. The direction toward the outer city was ablaze with light, resembling a street in the heavens, falling to the worldly realm; in the darkness, the crisscrossed streets looked like Light Dragons, complete with scales and claws, drawing Quistack’s life breath.

Below the platform, the black lake mirrored ancient starlight and the profound sky like a lens; the desolate crescent moon narrates the past years of this Sand Sea. The lake reached far and joined with the dusky sand dunes on the horizon, shining with a cold Silverglow, silent and still.

The crowd walked all the way to the end of the platform.

An attendant brought Barbaltan a chair and helped him sit down.

At this moment, Lavali found an opportunity, approaching Fang Hong with a bit of surprise, saying: ”His Majesty let you and Aleph be the first to receive the blessing?”

”What do you mean?”

”Let Aleph tell you, why ask me?” the Earl’s daughter frowned.

Fang Hong glanced toward Aleph, who was certainly not going to leave the King of Sand’s side for now.