Chapter 273: Holo Alliance

Chapter 273: Holo Alliance

Calex Thorn found his younger sister, Lerdea, pacing outside their familys gallery room.

How long has she been in there? Calex asked.

Since last night. Mother is just sitting there, staring at Atreus portrait. Lerdea bit her lip, Im worried.

Calex sighed, then smiled, Itll be fine.

But what about the Aspirant? People are talking about him everywhere. We need to get this under control before the citys aristocrats fall into total chaos.

Calex placed his hands over her shoulders, Hey, look at me, everything is going to be okay. Trust me. Mothers fine. The two of us are fine. Thats all that matters. We are all that matters. Do you understand?

Lerdea nodded reluctantly. I understand, she mumbled.

Good. Now, lets go and talk to Mother.

Calex pushed open the wide doors and walked into the gallery. Lerdea followed in his footsteps, she stayed close behind him, hiding behind his shoulders.

Ophelia was sitting on the ground, her long crimson skirt spread all around her. Her usual stylized white hair was frayed and her makeup was smeared at the edges. She stared at the enormous portrait of her ancestor, Atreus Thorn, hanging over the wall, looming over the entire gallery.

Good morning, Mother, Calex bowed his head.

Good morning, Mother, Lerdea said anxiously.

Ophelia didnt answer, she simply stared at the painting with glazed eyes.

Were sorry to bother you, but the 3rd Challenge begins today, Calex said. Youre supposed to be the one hosting the Challenge and drawing out the names for the bracket matches. Mother?

...Three centuries ago the realms most powerful men and women changed everything, Ophelia said softly. For the first and last time in history the Ebon Lords placed their differences aside and joined together in the most powerful union the realm had ever seen. They called it the Holo Alliance.

As in Holos Shade? Calex surmised.

Yes, it was the first time there had been peace across the realm ever since Ebon Lord Koval had died, Ophelia smiled to herself. The Holo Alliance was powerful, together they managed to do the impossible. They raised a magical wall from the ground in the mere span of a day. They quelled the cowardly Keepers of the Dawn lurking in Dusk Valley. And they defeated Lunis, the most powerful Great City in all the realm.

They were truly unstoppable. Ophelia sighed, Until they all began to fall, one after another, each Ebon Lord and Lady Until only Atreus was left and even he left the world too soon. The Holo Alliance fell apart, the world fell apart, and its never been the same.

We were simply left behind to pick up the broken pieces, but now Ophelia looked away from the painting and glanced at her children, Stryg of Ebon Hollow changes everything.

Mother, Calex carefully licked his lips, I think you may be overestimating his abilities. He may be a prime mage, but that doesnt make him an Aspira-

I know what I saw! Ophelia snapped at him. Strygs mere existence is just the first sign of great changes to come, in this realm, this city, and this family. Elzri, that cunning bastard, knew exactly what he was doing when he adopted that boy. The Noirs must have planned for the boy to reveal his abilities just at the right moment, for the entire damn realm to see Stryg making a mockery of us.

The door creaked open and Gale poked her head through the side, Everything okay?

What do you mean? Stryg smiled sardonically, Are you referring to my master having lied to me for the past 3 years? Or maybe how the deaths of all those people on Widows Crag could have been avoided? Or how about how Im stuck in a tavern because it turns out Im some sort of perfect target for assassination by the queen of this city?

Gale raised her eyebrow, I was asking because I wanted to know if you were okay for the 3rd Challenge. The matches start today.

Oh, Stryg blinked. In that case Im fine.

Gale sighed. She stepped inside the room and closed the door behind her. I may not be the best person for this, but you know you can talk to me if you want, right?

Stryg chuckled under his breath, You want me to talk? Clypeus was your brother, but you havent said a single word about him after I told everyone the truth about Widows Crag.

Gale narrowed her scarlet eyes, Youre right, Clypeus was my brother. And not a day goes by that I dont think about him. You are not the only one who is suffering, far from it. You best remember that.

Stryg swallowed and stared at his feet, ...Sorry.

...Im a soldier, Stryg. Ive been trained my entire life to be a Shield of Veres, the greatest warriors in all of Hollow Shade. Ive been taught to keep my emotions in check and to place my mission, my ward, first above all else. For now you are my ward, Stryg, your safety is my mission. My uncle asked me to keep you safe until we return to Hollow Shade and that is exactly what I am going to do.

She curled her fingers over her swords handle, But once thats done There are over two dozen trained Shields in my family and none of us will stand still over this. There will be a reckoning for the blood that was lost.

Stryg nodded carefully, ...I see.

Gale cleared her throat and reached into the satchel strapped over her back. I almost forgot, these came in for you. She pulled out a stack of envelopes, each one engraved with a wax sigil of a Named House. Ive already inspected their contents for any sort of poison, magical or mundane, they are safe to read.

Theres still more of them? Stryg asked, mildly surprised. He glanced at a pile of envelopes in the corner of his room. I think I have over a hundred now.

And I dont doubt youll get more. Every single House in the Realm wants to meet you. Whether it's to curry favor with you or so that they can stab a dagger into your back, who knows?

Are the crowds still out there? Stryg glanced at his boarded window.

Yep, they dont even disperse at night. If we were back in our city the undead sentinels would have already attacked them. But here? The crowds only grow by the day. They all want to catch a glimpse of the Ebon Lord.

But Im not an Ebon Lord, Stryg frowned.

Not yet, but when history looks back on your legacy, they wont speak of the young boy Aspirant. All theyll see is the dreaded Ebon Lord Stryg.

Dreaded? A small smile curled over his lips, I could get used to that.

Dont get too ahead of yourself, Gale scoffed. You still havent even managed to get 1st place in any of the Challenges.

Stryg picked up Nameless from his bed and strapped it over his belt. He smirked, Then lets go change that.