Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 292: Declaration (1)

The sun shows its face as morning came. The sound of bird chirping enters Arial ears. The cool morning air refreshes the body and energizes the mind. 

Arial just finished his self-training, far away from the tent of those martial art schools. There is a reason why he trains far away from the populace.

Arial knows that his aura and internal energy can choke a person of low internal energy to death so, Arial take caution in practicing near the congregation of hundreds of people. 

But Arial is not truly worried about that. 

After all, everyone here must at least have an expert in internal energy. What Arial is worried about is that anyone knows the level of his internal energy. 

If that is to be revealed, surely he has to fend off assassination attempt and that would be troublesome for him. 

While Arial does not like to boast, he does not underestimate his own ability either. 

From what he could see and understand in terms of internal energy, he doesn't think there is anyone that has more internal energy than him or even the same level as him in this competition. 

At least in that he has confidence. 

In terms of martial skill or more commonly known as external skill, Arial know he is lacking. In swordsmanship he can count himself as on high level but martial skill…he knows he is seriously lacking in that area.

So Arial wake up earlier than everybody since he camps far away from the registration box. 

With his speed he reaches the congregation place just in time to see Batrisya took the box and once again leapt through the jagged peaks using her feet to stride the hard surface of the mountain to reach the top. 

Then Arial and the other wait for Batrisya to return to announce the names and school.

Arial chatted with some of them and he even spotted Chen Yanghua speaking with Shu Ren Gui and Liao Ming speaking with Xiao De with Xiao De shaking his head and rejecting Liao Ming. 

There must be something that Xiao De does not want to meddle with. This is what Arial thought.

Arial believe Chen Yanghua and Wang Liao Ming is here in the Meet to meet prospect to help their organization. 

Even though Arial is not privy to their secret, he could guess. 

They must be from the Blood Brotherhood, if not, they are important member or their lodge leader. 

And it helps when Arial spymaster give a detailed report of the Blood Brotherhood. 

In one of the document the name of Chen Yanghua and Wang Liao Ming is prominently displayed. 

Arial believe by looking at the way those two people acted around him, they are the aforementioned person. 

Arial after all, in a way pave the way for an Eastian rule in Vern. So it could be said that he contributes much to the formation of Northern Chu. 

Though now the rift has started. 

In an unintentional result of toppling the MontBlanc family the resentment of Eastian rule exploded and Arial and his council could see how this would become a racial tension issue that threaten to send the two forces in the former Empire to flames.

Of course Northern Chu has the support of Aetherland which could stop the Austen family of talented generals to attack the Northern border of King Adrian region. 

Arial on the other hand who lives near the eastern border is free to pursue everything without worrying too much of the South and East. 

As the Duke and Prince of East and South of Aetherland by familial influence, Arial could even be said to be more influential than the King in those vast region. 

And in the North, Helia has her cousins, uncles and aunt. 

Most of them was exiled because of their part in the Succession Crisis but that doesn't mean they do not have influence. 

When they return they can still rise again. Even Henry Palais could claim descent from Helia illustrious lineage of Kings and Queens.

This is also the reason why the King tries to create relation with the Vermont's family by betrothing his son to Arial sister. 

Thus, in a way sealing Arial alliance more prominently and more securely. After all, who would war against family?

And the reason why Arial is influential more than any nobles in Aetherland is because of his marriage with Helia Althea.

Technically Althea is under the Althea family but since by succession laws, the husband receives the wife land, which means, by every right if Arial wished it, he could claim Althea to be his. 

But Arial believe in his wife, and he thought that such law is degrading to woman intelligence. 

And Arial believe that Helia, even though she is strong, and a very talented swordswoman, Arial believe her talent lies in politics. 

Even though she is not fond of the courtly games, it is plain obvious to Arial that Helia is strangely suited to be a politician. This must be because of her upbringing in Seaworth.

The Blood Brotherhood nowadays is in dire crisis. After all it is harder keeping the throne then to win it.

They must want to find support and that must be one of the reason why they are participating in this meet. 

Arial know what is happening in Northern Chu and Southern Tai. 

One of the leading figure is Caelum. One other is an Eastian. The Chu is Eastian descent. The Southern Tai, led by Austen family is Caelum born.

But to find support in the martial art meet, Arial doubt such task will be easy. There are many experts of martial arts here and that is precisely why it is harder. 

Experts of martial arts rarely cares about the matter of politics. 

The only one who seems to have any interest in upholding Eastian claim in the ruins of Vern is the Northern Badger. 

To Arial this kind of martial art experts is stupid.

There are those who say that spiritual enlightenment is achieved through the denial of worldly pleasure, its wonders and horrors, and that to achieve a higher level of training you must deny yourself many things in this world, go and live, sitting cross legged in a mountaintop, concentrating hearing the sound of the wind, the chirping of the birds.

What preposterous idea these people have!

These expert sit high on their safe place, never caring about the world affairs, thinking they are cut from different cloth, from normal people, viewing themselves so high, but Arial dare say, why dismantle your castle or your home or your stone walls, running away from the world? 

Where is the meaning in removing the bricks from the walls one by one? What is the purpose in uprooting the floors and roof? josei

What is the meaning tearing your home to rubble?

Is there any significance in only allowing yourself a hollow roof and a muddy bed? Why deny your home its structure? 

A truly enlightened soul is strong enough to endure, is bright enough to see, to live and shine through, even in a beautiful house, or a large castle with all its pleasure! 

There is no need to ransack the home, to smash or shatter it in order to see an inner beauty etched against a distraught surrounding. 

A bright and beautiful soul can shine forth even from inside an equally beautiful surrounding. 

To Arial these so called experts are cowards. 

And life makes no room for cowards. Arial learn this from experience. Arial then broke off form his thought when he senses a mass of internal energy is descending.

Then the assembly of people suddenly looks at the top of the hill as they all sense the internal energy being emitted. 

Arial also look as Batrisya once again flew down. 

With a cough, she begins her greetings. Behind her Three Maidens can be seen with a veil around their lower face, with sultry figures and beautiful eyes, following her closely.

'Heroes. Heroine. Venerable elders. My teacher and her friend have decided on the matter of the tournament. However, first I need to give some explanation to who come here for the first time. This Heaven Mountain have five peaks; each peak is different than the last.' 

Some nodded, mostly elders of the schools. Clearly they have been here before and know the layout of the peaks

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