Chapter 1072: FIRST GATHERING

OKAY, Neoma’s Battle Representatives were now complete.

Papa Boss

Lewis

Jasper Hawthorne

Paige Avery

Juri Wisteria

Jeno Dankworth

Xion Redgrave

Greko

Gavin Quinzel

Dominic Zavaroni

Neoma was actually glad that her Battle Representatives were all people she could trust.

The downside was...

They’re precious people I don’t want to lose.

But she’d be there anyway, so she wouldn’t let anyone die under her watch.

I really want to get this shit over and done with.

"We have 10 days before the fateful fight," Neoma said, looking at her Battle Representatives one by one. "I want all of you to stay here in the Imperial Palace until then. I’ll provide each of you with the training field that you need. If you still have some things to take care of before our departure, let me know. I’ll help you as much as possible."

Everyone nodded at what Neoma said.

Good.

It seems like most of them are done with their preparations anyway.

"Neoma, Uncle Gavin and I will stay in the Imperial Palace, but we’ll spend most of our time training in the Shadow Realm," Hanna said after raising her hand. "Can we open a portal that leads to the Shadow Realm?"

"Sure," Neoma said while nodding. "I’ll create a barrier to protect your portal."

"Thank you."

"Can I go with you?" Papa Boss asked while looking at Gavin Quinzel sharply. "I want to see for myself if you are truly ready to fight for my daughter."

"That shouldn’t be a problem since you have Quinzel Blood in you," Gavin Quinzel answered calmly, reminding everyone that only those who had Quinzel Blood in them could enter the Shadow Realm. "But don’t blame us if you can’t keep up with us, Your Majesty. The Shadow Realm is different from the world of the Soul Beasts."

Papa Boss just scoffed. "Worry about yourself, Gavin Quinzel. It was you who lived a normal life for so long."

Gavin Quinzel looked like he had something to say.

Thankfully, someone interfered before a fight between the cousins started.

"It’s an honor to train with you, Your Majesty," Hanna said politely, flashing Papa Boss her business smile. "I’m looking forward to it. Please take care of me during our training."

Papa Boss nodded, his face softening when he faced Hanna. "Alright."

Aw.

It’s obvious that Papa Boss still wants Hanna to be his daughter-in-law.

"If we can train together, then may I request to train with Sir Crevan?" Jasper Hawthorne asked politely while looking at Lewis with sparkling eyes. "Sir Crevan, Duckie and I have come up with a new technique. But no one in my dukedom could keep up with me. But, if it’s you..."

Lewis avoided Jasper Hawthorne’s gaze coldly, and then he turned to Neoma as if asking for permission.

"Go," Neoma answered encouragingly. "Go and train with Jasper Oppa."

Lewis nodded politely. "As you wish, Your Imperial Highness."

Neoma then looked at her other kids.

"We’ll proceed with our group training, Princess Neoma," Paige Avery said confidently. "Please don’t worry about us. I’ll take care of the kids, so you can focus on your own training."

Her other children gave her a confident thumbs-up— a gesture that they had learned from her.

If the old-fashioned nobles had seen the kids giving her a thumbs-up, they might have fainted from utter shock.

However, all the people in that room knew how close she was to her children.

Hence, not even Papa Boss scolded the kids for being ’rude.’

Neoma couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Crazy kids.

"Alright. Fighting," Neoma said to her children, cheering them up. And then she finally looked at her mentor. "Uncle Dominic, let’s start our training, too."

***

FIRST THINGS first.

Neoma brought Dominic Zavaroni to the Exton Mansion to visit Aunt Brigitte’s family.

I think I’m about to give the Extons a heart attack since I keep coming back here.

Not that she cared.

"Noona!"

"Unnie!"

Neoma smiled when Skylus, Monik, and Claude all ran towards her. "Hello, babies."

And the kids complained at the same time.

"We’re not babies!"

Pfft.

"Selene is the only baby here, Unnie!" Monik said, pointing at Baby Selene, who was in Aunt Brigitte’s arms. "I’m her big sister, and Skylus and Claude are her big brothers!"

Pfft.

Well, to be fair, the kids were no longer babies, indeed.

But they will always be babies to me.

"It’s been a while, Princess Neoma," Aunt Brigitte said, smiling. And then she bowed to the person standing next to Neoma. "It’s a pleasure to see you again, Your Holiness."

"I’m no longer a saint, Your Majesty," Uncle Dominic said, smiling. "I’m glad to be able to see you again and meet your children."

Aunt Brigitte smiled, but it was obvious that smile was due to nervousness.

And Neoma knew why.

After all...

"Let’s start the meeting," Neoma said with difficulty. "I’ll discuss the children’s role in the upcoming war."

As if on cue, Uncle Glenn finally arrived...

... with Lord Manu, the Moon Priest.

Aka the children’s ’guardian.’

***

THE MEETING was held in the biggest conference hall in House Exton.

Of course, Neoma was leading the meeting.

Aunt Brigitte and Uncle Glenn were there.

Uncle Dominic and Lord Manu, too.

As well as Skylus, Monik, and Claude.

The only ones who are missing from this meeting are Baby Selene and Claude, since the two babies aren’t involved in the upcoming war.

Anyways, Gray Exton (Uncle Glenn’s brother) volunteered to look after Selene and Claude.

"Skylus and Monik won’t be a part of my Battle Representatives, but they’ll be there as support," Neoma explained. "The major gods in the Upper World don’t want their palace destroyed during the fight, so both Helstor and I are required to bring saints and saintesses with divine power strong enough to create powerful barriers. Moreover, since Helstor and I are both gods, we will be allowed to ’recharge’ our divine power through our ’Divine Representatives.’"

To be fair, Neoma wasn’t a god yet.

But I’m already considered one, and that’s how the war between me and Helstor was allowed in the first place.

"Since Skylus and Monik are still very young, I insisted that the kids should have at least one guardian," Neoma continued with her explanation. "And that’s why Lord Manu is here. He’ll serve as the kids’ guardian. But that’s not only his job."

"If something bad happens, Princess Neoma asked me to bring the children back to the Imperial Palace," Lord Manu said, looking at Aunt Brigitte and Uncle Glenn. "Don’t worry. As the Moon Priest, I have the power to open a portal from the Upper World back to this world."

Aunt Brigitte and Uncle Glenn looked relieved by that, but also worried.

"Princess Neoma, does it mean you’re already expecting that something bad will happen during the war?" Uncle Glenn asked worriedly. "Please just don’t send our kids back to us— we want you and the others to be safe as well."

Aunt Brigitte nodded in agreement.

"Don’t worry," Neoma said confidently. "I won’t let anyone die."

Obviously, the adults weren’t satisfied with her answer.

And the kids...

"This is frustrating!" Skylus suddenly exclaimed, surprising his parents. "I can’t see the future!"

"Me neither!" Monik added, equally frustrated as her brother. "Why aren’t our visions working? We want to see the result of the war!"

"Are we weak?" Skylus asked, obviously sad. "I thought I was special..."

Aigoo.

"When powerful gods are involved, not even the eyes of the most divine saints and saintesses could see the future," Uncle Dominic explained to the kids. "It’s alright, Prince Skylus, Princess Monik. It doesn’t mean you’re weak— it just means that Princess Neoma’s existence is huge enough to affect the entire world."

Pfft.

It’s Helstor and me, but Uncle Dominic is glazing the kids.

And it worked.

Skylus and Monik were now looking at Neoma with shining eyes.

"As expected of Neoma Noona."

"Only Neoma Unnie’s existence can affect the world this greatly!"

Aigoo.

Well, at least, they’re not second-guessing their strength anymore.

"Skylus, Monik, I’m going to train with Uncle Dominic," Neoma said, smiling at the kids. "Do you want to join us?"

***

"I DON’T think I have anything else to teach you, Princess Neoma."

Aw.

Neoma already expected that, though.

After all, I’ve long mastered all of Uncle Dominic’s techniques.

Anyway, Skylus and Monik were still changing into their training clothes.

Hence, Neoma and Uncle Dominic were waiting for the kids in the huge training field that the Extons had lent them.

"The Coat, the Wall, and the Dome," Uncle Dominic said. "Those are the three barriers that I taught you when you were young. But you made them your own now. As your mentor, I’m very proud of you."

"Uncle Dominic, there’s still something that you can teach me— something that I’m not good at."

"There’s something that you’re not good at, Princess Neoma?"

"Patience and self-control."

"Ah, that makes sense," Uncle Dominic said, nodding. "What exactly do you want to learn that requires your patience and self-control, Princess Neoma?"

"Hmm..."

When Neoma said her plan to Uncle Dominic, the former saint looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

Well, I have— a long time ago.

"If that’s what you want to learn, then we have to start working now," Uncle Dominic said, smiling while shaking his head. "I’m not sure if 10 days could make a difference, though."

"Of course," Neoma said confidently. "It’s enough for me to master a new skill."

***

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