Chapter 212: Veil arrival

The second day of the trip to the Torzi empire.

The hall was even more crowded than the first day. This was because most of the guests that didn’t make it on the first day, had arrived.

Delegates from neighbouring empires.

Random travellers.

League recruiters.

The location was buzzing.

The Salvador empire students walked out of their dorm, dressed and ready for the day.

Elias wasn’t with them. He had spent the day with the prime minister’s family and came in with them. Yvonne by his side, the prime minister ahead and Gena behind them.

The Dashad household also came in at the same time.

Many things happened at that moment.

The men exchanged greetings.

Quil who had caught up with his family walked up to Elias and Yvonne.

Quil’s siblings avoided looking at Elias even if he didn’t realise that they were standing there.

Mrs Dashed walked up to Elias, grabbed his hand and thanked him for taking care of Quil and his siblings, while Elias stood there trying to understand the role he played.

They soon settled in their respective seats. Each school today, clothed in their respective uniforms. One rumour was going around.

"I heard the black empire students are coming along."

"They might arrive today or tomorrow."

"They finally left their pits."

The second day of the tournament started with an art competition. The paintings and drawings were displayed for bidding and prizes were thrown.

"Hundred gold coins!"

"A hundred and fifty gold coins!"

"Two hundred gold coins!"

The bidding climbed higher, voices overlapping, paddles flashing in the light.

"I say brother, something is weird about that individual." The king of Torzi, Lanson, said to king Daevon.

"Who might that be?" King Daevon turned his gaze.

"The blind boy with the prime minister’s daughter."

"Elias?"

King Lanson’s eyes narrowed. "Whoever the king personally knows cannot be ordinary. Tell me, what’s the deal with him?"

King Daevon chuckled. "Why spoil the fun. Watch."

Across the arena, Nether scoffed in where she sat and gestured at the direction she had been watching. "Isn’t she making it obvious that she is simping after him?"

Tony shut his book, and his eyes followed her gesture to Elias and Yvonne.

While Elias was watching the art show, she was tracing the tattoo lines on his wrist.

"She’s shameless." The princess added.

Tony raised a brow. "I think there is a fine line between simping and ’that.’"

"Oh yeah?! And what is that called?!"

"They are obviously..."

"Obviously what?!"

"Oh c’mon sister, don’t put words in my mouth."

"Can you both, shut the hell up!" Cary snapped. "I’m trying to buy some artwork!"

She glanced at Nether. "Why are you interested in a blind person anyway? He’s got an amazing bodily feature, but I don’t think I can..."

She turned her head.

Something felt wrong. The air had grown heavy, as if the hall itself were holding its breath. Then the candle flames bent sideways.

Tony rose up slowly. And it wasn’t just him. Many others.

"Four hundred and fifty gold coi..."

The auctioneer’s voice cracked and stopped.

In the middle of the arena, the air split. A line of white light tore open, widening, spilling a cold shimmer across the marble.

A person yelled.

"PORTAL!"

Chaos erupted. The people bolted.

"Guards! Guards to the center!"

Swords left their sheaths. Raiders dashed forward, forming a circle around the tear in the arena.

"Why did a portal open here?" King Larson cursed. Before he could stand up, king Daevon leaned back unbothered.

"Pile down friend. That’s not a portal."

The man froze. "Then what is it?"

Then the shimmer settled, and claws stepped through.

Black talons, each as long as a dagger, then a leg, thick with muscle, feathered at the thigh and furred at the haunch. Then the great chest and wings that unfolded and kept unfolding. The head came last.

A gryphon.

The silence was immediate. A glass fell from someone’s trembling hand and shattered, and not a single head turned toward the sound.

The gryphon lowered its head, and the crowd flinched as one. It sniffed the air and turned its massive head. Right to Elias.

He seemed lost in thought and wasn’t reacting to anything.

Yvonne, who hasn’t raised her head since the start of the commotion, finally noticed that something was staring right at them.

She raised her head and narrowed her eyes.

"S ranked creature, gryphon. Is that a portal?" She tilted her head and tapped his arm. "No wait. Someone is coming out."

A figure stepped out of the portal.

Black collarless robe with long sleeve edged in dark silver thread. Barefooted. Blonde hair left loose and swaying in the wind. Double earring dangled from his left ear. A black blindfold wrapped over his eyes, knotted neatly at the back of his head.

Jordan.

It was like he had woken up from sleep and decided to take a trip.

He yawned softly, lifted his hand and caressed the gryphon’s head. The beast leaned into his palm and let out a low, rumbling purr that shook the floor.

Gasps rippled through the stands.

"He’s... petting it."

"That’s a gryphon."

"It’s tame? How is it tame?"

"Is he blind?"

Tony’s eyes narrowed from the spot he was standing.

"What is going on? Who’s that." Cary muttered.

He subconsciously swallowed a lump. This young man who had walked out of a teleportal didn’t give off any energy, just like an unawakened person. That was the unsettling part. He instantly recognised Jordan, not because he had seen him before, but because aura speaks.

"Black empire."

His eyes were drawn straight to Elias. The markings. The dress code. Barefooted. Blindfolded.

It all rhymed.

’He’s a black eyed too.’

Then the portal shimmered again.

One by one, they emerged. Figures in the same black robes, the same dark silver trim, the same blindfolds. They stepped through in perfect rhythm, fanning out behind Jordan, carrying huge boxes with them. Ten at first, then another ten. Their barefoot barely made a sound.

The last one carried the flag. Black empire, the Abyssal throat crest bold on it.