Grimoire of Cultivation

Chapter 94: Hopes and Fears

Leaning against a wall in a lengthy corridor of the Brundy Manor, Crelos scanned the crowd of guests milling outside. His thoughts raced with urgency, 'Where are they? He should be here already.'

Sweat began to bead on his brow as his heart pounded, his hands fidgeting restlessly. His vigil was abruptly interrupted when the door beside him swung open with a burst of laughter.

"Do you have to look so grim, even today, brother? I was only suggesting it would lighten you up a bit—might make you more agreeable." Atleman Brundy stepped into the hallway, his presence as loud as his voice. His armor, adorned with silver and gold, clinked noisily, catching the hall lights.

"Romance is all yours to enjoy; I simply haven't the time for such distractions." Following closely was Crelos's master, clad in heavy crimson robes that shimmered with golden beasts that roamed across the fabric.

"Your his apprentice, what do you think? Could my little brother use a bit more cheer?"

Maintaining a respectful posture, Crelos responded quickly, "I believe my master's dedication to his studies perhaps leaves little room for levity. His path is one of solitude and scholarship, as you've often heard him express."

"Well said, apprentice," Brundy acknowledged with an approving nod, his hand clasping his brother's shoulder. "Enough of this talk. Let's go meet your bride; the blessing ceremony starts shortly."

With a grin spreading across his face, Atleman's laughter filled the hallway as he clapped Solomon on the back. "Indeed, let's welcome my bride and my guests! Come, brother, today our family grows, and soon you’ll find yourself surrounded by more kin than you ever imagined!" His voice echoed with joy as he led the way down the hall.

Trailing the brothers, Crelos maintained a steady smile, though his gaze flitted between them, 'I bet he didn't even hesitate when the Tower Master gave the order—probably volunteered.'

As they passed the hallway's row of windows, a sudden sight halted his breath—his eyes locked on an old man with white hair, conspicuous in the midst of a bustling crowd of guests. 'He's here! But how is he supposed to manage anything with all that attention? This is ridiculous, why couldn’t they have just clued me in on the plan?'

"Apprentice!"

Jolted from his thoughts, Crelos realized he had drifted too far; the brothers already turning a corner. Flushing with embarrassment, "apologies, master!"

Solomon shot him a brief glare before his smile returned, turning back to his brother. "As you were saying?"

"He reminds me of you when you were younger, always lost in thought and oblivious to the world."

"Let's not keep the focus on me today, or keep Sealia waiting any longer; she might start to think we've forgotten her," Solomon chuckled, leading the way.

Crelos noted his master's strained smile, his natural fire affinity revealing the simmering irritation beneath Solomon's aura. 'If only Darius had given me a clear timeline,' he thought quietly, keeping a watchful eye, ready for any cue.

----

"You look like a princess, truly. I'm usually never jealous of other women, but you are the portrait-perfect bride, Sealia."

"Thank you, Filipina. I was so happy when you agreed to be my escort."

Lady Clarke stood to the side, watching intently as Sealia, adorned in a magnificent forest green gown, took center stage on a raised platform. Around her, multiple precise cloned projections showcased her from every conceivable angle, showcasing the intricate embroidery of leaves and vines that sparkled like morning dew. Her hair, styled in an elaborate braid and crowned with a circlet of silver and green leaves, added to her radiant presence.

"I was surprised, honestly. An escort is traditionally your father. I knew Lord Hawkberry, and he always spoke so fondly of you. I can't imagine he would miss this."

Sealia's smile wavered, then steadied as she composed herself. "Father is too ill to travel, but he will be viewing the ceremony."

Her expression growing puzzled, Lady Clarke stepped on a floor switch, deactivating the projections. "But Patrick's a steel knight; what kind of illness could afflict him?"

Descending from the platform, Sealia approached a full-body mirror. "As a child, my father would speak of you often, the formidable and honorable Mountain of Floeur d'Alene. He described you as the most admirable woman he knew... Filipina, being here now, it feels like a wonderful dream piercing through a terrible nightmare."

As Sealia's eyes began to mist, Lady Clarke quickly pinched her elbow.

"Ow! Why did you—"

"Your makeup," Lady Clarke interrupted, pointing gently towards the mirror.

Sealia panicked, then taking a breath as she chuckled at her reflection.

"Tell me what's troubling you, but spare yourself the pain of reliving it," Lady Clarke said, her voice soft yet firm.

Sealia's reflection faltered again. "My father failed his ascension."

Drawing in a deep breath, Lady Clarke exhaled slowly before offering a consolatory smile. "How much longer does he have?"

Sealia's expression dimmed. "He's at the end. He survives only because we continuously feed mana into his aura. This... this has nearly bankrupted us. Now, the only value left is in our lands."

Guiding Sealia to the vanity, Lady Clarke handed her a glass of water, sitting her down with a gentle touch. "I don't mean to sound insensitive, but why prolong his suffering like this?"

Sealia set down the glass, her aura shadowing with tension. "Because of Rainslif Crowley."

"Crowley? But he's a Tower Master, why would he be interested in your family?"

Sealia shifted uncomfortably. "It’s not my family he's interested in, but our land. Our estate borders Rancito Cordoba. Though it's primarily used for farming, Crowley has been unusually eager to acquire it for years. My father worried that with me as their only child, Crowley might eventually force my mother and me into surrendering our land."

Lady Clarke studied Sealia intently, her expression serious. "I understand now why marrying Atleman is like a dream come true. But why did you wait so long to find a husband? Typically, it takes years for a knight who has failed his ascension to deteriorate to the state of your father."

"The Tower Master made sure there were no viable suitors. Every noble house we reached out to either declined or ignored my father. He believed Crowley had intervened before we even made our inquiries. But with Atleman, everything changes. Now my father can finally rest, knowing his family will be safe."

Lady Clarke nodded, her smile conveying understanding and reassurance. "And with Atleman’s backing, Crowley would never dare to pressure him."

Sealia's expression brightened, a blush coloring her cheeks as she touched the diamond necklace at her throat. "And he genuinely loves me. Atleman is truly the kindest man. You should have seen how nervous he was when we first met."

Observing Sealia's tender demeanor, Lady Clarke's resolve hardened. 'If Rainslif went to such lengths, he’s unlikely to just back down. I think I need to take this seriously.'

A sudden knock on the door and a voice booming with laughter from outside broke their conversation. "Ready, my dear?!"

Sealia sprang to her feet, turning to Lady Clarke with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Filipina. I know we've only just met, but having you here means so much to me." She kissed Clarke on the cheek and twirled toward the door, her voice ringing with joy, "I'm ready, my love!"

Lady Clarke's smile wavered as she watched Sealia go, a frown momentarily crossing her face before she composed herself with a faint smile. 'Why am I getting a bad feeling?'

The room erupted with laughter and lively chatter as the door swung open. Atleman's voice boomed as he caught sight of Sealia in her wedding gown, his arms scooping her up and twirling her around the room in a whirl of joy.

Amidst this display of affection, where every face glowed with happiness, Crelos and Lady Clarke stood with smiles plastered on, clapping and offering their congratulations. Yet, both harbored a sense of unease, their attention covertly pinned on the same individual: Solomon.

As the group began to filter out of the room, Clarke lingered intentionally, taking a deep breath before following, her smile brilliant yet edged with sharpness. Trailing behind the group, her eyes shadowed with suspicion, watching the mage's back closely.

----

Standing beside a large fountain crowned with the statue of a round naked man, Darius finally found a moment to catch his breath. Percy and Marcus stood beside him, all three appearing a bit less vibrant than when they first entered the estate.

"That was intense. I knew what to expect, but I think my ears are still ringing," Darius muttered, rubbing his temples as if to ease the noise still buzzing in his head.

"At least people talked to you," Percy chimed in, his voice carrying a tinge of weariness. "They treated me like I was carrying some kind of plague."

Marcus sighed deeply, adjusting his coat and running his fingers through his mustache. "Things did get a little strange, especially when that woman tried to offer you her daughter. As a parent, that really threw me."

Percy scowled, his expression darkening further, his aura weak and strained. "It's like the less you say, the more they invent. Maybe if you actually answered some questions, people wouldn’t feel the need to fill in the blanks."

Marcus gave his son a reassuring pat on the back, his eyes scanning the distant crowd. "You've shifted all the pressure onto me now, Feng. I can already see the line of guests that’ll be waiting for me after this."

Darius chuckled lightly but his tone grew serious as his eyes briefly glowed, a subtle pulse quickening within him. "The more I lie, the more tangled it gets... but hold on," he paused, glancing towards the gathering crowd. "Looks like the ceremony is about to start. Are you both ready?"

With Percy slapping his cheeks to rouse himself and Marcus nodding with a reassuring smile, the trio made their way up to the back of the manor, where a large amphitheater descended toward the house. From their vantage point at the back, Darius surveyed the crowd settling into the tiered seating.

At the base of the amphitheater, a large table flanked by four chairs stood center stage, with another longer table extending alongside it.

Leaning close, Darius murmured to Marcus, "We should hold back and step up around the middle of the event. It might help us avoid too much attention."

Marcus nodded in agreement just as the large glass doors at the back of the house swung open. Solomon Brundy and Lady Clarke emerged, Solomon's voice booming across the space, "Welcome everyone! We thank you for joining us today to celebrate this union with my family. With great pride, I now introduce the future Lord and Lady Brundy."

Applause and music thundered through the amphitheater as the couple stepped forward, Atleman in his round shining armor and bald head, and Sealia in her flowing green dress. As they waved, a flaming bird soared high above them, swooping down before bursting into a shower of sparks.

Darius clapped, his eyes scanning the crowd. 'You ready, little brother?'

Hidden in his ghost-form under a hedge along the house, Haku's fur bristled. 'Just give me the signal.'

'If this all goes smoothly, everything will change when I advance to the second layer, and form my Arcane Sanctum.' His eye's fixated on the diamond adorning the bride's neck, his fists clenched at his sides, a wide, unstoppable smile spreading across his face.