Chapter 35: Reunion of the Hundun Assembly
The Old Monk bowed his head slightly, hands clasped in his sleeves. "While you are at it, dear Agath... I would like to address another question." He raised an eyebrow. "Judging by your appearance, you are getting old. A century of life is quite difficult when one is not talented enough. You even have white hair now."
Agath did not flinch. "Where are you going with this, Old Monk?"
"I was simply wondering... if you are really still fit to protect the Doom."
A silence fell over the courtyard.
"You are questioning my strength?" asked Agath. "Do you want to taste it?"
Dorian of the Sword Clan stood up slowly. He placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, which made several heads turn.
"Monk... Great Witch," he said in a calm voice, "you have been rivals for years. It would be time to set an example for future generations." He looked at them one after the other.
"And while we are talking about examples, it would be time for you to give explanations about the attempted annexation against the Spear Clan." retorted Solomon.
The head of the Spear Clan sneered.
"That dates back half a decade," replied Dorian. "It is only the past."
The First Lancer shook his head. "Monk, do you really practice self-abandonment? Your tongue is quite sharp."
"You argue like children," said Duke Gauvain with a contempt he did not even bother to hide. He swept his gaze over the assembly. "It is not surprising, given your humble origins. How pathetic..."
Dorian turned toward the duke.
"Duke, do you have lives in reserve? Because it would be time for the nobility to restrain itself. Otherwise..."
The atmosphere rose a notch.
It was then that a clear voice rang out from the entrance of the courtyard.
"His Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived!"
All heads turned. The Old Monk frowned.
"The Imperial Prince? What is he doing here?"
A man in his thirties crossed the central aisle. His silhouette was powerful: he measured nearly one meter ninety, and his mere presence forced gazes to rise. He had silver hair, and golden eyes. Behind him came another man, younger in his twenties with a much frailer build. His gait was hesitant.
The crown prince stopped. He placed his hand on his chest, then spoke in a loud voice.
"Under the order of the Emperor, who was busy, I will represent the interests of the Empire."
Agath bowed her head. "There is no problem, Crown Prince Admon Dragonslay." Then her gaze slid toward the silhouette standing behind him. "But who is behind you?"
The young man with silver hair longer than that of his brother stepped forward.
His eyes attracted attention: they were heterochromatic, one blue and the other golden. He seemed uncomfortable, his hands trembling slightly at the end of his too-long sleeves.
"I-I... I greet the patriarchs... I am the second prince: Siegfried Dragonslay."
Admon did not even turn around to look at his younger brother. He shrugged with a casual gesture.
"No need to concern yourselves with him, ladies and gentlemen, he is only the son of one of my father’s concubines."
Siegfried raised his head. A nervous smile pulled at his lips, and he bowed again.
The patriarch of the Venom Clan stroked the head of his white snake, his green eyes passing from one prince to the other. His smile had widened. "Now that the Empire is present, we can begin."
"Pandora’s Box has been found, in the Arcturus Forest, more precisely in the Catacombs. But we all know that the catacombs house the Daugrs, vengeful and hungry spirits." The old monk raised his eyes toward the assembly. "So, what to do with it?"
Agath crossed her arms. "I do not even understand the meaning of this question," she said. "Every relic should be sealed in the Doom."
The Alchemist patriarch raised a finger stained with black. "So that you can use it as you please?"
Agath turned toward him. "What do you mean?"
"We all know that you use the relics as you see fit, Great Witch," intervened the head of the Air family. "Like the Oracle."
"The Oracle," retorted Agath, "is for universal use. It helps everyone that I read fate."
"Just like you use my Philosopher’s Stone for your schemes," launched the Alchemist patriarch.
"Never mind, Great Witch," commented the Patriarch of the Spear Clan. "Pandora’s Box is of such importance that no one should possess it... Destroying it would be the best idea."
The head of the Water family shook his head. "It is said that whoever opens it gains the ability to control one of the most terrible evils. It is true that this relic is far too dangerous to be left to a single person. Should we not leave it intact in the catacombs?"
The patriarch of the Venom Clan sneered: "So that you can steal it when our backs are turned?" he asked, staring at the Magic Clan.
Silence fell again. The real problem was that none of them trusted the others. Now knowing the location, they could no longer leave it intact. But none of them accepted that another would seize it either.
Admon stepped forward.
"Why all this tension?" he asked in a charming voice. "It is only a relic. I am sure that anyone, if they took it, would not open it."
The duke narrowed his eyes. "No offense, Imperial Prince, but your deduction is a bit naive."
"Not really," replied Admon. "What I mean... Pandora’s Box is still unreachable as it is. So... let whoever finds it first keep it!"
Dorian crossed his arms. "Prince, you want to organize a treasure hunt for something so dangerous?"
"Do you have a better idea?" retorted Admon. "And if possible, only the young should participate. Because if the patriarchs get involved..." He shrugged. "It will cause another bloody war."
The leaders exchanged glances and in the end no one objected either.
The Reunion of the Hundun Assembly had just ended.