The royal palace was not exactly as Gabriel expected; it was even more impressive.

He and Syandra wandered the place guided by Gabriel’s eyes. Wherever he wanted to go, there they went. She opened up in tales or recounts about the many objects and paintings covering the halls. Walking amid the palace, they were carefully avoided by everyone. Few people stopped to say hi to the cursed princess. It seemed that the strongest one was, the more horrifying her vision was, or at least that was what Gabriel was starting to realize. Wherever they went, the void followed.

The whole situation was a little unnerving for Gabriel, he wanted to tell them to show at least a little dignity, but as he was about to do so, Syandra’s hand reached his, calming him. It was not his place to add chaos to her situation. It was simply unfixable. Other than that, it was about time Gabriel started gaining a more mature inner calm. It really wasn’t in his nature, but this could be a good training ground.

So they went from hall to hall, the party got livelier by the minute, and at some point, when they reached her chambers, Syandra sent him to meet the other people. She would have to change. Gabriel knew it was just a way to let him peacefully address other people at the party without her presence getting in the way. However, he accepted. It was high time he got at least a few pieces of information out of that place. Who knew when next would he be able to meet Yggdrasilians apart from Avrelyssyandra, if at all.

As he wandered the halls, he came upon Gaia right away. She looked very at ease contrarily to quite a few people non Yggdrasilians that had been invited and were reacting in an over the top way. However, at the same time, she looked flustered but not for the party. Gabriel knew that what she was worried about was the state of things with Large Leaf Dungeon.

“Gabriel!” She ventured toward him. Wearing an electric blue dress, she looked more feminine than he had ever seen, it was quite a few shades darker than her azure hair and eyes, but it suited her. “Listen, I’m sorry about today; I overstepped my boundaries, it’s just that,” she leaned closer to whisper, “there are so many things we should worry about now; I don’t feel at ease by partying today, at all.”

“You don’t need to apologize; it was a rough day for me yesterday. I was still on edge. Anyway, you look beautiful. Really. But do take me around. I really don’t know anybody here. However, before that, I need you to answer a question,” Gabriel took a slow breath before continuing, “Did he talk?”

Gaia slowly shook her head. And Gabriel breathed out his displeasure.

It was maybe the very first placate interaction he had with Gaia since… maybe since he got to know her, and Gabe could feel it was thanks to Syandra’s soothing presence. The wise, beautiful, Syandra was a blessing for Gabriel’s nerves.

Gaia led him to know many people, too many for him to remember actually, but he behaved how he needed to. How he had learned in all his time as a server.

However, the bulk of the party was centered around one cluster of people in particular. Taller than average and beautiful like the sun, the Yggdrasilian’s royal family stood as the center of interest for the people. There were quite a few of them. Each and everyone of them beautiful like a star. With their straight postured, shining skin of many colors and hair that looked like fluffy foliage.

The King and the Queen were at the center but at their side stood seven princes and princesses. Each of them wore dresses woven in Mythril, transparent where it had to be, and shining like the palace itself.

“Damn, they look like angels…” Gabriel couldn’t help to comment.

Gaia chuckled, “Yes, they do. Ynggdra, the King. He’s eight thousand years old,” Gaia whispered in his ear. Nobody has ever dared try to analyze him, but it is said his Level over around one hundred eighty. But I don’t believe it. If he had reached Tier 9, he might have ascended to Godhood. Like Valhalla, Yggdrasil would have started becoming a God’s Dominion.”

Ynggdra raised taller than all of them. It wasn’t only his height; his bearing, his dignity, his smile. If Gabriel could designate perfection, that would be Ynggdra. All the others, although beautiful, and mighty, and majestic, disappeared in front of him. He was truly a magnet, soaring to the sky and dragging every gaze upon him.

There was nothing to say about the others; they were the epitome of beauty and perfection, too… it was just that Ynggdra was more.

However, when Gabriel turned his gaze at the other members of the Royal house, he could feel the same pull. If there was different detail, it was which aspect of them was his gaze being pulled to.

I’ve experienced this before . Gabriel realized.

It was the same thing the Tyrant did to him. It must have been something related to a Perk. The mayor was able to make him do things by simply asking him to do them. They, however, didn’t even need to ask.

At this point, it was clear. It was a form of mind control. However, the Tyrant did not have access to Magic Skills, so his ability must have been related to something else. But what gave these people the ability to play with the mind? He only knew of Dark Magic being capable of such things.

Gabriel decided to escape from their pull, simply shielding himself with a film of mind-bending Mana.

It was clear that he had the desired effect when the Queen ungraciously turned her gaze toward him for a moment. Just for a short moment, before reconnecting it to the eyes of her speaker.

Gabriel could see that they were still as beautiful as gods, but he was not being pulled to worship them as such.

“You must be the Herald,” came an angelic voice from the center of the bunch. It was one of the Princes.

Gaia noticed and whispered to him his name, even for Enhanced Senses, there was too much racket for somebody to eavesdrop on their conversation, “That’s Agronigus, the First Prince.”

The crowd parted without Agronigus, even waving at them. It gave Gabriel space to pass, but it was Agronigus the first to come toward him and hold out his hand. Many whispers could be heard at that point, many.

“Please, call me Gabriel, honorable Agronigus. It’s a pleasure meeting you.”

“No, Gabriel. The pleasure is all mine. You cannot know how it overjoys us to hear Avrelyssyandra talk about you and her days that finally are full. I thank you for having shared your friendship with my little sister. It would be my honor to be a guardian toward this friendship that has been born among you, so that it may be everlasting and unchanging,” he said as he held Gabriel’s hand in both of his.

Oh… crap.

If it couldn’t be clearer than that, Gabriel couldn’t say. What he knew was that he might be in a lot of trouble.

“You need not even say, Prince Agronigus. I’m blessed by your sisters’ graceful companionship, and I would never dare put an end to it. I feel fortunate in having this pleasure, and I would be a fool to let go of it.”

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Gabriel. Now come, walk with us; my family is eager to meet you.”

“Of course, Prince. It would be my joy,” he said, before turning toward Gaia.

“Naturally, our Guardian in-learning can come with, there’s nothing we wouldn’t share with her,” he answered.

As Gabriel entered the cluster of royal Yggdrasilians, his barrier gave out; it was suppressed by their ability, way too much for him to tackle. And so he let himself be carried away by their conversation, their questions, their interest in him. Their beauty and voices were hypnotizing, but Gabriel tried with all his will to hold himself back from making promises, from giving out too much information and or proof of his allegiance.

They managed to introduce him to many of Yggdrasil’s important people. Important family living in the outpost, or envoys from other parts of Alter, residing in the Veins. Even significantly famous merchants staying in The Cradle. That long period of introduction continued until a dark cloud of dread came to interrupt them and pick him out from the crowd.

At that point, Gabriel renewed his focus, excused himself, and took her hand to be pulled away. It was hurtful seeing every member of her family pull their eyes away from her, even though they saluted her dearly. At that moment, Gabriel noticed how Agronigus, one of her sisters, he believed was called Nedrelid, the First Prince, and her father managed to keep their eyes on her.

I wonder why they manage to look at her and others can’t? Might it be that they use more than a shade of Dark magic in their Magic Skills like me?

However, their level wasn’t known; it was nearly impossible to guess their Skills; it would probably remain a mystery to him.

“Thank you,” Gabriel whispered as she brought him away and climbed a set of stairs to observe the hall from up.

“I knew they would have taken a liking to you right away,” she said, smiling. “You are so cute and defenseless. But carry such a heavy burden, you are irresistible, really.”

“Really? I’m defenseless, now that’s just mean!”

“I didn’t mean like that, silly,” she giggled.

I wonder if I should talk to her about what her brother told me, but Gabriel decided not to.

“Hey, where’s Lizzy?” She asked after a while?

“Lizzy? Right, where’s Li- Oh, she’s in me. I hadn’t noticed. She must have grown scared. I wonder why?”

“Maybe it’s her Level,” Syandra suggested. “Yes, now that I think about it, only high-level spirits manage to stay focused in front of my family, especially when they all stand together like that. Their presence is hypnotizing,” she admitted.

Gabriel felt Lizzy concur with her statement from his core. And he could see how there were not that many Spirits wandering the hall with their Bond Human.

“Come, I want to show you the Spirit Hall.”

Gabriel let himself be carried forth; she had clasped his hand and had yet to let go. He couldn’t help but rejoice at that. And yet, he could feel a presence weighing down on him; he was sure it was something he had already felt, it indeed was someone from the Royal family, but he could not place it. He could barely feel their presence, and that was just because they were so massive.

Once they were out of the hall, Syandra led him to what looked like the center of the castle, and the more they got closer, the stronger the shine from his Spirit Sight.

“Damn, it’s almost dazzling.”

“You should learn to cut it out.”

“I wish I- Wait, I think I can.”

Liz, can you do something with Spirit Assimilation to block it?

Gabriel felt the peculiar shift from Spirit Hiding to Spirit Assimilation; it felt like she melted into his soul instead of hiding in it, then it was almost immediate, the almost completely blinding luminosity became regular light, enough for him to notice, but not enough to need to shut his eyes.

“Wow, that was surprising.”

“What happened,” Syandra asked.

“We managed to, well, thanks to you.”

“Oh, I’ve done nothing, Gabriel,” she said, nudging him to walk, “Come on, let’s go faster since you can see better now. Know that the power is such that there’s an actual silver shine being produced right now. I can see it too.”

“Ley lines wind, yes. I can see it.”

The royal palace quickly gave in to a vault. Guards were standing at the edges of it, actual Yggdrasilian guards. The vault was nothing more than a vast room that precipitously opened toward the ground. The silver light came from that abyss.

Silver wind permeated the air; it caressed Gabriel, invigorating him.

Far in the distant end of the abyss swirled a terrifying hurricane of it. Its powerful shine was strong enough even without Spirit Sight.

“That’s where the excess Spirit accumulated during the whole year. It is already slowly coalescing into a single leaf somewhere amid the branches down there, and in a few hours, the captain of the Royal guards will take it and bring it to the garden, offer it to the King which will, in turn, release its power toward the sky, creating a Leyroad, it can hold itself only for a minute, but it will connect toward the strongest confluence of Spirit the close vicinity,” she explained.

“Is it always the same place?” Gabriel asked.

Syandra shook her head, “It changes every single time. Once, a few hundred years ago, the closest confluence came from one of the planets connected to The Den, but it’s a rare occurrence, and anyway, the Ley roads are entirely shut now. So it wouldn’t happen anyway.”

“Where do you guess it will connect to now?”

“It’s actually already been calculated, the Seer has overseen it personally, it will connect to the Shadow Lands. The place has been going to power recently. Anyway,” she continued, “I can’t wait to see you gawking face. You said you already used one Ley road to get back to Earth. But this is going to be something else. Its power is wild, not perfect focused like the Ley roads to Earth. You’ll see.”

Gabriel smiled at her. Then they headed back to the hall; there was a party being prepared in the gardens.

***

Lena had yet to dress up for the party. She already knew she would be the most beautiful woman in there, but she needed to be sure everyone noticed. Of course, if Nastia had been with her, she would have been the one attracting the most attention, and it would have been right, she thought.

Although Nastia had been… something she had been a hard result to accept, given the fact that she had been born Spiritless, even though Lena had predicted it differently, she was still her daughter.

“Are you ready?” Clast asked.

“Not yet, but I need your opinion. This,” she put on a red scarf, “or this,” it was now violet.

“Without,” said Clast, barely giving her the attention she wanted.

“What do you mean without? Did you really see it? It’s violet, not pink!”

“Oh, right, let me see it again.”

“Focus! This,” she once again placed the red on, then removed it, “or this one.”

“Yes, I’m confident now,” Clast said, nodding.

“The violet, right?”

He shook his head, “None.” And turned to his Shogi practice. He needed to beat Darte at it sooner or later.

“You are a damn child. I wish that game-”

A flashing light, screams, an insane amount of screams, an hurricane, blood, death, an exploding tree, the ruin of an entire era. Then silence, and again, steps, the steps peculiar to the wood people.

“..ena! What did you see?” Shouted Clast, “You had never fallen like that; the last time that happened was-”

“It’s happening again…” she said meekly. “He’ll come again… but why now!?” She realized the moment she said it. “It’s the Gift of Blooming! We need to stop the offering!”

“What? How? Where will the excess Spirit discharge itself upon!?” Said Clast.

“I don’t know, but we can’t let them use it, or it will be Yggdrasil’s ruin!”

***

The Wandering Hearth’s hall grew silent but only for a second before the cheers began anew.

“Was that a vision, Stille, my love?” Marcle asked.

The couple, together with Varcivald, had been drinking at the Hearth. They had indeed found a good deal of welcoming people. The only thing the Hearth lacked was a couple of stools for their size, that was until Commodo, the Dwarf and innkeeper, sent somebody to retrieve them.

However, Dustille’s head ached mightily. She could not remember half what she had seen, but it looked like a real tragedy…

“There was so much blood…” she said, meekly.

She knew she’d have to contact the Seer at this point, so she took out her slice of Gemini paper. It was written in red pencil, their sign for urgency. It read, ‘ Go back to Kanceldom! Now! We are in danger, and I can’t lose you after awakening your Vision!’

Dustille swallowed hard.

“Marcle, I think we should leave. Like this very moment. Come on.”

“What’s going on?”

She whispered to his ear, “I think there’s going to be trouble, enough trouble for the Seer not to be able to grant me protection. She ordered me to go back to Kanceldom. Now!”

“What? And we’re going to leave these people here?” Marcle said.

“Think about it! Who would believe us? They don’t even know I’m a Seer in training!” She said that last part higher than she intended, and Garena serving drinks beside them, heard.

“Ma’am Giantess, if I may ask, what’s going on,” she said more than asked suspiciously.

Dustille studied for a couple long seconds. She was a beautiful she-orc; her eyes said that she had seen much in life and was not extraneous to violence and danger. She felt like trusting her.

“I… don’t know how but I’ve just had a vision, and I think we are all in danger. And when I mean all. I mean the whole of Yggdrasil. I’m the Seer of Carnage apprentice,” she stated.

Garena grew silent, then she said, “Please, wait here for a moment, this is the safest place to be in case of danger, trust me. We have an… escape route that nobody has,” after saying so, the she-orc left.

She and the Dwarf innkeeper came back less than a minute later.

“Can I please be informed of your vision?” He asked her, and at this point, Varcivald, the Elf sitting at Marcle’s side, grew interested too.

After she said what she had to say, Dustille, which grew more alerted by the minute, waited in silence for them to exchange glances.

“That might be what Gabriel was talking about,” she heard the Dwarf say.

“I think it’s safe to say that we need to activate contingency plans,” added the Elf.

“I’ll need to warn people. We might have to start right away,” they all nodded.

What is going on? Why do I feel these people were expecting something like this to happen?