Lindon felt a spike of alarm and anger. Mercy instantly moved to cover Yerin, and the knot in his heart loosened, but they had still attacked instantly. As far as he knew, they could have killed her.
In a flash, Yerin vanished.
She reappeared next to the Jade woman, blade drawn, its white edge pressed against the elder’s throat.
The Irons behind panicked, staggering back and preparing weapons…but none of them attacked, clearly unwilling to risk the Jade’s life.
Yerin spoke while panting. “Now…would you bet we’re here to talk, or draw blood?”
After another moment, in which she met the eyes of all the Irons, Yerin slid her sword away and back into its sheath.
The elder raised two fingers to her throat, felt no blood, and then lowered her trembling hand. “Guests don’t usually sneak in to capture one of our Jades.”
Lindon took over. “We came to warn you. There is a great disaster on its way. You may have already felt it: earthquakes, spiritual pressure, earth aura behaving strangely.”
The elder gave one cautious nod.
“It is coming to destroy Sacred Valley. We can take you to safety, but you have to leave with us.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What reason do I have to think this isn’t a plot to destroy us?”
“Because we don’t need to plot to destroy you,” Lindon said simply. He kept his spirit wide open, his madra cycling slowly.
After a moment, her spiritual perception extended from her and ran through him in a soul-shivering scan. He allowed it.
Her sense was vague and weak, but she shook when she was finished. He almost didn’t hear her whisper “Gold? All of you?”
Lindon hesitated.
“Sure,” Mercy allowed.
Yerin gave a dry laugh. “You’re short by a long mile.”
“We’re far beyond Golds!” Eithan declared.
Ziel just shook his head.
The Elder looked to all of them in clear confusion, returning to Lindon. He simply said, “Yes.”
Rahm scanned them all, and each time, the shock in his expression grew.
“Forgiveness,” the Jade woman said with a bow. “I was disrespectful. We should find a place to talk where we won’t be on display to every peeping Copper in the school.”
There was indeed a significant crowd staring at them, some close and some far away, with varying degrees of anger or fear.
As he looked around, Lindon caught note of a building he recognized. He pointed. “We can speak in the Lesser Treasure Hall.”
The female elder’s face twisted in confusion. “Forgiveness, but the Treasure Hall is crowded. And I’m sure nothing in there would catch the eye of a Gold.”
“I would feel more comfortable if we were in Elder Rahm’s home,” Lindon explained.
“Elder Rahm oversees all three of our Treasure Halls. At least let me guide you to the Elder Treasure Hall, where we are better equipped to host honored guests such as yourselves.”
Lindon realized he was pinching his void key and lowered his hand. “Let’s start with the Lesser Hall,” he said. “One step at a time.”
6
Lindon remembered the Lesser Treasure Hall of Heaven’s Glory as a wide hall packed with pedestals. Sitting on each pedestal, covered in transparent panes of glass-like Forged madra, were treasures.
As he entered now, years later, the first thing he noticed was how small the place was.
Yerin glanced around at the floor and ceiling. “Got the place all swept and shiny new.” There was no trace of her battle with Rahm, which had destroyed much of the interior before.
Elder Rahm gave a harsh laugh as she dragged him along behind. “Such little damage was simple to repair.”
His colleague entered after the rest of them, following inside only after Mercy, Ziel, and Eithan had joined them. She didn’t bring any guards along with her, though she did position herself near the exit.
When they had all entered, the old woman bowed. “Apologies for the late introduction. I am Grand Elder Emara. I have not held the position for long, so please forgive me if my knowledge is lacking.”
“You’re forgiven,” Eithan intoned.
Lindon glanced at a wooden card sitting next to a case carrying a scripted sword. Flying Sword, it said. When powered by Iron-quality madra, this weapon is capable of levitating through vital aura and striking with the force of a real sword.
He remembered it, though he wasn’t sure if this was the same weapon. When he was here before, he had ached at having to leave this behind. It had no aspect requirement, so he’d wanted to keep it for later in his advancement.
Next to it was a dormant construct, a tiny humanoid