The Dawn of the New World

Stasa nodded somewhat absentmindedly with a smile that was not yet a smile.

"He looks different. A little older," he remarked seeing Hao Xuan's image reflected on the water. ​​

His chest unknowingly puffed out as he couldn't help but feel a little proud. When they had last met Hao Xuan was a guardian, one of the protectors while Stasa although coming from royalty himself, was nothing special here.

But now the distance between them had grown exponentially. Stasa had officially become a part of the 'Order of the Holy Light' while at least in his eyes Hao Xuan had stayed the same, if not worse.

The envy and resentment that Stasa held for Hao Xuan were replaced by his own inflated ego that would not allow him to harbor such emotions for someone so far from his social standing.

"What are your orders, my lord?"

"Should we send in the new trainees?"

Stasa laid back in his chair and shook his head gently, "There is no need for such underhanded tactics for a man of such low caliber. I was only curious to see if he had gotten strong enough to present a threat to our plans but it looks like there won't be a problem. A handful of summons and one easily protector cannot do anything now."

"Let him struggle. If he manages to reach the rendezvous point in time then send him up to the Church, otherwise, leave him down there to fend for himself. I'm sure Lord Dai Zhi wouldn't mind."

And with that he stood up and was about to walk into the short-range teleportation array behind him when one of the men called out again.

"Lord Stasa, there is someone else behind him!"

Curious, he came back to look into the bowl and saw a very familiar yet oddly foreign image. He leaned over the bowl with a squinted gaze until he was sure it was her at which point;

"The Princess!" he exclaimed in surprise.

The hooded men glanced at one another and shrugged, neither of them knew who she was.

"Which princess my lord? There are a lot of them..."

Stasa was pulled out of his daze by the duo's question but he still couldn't bear to tear his eyes away from her image.

"Princess Ceni you fools. That's Lord Dai Zhi's sister!"

Both the hooded men stood up so fast that they almost fell out of their chairs.

"W-What?!"

"Is that really true my lord?"

"Of course it's true. Why would I lie about something like that and to the two of you of all people?"

"I-Indeed. We had no idea any of Lord Dai Zhi's siblings were participating in the test."

Stasa's smile could not be contained no matter how hard he tried. He straightened his back and fixed his shirt as if she could see him right at this very moment.

"Lord Dai Zhi will be most pleased to know that she too has arrived."

The hooded man glanced at one another, both thinking the same thing.

'Probably not as pleased as you though.'

But then Stasa's brow suddenly locked in a tight furrow as he tried to recall something.

"But why is she here? I was certain that the coordinates we gave her were of one of the camps in the back which held a teleportation array. She didn't need to come this way at all."

The hooded man on the right spoke, presenting the most obvious reason.

"Isn't she following the protector? Why else would she come this way. He was the only one who had the coordinates of this area."

Stasa quickly realized that was most probably the case and his expression turned somewhat grim at the thought.

"Why would she, a Princess of such noble bloodline, associate with a no-name vagrant cultivator like him? Think before you speak, lest you desire to lose that tongue of yours," he barked towards the man who swiftly bowed from the waist.

"I meant no offense, my lord."

"Hmph."

But inwardly his thoughts were much different, 'Maybe he's not a douchebag asshole like you. Maybe THAT could be why she's following him and not you.'

The man on the left spoke up after a short moment to break the awkward silence.

"What should we do, my lord? Leave her be?"

"Of course not! Do you realize who she is? Lord Dai Zhi would have our heads if something happened to his sister! We will go down and get her ourselves. Make the preparations!"

"Y-Yes!"

But just as they were about to leave the table Stasa looked towards the man on the right who had pointed out the obvious.

"You, what is your name? I never asked."

The man quickly bowed from the waist, "This one does not have a name, Lord. I am only called by my induction number."

"What is it?"

"86."

The other hooded figure also chimed in, "I'm 89."

Stasa nodded, "Hmm, I'll remember that," giving 86 another hard look before moving towards the exit.

'Waah, so petty!' x2