Chapter Twenty Six

Maple and the rest of Maple Tree stand in awe at the grandeur of the castle before them. The towering spires reach towards the sky. The stone walls are intricately carved, telling tales of a long history. Flags bearing the royal crest flutter in the gentle breeze, adding a touch of color to the imposing structure.

Knights in gleaming armor patrol the grounds, their stern faces projecting vigilance. Servants scurry about, attending to their duties with practiced efficiency.

Maple steps forward, her eyes wide with wonder. "This... this is incredible."

Yui and Mai nod in agreement, their expressions mirroring her amazement. "I've read about places like this, but seeing it in person... it's beyond words,"Chrome murmurs.

Mai, usually calm and collected, can't hide her excitement. "It's like a scene out of a fairy tale."

Namarie, standing beside them, smiles at their reactions. "Welcome to Welvern Castle. Come, we must head to the meeting."

She leads them through the courtyard, past the meticulously maintained gardens and into the grand entrance hall. The hall is vast, with high ceilings adorned with chandeliers that cast a warm, golden glow. Tapestries depicting legendary battles and heroic deeds line the walls, each one a masterpiece in its own right.

They are guided through a series of corridors, each one more opulent than the last, until they reach a set of massive double doors. Namarie pauses, her hand resting on the ornate handle. "Beyond these doors lies the guest chamber. Chrome, Mai and Yui will wait here. Within are the entourage of the members of the meeting. I don't really care what you do, however be prepared for anything."

Chrome, Yui, and Mai nod in understanding, their faces serious. Chrome pushes the doors open, revealing a circular chamber bathed in light from the glass windows high above. Multiple groups of people turn their attention to the three.

Namarie and Maple leave the room and head back into another corridor. A few more corridors later and they stand before another set of double doors, this door being slightly smaller than the the previous one. Namarie immediately slams the doors open, revealing a dim lighted chamber. The Sins along side the other occupants, each seated in a throne-like chair, turn their attention to the newcomers.

Namarie steps forward, nonchalantly as she declares"You wouldn't want to start without little old me, would you?"

Just as Maple is entering the room, a tall man with a glowing green light in his chest immediately stands in rage. "What is the meaning of thi-" his words are cut off however the moment he spots her.

He's not the only one however as Maple resisted the urge to fidget under the intense gaze of the several important people seated in the room. 'is... is there something on my face? Ah, this is so embarrassing.'

////

Looking around him, Chrome sighs once more. The tension within the chamber is so heavy, Chrome is surprised he can even move at all. The other occupants of the chamber had separated themselves into several groups.

Across from him, some elves barely held their disgust as they didn't even try to hide their daggers almost daring the other occupants to make a move.

To his side a group of tall muscular women drinking without a care, or at least that's what it looked like, but Chrome and by extension Maple Tree had hosted the members of the holy sword. Frederica, Dread and most especially Payne while enjoying themselves were always watching, hiding their subtle movements, trying to find weakness during the parties.

The women hid it well, but as the resident brother figure of Maple Tree, he was almost as observant as Sally.

The rest of the groups are the same, either openly showing their dislikes of the others or hiding it but prepared for anything.

'i can't deal with this right now.' Massaging his temple, Chrome stands up. The room basically flinches at this movement. Chrome turns to the twins who are looking bored as hell. "Hey, I'm going for a walk. Wanna come?"

Mai and Yui immediately nod their heads and jump to their feet. The room once again flinches at their movement.

Chrome makes his way to the large doors, Yui and Mai right behind him. Opening the large double doors they take their leave. The door closes, and every single person in the chamber releases a breath they didn't know they were holding.

Chrome and the twins keep walking, sweeping past corridors. Mai turns to Chrome. "Weren't we supposed to wait in that room with the others?"

Chrome nervously chuckles. " Yeah, that room was too uncomfortable however. Maple could easily find us if she wants."

Emerging into the courtyard once more, they are met by an entourage of knights surrounding a cloaked figure, ready to apprehend them. The figure turns to the group, a determined look in their eyes.

Chrome's eyes widen in recognition. "It's you." He walks forward but one of the knights uses their spear to block his path. "You're a member of Ironhaven right?" He continues. "Silvari. Is that it?"

A sudden breeze blows into the courtyard, the hood of figure's cloak coming off in the wind revealing the signature red hair of Ironhaven's archer, Silvari.

Silvari locks eyes with Chrome, a hint of relief mingled with urgency in her gaze. "Chrome, yeah uhm... hi, can we... can we talk."

"The Banished returns." A commanding voice suddenly echoes through the courtyard.

Everyone turns their attention to the new comer as he descends from a set of stairs majestically.His red hair shimmering as if set on fire. The six foot tall young man wore red gleaming armor covered in a silver cloak.

Silvari's eyes narrow, "Nahand."

A smile graces Nahand's face. "Hello... Sister."

////

"Over here Maple, have a seat." Namarie directs Maple to a chair... right next to her.

'Uh, isn't this where someone really important normally sits? Now all these people I've never met before are staring at me…' Maple shuffles over as discreetly as she can to her seat as she struggles to ignore the stares of the 'strongest' in the whole of Phalsia.

"Okay, now that we're all here, let's get started." The sin of Pride begins the meeting, ignoring Maple's dismay.

"Okay. I'm sure you're all aware by now of the recent disturbance over a month ago." He glances at each member present, his eyes passing over Maple. "The entire kingdom of Pelveria was completely erased, that, you're also aware. Now while Pelveria was a relatively small kingdom, that it was destroyed without a trace is cause for concern." He pauses, allowing his words to sink down on them. "Just like the rest of you, the kingdom of Welvern sent out scouting parties to investigate... And just like the rest of you we received nothing. Until recently, our scouts decided to move along the edges of Phalsia beyond Pelveria's and into the salt lands... They didn't return. Monarcha? If you will."

On hearing that, most of the eyes in the room move to the Sin of Greed.

Monarcha's helmet tilts forward, making a metallic hiss. "My. Research. Led. Me. To. The. Salt. Lands. Following. The. Scouts... I. Eventually. Came. Across. An. Abandoned. Camp. With. A. Single. Survivor... Just. Before. The. Survivor. Passed. I. Was. Able. To. Read. Through. It's. Memories."

The entire room immediately becomes silent awaiting the reveal of the complete erasure of an entire kingdom.

Varkos, already losing his patience asks. "And the cause of Pelveria's destruction?"

With a nod of it's helmet, Monarcha places a neon blue orb on the large table. The orb begins humming for the next few moments, tiny dots of light emerging from the orb before slowly combining into projection of a transparent hologram above the gathering.

The hologram flickers to life, casting an eerie blue glow over the room. The projection shows a vast landscape of salt flats, barren and desolate. The view pans over the cracked ground, the remnants of abandoned campsites, and finally, the image of a massive, swirling storm, dark clouds boiling with an unnatural intensity.

"This," Monarcha's voice, though metallic, carries a weight that makes everyone lean in closer, "Is. What. Our. Scouts. Encountered... A. Storm. Of. Unprecedented. Scale. And. Ferocity. Capable. Of. Annihilating. Everything. In. Its. Path."

Rory's eyes widen as she takes in the scene. "That's a storm?" 'A storm... that destroyed an entire kingdom? What kind of power is that?'

"From. The. Survivor's. Memories," Monarcha continues, "I. Have. Deducted. That. This. Is. Some. Kind. Of. Toxic. Cumulonimbus. Maelstrom. Or. As. I. Have. Designated. It... The. Nox. Storm."

Garuth places his hands on the table. "This storm, is unlike any of it's predecessors... made entirely out of poison and corrosive acid. Of course we sent our men who had incredible resistance to poison, even summons with immunity to poison. They only lasted a few seconds at best." The entire room and s now deathly still and silent, the orb still humming. The Sin of Pride continues. "I had Monarcha send in some of his golems and we discovered that a single drop of poison from the Nox Storm has a small chance of causing instant death regardless of the individual."

Kaelith, visibly shaken by this revelation trembles. "A single drop, in a literal rain of poison? Pelveria never stood a chance."

Namarie, sitting beside Maple, leans forward, her gaze intense. "Do we know what created this... abomination? any weakness?"

Monarcha shakes its helmeted head slowly. "We. Do. Not. The. Memories. Were. Fragmented... The. Survivor's. Mind. Barely. Coherent."

Garuth clears his throat loudly, dispersing the sinking feeling in the room. "For now, we have no urgent need to worry. The Nox Storm is passing through the Sand lands, away from Phalsia. However..."

Hamarie cuts in with a frown on her face. "The wind is a fickle mistress. All it takes is one wrong breeze and the storm could return. And even worse, if this storm keeps taking more lives, reaping more souls. Chances are, it could become sentient, like our cute Talia here. I'm not sure how exactly to deal with that."

The room descends into silence once again. The tension in the room is palpable, each member processing the dire implications of the Nox Storm. Maple shifts uncomfortably, feeling the weight of the situation.

Garuth breaks the silence, his voice steady but firm. "We cannot afford to remain idle. We must prepare for the worst-case scenario. I want each of you to send out a task force to monitor the storm's movements. If it shows any signs of changing direction, we need to know immediately."

Namarie nods, her expression resolute. "Understood. I'll gather our best scouts and mages to set up a perimeter."

"Monarcha," Garuth continues, turning to the Sin of Greed, "I need you to continue your research on the storm, Varcos will assist you. Focus on finding any potential weaknesses or ways to mitigate its effects."

Monarcha's helmet tilts slightly in acknowledgment. "I. Will. Do. My. Best."

Rory adds, "We should also consider evacuation plans for the nearby regions. If the storm does change course, we need to ensure the safety of our people."

Garuth nods in agreement. "A sound suggestion. Hamarie, coordinate with local leaders to establish these plans. Make sure they're ready to act at a moment's notice."

Hamarie gives a curt nod.

"And Ymir..." Garuth turns to the sleeping lamia. "Will be our last resort." Facing Sapphire he gestures. "Relay this to the queen, should we need her assistance."

Maple takes a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. 'This is so overwhelming. What can I possibly do to help?'

Rory's eyes suddenly flash. "What about the empire? No doubt, they'll be planning to take advantage of this."

Everyone turns to Garuth who sighs. "If the empire dares to be..."

Booom

The entire room shakes violently from an external shockwave.

////

Chrome stands upright, his shield on one hand and his cleaver in the other. Laying on the floor with a groan, Nahand is barely conscious.

Covered in multiple burns, his eyes glowing silver, Chrome growls. "Had enough yet."