Chapter 5 Star Anise

Althea turned around and look towards the door. A handsome man dressed in a yellow robe walked in and behind him were two people dressed in black with swords hanging on their waist.

"So, it's Sir Mori, as you can already see, I am all good after sleeping for a month", said Althea.

Walion Mori, son of the leader of the Mori clan, one of the most powerful clans in the Southern region. Althea knew that the leader of the Mori clan had been eying for the position of city lord and had been at odds with her father, the city lord. The beast incident back at the Baro clan was also instigated by the Mori clan. Back then, Althea had no idea about it but after regaining her memories she had a clear understanding of the incident, after all, she was once a Sovereign of one of the strongest powers in the land of Dura.

"Well, looking at you running around the city right after waking up, it seems that the incident was too exaggerated", said Walion in a sarcastic tone.

Just as Althea was about to reply, Manager Zhar came out and greeted both of them. " Greetings to Sir Mori and Miss Luvan, is there anything I can help both of you with"

Althea handed out a piece of paper and said, "One batch"

Looking at the paper, Manager Zhar said, "Miss Luvan, sorry to say but our hall doesn't have Star anise"

"No star anise!"

That was from Walion, from his reactions it seems that he also came for star anise.

Manager Zhar looked at their expression and explained, "Both of you may not know but star anise is not like other normal herbs. It can only be found in the deepest parts of the forest where many high-ranked beasts reside. And also, the star anise found in medicinal stores is of the lowest quality, the top quality star anise is often auctioned off at a very high price. If you guys need Star anise, you can take part in the upcoming auction at the Rainbow Auction hall, I heard that they will be auctioning off a top-quality star anise this time"

Althea knew very well about the herbs, she had already expected the results.

"Manager Zhar, do you how many star anise they are auctioning off," asked Althea

"Forgive me Miss Luvan, I have no idea about it"

"looks like there will be a tough competition for star anise at the Rainbow auction hall," said Walion Mori as he glared at Althea before leaving the Rainbow Medicine hall.

Althea knew what he meant, but she didn't care about him. The star anise will belong to the highest bidder and as for the money Althea had more than enough to buy star anise.

"Manager Zhar, you can give me the available herbs," said Althea.

"Ah.. yes, please wait for a moment Miss Luvan" saying that Manager Zhar went back to the counter to gather the herbs.

Althea had wanted to refine an Earth grade Reinvigorating pill using low-quality star anise because she knew that it's not easy to get top-quality star anise but with the appearance of top quality star anise at the Rainbow Auction Hall, even though the refining of an earth grade pill is delayed she is quite happy with it because it will improve the quality of Reinvigorating pill.

After paying thirty-two thousand rizas for the herb without a flinch, Althea headed back home. The only thing she had in mind now was to use this period before the auction to cultivate. Even though her spirit seed is yet to be healed and it will only make a little difference, she doesn't want to waste her time, she wants to make use of every second to cultivate so that she can climb back to her former strength as soon as possible.

As usual, she had her dinner with her parents at night. While Althea was calmly munching on the meat, Duriaz look at Althea and said, "Althea, you are a mage and we know that your spirit seed is damaged but the father wants to ask you something"

"Please speak father", said Althea as she put down her spoon

"Your Mother and I had never given up on healing your spirit seed, we will still try to search for medicine. Today, Father wants to know, if you were to become a strong Mage in the future, which power would you like to join"

asked Duriaz as he tightens his hold on the spoon secretly.

"I would like to join The Hall of Mage Father", said Althea.

Duriaz noticed the firm determination in her eyes and sighed inwardly.

" Why not the Rainbow Cloud Academy, our southern region is their jurisdiction, it will be easier to enter than the Hall of Mage," asked Furiana who was clueless about the seriousness of the question.

"Mother, The Hall of Mage is a separate force of Mages in the land of Dura, while the Rainbow cloud Academy is an Academy where all the professions are there. On the outside, it looks peaceful but the Rainbow cloud Academy is not as calm as it looks, everyone wants someone from their profession to be in a higher position. Internal conflict is more dangerous, of course, it doesn't mean that other forces are peaceful but The Rainbow Cloud Academy is worse of them all " explained Althea calmly, there was a hint of superiority in her tone as she spoke.

'clank'

The spoon in Duriaz hand fell, drawing the attention of Furiana and Althea.

"Father, What happened? Steward Gwen, can you bring father another spoon"

"I am alright, it's just that Father is quite surprised at your knowledge about the major powers in the land of Dura", said Duriaz as he tried to calm himself down, he didn't miss the hatred in Althea's eyes when she mentioned the name of The Rainbow Cloud Academy.

Althea realized only now that she had let the cat out of the bag. There are not many people who knew about the internal conflicts inside the five major powers.

"Look at you all being so clumsy, our daughter is smart, of course, she should be knowledgeable about it. I didn't know that such a thing happens inside the five great powers", said Furiana looking at Duriaz.

Furiana might not know but as a City Lord, Duriaz knew the workings of the five great powers.

"Althea, no matter what your choices will be in the future, your Mother and I will always support you", said Duriaz.

"Thank you, father and mother, I promise that my decisions and choices will not affect you", said Althea.

Going back to her room, Althea felt that today's atmosphere at the dining table was quite unusual. Thinking back about it she had to say that her Father was acting differently.

'Did father knew about it? but how can it be? No, I m just overthinking it. From now on I should be more careful about what to say and What not to say. Many things about the Five great powers are not known to the outside people, if I spill some beans like today, it would be quite dangerous. First of all, my real identity should not to known to anyone before I became strong, secondly, I will rise to power as Althea Luvan'

After sorting out her thoughts, Althea sat down to cultivate. She knew that to take down the four great powers it will take a lot of effort. Even now she was not confident besides that her spirit seed was not in a good shape. But whenever she thought about the time she was chased endlessly by the four great powers, her thirst for revenge and to make them suffer the same fate would occupy her whole heart.

Breathing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, Althea guided it towards her spirit seed. Looking at the small amount of energy the spirit seed was absorbing, Althea sighed but didn't plan to give up.

Due to her damaged spirit seed, Althea could not absorb the amount of spiritual energy like others. What she absorbed could only be considered as one percent of what others absorb. In short, she had to work one hundred times more than others, this was also the reason why she was still stuck in the first stage of low level.

Gritting her teeth Althea continues to guide the spiritual energy towards her spirit seed.

"No matter how small it may be, I won't sit still and waste my time"

Althea spends the entire night cultivating. As the first ray of sun entered the room through the window, Althea opened her eyes slowly and said, "looks like I have to get my hands on star anise by any means or else with this speed forget about getting my revenge, even getting strong will be a pipe dream"

Althea sighed and once again close her eyes and focus on the spiritual seed. The Flame dragon was still encircled around her spirit seed.

In some faraway place, a man in a red mask was sitting inside a luxurious mansion, below him, a man kneeled towards him and was giving a report.

"My Lord, as per your instruction we have investigated but there was no result. Your subordinate was incompetent please punish me." said the man as cold sweat started to drip down from his forehead.

The man in mask slammed on the table and shouted, "Damn it!"

At the same time another man came in and immediately kneeled before the masked man and said, "My Lord, we have found one person who might be the one you are looking for"

The masked man immediately stood up from his seat and asked, " Who is it?"

"Althea Rion, the former Sovereign of the Hall of Mage"