The Sovereign Chronicles novel Chapter 17

Shortly after Kaelen Stormridge returned to Hawk's Crest, the Alchemical Expeditions gradually trickled in. They seemed to have reaped a bountiful harvest, smiles plastered across their faces. The Initiate-Guards assigned to protect them also pocketed some minor gains, each receiving a few stalks of Minor Aether-flora.

No one paid Kaelen any mind, and he couldn't care less about them either. He sat alone by the iron buckets, gnawing on hardtack while taking in the breathtaking expanse of the Veilwood Forest.

By nightfall, eleven of the fifteen Alchemical Expeditions had returned. Four were missing, including Corin and Moria Vance's groups—none of whom would ever be coming back.

Gathering aether-flora was inherently lethal; every acolyte knew the risks. Even among the eleven returning groups, there were casualties. Nine initiates had lost their lives to the forest, their bodies swallowed by the wilderness, never to be recovered.

"Lady Moria hasn't returned yet? Who was she paired with?"

"I think she was with Corin."

"Lucky bastard, that Corin. Out gathering flora with a beauty like her. If you ask me, he's probably dragging his feet on purpose. Any extra day with her is a win, right? Haha."

"Let's give it time. They should be back soon."

Under the cover of darkness, bonfires blazed atop the peak. The Veridian Acolytes gathered in their own circles, tallying their hauls. They were on strict quotas: at least ten stalks of Lesser Aether-flora, preferably uprooted with the soil intact, and a minimum of one hundred Minor Aether-flora and fruits. Falling short meant severe punishment back at the Sanctum, while exceeding the quota promised handsome rewards.

The Initiate-Guards clustered together, laughing and feasting on roasted meat. A female initiate offered Kaelen a teasing smile. "Hey, Kaelen! Care to join us?"

Kaelen cracked an eye open, half-asleep, shook his head dismissively, and drifted back into his doze.

"We're dying to know how you managed to break into the Spirit Warrior Tier. Come on over and tell us a story! We might even toss you a scrap of meat," a male initiate jeered.

"Are you seriously at the Spirit Warrior, Third Phase? Care to spar? I swear I won't break any bones."

"Come on, we'll even save you a seat."

"I find the brat fascinating. A former Citadel Lordling playing the Servitor for eight long years. That takes some serious endurance. What do you think? Is he truly just that broken, or is he brewing some dark, twisted scheme for revenge?"

"Hard to say. Hey, Kaelen, get over here! Answer us this: do you hate the Azure Sky Sanctum?"

The group of initiates leaned in, their interest piqued, eagerly hollering at Kaelen.

Kaelen’s lips curled into a silent, mocking smile. He stood up and dusted off his clothes. For a moment, they thought he was actually going to join them, but instead, he simply turned his back, walking down the slope to find a quieter place to rest.

The next day, another Alchemical Expedition straggled into camp. Yet, there was still no sign of Corin's group or the remaining two.

Unease began to ripple through the initiates. A fraction stayed behind to wait, while the rest fanned out into the surrounding crags to search.

After two grueling days and nights of tracking, they finally stumbled upon a cluster of corpses. It was the Initiate-Guards from one of the missing groups—or rather, what was left of them. They were torn into unrecognizable chunks of gore. However, there was still zero trace of the other expedition or Corin’s group. Not even a drop of blood.

"Were they slaughtered?" They had no choice but to assume the worst. Had they run into a band of ruthless Mercenaries? Or were they hunted down by a high-tier Spirit Beast?

Under normal circumstances, no Mercenary band would dare provoke acolytes of the Azure Sky Sanctum, but out in the wilds, exceptions were written in blood.

And if they had the misfortune of crossing paths with a ferocious Spirit Beast, their fates would be sealed all the same.

Such massacres used to be a common occupational hazard during these expeditions. But in recent years, the relentless cullings led by the Sanctum Elders had turned them into a rarity.

Losing three entire squads in one sweep sent a chill of dread through the acolytes. The terror was amplified by the fact that Moria Vance, a prized Prime Initiate, was among the missing.

Terrified of returning empty-handed, they widened the search grid, scouring the woods for two more days. They eventually uncovered the remains of the second missing group—mutilated beyond the point of distinguishing whether it was the work of a Spirit Beast or Mercenaries. Finally, they found a corpse belonging to Corin's squad: the Dual-Blade Initiate.

………………

Three days later, the Alchemical Expedition returned to the Azure Sky Sanctum. They brought back troves of aether-flora—and the grim tidings of Moria Vance's demise.

Not a single soul suspected Kaelen. To the outside world, the deep-seated grudge between Moria and the lowly Servitor was utterly unknown, as was the true, terrifying extent of Kaelen's combat prowess.

The moment Kaelen set foot back in the Sanctum, his first priority was checking the hidden cliffs bordering Mount Veridia to see if the Serpent's Heart Fruit was still there.

The sheer rock face was choked with thick, emerald vines. The dense canopy of foliage served as a perfect breeding ground, swarming with venomous vipers and massive constrictors.

The Serpent's Heart Fruit remained untouched, safely tucked away in its shadowed crevice.

Within his Aether Core, the Netherward Blade pulsed faintly. Ebon mist bled from the phantom steel, silently shrouding the expanse of his core in a dark haze—a silent warning to its master.

Kaelen frowned in sheer bewilderment. Why was the Netherward Blade urging him to be wary of the Gilded Viper? Even when he had crossed paths with apex Spirit Beasts in the Veilwood Forest, the ancient blade hadn't reacted like this.

The Gilded Viper materialized once more. Coiling its gleaming, scaled body tightly around the Serpent's Heart Fruit, it flicked a crimson, forked tongue at Kaelen, hissing a venomous threat.

Kaelen stared it down for a long moment. In a sudden, fluid motion, he drew two Throwing Daggers and whipped them straight at the gilded beast.

The daggers ripped through the air with lethal kinetic force, spinning so fast they shrieked against the wind.

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