The Sovereign Chronicles novel Chapter 5

Mount Veridia was one of The Azure Sky Sanctum's many forbidden zones. Majestic and towering, it reached thousands of feet into the sky, its peaks piercing the clouds. Shrouded in perpetual mist, its true form was completely hidden from the outside world. The Aether concentration here was intensely rich; it was a bona fide treasure trove. From the mid-slopes to the summit, it was said to hold thirty to fifty large and small medicinal gardens, as well as hidden, specialized plots cultivating even more precious herbs.

Kaelen stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing up at the towering, imposing Mount Veridia. The heavy mist wasn't just moisture; it was saturated with Aether. He took a deep breath. The air was cool and refreshing, invigorating his mind and body. The Aether here was countless times stronger than back at his remote warehouse.

If he could just train here, it would be absolute bliss.

Kaelen tucked the delivery manifest safely into his clothes, hoisted the stone vat, and carefully stepped onto Mount Veridia.

He had never dared to enter before, but maybe he'd take a risk this time?

Due to the intense Aether concentration, Mount Veridia wasn't just home to a vast amount of Aether-flora; even the trees were exceptionally massive and sturdy. Thick roots burst from the earth like giant pythons, intertwining chaotically. Countless branches draped down to the ground, blurring the line between branch and sapling. The place felt like a completely isolated, sealed-off dimension. Anyone who had never been here could easily lose their way.

For the vast majority of The Azure Sky Sanctum's disciples, Mount Veridia was deeply mysterious, simply because almost no one was ever allowed to visit.

Kaelen was throwing caution to the wind today. Mustering his courage, he wandered through the dense, damp ancient forest. He greedily breathed in the Aether while scanning his surroundings, hoping against hope to stumble upon some rogue Aether-flora or fruit.

Being a Servitor actually had its perks sometimes. If someone caught him, he could just say he was making a delivery.

The further Kaelen walked up the mountain, the more he loved the place.

It was practically paradise.

If he could train here for a month, getting thrown in solitary confinement for a year would be a fair trade.

"Whoa, actual Aether-flora?" Kaelen's eyes lit up. He suddenly spotted a small, vibrant green plant amidst a tangled pile of tree roots. Half-buried by dead leaves, it only poked out a few delicate petals. If Kaelen hadn't had sharp eyes, he might have missed it entirely.

A Minor Aether-flora.

Kaelen set down the stone vat, carefully dug it out, checked to make sure no one was around, and shoved it whole into his mouth, chewing indiscriminately before swallowing.

A wave of cool, refreshing Aether spread from his mouth to his entire body.

He had no idea what kind of herb it was, but there was only one word for the sensation: exhilarating!

Reinvigorated, Kaelen balanced the stone vat above his head and kept a sharp eye on his surroundings as he walked. Not long after, he miraculously spotted another Aether-flora hidden in a patch of wild weeds.

Just by braving his way up the mountain for a couple of hours, he had actually managed to find five Aether-flora.

Even though they were all Minor Aether-flora, it was more than enough to thrill Kaelen.

"Such an intense medicinal fragrance." Kaelen twitched his nose and quickened his pace. Suddenly, the terrain ahead opened up, revealing a sprawling medicinal garden. A thin mist hung over the area, obscuring the details, but the rich scent of herbs and dense Aether washed over him, making him instinctively take a deep breath.

"Who goes there?!" A harsh shout rang out from the side.

Kaelen snapped to attention, hurriedly set down the stone vat, and called out loudly, "Lower Initiate Kaelen, making a delivery on the orders of Overseer Fargo."

A handsome young disciple emerged from the small grove near the garden. His delicate brows were knitted tightly, his gaze hostile. "Utter nonsense! When has the medicinal garden ever requested supplies from your warehouse?"

"Here is the manifest, please verify it. I am merely following orders." Kaelen handed over the list.

The disciple merely glanced at it, refusing to take it. He walked coldly toward Kaelen. "He tells you to deliver, and you just deliver? You've got a lot of nerve. Did you forget the rules of The Azure Sky Sanctum?"

"I might get punished for delivering, but I'll definitely get punished if I don't. This was the Overseer's arrangement. I don't have a choice."

"Heh, a mere Overseer dares to use the medicinal garden to harass someone? Is he courting death, or are you just exceptionally arrogant?" The youth circled Kaelen, his eyes turning extremely cold.

"I'm just here to deliver cargo. Fargo wrote the manifest. You can investigate it yourself, Senior."

"Who is your Senior?"

"If you aren't, you aren't. The cargo is in the stone vat. Shall I unload it for you?"

"Hold on. You're in The Spirit Warrior Tier? How can a lowly Servitor be a Spirit Warrior!" The disciple suddenly grew vigilant.

"That's a bit insulting. Why can't a Servitor be a Spirit Warrior? Servitors are disciples of The Azure Sky Sanctum too, you know."

At that moment, a cold, clear voice drifted from the medicinal garden. "What is going on?"

"Senior Linnea, a Servitor is trespassing near the garden." The youth's attitude instantly shifted to one of deep respect.

"A Servitor?" A female disciple appeared dimly through the mist. Her face was obscured, but her tall, graceful silhouette in a pristine white dress was faintly visible.

Linnea? The Prime Initiate of the Mount Veridia Guardian Elder! Kaelen had heard the name before. To be taken in as the Prime Initiate of the Mount Veridia Elder was an honor countless people dreamed of.

"Are you Kaelen?" the woman asked, her voice cold and detached.

"I am." Kaelen was somewhat surprised. She actually knows me.

"Leave. You do not belong here." The female disciple turned and vanished back into the mist, not asking any further questions or making things difficult for him.

"Thank you, Senior." Kaelen hoisted the stone vat, muttering in his head. She's that easygoing?

"Wait, you're just going to let him go?" The youth looked displeased.

Linnea's voice drifted back. "There is no need to make things difficult for a Servitor. Search him. If he hasn't stolen any Aether-flora, let him go without punishment."

"See how reasonable your Senior is? Why make life hard for a Servitor?" Kaelen chuckled.

The youth glared at Kaelen for a moment, then reluctantly patted him down, even thoroughly searching the stone vat. "Get out of here. And don't ever come back."

"Could I trouble you to escort me out, Senior? I'm lost."

"Heh, escort you? Are you joking?" The youth turned and walked back into the medicinal garden.

"I'll just let myself out, then!" Kaelen shouted deliberately, carrying the stone vat into the dense forest. He didn't leave right away. Instead, he continued to wander through the thick woods, searching for Aether-flora, secretly hoping to stumble across a Lesser Aether-flora or some other treasure.

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