Chương 340: Epilogue 14. A monumental task

A trio of barriers appeared to meet the descending kick that fell towards Kite like a meteor, two were immediately shattered by the transcendent light of the strike before it was finally halted by the third as Soul, now named Thousand Forms Unbroken and still reigning Queen of Hua-Xi, failed to compensate for the seemingly impervious glyph in the center of the last disc of force.

This forced her to kick off the barrier and dive to one side in order to barely swerve out of the way of a trail of projected strikes that threatened to further deplete her already dwindling mana pool. Kite himself was far from unblemished either, with glowing holes in his armor that was struggling to repair itself, but neither of the gold-rankers seemed to really feel their dwindling resources, the auras of both focused and locked in constant struggle without wavering.

One clashing exchange turned to three which then turned to thirteen, many of the lower-ranked onlookers around the former-throne-room-turned-royal-arena forced to shield their eyes and faces from the dust thrown up by the shockwaves as unstoppable onslaught met seemingly immovable object.

Then came a collision like a thunderclap, ending with a flash of transcendent light shattering as Pattern-Shattering Counter took effect, leaving the two combatants frozen in place with Soul's outstretched palm having stopped a mere fingerwidth in front of Kite's face as it shuddered with warping, discordant power even as the head of his staff and two of the white weapons that were Kite's war-seeds barely touched Soul's midriff, left shoulder and right hand.

The eyes of the celestine flickered across the various weapons before moving onto Kite's stance, the positioning of his feet and numerous other details. Then she nodded.

"I thank you for the aid in tempering my path," Soul intoned, both combatants relaxing at once as Kite's weapons disappeared along with his armor.

"As do I you, Your Majesty," Kite replied, getting an annoyed look in return but no more protests, as the years seemed to have caused even Soul to realize that keeping up some level of formality in public helped give a clear impression of her role within the kingdom. There was no need to call a result for either of them, as they both knew that the bout was inconclusive.

Such was often the case these days, at least while sparring, and neither foresaw any true risk of them actually ending up in a life or death struggle with one another in the near future. Even so, this quickly led to numerous murmurs and speculation, recording crystals returning to their users.

Some belonged to Soul's staff, the Queen making sure to log and record any competition and clash taking place in her arena, while others belonged to members of the various sects and most affluent families for reasons that were probably more to do with scheming than not.

"Given the result, I find that the Kingslayer's path remains strong and I take back any mention of him having lost any edge over the years," Soul said aloud.

"Though I still maintain that his martial prowess is wasted on family life."

"Which is an opinion Her Majesty has made rather clear, over the years," Kite smiled.

"Yet I have at least kept up my part of the accords we made."

"That you have," Soul agreed.

"Come, walk with me. There is yet a little time before the next supplicant comes to seek guidance and answers of me." With that, she gestured to her staff that this session of what passed for court these days was over before leading Kite into the palace proper. The destroyed parts were now long since replaced with new halls and corridors, Soul allowing the appointed minister to decide much in regards to the venerable building.

Kite had heard that the man in question had apparently managed to prevail in all three trials to keep his position over the years, and neither that nor the results of the rebuilt palace spoke of anything other than competence.

"You mentioned before that you came here for family matters? Visiting your Queen was a mere side trip then?"

"A journey can have many purposes, with only the heavens deciding which of them might be fulfilled," Kite replied smoothly.

"But I should thank Fortune that at least two of them seem to be achievable this time. Visiting you, yes, but as you said I also have reason to head for the temple district. Family does indeed matter quite a lot, after all, and I want to see how Hawk is settling in. How about you then, oh indomitable Queen. Still find the life of a ruler to your liking?"

"There is yet much tempering to see done here, both for me and the Kingdom. I am still learning as the petitioners let me work on plenty of new concepts in my techniques in addition to the hunts I undertake."

"And that isn't to mention the changes you have wrought, with many really having begun to settle in," Kite remarked.

"It can even go a month or two between the times Uncle Walker tells me of grumblings within the sects, and I believe that it was at least two years since I personally had to intervene."

"Yes. The kingdom is slowly getting a bit closer to what I envision Warrior would approve of the most. But slowly. We need more gold-rankers not tangled up in pride so that the aspiring warriors have more worthy examples to aspire to. When I feel that has been accomplished, my time here will be done."

"And you aren't worried about someone ousting you in a proper clash for the throne?"

"If that happens, it shall be good tempering, providing many lessons," Soul shrugged.

"But after the first three, many seem to have lost their nerve. Or at least the more senseless part of their ambitions." By now, the pair had crossed through more of the palace and ended up on a balcony the size of a small plaza which provided an excellent view over Heavenward, the city a little different in places but mostly the same even after twenty years had passed.

The mirage arena having been expanded was one notable improvement, and Kite knew that there were now plenty more water link chambers and similar infrastructure that helped connect Heavenward to the wider world. Soul had even started utilizing the Adventure Society to invite foreign combatants to come and test themselves in the tournaments of Hua-Xi, a choice that was as interesting to herself as it was contentious among the more conservative elements of the country.

What was clear though was that Heavenward had kept growing. There were new conflicts, but also new life, and Kite still felt optimistic as he beheld the city.

"You've done great work here, Soul."

"There are plenty who disagree, but they have yet to provide any kind of convincing arguments to support their views," Soul retorted, shrugging once more in a way that Kite felt was much at odds with the stereotypical view of a Queen. But on the other hand, so was Soul in her entirety, and that had apparently helped her shake things up enough for some true change to become possible.

"May Warrior continued to bless your efforts then, Soul," Kite said, stepping out over the balcony railing and into the air as he started making his way towards the temple district clearly visible in the distance.

"Thank you for the talk. It was nice to both spar and speak for a little while."

"The same to you, Kite. But don't forget your promise nor the upcoming tournament. Warrior will demand a good showing from you to compensate for your split attention these past two decades." This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. As Kite eventually got closer to his goal, he was reminded that there was another building in the city which had undergone a more drastic change than most.

"Thank you, Lady Unity, for still being willing to direct your attention to this little kingdom of ours. Even after how we acted," he thought aloud in a small prayer while he stood gazing up at the temple to the Goddess in question. What had before been more like a small chapel was now much more grand; a sprawling complex of interlinked wooden buildings.

A great variety of people came and went, as it was not only a place of worship but now also one of mediation, where the clergy helped settle conflicts where a clash of paths or other legal action would not be appropriate. With their doors opened to all, be one a normal-ranker or a gold, Kite had been surprised to hear that it had overall been received a lot better than expected, but that was probably also helped by working closely with the temple of Knowledge.

Some of their suggested interventions had happened to be offered with a curiously impeccable timing, after all. What hadn't overly surprised either Kite or Dragonfly though was their son's choice to take up the mantle of the priesthood, though they suspected that there would have been plenty of deities who would have welcomed him into their folds. Yet Hawk had chosen Unity, and while Kite was no priest himself, it was easy to support such a choice given the struggle he had been part of.

And after venturing into the temple and being recognized almost immediately, he soon found himself before his sixth child just as the young man exited a small meeting room after having bowed farewell to a man and a woman whose now-calm auras hinted at previous anger and malcontent, but in a way that indicated a chance for those negative emotions to be truly laid to rest in the future.

"Oh? Father?" Hawk of Joyous Jade said as he turned and noticed Kite standing there, a surge of slight embarrassment running through his iron-ranked aura, something which Kite could perhaps understand. A parent randomly showing up where you worked and lived among your peers still hadn't entirely lost its embarrassing aspects to the soon-nineteen-year-old Hawk.

"Hawk, my son. How are you?" Kite asked, leaning completely into said role of embarrassing father as he embraced his son.

"I was in the area and thought to stop and see how you are settling in."

"I… Am well, Father," Hawk said with only a bit of strain in his voice as he rapidly started ushering Kite into the nearby meeting room.

"But come, let us not disturb the clergy and the petitioners any further." Only once the door was closed did Hawk seem to actually relax, walking over and sitting down opposite Kite at the low table.

"I do not mean to pry, but it seems to me like you did a fine job with the two here before me," Kite remarked.

"A troubled relationship?"

"Father, you should know that I cannot share the troubles of our petitioners," Hawk replied with furrowed brows, as earnest as he was serious. This was further expressed in his immaculately crisp robes and well-styled dark hair, the young man leaning into a strict air of professionalism that was only further accentuated by him having inherited many of Kite's features.

"The Goddess–"" The Goddess will not hold it against you that your gold-ranked father has aura senses," a soothing female voice suddenly spoke inside the room, disembodied but still very present throughout the power of her small divine domain inside her temple.

"Lady Unity," Kite greeted, bowing deeply to nobody in particular.

"Once again, you have my apologies. I should have known better than to pry."" A mind open to change is a great asset to the Unity, and you and your wife have continued to help my purview since the day I blessed your union," the Goddess Unity replied, the divine aura hinting of a smile.

"Blessed Lady, I thank you for your words and for your lenience," Hawk said, having bowed even deeper than Kite." I shall not disturb this reunion any further, my child and priest. Just know that both you and your father have my approval. Especially with your own plans of closer ties in the near future."

"M-my Lady, I–" Hawk began to protest, but the divine aura had receded once more, hinting at the Goddess not being as directly present as she had been a moment before. And given his son's flustered state at her words, Kite had now become most curious all of a sudden. He didn't ask, however, merely looking at Hawk in silent expectation with one eyebrow raised as the young man collected himself.

"I…" Hawk began, faltering slightly.

"I mean to ask for Stanza's hand in marriage. Soon," he finished, flushing even more.

"What? Really? Why Hawk, that is wonderful news!" Kite said, joy blossoming in his chest.

"I take it that you expect her to accept then?"

"I… Do," Hawk admitted.

"We have talked about it in broader terms. I… Yes. She will. But I had honestly thought that you would be more critical. Calling us too young and all that. You and mother were way older, after all."

"Well, that might be true, but you don't have to make every choice we made, Hawk. You have already diverged plenty from both us and your siblings in your path, and that was always our intention. And besides, Stanza and you have been together since… What? You both were thirteen? If your relationship has survived adolescence, getting essences, and moving to another city, then I can't really demand anything more of you. Because unlike a few of your siblings, you aren't the type to not think things through, Hawk.

I believe that's why the Goddess favors you so."

"I… Thank you, Father," Hawk said, his earnestness matching Kite's own as their auras intermingled slightly.

"And thank you for your approval. It does mean a lot."

"Always, son," Kite said with a smile, before it turned a bit more triumphant.

"And I can't wait to see your mother's face once she learns of it. And Serene and Gold too… To think that our families would become united like this? Stanza did spend a lot of summers up at our compound though…"

"Auntie Serene already knows though."

"Well, no surprise there," Kite shrugged.

"There is no getting past her aura sense, especially not for you young ones. She was the one who predicted that you and Stanza would end up together first."

"At least she was clear that I had their blessing to ask as well," Hawk said with a helpless smile.

"She told me. From across the city when Stanza and I walked the walls in the sunset. Whispered right into my ear. I almost fell off the wall."

"Once you are all well and married, I might tell you of how she had a hand in your mother and I getting together too," Kite laughed.

"She is a mischievous one at times, that much is certain." They spent some more time sharing stories of being around the now High Priestess of Song, with Kite eventually bringing the topic back to Hawk.

"You know that I am proud of you, right Son?"

"I… Father, I know. There's no need to tell me all the time."

"Well, to me there is," Kite pressed.

"You have always been the thoughtful kind, taking your time and trying to know your own heart even when it hasn't always been easy. And you've helped Stanza too, even as she has helped you. Growing up isn't easy, but you certainly have managed to do a good job of it. Heavens, even the essences that you chose reflect that. Harmonic. Echo. Vast. Unity. You didn't even need your Goddess's divine essence, because that was already the path you had decided upon."

"... I still have a long way to go. Trying to help resolve all of these issues, to bring people closer together… It is a monumental task."

"I still have a long way to go too, Hawk."

"That isn't always how it has sounded in all the lectures you've given us over the years."

"Well, I had to keep up appearances, or some of your sisters might have gotten even more ideas," Kite chuckled. This left a moment of silence before Hawk eventually spoke again, a bit tentatively, but also with resolve.

"Still… Thank you, Father. That does mean a lot. And I will continue trying. To make people come together. To build upon my life with Stanza. And with all of you. I… I promise."

"As do I, my Son," Kite agreed, before nodding towards the door.

"Come. Why not let your Father treat you to dinner? Stanza too, if she wants to come."

"That… Yes. Thank you," Hawk said, joining Kite as they made for the exit.

"Also–," Kite continued.

"I would recommend that you continue enjoying the calm here in the capital for as long as you can. Because once that power of your Unity confluence advances into a portal power like the magic society index indicates it will… Well, your mother will be most cross with you if that doesn't lead to extremely frequent visits."