Jinn BLADE-Chapter 156 | Ornate

The sounds across the field blended together into a constant, living hum—a mix of distant chatter from soldiers, officers, officials, and anyone else moving through the area with purpose.

Boots scraped lightly against stone, metal clinked with every shift of armor, and the air carried a firm tension that came naturally with military presence.

Jinn and Rina followed the officer at a steady pace, their footsteps falling into rhythm with the controlled noise around them.

"So what do you think, Jinn?" Rina asked, leaning forward slightly as she walked.

She tilted her head just enough to try catching a glimpse of his expression, hoping to see even a small change in his usual stoic face.

Her voice had a casual, almost teasing tone, as if she already knew what his answer might be but wanted to hear him say it anyway.

"Nothing’s changed," Jinn replied without hesitation, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

He did not bother glancing around much; everything felt predictable to him, almost familiar in a way that carried no comfort at all.

All around them, voices of distant soldiers rose and faded—shouts of commands, responses barked back in near-perfect sync, and the thunder of coordinated marching echoing through the wide halls.

The empire’s distinct scent hung in the air, something sharp and metallic mixed with faint incense, a smell that somehow pressed the idea of authority and power into anyone who breathed it in.

Red banners, rich and deep in color, were draped over towering pillars that stretched toward the ceiling. Golden patterns intertwined with them, marking every doorframe and trimming the edges of the soldiers’ armor with an almost excessive shine.

To many it would look grand and majestic, but to Jinn... everything was exactly the same as he remembered it.

Nothing about it impressed him anymore.

Yet, despite his indifference, he couldn’t ignore what Troy had drilled into him years ago during their long and tiring lessons—hours spent studying history, politics, and the ways Zerafhon shaped itself through relentless ambition.

Jinn knew the empire well, maybe too well for someone who wasn’t born into it.

He knew how it carried pride like a weapon, how it built its identity on traditions that stretched back farther than most cared to remember.

Their history was complicated, layered with victories and betrayal, unity and division, and it shaped every corner of this place.

Control, Power, and Greed—those three words echoed in his mind, because they were the ones he always used to describe the empire when he needed only the simplest summary.

They were traits he learned from books, from stories whispered behind walls, and most painfully, from the battlefield itself.

Among the warriors of Zerafhon he had fought beside, he saw all three qualities reflected in different ways,

sometimes refined,

sometimes ugly,

but always present like an unshakable shadow over everything the empire touched.

.

.

.

After several more minutes of steady walking across the wide field—passing through multiple guarded gates and weaving along polished stone paths—they finally crossed into the noble district of Juggernot, the capital city of the empire.

The change in atmosphere was immediate.

The air felt denser, cleaner, and strangely quieter despite the distant noise of the city.

Buildings towered around them with exaggerated elegance, each one crafted with sharp precision, decorated with red and gold designs that showed how much wealth and control these nobles possessed.

And at the end of the path stood an incredibly ornate household, so grand that even Rina had to stop for a second just to take in the sheer size and craftsmanship.

Elite soldiers filled the entire vicinity, positioned with flawless discipline at every corner of the property. They were equipped with advanced, mechanized weaponry, the kind of technology reserved only for the highest-ranking defenders of the empire.

Their armor hummed faintly with power, the glow of their visors shifting as they scanned the surroundings with unblinking focus. Compared to them, normal soldiers looked almost outdated.

"We have arrived," the officer finally said, his voice steady as he came to a halt.

He turned toward Jinn and Rina, giving them a respectful but brief bow before continuing.

"Enter through the main entrance. The soldiers stationed here should already be informed of your arrival."

Without waiting for a reply, the officer turned sharply and walked back through the direction they came from, leaving the two of them standing before the towering residence.

Jinn took a moment to stare at the structure, his lone eye moving from window to window, scanning each detail with quiet intensity. Something about the place felt too familiar, too controlled, almost like it was watching him back. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Then, as his eye shifted to the top right window, he froze.

There, just behind the glass, stood a woman with dark hair and sharp, golden eyes.

She wasn’t hiding, nor was she startled by being seen.

She simply stared directly at Jinn, unbreaking and calm, as if she had been waiting for him the whole time.

"Akavi," Jinn muttered under his breath, his eye narrowing slightly before he forced himself to look away.

"What did you say?" Rina asked, tilting her head with confusion. She was still too busy marveling at the household to fully register his quiet tone.

"Nothing. Let’s go," Jinn answered, already stepping forward.

His boots struck the stone path with controlled strength as he approached the small set of stairs leading toward the entrance. Two soldiers stood guard on either side, their posture rigid yet respectful.

"Master Jinn and Lady Rina," one of the soldiers announced formally, thumping her chest with a disciplined gesture. Both she and her partner stepped aside at the exact same moment, turning in perfect sync to clear a path for them.

Jinn didn’t waste even a second.

He ascended the steps without hesitation, while Rina followed close behind him, offering a cheerful wave to the soldiers as she passed—a stark contrast to Jinn’s silent seriousness.

Reaching the door, Jinn placed his hand on the ornate metal knob. The surface was cool, polished, and heavier than it looked.

With one firm motion, he pushed the door open.

*creaaaaaaak!

A wave of warm air drifted out instantly, carrying the distinct scent of incense, polished wood, and something floral.

The atmosphere of the house washed over him in a single breath, soft yet loaded with the unmistakable presence of power that lingered in every corner.