Rising god-Chapter 104: Empire’s successors

Baines strode from the secluded restaurant, suddenly, ten golden knights flanked him, their armor gleaming under the sun. He paused and calmly glanced around.

Beyond the knights, he detected soul outlines of faint, shimmering presences lurking in shadows, tracking his every move.

At this point, word of my meeting with Vole Malakar would have already been old news.

The knight at the center spoke, his voice firm. "Sir Jin, please come with us." The command brooked no refusal, but Baines nodded calmly, allowing himself to be escorted.

The destination wasn’t far from the palace, reinforcing his suspicion about who it might be. Passing rows of golden knights and bowing servants, they reached a massive set of double doors.

After a knock, the doors swung open, revealing a chamber that dwarfed his Dawnless office, its grandeur almost blinding.

The sick emperor, the elite golden knights, stronger than normal, and the lavish decor.

Who else would it be, if not the emperor’s children?

Specifically, the First Prince of the empire, Kael Gel Sol’aris.

His short, gelled-back golden hair framed eyes with swirling cross patterns, a sun mark glowing on his forehead. His handsomeness outshone Baines’s, and his mid-twenties appearance radiated regal authority. The room’s golden furnishings, from the chandelier to the embroidered drapes, could fund a small nation.

"You’ve come," Kael said, his voice smooth.

"I greet His Highness," Baines replied, bowing without emotion.

’Jin,’ Kael thought, studying him. "I was curious, so I summoned you." He gestured to a plush seat.

After he sat, Kael asked, "What do you aim to achieve in the future?"

"I just want to reunite with some people," Baines said flatly. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Kael blinked. "Seriously?" He’d expected grand ambitions of perhaps becoming an Imperial Commander, but the rumors of Baines’s search were true. Nodding, Kael thought, ’Seems we have people to find.’

At his head gesture, he felt the change in the room. There was no shadow movement; however, their souls were so glaringly visible.

’Is it that nobody looks towards the soul?’ Spies, assassins, and all those he couldn’t even see with the help of his sixth sense. One had to be incredibly skilled for that in the first place; however, he could see their souls.

And it spoke a lot. Issues that could be solved by just tapping into the soul seemed like a problem for them. The thought of it suddenly made him remember the second page on Ascendance over mortality.

-Like a forest it flows, the food of your true self.

Maybe it was only now that it was piecing them together.

’The ’your true self’ is talking about the similar characteristics I found in my and my younger self that formed the soul figure.’ And as for the forest. After staying in Darkan, he only knew of one forest that could describe that in the world.

’Forest of beasts, it seems I’ll have to visit that place,’

After a while of being lost in their thoughts, Kael excused Baines

Before he left, he was intercepted by another group of knights.

This time, they led him to the First Princess, Seraphina Sol’aris. Her chamber outshone Kael’s, dripping with silks and gem-encrusted decor. Her beauty was breathtaking, her golden hair cascading, but an air of arrogance clung to her.

She fixed Baines with an intense stare. "My brother just met you, but I’ll be direct. I want you, now what do you want?"

"I’m looking for some people," Baines repeated.

She brought out a quill and parchment. "Tell me," she said, ready to dispatch her agents.

"That’s the issue. I haven’t seen them in about eighteen years," he said.

Seraphina’s eyes flicked to a woman beside her, who nodded subtly.

’A Malakar,’ Baines thought. Only a Malakar could recognize the truth.

"I’ll be in touch," Seraphina said, dismissing him with a wave.

...

That same day, Baines faced the Second Prince, Veyron Sol’aris.

Unlike his siblings, Veyron’s chamber was lively, filled with vibrant tapestries and a casual air. His carefree smile contrasted with Kael’s gravitas and Seraphina’s haughtiness.

"Haha, I’ve heard plenty about you, but tell me who you are," he urged, leaning forward.

"I am a soldier. I am evil. I kill, maim, and massacre my enemies," Baines said, his tone devoid of jest.

Veyron stared, then erupted into laughter. "You’re a funny one!"

If only he knew it was the truth.

"Join me," Veyron offered. "I know you’re like me. I won’t pressure you, so take your time."

...

Thus, Baines met three imperial successors in a single day, each probing his intentions.

He half-expected the third prince and the second princess to summon him, but no further invitations came.

Escorted to his lodgings, he found his ten exclusive guards waiting, not in golden armor but in simple black uniforms with the strongest a mere 5th star. His gaze then turned to the garden beyond.

Unlike the palace’s decorative flora, this was a true botanical haven, brimming with rare plants. "These were added last minute when we learned you liked plants, courtesy of the First Princess," his servant explained.

Baines nodded, dismissing the guards and the servant. They were suspicious of his reason, and he didn’t even try to explain.

Alone, he wandered the garden, his knowledge of alchemy stirring as he identified the plants.

Verdant Aetherfern. A translucent fern that shimmers when exposed to mana. When processed, it could amplify mana regeneration significantly.

Phantom Willow Bark. A pale silver bark that peels away on its own under a full moon. When infused with Shadebloom, it could create a stealth potion that lets the user pass undetected in shadows, albeit a less powerful version of what he named Shadow plant. The plant was what led them through the blood deplorable’s mission.

Eclipsed Wisteria. A rare vine that only blooms under a solar eclipse, its petals are deep indigo, and when processed well, it enhances time perception, allowing the user to react faster.

Maybe the one that shocked him was the Bloodroot Thorn. A crimson-rooted plant that thrived in battlefields, feeding on spilled blood. Maybe this plant was also related to a demon; however, its effect was also good.

Increases physical strength temporarily, but causes exhaustion afterward. It was a safer option than taking drugs, no matter how he saw it, and when mixed with Void Thistle, it creates a berserker potion that suppresses pain but consumes one’s lifespan.

’I don’t want to believe they don’t know it’s uses, or do they?’ It wasn’t only about their uses; the sheer quantity could open an alchemy organization and thrive with it.

As he watched the plants, a voice came from the opposite side of the garden.

"I understand," The voice was feminine and seemed to affect him differently.

"I understand your pain."

"That feeling that you want to destroy anything and anyone that tries to get close to you. You want to destroy anything, even in the process of the world getting destroyed."

"Who are you?"

"Someone who shares your pain, just the opposite," the voice replied, calm and knowing.

Baines said nothing.

"Let’s meet again."

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