The Fallen System: Gaining Bloodlines of the Fallen-Chapter 48: Return to the Castle

The return to the capital was extremely monotonous. The royal ship glided to the castle’s dock with the same silent smoothness with which it had departed. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The difference, however, was visible. A few weeks earlier, Cairen had disembarked as a talented hostage and a prisoner to the princess.

Now, his feet touched the polished stone with firmness and far less concern, happy to return after a successful hunt.

The air of the castle, once oppressive in its immovable wealth and power, now, seen from above with his spiritual sense, no longer seemed like an inescapable fortress as before.

Cairen inhaled deeply, missing the wet scent, the moss, and the blood of the misty mountain range. Now, all he smelled was the incense lingering in the castle.

Ling disembarked beside him. She, too, was different. Not a single strand of hair was out of place, and the torn, bloodstained clothes had been replaced by clean, immaculate garments.

During the flight, the princess of the forest had transformed, and the woman standing before him now was completely different, someone else entirely.

The serenity in her silver eyes now held a new quality. It was the calm of a satiated beast, no longer that of a fierce, bored princess.

The beastly energy that had always pulsed beneath her skin now seemed more integrated, less like a demon on a leash and more like a true part of her being.

They didn’t exchange a word as they were led through the now-familiar corridors.

The guards along the sides, whose presence he had once felt as potential threats, were now mere points of energy within his expanded spiritual sense.

Cairen could now control his spiritual sense on an entirely higher level. The days spent within the mist had helped him more than he could have imagined.

His perception now covered an even greater area, painting a detailed map of his surroundings.

The doors of the throne hall opened. The King of Rhyne sat upon his throne, unmoving, as if he had already been waiting for them.

His green eyes shifted, examining them as they approached, probing them with intensity.

Cairen felt the weight of that gaze, but this time, it wasn’t crushing or arrogant. It was evaluative. Examining two newly polished gems.

They stopped before the throne. The silence stretched, broken only by the soft crackling of the torches.

It was the king who broke the silence; his voice came out calm and satisfied.

"The mountain ranges seem to have treated you well."

It wasn’t a question but a statement.

Ling inclined her head slightly.

"They served their purpose, Father. The training was satisfactory. And... I believe I’m ready now," Ling said, a slow smile forming as she looked at the king.

The king’s eyes landed on Cairen.

"And you, young man. Do you think the mountains were a good use of your time?"

Cairen kept his gaze on the king and answered, his voice neutral but firm.

"They were two productive weeks."

A faint glint of interest flickered in the depths of the king’s green eyes. He didn’t need to ask about Cairen’s cultivation, he could feel it.

The pressure that Cairen now emitted was steady and solid. The 4° stage of Qi Accumulation, reached in only two weeks. It was a remarkable feat even among the monsters of greater powers.

"Productive indeed," the king agreed, his gaze alternating between the two.

"I see that the decision to suspend certain... arrangements... was not in vain. The growth of you both, individually and as a... partnership, is undeniable."

He paused, letting the word "partnership" linger in the air. The threat of a forced marriage had completely receded, but the expectation of a strategic alliance still lingered in his mind.

The king then continued.

"The preparations for the War Academy are nearly complete. You will depart in two weeks. It will take a month to get there. Ling will lead the group, and you, boy, will go as a candidate sponsored by my kingdom."

The king then took a small pendant of smooth obsidian and tossed it to Cairen.

"This is your identification seal. It will be important, so don’t lose it. Drip your blood onto it, and you’ll be registered as a citizen of my kingdom."

Cairen caught the pendant, feeling the smooth surface of the stone.

"During these two weeks, you have permission to access the historical archives. Perhaps you’ll find information that may be useful to you."

Cairen nodded in understanding.

The audience then ended. As they left the hall, Ling paused briefly beside Cairen.

"Use the ten days to learn as much as possible about the academy. We’ll be representatives of Rhyne, don’t make us look bad.

Also, there’s all sorts of information you might want to know, so make good use of this time."

She then turned and walked toward her chambers, leaving Cairen alone in the corridor.

He looked at the obsidian pendant in his hand. There was much to do before departure.

But first, he let a drop of his blood fall upon it. Then, he closed his hand around the pendant, feeling the cold energy of the stone pulse faintly in contact with his blood.

A symbol then appeared, a mark of belonging.

He tucked the pendant beneath his robe and began walking down the silent hallway.

The echoes of his footsteps reverberated against the walls, rhythmic and steady.

The next few days would be for preparation, but also for reflection. He would use that time to calm himself, think about what he needed to do, and why.

Cairen looked out the corridor window. The sun was already descending, painting the sky in shades of gold and violet. He knew those two weeks would be perfect.

Perfect for learning and absorbing as much as possible about this place. He still felt lost, even after reading the books he had received in the Sect of Three Poisons.

Cairen imagined the castle library held so much information that he wouldn’t be able to absorb it all, but that was exactly what excited him.

So he returned to his room, deciding to rest for the night and begin his studies tomorrow.

Many things had happened far too quickly for Cairen. Finding himself in another world, the fallen system, the Sect of Three Poisons, the inheritance, Mei Ran, the deaths, the bond, the marriage, the cultivation, and the mountain range.

Cairen’s life was now in constant motion; many things were happening, some that made him happy, others against his will. But still, he was grateful for the second chance the system had given him.

"Well. Enough thinking. I need to rest. Tomorrow is a new day." Cairen, lying down and thinking over everything that had happened, finally decided to rest.

And before long, he fell into a deep sleep.