Corrupt Creations

There was still some time for the Elf Queen arrival, so Rina and Seth started a conversation about other topics. Seth seemed to know how to lead the conversation, always picking a topic that Rina considered as interesting, making her kind of forget the initial embarrassment. 

Rina found that it was really enjoyable to talk with Seth, because he was able to make her feel comfortable, making their earlier conversation seem like it was a casual talk, since he somehow eased her emotions while guiding her attention to other matters. 

While time was passing, they talked about the places Seth had visited inside the Human Territory, and the places he planned to bring her. 

Like that, time passed by till it was almost evening. 

When they least expected, they heard someone knocking on the door. The Elf Queen arrived a bit earlier, entering the house and meeting Seth and her daughter. 

"Mom!" 

"Rina? Oh? You seem to be really comfortable there." 

Rina was kind of lazily laying down on Seth's bed, while Seth was sitting on the ground and checking some things inside his spatial ring. 

"Arwen, you're back. Were you able to do the things you wanted to?" Seth smiled while greeting her. 

"I did it. I was resolving many things and at the same time, doing a very special thing for you, Rina." 

"Uh? Me?" 

"Yeah, I've prepared a gift for your journey." 

"A gift?!" Rina stood up quickly, moving towards her mother with an expectant look. 

"Here, look." Arwen suddenly willed, and some items left her spatial ring. 

The first thing Rina saw, was a green hooded cape that had many golden leaves imprinted on it, creating a very beautiful pattern. She took that exquisite cape on her hands, feeling the smoothness of the silk. 

"Mother... Where did you get this?" She asked with sparkling eyes. 

"Did you like it?" 

"Uhum." 

"It was personally made by me." 

"What?! You did it yourself?" 

"Yes. This cape is something I did after using everything we had left of the precious Heavenly Silk. It is a very special fabric able to hold a huge quantity of Mana. So, I used some of our Royal Family legacy arts to create a special protective formation when making it. Right now that it is done, it had transformed into a magical artifact able to protect you from danger. Remember to ever use it, alright?" 

"Mom, I love you! You're the best. Thank you so much." 

"I love you too Rina. There is something really interesting about that hooded cape too. When the hood is up, the formation it contains will activate, not letting anyone see through your face. They will only be able to see a blurred image, so you won't need to use that strange white mask of the Secret Security Unit anymore." 

"Really?! This is the best!" Rina got excited and started to wear it immediately. 

Arwen laughed and said: "Take this spatial ring too. It contains everything you will need for your journey. Make sure to check the things I've put inside later." 

"Alright." 

Arwen turned towards Seth and said: "Seth, I'm sorry but I didn't have anything that I could give you as a parting gift. However, I have something that I can give you right now." 

Seth felt like he already knew what it was. It was something he would like to receive even more than a material gift, something he would be able to fully appreciate. 

Arwen approached him, ignoring the fact that her daughter was right beside them and put her arms behind his neck. She started to kiss him seductively, doing what he wanted to do. 

Rina couldn't believe she was witnessing her mother making out with a man she felt something for. At times like this previously, she would certainly feel envy and bad emotions, just like what she felt when Caizhi kissed him, back at the Central Stadium. However, after the talk she had with Seth, she realized that those bad feelings were lessening and her interest on him was growing instead. 

As she looked towards her mother and Seth, many complicated thoughts were coming and going inside her head, but a certain main line of thought was ever returning to her head. 

'Why it isn't with me?' 

Arwen and Seth separated while feeling the Soul Link between them. That link made them feel a sense of completeness. 

"I will miss you Arwen." 

"I will miss you too, Seth. Make sure you go easy on my daughter, alright?" 

Seth smiled and said: "Don't worry, I've told her that I would never do something she didn't wish for." 

"I see..." Arwen noticed the loophole on his speech, but she didn't say anything. She knew that if there was someone that deserved her daughter, it would be Seth. 

His talents, his personality, his body, hist strength, everything about him was top notch in her eyes. 

"Let's go Rina. This is going to be your first adventure, so make sure to follow my instructions to avoid doing unnecessary or dangerous stuff." 

Seth gave one last look towards Arwen and left the guest house. 

"Alright!" Rina got excited. She awkwardly hugged her mother and went after Seth. 

Arwen was feeling something clenching inside her chest. She knew that she had been an overprotective mother for all these years, but now that it was time to finally let Rina see the world, she was not willing to. There were many times that she wanted to stop everything, but after seeing the things that have happened inside the Elven Territory, she was sure that she needed to change. 

Many things needed to change... 

Arwen was even able to realize a new objective that she didn't tell anyone yet. She would do many things in order to make Elves and Humans more friendly, so she could one day openly marry Seth and not be criticized by anyone. Actually, she could do it easily right now, but she would eventually need to rely on power, and that's not the right way to do things. 

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Inside Blazing Phoenix Sect, Huo Shihong was still working inside his office, since there were many things that were still pending. 

One of those things, and the one he wanted to know the most right now, was about what was happening in the Red Mountain city. 

Knock! Knock! 

"Sect Master, I have something urgent to report." Not content with only knocking, the Third Elder said in an anxious voice. 

"Come in." 

He opened the door while saying: "Sect Master! I lost contact with the Elders we've sent to the Red Mountain city!" 

"What?! You've lost contact with them? What happened?" 

"I-I don't know. They suddenly stopped activating the Sound Transmit Formation. It's been almost three days since the last time they replied." 

"What about the battalion of soldiers we sent alongside them?" 

"None of them have returned." 

"Do not try to scout the situation anymore. Gather all the Elders in a meeting, we need to discuss while everyone is present." 

"I'll do it." The Third Elder left the room in a hurry to gather everyone. 

Huo Shihong suddenly felt like Seth might have been right. This time things were happening really quick and outside of his expectations. 

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. 

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Rip! Rip! Rip! 

A man suddenly ripped a letter from the Blazing Phoenix Sect into many pieces. 

"I don't give a shit about what are the contents of that letter. We are going to do what we want now that we have so much support." 

"My king, there is one other thing I want to report. The situation at that side is going according to the plans. Some of our strongest soldiers along with the external forces took control of the Firestone, Yellow Ash and lastly the Red Mountain cities. We blocked the routes, letting no one enter or leave them, creating the perfect distraction." 

"Oh? Quick. As expected of our allied forces. What was the Blazing Phoenix Sect response?" 

"They sent ten elders and a thousand soldiers to scout what was happening, but we were able to deal with them, silencing everyone before they could escape." 

"Huo Shihong sent a thousand soldiers? I wouldn't expect a move like this from him. He must be feeling something isn't right. However, their eyes are directed towards there now." 

The king stood up from his throne and commanded: "Starting from today, silently send our troops to their southern borders. Make sure to not send more than hundred soldiers a day, since we don't want to alert them beforehand. What we need to do is just to get positioned and wait for the signal." 

"Understood, My King." 

After the servant left, the second prince entered the throne hall. 

"Father, may I know what are we waiting for? They are at their weakest point right now." 

"We can't act hastily yet. Shaohui, there are other powerful entities aiming for the Blazing Phoenix Sect and we may be swallowed if we act in ignorance and impatience." 

"Other entities?" 

"Don't ask me about it. It's something the least people knowing the better. Get ready, I'll be sending you on this mission too. If you want to succeed me as the next king, you'll need to get more combat experience." 

"Alright."