Chapter 13: Supreme Elders
Amrit felt a surge of gratitude towards his father, his heart swelling with a sense of unity and purpose. The weight of their shared responsibility seemed a little lighter knowing that he had his father's unwavering support. Together, father and son made their way to the supreme elder’s chambers feeling excited inside knowing that the fate of their clan is going to change. There is a probability that their strength will surge in short term. By then they will be the crowned king of Lunaris city. Both the clan combined won’t be able to touch them.
Upon reaching the supreme elder's chambers, a sense of anticipation hung heavy in the air. The chamber itself was dimly lit, the flickering torches casting dancing shadows on the walls adorned with ancient tapestries depicting the history of the Rijal clan. Amrit and his father stood before the stone looking door carved with symbol of Rijal clan, a crescent moon and small tree growing from end. There was no lock on the door but occasional glints of light flashing meant it was covered by formation. His father clicked the door with his finger in certain pattern and the glints of light were snuffed. After the formation was deactivated, his father shouted “Clan leader of Rijal clan requesting permission to see the supreme elders.”
The supreme elders of Rijal clan were grandparents of Amrit both at peak of Foundation Building realm, his grandfather was even at half state of Golden Core Formation realm. If it was a complete Spirit level cultivation technique, he would have probably broken through but the incomplete cultivation technique both boosted and limited his realm. He was 130 years old now and has been stuck in peak of Foundation Building realm for nearly 20 years. Such is the woe of small clans. If his grandfather was born in strong clan he would have already broken through in both cultivation realm and array mastery, mind you he became second grade high tier array master nearly 50 years ago.
The massive stone door swung open slowly, revealing the bright light. The stone door led to open field of few square kilometers. The grass was small and light green looking like fresh carpet. In the center was small hill sized mound where two storey wooden house was built where the Supreme Elders of the Rijal clan resided. In the opposite direction of house was small forest of sandal wood whose smell was wafting through the air. Near the mound was small pond filled with lotuses of different colors. The boundary of this little paradise was made with stone like material almost five meters tall and outside the stone wall was filled with purple stemmed green leaved bamboos. There were occasional shrubs among the green grass where some were small bushes containing fruits, some were single stemmed flower standing proudly among the grass and some were peculiar plants with different height and colors. From what he could discern, those were herbs and some were second grade herbs. Even the grass on the floor was first grade spirit plant, although useless to humans it was very nourishing for animals. Small various colored birds were flying in the air and occasionally landing in the herbs. But when they touched the herbs, they were repelled by transparent membrane. It looked like those herbs were planted by his grandmother and she probably forced his grandfather to place array for their protection. Looking at this expanse Amrit felt only the word paradise was suitable to describe this place. Even the unassuming stone wall surrounding the area was not diminishing the beauty of this place.
After looking for few moments the father son duo walked towards the small mound. Walking in the grass was like walking in the clouds, soft and bouncy. Amrit wished he could sleep in the grass. When they reached the wooden house they found the door was already open and inside the waiting room simple round wooden table and chairs were placed. Atop of table were spirit fruits and teapot. His grandfather was sitting there and his grandmother was pouring tea. Both his grandparents had been on seclusion for four years. Seeing them after four years Amrit felt they looked the same. His grandfather was bald and little shorter than his grandmother at almost 5’5”. His grandmother was tall and fair lady almost looking like middle aged woman. Wherever she went, pleasant scent of herbs would follow refreshing those around her.
His grandfather, a man of few words but immense presence, regarded them with a keen gaze that seemed to pierce through their very souls. Beside him, his grandmother radiated a warmth that belied her immense power and insight. "Sit," his grandfather commanded in a deep voice that rumbled through the chamber like distant thunder. His grandmother looked at him and said with voice filled with love “Look how big you have grown. After not seeing you for four years you have already been unrecognizable. You have become taller than your father and even more handsome. How have you been? Did anyone bully you in the clan?” She had always been like this, always seeing him more handsome. Even in his previous life she was like this, always cooking for him, complaining his dad’s work and the unconditional love for him. A drop of tear fell from his eyes involuntarily. He just smiled and said, “I have been well grandmother. I have missed you these years.” Seeing this his grandfather just smiled and turned to Punya “Why have you disturbed us? You know every second is important for us. Unless clan is in dire straits I have told you not to bother us.”
His grandfather had always been like this. A man of few words and cold exterior but warm heart. When he was younger almost hundred years ago, a beast tide erupted and many elders of the clan fell to quell the beast tide. Even his father and elder brother died then. It was at that time the burden of clan fell upon young Keshab. Even with the withering power of clan and both external and internal threats he managed to survive and preserve the foundation of clan. His journey was nothing short of legendary, to revive the almost destroyed clan, this is also why the family unity is greater now.
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