Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 221: Preparations

ARRANDY, ACRO

IN A SECRET CHAMBER OF THE CASTLE

Arial after all the courts matters has been handled is now once again practicing

He is learning, and remembering what he had read and learned from the books he read at the Temple.

It has helped him understanding certain things about his own limit and the way to make the flow of his internal energy more smooth and refined.

Arial have slowly learned not to be bounded in the execution of the technique and lose himself in the technique.

Releasing the internal energy at the right time and not suppressing it, let it flow like water, ride it out like the wind.

His technique that he created, the Dragon Palm has shown more power and refinement of such power that he almost couldn't believe it after infusing it with the knowledge he got from the Temple

Arial sit in a meditation pose and let the energy flow, closing his eyes as he shuts off the world outside.

From the kidneys to the stomach and then to the lungs and heart. Change current state of disharmony to the harmony of the internal energy that is flowing to his body.

First by easing up in the bodies.

This process clear imbalances, and energizing, rejuvenating to the body, mind and spirit and as he recently found out ease the pain that he has.

Arial can feel the air around him, the slow wind breeze entering so stealthily from the gaps and holes, the smell of dust in this chamber, amplified, as his ears heard every single sound, the sound of water dripping from leaves, sound from the hall of his castle, noise he shouldn't even have heard and the words of the Southern Healer once again enter Arial mind.

"You are probably the strongest in terms of internal energy in this martial art world rivaling almost me" The Southern Healer said, his expression were a mixture of joy and amazement.

The problem is he did not know to regulate such power and as such he has never been able to bring it out to its full potential

It seems only he is not aware of this. Arial is aware that his internal energy is always higher than everyone else. Arial just don't know how high.

No wonder his enemies always look at him with such fear in their eyes when they clash using internal energy

Southern Healer in joy of meeting him, the next generation of martial artist, though Arial did insist on him, that he have nothing to do with the martial art world, still the Southern healer insisted him to learn the Five Ying Channels and give him the book

A week after learning it his manipulation of object has tremendously raised a level.

Usually Arial could levitate some sword using his internal energy but by the end of the week he has managed to control ten swords, making it hover in midair for an hour.

And each day the times become longer and the amount of swords and objects he can levitate with his internal energy is beginning to multiply.

Today he managed to control a hundred sword. Arial could not believe his own stupidity. If he learned that his body host such power before, he alone could charge into battle by himself.

A squad will not even be his match. Even a thousand soldiers would not terrify him.

No wonder the grandmaster of martial arts seems ethereal and no one dares provoke them

Arial don't think he will have any problems if he learns this a long time ago. If only he had find a teacher.

Because in martial arts there is no martial arts that is used to fight in a group. This is why an accomplished martial art expert can be defeated with an army.

Why?

Because martial arts used in the military is for attacking, not defending.

You can unleash an expert into the battlefields and order him to kill as many as you can but in the end an army needs to finish the job.

There is the sieging, the battle and the formation. Martial art is selfish.

Arial remember his old thoughts before. And he had found out today that he was wrong. If you have enough internal energy and technique, you can defeat a thousand troops alone. now he is not so doubtful of Levitia stories.

For now, he is waiting for Silas letter from the other side and the arrival of the Princess.

The soldiers are to escort her immediately to his castle and informed him immediately when the Princess arrive.

There is also the matter of Vern

Vern on the other hand is plagued with so many problems that. and suddenly the feel of the air disappeared as the sound receded.

Arial quickly focused his attention again.

And then like a fish gasping for water, the sound once again comes alive, the clarity comes and Arial inhale and exhale his breath in an orderly manner.

And for that day, Arial only meditate for there is a lot of things he need to learn and prepare if he is to get a dragon heart.

Yeshe is intending to emulate the past Dragonslayers and travels to the Dark Lands to get himself a dragon heart

*************************************************************************

COUNCIL ROOM

ARIAL VERMONT

Today Arial assembled his courtiers in the council room to debate a matter of grave importance. His marriage.

As long as Arial could remember, the moment he was appointed to be the Duke, his courtiers would not stop but talk of his marriage and so here today he wants to dispel such notion that he is impotent or that he like men more than woman to his courtiers.

'Send a letter to the Lord of Althea that I asked for his noble permission to quicken the day of my marriage with his daughter." He ordered and the other lords in attendance nodded ta each other smiling in joy.

Lord Leander quickly obeys.

According to the agreement between his father and him, he would be married to her at 1017.

It is one more year at the middle of that year but he too wanted this wedding to be quicker and Arial think Helia feels the same.

Althea region by now is enjoying increasing wealth.

Given the Duke overweening pride and ambition, it is likely that he would have built magnificent residences for his family.

Pride and ambition fan by his family

The Vermont family is also fortunate in that Helve Althea is from a Kingly line, though faded through time, but which still gives Lord Helve legitimacy.

Arial and his family is always known as new aristocracy; rich merchants turn to noble as some old nobility would say.

Arial have been once to the castle at Seaworth.

The castle is built of wood and ten turn to stone brick and stood atop a large mound, towering over the rest of the town

The scenery is also beautiful with the ports and the beautiful white sandy beaches that decorate the beautiful part of the South.

The rooms of the castle were structured according to a strict hierarchy: The first storey was on the surface of the ground, where there is cellars and granaries, and great boxes, tuns, casks, and other domestic utensils.

In the storey above, were the dwelling and common living-rooms of the residents, in which were the larders, the rooms of the bakers and butlers, and the great chamber in which the lord and his wife slept.

Though now Helve slept alone, never remarrying as many lord always do when they lost their wife.

His fidelity is one that Arial hope he can emulate. Adjoining this is a private room, the dormitory of the waiting maids and children.

In the inner part of the great chamber was a certain private room, where at early dawn or in the evening or during sickness or at time of blood-letting, or for warming the maids and weaned children, they used to have a fire

In the upper storey of the house were garret rooms, in which on the one side the sons (when they wished it), on the other side the daughters (because they were obliged), four of the lord of the house used to sleep.

In this storey also the watchmen and servants appointed to keep the house took their sleep at some time or other.

High up on the east side of the house, in a convenient place, was the chapel, which was made like unto the tabernacle of St John in the Holy Land

It was built with the Vermont gold.

Arial lend it to Helve so he could make a favorable impression to the Church authorities.

The chapel itself is beautiful and there is lot of works of art in its ceiling and painting.

There were stairs and passages from storey to storey, from the house into the kitchen, from room to room, and again from the house into the loggia, where they used to sit in conversation for recreation, and again from the loggia into the oratory.

This castle belonged to the Helve, so it is likely that, as the daughter of such distinguished noble house, Helia would have known even greater luxury.

As well as encouraging the commercial development of his region, Lord Helve also capitalized upon Althea immense strategic importance.

Its situation enabled the duke to hold the balance of power between the Vangua to the south, the dukes of Arrandy to the east; owing to the passage and land that both of these factions need to traverse thus making alliance with them is an easier way.

They control one of the meeting points of the North and South. This made Althea a regional power to be reckoned.

It is fortunate that they do not have any great armies and have no offences with the Vermont family personally and by sealing their alliance with marriage not only Arial influence is widening, it will also benefit Althea in now, that they are guarded by the dragon's ferocious troops.

A man of great power but held back by the purity of his heart and his kind heart which stay his hand for making conflicts and a loyal man to his family.

That is the way that Arial would describe Lord Helve Althea. Grey haired yet possesses the vigour of youth.

Lord Helve is very different from his daughter. Arial know Helia. She is wild in her own ways, rebellious at times and at times sweet without a fault.

That is the charm she possesses to make him fall for her.

'The venue, my lord?' Leander question bring him back.

'Church of St Afael in Acro.' Leander nodded and he resumes writing. He then shows it to him.

Arial nodded and told Lord Leander to send the letters.

With this, his marriage with Helia will be quickened and after the wedding, he decided to leave to the Dark Lands to search for the dragon heart.

He will not let Helia be a widow. His training all this day, is all for the sake of surviving, now that peace can be seen.

Arial doubt the Demon Lords will seek war now, not now when it has been revealed to them that it is a great conspiracy and when he returned Princess Arianna to them the Demon Lord will surely be graceful and accepted the Treaty.

Marriage and then he will seek the cure.

This is why he trained every day. To make sure he can defeat a dragon. And he is making preparation.

Arial knows that to kill a dragon is not an easy task. Dragons are not some weak creatures. They are gigantic beings that spout fire from their mouths. They are a being of magic

To kill such being, requires a powerful weapon. So, Arial have sent request to borrow Shadowslasher from Adrian.

An Enochian steel is the only weapon that is known to be able to pierce through a dragon invulnerable scales.

Arial told the King that he needed to borrow the sword and the King reluctantly agreed.

'Here's to peace.' He muttered as he continues doing his job in the castle.

*************************************************************************