Chapter 310: Anrosh

    Reprimands

    She walked through the corridors of the sect headquarters, the palace in the heart of the city. She had grown up in the sects that preferred compounds, homes surrounded by walls. The palace was not a home, it was far colder than that. She didnt understand why Emberhorn had it built, why he lived there, not at the beginning. Over the years, though, she had learned from the people who remained, who knew him.

    Emberhorn was a man who feared his own weakness, who wanted so badly to be great and just didnt have what it took. So he built for himself a city in the image of the kingdoms and empires in the core. In the styles of the people who needed tall towers and castles to demonstrate their greatness, who wanted all who gazed on their homes to believe that they were less.

    It had always felt overbearing to Anrosh. She had never seen anything other than the homes of the sects, of course. But, she had heard stories. The other factions liked to remind others that they were better by building taller and larger, structures that instilled fear or demanded respect. The Cultivators didnt do that. They demonstrated their greatness through art. The art of personal power and skill, the art of the craft and beauty.

    She had never really seen it as it was meant to be seen. The Frontier Sects never had the resources, expertise, and time, to properly demonstrate their skills. Twilight Melody never had the time to do it either, at least it didnt use to. But a lot had changed over the years. They had the freedom for people to practice their crafts, not just for advancement, but for the sake of it. For art.

    That was what mattered in the sects. Not if you could do something, but how you did it. A warrior defeating another without drawing blood was considered far more respectful than if he simply killed. Defeating multiple opponents on your own, without getting injured. Using your skills to create something that would last, or something that was beautiful even for a moment. A memory that would stick in peoples heads.

    The outside of the palace was cold, but they had changed the inside drastically.

    The walls were covered with intricate carpets and banners. The dominant colors were violet and black, the corridors now held more intricate art. Compared to the sculptures and vases of the previous owner, Anrosh had instead filled the palace with woodcarvings. They had a lot of forests around them, and many of their people knew how to work it, few among them had taken up the more artistic crafts alongside their jobs. The second reason for why she chose to make the primary art of the sect carvings, was Ryun. He couldnt see paintings, or at least not well, it was easier for him to appreciate things that had depth.

    She walked steadily, with Lesamitrius and Nayra following two steps behind her. She wore a dress, not something that she usually did. But each occasion was different. Her dress was in sect style, of course, meaning it didnt reveal much. Long and wide sleeves, with a sash tightly woven around her waist. Her white hair was pulled up in an elaborate bun with two red needles holding it together. The dress that looked more like a battle robe, and could of course function in that role, as much as she played at being an administrator, she wasnt really. No Sect Leaders or Sect Heads were, they had people who did all the things that she took care of, and she had Embesh. But neither of them were made for that role, so they had to help each other. A Sect Leader and a Sect Head had only one job. To be strong, to push the power of the sects main paths.

    And they were lacking in that area. Anrosh had ideas, she had plans, but she needed Ryun to enact all of them. So for now, she sat on the throne of the sect, and she played all the roles that she wasnt supposed to be playing.

    She entered the throne room and walked down the length of it. There was ten warriors wearing sect colors in the room, each in the Heavenly Realmlike Lesamitrius, five on each side in between the pillars. The Twilight Melody Sect had a couple of Immortal Realm Cultivators, but none of them were technically fully in the sect. They were refugees from the core, or the rulers of the smaller sects that Twilight Melody Sect had swallowed up in their expansion. Most of which were autonomous, Anrosh ruled, but they were really here because they wanted protection. And the word of Talis power had spread far. The core of the Twilight Melody Sect, the former members of the Black Viper Sect and The Last Ember, they had no Immortals aside from Anrosh and Nayra.

    The walls behind the pillars were covered with carvings in black and brown wood, important moments in the sect history. She still didnt know how exactly to feel about it all. She glanced at one particular piece, depicting the fight against the monster swarm. The city of Venoran that was no more, still whole on the carving, depicting the moment the monsters attack started. Ryun running on steps toward a giant monster in the sky. She saw herself on the walls next to Nayra, and Eerv nearby his spear raised high. It was an amazing carving, full of detail. She could barely believe that it was made by someone in her sect, but it had. They had talent, they just lacked many of the resources and knowledge that the other, older sects had.

    She walked up the steps and then took a seat on the throne. She had replaced the previous one with one that was a lot more ornate. It was still a backless and wide throne-like chair, but now it was elaborately carved, with vipers coiling on one side, and fire on the other. She had tried to include as much of their sects cultures into the art presented in this room. Their sect wasnt old, but it had a history.

    She settled on the throne, her back straight and her head held high. Nayra and Lesamitrius walked over behind her, and stopped one on either side. Anrosh gestured and one of the warriors at the end of the room moved. He left the throne room and she waited for her visitors.

    Are you sure that Tali shouldnt be here, Nayra whispered.

    Anrosh didnt move her eyes from the doors on the other end of the room. She gives me looks, when I use her influence to deal with problems.

    Still, Nayra said.

    Anrosh tilted her head. As I said, I am someone who has a lot of respect for your leaders. Do you really think that I wouldve called you here without their knowledge and agreement? I do not overstep my authority, unlike you.

    Villerin Xi Jhan blinked, looking a bit unsure of himself now. Bravado and arrogance, looking down on those you considered weaker, those were ingrained in the peoples of the sects. And with good reason, reaching high required a drive. They were in most cases right, they were better than those beneath them. But there was a place for everything. The man had overstepped, believing that Anrosh was not really in charge, that Tali was the one that pulled the strings. Most thought that. It wasnt the truth.

    Still, Anrosh knew her place. She ruled the sect, but their guests were not ordinary, they were not some Frontier Sect that she could order around as she wished. The respect that she had from them was both earned and freely given. She would never overstep and try to punish their people without them knowing.

    Ever word out of your mouth, lowers your people in my sect''s eyes, Anrosh added.

    There were few things that people in the sects truly cared about. But appearances? Those mattered. Losing respect of your leaders was

    Villerin froze, even Frador noticed the change in him and straightened.

    The two of you will provide Essence equal to half as much again as will be needed for repairs. You will deliver it personally to the Tavern Keeper, and convey your deepest apologies. Do you understand.

    Villerin hesitated for a moment, and then he got down to his knees and touch the floor with his head, bowing. Fredor looked at him then got to one knee and bowed his head. A bit of understanding from them, the most that she was going to get she felt.

    I expect this matter to be settled within the week, Anrosh said. And it will not repeat again.

    They grumbled their agreements and Anrosh waved her hand. Her assistant escorted them out, and she kept her back straight until the doors closed. Only then she let herself sigh and relax.

    That was good, Nayra said softly. Better than I wouldve done.

    Anrosh glanced at her and smiled. She wasnt that good at this, intimidation and demanding respect. It wasnt what she had ever wanted to do.

    A notification appeared in the corner of her eyes and she blinked, then pulled it forward. She read through the reward slowly.

    What is it? Nayra asked.

    A new title, faction related, Anrosh said. I need to find Tali and then go to the archives.

    A title that she hadnt seen before, it had to be recorded, as they have done for all new titles now. They kept an archive of everything and their thoughts on which requirements were fulfilled for it to appear.

    She stood up and started walking, Nayra and Lesamitrius followed behind her.