CHAPTER 202: ONE MORE THING

The crowd’s enthusiasm continued for several more minutes, with people calling out congratulations and well-wishes for the Ambrose family reunion.

Grim maintained his composure through sheer force of will, accepting handshakes and brief conversations while his mind raced to process what Malaxis had revealed.

The entity wearing his father’s face moved through the crowd, accepting greetings from nobles who remembered Rowan van Ambrose and introduction to those too young to have known him before his disappearance.

To all outward appearances, it was exactly what it seemed—a beloved family patriarch returning home to witness his son’s triumph.

Chen Xing appeared at Grim’s elbow as the crowd around them began to thin. "My lord," he said quietly, "there are several delegates who wish to speak with you privately before the formal ceremonies conclude."

Grim nodded, grateful for the interruption. "Of course. Lead the way."

As they moved toward the designated area for private meetings, Chen Xing leaned closer. "That was unexpected," he murmured, his voice carefully neutral. "I trust you’re... handling the situation appropriately?"

"For now," Grim replied, understanding the coded nature of their conversation.

They reached the private meeting area, a smaller pavilion that had been set up away from the main crowd. Grim turned to look back toward where he had last seen his father, intending to keep track of Malaxis’s movements and interactions.

But Rowan van Ambrose was nowhere to be seen.

Grim scanned the entire courtyard, his eyes moving methodically across the hundreds of people still celebrating. He checked the main platform, the refreshment areas, and the entrance gate, but his father was nowhere to be seen.

"Chen Xing," he said, trying to keep the urgency out of his voice, "where did my father go?"

Chen Xing followed his gaze, his expression growing concerned. "I... I’m not certain. He was speaking with the Colere delegation just moments ago." He signaled to one of the event coordinators. "Did you see where Lord Rowan went?"

The coordinator looked confused. "Lord Rowan? I haven’t seen him since the platform speeches, sir. I thought he was with you."

Other staff members were similarly unhelpful. It was as if Rowan van Ambrose had simply stepped out of existence without anyone noticing his departure.

"This is impossible," Chen Xing muttered. "A man doesn’t just disappear from a crowded celebration without anyone seeing him leave."

But Grim knew better. Malaxis had demonstrated his ability to manipulate time and perception during their private conversation.

"My lord?" one of the waiting delegates called out. "Are you ready for our discussion?"

Grim forced himself to focus on immediate responsibilities. "Of course. My apologies for the delay."

The next hour passed in a blur of diplomatic conversations that Grim conducted on autopilot.

Representatives from three different nations wanted to discuss potential student exchanges, a wealthy merchant guild inquired about commissioning specialized training for their security forces, and several individual nobles expressed interest in enrolling their children in the sect’s programs.

Throughout it all, Grim’s attention remained divided. Part of him engaged appropriately with the discussions, providing useful information and making preliminary agreements for future negotiations. But another part constantly scanned the crowd, looking for any sign of his father’s return or any indication that Malaxis was still present.

The formal ceremonies concluded as the sun began to set, with traditional toasts and final speeches from various dignitaries. Empress Alexia delivered closing remarks that praised the sect’s establishment while carefully avoiding any mention of the mysterious appearance and disappearance of Rowan van Ambrose.

As the crowd began to disperse, many guests made their way to carriages or to accommodations that had been arranged in the city, and Grim finally found himself with a moment to process what had occurred.

The celebration had been a complete success by any objective measure. International recognition, domestic support, imperial backing, and clear evidence that his sect would attract students and resources from across multiple nations.

But the shadow of Malaxis’s appearance had poisoned what should have been a moment of pure triumph.

"Lord Ambrose," a familiar voice said behind him. He turned to find Empress Alexia approaching, having dismissed her entourage and imperial guards. "Might I have a word with you privately?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

She gestured toward a section of the sect grounds that had been left undeveloped, a small garden area where they could speak without being overheard.

"That was quite a surprise," she said once they were sufficiently isolated. "The return of Rowan van Ambrose after twelve years."

"Indeed it was," Grim replied carefully. "Though perhaps not the kind of surprise either of us might have hoped for."

Alexia studied his face in the gathering twilight. "You don’t believe it was your father."

"No, that was not my father. It was Malaxis. You should know what we’re dealing with."

"I know enough to be terrified," Alexia replied with stark honesty. "The entity that possessed your father was responsible for devastating attacks across the Empire for generations."

Alexia continued, "The question now is what he wants and why he chose to reveal himself at your celebration." She paused, her expression growing more troubled. "Did he... communicate with you directly?"

Grim hesitated, then decided that complete honesty was necessary. "Yes. Briefly. He claimed to have come here originally to kill you, but changed its plans when it realized I was still alive."

Alexia absorbed this information with the steady calm of someone accustomed to receiving terrible news. "What else did he say?"

"That there are forces I don’t understand moving in the background. That my family’s history is more complicated than I know. And that the real war hasn’t begun yet."

"Cryptic threats and psychological manipulation," Alexia observed. "Classic tactics for an entity that prefers to work through fear and uncertainty rather than confrontation."

"You sound like you’ve dealt with similar situations before."

"Not personally, but the imperial archives contain accounts of other entities with similar methods. They’re often more dangerous than direct threats because they undermine confidence and trust."

They stood in silence for a moment, both contemplating the implications of Malaxis’s return.

"What do we do now?" Grim asked finally.

"We proceed carefully," Alexia replied. "Your sect becomes more important than ever—we’ll need a few people trained who are a cut above the rest."

"And in the immediate term?"

"We increase security around key personnel and facilities, though I suspect conventional guards will be of limited use. We expand the network of people who know the truth about what we’re facing. And we prepare for the possibility that this appearance was just the opening move in a larger campaign."

Alexia turned to face him directly. "Lord Ambrose, I’m going to be completely frank with you. The Empire has never faced a threat quite like this. Our conventional military forces, our political structures, even our magical institutions. They’re all nothing compared to Malaxis."

"But we’re not defenseless," Grim pointed out. "The dragon realms could potentially help."

"True. But those resources are largely untested against an enemy of this caliber. We dont know how good they’ll be. Also, the only person in history to go toe to toe with Malxis was Caius."

As they walked back toward the main buildings where carriages were waiting to return various dignitaries to their lodgings, Grim reflected on how completely the day’s meaning had changed.

What had begun as a celebration of achievement and restoration had become the opening round of conflict.

"One more thing," Alexia said as they reached the area where her imperial guard was waiting. "Be especially careful about who you trust in the coming days. Entities like this one are often skilled at impersonation and manipulation. Anyone could potentially be compromised."

"Even those closest to me?"

"Especially those closest to you," she replied grimly.