The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 303: Preparing for war (1)

Chapter 303: Preparing for war (1)

Althea watched the scenery outside her window. She enjoyed seeing the world up close. Before regaining her true memories, she took all this for granted. Only when she remembered her truth did she start to appreciate the little joys of being alive.

Granted, these details came at a price. She lost her Heaven’s Sight, allowing her to see the world from above. But the experience outweighed the cost.

Look at those Eagles soaring unfettered toward the sky. From above, they were akin to specks of dust. But up close, she heard their cries, the flapping of their wings, and how they called their mates. None of these could be experienced from above.

She took a deep breath, smelling the salt and sand below, as the waves gently stroked the coastline. Through her Heaven’s Sight, she only saw large bodies of water. She never knew the wind created waves that made such sounds that calmed the heart and the mind. Neither did she know that it brought sand, shells, and crabs to the shore, which caused the nearby birds to fight over them.

How she hoped to remain like this. What wouldn’t she give to keep feeling the wind brush her face while looking at the sky, and hearing the sea below her?

"Oh Great Heaven, forgive my intrusion."

Alas, she knew things couldn’t remain the same. They weren’t meant to do so. That wasn’t the reason why she chose to descend as a human. The dreamy look in her gaze disappeared, making place for the distant and cold look.

The High Altar, flanked by Silvera and the deputy Altar, entered her chambers and kneeled. Althea noticed Silvera take a peek at her, which – she wished not to feel like this – irritated her. Ever since she woke up, she sensed everyone’s gaze lingering on her. They tried to be covert but to her, they might as well stand before her and stare without a blink. Yet, every time she met Silvera she felt discomfort.

The reason behind her irritation irritated her even more. Each time Silvera appeared, her mind conjured the image of another person before her. The image itself wouldn’t be a problem if her heart didn’t feel restless each time she laid eyes on that blurry figure. Every time she sensed those dark eyes peering into her existence, questioning her resolve. But she had to proceed with her plans. She wouldn’t allow THAT existence to ruin the world her Father left in her care.

"Heaven?"

Althea realized she had remained silent for too long, prompting the Altar to call for attention. Clenching her fist and filling her heart with resolve, she stood before the three kneeling before her.

"Stand up. I told you. There is no need to kneel."

Her even voice concealed all her emotions and thoughts perfectly. The downside of being a human was exactly this. Her emotions. She never had those before. Luckily, the reverence others had toward her, helped her to act aloof.

They stood up and took the seats she pointed at. Althea sat at the head of the small table. She didn’t care for such rules but some did. As Heaven itself, did it matter if she sat on a throne or the floor? Would it affect her abilities, her might, or the reverence she gathered from others?

The rules of the human world baffled her sometimes. But the people around attached a lot of weight to these types of things, so she went along with it. She held such meetings often, gathering the intel on others. The possible changes in the world, now that she revealed her presence, interested her.

"I just returned from Solos Asterio’s coronation. I happen to witness the Crown Prince too," the deputy Altar began. The way she shifted in her seat revealed the level of distress she was in. Althea could guess why that was. But she didn’t interrupt her loyal devotee.

"He–He...noticed me at once. I heard him in my head."

"He sent a message?" Althea asked with a raised brow. The Divine Lord had been around far longer than her. Even as Heaven she remained ignorant about his origin. The images before the Fifth Age were blurred and she had very little information about that time. She didn’t even know how she awoke at the end of the Fourth Age.

"Yes," replied the deputy Altar or Calyse as Althea knew her name to be. "He said, the end of the Age is near but there is no need for a war. If...," Calyse glanced at Althea before lowering her gaze quickly, "if you are willing to surrender the Strings of Fate to him. He said you were created to maintain balance, not disrupt or create another one."

Althea rapped her fingers at the table while the others sat in silence, waiting for her to continue. This was exactly the kind of thing that she didn’t like. The others assumed the words to be the message. Only she knew that the meaning behind the last sentence was the true message sent to her.

Ever since she began to balance the Strings, he became her fiercest opponent. He never missed a chance to hint at knowing more about her than she did. And that angered her. Angered her a lot actually.

"Let him say whatever he wishes to say. The war is inevitable," she said, once she calmed herself down a little. "I don’t intend to return the offer. There is no chance he will accept peace. Not unless he gains what he seeks – control over the Strings of Fate."

The others nodded. Althea turned toward the High Altar. This woman with pristine skin and of unmatched beauty served her the longest. She was the first who wholeheartedly held Heaven as the highest authority. Her predecessors accepted Heaven’s rule and regulation but considered her as the last will of the Godking. They even went out of their way to create rituals with the goal of seeing the return of the Gods. There were people who went beyond that. They tried to create a God. The first version of the ritual of creating Heartless originated from such an endeavor.