Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 84 - 81: An Audience with the Queen

Perhaps I thought climbing trees was too simple.

After leaving the ground by fifteen meters, Lyle thought as much, his hands gripping the notches cut into the tree, a mix of panic and exhaustion inside him. The cold sweat beneath his mask gathered at the bottom, and Lyle felt somewhat short of breath, ready to faint at any moment, but thankfully, the odd smell of herbs dispelled the drowsiness.

Lyle looked towards Echel, who wasn’t using the evenly spaced grooves in the trunk. Instead, he took out two arrows and carved his own path, like using climbing picks.

Climbing this tree was hardly easier than rock climbing, with no safety measures and no natural footholds to stand on. Lyle had overestimated his physical stamina, and the energy he regained during rests was like water wrung from a sponge, insufficient and unsustainable.

"Echel, why don’t you make these notches bigger and build a ladder or something?"

Echel heard Lyle, and in the darkness, he let go with one hand, supporting himself with only one while turning to face Lyle, though Lyle could only see a blurry silhouette in the night.

"Climbing is almost an instinct for the Livesers, as simple as eating and drinking. Stop complaining, Lyle. It’s already shameful enough that you’re taking the children’s route. Why not spend some time climbing a few more meters?"

Echel continued his ascent, with ease as if on flat ground, like a monkey, an old monkey.

"But this damned children’s route is nearly killing me."

"Lyle, baby, this is all self-inflicted," Medusa said with a cold tone from her shoulder.

"Why don’t you open your pouch? That would solve the problem easily."

The pouch? Might as well try.

Lyle struggled to open the small mouth of the pouch, and before he could reach inside, he was grasped from the other end.

The water tendrils from the Talent Sphere wrapped around his waist, with two large tendrils ending in balls sticking to the trunk, acting like auxiliary limbs, helping Lyle to climb up.

Echel grunted, "Cheating your way. Fine, the Livesers only care about what’s effective."

The two of them smoothly entered the grand airborne kingdom’s flooring, a small terrace that had no residents around. It served as a buffer zone of sorts – if enemies invaded, after enduring the grueling climb, they would face an outnumbered and unsheltered attack.

A shaky vine rope bridge led to a slightly larger platform. Hanging from the window of a dwelling embedded inside the huge tree, a small bag of fireflies emitted a faint glow.

"We have to cross from here?" Lyle looked at the vine rope bridge swaying in the air, so frail it seemed it would break with a touch.

Echel shook his head, "I have a better way." He pulled a green vine, omnipresent around, tugged it to ensure it was secure, and tied it to the end of an arrow. Echel then took out his exaggeratedly large bow from behind and nocked the arrow.

With a thud.

The arrow was launched with a force and speed far beyond expectation, piercing into the high spot on the opposite side. The sound was like a bullet being fired, and the impact caused the vine bridge to sway even more.

"Echel, you’re not thinking of..."

"Exactly what you’re thinking." Without finishing his sentence, Echel, holding the end of the vine, leaped off the platform.

Akin to Tarzan, he moved naturally through the air, as if he were part of the greenery itself.

However, this action triggered a chain reaction.

As Echel was still swinging through the air, a rustling sound emanated from the branches and leaves on the opposite platform. Several gleaming arrows, nocked on drawn Powerful Bows, aimed at Echel in mid-air.

An onslaught of arrows could occur at any second.

Echel successfully landed on the opposite side, on one knee, and before he could stand up, a figure with a drawn bow aimed it at him.

"......"

"Officer."

The surrounding figures awaited the command from the shadow.

"......"

"Alert dismissed, leave this place."

"As you wish." The Rangers retreated back into the foliage, as if they had never been there.

The shadow extended a hand, "There was no need for such a spectacle, Lord, the loud sound of the Silver Falcon Bow could wake the sleeping residents."

Echel took his hand, "If it wasn’t for the unique sound of the Falcon, would you have shot your former commander from the sky, Kaeland?"

"You wouldn’t die from a fall, we both know that."

"Heartless creature, how are things in Liveser now?"

"Everything is normal, just as you asked ten days ago."

"Alright, I’m going to see how the others are doing."

"Wait, Lord, have you forgotten something," Kaeland pointed at Lyle across the bridge, "the guest, friend or foe?"

Echel slapped his own face, "This damn memory of mine. Come over, Lyle, it’s safe now."

Echel shouted from across, and Lyle had to step onto the swinging bridge tremblingly.

"Groundling?"

"Have you ever seen such a terrible Liveser?"

"No, he’s worse than the worst student I’ve ever taught."

"Ha, it’s his first time, Kaeland. I remember your first time walking a suspension bridge, you were shaking so much, Lord Aecher~"

Intentional imitation echoed in Kaeland’s ear.

Kaeland held his forehead, "Lord, what brings you here this time?"

"To have an audience with the queen."

Kaeland glanced at Lyle, halfway across. The water tentacle from the Talent Sphere never left the ropes, yet Lyle still looked like he was... crawling.

"Official business?"

"You don’t have the clearance to be informed."

"Then it’s a private matter. Her Majesty is in the top floor’s Dawn Palace. You can go straight up; I’ll replace the guards along the way." Kaeland disappeared into the night.

Echel picked up Lyle, who collapsed on the ground like a lump of mud.

"This is embarrassing. You’re the one I had my hopes on. Show some of my spine!"

"Spine doesn’t reduce a thirty-meter vertical drop. Are we there yet?"

"No, we’re at the bottom of Liveser. We need to go to the top."

"How far?"

"A height your spine can’t reduce."

"..."

......

The floor, made of three huge logs lying side by side, is a work of nature’s artistry with a touch of human civilization. It’s not grandiose but rather delicate, perched within the treetops to welcome the first rays of sunlight belonging to Liveser—this is the location of the Dawn Palace.

The young woman wore a Laurel Leaf Crown, her golden long hair scattered over the wooden boards as she knelt, listening to the chirping of insects in the most relaxed posture.

As quick as lightning, she grabbed the weapon by her feet, nocked an arrow to her bow—a verdant Powerful Bow adorned with bright flowers—and aimed at the window with the wind chimes.

"Who’s there! Show yourself!"

Leather boots stepped on the clean floor, and a figure approached naturally, taking over the space.

"Your most devoted admirer, darling, your Grandpa Echel."

Echel spread his arms wide, striding forward.

But Kayla’s bow and arrow remained drawn.

"What was the birthday present you gave me last year?"

Echel, seeing Kayla’s vigilance, puffed out his chest proudly and replied, "It was a hundred pairs of silk stockings from the City of Wandering’s Charm Ladies’ Fashion Store limited edition in pure white—truly a gift worthy of my darling!"

Kayla lowered her weapon, but her face held a bitter smile, "I really hoped you’d get it wrong, Grandpa. But anyway, welcome home."

Following Echel’s lead, Kayla gave a smile and a big hug.

"My dear goddess, you’re still wearing my gift."

Kayla stepped back, her slender legs shimmering with a charming blush, "Um... I reluctantly put them on because Grandpa likes them. Yes, they’re also very helpful for hunting. No more itchy scratches from leaves on the skin, um, that’s it."

"My darling, they’re not meant for your hunting. You look much prettier in them. Those boys must be dazzled by you, right?"

Kayla rubbed her head, her golden hair rippling like stirred waves, "Maybe. When I put them on, they look at me strangely. The elders keep hinting at something, and Uncle Carl goes on about the fundamental way to strengthen the kingdom’s reign in his spare time. It feels like everyone’s daily job is to urge me to marry. It’s really annoying."

Echel wrapped his arm around Kayla’s waist and began to lead her in a small waltz under the moonlight.

"Yes, my darling, that feeling is just as bad for me too. But I must say, you are of marriageable age now. At your age, I was already married to your grandmother."

"And then you flirted around so much that you didn’t have Dad until you were thirty."

"Cough cough, Kayla, maybe it’s time you chose a suitable husband. In these peaceful times for the kingdom, having an heir is the king’s duty to his subjects and the nation’s hope. You should consider it..."

Kayla fell silent.

Then the silence was broken by the thumping sounds of a struggle, like a drowning monkey reaching an arm from behind the window and grabbing the windowsill.

Lyle tumbled inside, sprawling on the floor, gasping for air.

"Why don’t you install a regular window?"