The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 445: A worried Sterling

Hex observed his body and elemental circles upon return to his room. The opening of the leaves allowed faint beams of sunlight to fall through the opened window.

’My physical powers haven’t improved but the cells are vibrating with more vitality. My soul has grown, though.’

He sensed the increase in soul through the clarity by which he felt the elements in the air around him. He estimated the growth to be around thirty percent.

’It feels the same as my physical abilities. Bubbling with power but also stretched to the limits.’

With this, all three aspects had reached their limits. As long as one of the three broke through past the limit, his ascension to the next stage would begin.

The greatest advantage of the Dragon and Phoenix Body method lay here. He didn’t need to work on each aspect individually. He could improve all three with one Method and achieve superior results.

After some time he finished observing his growth. He knew even with the Dragon Bear Soul slumbering, he could face Transformation Stage Knights. Not only the weaker ones. No, he could escape even the well-trained ones.

He stood up, feeling invigorated and satisfied. He had plenty to do for the day. Have breakfast, visit the library, and see if he could trace his mother.

The last one couldn’t be planned, it seemed. He could only hope. Knowing the Crack was about to disappear, he had to prepare for the worst.

He suspected she already knew how to deal with it. Actually, it wouldn’t surprise him if she already had schemes in place to make the most out of it.

’I shudder at the mere thought of the consequences of her plans. She isn’t the most reliable of options to have. Not unless I want to deal with high numbers of deaths pressing on my consciousness.’

His mother had been once a victim, yes, but she retaliated in a manner that left the world trembling in fear. The mere mention of her made some of the bravest men and women tremble.

’But she is the only one who could deal with divine lords and taboos arriving once the Crack disappears.’

Hex didn’t know how much the Divine Lord and Wrixia knew about him and his Heart, but he was certain they would not allow him to leave. Not this time.

’The previous encounter was when the Divine Lord had other plans. Plans he believed were worthier of his attention than I was. But now, with the war raging on, both brothers will force me to join them or eliminate me. Even if they don’t know about the worldstone beating inside me as my heart.’

It wasn’t the most uplifting thought. Two of the oldest beings would come after him. One was praised for His wisdom. The other for His cunning.

’Oh mother. Don’t abandon me this time. I need you. Please, no shit betrayals.’

With that prayer in his heart, he descended the stairs. He sensed everyone being in the diner, having their food. But it was eerily quiet. No shouts, curses, or laughter. Not even the sound of bottles breaking or furniture crashing.

He quickened his steps. A sense of unease wrapped around his heart. Did something happen?

The door to the diner was closed but he stormed through it. The door slammed against the wall. Hex looked toward the tables and paused. Nothing appeared wrong. They were alive and well. Only...very dispirited.

Even his sudden arrival hadn’t put any life in them. At most a few heads toward them before turning blank once more.

"What happened?" He asked the room. His voice wasn’t loud but the silence amplified it.

Some winced. Others frowned at him. They didn’t explain, expecting someone else to do so. It was Sterling who in the end pushed his chair back and replied.

"You remember our purpose behind this competition?" Sterling started with a simple question. A question to which he knew the answer to.

"You came here because you didn’t wish to serve the Divine Lord and hoped by establishing here as one of the heirs you could grow another Silver Serpent-like merchant company."

Hex had never forgotten it because this was the reason he started to trust Sterling. A merchant who didn’t wish to compromise on his ideals. Now, that was even more rare than a Divinity crystal. Or a Taboo.

"Exactly. We don’t have a home anywhere and hoped to build a new one. Whether it was inside Wrixia or some other nation where we could establish ourselves didn’t matter."

"And something happened that affects that?" Hex inquired cautiously. He didn’t wish to dampen the mood, but then again, there was little mood left to dampen. "Did the competition get cancelled?"

"No. Why would that happen? Did you hear something?" Sterling countered with wide eyes. The others stirred too. Shock draped their faces.

"No. Nothing happened." Hex said hurriedly. Oh boy. He was still thinking about the Crack. He knew it. And most prominent figures would know. But these people wouldn’t. "I was just wondering. What actually happened?"

Sterling didn’t seem convinced but the question pulled his attention. Good. Hex had enough on his plate. Adding a group of dispirited and worried people wouldn’t help.

"Ever since I came here I have been trying to gather as much information about the world as fast as I could," Sterling started to explain. "That way I would be able to anticipate the changes occurring and make a better decision about our future."

The ’our’ referred to him and his group. It didn’t include Hex. Not something that bothered him. He knew Sterling avoided making decisions for him. That was something he appreciated.

"And something happened on the outside?" Hex urged. He knew some of the things. But not everything. "Is the war escalating beyond what you imagined? Has the world been reduced to ashes?"

Different scenarios played out in Hex’s mind. Whether he was worried on behalf of Sterling or himself, he couldn’t say.

"No. No. Stop." Sterling raised his arms and shook Hex. His face had turned pale. The others shifted uneasily too.

"No. The war has stopped." Sterling said, with a sigh.

"What?" Hex hadn’t expected that. Like the others, he had hoped for peace but they knew the war couldn’t and wouldn’t stop. And if it did then something worse had happened. Or about to happen.