Chapter 105: Northern Sect
Far away from Edgar’s Fortress, beyond the forests and the endless sea of grey mist, Soragon Bazaar remained awake.
Even though the Eternal Night had already descended.
The streets that should have been empty were still crowded with people.
Blacksmiths continued striking glowing iron beneath dim oil lamps. Carpenters hurriedly repaired broken wagons.
Merchants dragged heavy crates from one warehouse to another. Farmers loaded sacks of grain onto wooden carts.
Nobody wanted to be outside during the Eternal Night.
But none of them had the choice to say no.
Because the taxes had increased once again.
Ever since the destruction of the Yamhad Clan, everything had changed.
The Northern Sect had seized complete control over Soragon Bazaar.
What had once been a prosperous trading city had slowly transformed into little more than a machine built to fill the Sect’s treasury.
Failure to pay taxes no longer resulted in a simple fine. It meant confiscation, imprisonment, and even disappearance.
"...Hurry!"
"We’re still twenty silver short!"
"If we don’t pay by sunrise, they’ll take the shop!"
Voices echoed throughout the streets.
Fear had become stronger than exhaustion.
Beyond the city walls, the distant howls of Nightmares occasionally drifted through the darkness.
Everyone instinctively worked faster.
No one wanted to remain outside if the walls were ever breached.
...
At the very center of the Bazaar stood the largest building in the entire city.
Fortress walls surrounded the former residence of the Yamhad Clan. Its banners had long been torn down.
In their place fluttered dark blue flags embroidered with the emblem of a mountain pierced by a sword.
The symbol of the Northern Sect.
Inside the grand hall, more than twenty people sat around a circular stone table.
None of them smiled. Despite their total control over the Bazaar, the atmosphere remained heavy.
At the head of the table sat a middle-aged man with streaks of silver running through his black hair.
His sharp eyes calmly observed everyone present. He wore deep blue robes embroidered with golden clouds. A long sword rested beside his chair.
He was the current ruler of Soragon Bazaar and the Sect Master of the Northern Sect.
Darian Voss.
Silence filled the hall until one elder finally spoke.
"The next Nightmare Tide is approaching."
The old man looked around the table.
"Our walls are still damaged. We should focus every resource on strengthening our defenses."
Several elders nodded at his words. The threat of a Nightmare Tide was known to everyone.
But another elder immediately shook his head.
"Our greatest threat isn’t the Nightmare Tide. It is Hera Yamhad."
Murmurs spread throughout the room as the elder stood up, straightening his robe.
"The girl is still alive, and as long as the last descendant of the Yamhad bloodline exists, there will always be those who wish to restore the old clan."
Another elder slammed his palm against the table.
"We should have killed her months ago!"
"We underestimated the situation."
At that moment...
A large man seated near the end of the table slowly spoke.
Builder Mord, who was once the clan builder of the Yamhad Clan.
Several of the elders made displeased faces. They weren’t keen on accepting a traitor among them, but they couldn’t say anything, as it was beneficial for everyone and a decision made by the Sect Master.
"The girl is hiding inside that boy’s Fortress. And frankly, I think both of them should die as quickly as possible."
Another elder immediately sneered.
"Then what’s stopping us? Take some soldiers, capture the girl, and kill the boy."
"It isn’t that simple."
Mord’s expression darkened. "He is a builder... and a very good one at that."
He remembered the towering walls. The strange defensive structures.
The weapons that looked flawless even to someone who could easily spot flaws in them.
Even now... he still couldn’t understand how such a place had been built in so little time.
"That boy’s growth is abnormal. He isn’t developing over years, but every few days."
Several elders exchanged uneasy glances.
One of them spoke quietly. "If we allow him another few months... he may become a real threat."
Another elder nodded immediately.
"And don’t forget Hera. If she joins hands with him, they could use her name to rally everyone who still supports the Yamhad Clan."
"The Bazaar could descend into civil war."
Someone else added, "The commoners already wish for the Yamhad Clan to take over the Bazaar again."
"If the rightful heir returns, many may choose to follow her instead of us."
The discussion quickly grew louder.
"We should eliminate them both."
"No."
"Capture the girl alive and kill the boy."
"The Fortress must be destroyed."
Voices overlapped throughout the hall, and amid the endless discussion, only one person remained silent.
Sect Master Darian Voss.
He slowly cleared his throat, causing every elder to quiet down and return to their seats.
Only after everyone had settled did he speak. "I have already heard your concerns."
The entire hall instantly fell silent.
Darian’s calm gaze swept across every elder.
Even though he looked young, the man was old and had years of experience dealing with both humans and Nightmares.
He leaned slightly forward. "Hera Yamhad will be dealt with soon."
His eyes shifted toward Mord. "Like I promised, I will give her to your son. He can do whatever he wants with her body before we kill her."
Mord nodded without the slightest change in expression. "As for the boy, I want every piece of information available."
A dangerous glint flashed through Darian’s eyes. "If his talents can be taken, then there is no reason to kill him immediately."
Darian was not someone who would let talent go to waste. He would rather turn such people into his personal slaves.
The elders quietly lowered their heads. "As you command, Sect Master."
The middle-aged man looked at all the elders present before announcing,
"Prepare the soldiers as quickly as possible!"
He spoke in a deep voice that echoed throughout the hall.
"We are going to seize the Fortress and bring them both back within a day."
Outside the hall’s window, a white owl sat perched on the roof.
Its large eyes stared at the people inside the hall without blinking.