Chapter 85: Iris Valerian
One week prior...
Deep within the Imperial Palace of Solaris, the Grand Audience Chamber sat bathed in a heavy, majestic quiet.
Elevated high above the polished marble floors on a massive podium carved from shimmering gold, Emperor Cassius sat upon his throne. His gaze—deep and unreadable, reflecting an abyss of absolute authority—overlooked the vast, cavernous hall. The ambient aura rolling off his frame pressed down upon the surrounding architecture like an invisible, crushing weight, causing the very air to hum with a subtle, dangerous static. Yet, despite his absolute power, the expression on his face was one of profound, unbothered boredom, as if the entirety of the continent beneath his feet were nothing more than a passing, tedious distraction.
CREAK...
The colossal, silver-embossed doors at the far end of the audience chamber swung slowly open, their hinges echoing off the high vaulted ceilings.
A silver-haired woman stepped into the light. She appeared to be in her late twenties, her pale violet eyes framed by faint dark circles that betrayed weeks of restless, unbroken study. Yet beneath her exhaustion burned a radiant, otherworldly light. Her skin was smooth and fair, and the vast, ocean-like mana radiating off her simple azure robes quietly dwarfed even the oppressive presence of the Emperor himself, gently softening the crushing pressure in the air.
A rare, genuine smile tugged at the corner of Emperor Cassius’s lips as he looked down from his golden seat.
Step. Step. Step.
Iris Valerian walked forward with an aloof, effortless casualness, paying no mind to the majestic grandeur of the throne room. She brought herself to the base of the elevated podium, coming to a stop before the golden steps, resting her hand casually against her staff.
"It has been a long time, My Lord," Iris said, her tone smooth, even, and completely devoid of formal imperial deference.
"You may call me as you usually do, Lady Iris."
"Oh? Then should I call you brat?"
The moment the word left her lips, the Emperor’s right cheek twitched violently. The golden armrest beneath his palm instantly turned to fine dust as he lost control of his physical strength for a brief fraction of a second, the gold disintegrating into thin air.
"Pfft-hahahaha!"
Iris clutched her stomach, bursting into a wild, unrestrained laugh that echoed loudly against the marble pillars. Yet even doubled over laughing, her spine never lost its line, her staff never wavering in her grip.
Emperor Cassius could only touch his forehead, rubbing his temples with a long, long-suffering sigh.
"Alright, alright... I’ll stop messing with you," Iris grinned, her violet eyes twinkling with mischief as she looked up at him. "How have you been, Cassius?"
The smile returned to the Emperor’s face as he met her gaze directly. "I’ve been well. How about you, Iris?"
"As you can see, I am still far too good to retire," she replied casually, lifting her hands to show off her unblemished skin as if subtly taunting the Emperor. "Though you might want to take care of those subtle wrinkles forming around your forehead, you know."
"You never change," Cassius muttered.
"Okay... okay, I’ll stop."
The moment her tone shifted, the massive doors at the rear of the audience chamber slammed shut with a heavy, reverberating thud. Ancient, glowing runes danced across Iris’s fingertips, spilling outward in a dense, shimmering wave of mana that wrapped around the entire hall. The magical formations clung to the walls, sealing the space in an absolute, impenetrable isolation barrier.
The playful air in the room vanished instantly. The atmosphere turned dead quiet, heavy with severe weight as two of the most powerful beings on the continent faced one another.
The silence stretched between them until Emperor Cassius finally broke the ice.
"Did your research finish?"
Iris remained silent for a long moment, her violet eyes darkening as she stared at the polished marble floor. A heavy, labored sigh escaped her lips.
"No," she said softly, the single word carrying immense weight.
The Emperor closed his eyes, taking the crushing weight behind those words. A shadow of deep sadness crept across his royal features as he leaned back against his throne.
"Hey, don’t be like that," Iris added quickly, shaking her head as she saw his reaction. "I said it isn’t finished, but it is nearly complete... I merely require the final components to bridge the gap."
Cassius snapped his eyes open. "What materials?"
Iris paused, fully aware of the sheer impossibility of what she was about to demand.
"I need a World Tree Fruit... and a drop of blood from the First Shrine."
Cassius stared at her for several seconds, his expression slowly turning incredulous.
"You do realize what you’re asking for, don’t you?"
"Of course I do..." Iris gave him an innocent smile. "That’s why I came to you."
The gravity in the audience chamber spiked instantly upon the utterance of those names. The Emperor’s expression turned grave, his brows knitting tightly together.
The World Tree Fruit was the most sacred, heavily guarded relic of the Elven Kingdom, guarded by High Elves in their distant continent. Meanwhile, the blood from the First Shrine was a divine relic belonging to the Beastkin of the Feralis Continent—a substance treated with religious reverence. Both were Mythical-grade materials—but these particular items were not something wealth or status could simply purchase. Each was watched over by a Saint of its own people, figures who answered to no throne and could not be bought, pressured, or commanded into compliance.
"Don’t worry too much about the elves; we can attempt to negotiate for the World Tree Fruit in the upcoming grand conference," Iris said, sensing the turmoil in the Emperor’s mind. "It’s that musclehead Varkhan I am worried about. Getting anything out of the Beast Saint is like negotiating with a Dragon God mid-tantrum."
Cassius’s gaze hardened, his voice dropping an octave as the unyielding authority of the empire returned to his posture. "Tell them we will grant them whatever they wish in return for those materials. Land, items, vast treasures... I do not care what it costs. Get them."
Iris nodded slowly, accepting his command. "Understood."
"And the other research?" the Emperor asked softly, his tone laced with deep caution.
"It is still in progress, but it will be completed soon," Iris replied calmly, her eyes flashing with a cold, absolute confidence.
Cassius nodded in satisfaction. "Good."
"Did anything notable happen while I was away?" Iris asked, relaxing her posture slightly as she adjusted the grip on her wooden staff.
The Emperor leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly as he began to detail the growing unrest in the Empire along with the increased activities of the Four Great Evils...
Meanwhile, far from the quiet, sealed depths of the Imperial Palace, the thunderous clatter of hooves echoed outside the Imperial highway.
Gareth Ironwood reined in his heavy black warhorse, bringing the massive beast to a slow walk as he crested the final hilltop.
Rising before him were the towering white walls of Solaris, stretching continuously across the horizon like a mountain range made of pure, gleaming marble. The sheer scale, defensive array, and magnificent grandeur of the Imperial Capital was breathtaking—a view that, no matter how many times one looked at it, never failed to leave a deep, awe-inspiring impression on the soul.
Flags bearing the imperial crest fluttered against the high winds atop the battlements, while thousands of merchants, travelers, and armored knights flowed through the massive arching gates below.
Gareth adjusted his cloak and urged his black warhorse forward, joining the steady stream entering the city. He rode slowly through the bustling streets, taking in the grand archways, the bustling noble districts, and the looming shadow of the central peak.
His eyes remained fixed on the center of the metropolis, where the towering spires of the Imperial Palace pierced the sky—a gilded cage of absolute power where the fate of the continent was decided.
Urging his horse into a steady trot, Gareth made his way deeper into the heart of the capital.
By the time he reached the outer gates of the Imperial Palace, the guards stationed there had already straightened at his approach, their spears crossing reflexively before either of them had gotten a proper look at his face.
Then one of them caught sight of the insignia stamped into his breastplate—a black raven, wings spread mid-flight, talons wrapped around a bare blade.
The guard’s expression shifted instantly.
"Commander of the Black Raven Knights," he murmured, exchanging a quick glance with his partner before both spears lowered. House Ravencrest’s personal order was not a name easily mistaken for anything else, not even this far south.
"I require an audience with the Emperor," Gareth said, dismounting in a single fluid motion. "It concerns a matter from the Northern Frontier."
The two guards hesitated.
"Commander," the first guard said carefully, "His Majesty gave explicit instruction this morning. No audiences today. No exceptions."
"This cannot wait."
The guards exchanged another glance, clearly caught between the weight of a direct Imperial order and the weight of a Ravencrest Commander standing in front of them insisting otherwise.
"Fetch the head butler," the second guard finally said to a runner stationed nearby. "Now."
It took only minutes for the head butler to arrive—Aldric was an Earth Knight himself, though he wore formal robes instead of armor. His measured stride carried the quiet authority of a man who had served the palace for decades and seen every possible variation of "urgent" business walk through its gates.
His eyes settled on Gareth’s insignia, and something in his composed expression eased into brief, genuine familiarity.
"Gareth." A smile crossed his face before duty reasserted itself. "It’s been too long."
"Aldric." Gareth inclined his head. "I wish this were a friendlier visit."
The smile faded. Aldric’s gaze dropped to the insignia once more, then to the House Ravencrest crest on Gareth’s travel-worn cloak. "Concerning the North?"
"Yes."
The butler didn’t ask anything further. He didn’t need to. Decades of friendship had taught him to read exactly what that tone meant.
His Majesty had left standing orders several days earlier, following the Sword Saint’s visit to the North: any report arriving from the Northern Frontier, no matter how minor, was to reach him immediately.
"Wait here," Aldric said, already walking briskly toward the inner halls. "I will not be long."
Gareth watched him disappear through the towering doors, the satchel still resting against his shoulder, the research findings from the cave waiting inside.
[Note: Emperor Cassian Solaris is usually addressed by Iris as Cassius — a nickname only she gets to use.]