The door creaked open as Opal stepped into the room. "Young Miss, it is morning. What would you like for" Her words trailed off as her gaze fell upon Cynthia.
Floating above her bed in a perfect lotus position, Cynthia exuded an aura of serenity. A rhythmic flow of energy pulsed around her, gathering and dispersing in sync with her steady breaths. Opal, knowing better than to disturb her mistress mid-meditation, silently moved about the room, laying out the day's garments and tidying up. Once her tasks were complete, she stood a short distance away, patiently awaiting Cynthia's return to awareness.
A knock at the door broke the stillness. Opal opened it, revealing Clementine on the other side.
"There's someone here to see the Young Miss," Clementine announced. "He claims to be her Cipher Warden."
Opal raised an eyebrow. "Cipher Warden? What is that supposed to be?"
Before Clementine could respond, a deep voice answered from behind her. "The Cipher Wardens are informants assigned to council members. Each council member has their own personal Warden to relay critical intelligence."
The voice belonged to a tall man with dark skin and piercing gray eyes. His cloak, fastened with a silver tiger-shaped pin, swayed slightly as he stepped forward.
"And I assume you are that Cipher Warden?" Opal asked, her tone wary.
"That is correct. You may call me Kirlo," he replied, his voice calm yet firm.
Opal glanced back into the room. "The Young Miss is still meditating. You'll have to wait before discussing whatever business you have with her."
From within, Cynthia's voice rang out, clear and composed. "Who is here to see me, Opal?"
Opal turned back toward the bed. "A man named Kirlo, Young Miss. He says he was sent by the council as your personal agent for intelligence matters."
A brief silence followed before Cynthia spoke again. "Let him in."
Opal opened the door wider, stepping aside as Kirlo entered. He found Cynthia already standing, her gaze steady as she assessed him.
"I greet Councilwoman Rochester. My name is Kirlo, and I will serve as your Cipher Warden," he introduced himself with a respectful nod.
"A Cipher Warden…" Cynthia mused, crossing her arms. "Interesting. I've never heard of such a designation before. Where did this branch originate?"
"It is a specialized unit within the Draethon Knights, tasked with intelligence gathering, information suppression, espionage, and tracking," Kirlo explained.
Cynthia tilted her head slightly. "Quite the extensive job description. That would make your group exceptionally formidable."
Her sharp gaze scrutinized him further before she added, "And you, you're a Zanaryian. I can't help but wonder how the Draethon Knights managed to recruit you. Your nation is notoriously isolationist, fiercely resistant to foreign influence. I find it unusual that one of its people would not only leave but work for another power."
Kirlo met her eyes without hesitation. "That is true. My homeland has long been distrustful of outsiders, its borders closed to most. However, Lumenoth has never been viewed unfavorably, much like Brittanor and the Hitriyama Dynasty. Some exceptions exist."
Cynthia nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Now, what urgent matter brings you here?"
Kirlo's expression darkened slightly. "My lady, news arrived early this morning. One of the Five Great Sects of the Zhou Dynasty, the Azure Dragon Sect, was wiped out last night by the Demonic Sect's Great Ancestor."
Cynthia's posture straightened at the revelation. Though her expression remained composed, her mind raced with questions. "Do we know why?"
"Yes, my lady. The Azure Dragon Sect's downfall stemmed from their acquisition of a rare mystic fruit. One of their elders obtained it during an expedition to the Eldorian Continent. Word of this reached the Demonic Sect's Great Ancestor, and he sought to claim it for himself."
Cynthia's fingers tapped lightly against the arm of her chair. "That alone shouldn't have been enough to completely annihilate a sect of their standing. The Azure Dragon Sect was one of the greats. They wouldn't have fallen so easily."
Kirlo exhaled slowly. "While it is true that they were formidable, their strongest cultivators were only at the early to middle stages of the Weapons Master rank. Some of the most powerful among them barely reached the late stage. In contrast, the Demonic Ancestor is a Supreme Aura Sovereign middle to late stage. Against such a force, their resistance was futile."
Cynthia turned toward the window, her gaze distant as the implications sank in. "And I assume the Imperial Family has no objections to this event?"
Kirlo shook his head. "The Emperor alone dictates matters of governance, and he has made no effort to question or reprimand the Demonic Ancestor. It appears he finds no reason to interfere."
"I see…" Cynthia murmured, her mind already working through the ramifications.
"All matters and people on the land belong to the Emperor. If he has chosen to remain silent, then it means he cares little for the fall of the Azure Dragon Sect," Cynthia said, her voice calm but laced with intrigue. "But tell me do you know what fruit was worth all of this bloodshed?"
"Yes, my lady. It was the Thousand-Year Sunfruit," Kirlo replied without hesitation.
Cynthia's brow lifted slightly. "Now that... that's something. If word of such a thing spread, many would indeed lose their minds pursuing it."
"Indeed, my lady," Kirlo agreed. "In this world, the weak are punished for possessing what the strong desire. It is not a matter of justice, but of power and whether one can protect what they hold."
Cynthia tapped her finger on the armrest in thought. "While this is certainly shocking news, I fail to see why it matters that I be informed of it."
"Ah, perhaps because you've yet to attend your first council meeting, you haven't realized," Kirlo replied with a small smile. "It's simply a matter of losing a customer, Councilwoman."
"Customer?" Cynthia echoed, leaning back in her chair, her interest piqued.
"Yes, my lady. Lumenoth plays a crucial role in the development and refinement of Mysticism across the world," Kirlo explained. "Through oath contracts, we assist in spell creation, martial arts refinement, array construction and adjustments, and countless other pursuits. Lumenoth is deeply entwined with nearly every nation, and much of its wealth and influence stems from how vital its intelligence and capabilities are to others."
"In other words," he continued, "when a major power like the Azure Dragon Sect falls, it disrupts a stream of influence and coin, both of which Lumenoth monitors closely."