Chapter 210: The Name They Remembered

Two hours later, the Dawnwings, Stormlance, Crystal Maidens, and Faerie Dragons had returned to the Domain.

Only a few minutes remained on the Spatial Lock. Cassian thought he should say goodbye to Orion Valcrest, but the other Lord contacted him first.

[Orion Valcrest: I wish you success in taking the Governorship.]

Cassian considered his reply for a moment.

[Cassian Vale: See you at the Contest of Champions.]

He bought another Advanced Relocation Writ through the Exchange. The instant the seal expired, he cast it into the air.

"Relocate. Sector 666. Homeworld, Tidecrown Province, Riftward Marches, Riftward Region. Coordinates ten, ten."

Golden light rose around him. While the Domain prepared to move, Cassian ran a hand along his Heartsense Sword.

[Heartsense Sword — Legendary]

[Level: 65]

[Sharpness: 384 | Durability: 336]

[Physique +1,680 | Aether +1,120 | Spirit +1,120 | Load −900]

[Skills: Heartpiercing Touch / Skyward Slash / Clearspirit Dance]

[Enchantment: Physique +500]

[Sword Soul 1: All attributes +300.]

[Sword Soul 2: Sword skill proficiency +1 stage, up to Perfection.]

During his remaining time in Swordheart, he had kept the forges supplied and working. They had produced 1,578 Heartsense Swords.

Of those, 163 had received Divine Favor under Swordheart’s Fortune. Enchantment had triggered on 343. Only twenty-three had received both.

He had also learned how to use the Sword Soul gathered by the Building. For a Level-65 Legendary sword, the first Sword Soul attribute cost one point. A second cost ten, and a third cost a hundred.

His own sword had two.

The extra proficiency stage was especially valuable. It even worked on the sword’s built-in Heartpiercing Touch.

Celia and Veyra each had a Heartsense Sword of the same exceptional quality, with two Sword Soul attributes. Each of his nine Praetorians had received a blade with one.

"Almost a month..."

Cassian smiled.

"Does Tidecrown still remember my name?"

The light faded. His Domain vanished from Swordheart’s map.

——

The system had not yet published the third Occupation Progress update, but anyone paying attention could see where the contest was heading.

[We fought our way through all these months, and we lose at the very last step?]

[Our Regions’ Fortune, our resources, our offices... We’re losing everything. I can’t accept this!]

[Where’s Cassian? Wasn’t he coming back?]

[Then who placed that hundred-million wager?]

Regret and anxiety filled the Riftward Marches Channel.

[Darian Frost: We’ve done well. All of us. This isn’t a failure of our fighting strength. It’s that damned War Intent system.]

[Darian Frost: Even Cassian couldn’t change this. He can’t fight ten thousand Lords by himself.]

Elara felt miserable. Cassian had entrusted the Marches to her. Now she was about to lose it.

But she was still acting Commander. She forced herself to speak steadily.

[Elara Vayne: Darian is right. Once the next progress update appears, everyone should prepare to relocate out of Tidecrown. If Galen takes the Governorship and seals the Province, forcing a relocation will damage your Buildings.]

[Elara Vayne: The other Crown Marches and the military are preparing to withdraw too.]

For many Lords, that hurt worse than the prospect of defeat.

Riftward was their home in the Realm. The people they had fought beside were family. Most of them did not own Advanced Relocation Writs. Ordinary writs sent Domains to random destinations.

After today, they might never fight beside one another again.

Some of the women were already red-eyed. Yet staying behind to die would achieve nothing.

Nessa suddenly posted in anger.

[Nessa Fenwick: Free Will has no shame! The Black Banner betrayed them last time. Now they’re acting as though nothing happened and mocking us!]

Everyone opened the Province Channel. Sure enough, Claire Ross of Coldridge was enjoying herself.

[Claire Ross: If Cassian had surrendered the Commander’s office when we offered, you could all have taken the money and left. Would you be in this miserable state now?]

[Claire Ross: He couldn’t bear to give up his authority. Now you get nothing, after suffering all those losses.]

[Claire Ross: Cassian is selfish. The rest of you are fools he used for his own benefit.]

It wasn’t only Nessa who wanted to tear into her.

Then a golden message appeared.

[Cassian Vale: Who are you calling selfish? Who are you calling fools?]

Lords without the required Marches office could not normally speak in the Province Channel. They could, however, pay ten thousand Aether to post a message. Those messages appeared in gold.

Such extravagant messages were uncommon, but the price was the last thing anyone noticed now.

They stared at the sender’s name.

[Nessa Fenwick: Cassian! He’s back! He’s really back!]

Tears of joy filled her eyes. Lords hurried to open the Regional Channel, where they found the relocation notice from little more than ten seconds earlier.

Cassian had returned to Riftward.

He held no office yet. Hence the paid message.

"So this is what War Intent is for. One point for a challenge..."

Cassian glanced through the rules.

"I’ve only just arrived. I don’t even know how the Final Stage is going. But since you’re so eager to speak, Claire, you can go first."

Austin posted urgently.

[Austin: Claire, leave the Capital now! He’s coming for you. If a Gold Battle Name holder attacks with everything, your Lord’s Hall might not withstand it!]

His next message was directed at Cassian.

[Austin: Think carefully, Lord Cassian. Lady Claire’s standing is far above what you understand. She is not someone you can afford to offend!]

Cassian had stopped replying.

Claire had not.

[Claire Ross: Calm down, Austin. I know I’m not his equal. But saying I can’t even last thirty seconds is an insult to me and House Ross!]

[Claire Ross: With my strength and a Fortress site, ten minutes would be easy. Half an hour might not be out of the question.]

[Claire Ross: He’s here! Less than a hundred troops? How arrogant. I’ll kill him!]

[Claire Ross: God! What are those troops? My Nano Warriors! Damn it!]

[Claire Ross: I’m inside the Lord’s Hall. It’s Rank XII. He can’t possibly—]

[Claire Ross: Why is the durability falling so fast? Austin! Help me! No—]

Nearly ten messages in little more than ten seconds. Even now, it was hard not to marvel at how quickly she had managed to send them.

Then Claire fell silent.

A chill ran up the spines of everyone watching. Her messages were enough to piece together what had happened in those few seconds.

They all had the same question.

Apart from his Dragons, what other troops had Cassian been hiding?