The assembled forces unnerved Hanna, as they were all seniors of many decades of cultivation, years of battle experience. She was proud to be called up, but nervous.
Tim was focused on his sword meditation. She found the practice weird.
The art of Fan and Sword was almost unheard of, she was blazing a new trail. The fan covered her face and her right hand held the sword. It was a lighter sword than the long sword Anna used and the Broadsword Tim used.
To consider Tim and Anna the same stage of cultivation was true but misleading. Anna was at late-stage Elemental Sword with two centuries of experience. Tim was early stage with significantly less.
She tried the Kata, thinking of Lucille and Anna’s styles as two sides of the coin, and combining them.
Sword and fan flowed together as one, as beauty and menace and sweet and sharp all gathered.
She only stopped when Anna and a group of onlookers stopped at their tent, and several people were staring.
“There’s a chance more of the sect might be called up. For now we need to contain this undead disease. It doesn’t just bring up the minor legends of the undead. It brings horrors when it infects Senior cultivators.
Don’t leave any one behind. The army’s advanced healers are ready to intervene.”
Hanna followed her sect leader as they hiked over to the source of the outbreak in a nearby town.
Artillery cultivators advanced, and frontline cultivators, including their sect, stood in front of the artillery as protection.
“Drop into shadow techniques and cast them wild if we get rushed. Tim, focus your fires on the left, I’ll let my waters go to the right.
They covered a small part of the battle line, each melee sect covering the artillery down line.
The first group of advancing undead were stopped by the army’s artillery cultivators. The second round was less effective as the enemy got into range.
Finally as they got close Anna filled half of their sect’s region with waters and Tim with fires. She let her shadows cover those who survived the fire, nothing survived the waters.
After a few waves of this, the wights came out.
With the full attention of Senior cultivators up and down the line, Hanna only felt a little pressure as she carved into bone and demon flesh.
She unleashed all of her knives from the fan then folded the fan up and took down the enemy with her sword, which she called Roseedge.
When the undead monstrosities came out, she took a step towards Tim, and acted as a support to dart in and attack, dart back and dodge,
She fell back at the weight of the next group. Vampires of a least Late manifestation stage.
Under the weight of the enemy she rejoined others who were relatively junior.
Tim fought desperately against three of the vampires, while Anna showed off her might covering the next sect’s range too.
When Tim was pushed back by a gigantic hulking beast, she was terrified. Anna fought furiously and over several minutes managed to defeat the beast but another had appeared. The line was broken and wights, vampires and other horrors poured into their backlines, until the very highest cultivators in the land joined.
Divine light and Holy currents swept at the enemies. And a gigantic celestial sword skewered a second monstrosity about to attack Anna.
This was a problem calling for the very elite. The reserves were in play. Tim helped against the raging lower threats, Anna joined her seniors to help out, and the raging tide met Ultimate human skill.
The Army began pouring on additional top-assets only as they staggered and retreated.
The best of humanity had to fall back before they were overrun.
As they backed off the relentless assault subsided into a few lesser undead.
The army posted guards while they went back to confer.
<>
The battle of the Baying Undeath began one of the legends of the War against the Necromancers.
In the presence of necromancy, where your own soldiers could be used against you, the war was kept to the Buddhist Army and the elite cultivators.
Still cultivators fell and not all of them were purified before the Necromancers struck.
When the final confrontation with the Necromancers began, Anna went together with the strongest cultivators in the nation.
<>
The man wore the most severe and carefully preserved robes Lucille had seen.
“Administrator Ohnani, the Emperor requests your presence in place of the Graceful Sword and Fan sect. He wishes to bestow honors upon a member of your sect. The Bestowing is to occur on July 16th, the year of the Ram.”
“I will be there.”
Sean came to the door, while she heard his daughters coming down the stairs.
“You may bring up to 4 additional guests, besides yourself. Your Honored sect member, Cultivator Ohnani will be staying at the Imperial palace until after the bestowal.”
<>
Indeed, a few weeks later, Hanna and Tim returned.
Lucille discussed with Tim, and they made him 2nd Sword master, to cover the responsibility of overseeing the Sword cultivators and sometimes training the seniors.
Hanna became Chief adviser of Dual path cultivation. And both Tim and Hanna picked their successors as well.
July Graham was the finest Fan only cultivator of the sect, she originally intended to learn the sword, but thrives with the Fan. The Rose Blossom sect would have loved to have her.
She became Chief Adviser of Fan Cultivation, but Lucille was still looking for a good second for her administrative duties.
<>
Power thrummed through the halls of the Imperial palace, even out in the guest wing. The longsword belonged to a friend of Uncle’s. The one friend that recognized her talent.
The power of her cultivation had rendered the sword unrecognizable. It possesses the nature of Waters now, and the spirit Aida/Aiden. The sword was very precious to her now.
Aiden mediated on the tip of the sword while it hovered above Anna. A globe of gold- tinged water surrounded them, Anna was attuned to water and could breath there as well as anyone could.
She could tell somebody was coming. The waters retreated into her sword, she landed and stowed her sword into her sheath, which had been replaced many times over the decades. She bought a very expensive sheath now, one Aiden was comfortable in.
“Lady Ohnani?”
“Come in.”
The servant arrived with the attire requested of her today. She had never thought about clothing too much beyond a bit of protection, and supporting her full range of motion.
Now she was wearing a dress of bluish green and little gold earrings, necklace and arm jewelry.
“The honor of my family and this Imperial servant swears upon the safe return of your sword Lady Cultivator. “
“Let Aida see something interesting when you store it. Thank you.”
In the presence of His Imperial Highness, no one was allowed to possess their weapon except the lineage of Emperor guardsmen refined by the Family.
Her hair, while short, was styled to make it wavy and gleaming.
Feeling naked once more without her sword, she thought of the way Lucille thrives in any social situation and projected that.
The Emperor was 13 and was attended by his Aunt, and a few cousins.
The Emperor had a Regent who was much older.
“Honored Cultivator, would you sit by His Imperial Highness for breakfast?”
“Gladly,” she said projecting Lucille strengths.
“Your sword, does it talk to you? I have read stories about sword cultivators who talk to their sword or sword spirits.”
“Emperor, We understand each other really well, since I’ve spent the majority of my life with that sword. They do talk to me sometimes though.”
“Is there more than one?”
“I say they, because I knew I was supposed to be a Sword cultivator and I had to pass as a man for years. I was unsure of myself before I finally realized there’s nothing wrong in the Dao with a swordswoman. But the spirit prefers to still shift between Aiden and Aida, respectfully.”
<>
Breakfasts more fancy than the most ornate dinner she had over had. Day over Day, she sat with the Emperor.
“I’ve practiced with all the classics when I find time between my studies and appearances.”
She found conversation with the regent on a few evenings when she wandered out to the canopy deck,
“I’m on a short leash. They didn’t chose their best courtier, the family has barred themselves from regency. I was their most obedient family legate. So I’m a regent with strings.”
“I’ve been alone most of my life. Busy being an anonymous member of the Mortal sect, and then the outer sect. I was a wanderer and briefly a member of my brother-in-law’s family staff, until he died.
Then years as a member of a mercenary army, and eventually a wandering cultivator helping wherever I was needed. This last hundred years I’ve been part of building our sect with my sister and the son of an old friend of mine. The sect is great and I enjoy the professional community of Swords and Fans, but still my sister and I are lonely and we don’t spend as much family time as we did when we were kids.
I used to go by Ande when I was passing as a male sword cultivator as well.”
“It’s great to have you at the Palace.”
($)
Tim, Hanna, Judy and her husband Sean accompanied her to the Imperial Palace. The sect was on holiday by Imperial writ and the new Chief Groundskeeper kept the order for those who stayed.
The Sword, Fan and Dual Path exemplars along with her husband seemed a reasonable balance.
They were greeted by a large group of staffers spiffily dressed and other guests.
“Who are you here for?” One of the staffers asks.
“Administrator Ohnani, Mr. Cheltenham, and three seniors of the Graceful Sword and Fan Sect, here for Lady Ohnani’s bestowal.”
“Mr and Mrs, please accompany me inside, your guests may stay and mingle for the time being.”
We were whisked inside, where oddly enough, we were measured for fit and given clothes to wear. The dress was beautiful and extravagant, and Sean’s tux with the matching white flower was suitable for a wedding.
When she saw her sister standing beside the Emperor, she was shocked. Who was the Radiant Hibiscus and who was the Sword Elemental here?! The power of her Elemental control of Flowers threatened to flare, she resisted it.
Purple flowers intertwined with Golden chain which lead to a necklace of astonishing turquoise that her sister wore. The dress was made of something so precious she had never seen it before and the way it shimmered and showed her beauty was the sign of a Blossom crafter in the Imperial staff,
His Imperial Highness wore a suit with every cuff link hand engrave with old symbols. Gold and silver, ruby and lapis lazuli studded on the jacket that fit the young boy Empress. The staff surrounding were well dressed also, but not so extreme.
After a few hours of light conversation and waiting, the staff positioned Lucille and Sean off to the side.
The Emperor, his regent, and Anna stood at center. A man in white robes and smelling of incense finally arrived. Beside him another man in Golden robes carried a long black case.
After a moment the incense smelling man stood before the Emperor and Anna.
“Cultivator Anna Ohnani, please rejoin your Sect administrator while I speak to our Imperial Highness.”
She curtsied with perfect form and retreated back to us. I gave her a confused look, I didn’t even dare telepathic communication here.
“Is your assent given, Your Highness, uncompelled and freely given to Tie a bond between your person and one Miss Ohnani in consort. Her children born in future days will be sons and daughters of the Imperial family’s consort branch.”
“Our assent is given. Let her name become Consort Anna Verouelin of the Imperial Family.”
Speaking to the regent, the Minister said, “in light of our Highness’s youth, Lord Regent, do you assent.”
“On behalf of the regency and the Imperial family I assent.”
“Anna Verouelin, please step forward.”
Was Anna glowing. Something was certainly happening to her cultivation. Anna approached with all of her own grace.
Her sister started to glow in light that was only visible to cultivators.
“Anna Verouelin, will you give your assent, surrendering family and clan and sect to be joined to the Imperial family as consort.”
“I assent.”
The light accelerated, waters and light swirled within her spirit, until a massive storm of golden water erupted outward encompassing the whole room yet leaving none wet , before returning into Anna.
“What just happened? The minister said, leaving the script.”
Surprisingly it was the Emperor who answered. “The Divine Favor of Emperors has accepted her. She is now at the beginning of the Highest stage of cultivation. The golden divine waters of her inner spirit will protect us all.”
“Is that correct Anna,” the Regent asked.
“I received extraordinary favor in your eyes, Daimon. I have received a vast divine treasury. I have sought out the secret of Divine cultivation for decades, and hear I find it. Thank you, your highness.”
“You are very welcome,” the emperor said. “ Please accept the sword of our treasury, the sign of our favor.
The man with the long box carefully unfolded the most magnificent sword, it was given to Anna, who received it, taking the edge end and handing the pommel to the Emperor.
“Always in your service, your highness.”
“Thank you Priest-Magistrate. Now on to the rest of the Awards.” The regent said. “His Highness and Consort shall greet the guests, and pass out honors. Our Consort’s former sect shall provide the honor guard.
I watched as power unquenchable ran through Anna and even began to siphon into the Emperor whose cultivation level was undetectable.
We stood at the opened doors as the two were followed by staff. Still flabbergasted at the series of events.
The Honors and awards went to very powerful individuals and exceptional sects, and then the Graceful Sword and Fan sect,
“We consider the Graceful Sword and Fan Sect highly. While it is a new sect, only a century in existence, it is the home of our first Consort. Your sect has served in all the occasions it was called to, and Anna Verouelin has been a big part of that. We award the Honor of the Silver Star to the Graceful Sword and Fan Sect.”
Lucille went forward and accepted the honor of the sect.
<>
AVD: Divine Favor is something beyond a stage. It’s more like connecting to a stream of power beyond our control than merely growing in understanding. No matter how great you are, if no one answers, you can’t become Divinely favored.
LO: how’s the sword situation?
AVD: I can already handle two swords other than the one in my hand. The emperor’s sword has two sword spirits as well.
<>
Lucille became the highest cultivator in the sect in Anna’s absence, and she began to prepare the Groundskeeper to take her place. Tim was only a few steps behind, but when the next call up came, it was one person per sect. She made the groundskeeper acting administrator.
While she had always kept to her cultivation, having Anna there kept her pressure low. Now she dove into the fullness of her art, meditating into the afternoon and then rushing ahead of the convoy to the new site.
When they got there, in addition to the usual army, Anna was there, dressed fancifully.
AV: Those weeks before I ascended, I started being able to draw on your grace and poise, In the last hour before I became Consort I was fully drawing on all your training and grace as well as mine. Sorry I didn’t explain before, it was all such a whirlwind.
LO: So I’ll be able to pull on your skills when I reach that point.
AV: I think so.
AV: I will be providing backup, now we don’t think this is another necromantic cell but we’re not sure, something is weird.
Lucille fought in the open field, taking her sisters place as she cleared the foul things that were not necromancy.
<>
She woke up, and went to breakfast with the Emperor. After the first few weeks, he liked her tastes and she had enough of a wardrobe to chose her own clothes that day, most days she only saw him as they shared breakfast and then he had many things demanded of him, and she returned to the cloister like Consort wing where a half dozen servants attended to her days,
She would change into training clothes and meditate in the morning, train with the swords at night. Sometimes Aida was her primary sword and sometimes the duo of Marcus and James, latent spirits formed from past swordsmen.
Sometimes she would meet with the Emperor and others for a major dinner but mostly she’s make a social call, dining with his family or with the regent’s family or at home.
It was after dinner, and she was observing the flows of this divine power that ran through her. From the sea many miles off, waters met the heavenly power and divine water descended and poured into her, from there a stream growing day by day went the short distance to the young Emperor Daimon. But now a tiny trickle of divine power went another direction.
The meditation was cut short when another vast divine power arrived, it overwhelmed the power running through her, though it didn’t suppress or go against that power.
She wouldn’t find out the source until the next day.
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