Discordant Note: Crescendo | TBATE

Chapter 279: The Demands of Dominions

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Sevren Denoir

My limbs felt loose as I marched through the Denoir Relictombs estate, my mind awhirl with fire. Images of the mana projection of Burim's utter collapse pushed me forward. The news of the devastation had barely reached the public after one of my ascents with Caera and Naereni.

Those two were going to meet with Wade and Alaric to see what knowledge they could piece together from their contacts. That just left me to my family as I tried to use their connections.

I could almost imagine my metal arm aching. I couldn't feel pain in it anymore; not really. But that didn't stop me from thinking of the threads of lifeforce that I knew connected it to my body.

Rumors say that Toren was involved in whatever attacked the city, I thought. People are saying that an asura struck there. Was my friend able to fight such a thing?

Was he even still alive?

The Denoir estate was tastefully decorated. Paintings dotted the walls here and there, each one showing a severe member from our highblood. Braiuz. Vaelor. Maesa. Half a dozen more familiar Denoir highlords and ladies flashed by me, each pinning me with a disapproving stare. It was clear to me that none of these portraits wanted me here. They despised my presence entirely.

But I was here anyways, and they were simply ink.

Despite myself, however, I halted in my tracks as I moved near a portrait taken many, many years ago, showing Father, Mother, Lauden, Caera, and I. All smiling. Father's olive hair was perfectly brushed and slicked, of course. Mother's pure white smile reflected every bit of gold in the room in a dazzling way. Lauden's was more shy. This was before he'd become a bumbling oaf. Caera's grin was more hesitant, uncertain as her ruby-red eyes flicked to me. Her hair was short in this depiction. Barely past a bob cut.

I was the only one in the painting that didn't show my teeth. But I still smiled, however thinly.

I wasn't smiling now.

The lighting artifacts cast long shadows as I marched past nervous servants and bowing guards, but I ignored them all, too focused on my task ahead. Then I spotted a young woman with bright orange hair, tied neatly into a bun as she rushed through an opposing hallway. Her face was a mask of worry as she clutched at something in her hands.

"Nessa," I said sharply, getting the maid's attention. "Wait a moment. I need to ask a question!"

The young woman–Caera's steward and friend within the Denoir's restrictive home–stuttered to a stop as she heard my voice. Her eyes went wide as she squeaked, nearly dropping the item in her hands. A clipboard? "Oh, Lord Denoir!" she said, bowing quickly. "I didn't see you there. If I had, I would've–"

I waved away her words as I approached. "I don't care about the formalities," I interjected, shaking my head. "I need to know where the Highlord and Lady are. I need to ask them some questions."

The Denoirs didn't have much of a presence on the other continent, but they had sent a token force to assist Scythe Seris in her conquest of Dicathen. If anyone knew anything more directly about the devastation that was sending ripples of shock through Alacryan society, it would be them.

Nessa averted her gaze, keeping herself in a prostrated position as she chewed on her lip. "The Highlord and Lady just got out of one meeting, Lord Denoir," she said respectfully. "I think they're having another as we speak, though. It might be bold of me to say, sir, but... It might not be wise to test them. Considering what happened with the new heir recently."