Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 157: Me too

The Exiled fortress was much like the others, which disappointed Vale because he thought it would be a forest or something related to it.

But unlike the others, who seemed to hold the top five of the second layer as their apprentices, the Exiled Flagbearer was an Elemental Knight with water essence.

She invited Vale alone to a small pool set in the middle of her garden behind the castle. Her name was Pomora, and she didn’t look like a Master Knight; she looked like she should be tending her garden and not fighting monsters.

She might have been in her sixties or fifties, but she looked no older than thirty.

Everything about her was small, but not like Serdan. Her eyes sparkled bright blue, and she gave him a friendly smile as she poured him tea. "I grew this in my garden. It’s very good and will help you relax."

Vale tensed at that, the cup stopping halfway to his mouth. "Relax?"

Pomora blinked before she smiled again. "No, it won’t dull your wit or make you slow. It works internally to relax your muscles, unlike its siblings used by assassins."

Vale finally took a sip, not because he trusted her words, but because he knew she wouldn’t do him serious harm. "You grow poison too?"

"Of course. See that deep purple flower? It’s called nightshade, and it’s one of the deadliest poisons known. It takes a while before it kicks in—five to seven days—but its success rate is ninety-eight percent. And it’s very difficult to cure, even for Knights. It targets the internal organs, melting them."

Vale shuddered, looking at the different flowers around him. Then he looked at his teacup again. He decided not to drink any more tea before he left. "Why do you plant such things? Do they help in killing monsters?"

"They don’t work on monsters," she said, blowing on her cup and drinking. "Why do I plant them? Because they have beautiful flowers. You should see them bloom under the full moon. Even something as deadly as that can be pleasing."

Vale nodded. "Even the sword can be beautiful when untainted by blood."

Pomora nodded and continued to enjoy her tea. Vale decided to go straight to the point as he did with the Forsaken Tribes. "I want to be the Commander here and clear out the Rift."

"I gathered that already. You’ve been making a ruckus since you came to the Borderland. But do you really think you can clear the Rift? Becoming the Commander is rather easy—all you have to do is carry the Athrimir blood."

Pomora continued. "Have you ever wondered why your father sent five Master Knights here? Why leave such weapons here when he could make better use of us in the Clan?"

"The truth of the matter is that your father changed. Right around the time you were born. He grew cold and distant as if possessed by a ghost. He grew jealous of Steelclaw and sent him here.

"Then he did a full sweep of his court, and anyone who challenged him on his new personality either disappeared. But when they’re as valuable as us, they get sent here."

A chill ran down Vale’s spine as he heard that. ’...They get sent here...like me?...and what did she mean that my father changed...’

Before he could ask any questions, Pomora continued. "He wasn’t gentle about it either. He used all kinds of methods to get rid of those who questioned him. A Master Knight even died back then. But the curious thing to me was that he didn’t do anything after that."

She smiled at him again, but it did nothing to clear his head.

"There are a lot of theories, but the most likely is the one that says your mother’s death changed him. Made him cold and cruel in a way. Or maybe the pain of losing her brought out the true him."

He was stunned. "My mother?"

That was one word he never expected to hear. He had little love for her since he never even knew her or had any memories of her. But what surprised him most was the thought that his father might have once loved someone. The thought alone was strange.

Vale had never seen warmth cross his father’s eyes before.

Pomora did a little clap. "All this, of course, is if you are Vale Athrimir. But I’ll tell you this. I will support you if you can really prove it to Scuffed Bones and the others. Or else they will use the excuse to attack. They know the truth, but nothing is ever about the truth anyway."

She sighed. "I grow tired of this place."

Vale stood and bowed low. "You have given me a lot to think about. Thank you."

She stood as well. "I look forward to it. Whatever is to happen."

Vale spoke the truth. "Me too."

☆☆☆☆☆

They returned to the Forsaken Tribes after that and spent the rest of the day training and meditating. Vale wanted to go after the purple fortress the next day and sent word to the Chief to prepare the warriors that would accompany him.

He decided not to go after the remaining Flagbearers because it would be useless and pointless. Scuffed Bones and Crimsonhood wouldn’t support him, not to mention Steelclaw.

From his point of view, he only had better chances with the Exiled and Forsaken Tribes. Why go where he wasn’t wanted? But that’s only for now because, from the aura he felt from that Rift Lord, they might need all the Flagbearers to join together. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He decided to cross that bridge when he got to it.

Instead, he focused on what needed to be done immediately, which was to secure the purple fortress and get hold of the Tower that belonged to the Athrimir. Not only was he planning to secure his Commander’s position, but he guessed it might help when finally fighting the Rift Lord.

After a day’s worth of training and preparing, they soaked in a long bath. Then they went for the feast prepared in Vale’s honor, where they drank and danced to loud drums.

After that, it was the ritual they prepared, where they sacrificed scented leaves and blood to the Crimson Lord.