Chapter46-Journey to Dreamscape Valley
46 Chapter46-Journey to Dreamscape Valley
The shout of a servant interrupted Owen's train of thought, halting his desire to inquire further.
As the king stepped into the court, the entire space seemed to stir with excitement.
He was dressed in a lavish purple robe, adorned with jewels along the edges, shimmering with dazzling light.
A golden crown rested on his head, inlaid with precious gems that radiated enchanting brilliance.
The king's tall figure exuded authority and gravity, his composed face revealing a glimmer of wisdom.
His thick beard and deep eyes added to his majestic and powerful demeanor.
His aura was both fierce and comforting, offering an irresistible allure and a sense of security.
His steps were firm and powerful, each one seeming to resonate throughout the entire court.
In his hand, he held a scepter encrusted with gems, symbolizing rule and authority.
The scepter was intricately carved with fine lines, reflecting the millennia of history and legacy of the Laine Kingdom.
As the king entered the court, the atmosphere became solemn. The guards knelt in reverence, respectfully gazing in the direction of their monarch.
The princes knelt on one knee, with their attendants following suit.
Only Owen and Diana stood in place, merely bowing their heads slightly.
Owen muttered to himself:
"The king doesn't look like someone on his deathbed!"
Diana could stand; as a human saint, even if the five great kingdoms were at war, she would be well protected.
But what about Owen?
By standing, he was undoubtedly challenging the king's authority.
Oliver, looking up, his face as furious as a lion's, demanded:
"Aren't you going to kneel?"
Owen didn't even realize Oliver was addressing him and ignored him completely.
Oliver grew even angrier:
"Typical country bumpkin, don't you know to kneel before the king?"
Finn glanced at Oliver with impatience:
"My brother, the king hasn't even spoken. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Oliver's expression changed slightly, understanding the implication in Finn's words.
"Finn, what do you mean? Are you condoning your attendant's disrespect towards our father?"
Finn responded with a disdainful snort:
"Mr. Owen need not kneel."
"Who gave you that authority?" Oliver roared angrily, like a ravenous lion.
Finn's face remained calm:
"It's not a matter of permission. It's about Mr. Owen's distinguished status."
"Enough, my two brothers," Chrisman spoke with a lowered head, his voice bursting with authority, "Have you turned the court into a marketplace?"
The Crown Prince's words indeed had an effect. Finn and Oliver could only glare at each other, daring not to speak further.
The king, unfazed, cracked a smile and spoke loudly:
"Finn's respect for this Mr. Owen reminds me of an incident. When I was young, I accompanied an elder of the mythoflares to meet your grandfather."
"The mythoflares elder did not kneel either, and a guard angrily rebuked her. When her identity was revealed, that guard was severely punished."
"Had the elder not been merciful and excused the guard, he would have lost his job."
These words made Oliver break out in a cold sweat.
He quickly shifted from kneeling on one knee to both knees, loudly saying:
"Father, I was wrong."
The king didn't respond to him but instead raised his scepter and declared:
"Everyone, rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, Father."
As everyone stood up, the king looked at his three sons with affection:
"Well done, all of you have grown up. This trial is merely to assess your capabilities and has no bearing on the succession. So, in the secret realm, make sure not to harm each other."
The princes' eyes twinkled, clearly harboring their own thoughts.
Although it was said to be unrelated to the succession, the victor would undoubtedly leave a significant impression on the king. Who could say that this impression wouldn't influence the king's choice?
Owen, observing the princes taking this so seriously, found the isekai succession system quite interesting.
The king's choice was not necessarily the eldest legitimate son.
All the princes could compete, and the king even encouraged this competition.
Quite intriguing...
Such a system seemed quite reasonable. After all, each prince possessed immense power. If the eldest were weak and unfit for the throne, his brothers might very well commit the folly of fratricide for the crown.
Better to have a fair competition among the princes.
The king covered his mouth with a cough, and an attendant quickly came forward to support him.
He waved his hand slightly and took a deep breath before speaking:
"Raymond, you explain the next part."
Raymond stepped forward from beside the king, an unremarkable-looking man.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Raymond stood before the princes and announced clearly:
"Princes, the trial will take place in a secret realm known as Dreamscape Valley, lasting fifteen days."
"The objective is to reach the depths of Dreamscape Valley and obtain the Dreamscape Stone."
"Individuals above or at the master-tier are not allowed to enter."
"The number of members accompanying the princes must not exceed fifty-five."
"In Dreamscape Valley, there are three creatures to be mindful of. First, the emerald sprites, which must not be killed."
"Second, the dreamscape dragons, which must not be provoked. Third, the dreamscape trees, from which no more than seven flowers may be harvested."
"There is also a rare spiritual material known as the nectar flower within Dreamscape Valley. If encountered, it can be collected."
"Does everyone understand?"
"We understand!" the princes responded.
Owen, listening to these rules, was deep in thought.
The stipulations regarding the three creatures were particularly striking to him.
Dreamscape dragons were not to be provoked, implying that if provoked, one should be capable of killing them.
Dreamscape trees, with a limit on harvesting no more than seven flowers. Could it be that the royal family had some connection with the Dreamscape Valley secret realm?
Raymond looked around at the princes and declared loudly:
"Very well, I will open the gateway to the realm. You and your attendants will enter, and upon arrival, you will find yourselves inside Dreamscape Valley."
Owen's pupils narrowed slightly, realizing why Raymond was held in such high esteem – he was a space-based magus.
Space magic, notoriously difficult to master, was even more challenging than thunder-based magic.
Cultivating thunder-based magic required a robust physique and resilient spirit, as not everyone could withstand the storm of thunder particles.
But space magic demanded only one thing – insight.
Like mathematics, you either understand it or you don't. The innate limitations made space magi exceptionally rare.
Raymond conjured an ancient and mystical spellbook, seemingly out of nowhere.
As he opened the pages, his arcanergy surged.
Space in front of him began to tear apart, emitting a dazzling light.
With the light spreading, a magnificent spatial gateway unfolded before everyone's eyes.
On either side of the gateway, stars twinkled and rainbows darted through.
Fluffy clouds floated within, as if a portal to the universe had opened up before them.
A mysterious and immense power filled the air, instilling awe in everyone present.
Owen's pupils contracted sharply. This was different from his stereotypical understanding of space magic.
He had expected Raymond to summon a spiraling blue circle, not a portal that seemed to connect to the cosmos itself.
Finn, visibly excited, whispered:
"Mr. Owen, shall we go first?"
Owen nodded slightly:
"Just us?"
Finn laughed heartily:
"The others are already waiting for us outside Dreamscape Valley."
Diana approached Owen:
"I'll go with you."
"Suit yourself."
After responding, Owen no longer hesitated and followed Finn into the spatial gateway.
As he stepped into the corridor, the scenery around him began to shift – now a dense forest, now a dazzling sea of flowers.
He felt as though he was traversing through portals of fantasy, with space churning and flowing ceaselessly around him.
As he entered the final corridor, the view opened up magnificently before him, revealing the splendid landscape of Dreamscape Valley.
In the azure sky, mysterious creatures fluttered, and colorful flowers exuded an enchanting fragrance.
A slender stream babbled beside his feet, its reflections mirroring Raymond's excited and expectant face.
Owen looked ahead into the distance, beholding a scene as if from a dream.
Finn, brimming with excitement, pointed in the direction Owen was looking:
"Sir, that's Dreamscape Valley."
Dreamscape Valley was surrounded by layers of mountains, blanketed in lush green trees and vibrant flowers, unfolding like a colorful tapestry before Owen's eyes.
A gentle breeze passed, causing leaves to rustle softly and petals to dance in the air, bringing a warm and fragrant scent.
At the foot of the mountains, a wide stream flowed quietly. The water was crystal clear, like a pure blue silk ribbon. The soothing sound of the water seemed to narrate the wonders of nature.
Owen's mood lifted.
"What a beautiful place."
Suddenly, a chorus of unified voices shouted:
"Master!" Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Sesame_Cookies