Everwood Palace.
A few hours later. Aksai’s study room.
Hour of Shadow Tiger. (08:00 PM – 09:00 PM)
As one stepped inside, the scent of aged parchment filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of leather-bound tomes and the musty scent of old scrolls.
The room itself was spacious and sturdy, its walls lined with ancient manuals, meticulously preserved scrolls, and both new and old books collected from every corner of the world.
Large windows bathed the room in natural light, casting a moonlight glow upon the countless volumes that adorned the shelves. There was a chandelier on the ceiling that provided ample light even during the night. One wall was dedicated to a meticulously detailed map of Serenity Peak and its surrounding areas.
At the center of the room sat a large study table, its surface cluttered with various forms of open books, scrolls, and loose parchment. Aksai’s chair, positioned before the table, was well-worn from years of use, its cushions molded to fit his form perfectly.
Here, amidst the scholarly chaos, Aksai could often be found engrossed in his studies. In this private space, he would often be seen brooding over ancient scrolls related to the concepts of qi and various martial arts he had collected over 12 years.
Tonight, Aksai wanted to revise all the knowledge he had gained about the tree devils. With furrowed brows and intense concentration, he delved into the known information and guess works made by the renowned scholars of Martial World Sharang, seeking answers to the mysteries that surrounded him.
Step. Step. Step.
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor outside.
“Come on in,” Aksai called out to Zinnia before she had a chance to knock on the door. The door creaked open as she entered the room.
“My lord, we have just finished making the primary arrangements. The shelter tents have been raised, and the inhabitants have been provided with tonight’s dinner. The palace guards are keeping an eye on them.
I will organize them into groups and assign responsibilities tomorrow.”
Zinnia reported to Aksai, carrying a food tray with both hands. It was Aksai’s dinner that the head maid had tactfully brought with her while giving him the day’s report.
On the food tray sat a simple yet nourishing dinner prepared by the palace kitchen. A bowl of steaming rice took center stage, flanked by a serving of stir-fried vegetables glistening with savory sauce.
A small plate held a portion of perfectly seasoned grilled meat, emitting a tantalizing aroma. Beside it, a bowl of clear soup simmered gently, promising warmth and comfort.
Aksai had provided milder variants of Flesh Pumpkins along with some of his Spirit herbs to the palace kitchen. The resources he cultivated in the Everwood farm were served to him daily for his speedy recovery from any fatigue. Of course, he was the sole beneficiary of such treatment for the most part.
Aksai usually ate a lot because of his martial arts practice and qi cultivation technique. However, tonight was not one of those nights.
Zinnia, on the other hand, acted like a dedicated personal maid and looked after Aksai’s needs even during times of crisis outside the palace walls. His dinner might have been modest, but it provided the sustenance he needed after a long day of managing the palace affairs and dealing with the tree devil calamity.
“My lord, please have your dinner,” Zinnia said as she placed the food tray on his table by his side.
She had to struggle a bit to make space for the food tray among the clutter of scrolls, parchments, and half-opened books spread over the desk. But as a veteran head maid who had been serving Aksai for around 12 years, she was effortless in her tasks.
“Hm? I wasn’t really hungry, but,” Aksai said as he stopped looking at the scroll he was holding in his hands and spared a glance at the food tray. He then looked at Zinnia and smiled. He shifted his chair a bit and made some space before pulling Zinnia onto his lap.
“Maa– my lord, now’s not the time,” Zinnia’s cheeks flushed a bit, but she didn’t oppose Aksai’s advances. The latter chuckled before responding.
“Don’t misunderstand, Zinni dear. You have worked a lot today. You must be hungry too. Let me feed you with my own hands,” Aksai said in a caring yet playful tone as he picked up a spoon. Before long, a spoonful of food was brought in front of Zinnia’s mouth, preventing her from registering any kind of resistance.
Zinnia opened her mouth and took a mouthful. She chewed thoughtfully, finding the taste to be extra refreshing for some reason. ‘He is as charming as the day I first met him,’ she thought to herself and smiled as she looked at Aksai’s face, which was closer to hers.
“Zinni, what can you tell me about the tree devil calamity? Umm… tell me everything you know.”
Aksai’s expression turned serious as he took a bite of the freshly served food himself.
“Tree devil calamity,” Zinnia muttered under her breath, her face darkening a bit. She pondered for a moment before answering.
“My lord, as far as I know, the tree devil calamity strikes various parts of Sharang almost simultaneously. This calamity occurs every 100 years or so and lasts for about 10 years. The tree devils return to their origin after 10 years,” Zinnia said in a grim tone.
“10 years?” Aksai raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You mean to say that the crisis in Serenity Peak will persist for 10 more years? But that’s not what I read in the manuals.”
“No, you misunderstood my words,” Zinnia shook her head. She used another set of cutlery to feed Aksai with her own hands as she continued.
“The isolation barrier that covers the entire Serenity Peak is known as the Tree Devils’ Dome or simply the Devils’ Den. According to past instances across Sharang, the Devil’s Den remains active for around three years before vanishing completely.
However, similar barriers will continue to emerge across Sharang over the next ten years,” Zinnia explained as she wiped the corner of Aksai’s mouth with a table napkin after feeding him.
“I see,” Aksai mumbled to himself. “So the crisis in Serenity Peak will last for three years. What happens after three years?” Aksai asked curiously.
“Well, whenever a Devil’s Den opens up, it is said that more than half of the population trapped within dies after being killed by the tree devils,” Zinnia said, her face creased with stress.
“However, by the time the den disperses, only 10 percent of the actual population survives. The remaining lives lost are not just from the tree devils; many perish because they can’t access food during those three years.
In a matter of days to a week, the city’s food supply will run out. People will have to venture into danger zones to find the remaining food supplies, leading to conflicts.
Soon, the tree devils won’t be our only enemies. People will start fighting each other for food. That’s why, when a Devil’s Den opens, usually only the martial artists survive.”
Zinnia sighed, recounting the recurring nightmare of the tree devil calamity that she had read and heard about in the past. This nightmare had plagued Sharang’s history for centuries.
“I also wanted to discuss this matter, my lord,” Zinnia hesitated before continuing.
“You see, although we have sufficient food storage and dry rations in the palace warehouse, it will be impossible for us to rely on it for the upcoming three years if we continue to feed too many mouths. We… we would have to let some of them go,” Zinnia said, her expression troubled.
“Don’t worry about the food. I have my ways,” Aksai assured Zinnia with a smile before feeding her another mouthful.
‘Hm. So food will be scarce in the city soon. Isn’t this the best time for me to acquire the Martial Intents I’ve been seeking for so long?’
A plan began to form in Aksai’s mind, bringing a suppressed smile to his face.
He wouldn’t admit it to others, but he welcomed the appearance of the Devil’s Den in Serenity Peak.
This crisis, about to spread anarchy in the city, was seen as a blessing by Aksai.