Chapter 1596 - Brother...?
Clara panned her gaze around the desert seething with hot air, but it didn't necessarily make her uncomfortable as she was already a Law Dominion Stage Cultivator with two Perfect Domains.
A light yet deep smile stayed on her face while the excitement was visible in her eyes. She finally appeared in this place. Now that she was here, she took out a map, looking at it for the second time.
'Mhm, brother left me this map along with this spatial gate's token and drew me these paths to take if I encounter danger. Although I failed to make it on time, I guess I can see the wider part of the world with banquets still taking place to commemorate the grand wedding in the Alstreim Family.'
Nodding with certainty, Clara shot northeast towards the Territory Gate, leading towards the Alstreim Family Territory.
"Should I contact brother and the others? No, I must prove that I can at least make this trip by myself. Then, they won't be worried as much."
Clara talked out loud as if convincing someone, and it was rather obvious that it was herself.
She took in the scenery below of the towns and the cities. However, she could also see that the people below were on their toes as if they were worried about something. She didn't bother much as she felt that she was no righteous person but just wanted to be together with her family.
She looked around and saw that no one was following her. Indeed, as her brother mentioned in the note he left her, he removed the detecting formations after taking over the Alstreim Family's and Falling Snow Sect's affairs.
'I guess there's no need to worry when my safe path is already paved...'
Clara puffed her cheeks, appearing to be taking in some affection from her brother even though her expression stayed the same.
However, her entrance wasn't detected because the Tripartite Alliance itself was disbanded, nowhere to be seen. This Territory essentially became a Desolate Territory again.
Soon, she made it to the Territory Gate.
'Uhm? There seems to be no experts nor powerhouses here. I wonder wh- wait. Are they there? Why are they standing so far away? Surely, if one needs to protect a gate, they need to stand in front of it or above, right? Could I be wrong?'
Clara innocently thought that her thoughts didn't match with those people before she no longer bothered. She entered the Territory Gate and experienced the mysticism of it, feeling exhilarated. It was a new experience, and the likelihood of encountering more new things made her deeply excited.
In her eyes, this was a brand new world to explore!
At this time, Nadia noticed Clara's entrance with her senses. Her heart skipped a beat as she hurriedly informed Isabella through Mira. She then neared Clara but didn't reveal herself, protecting her all the way.
Soon, Clara reached the Alstreim Family while not noticing anything out of place due to her excitement and inexperience. She naturally assumed this was how the world was, quite silent even though it felt uncomfortable. However, once she got to the Grand Alstreim City, it finally dawned on her.
Other places could be silent, but why was a place full of celebrations be silent?
It didn't make sense!
She took out the map a third time and confirmed that she was in the right place.
At this moment, a figure appeared in front of her, causing her eyes to shoot up.
"Sister-in-law! You're here!"
Clara lightly smiled before her expression turned into one of confusion as her brows frowned.
"What's happening here? You all boasted that marriage was going to be grander than yours, but it doesn't seem like that? Could it be that the marriage was delayed? What happened?"
Isabella could only smile, but Clara took that as a yes and nodded, "Fortunately, I decided to stay and breakthrough as soon as possible. This way, I didn't waste my time. Now I can go on adventures with my brother. Now, where is my brother?"
Isabella's heart shook.
Does she have no other choice but to reveal to Clara what happened to him?
She was not even in the right state of mind at the moment, not after Evelynn did something stupid like that. However, she couldn't let the others face the burden either.
"Clara, why don't you take some rest in your grandfather's place, tour around the city for a while after that?"
Clara's smile slowly faded. Her relaxed muscles started to become taut before a frown appeared on her brows.
"Where's the Purple Guest Palace?"
Receiving no reply, Clara could see a profound sorrow hidden in Isabella's eyes. Clara instantly shot towards the direction she saw on the map.
"Clara, wait!"
Isabella reached out her hand, wanting to stop her, but her hand trembled as she stayed her hand. There really wasn't anything she couldn't do about it. She could've lied that Davis was in seclusion, but she didn't want to. At this point, when the entire city knew that Davis supposedly died, there truly was no use in hiding.
Clara shot towards the Purple Guest Palace as her heart sank. The way Isabella reacted did not give her any comfort but made her feel shaken for some reason she couldn't tell. As soon as she saw the big purple palace, she unceremoniously entered the top floor and went to the place where she sensed the undulations of others.
Eldia obstructed her path, but she didn't do anything to her and let her pass as she knew that Clara is her master's little sister.
Once Clara pushed open the door, that little bit of trepidation in her eyes turned into one of hysteria. Her mind trembled from the scene she was witnessing right now.
Why was her brother on a bed, unmoving?
Why were the people around him seem sad while guiltily looking at her?
More than everything, why couldn't she sense a single energy fluctuation from her brother?
Clara's body began to inevitably shudder while her gaze became blurry from the tears emerging from her eyes.
Isabella arrived beside her and bit her lips, "I'm sorry, Clara. This is my fault. I was unable to protect him. But don't worry. Your brother is still alive. I assure you that I will do anything in my power to wake him up...!"
"Alive...?"
Clara turned to look at Isabella as her fists immensely trembled. Her eyes shone with a purple light, intensely wanting to know if what Isabella was saying was the truth when she found that it indeed is the truth!
She gasped, finally taking in some breath that she stopped to take while her eyes were already teary. However, she refused to shed tears and moved her lips.
"What's wrong? What happened to brother!?"
She held Isabella's hands and asked, imploring her to be truthful with her purple eyes.
"He..."
Isabella hesitated before she gave a short summary of how he faced peak powerhouses, that he had no choice but to sacrifice himself to protect their lives.
"I see... but where are father and mother? Where are my little brother and little sister?"
Clara panicked as her lips quivered. Did something happen to them as well?
Isabella shook her head, "They're all safe. However, they have all gone except for Diana, who's still crying in her room."
"Gone where?" Clara's expression trembled as she suddenly gazed around, "Whe- Where's Evelynn?"
"They... They all went to train as if being possessed..."
Isabella bit her lips as two drops of tears finally fell as she recalled Evelynn leaving.
Evelynn's back was desolate, her eyes intent on vengeance because she could not go near Davis, not in her current state where poison was oozing out of her body in a constant matter that even she had to evict Evelynn from this palace, otherwise risk Davis's true death.
She couldn't make Evelynn stop nor stay, making her deeply tremble as she lowered her head.
"I... I couldn't stop them."
Clara trembled, but she abruptly embraced Isabella, causing the latter's eyes to widen.
"There, there... As long as they're all alive. Everything's good. Just leave it to me."
At this moment, Isabella genuinely felt warmth as she quivered in Clara's embrace. Having a shoulder to rely on made her feel greatly relieved, but she knew that she had not fallen low enough to burden the little sister. It was just another moment of weakness that she was constantly faced with the current upheavals.
"Thank you."