Chapter 53: Could this person be my soul mate?

Chapter 53: Could this person be my soul mate? Several days later, on April 11. A light morning drizzle fell over the place, creating a white curtain. Golden rays filtered through the clouds like cotton flakes, sifted by the fine drizzle. The green grass of Kiran Mountain swayed in the wind, and some blades bent under the weight of raindrops falling from the sky onto the damp earth. The air was filled with the scent of wildflowers that had sprouted after winter and were releasing their pollen. The animals that inhabited the place moved in groups across the green meadow, brimming with life. In the distance, you could hear the murmur of the stream and the roar of waterfalls cascading down the mountain. The birdsong filled the air with vitality. From the sky, farmlands could be seen; among them, farmers worked tirelessly: some pulled donkeys, others harvested, and still others cut wheat stalks. Everyone looked up when they noticed the movement of a long caravan climbing up the mountainside, advancing slowly like a worm. "It’s the merchant caravan!" "It’s already spring. How could I have forgotten? Fortunately, I have some savings." The adults stopped what they were doing to gaze at the impressive sight, while the children, who were playing in the fields, stopped what they were doing to watch the caravan approach. The Northern Frontier, one of the five regions of this world, was extremely unique. It was dominated by mountains where humans and other races coexisted. At least two hundred and fifty thousand mountains rose in the Northern Frontier, most of them devoid of human civilization and inhabited only by beasts. Due to the hostile and cruel environment, humans were forced to build their settlements in the mountains to survive. As a result, trade was extremely difficult. Therefore, families from different kingdoms had to travel in caravans. The mountains were covered in deep, menacing forests with cliffs and dangerous rocks that could fall at any moment. In addition, this complex forest environment was home to a large number of ferocious beasts. The merchant caravan continued on its way. Little by little, it became more visible as it approached the city. The caravan was made up of earthworms the size of carts, moving slowly, their multiple legs sinking gently into the wet earth, like fingers searching for roots. On either side, the large Treasure Toads could be seen jumping small jumps, and winged snakes slithering along. In the center of the caravan, the colossal Snail Shell Elephants stood out, carrying entire houses on their backs. On their shields, the different emblems of the noble families belonging to the kingdom of Aragon could be seen. With the arrival of the merchant caravan, the city of the Medici territory came alive, as if it were the beginning of a festival. In one of the tea shops facing the cobbled street, Kael was sitting at one of the tables outside the shop, drinking purple chamomile tea and eating a green peach cake. From where he sat, he watched the caravan enter the city, while the children in the street ran behind them with smiles on their faces. Those in the caravan smiled back at the innocent children. All members were from the Magic Path and the Aura Path; there was not a single member from the Zu Path. This was because talent was very important to walk the Zu Path, and another reason people did not choose it was because there were not abundant resources to strengthen oneself quickly, unlike the other paths. Kael took a bite of green peach pie, his eyes as black as the abyss, staring at each person in the caravan. Squinting, he managed to identify several members he had heard of in his past life. It seems that history has not yet changed completely. With an imperceptible smile, he crossed his legs, watching the city bustle with life. Lydia, dressed in her immaculate maid’s uniform, sat across from Kael with a cup of iced tea in her hand and a piece of red velvet cake on a small plate. She spoke: "Young master, why don’t we return to the mansion? Your fiancée, Miss Evelyn, is coming in that carriage." Kael took a sip of tea calmly, letting the herbal flavor slide down his throat. "It’s not time to return to the mansion yet." In the days leading up to this, he had spoken with Lydia about becoming his sword coach so he could practice the aura cultivation technique known as "Crimson Plum Circulation." This was only to gain her trust, as she would be useful for his plans. That’s why Lydia was less tense and calmer than usual, since she was now "Kael’s trainer." Although he didn’t need that kind of training, he had too many years of experience and a solid foundation in his sword skills. In his past life, he had chosen the Way of the Aura due to his lack of talent, so he was an expert in this field. Kael took another bite of peach pie, got up from his seat, and, without looking at Lydia, said, "Let’s go explore the city. It looks lively." ... Outside the Medici mansion stood three colossal armored elephants, escorted by golden toads and winged serpents. Those three Snail Shell Elephants belonged to the three families Zephyr had mentioned before spring arrived: Draken, Blossom, and Lovish. They were waiting for the gates to open so they could enter the mansion. The guards at the entrance, after receiving confirmation, opened the luxurious, heavy iron door, allowing the visitors to enter. The three Snail Shell Elephants advanced slowly, followed by the golden toads, which hopped along, and the winged snakes, which slithered along. When they reached the front door, the elephants lowered themselves to allow the people inside to exit. From the first Snail Shell Elephant, which belonged to the Blossom family, Agnes and Evelyn, Kael’s fiancée, emerged. When their delicate feet touched the ground and the scent of flowers filled their nostrils, they looked at those who had come out to greet them. Among them was Alessia, smiling softly, staring at them, but she couldn’t see her son-in-law anywhere. Could he be in that room? Agnes wondered as she covered her face with a fan. Evelyn, not seeing her fiancé anywhere, frowned with annoyance and frustration. However, at that moment, something caught her attention: A young man with blood-red hair, intense ruby eyes, flawless features, and an aura of nobility surrounding him. She had never seen anyone with such a striking presence. A blush appeared on her cheeks as she stared intently at the young man standing at the door. Could this person be my soul mate? She imagined a life together with him and, turning to her mother, asked: "Mother, who is that noble young man?" Agnes, hearing her daughter’s question, looked in the direction she was pointing and recognized the young man immediately. "That boy is the fourth young master of the Medici Clan: Jasper Medici." "So that’s the famous young master of this clan?" Evelyn murmured excitedly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. This was very unusual for her because she despised men, but with Jasper, it was different: she didn’t feel uncomfortable looking at him at all. She grabbed the hem of her dress and hurried forward until she was standing in front of Jasper. Evelyn curtsied, as nobles do when introducing themselves: "It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Evelyn Blossom." Jasper looked at the beautiful lady in front of him. He raised an eyebrow in surprise; he had heard this young woman’s name before, and in a flash, he remembered who she was. With an elegant movement, he knelt on one knee, took Evelyn’s hand, and kissed it tenderly. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, beautiful lady. I am Jasper Medici. I hear you are the fiancée of my dear younger brother." Evelyn’s expression darkened immediately upon hearing Kael’s name, and she quickly said, "That’s right. I am Kael’s fiancée." Her tone was anything but satisfied; you could even hear the disgust in her voice. But when she remembered how firmly he had taken her in the garden when they first met, her annoyance subsided a little. However, she quickly shook her head, pushing those memories away, and focused on Jasper again. Seeing this, a smile appeared on Jasper’s lips as he noticed his brother’s fiancée’s reaction. Hehehe... Dear brother, I can’t believe the gods gave me such a great opportunity to destroy you. He got up from the ground with a warm smile and offered his arm to Evelyn. "Would you like to come inside? You’ve had a long journey, and you must be very tired." She, of course, accepted Jasper’s offer with a big smile on her lips, staring at his handsome face. And so, they entered the mansion together under the gaze of everyone present. Agnes, who saw all this, didn’t know how to react to her daughter’s sudden actions. But she couldn’t help sighing, disappointed. She had just left a great match like Kael for a young man who reeked of rottenness in every gesture. Alessia was also shocked, but she said nothing and prepared to welcome the other guests. The Snail Shell Elephants crouched down, and the other nobles from the two families got out of the carriages and entered the mansion.