Shadow Over the Heavenly Throne

"Mom, I have a request." Her voice was serious, though tinged with hesitation.

Veynessa raised a single brow, silently prompting her to continue.

"I want you to find a teacher for Shion." Sylphia clenched the fabric of her dress tightly. "Yesterday, she pushed herself too hard while cultivating and was so exhausted she couldn’t even stand. I know I don’t have enough knowledge to help her properly, and if she’s going to grow, she needs to learn from someone who truly understands cultivation."

She had expected many possible responses—maybe her mom would agree, maybe she’d ask what kind of teacher she had in mind. But she hadn’t expected the cold, merciless tone that followed.

"Absolutely not."

Sylphia blinked, momentarily convinced she had misheard.

"What? Why?!"

"If Shion wants a teacher, she should come to me and ask for one herself." Veynessa’s voice was firm, unwavering. There was no room for negotiation.

Sylphia was stunned. This… didn’t make sense! Her mom had always said that cultivation was a path of growth, that strength was the key. So why was she refusing to help now?

"But Shion… she’s just starting. She might not even know she can—"

"Cultivation isn’t just about talent." Veynessa’s piercing gaze held her in place. "It’s also about mentality. If Shion truly wishes to walk this path, then she must learn to make decisions for herself. The first one is whether she truly desires it. If she can’t even ask for a teacher on her own, then she’s not ready."

Sylphia didn’t know how to respond. Was this… fair? It felt like it was, but at the same time, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Shion needed someone to push her forward. But was it her place to do that?

After a brief silence, Veynessa sighed and regarded her daughter with a softer expression.

"Besides, I won’t be around for the next few days. I don’t have time to handle this right now."

Sylphia immediately perked up with curiosity.

"You’re leaving again?" she asked.

"I have some matters to attend to." The queen didn’t elaborate, but Sylphia could tell right away that this wasn’t just a diplomatic meeting.

She was about to press further when she suddenly felt a gentle hand on her head. A soft yet confident stroke sent a small shiver down her spine.

"Don’t worry, little princess." Calista’s voice was smooth, almost melodic, but warm. "It’s just a short trip. We’ll visit a certain place and be back before you even have time to miss us."

Sylphia scowled, shooting her a glare from beneath her lashes. She hated being treated like a child.

"I’m not little." She muttered.

"Of course, of course." Calista’s playful smile remained as she ruffled Sylphia’s hair again . "But if it makes you feel better… if anything happens to her, I’ll personally make sure she returns in one piece."

Veynessa leaned back in her chair, casting a sharp glance at her friend with a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"Do you really think I need protection?"

Calista chuckled softly, clasping her hands behind her back.

"No, but I do enjoy annoying you."

The queen rolled her eyes, though the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Then do your job well." She turned her gaze to Selene, who had been waiting silently all this time. "Prepare my things. We leave at noon."

Sylphia bit her lip, knowing the conversation was over. There was nothing she could do to convince her mother to find a teacher for Shion before her departure.

If Shion truly wished to cultivate, she would have to find the courage to take that step on her own. That was the lesson Sylphia had taken from this conversation.

"I’ll go tell her," she finally said

"Good girl." Calista winked at her.

Sylphia scoffed but didn’t respond, walking away with clenched fists. She had a lot to think about.

Calista watched her go before turning back to Veynessa, raising a skeptical brow.

"She’s really only three years old? Neither her looks nor the way she carries herself suggest that."

The queen took a small sip of her tea, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"Believe me, I wonder about it myself every day. But yes, she is three years old."

Calista shook her head, still in disbelief.

"Well, in any case, I should get ready." She sighed, stretching lightly.

Veynessa set her cup down and rose gracefully.

"I should pay that old man a visit as well." She stretched slightly, as if shaking off the weight of their long conversation. Her tone was calm, but there was a flicker in her eyes—an unspoken anticipation. "Let’s just hope he doesn’t start by complaining that I haven’t visited in a while."

Calista smirked, crossing her arms.

"Oh, he definitely will. Old cultivators love acting like abandoned relics. But at least it’ll be some entertainment for you."

Veynessa rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

Veynessa walked through the palace corridors, making her way to Pharos’ residence. Though unassuming in appearance, the building exuded an ancient aura. Stone pillars bore inscriptions that pulsed faintly with Qi, and the air was thick with the subtle scent of incense. A mystical silence permeated this part of the palace.

As she entered, her gaze immediately fell upon the old man lounging in a hammock. He looked as though he had been asleep for ages—his thin frame, wrinkled skin, and long silver beard making him seem more like a relic of the past than a legendary cultivator.

"So you finally remembered me, little Veyna." His raspy voice cut through the air before Veynessa could even speak. "If you’ve come begging for wisdom, you’re too late. I’ve officially stopped sharing it."

The queen rolled her eyes, stepping closer.

"You’ll never stop calling me that, will you?" she sighed, though her tone carried more exasperated amusement than true irritation.

"I’m not here for your teachings, Pharos. I want you to accompany me to the Mist Labyrinth."

The old man finally cracked open one eye. His brow arched slightly, and his gaze turned more inquisitive. Despite his frail appearance, a flicker of curiosity shone in his eyes.

"Why would I leave my sanctuary? The Mist Labyrinth has been around longer than I have—and it will likely outlast all of you."

"Perhaps," Veynessa admitted, crossing her arms. "But something is changing within it. The creatures inside are evolving unnaturally, and the guardian who once protected the labyrinth has disappeared. We cannot ignore this."

Pharos was silent for a moment, as if weighing her words. Then, his gaze darkened slightly, and the usual air of indifference wavered.

"Disappeared, you say?" he muttered before letting out a short, amused snort. "Impossible. That giant lizard is far too big to simply vanish. I’ve seen it with my own eyes."

Veynessa raised a brow.

"You’ve met the Labyrinth Guardian?"

"Met?" Pharos let out a raspy laugh. "I fought it. And I could have defeated it. Its massive bulk was like a shield waiting to be broken. If Thalrik hadn’t forbidden me from killing it, the Mist Labyrinth would look very different today."

The queen frowned slightly as Pharos stroked his beard, lost in thought.

"I was told that if the guardian were to die, all the creatures within the labyrinth would go berserk. They’d turn on each other and attack everything in sight. The king of that time decided it was easier to keep one great beast in check rather than deal with the chaos that would spill out into the world."

Pharos shook his head.

"Ah, to hell with it all." He muttered, more to himself than to her. "I knew I should have killed it when I had the chance. If I ever meet that old fool who called himself king and ordered me to spare it, I’ll laugh right in his face."

With a theatrical groan, Pharos pushed himself up from the hammock, as if every movement was a challenge—though the glint in his eyes told an entirely different story.

"Alright, little Veyna. I’ll do this for you. But if this journey turns out to be boring, I’ll be complaining the entire way."

Veynessa smirked slightly, seeing the spark of old times return to his eyes. But then she sighed and shook her head in amusement.

"You complain more than Calista does about my husband. Maybe this trip will at least stop you from fusing with that hammock."

Pharos let out a barking laugh, leaning heavily on his staff.

"Ha! If that was your attempt at an insult, you’ll have to try harder, little Veyna. But fine, let’s go. Maybe I’ll finally find something new to grumble about."

"We leave in an hour. Meet me in the courtyard outside my chambers," she said firmly.

Pharos let out an exaggerated sigh of resignation, as if she had just asked him to carry the entire palace on his back.

"Little Veyna, I see you still enjoy giving orders." He lazily scratched his beard. "And here I was, hoping for a short nap..."

Veynessa rolled her eyes.

"I'm afraid you'll have to postpone your nap, old man."