CHAPTER 206 — SIBLINGS
The inn gradually returned to life after the noble carriage arrived.
Servants moved carefully.the Guests weren't exempt from such caution as they too spoke more quietly.
Even the innkeeper found himself standing straighter than usual.
The highest floor had already been emptied long before their arrival.
Now only three people occupied it.
The old coachman stood outside the corridor...Motionless.
Like an old statue forgotten by time.
Inside one of the rooms,Varian exhaled slowly.
The golden coat had already been discarded onto a nearby chair as His sword rested against the wall.
The room itself was luxurious by ordinary standards.
But To him, it was average.A temporary stop,Nothing more.
He stepped toward the open window and gazed down.
Below, thousands of lanterns illuminated the estate.
People still moved through the streets despite the late hour.
The entire region felt alive.
"The staring is becoming creepy."
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
Varian didn't turn around."I am simply observing."
"You've been observing for twenty minutes, don't tell me the great Varian is cautious of his enemies now."
A pause.
"They aren't enemies to me.... simply obstacles I intend to overcome
With such words,The room fell silent.
Then laughter erupted from behind him.
Clear and Mocking.
Hearing this..Varian finally turned.
Vanessa sat cross-legged atop one of the tables.
Yes, On it.
As though chairs existed purely for other people.
A half-eaten fruit rested in one hand.
Golden hair spilled across her shoulders.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"You know," she said, pointing the fruit toward him, "Father was right."
Varian immediately frowned.such phrases never ended well.
"What did he say?"he inquiried with a half frown
Seeing this,Vanessa smiled.
"He said eventually you'd grow into your arrogance."
Varian's expression darkened.
"He also said I was one of the most talented cultivators our generation has produced."
Vanessa took another bite."yes...but He also said the arrogance was strangely on par"
Upon such statement,The fruit that rested on the table beside Varian nearly became a projectile.
Nearly.
Varian maintained enough self-control not to throw it at her.
Barely.
Vanessa seemed disappointed by that.
"You're impossible."Varian said with a sigh
Shrugging,she spread her arms as she smiled "I learned from our brothers."..the words coming off naturally from her as if it were no suprise as to who her brothers were
"That explains far too much."Varian said with a sigh...of all his siblings, he feared Vanessa the most
Not because she was the strongest..no,he knew at least six of his 9 siblings that could erase entire bloodlines if they do chose...so it wasn't her strength that made him apprehensive
It was the nature of her domain...yes, domain as the little monster seated behind him was already at domain expansion,and she was barely three hundred years old.
Returning to reality,The mere mention of their brothers changed the atmosphere slightly.
Only slightly.
The siblings rarely discussed the others.
Mostly because none of them were normal.
Their eldest brother was terrifying.
Their second brother was worse.
Their sisters weren't much better.
Compared to them,most geniuses looked ordinary.
Varian moved back toward the window.
"The others coming?"
Vanessa shrugged."Probably, i stopped asking years ago."
Which was true.
Trying to predict their siblings was usually pointless.
Eventually Varian sighed..."They'll come if they're interested."
"And if they aren't?,Vanessa asked with a raised brow
"They won't."varian simply stared,he had learned enough from merely being the last of the Sylvanian siblings
Vanessa nodded..that sounded exactly like them.
The conversation drifted into comfortable silence.
Below, the estate continued buzzing.
Above, the stars remained hidden behind drifting clouds.
Eventually Vanessa spoke again..this time more seriously.
"You should be careful."
Varian's eyes remained on the city..."About?"
"Soulis."..The answer came immediately.
Something that made him smiled faintly.
"That's the entire reason we're here."..sister
"I know."..Vanessa tossed the fruit core through the open window.
It disappeared into the darkness below.
Then she continued.
"You're stronger now."
Varian said nothing.
"You know you're stronger,but You've spent the last nine months pretending not to notice."
That finally earned a glance.
Vanessa met it calmly.
"There are very few Manifest cultivators that can challenge you now."
Varian looked away again.
"Manifest cultivators."
"Yes."The emphasis was deliberate.
And both of them understood why.
Manifest wasn't the ceiling.
It was barely the beginning.
Vanessa's expression softened slightly.
"Confidence is fine."
A pause.
"Underestimating people isn't."
Varian nodded.
Because unlike many geniuses..he agreed.
The strongest people he had ever met rarely looked strong.
The most dangerous opponents were often the quiet ones.
The forgotten ones,the unseen ones.
The ones nobody bothered to notice until it was too late.
Vanessa watched him carefully.
Then smiled... he is."
"What?"
"My actual brother."
Varian sighed."You say that every time."
"Because every few months I worry the cultivation has finally made you stupid."
"It hasn't."
"Good."..Vanessa said as she leaned back against the table.
Then casually added:
"Besides."
Varian immediately disliked that tone."Besides what?"
Her smile widened.
"The Phoenix is attending."
Silence.
Varian's expression remained unchanged.
Vanessa watched him, calmly..then continued
"And if my suspicions are correct,from the moment we stepped into this building...then that little phoenix isn't the only thing you should worry about "