[The Young Lord has lived a long life, a life unlike and longer than any fallen soul I've met before]
"Young Lord, my purpose is to guide and counsel my gods chosen. You may or may not be something that it intended to happen, but all the same I am here to help you"
"Ha, really? If I was you, I would have killed me by now" [You were created for a single purpose, I am not in line with it, yet you let me live and offer help, I would dispose of such incompetent servants]
"I can feel your guard rising, but I know you are just fishing with your words. I can swear to you I hold no hostility towards you, Young Lord. You may have not been guided to Earth or to me, however I believe you are what my god has been waiting for. Your prior meeting with the false gods and failed ascension means you have to potential to rise, and reason greater then forced servitude to my god"
[The enemy of my enemy? I have never liked this soft way of thinking before, however in this situation, Master Haos words make sense. He is confident I won't bear fangs towards the dao]
"I understand your sentiment, then allow to ask a question regarding this lightning in the background"
"Conservative estimate, this is probably caused by Luke Palaeo. The Chief of the Palaeo tribe, a vassal of the family in charge of the lands far north beyond the mountains"
"Luke Palaeo... when I possessed this body, some of Edward Alberts memories were retained but there is nothing about this barbarian, tell me of him and his tribe"
"The Palaeo tribe were like you said barbarians, a harsh people that braved the tundra since before the founder of this family came north. However, they no longer are barbarians, influenced by modern society they grew socially. While they are isolated, the Palaeo tribe is a strong faction of The North. There were once many of these tribes however the Palaeian people conquered and absorbed most of them long ago, when your ancestor took in the head of the tribe as a vassal at that time. Ever since then the only time we have real contact is when a new Chief or Duke rises to power, the tribe will come to bend the knee to a new ruler, and a new Chief will come to bend the knee affirming his status"
"We dont have much contact yet these people are vassals, why does the family not enlist their strength during conflict?"
"The Palaeo tribe during wartime is given instruction to patrol the entirety of the mountains, a weak point in our defenses"
[The patriarch is somewhat proficient in crude arrays, stationing a force large enough to defend a border when arrays could accomplish the job is counterintuitive]
"This family operates inefficiently in almost every aspect, it is brutish and lacks any sense of sophistication. For me to lead these lands, I will need the support you offered, greatly. I know you have told the patriarch of my circumstances, and I will need you to convince him to allow my policy, reformation, budget, and above all my autonomy"
"Yes, I have told your father, I felt that it was only right that he knew of his sons passing. However, I can only convince him on matters I agree with"
"What I find normal you might find harsh. To better the military complexity and might of the territory, to cause real and meaningful change for the betterment of everything I have planned in the future, you will just have to agree with what I do or this will not work"
"What might I find harsh?"
"I plan to recruit non cultivating mortals into public defense for starters"
"YOUNG LORD" standing from his seat Masters Haos rage at the words believing Edward a tyrant that would use mortals as shields in the field of battle, and rage towards himself. Thinking himself to be a fool for believing Edward was an independent thinker and not demonic, the Grand Elders words echo loudly throughout the pavilion
"Calm down Master Hao. I am not looking for shields but change. The current public defense is made of low level cultivators, sure they don't have much potential, but they will never meet whatever potential they have spending all their time peacekeeping"
"Go on"
"Recruiting fit grown men into the public defense, forming evenly matched squads with a competent cultivator as the captain of each squad is more than enough to keep our cities populations safe from themselves. This also allows the cultivators currently in public defense to join militias throughout the lands, join our army, or anywhere else they are needed. Having cultivators control mortals is a waste when they are meant to combat other cultivators. This single change will make our territory stronger as a whole"
"What you say is true, but it opens our holdings to corruption and while there isnt much crime it is not nonexistent. Without cultivators wholly guarding the civilians these groups will run rampant, since we evened the field"
"Of course, criminals will grow emboldened thinking how you are now, but I can name many methods to ensure it will not happen. For example, every city will have arrays installed even mortals can use with a chant and spirit stones. Also, the presence of each captain will be a major deterrent since I plan to have the minimum requirement for the position be peak Chi Compression"
Stroking his bread in thought regarding the idea of military reform, Master Hao doesnt respond to the question for multiple minutes. Sitting in cold breeze taking in the loud booms of lightning and bright beams of the heavens, interrupted by the sliding of the terrace door
"Master" stepping onto the terrace and bowing
Edward and Master Hao both still looking at the show in the north "What is it lad?"
Looking up at the chess table the servant lays his eyes on Edward who was not looking back, but the sight of him causes the servants head to fall again "The Young Lords warriors have arrived, I have told them you two are in meeting, but there is a rowdy one demanding to see the Young Lord"
"Is that all?" Edward replies in neutral tone, tone unthreatening which eases the servant
"YES! Young Lord"
"Alright Julius, go back for now the Young Lord will be back shortly" Master Hao waving him away
Before the door even shuts behind the servant on his way out, Edward opens "Master Hao, think about what we have discussed I will take my leave for today." rising from his chair and slightly bowing with his hands drawn together, Edwards stride is interrupted
"Young Lord"
Looking back over his shoulder "Yes?"
"Are you not going to tell me what that array in the forest is about?"
Smirking "You will hear about it from the patriarch"
Descending the stairway in the back of the pavilion planning to bypass his subordinates and rest inside of his chambers, Edwards intent shifts as he hears arguments echoing up the staircase from the ground floor
"I dont care who my master is meeting, I must see him at ONCE!"
"Miss Whitton, the Young Lord is meeting with the Grand Elder as we have explained. He has also been informed of you wanting his audience, yet he remained with the elder. Please mind your tone inside of the pavilion and wait patiently!" Calming attempts by the head maid of Beast Pavilion, Raine a woman just shy of her 70th year, someone who has been a lifetime maid of the Albert family is sweet as she is caring. Having worked directly for the previous patriarch before Master Hao she had learned sternness to match her sweet
"Ms. Raine, this matter isnt something I can let out openly, so your men have not explained the extent of its urgency! We need to see the Young Lord now!" Wei Li not backing down
"Wei Li, let's take a step back you are causing a scene" Jamir interjects
Edward with open hears has heard the exchanges between warriors and servants and as he steps down closer to the first floor, he eases his pace, his footsteps which were soft and silent became firm and echoed signaling his soon arrival
His footsteps cause tension and quiet throughout the choke in the hallway at the landing of the staircase, his three warriors and the four servants surrounding Ms. Raine all turn in anticipation, only Ms. Raine herself remains forward staring at the loud Wei Li
"Ms. Raine, I will take it from here, go and about your business now" Edwards order let out before even reaching view of the group
The four maids and one hand boy bow to thin air as Edward remains unseen but his tone letting them know to be gone before he is visible
"Good day, Young Lord" Ms. Raine speaking for all of the servants before stepping past the warriors and down the hallway
Now visible from the bottom of the staircase Edward stops and looks down upon his warriors with unapproving eyes
His dissatisfaction clearly visible and known cause the three to stiffen as they kneel "Master!" Liam and Jamir respectfully let out in sequence
Wei Li however kneels while looking up at Edward "Master, something is wrong with the Sacred Forest!"