1397 Void Palace [2]
The Southern Region was structured differently than the Veritas Clan's Eastern Region.
Void Palace was located in the southernmost principality, and it made the entire principality its home.
The main palace was located on the southern edge of the region, bordering the Boundless Sea that separated it from all else. And unlike the Eastern Region, where everything was relatively separate, the four minor clans under Void Palace also lived in this same principality.
They all stayed close and closed off their borders. This was where they'd made their last retreat as they were encircled by forces from all sides.
It was a beautiful region.
The architectural style was mainly Western, with large castles and estates that were beautiful in their own right.
Where Damien appeared was inside the main palace. Here, surrounded by pitch-black rock engraved with gold, he found himself traveling through halls upon halls filled with servants and personnel who took orders from the main clan.
It was a grandiose sight, as if he was really in the abode of a great emperor. Compared to what he expected to see, a decrepit and failing palace, this was a complete 180.
He hadn't seen much of the Southern Region, but if it was all like this, then half the planning he did would be for naught.
'It's too early to overestimate, though. One thing I've heard more than anything about Void Palace is the loyalty of its people, so this situation makes sense.'
Just because the people were loyal didn't mean they were powerful. The situation could very well be even worse than he imagined despite the state of affairs that he was witnessing.
Nevertheless, he kept his thoughts to himself as Yiren brought him through the halls and introduced him to the surroundings.
Her friends had already left. According to her, they weren't even friends in the first place. Rather, they were members of the four Grand Duke Clans that served under the Void Clan, and their group had just returned from an expedition.
'To summarize it, Void Palace was created by Dante along with the party members he traveled with during his younger days. Unlike the other great clans, this one is a real family.'
Void Palace had a simple structure. 1 Lord, 4 Grand Dukes, 12 Swords, 64 Elders, and several named clans under them with various positions that didn't necessarily need to be mentioned.
The Void Clan took the main position. Underneath them were the Ellowyn Clan, the Krone Clan, the Hugo Clan, and the Solstice Clan. This was the main force of the palace.
As for the 12 Swords, they were in a prestigious position separated from the other groups. Being a part of the 12 Swords was an honor amongst honors. It was a position that could only be won through strength and achievement.
This was the crux of Yiren's explanation, but since she was speaking to Damien Void, who, by technicality, was Dante Void's firstborn, she went into more detail than usual.
"The main duty of the Grand Dukes…"
"The 12 Swords are…"
"When it comes to Elders…"
"But more so the common people…"
Her rundown was quite detailed, and Damien paid close attention to everything she said. He couldn't let these details slip his mind, because they were the most important facts for him to determine the future path of this place.
As they walked and talked, the number of people around them noticeably thinned until they were the only ones in a hall that was much smaller than the rest.
It could allow around six grown men to walk side by side, and at its end was a pair of large double doors reminiscent of the entrance to a throne room.
But this was no throne room.
When they reached the door, Yiren turned around and faced Damien with a troubled expression.
"What's up?" He asked curiously.
"Just…"
She hesitated for a second before sighing.
"Don't lash out. Remember, father is a man too."
Damien raised his brow, but shrugged without being able to decipher the meaning behind those words.
And the doors opened.
There were seven people standing in the relatively small hall, but Damien didn't pay attention to most of them.
No, his eyes went straight to one woman who was standing among them with tears in her eyes.
He hadn't seen her in decades.
Last time he went to visit her, he found that she had disappeared and couldn't be found anywhere.
He worried about her, but with Lynn's assurance, he put down those worries and focused on what was necessary.
But seeing her again, all those worries came rushing back.
Was she okay?
He knew she was a God, but was she living well?
He couldn't help but worry for the woman who tirelessly tried to raise him into a proper man without the funds to do so. He couldn't help but wonder if she was finally happy now that her responsibilities were lessened.
He wanted to see her again and show her the man he'd become.
He wanted to make her proud.
And now he had that opportunity.
"Mother…"
He could barely hold back his tears. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't cry here,
Instead, he rushed forward. He was in front of her before anyone could say a word.
"Damien…" she said, her voice breaking.
"My son!"
He couldn't hold back upon hearing her voice.
Tears fell from his eyes, and without hesitation, he hugged her with everything he had.
"I'm here, mom."
He didn't know what to say, so he said the only words he could.
"I'm finally here."
There was a lot he wanted to say to her, there was a lot he needed to tell her and ask, but none of that came to mind now.
Only the feeling of longing he had for the only blood family he knew in this world, his mother, who he'd been missing for so long, appeared in his heart and soul.
Claire wasn't much different.
A mother couldn't help but worry about her son.
No matter how well he was doing in life, no matter how healthy or happy he was, a mother couldn't help but worry.
But seeing him in front of her now, seeing his demeanor that had matured far more than she'd ever expected, she finally felt relief in her heart.
He was safe.
He was okay.
Her son grew up into a fine man.
And she was incredibly happy, to the point where words couldn't describe it.
The two hugged each other for many minutes. They cried and let out all the worries they'd had for all these years before finally separating.
It was a heartfelt reunion between mother and son, but, unfortunately, they couldn't catch up on everything right now.
There were others in the room.
Claire put her hand up to his face, looking into his eyes with a vague expression.
She didn't want to say anything, but she could see it. Maybe nobody else could, but she could see it.
Damien was a wanderer.
He never really had a place to call home.
He joined several influences throughout the years for his own benefit, and he'd made many connections in those places, but he'd never had a place to proudly call home.
He was a man of the wind, a man whose steps were both lighter than air and heavier than the universe.
He may not have expressed it to anyone, but she was his mother. There was no way she wouldn't feel it.
There was a hole in his heart that had never been filled.
But no more.
She wouldn't allow him to drift aimlessly any longer.
Because now that she was back to her original self, she finally had the capabilities to properly be his mother.
"Welcome," she said with a smile, stepping back as Damien looked over the group who was in the room with them.
No, that wasn't the right way to call them.
Claire stepped back, becoming a part of the crowd.
Because she was one of them.
They were one.
They were family.
And this…
"Welcome home, my son."
…was the home Damien had been wishing for his entire life.
