To celebrate the rapidly approaching CH300 of my original story, here's a small mass release for you all. There's less than a hundred chapters remaining until we're caught up! Happy Trails and Happy Reading!
You can read up to CH345 on my Patre0n, /Aht666!
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Some time after Sara's Blessing arrived, the scenery had changed. Sara left Leica District before we could even say another word to her. She just up and vanished in a blink of an eye. Seeing this happen, Lavian apologized, and quickly went after her. Zin's group followed suit, and promised to meet us back in front of Valflame Palace. As for us, Claire brought Princess Alfin's private orbal car back around, and we all got in. Some time had passed since then, and we all could be seen in the passenger's open space.
It was practically a limo! It sped off away from Leica District, and we bid farewell to the Vander Dojo for now. I will come back here to wrap up what I have to do to officially train here until February-March. Presently, several of us could be seen seated inside. We couldn't fit all of Zin's group, so they went on their way, as I have stated. Princess Alfin, Prince Cedric, and Aurelia could be seen seated on the opposite side. Sherryl could be seen to my left, who was now resting against an armrest so she could recover her strength. I'm sure she is tired. And to my right is Roselia.
With that short passage of time, it was enough to make Prince Cedric shocked. A look of disbelief was currently in his eyes as his regal clothes shuffled around.
"You must be joking. There's no way in Gehenna that we are related to you!", Prince Cedric shouted.
"I was surprised to learn about it myself, Cedric. I learned of this last night when I went behind those doors with Naoto to talk with the Chancellor. It's one of our family's secrets, apparently.", Princess Alfin responded, also reminiscing about what happened yesterday. "This has something to do with those eyes of yours."
"Pretty much.", I said with a nod.
[Ding! You have activated Vermillion Eyes!]
Wooosh!
Just like that, my eyes began to change once again. A vermillion hue wrapped around my golden-colored eyes, making it appear as domineering as it looked when I sparred against Sherryl just moments ago. At the same time, the pressure spread out, causing the atmosphere around us to turn cold. Even Claire raised her eyes by the sudden change, but remained quiet. She focused on the road ahead of her. As I turned them on again, Roselia scoffed as she had her eyes fixed on Prince Cedric.
"Watch your tongue, boy.", Roselia said. Hearing that, Prince Cedric felt his blood run cold.
"You do realize I am a member of the Imperial Family, right...?", Prince Cedric asked. "And just who are you, anyway!? You had the gall to sit next to the head of the Vander School, and you've been berating our Imperial Family ever since you showed up yesterday. You even talk of our ancestors like it's nothing."
Well, Prince Cedric was right to doubt Roselia's existence. She has been interwoven throughout most of Erebonia's long-running millennium's worth of history. It is one of the oldest countries on the continent, and it has quite a tale to tell.
"I've been around for far more than you might realize, brat. Even Dreichels is a brat in my eyes, let alone you. Do you want to put your ancestors to shame like this?", Roselia scoffed again.
"You...", Prince Cedric tried to say as anger flared in his eyes.
"Now, now, Rose. Don't be like this. His Imperial Highness is just ignorant of the old history. That's all.", I said, trying to calm Roselia down.
"Umu. It is not wrong to say ignorance is bliss.", Roselia said.
"It is only right for Cedric to not know. He wasn't with us last night. That vermillion knight looked very lonely. From what I understand, it is only our Imperial Family who can free him?", Princess Alfin asked.
"Yeah. The Vermillion Knight is currently bound by a curse that has been plaguing this land. I plan to undo his chains, and only the blood of the Imperial Family is needed to do that. Your Imperial Highness, the Vermillion Knight has already established a connection with me.", I explained. "That alone is enough proof."
"So this so-called Vermillion Knight reached out to you, and that alone is enough to confirm that we are related?", Prince Cedric responded. "Preposterous.", Prince Cedric exclaimed again, only to look at the driver now. "And you were with His Excellency. Aren't you one of his subordinates? Did you know about this?"
"I am afraid that information is classified.", Claire answered. "However, if Miss Roselia here decides to tell the story, I will fall on deaf ears. What she knows and what she knows are two different things."
Hearing that, Prince Cedric's anger turned into surprise.
"This is something even His Excellency cannot be privy to?", Prince Cedric mused.
"Only in certain circumstances. And well, His excellency isn't here right now.", I said, shaking my head. "Still, I feel it is only right to tell. Now that my prior business is mostly over, we have some time on our hands. And well, Rose is here. It wouldn't feel right to keep you in the dark, Your Imperial Highness. But what we will talk about, it is strictly off the record."
"'Tis only right. Erebonia's Treasure is aware of this matter now, and you will follow suit. It is a secret passed down through one Emperor to the next. So you better listen up. I am only going to tell the tale once. It will be up to you to take from it.", Roselia said. Seeing the seriousness in Roselia's eyes, Prince Cedric could only nod his head. "And as to where this story begins, it goes all the way back to the Ancient Zemurian Civilization, shortly after the Goddess Aidios bestowed humanity seven godlike treasures."
"A story that goes all the way back to the Ancient Zemurian Civilization?", Prince Cedric responded. His earlier anger was swept under the rug and was full of interest now. I figured that would catch his attention. "Very well."
"Umu.", Roselia nodded. "Long, long ago, this civilization thrived under the careful watch of the Goddess Aidios. She graciously bestowed a total of seven treasures to this civilization, blessing mankind as a whole. These treasures that we know of today, are called the Sept-Terrions. As a result of the Goddess blessing mankind with these seven treasures, it caused seven clans to form, creating what we now know as the Ancient Zemurian Civilization."
That, in a nutshell, is how Zemuria came into existence after the Goddess Aidios created this land.
"Each one of these clans subsequently took responsibility for looking after these seven Sept-Terrions. Of these seven clans, one was called the Hexen Clan. Another one was called the Gnomes.", Roselia continued. "The Hexen Clan, or the Kin of Fire, became responsible to watch over Ark Rouge, the name bestowed to the Sept-Terrion of Fire. And likewise, the Gnomes, or the Kin of Earth, watched over Lost Zem, the Sept-Terrion of Earth. The other treasures were divided into other five clans, and soon, mankind entered a golden age."
"During this golden age, the Goddess observed mankind advance at a rapid pace. Far more so than what she had originally anticipated. Fearing that mankind would get out of the Goddess's reach, she enacted trials set forth for the Ancient Zemurian Civilization, thrusting the land into chaos and darkness.", Roselia continued. "This would eventually be what is now called the Great Collapse. Many of the Goddess's treasures, to which we now call Artifacts, became lost during this time."
"Adding to the seven treasures that the Goddess created, she assigned guardians to watch over them, to which we now know as Holy Beasts. Seven Holy Beasts were assigned to each treasure, making sure they didn't fall into the wrong hands. The Gnomes received Argres, a dragon. And the Hexen Clan received the Burning Sphinx. Because of the trials enacted by the Goddess, several clans soon were unable to meet eye-to-eye with one another. And that includes the Hexen Clan and the Gnomes. Chaos ensued, and the Kin of Earth became no more. Argres was lost and its name forgotten."
"These two particular treasures that have been safeguarded by the Hexen Clan and the Gnomes would eventually meld into one brand new treasure, the Sept-Terrion of Steel. Through this new treasure, a twisted being emerges, and it is called the Great One. The Great One further began to distort Argres, into what I personally call the Worst Cryptid. It's body holy no longer, this Cryptid polluted this land we call Erebonia, and spread its curse. It swarmed the capital during the Dark Ages, and any person who touches this dark miasma would become Night-Touched.", Roselia continued.
"As the curse spread, the Cryptid became an entirely new entity, called the Dark Dragon. With the capital as its newfound nest, the people who had survived its rampage relocated to Saint-Arkh. From there, more chaos ensued, and mankind clashed against the curse. Over time, Emperor Hector was able to slay the dragon, but at the cost of his own life. He sealed the Dark Dragon beneath the city. Because of that, the Imperial Family received this curse, and a new destiny befell them. No matter the age, the Imperial Family has been watching the sealed dragon so it wouldn't rampage again.", Roselia continued.
"From there, it is thanks to the Dark Dragon which sealed away a certain knight, to which is now resting beneath Valflame Palace. Naoto here brought the princess to see it last night, in fact.", Roselia said, concluding the story of the Dark Dragon and how the Great One gave birth to the Divine Knights.
It really is such a tale, isn't it?
"I did not think our family would be bound by such a curse...", Prince Cedric murmured. "And you want to free this knight from its chains? If you do that, wouldn't that disturb the Dark Dragon from its slumber?"
"Best case scenario, it shouldn't. Both the Dark Dragon and this knight may be mixed together, but they are bound by different destinies.", I responded, remaining vague on the matter. If I want to give rise to the Infernal Castle, it shouldn't impact the Dark Dragon.
"Naoto is correct to assume such.", Roselia said. "Your worry is sound, prince, but you needn't worry. As to who I am exactly, I am in fact, the leader of said Hexen Clan. Let alone you, even Emperor Hector was nothing in my eyes. I saw no reason to intervene then. Emperor Hector worked with mankind and came out with a victory."
Hearing that, Princess Alfin's eyes lit up in excitement.
"Then that means you really are a Witch who can use Magic!", Princess Alfin happily exclaimed. "Now it's making sense as to why Naoto can use it."
"Umu.", Roselia nodded. "It is as you say, princess. I have taught Naoto here. He is my direct disciple."
"That...really was Magic?", Prince Cedric also asked, showing surprise in his eyes.
"Such a fascinating tale.", Aurelia said, looking pleased with what Roselia told. "It sounds like this story is passed down through the Imperial Family, I doubt the Imperial Diet knows of the Dark Dragon's existence. "But that is beside the point. Your Imperial Highness, I too am capable of doing this."
"Oh?", Prince Cedric responded, turning his eyes toward Aurelia. We were too. I wondered what Aurelia was going to do.
It didn't take long for a bluish glow of mana to wrap around Aurelia's body, only to converge into purple-colored lightning. Schreee! Crackle!
"You can use Magic too, Lady Aurelia?", Prince Cedric responded, uttering in amazement as the purple-colored lightning continued to wrap around Aurelia's hand.
"Just don't try to destroy the orbal car, alright? I don't want an earful from His Majesty later.", Claire interjected.
"Fair point. It would be unwise to cause an accident.", Aurelia mused. Knowing that, Aurelia ceased her mana, and the purple lightning vanished.
"Still, the story about this Dark Dragon Miss Roselia relayed to us is quite ominous. At the very least, as long as we do our part, the Dragon shouldn't get impacted when we set the knight free.", Princess Alfin said, wondering if that was the case.
"Yeah.", I replied with a nod. "This knight can only be set free after Rose's incantation is cast. She will be imparting the knowledge onto me during this next month or two. From there, we will spend some to evacuate those closest to Valflame Palace. I do not want anyone injured during this process. And before you ask, this plan has already been jointly approved by His Imperial Majesty and His Excellency."
"Wait, what!?", Prince Cedric exclaimed, yelling out in shock. "Father is going to evacuate part of the capital!?"
"So that is why the governors in the Imperial Diet were in such a hurry...", Aurelia mused, not expecting to hear that.
I figured it was only right to tell the Imperial Family about the evacuation, considering it will be impacting them. Let's see where this goes, shall we?
With that said, Roselia finished telling the tale of what is called Erebonia's Curse!