Kingdom's Bloodline, page 336
Deep in Saroma's eyes was a flickering of cold rays. They shone with an indescribable coolness from behind her lenses. "Furthermore, as the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City, I will not and cannot leave with the Prince of Constellation—regardless of what dangers I'm facing, be it powerful enemies or fierce battles, this is still my home. I was born in Eckstedt, and I will die in Eckstedt."
'Until one day, when I can be beside you, Thales,' she silently said.
The dining room returned to silence.
The archduchess and prince sat on either side of the dining table. They were in silent confrontation, as though the food on the table was just decoration.
A century seemed to have passed when Thales finally opened his mouth with difficulty.
"Saroma…"
He felt disappointment, but he did not know if it was towards himself or Saroma. He said in a low voice, "Alright."
The second prince heaved a long sigh. His expression was one of dejectedness. "I understand."
Saroma let out a soft laugh and released her hand, which was pressing on her abdomen. Her complexion softened.
"It's fine."
The archduchess was rather dispirited as she shook her head.
"I know," she said indifferently. "I know your occasional impulsiveness."
Thales frowned slightly.
'She…'
"You're not one single person, Thales." Saroma gazed outside the window. Her expression was complex like she was looking at a veiled, indistinct and indistinguishable painting.
"There's your country behind you, and your people. Have you considered the consequences that would arise from kidnapping the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City?" The archduchess laughed as she shook her head, seemingly trying to justify her outburst. It was just that her smile appeared rather forced to Thales. "If you take me away, you're just taking me away from my worries, and it will bring more terrifying disasters to the people.
"When you regain your senses, and when you reconsider your decision, you will not say the same thing anymore. Because the reason you want to rescue me is the same as the reason you cannot bear watching them endure a disaster. In this world, there's probably not a single girl who is worth you paying such a big price." Saroma sighed.
Thales clenched his fist tightly.
'No. You're not the same. You're… You're…'
At this moment, there was a sound from the dining room door.
"Archduchess, prince, forgive me for the disturbance," Count Lisban's resounding voice rang faintly. "Can I come in?"
The strange atmosphere was instantly broken.
Thales and Saroma promptly sorted out their moods, adjusted their state of mind and invited the regent into the dining hall.
Count Lisban was still dressed in his solemn attire, and his expression was indifferent. It was as if he did not notice the archduchess' red eyes, or the prince's desolate expression.
Yet, the moment Lisban opened his mouth, Thales heard an unusual tone, and it made him feel as though something bad was about to happen.
And it was just as he expected.
"Your Grace, Prince Thales, a messenger crow from the City of Faraway Prayers just arrived."
Lisban's words caused the both of them to turn somber all of a sudden.
"The Alliance of Freedom's Conference of Elders has ended. The first letter to test our reaction has been sent to the City of Faraway Prayers in order to propose a lowering of tariffs.
Saroma sucked in a cold breath of air instead. "So…"
Lisban nodded. His gaze was solemn. "The Archduke of the City of Faraway Prayers, Kulgon Roknee has already issued a warrant. He has mobilized all the troops and supplies of the territories and vassals that are directly under him. At the same time, he has recalled the mobile sentries in Great Desert to fully seal off the national border leading to the south."
Thales' pupils constricted slightly.
In the Hall of Heroes, the image of that long-haired archduke with a strong temperament resurfaced in his mind.
At that moment, Lisban's expression was incomparably solemn. "He simultaneously sent out an official diplomat group of an enormous scale. They will arrive in Dragon Clouds City within the next few days."
Thales and Saroma exchanged glances, their emotions were in a mess.
The prince raised his head. "Roknee sending out an official diplomat group… It shouldn't be just to say hello—I'm guessing that he already knows about Black Sand Region sending people over?"
Lisban raised his brows slightly and snorted softly. It appeared as if he was blaming Thales for his actions a few days ago.
"Please be prepared, the both of you, regardless of who is behind this chess game." The regent's eyes swept across the two individuals. His words seemed to come with the forces of a brewing storm, enveloping the small square which was the dining room.
"It has begun. A storm is coming."
Chapter 305: The Creation of the Two Empresses |
"What?
"Disappear for a while? What do you mean by this?"
In the chess room in Spear District, Thales stared at the Air Mystic in front of him in shock. "How many lessons of yours have I even attended? And most of the time, we were just exchanging questions and answers in a rather baffling manner… Now you're telling me that you want to 'disappear for a while'?"
'Forget about Little Rascal's moods. That's because of her menstrual period…
'Forget about Putray's actions. That old man is always engaged in some mysterious disappearing act…
'Forget about Lisban and Nicholas' actions. That's just the way they are…
'But…
'But you…'
The prince inhaled deeply and stared at the man in blue before him in dissatisfaction. "Are you really my 'guide' as you said?"
While they stood at the door, Wya and Justin noticed how the prince was talking to himself after losing his composure. They met eyes and cast the prince a strange look in unison.
Thales noticed their actions. He coughed and pretended to read the lines in the collection of plays in his hand.
Wya and Lord Justin both stopped looking at him.
"Be quiet." Asda snorted softly while he remained seated in front of Thales. "Right now, you're like a shrimp jumping up and down in boiling water… This is not a good thing, especially for a Mystic."
Thales inhaled deeply. He put down his book and composed himself.
The Mystic slowly raised his gaze. "Your condition today is even worse than the last time. What happened?"
'What happened?'
Thales thought of Saroma's actions a few days ago and shook his head with an unpleasant expression.
"Nothing, just some old issues."
The prince was not willing to elaborate. He composed his thoughts and brought the topic back. "So, how about you? What's your reason for leaving in such a hurry?"
Asda paused for quite a while. Throughout the entire time, he kept his gaze on Thales' face, as though doubting Thales' words earlier.
His stare made Thales feel strangely uneasy.
However, the Air Mystic did not continue with his line of questioning. He flatly said, "Do you know about the Tower of Eradication?"
'The Tower of Eradication?
'Isn't that where Wya, Kohen and the others…'
Thales raised his eyebrows a little. "I've heard of it… The cultivating place for swordsmen who claim to be independent of any influence of power, a place that only passes down skills for the sake of humanity's future?"
The Mystic nodded.
Thales furrowed his eyebrows. "So, what does it have to do with you, with us?"
Asda chuckled softly. "As a group that worked together six hundred something years ago to suppress the calamities and a group that has always been wary of calamities for the past six hundred years, tell me, what relationship does the Tower of Eradication have with us?"
Thales made an "O" shape with his mouth.
"Umm, let me think…" Thales shrugged. "The cat and the mouse?
"Or the farmer and the snake?"
Asda paid no heed to Thales' deliberate teasing. His tone became solemn, "Lately, suspicious information has been circulating out of the Tower of Eradication. I must go over to investigate how true it is."
Thales asked curiously, "What information could it be for it to be so important?"
Asda stroked the chess piece in his hand gently and narrowed his eyes a little.
"Even though that piece of information is very interesting, and is even considered good news to us…" The Mystic nodded his head elegantly and said, "For your sake, I can't take the risk and let you know the details."
Thales chuckled and made a face to show that he knew that things would turn out this way. He then rolled his eyes at Asda.
The Air Mystic was unperturbed. He tapped the chess piece on the chessboard softly. "But I can tell you that this is information that can turn the Two Empresses pale with fright."
Thales froze.
'Turn the Two Empresses…
'...pale with fright?'
Thales fixed his gaze on Asda's face, wanting to see something from the Mystic's expression just like he did with other people.
However, after staring into Asda's eyes for about ten seconds, he eventually gave up.
"Nevermind." Thales sighed and moved backwards in his chair with a hint of dejection as well as self-mockery. He waved his right hand at the indifferent looking Asda. "I'm used to your hobby of only telling me half of something anyway."
Asda snorted through his nose. His emotions could not be deciphered.
They sank into silence.
Thales discarded his bad mood, which had been caused by the bad news. Then, he furrowed his eyebrows once again and thought about the situation at hand. "How long will you be away?"
"I don't know.
"It could be a very long time." Asda shook his head. "It isn't easy to go near the Tower of Eradication."
Thales scowled and stared at the Air Mystic. He exhaled, feeling irritated and helpless. He then rubbed his forehead in annoyance.
"Now, of all times…"
'This is so bad.
'At a time when Dragon Clouds City is in its most troubled state…'
"Haih." Thales sighed softly. "You don't seem to be worried at all. What if during the days when you're not around, and when Dragon Clouds City isn't peaceful, I suddenly become extremely unlucky and die in an assassination?"
The Air Mystic narrowed his eyes.
"Thales, why do you want to come out for a game of chess?"
Thales' heart tightened.
"Child, perhaps you're able to deceive other people," Asda snorted coldly and said. There was a hidden meaning in his words. "But look around you. You already know where you'll be going."
Thales let out a cough due to his embarrassment, since he knew what Asda was implying.
While he sat in the room, he turned and looked around at the archduchess' personal guards as well as patrols who were on the streets, in the opposite building and at the door. They surrounded him tightly. He turned and faked a deliberate, unpleasant smile at the Mystic.
The afternoon sun shone on the open-air room's terrace and basked the prince in golden rays.
"What now?"
Asda, who strangely did not change color even though he was under the sun, raised his chin slowly. His voice became slightly louder, "It seems like you're still placing hope in me?"
Thales rubbed the area between his eyebrows, where the crease was becoming increasingly prominent, and helplessly spread his hands.
"Yes.
"I have to admit it." The second prince thought hard about the news from the City of Faraway Prayers. "It's true that I see you as one of my back-up plans. If things really reach a point where they are irreparable, at least I'll have one last option.
"But looking at things now…"
Thales shook his head and did not continue to speak.
Asda's eyes brightened a little, and he once again spoke in the kind of beguiling tone that Thales had experienced countless of times. "Actually, you can choose the 'last option' now.
"As long as you want it, the world of Mystics will always welcome you… Do you want to go to the Tower of Eradication with me?"
But Thales just let out a soft cough, as though he did not hear the Mystic. He nodded solemnly and waved.
"Have a safe journey. I won't be sending you off."
Asda stared at his disrespectful student from the corners of his eyes. He was not angry. Instead, the corners of his lips curled up a little.
"Thales, be careful. Remember that the people by your side are already investigating your existence.
"Treat your special mystic energy with caution. Any suspicious actions may cause you to expose yourself."
The Mystic's eyes shone with a blue light. "When I'm not around, you can only depend on yourself."
Still vexed over his plight, Thales exhaled. "You're making it sound as if you've been a big help to me over the past few years."
Asda snorted softly.
"Very well. As a parting present, Thales, let's finish talking about the contents of our first lesson," the Air Mystic said softly.
"The first lesson?"
"Thales." Asda nodded. "You once asked me about how the Magic Empress betrayed us."
His expression became somber. "It's time to tell you about this—our biggest enemies and threats.
While Thales stared at his unusual teacher's unusual expression, he, too, became a little anxious.
"Oh, then this really is a pleasant surprise."
Thales nodded awkwardly. Soon after, he looked around in a very paranoid manner. "Wait, you won't suddenly 'end the lesson' the next moment again, right?"
Asda's lips curled up.
He sat up straight and placed the queen, which he had stroked with his "hand" for a long time, back on the chessboard. This was a rare thing when it came to the Air Mystic. "Speaking of the Battle of Eradication, Thales, it wasn't a one-sided and quick war. Instead, it went on for as long as ten years and was a destructive tug of war about beliefs, points of view, resistance, and compromises."
Thales focused. He could not help but notice that Asda did not point out whose beliefs and points of view he was referring to. Neither did he mention the parties who fought back, nor those who compromised.
"On one hand, we have the soldiers and armies from both sides of the war, the politics, and the parties involved in scheming against each other. On the other hand, the chaotic battle between the two Obscurists and the six Extremists never ceased. Even the gods, demons, dragons and the Magic Towers were involved in that war."
"I read some incomplete records before about this," As he listened to the Mystic's narration, Thales muttered to himself and nodded. "About how the King of Renaissance as well as the Dragon King mediated with the countries all around and gathered the hearts of the people amid the complicated political situation. I also read about how the Church of Holy Sun put out enlistment warrants and called the people to take up arms repeatedly.
"I reckon that this war, which decided the world's fate may not be as simple as we had imagined?"
'No.
'According to the discussion with Hicks a few days ago, we concluded that no wars are simple, whether it's about distinguishing between the enemy and ourselves, or about victory and defeat.'
Asda did not agree or disagree with Thales. He simply crossed his fingers and focused his gaze slightly, as per habit.
"After the Magic Towers were destroyed, the survivors of the towers continued to diligently study about the Mystics' weaknesses. They were successful too. Soldiers equipped with anti-mystic equipment were able to be more or less immune from the abilities of some Mystics, but they were still at a loss on what to do to limit the Mystics' actions."
'Anti-mystic equipment.'
Thales caught the term, which was both familiar and unfamiliar to him at the same time.
The next moment, Asda's tone suddenly changed.
"However, the real turning point came during the eleventh year."
The atmosphere around them became as dark as a secret chamber with its curtains down, right when Asda's voice gained a gloomy edge.
Even Thales could not help but furrow his eyebrows.
"Bryan was the first Mystic to be defeated," Asda said calmly, as though he was talking about something that did not matter. Nonetheless, Thales could clearly feel that his state of mind was not the same anymore. "When he once again exerted that frightening ability of his and descended upon the nightmares of thousands of people, his chest was pierced by his only opponent who was awake at that time. That opponent did so using an unusual anti-mystic equipment."
'Bryan.'
Thales could vaguely remember Giza mentioning this name a long time ago.
"Then"—Asda narrowed his eyes a little—"Bryan disappeared."
'Disappeared.
'After his chest was pierced by a weapon, a Mystic…
'...disappeared?'
The Mystic's choice of words was very simple, but it sent a chill down the prince's spine.
Thales stared at Asda and thought of everything he knew as well as heard from the past. In his uneasiness, he had a premonition of how the story would end.
"This news was very frightening…'
"During those few days, almost all of the Mystics evolved, knocked on the Door and rose to their basic forms just to search for Bryan, whom they could not sense." Asda's expression remained the same, but his tone became increasingly gloomy. "Despite that, we couldn't find any trace of Bryan anymore. There was only a lump of dead substance. which was completely without sentience in the evolved form that originally belonged to the Nightmare Mystic."
'A lump of dead substance.
'Completely without sentience.'
Thales could not help but recall the moment he "knocked on the Door" in the past, and the many strange happenings he encountered in the mesmerizing darkness.
