Black smoke rose from the Red Fortress, the situation decided, with only a few still resisting.
The main hall was unusually silent. Klovi III sat under the colored canopy, head down.
Only the court minister Piping was beside him, this thin political veteran looking towards the door with a bitter smile.
Light yet composed footsteps came from the end of the hall’s corridor.
Klovi III suddenly looked up, his lips trembling slightly, saying calmly: “You’re here.”
The newcomer was a black-haired young man in a blood-stained military uniform, his handsome face slightly evil, with cold, upturned red eyes at the corners. He raised a large sword with one hand, pointing towards the king’s throat, glancing at his face before shifting to Piping. He smiled almost imperceptibly: “I’m here to collect that debt for her.”
Klovi turned to exchange a glance with Piping, both simultaneously revealing a bitter smile.
But neither avoided confrontation.
Piping slightly bowed: “This world is now yours. We believe you will cherish it.”
The black-haired youth narrowed his eyes, responding: “This has nothing to do with you.”
Two sharp whistles of blades cutting through the air, followed by the dull sound of bodies falling, with blood mist staining the corridor’s fabric.
The youth walked out as slowly and determinedly as he came in. Greeting him were the army’s cheers:
“Long live! Long live our King!”
The Veldya chronicles turned a new page that day, with the young and handsome Karl being crowned king. Legends about him would become countless: young and heroic, skilled in strategy, and strikingly handsome, known as the Hero King.
Karl rose from humble origins, establishing a new era through military achievements, with his major battles remaining known to children dreaming of heroes centuries later.
The little girl interrupted with an angry shriek: “You’re definitely making things up again! Last time you said that duchess killed her own husband, and when I asked my mom, she said you were lying!” The grand scholar coughed, and the children finally quieted down reluctantly. “Alright, story time is over. Let’s continue learning the history of Veldia.” Facing the children’s fallen expressions, the grand scholar smiled helplessly and turned to spread out another large map, “This is the territorial map of the Luminous Era…” The era of Hero King Karl was called the Luminous Era. Where there is light, there must be darkness, but only light is ultimately remembered.
“No, something is still very strange.” Naily turned, standing between Kalsas and Ifa. The duchess’s profound smile remained unchanged; she merely opened her lips to utter a single word: “Oh?” “There were clearly five people involved in creating this device, but you only mentioned the roles of four. You must be hiding something.” Ifa actually nodded in agreement: “Indeed, I didn’t say a word about Piping’s role.
Naily couldn’t help but narrow her eyes: “Is this related to the favor you want to ask of me?”
“Correct.” Lady Ifa turned her back, walking a few steps to the side, a trace of worry emerging in her brow and eyes. “When starting the device and heading to the origin of the new world, we must pass through the time-space cracks where worlds intersect and overlap. To accurately identify which is our destination requires extraordinarily precise judgment. Simply put, we are a ship navigating through time and space, and Piping is the helmsman observer.”
“But Piping has already gone down a distorted path. He is too arrogant to listen to anyone’s opinions, even trying to drive a wedge between the others. He sees only his own authority, and if this continues, the path he guides may deviate…” Ifa paused here, offering a gentle smile, “So we need a new observer, and Naily, you are the first alternate.”
“Why should I agree to your proposal?” Naily forcibly held back from turning around, her shoulders tense, “To be bound to an eternal cycle? This is completely contrary to my wishes.”
Ifa laughed: “The observer directly influences the future’s direction. Since this world is ridiculous and hopeless, why not change it?”
If the divine punishment is avoided, you’ll naturally be freed, and your wish can be realized. Even if not, in a sense, you can be together with him.” At first hearing, it was indeed tempting. Naily looked back, and beneath the Demon King’s disheveled bangs were wild red eyes, clearly telling her not to agree, not to fall into the duchess’s trap. With the world’s truth exposed, Naily no longer knew how to fulfill her oath. But even if this invitation was a trap, it was a path opened in desperation. She suppressed her emotions, meeting the Demon King’s gaze reassuringly. Seeing his deathly pale face, her heart ached, and she softly said: “I need to think about it.” “If you agree to our proposal, your next step is to help us remove Piping.” Lady Ifa was not disappointed either. With a clap of her hands, the void dissipated, the device slowly sinking to the ground, black stone pillars rising again, the stone basin intact. Dragging her beautiful purple robe, she turned calmly. After taking a few steps, Naily suddenly spoke: “Repeating again and again, yet only failing, don’t you ever despair, don’t you want to give up?” Ifa seemed to chuckle lightly, but her voice no longer carried its usual leisurely tone: “How could we not despair? Seeing family, friends, even enemies repeatedly converging to the same end, how could we remain unmoved! Even if I’m not a good mother, seeing my children painfully approach their end… Even I would suffer.
She raised her head, her voice crisp and hard: “But if we don’t continue, nothing will change. They will still die in the divine punishment.” After speaking, the duchess’s figure disappeared behind the broken door. Naily had no time to think more about it, turning to check on Kalsas. He had already propped himself up, trying to stand but swaying. Naily supported him, but he tightly grasped her hand, hoarsely saying: “Promise me you won’t agree to their proposal.”
Naily trembled slightly in his gaze. She softened her tone and pleaded: “I’m very confused right now. Let’s talk after we get out, okay?” The black-haired youth’s pupils contracted. He lowered his long eyelashes and softly responded, his hand still firmly holding hers. The two supported each other towards the door, then simultaneously stopped.
Gerard still lay by the door, the blood beneath him now congealed, his yellow eyes still stubbornly staring into the distant void. Naily crouched beside the white-robed mage, placing the rune stones in his palm, biting her lip as she aligned his fingers. Her hand trembled as she was about to close his eyes, but Kalsas had already covered her hand, his movement dignified and respectful. She looked up at Kalsas, her eyes gradually reddening, yet saying nothing.
No amount of comfort or explanation could help; Gerard was indeed an innocent person drawn into this affair.
“As long as a mage from the Sage’s Tower dies, Naissye will ring the bell three times, and the bell sound will spread across the Dead Sea.” Kalsas’s voice was faint yet soothing. He paused awkwardly and finally added: “Yifa will send him back to Kalinthia.”
Nelly responded with a heavy nasal tone, lowering her head and softly saying: “Let’s go.”
Although she said this, she was unclear about their destination. She only wanted to leave quickly, to stop her racing thoughts.
They walked silently together, exiting the vault’s door and navigating through the dark passages. Gerard was dead, and his magical space became ineffective, so the main hall was strewn with guards lying haphazardly.
Nelly averted her gaze, and Kalsas squeezed her palm, trying to comfort her. She turned to look at him and whispered: “Let’s stay at the mansion until dawn…”
Nelly was exhausted and just wanted to find the nearest bed to lie down.
