EPISODE 187: WYVERN’S ROOST 2

  — GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR: 7292. SEASON: NEW BEGINNING.

  Liana Drumian chuckled, “Regardless of whether it has the health of a God or is a God on the Mortal Plane—its strength cannot pass a certain limit—a limit we rapidly approach. Many have attempted to put an [End of Adventure]—how many have brought an army to do so?”

  “Have faith, Lawruthian, the Goddess will guide us,” Marna Gamal consoled. She appeared confused as she stated this to the [Chosen of Madris]. “No matter what, I am able to channel better and harness the power She can bestow on me”

  “Fighting a God while still demigoddesses and Prestiges on the Mortal Realm,” Akeem Oni’s red eyes lit with passion. “That will propel our legends to the likes of King Darius in the Battle of Ocean’s Depths! Whether we live or die, it will be a fine tale for the ages to come.”

  Drinks flowed, and honey-sweetened snacks accompanied them as those at the highest level sat around a worried [Chosen of Madris]. A scowling Carno stood in a corner watching—a single word leaving his mouth at this display of the newest Madris’s Chosen. “Weak.”

  “Hmmm, I would have no problems with my tale coming to an end here,” Vivian Consus stated. “My name would be immortalized—death is not the end, Lawruthian, only a new beginning,” he chuckled at his play on words. Viviana carefully swiveled his wine glass as he enjoyed the aged wine from his territory.

  “What sort of unknown magic will he display?! How large are the halls filled with tomes about the long history of Genesis and its intricate magic,” Margret Musa gushed—her bright magenta eyes fixated on the prince. “Access to such knowledge would more than fill our missing requirement for a Mythical Golden Age!”

  Busy was an understatement for the demigoddess days in the prior few months. She hadn’t slept—not once, not that she truly needed to anymore. Her body and mind were in a constant peak state unless she strained herself when solving issues. The same could be said for the rest of the Path Walkers—those who broke past their mortality. Her time was spent in three places: War Throne Palace, where she helped the CBCM come to life; New America Research Center, where there were many new young talents with bright minds and ideas, and Prince Lawruthian made them work on many projects that held her interest; finally, she found herself home at the floating isle where her great city lay. It was a relief to get away from the snow and cold while visiting her relatives.

  “This library of the Aspects… does it contain knowledge regarding the Lessor Six Attributes,” Camilla Romus questioned—her multicolored eyes held the same shine as Margrets. “And these living golems… are you certain they will not prevent us from slaying this Rasheed?”

  The Crown’s Jewel leisurely traveled through the air. Its destination in sight as Wyvern’s Roost was barely a day’s travel through the air. Thousands of soldiers surrounded the airship. Each soldier of the Central Gate Army was a [Spell-Sword] who possessed the ability of flight. Regardless, their bonded Draconian mounts possessed the same ability. An army of ten thousand high-levelers moved with precision, their adjoining armies already stationed outside the large forest.

  The sky was clear, blue, and quickly melting the last of the Final Ending’s snow. Lawruthian’s birthday was just ten days away. In ten days, it’d be the anniversary of his System Day and his eighteenth birthday. In ten days, it’d be the anniversary of the day he gained his quest— crusade —from the Goddess Madris. A crusade she personally delivered to him on the academy grounds. Lawruthian found it difficult to believe eighteen years passed since his rebirth. To him, it felt much longer, but in the world of Genesis, his life had only just begun.

  “Don’t pester him with too many questions,” Queen Titiana stated to her companions before addressing her son. “We understand there is a price to be paid for greatness—more than anyone. More than anyone else. Remember our conversation on what makes a good ruler and what makes a good follower—keep it in mind, always.”

  The room grew silent at the queen’s words. The Path Walker’s thoughts drifted to the past and their actions to keep their country united and safe. They had lost many friends and allies throughout the years. Now, they gave offerings to the Goddess for those in the Promised Land. Their souls returned to her embrace, and even now, the former [Seven Heroes] kept their memories alive.

  Lawruthian mused over her words; his expression eased at their reassurance. He’d brought the words of Carno to his mother and her companions, and those words were the result. Soon, they would arrive at the base set outside the forest, where three [Gate Protector] armies would begin their march within. Just like the Path Walkers, Lawruthian’s thoughts drifted—not to the past, but to the present.

  Lawruthian was supposed to be a third-year right now—he hadn’t even attended the first day of the new semester. None of the Little Greats had as they gained strength with the Imperius Army. In another life… he’d like to have been a regular student.

  He looked toward the former [Seven Heroes]—those he’d grown up with, such as Liana and Margret, who were like aunts, people he could consider family. The days he rode on Liana’s shoulder as they perused Edrya were some of his fondest memories. Margret’s wealth of knowledge kept every outing interesting, as she always held a random fact about one thing or another. It was with their help he began Law’s Sweet Golems and, from there, New America Research Center and so much more. It was Margret’s fault, he began to just slap the name Imperius on everything he did. Lawruthian smiled fondly.

  He wasn’t as familiar with the rest… Akeem Oni, Vivian Consus, and especially Camilla Romus. They were familiar faces, but the connection Queen Titiana shared with them wasn’t transferred to him. The same could not be said for Marna Gamal. She was… someone who strove to ensure Lawruthian’s words could not be denied. Not to say that the rest didn’t follow, but Marna was the [1st Daughter of Madris] and head of the church—Lawruthian was her direct superior.

  His mother was the final person Lawruthian’s gaze settled on—his biggest supporter and greatest teacher. Her many words of wisdom attempted to guide his hand as he grew into a leader—both spiritually, through the faith of the magi, and through character, as he did what he believed was the correct course.

  His challenges were many—with an ultimate goal of unification. Yet now, the Prime System warned him of an end to the world, and it directed him to six items whose value he could not decipher. To Lawruthian, the time limit the system gave him was both long and short. Long as this world, this realm held centuries, perhaps longer, of history and events. Lawruthian barely uncovered the history of it all. The fog was still in place in some areas, and he wasn’t certain if they’d ever get resolved. Short, as both Lawerence Brown and Lawruthian Edryani barely lived a combined forty years. He’d only received the system barely two official years ago, and he had already decided what course he’d take to gain these items.

  In less than ten short years, his greatest supporter was leaving him. Lawruthian had to think about what he needed to ensure Edryan could face its task— his —task with the proper capability to do so.

  “Thank you, mom,” he mouthed to her softly.

  She gazed gently back at her son, a silent message of assurance passed to him. Her words when he was barely off weening still stayed true.

  “ Tell me your dreams, and I will help you fulfill them !”

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  She would—no matter the dangers brought by those dreams.

  Men— magi-humans —moved through the quickly constructed base that sat outside the bounds of the forest Wyvern’s Roost. Thousands were present—many of them were soldiers, but many more were the supporting personnel who ensured an army remained on its feet. A military city had been built as men conquered nature and turned the once wintery ground into paved roads and large housing structures. The work of mages made things that could take weeks turn into days, sometimes hours. Those on duty paused in their actions; their gazes turned to the descending airship and the army that came with it.

  Many glanced at the five wyverns that flew high in the sky—appearing like birds high in flight. That sight was one they’d grown used to over the wintery months. It was nice seeing five of the creatures that were on their side.

  Prince Lawruthian was the first to emerge down the ship’s gangplank. His heavy dark leather boots held no shine or polish to them. For those who had never seen the prince up close, he appeared like a slight-rugged, well-traveled person. Only the red-gold eyes and ebony gradient hair differed him from others and told those whose presence they were in. His aura was kept tightly controlled—lest it force all to stop in their activities to tend to him.

  Many quickly followed the prince just as many came forth to greet the new arrivals. The generals of the queen’s armies and their lieutenants were quietly waiting to be addressed. Alongside [Grand Magi] like Sire Limitless and Heavenly Body. Both Caimen Lordstar and Pancratius Nepos stood at opposite ends. Neither Caimen nor Pancratius managed to reach the heights the former Seven Heroes broke through. The two men were close, but experience was not the only thing necessary to break past the mortal limit.

  Prince Lawruthian barely glanced at them. Instead, his gaze focused on a few younger figures off to the side. General Alexandria and General Ameri, alongside the Little Greats, stood informally around one another quietly chatting. His [Imperius Knights] stood off to one side; he frowned as he noticed their number dwindled from eight to six. The Prince returned his gaze to the Little Greats, recognizing the change in their demeanor, but his gaze lingered on Madria, who stood next to her older sister, Moona. The older woman made a quick symbol of worship at his appearance.

  He walked over, leaving his mother to her people as he went to his.

  “You’ve…,” he sized up his generals and those next to them, “…changed.”

  That word could barely describe the aura that surrounded them. The looks in their eyes, even Amaya, who usually kept a cheerful and bubbly personality, was steeped in a strange resolve.

  “They’ve become [Stormforged],” General Ameri chuckled. “They must have fought like maniacs to get the dungeon to recognize them and grant that title.”

  The older woman sized Lawruthian up before doing the same for those who delved into the [Stormforge Battlefield – ★★★★ ]. She slowly felt the restraints of levels being lifted. They were all nearly a hundred levels under her, and they could continue to catch up. Ameri just had to make sure she didn’t reach two-twenty and prevent any problems from occurring. At most, she could hold on to her levels and not assign them. In the worst possible scenario, she’d have to retire from her position for a few years to prevent herself from crossing the threshold.

  General Alexandria snapped to attention and Lawruthian smiled ruefully before walking to stand before her.

  “Report.”

  “Sir, of the twelve thousand, one hundred and thirteen soldiers assigned to the Imperius Army—four thousand, nineteen have perished,” General Alexandria said. There was no emotion in her voice as she stated the numbers. The older woman spoke like she was recalling simple statistics and not the lives of people. “The rest have acquired the [Stormforged] title and have gained at minimum thirty-four levels, with our highest gaining fifty-two levels.”

  Lawruthian’s widening eyes were nearly imperceptible. He silently closed his eyes for a small moment before nodding. When his red-gold eyes graced the world again, they were filled with an indifferent expression.

  “Was it worth it?”

  “ Yes —Imperius Army now possesses the ability to follow you both on foot or through the air. Your blade has been sharpened and is ready to spill the blood of any you point it toward.”

  Prince Lawruthian indifferently gazed into her eyes, carefully taking General Alexandria’s measure. She gazed back, her eyes certain in their resolve. The young general truly meant what she said.

  “Ensure their families are properly compensated under Imperius Military Law. To those who’ve sired children—ensure their education is free, no matter what school they attend,” Lawruthian finished, his eyes slipping away.

  General Alexandria saluted and took his dismissal for what it was. Four thousand lives were gone for a measly thirty-level increase. General Alexandria would do it again if it meant her troops would possess the strength to follow Lawruthian, regardless of where he went.

  The Imperius Army could not be an embarrassment—Alexandria Indrian would not have it.

  Time passed quickly as the busy base settled in. Meetings were held, with discussions of the inner workings of Wyvern’s Roost spoken of in great detail. Prince Lawruthian’s eyes remain indifferent throughout it all. They would leave at dawn tomorrow, with each Gate Protector’s army taking a different route on the ground.

  The sky was the domain of the wyverns, and it was deemed a slower, but less dangerous journey on the ground would allow the army to make it to the base of the mountain in four days. The forest was waking from its wintery sleep, and the wyverns of the roost patrolled the skies. Thousands of the creatures called the forest home. Although the armies could fly through the sky, such actions would attract the attention of all the wyverns and cause a massive battle. Three much older, and much wiser, calamity level beast called Wyvern’s Roost their home. Early provocation against them could cause unplanned factors.

  It was best to travel across the ground while clearing a path to the mountain at this forest center. The goal wasn’t just to slay the Aspect, but to take residence in its prison. The value of the items within could not be underestimated.

  Prince Lawruthian quietly lay on his bed; his eyes were indifferent to the world. Slowly, that indifference faded until his eyes held a sparkle that could not deny its presence to the world.

  “Aspect of Knowledge,” he muttered internally. “Carno Edryani—just what happened to turn him into that ,” his eyes flickered to the dark figure who folded his arms and gazed at the moonlit sky.

  Carno’s story was an enigma—one that the second Chosen refused to share. However, when it came to frightening details about his glory, the fallen Chosen seemed to have endless tales.

  Lawruthian closed his eyes. It was time to sleep—tomorrow…, tomorrow he began his journey to retrieve his missing link. As the darkness consumed his mind, Lawruthian held one final thought before it was lights out.

  “Two consciousnesses, one soul.”