Paul's squad settled down at the fortress, the rest of the fyde soldiers were subdued and imprisoned,everyone was joyful except for Paul who sat there lost in his head, for him this was a handicapped defeat.
Jackson walked to him where he was seated and patted his soldier.
"He was probably one of the strongest in the Forgan Empire, you don't need to feel this bad."
"i can't help it."
"and besides you didn't use most of your skills."
"it's not that I didn't, there was no opening to, that Knight also didn't use any of his skill, he seemed to just be swinging his sword."
"no doubt the Forgan Empire is strong, anyways, I've delivered the message through magic communication. The next part of the plan should be starting now."
Paul stood up and clenched his fist,
"I need to hurry up and complete my class advancement quest. I will find this Knight again and return the humiliation."
"now that's the spirit"
Jackson smiled as he looked at his energetic friend with loving eyes.
°°°¬¬
News of the fall of Palind fortress began to spread faster than expected, it was at this moment Culin realized they were only used as diversion. They were relieved but at the same time continued to have their guards up. The Azure empire had started the war by first seizing Palind fortress which belongs to Fyde kingdom of the Forgan alliance, the Culin empire did not want to get caught up in their struggle for power but it was visible that they'll have to bow to whoever comes victorious.
But with the strength of both Empires the war will definitely drag out for years, and it seemed the Azure was well prepared. During this war time the Culin decided to use the opportunity to grow in strength of their own, however what was unfolding before the Emperor's eye was destroying that whole plan.
"what?... You want us to form an alliance with you?"
Earlier today, the Culin empire received a very important envoy from the Forgan Empire. It was disturbing and weird that such a mighty person such as the crown prince of the Forgan empire stood before the Emperor Anshelm Nossbacher of the Culin empire.
"I'm very sorry, but in dire times like this the empire is in need of a friend to trust."
"how do I know the empire won't bite my back, it's not a new fact today that compared to the rest of the empires we are considered the weakest, it will be easy for the empire to do away with us after using us to win the war with the Azure empire"
The Crown prince smiled solemnly,
"a great Emperor like you accepting the weakness that the world pronounced for you... calling it a fact, such is not the way to lead a mighty empire like this."
~swooooossshhhhh~
That instance a long spear was a breathe away from piercing the Crown prince's eye, he didn't move an inch even when he knew the moment the spear begin to head towards him.
"you may be the crown prince of a great and mighty empire but you stand before our Emperor, you will give him equal honour as you'll give your Emperor."
The atmosphere turned grim immediately, as if someone was sucking away the fresh breeze that flowed in the air, some nobles began to gasp for breathe and many began to fall to their knees, the Emperor's hand continued to vigorously shake as his eye were wide open, the one had talked earlier and pointed a spear to the crown prince looked down towards the crown prince shoe, he's hand that held the spear was beginning to shiver.
A dark circle had formed on the ground beneath the crown prince, emitting impure deep-dark aura filled with killing intent.
The crown prince who was still smiling and seemed to be enjoying the silent atmosphere finally opened his mouth. "forgive my rude lackey"
That instance the killing intent was withdrawn sharply like nothing happened those few minutes.
The man who was standing in front of the crown prince with a spear fell to his knees as he had lost all strength in his leg, trying to withstand whatsoever that was, the sound of his spear dropping on the ground pierced the silent atmosphere, followed by the crown prince voice.
"I apologize if I sounded rude, and sounded like I was trying to teach you to do your job, but honestly I was disappointed, if I were to lead a kingdom and it was considered weak, i will not for once accept that fact and continue to see my kingdom as strong until others begin to see my kingdom getting stronger, true power is from in here...." The crown prince pointed his finger towards his heart, "... it comes from creating your reality and molding your path, not accepting the reality of others and walking the path they laid for you. I'm sorry if it seemed like I am lecturing you again, I really am"
Even though the crown prince had no combat ability and had no mana core, he still stayed crown prince the reason for that was unfolding in front of everyone in the Culin imperial hall. He was of great wisdom, he had a gentle soul within him and he's knowledge far supercede many others before him.
The Emperor was hell bent on making him the next Emperor and he would kill anyone that threaten his position, yes the crown prince had the direct favor of the Emperor, but the favor of the Emperor was not enough to rise successfully to the throne even the crown prince knew this, it's politics after all.
"its okay, I will take your advice dearly but you haven't answered my question yet?" Emperor Anshelm finally opened his mouth,
'he's not arrogant, he'll grow if guarded well' The crown prince right now was thinking this towards an Emperor in his early sixties.
"I believe we have no reason to swallow you up as you're worried, this war is meant to leave only two empires standing so you better choose a side, because you'll eventually get swallowed by the Azure if you refuse this offer in fear of being swallowed by us, however I tell you with the authority I have, the Forgan Empire has no whatsoever plans towards swallowing up the Culin empire, instead we're trying to prevent it from being swallowed by Azure as it will be bad for us if that happens." He spoke all that they needed to hear,
"we'll get back to you, in the meantime it'd be my honour to have you as my guest"
This means the Emperor was telling him to stay until they decided on their answer,
"of course, I would love to explore the ancients stones and murals of the ancestors of Culin Empire."
"waow you're quite well-informed about us hahaha" The Emperor laughed,
"I love to explore history, and I read that these Murals and stone could tell ancient stories of the some of the great heroes of the Western continent"
"ohhh that's very true, you really are the most brilliant and intelligent being I've ever seen."
"I'm honored to be praised so highly by the Emperor" The Crown prince bowed his head a bit but slowly, "then I'll take my leave."
"yes yes, Fulcan!"
the Emperor called out to the man who had attacked the crown prince earlier but was now in a corner and couldn't stop thinking of what happened moments ago.
"yes your majesty" He ran towards the Emperor and went on his knees,
"you're in charge of the crown prince till he leaves, show him the whole Empire okay?!"
"yes! your majesty"
The Emperor continued as he faces the crown prince, "it may not look like it but this is my second son, he's currently building up merit for the position of the crown prince and has worked his way to being the Knight Commander, others too are on this same path but in their own ways, so he's the only available around here, please forgive him for his rude actions earlier"
It was hard to believe that the simple looking man, with rough beards and looked like he was in his late 20s was actually a prince, the crown prince found it amusing.
But Fulcan continued to grumble as he would not rest if he didn't uncover the secret of the enormous aura filled with killing intent.
'that it is so dark prove that it has killed hundreds of thousands... Well we'll be stuck together, I'll find out your secrets'
°°°¬¬°°°
Agrawin kingdom had settled since the situation at hand was beginning to get a clearer view, it's been four days since the fall of Palind Fortress and it has circulated almost the whole Western continent.
The Madguard guild had prepared all they needed and was set to move, with over 20 guild members and wooden carriages that carried loads and weapons along with other necessary things they'll be needing till God knows when. The guild secretary stood in front of the broad guild door with teary eyes as she watch the guild members get on their carriages and horses to start moving, crowd around the town gathered to wish them goodluck.
It wasn't only here, during the times of war many guilds become nomads of the war, working as mercenaries and building merits with powerful kingdoms. Even the guild Kain got recruited in known as the Red-Heart guild had moved immediately they heard of the fall of Palind fortress, it was a wake up call to the whole Western continent.
Patricia hugged the guild secretary and patted her back as she said her byes.
Like this, everything changed, as the war began to surface.
°°°¬¬°°°°
In the windows of the large royal castle, the envoy mansion particularly. The yellow haired Ajett smiled at his status as he slowly sipped a glass of red redwine.
[status window]
Name : Edernett Ramos Ajettiock
Level : 122
Class : Incarnate of despair
Class rating: epic
Profession : Nefarious
Health : 11200/11200
Mana pool stage : no mana core
Mana pool capacity : 0/0
Weight : 1100
Titles : Advocate of the devil, Orchestrator, favored by Zereth,
Titles effect : Skill : Death : *allows you to kill a target by telling him to die 2 weeks cooldown time, will not work on strong targets, Skill : devil's hand : *allows you to summon lower level demons. * +1 level every time your orchestrate a plan and it's successful. + 50 intelligence stat point for the period which you're involved in your plan. *Zereth will bring you back to life if you die, cooldown time; 80 hours. *all your title effect will be deactivated when you are in the presence of the seeker of Knowledge.
Available stat points : 110
Class skills : book of despair page 18(A)lv.4,book of despair page 8(C)lv.1,book of despair page 76(A)lv.1, book of despair page 99(S)lv.2, book of despair page 56(A)lv.3, book of despair page 655(RRR)lv.4
Profession mastery :intermediate level 9
Strength : 48
Vitality : 110
Agility : 71
Intelligence : 589
Persistency : 10
Insight : 190
Dexterity : 85
Dignity : 98
Nobility : 50
"well then let us rain despair upon the earth hehehekk"