In the wide dark charcoal tiled room, cold air seems to fill it, the pressing atmosphere inside the elegant room can be clearly felt to those in the middle of it. Two people feel quite strained at the current mood of the room and fell into silence.
Someone broke that silence...
*Cough!
Everyone's attention was shifted to the man who seems to have intentionally cough to break the silence.
Xarth clasps his hands together and looked at the Duke "So Duke Jidek regarding Amoth?"
The Duke came back to his senses and continued.
Duke Jidek unclasp his hands, purple eyes like Wisteria looked at everyone straight as an arrow.
"As you have heard we slayed Amoth 35 years ago and brought peace here in the Southern Continent...What would be your reaction if I were to tell you that we didn't kill it?"
Harold tightened his hands to form a fist he glances back at the Duke with an ashen expression. "I-I would feel betrayed that the very Kingdom I've been serving hid such a vile truth."
'Art, Is the Duke implying that Amoth is still alive?'
Xarth covered his mouth to quietly reply to Solies. "Yeah...Do you know something?"
'Not really, When I was here in the Southern Continent way back. I've seen him countless times cause destruction and chaos everywhere he goes. Oh! By the way from a very long time ago. We Elementals and all the other races united as one to put a stop to the Demon King's Advances to take control of the Whole continents, I know 10 Divine artifacts wiped out the Demons Race and brought peace here in the whole continent. Though I don't know exactly where all of it are.'
"Really...Where could it be?"
'But I can feel one divine aura close by.'
Xarth looked around the room he stops his gaze at the very corner of the room. He was looking straight at the white mirror enclosed inside the glass shaped box.
'Is that it? that's the thing that stands out the most inside this room.'
"On behalf of our Kingdom's Sun, I deeply apologize for not informing you the ugly truth...Amoth is still alive, he's sealed in the deepest part of Ischyrós Castle. And the artifact that sealed him is already weakening these past years."
Harold Scoff in disbelief before replying to Duke Jidek. "Ha! This is really...."
"I'm sorry but we really need your help, I noticed that you are accompanied by a Swordmaster. As you have known when we went to Amoth's expedition we didn't have any Swordsmaster at that time due to some circumstances. Only 100,000 soldiers including 1000 Mages were on the battlefield. And only a few survived that knows about it including me, Marquis Adin Wheelmen, and King Taylor Slyman."
"I can't believe this!, Then how in the world did you sealed him?"
"Have any of you heard of the artifact 'Chains of Restraint'?
Xarth scratches his head 'Yes though I've completely forgotten about it since I was preoccupied with the King's celebration incident that is supposed to happen first.'
Harold tilted his head sideways implying he wasn't aware of it.
Someone other than the Duke chimed in the conversation.
Ezekiel rose from his seat "The artifact 'Chains of Restraint' is an item bestowed upon the Archpriest of the Holy Temple of Life and Death it is a High-class artifact capable of sealing Monsters and even Dragons who are in their 2nd Phase of Evolution. It was found by my father during the Raiyaston War on the ruins of the Holy Temple of Life and Death stashed inside a box with a high-security lock. And inside that box, we also found this." Ezekiel waltz his way to the very corner of the room where the white mirror can be found.
He took it out of the box glass, it was only the size of his hands. the white mirror with a majestic woman imprinted on the very base of it elegantly shimmers in this dark wide room. Ezekiel slowly approached Duke Jidek and handed down the white mirror.
Duke Jidek gently placed the white mirror on the center of the table. "This also came with the 'Chains of Restraint' but I don't know what it is. Have a look some of you might have some knowledge of it." he crossed his arms as he had placed the white mirror for the others to see.
The Three moved out of their respective seats and took a closer look at the item that had been gently placed on the table.
Xarth holds his chin as he started inspecting the item 'Hmm...Now that I have taken a closer look...There's definitely an item similar to this that the novel has described. But I can't place my finger on it.' Xarth started to think...
In the Novel after the chapter of 'The Appearance of a Hero.' They quickly moved onto Zero's celebration where Duke Jidek and Zero first met.
After small greetings, he proposes a deal to have him taken in by their household for only a short period of time so he can be a good guide for Ezekiel to follow in the upcoming future.
It ended with Zero accepting the Duke's proposal as he sees this as an opportunity to gather information regarding those Black Robed men with Red Claws marks on their chest that had attacked the Brook Village.
He effectively uses every opportunity he gets to sneak into the Duke's office to find any useful information. Then the chapter ended there.
In the next chapter after Zero's approval of Duke's proposal is where the fun begins...The chapter was titled
...
'The Forgotten Past, The Age of Calamity'
(A summary of what had happened in that chapter.)
It was here where the novel explained every detail regarding what had Duke Jidek Lancaster discovered or The Forgotten Age...During the Raiyaston War as described earlier, he stumbled upon a box filled with 2 artifacts the other one was called the 'Chains of Restraint' While the other one was known as Adea's Blessing to Humankind 'Mirror of Adea'.
During 'The Age of Calamity' way before the Continental Times. The whole continent was shrouded in Darkness and Destruction as the Demon King Vonis opened the door to the human world through an abundant sacrifice of believers, leading a group of demons to the world, and on the day of the eclipse, half of the 4 Continents, was captured by the Demon King's Army.
In the endless chaos, the demon slaughter enslaved a large number of human beings, and after receiving enough faith and a steady stream of sacrifices, The Demon King sat down as he sees his Dominance over the Continents satisfactorily, The world felt devastation and loss of faith on that day.
At this time all of the races including Dragons who were known for being prideful. Have agreed upon a ceasefire as the Demon King Vonis grew more powerful day by day.
Thus 'The Mutual Defense Alliance' was created. It was created to unite all the other races to ensure that together they would put a stop to the Demon King's Vonis Dominance all over the Continents.
This Age was also called 'The Rise of Heroes' as 10 individuals shown their capabilities to defeat the Demon King Vonis with their respective strength and the use of artifacts from certain Gods and Goddesses.
One of them is the Archpriestess Reliana the very first Archpriestess of the Holy Temple of Life and Death...
'Goddes of Life and Death Adea'
Adea is a hugely regarded and greatly admired goddess. All living beings, friendship, and Peace are very important elements to this divine being is associated with and most would regard her as conceited and independent.
Often depicted as Tall, athletic, mature, and bright, Adea is usually worshipped through atonement and sacrifices made by all living things as she was the Goddess of Both Life and Death.
There are a few places for those individuals to gain their powers through. Though it's quite difficult because accessing her powers you would have to first do certain things. If you were to make a contract with her, she would use you like her eyes in the Mortal World and spy on the other Temple of Gods and Goddesses. But those who are adored by this Goddess are usually Priest or Priestess in the Holy Temple of Life and Death or a place that carries symbols that are preferred by other Gods and Goddesses.
Worshippers are quite numerous and tend to come in the form of nobles and scholars, but all are welcome under the guidance of this goddess. Provided the right atonements and sacrifices made by the said worshippers.
Adea has no lovers. Of course, this changes nothing to the guidance Adea may provide, but it's the strongest gods that require no aid. After all, she's the Embodiment of Life and Death which are Two Major Factors in the Mortal World.
'Mirror of Adea'
The woman's face in the mirror symbolizes life and Death as it was the face of Adea the Goddess of Life and Death. It is said that it first appeared when the First Archpriestess Reliana a human adored by Adea pleaded together with Elementals to ask her to give them her blessing to get rid of the Unpleasant Race that is an Obstacle to every living being.
In the process, they could bring back peace and restore life here in the Southern Continent, which was currently shrouded in the darkness caused by the Demon Race.
It was answered...As it was to bring back balance to the world that is starting to crumble.
A circular mirror made out of moonstone floated down from the sky, it brilliantly shines as it slowly ascended and placed itself at the very hand of Adea's Statue. Archpriestess Reliana and the Elementals were overjoyed as their pleas were answered. The 'Mirror of Adea's power is far more superior than the 'Chains of Restraints' As the 'Mirror of Adea' is one of the Divine artifacts used to destroy the Demon King Vonis.
Two Main Abilities of 'Mirror of Adea'
-'Reflect' is one of the two mirror's abilities. it is capable of reflecting enemies attack that deals twice the damage from the original caster.
-'Battle Suit' The Main ability of the 'Mirror of Adea' Is to mirror Adea's Unique Battle Armor. Meaning it's just a copy of her real Battle Armor or you could say the nerfed version of it, Regardless it's still one of the artifacts that defeated the Demon King Vonis. It mainly specializes in arggo combat styles as it gives a boost to whoever uses it.
Archpriestess Reliana is a Female Swordsmaster capable of utilizing the Mirror's abilities with her Intricate Sword Technique. Causing a great deal of Damage to Vonis.
The chapter ended there giving out information regarding the Calamity that befalls the 4 Continents over 30 Centuries ago.
"The 'Mirror of Adea'...." Xarth quietly mumbled to himself.
'How could I not recognize this. Its one of the major artifacts inside the novel, Why is it here?'
Even though Xarth quietly mumbled it to himself it was still heard by everyone in the middle of the room, as it was silent with only tension in the air.
The Duke headed his gaze over at Xarth he stood up from his seat and approach the young man. He pressed his hands at Xarth's shoulder with a great amount of pressure along with it. "What do you know about it? Could you please tell us?" The Duke's eyes were gleaming with hope to know what the mirror really meant.
'Ha.....Me and my goddamn mouth.'
Lee Son was really bothered by this scenario he really was not planning on interfering with the plot anymore.
He only had to because Xarth's family can get caught up in the upcoming mess that was supposed to happen in the capital. He also wouldn't like to live with the Count and Countess Barrows depress over Harold's death or him being injured.
This is because he sees them as really nice people and parents, Considering he himself grew up without a Father nor Mother. This is something Lee Son could only do for Xarth, is for him to keep his family safe. Using his knowledge regarding this world of 'THE CONQUEST OF ZERO'
'F*ck it!'
He decided to solve this troublesome problem by using the bits of memory he remembered in the novel. But he is still determined to not interfere further more than this so he can live his luxury life peacefully at the Count Barrow's Territory.