-------------------- [Richard's Room] --------------------
"What a vast room!!!" I am impressed after entering Richard's room.
"Hahaha, thank you…" He replies humbly.
"Still, I can't believe that I can step into this grand, magnificent castle of the emperor himself."
When I arrived at the castle, I were so grateful as I found my family all in perfect condition. They were placed in an exceedingly spacious room with complete needs like toilets and beds. The maids and butlers have been given first-class service to my family despite not being a royal blood. It wasn't just me. I also meet with Lilith and her sickly mother. They are also to be treated under the emperor family care. The reasons behind this all is that I and Lilith are the wielder of the sacred blade. We will be treated well and able to live here as long as we wanted. My family have been informed about the sacred blades succession to us before I arrived. They were shocked but everything has calmed down. We can choose to live wherever but the prince insisted because of the attack last night. Richard postponed last night meeting to today in the morning because he wants me to get a good rest after the battle.
"T-this is…my f-first time… in a b-boy room…" Lilith stutters.
Apparently, Richard had also requested Lilith here to have the meeting between us three while bringing our sacred blade.
"So come here my fellow sacred blade wielders. Sit anywhere you feel comfortable."
I sit on the super comfortable-looking sofa set in his room while Lilith sit on the double seat sofa, facing me. That's the only place I can find to sit on other than the fluffy carpet. Richard takes some kind of paper from his desk and put it on the table in front of me.
"This is my study about the sacred blades for about six months. There are several historical events and facts about the swords written here. You can see it if you want but now, I want to explain about the sword itself. I want to hear some explanation when you two wield the blade. Of course, I will go first. I want to make sure my founding are matches with your experience last night," Richard explains.
"I understand," I am agreeing with him.
Lilith just nodded a few times as an agreeing sign.
"Alright so, last night, we suddenly have to face upon an S-class dragon—"
"WAIT RIGHT THERE!!!"
The voice come out from outside the room after the door is opened with force.
"E-Elea!?" I surprised.
"Sis!?" Richard responded as surprised as me.
"Let me in the discussion!" Elea said stridently.
"Me too!!" Eva appears from behind Elea.
"Eve!? What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I was searching for you around the castle and coincidentally stumbled upon princess. So, I thought of following her because he is trying to search for you too!"
"I-I am not searching for him!!" Elea replied with a red-face.
"Then, what do you want sister?" Richard asks to Elea.
"I want to join your discussion, even if you don't let me in, I will still be joining!"
She entered the room and deliberately sit beside me.
"Hey princess! That's my seat!!" Eva says to Elea.
"Just sit on another place! There's a lot of space here!" she responded.
Eva come to me left side and pushed me to the right.
"Then I will sit here!"
"Huh…" I sighed.
"How was your leg?" I asked to Elea.
"It's fine now, thanks to Lilith, her healing power is phenomenal, it's as good as an S-rank healing spell, my leg is as good as new," she replied.
"That's great," I relieved.
"Well, let's continue…" Richard continued the meeting.
Everyone is giving their utmost attention to what Richard is talking about.
"Last night, the crystal dragon, Crysdraga suddenly appears out of nowhere and stormed the arena with abundant of gargoyles which are mostly E to D-class. The factors of it appearing at the middle of the city is yet to be discovered. The most phenomenal event that happened during last night was the succession of the two sacred blades in a same day. Of course, this have never happened. Next is that, this same year, all three sacred blade wielders simultaneously appeared which is also unheard of. There times when in two sacred wielders came across each other but definitely not in a same generation. This kind of occurrence become more escalated when the third sacred blade, The Eternal Sabre, Atroxia suddenly appeared for the past 500 years long."
"I was shocked the first time I heard about Atroxia because we learned during the class that Atroxia is said to be destroyed along with its master, Arthur Astrea," Eva forwards her opinion.
"Yes, that's true, but just yesterday, I have done some research quietly and found out that, there are another user of Atroxia."
We are all surprised. Richard took one of the papers he put on the table and show it to us.
"Yea, I am as surprised as you yesterday. I thought Evans is the only next wielder of Atroxia. I don't have a detailed information, but this one information is already considered top secret in the military," Richard uttered but almost like whispering.
"Stephanie… Astrea…" I read the name from one of the papers.
"Yes, she is the actual second wielder of the blade. She once lives in Azaria then she run away. She did a great crime to the country, but I don't find what she did. Well, that's all I found about her."
"This person is beautiful…" Lilith muttered after seeing illustrated face of the second Atroxia wielder.
"Next is the main topic I want to talk about. The power of each sword. I have found several articles from books in library, ancient book from somewhere and even local stories. I listed them I want to ensure which are the true one. This may seem useless but actually we can learn more about our swords this way and test it out later."
Everyone nodded their head as a sign of acknowledging his intentions.
"Well then, as I promised, I will start first," Richard said as he holds his sacred blade, Dominia.
"First of all, when I unsheathed and gripped The Everlasting Sword, I can feel my body muscles is becoming intense and sturdy, making me almost invulnerable to any physical attack. My legs are strong enough to let me moves incredibly fast to another location, as fast as blinking but to me, it's like another natural thing to me. Next is, I feel like my body is overflowing with magical energy which enable me to produce the Radiant Strike constantly without draining my magical energy," Richards clarified.
"Radiant Strike? What is that?" Eva asks.
"It's kind of a massive beam strike. I think it is a least as strong Evans's ultimate moves the Arcane Dragonova," Richard claimed.
"Oh, you remember the skill name?" I surprise by the facts he remembered my skill name.
"Of course, I love cool names! Hahaha! Next, how about Ristorea?" He continued.
"A-alright…it's me r-right?"
Everyone nodded to Lilith's question. Lilith holds her sacred blade, Ristorea.
"So, when I first time wield The Endless Rapier, Ristorea, I feel like my stamina is limitless, and I can even heal myself instantly. The main ability of the rapier I think is to summon a monster. After Richard said to me to find out the ability and help, I was kind of struggled and cried a little bit."
Everyone simultaneously stares at Richard.
"It wasn't intentional I swear!! I'm sorry for that!" Richard apologised.
"It's okay, then somehow a voice emerges from inside my mind. It told me to swing the sword," Lilith said.
"That!! Me too when one time I'm so frustrated that I couldn't activate Dominia beam strike ability before, a voice came out and told me to swing the sword," Richard mentioned.
That happened to me too. Should I mention it? But it's was when I'm wielding the Laevatain Sabre…
Then, Lilith continued her explanation.
"I was scared and keep swinging the sword. But I really didn't feel exhausted at all, but it takes quite a long time until I suddenly thought about something big than can fight that dragon. Then a titan suddenly appears and charge to the dragon. I tried to think of other things too, but I can't seem to summon anything anymore. Oh, last one! I remember! Last night, I felt like I have this ability to heal someone! Like I can heal any critical wound like last night, I can keep going healing everyone there. That's all."
"I see, that is the strange power you used to heal everyone there including Elea, right? That's really magnificent," I praised her.
"Thank you, Evans."
"I see, from my study, I actually found out that Ristorea have an extraordinary ability far precious than other two sacred blade. It is called 'Revenant Awakening'. It is a skill to revive a dead monster. Perhaps last night titan is an ancient titan that died and maybe somehow buried deep under the arena. And two more ability of Ristorea which I just found out last night before sleep is 'Dark Space' and 'Miasma'. I'm not sure what is it about since it just the name of the skill," Richard continued.
Richard rummaging through the scattered papers on the table and give it to Lilith. Probably about the Ristorea.
"So how about you Evans?"
It's my turn now. How about I give a little bit stylish intonation?
"(Clears throat), The first time The Eternal Sabre, Atroxia rested in my grips, there is a strange feeling, a feeling that is apparently different, something ambiguous, something—"
"Can you just go to the details Evans?" Eva interrupted.
"A-alright…"
Elea's face is kind of excited though.
"So, the first time I has it in my grip, honestly, the feeling is enigmatic. I don't know what the feeling is about, but I feel like I have an exceptionally great sensing ability to my surrounding. When I focus to something, I can detail everything that happen like there's one time I can hear everything said by those dragon slayers completely even though they are fairly distant from me. My eyes can see further than normal, and my mind can think of a lot of things concurrently. My reflex is particularly different. My body feel so light that I can dodge anything that comes in my way—"
Suddenly Elea touches my hand which surprised me.
"That surprises me…" I mentioned.
"Y-you said y-you can dodge a-anything so…" she muttering while turning her beet red face to the other way.
"…"
"Eh? Mm… okay… anyway—"
"Stupid," Eva interrupted.
"What did you say sis—"
"Blockhead," Richard continued.
"Eh?"
Lilith giggled.
"Did I do anything wrong?" I asked.
"You can continue Evans, hahaha!" Richard laughed.
"A-alright… actually, Atroxia is also my Scarlet Piercing Bow."
They're surprised. Oh, what a nice reaction.
"Yes, I don't know why but, as you see, this sabre I hold, has almost the same feeling when I hold the bow. I was quite shocked at the time it happened, when it suddenly turned to a sword, I could tell that it is my bow I am holding," I explained.
"The bow was given by our gramps to Evans… ah… sorry… let's ignored that," Eva mentioned but then backed down from saying it.
I silenced myself for a while. Everyone looked confused.
"What happened—" Lilith try to ask.
"Then about the reflex, I feel like I know what I should do right after a strike. The swordplay just continuously coming in my head," I just continued with another point.
"I realised that your movement has zero flaws, perhaps we can have a little sparring next time Evans," Richard suggested.
"Well, fine by me. Continuing on, so before I start fighting, I feel like my body is become a little bit powered up, like my strength increased. The last one is that thing you said to me, about the slash."
Richard nodded.
"At first, I don't realise the blade is getting sharper until I focused to it too much, I become aware of the blade sharpness. The more I swing it either it hit or not, it will continue to sharpen."
"…"
"That's all?" Richard asked.
I nodded.
"What about the last time you sliced off the dragon?"
Everyone except me and Richard stand on their feet because they didn't know about it from the surprising facts.
"What did you say?" Eva asked in disbelief.
"Is that really true, Evans?" Elea asked curiously.
"Wow, that's cool Evans!" Lilith praised me while clapping her hands excitedly.
"…"
"Cute…" I blurted while pointing my hand to Lilith.
Lilith chuckled.
"Hmph!!" Elea said.
Eeeeeeeh!!? She jealous??
"What 'cute' you ungrateful little brother!! I am the only cute lady you ever seen!!" Eva claimed while swaying my shoulder.
"HAHAHAHA!" Richard laughed.
And then we continue on talking about Richard's findings on the sacred blades. He decided to end the meeting for now since we can meet anytime now. Then, everyone goes to Lilith, Eva and Elea go to Elea's room to have their own chit-chat. When I am about to go to my room…
"Evans, wait up," Richard requested.
I halted my stride.
"I want to talk to you about that one thing."
"What is it?" I asked curiously.
"What actually happened that time, when everyone starts looking so frightened to you."
"Alright, I'm all ears."
"You see, during our attack on Crysdraga, you were somehow, I think it was you were like being possessed by something. Your movement become rough and unsteady but it's not becoming flaws on the swordplay, but it really looks like as if you have lost your mind but you surely did some crazy damage to the dragon. But later, your power become uncontrollable and start releasing series of dark red slashes to the surrounding. Even I was almost got hit by that—"
"Really?!" I am so shocked that I swiftly hold his shoulder out of guilt.
"Don't worry, it's fine. It didn't hit me so, let me continue…" he replied softly.
I nodded.
"Then I retreat to outside of the barrier. Then you become worsen and worsening, until you finally unleashed that horrifying murderous slash that slice through the whole body of Crysdraga and simultaneously…" he almost hesitated to continue the sentence.
"Simultaneously…what?" I asked in an extremely curious state.
Richard is a little bit hesitant to say it but finally he let it out.
"…simultaneously destroyed the SS-rank level barrier that have been strengthen by the total of three hundred professional dragon slayer. Actually, there is no skill or spell capable of destroying the Execution Zone even it is in the same rank. There was never an event where that spell has ever been severed by another attack."
I am thunderstruck by the story.
"Your power is the only one proven to display a feat of a T-rank magic up until now. A transcendent power. Otherworldly."
I am still speechless.
"B-but you don't have to worry, I sure we can find a way to use it in a good way! Let's train together and get better alright!!"
Richard is a considerate and good-hearted person. But I am just…
-------------------- [Royal Castle Meeting Hall] --------------------
The next morning, I was called along with Eva, Elea, Richard, Lilith to the meeting hall inside the castle and met with Quinn, Helena, Ace, Zyon and Lisa, the Vice Leader of the Military Dragon Slayer from before. The emperor was with her wife, the empress.
"Everyone, thank you for coming."
We all stand up and give him a slight bow before sitting back on our seat.
"Actually, I have an extremely important thing to tell all of you and ultimately to the three heroes, the wielder of the sacred blade. A week ago…"
The air suddenly got intense.
"I dreamt it. Same as 500 years ago by the first emperor. I think you all can actually guessed it," he claimed.
"That can't be…" Richard stands in disbelief.
"It is true Prince Richard my dear son. My dream is almost the same as the previous 500 years emperor dreamed about. A befall of disaster."
That's what I thought as well. But to come this soon. Not like I actually know when but…
"Dear youngsters, the vision that I see isn't just as a simple dream that you can just get every day and forgot by the next morning! This dream is almost too real to be called a dream. I prefer to call it prophecy. The day I wake up after that night, my mind was unable to forget about it, the vision keeps reappearing in my mind it almost drives me crazy. And today, I have come to a decision."
"…"
"Before I tell you the decision, I will tell you about the dream, it's almost the same as what you heard in histories except it's not as happy ending as that story."
"…"
"On a land that is unknown to human, there is a monster that is growing and someday, it will be roaming this earth. One day, when all three heroes have assembled, they work together and fight with the monster and in the end, they successfully win. As the end was thought to be that the dream continues. There was another monster that hiding in a pitch-black abyss. It has no physical form but yet, it is terrifying powerful. It's waiting to hatch and once it came upon the face of the world, a great cataclysm will occur. But the heroes appear again, they will fight against it, and another greatest sacrifice, will have to be paid once again."
"…"
"That's all," The emperor ends his narration.
"Did we win for the last one?" I asked.
"I don't know," the emperor replied.
"I don't quite understand but that's kind of frightening," Zyon stated his thought.
"So, what is the decision your majesty?" Helena asked.
The emperor stands from his seat.
"Thank you for asking. So, I decided to create a group of elites with incredible talent, to fight alongside the chosen heroes as one team."
"A team?" Elea curious.
"Yes, Princess Eleanor, a team consist of the three sacred blade wielder and another seven people to fight alongside them. This will increase the chance of us to fight against an unknown dreadful monster," the emperor replies.
"But why so many?" Ace expressed his wonder.
"Because if I were to choose any sacrifice, I better let the myself perished for good. That's why, I don't want to choose, instead of one thousand, I want to save one thousand and one, even if they are more, I will save them all!!"
Everyone is amazed by the speech performed by the emperor. The determination brought by the emperor is somehow too heavy for me to bear it for now.
"Therefore, I have assigned all of you two professional and knowledgeable guardians for your two years journey."
"Two years?!" Eva surprises.
"Yes. That's the longest duration I can give you after a discussion with your professional instructor. Since I have declared we will be clearing the monsters in three years, wouldn't it be bad if we took that back? But have no worries because these instructors will assist all of you the be the best within the time period."
"Who is our instructor?" I asked.
Out of the blue, the hall door is knocked and opened.
"Hye everyone! I hope everyone is in good health!"
"Sir Atlas, what are you doing here—" I am totally shocked.
A beautiful, sexy woman appeared from behind him.
"Hye everyone!!"
"Miss Vanessa?" I became more shocked.
"Nice meeting you here, Hero Arch-Sabre," she replied with a smirked face.
"Can you take it from here, Atlas?" The emperor asked to Sir Atlas.
"Of course, your majesty," He replied.
Then the emperor and the empress walk out of the hall.
"…"
What just…
"So, everyone, nice to meet you all, I am Atlas Ravenoir, and this is Vanessa Ultima. I guessed you have known us very well. We both will be your guardian for two years journey and training on a faraway island with abundant of deadly monsters."
"You will be trained by us and be teach on how to survive there," Miss Vanessa added.
"To anyone that may have not meet with miss Lisa, Lisa can you stand up?"
That Lisa girl pulled her seat backwards and stand up on his feet obediently.
"Introduce yourself," Sir Atlas ordered.
"My name is Lisa Russell. 21 years old. I am in the Military Dragon Slayer positioned as the Vice Leader. I like spicy food and dislikes men."
Her face was cool and steady despite there are several men in the room not to mention the prince. Maybe since she is in the military, she was taught to be stern with everything. She is quite polite to the prince before though.
"Alright stop right there. You can sit down… huh…" Sir Atlas sighed.
Thank goodness, thank you for stopping her, sir Atlas!
"You are welcome, Evans," Sir Atlas mentioned.
"E-eh…f-for what?"
"Aren't you thanking me for interrupting Lisa's introduction?" he says that intentionally while smirking at me.
"Tch," I replied.
"Did you just click your tongue?" Sir Atlas mentioned.
I ignored him while whistling.
"Evans, that's not nice!" Miss Vanessa told me softly.
"Yes miss… I'm sorry…" I apologised.
"…"
"What with that attitude?! Why are you so cold to me but nice to Miss Vanessa?!!"
So annoying—
"Yeah, that's weird!" Zyon added.
"Maybe he has some—" Ace tried to state his thought.
"Do you like Miss Vanessa more than me Evans?" Eva interrupted Ace.
"Maybe you like me too oh Evans uh hu—" Helena added.
"Eh, wait! What—" I tried to ask.
"I see what your taste now Evans…" Richard interrupted me.
"E-Evans did talk to me like that too, r-right Evans?" Elea joined.
"It's okay Eva, I'm here if Evans doesn't want—"
"HEY RELAX!" I successfully interrupted Quinn and calmed this misdirected discussion.
"How about you relax?" Sir Atlas suggested.
"This all starts because of you, sir!"
"Hohoho! Is it now?"
"It is!"
"Hahaha, aren't you a famous one now…anyway, let's get down to business. Our adventure will be embarked on…"
He checks his analogue hand watch. That's old school.
"Oh, it's today! So go pack your necessities and met me at the front of the Castle Gate. Dismissed!"
Then he just walked casually right out of the door with Miss Vanessa.
"Really?" I asked.
"I guess it's time to pack some clothes!" Eva said.
"Yeah, let's go!" Quinn agreed.
A minute later, everyone already going back to pack their things up and ended leave only me here as the last person.
"I better get going as well."
As I trying to walk, I feel that sudden presence.
Who?
Yeah exactly.
"How do you enter this area, shadow?" I turned to my back.
As usual, he wears his black clothes leaning on the wall.
"First of all, congratulations on getting the legendary sword, Atroxia. Although I know but I have never thought it will be appearing like this."
"You knew? How?"
"Secondly, congratulations on finishing off the crystal dragon, alone on top of that."
"That's wrong. I got abundant of help."
"Third, good luck on your journey. Don't worry about your family, we will protect them with our life. I promised you. Lastly, I have a little present for you."
He gave a scroll to me.
"Therefore, until we meet again, we wish only the best for your growth, my lord Arch-Sabre," he says his last words while bowing down to me before vanishing without a trace.
"Lord?" I wondered what does that actually mean.
"What the hell is this?"
I open the scroll he given me.
-------------------------------------------
[Forsaken Union 09: Arch-Sabre]
[Upon the dire times, there are only one of the wielders of the sacred blade that will emerge victorious. The strongest of all, the ruler of the blades, the one to rule over the monster. The ultimate battle is yet to come but I afraid, I can't be the one. Thus, the Arch-Sabre shall emerge from among the race of human, displaying his true potential and finally, master the blade of annihilation. It is a cursed blade indeed, but only him, the Arch-Sabre, will become the true wielder of the sword.]
-------------------------------------------
"Is this… even a coincidence anymore?" I asked to myself, and my hands is shaking.
After all of this events that occurred, I can't dodge any of this matter anymore. As promised, my family shall be safe for now. Judging from his speaking ways, that sound trustworthy because until now, that's the first time he ever talked to me like talking to someone of high ranking. What is actually the story behind this? Is it my destiny to be someone like described in this scroll or...it's just a game made by the forsaken union? It's time for me to move forward and unveil the mystery behind these coincidences.
Coincidences? I don't think so.
This is what we called…
Fate.