As always, Giliath demands your power stones!
*****
3PM. Dreichels Plaza.
A slick, silvery-white orbal car zoomed through the main highways of the gigantic capital city, eventually reaching the heart of it, which was Dreichels Plaza. Thick, dark-gray clouds began to gather and form together high up in the sky. Some moments have passed after Naoto and his group left the Vander Dojo, enjoying the car ride that would eventually take them back to Valflame Palace. Along the way, Naoto decided it was time to tell the Arnor siblings the fate that befell the Dark Dragon.
Now, to set Testa-Rossa free, Naoto didn't have to slay Zoro-Agruga outright. Zoro-Agruga was a Cryptid that came into being after the Erebonian Curse started to spread, thanks to Ishmelga's meddling after the clash between the Kin of Fire and Kin of Earth happened. It would eventually get further twisted by Ishmelga, the culmination to trigger the Great Twilight. By piercing this dragon with a specially crafted sword by the Gnomes, called The Sword of the End, would the Great Twilight successfully trigger, continuing to spread the Erebonian Curse throughout the land.
Re-enacting the Great Twilight was the primary goal of Ouroboros's second plan to test humanity, the Phantasmal Blaze Plan.
Since Naoto presently did not have The Sword of the End, even if he wound up fighting the Dark Dragon during the rise of the Infernal Castle, it was likely nothing will even happen. And in turn, it could potentially thwart the Great Twilight altogether. If that were the case, Ishmelga would have to find another source to trigger the Great Twilight, or find a way to bring the Dark Dragon back under his control. And on top of all of that, if Naoto went down this route, he could very well become an enemy to Ouroboros.
That was something Naoto didn't want to happen. He was currently cooperating with Ouroboros, and The Fool even saved a position of an Enforcer for Naoto. Naoto wasn't sure if he would accept it yet, but he didn't want to waste the efforts he had made thus far to destroy his relationship with Ouroboros.
Instead, Naoto saw himself in a similar position to the Steel Maiden. Lianne Sandlot, once the leader of the Eisenritter, the primary knight unit which served to protect Emperor Dreichels during the War of the Lions two and a half centuries ago, now pronounced one of the Anguis nestled inside Ouroboros. The Steel Maiden actively piloted one of the seven Divine Knights, Argreion. Naoto is going to take it upon himself to pilot another one of the Divine Knights, Testa-Rossa. Just in this position alone, the only primary difference Naoto saw himself to the Steel Maiden was the fact that the Steel Maiden was, what's called, an Immortal.
In the Trailsverse, concepts like Reincarnation, Transmigration, Immortality, weren't foreign to some of its inhabitants.
One such case of this was the revelation of Chancellor Osborne, who was Naoto's father. he was the reincarnation of Emperor Dreichels.
As far as the Steel Maiden went, she was supposed to pass away during the War of the Lions. Yet on her dying breath, she successfully became the pilot of a Divine Knight. She successfully evaded that fate, only to get bound by a worse one, becoming susceptible to Erebonia's Curse. Naoto, on the other hand, may not get bound by this at all. Unlike the other pilots, Naoto was still alive and kicking. His lifespan was currently not halted, unlike the Steel Maiden.
Naoto wasn't sure if he would get cursed by a Divine Knight's Immortality. Instead, he thought of another similar characteristic that led him to thinking he still might be immortal in one way or another. And that was the Gamer System. It lets Naoto continuously power up without any limits. It did impose a level cap on his stats, but it was very possible Naoto could break his limits, and level up beyond the current cap of 250. Naoto wasn't sure what benefits he would receive by doing so, but immortality could become one possible scenario. Yet he would just be tied to his system, and not by some curse bound by this land.
Naoto wouldn't have to fear death once Rean's group cleanses the Great Twilight.
As I pondered the story of the Dark Dragon and the Infernal Castle more during our car ride back to Valflame Palace, a couple hours passed by in a blink of an eye before we realized it. The dark-gray clouds in the skies above began to spit out snow, one snowflake fell down one after another. A tiny layer of snow started to accumulate on the paved roads and sidewalks. Due to the snowfall, the people selling various goods through their stalls started to close up early for the day, and people began to disperse.
Dreichels Plaza was still blocked off to the general public, unless one had a special permit, they couldn't drive into it. Claire, on the other hand, rolled up to the barricaded street, and was greeted by a couple of RMP officers. They blinked their eyes, as they saw Princess Alfin's golden hair and became excited, realizing who it was that Claire was currently escorting. It wasn't just them either, the news agency off to the side halted their current work and started to snap photos like crazy.
During this time, Prince Cedric recollected himself and returned to his usual calm demeanor. Both he and Alfin were still ten year old kids, three years younger than I was. I am sure it was a lot to take in, especially since we dove into a lot of the lore that riddled this land. Both of our birthdays were coming up, they would become eleven and me fourteen this year.
Claire saluted the couple of RMP Officers, as did they, and opened the barricade to let our car through. Ignoring the cold air, Prince Cedric had another gaze toward the statue of Emperor Dreichels. He saw the fancy magic circle that connected the Vermillion Trials. It was still dead, showing no signs of activity. Claire drove our car by it, circling around to the other side. The large bridge that led to Valflame Palace and the giant palace itself came into view again. No matter how many times I look at this palace, it is always imposing to look at.
Prince Cedric couldn't help but look at Roselia again, who by the way, was still in my lap. Her body was her small form currently, so it was enough to where it didn't bother me. She didn't let neither Sherryl or Princess Alfin squeeze into my lap, taking it all for herself. I mean, you're supposed to be the leader of the vampires, you know that, right, Roselia?
Still, I am to blame for why Roselia was like this. She was one of the first people to get maxed Favorability, granting me Roselia's [Blessing]. The love parameter did open up after that. Does Roselia truly love me? I've always been hesitant to ask. She is hundreds of years old, but I'm not letting that get to my head. We did share a kiss not too long ago either, and even gave each other our blood. I don't think there's any turning back from this...
On top of that, her granddaughter also likes me. Emma resolved herself to train, receiving Ouroboros's guidance, but before we parted ways, she kissed me as a sign of her resolution. We have parted again a second time as Emma is now with Renne's group, wanting to further improve her combat skills. I'm sure she will be with them until it is time to erect the Infernal Castle. The only position I'm unsure of right now is Vita's.
Vita, alongside Emma, were both considered Roselia's grandchildren, even if they weren't bound by direct blood. Vita quickly departed from my side shortly after the events of Nemeth Island taking place, as she was in a place she wasn't supposed to be. Roselia literally dragged Vita away back to Eryn Village, and likely received good scolding from that. Ever since then, Vita got in touch with Ouroboros, and is likely now one of their Anguis, alongside the Steel Maiden. I do know where she currently is, and that is beneath Ordis, assisting Crow to awaken the Azure Knight and complete the Azure Trials. The question was, did Vita like me as Roselia and Emma did?
As I thought that, I saw Prince Cedric's eyes remain on Roselia. She was almost as small as him. If it wasn't the fact that her lush, golden hair stretched far beyond her body and well beneath her legs, one would mistake her for a young girl.
"That really was a lot to take in, but after going through the information you gave, your current appearance is rather deceiving. I am surprised to know that magic exists now, but doesn't that make you an old hag--?", Prince Cedric tried to say. Yet the moment he uttered those words, we felt the surrounding air inside the car turn cold.
"Not. Another. Word. Boy. Since you like Gehenna so much I don't mind sending you a one-way ticket there right now.", Roselia's cold voice said, her eyes convulsed into two tall slits. Prince Cedric felt his back run cold the moment he heard Roselia's harsh tone.
"P-Point taken...", Prince Cedric replied, gulping some saliva down out of nervousness.
Prince Cedric then closed his lips, not wanting to speak another word on the matter. Or else he could very well see his life forfeited. If Roselia meant something, she meant it. She likely even had the power to obliterate all of Heimdallr should she go down that path. Thankfully she was here with us, and I'm thankful for that, as well as becoming her disciple.
Roselia was the only person I confided into showing who I truly was. No one else knew I reincarnated from another place entirely, having no direct relation to this land. Not even Ouroboros knew. I don't regret telling Roselia this either. She could have used force if she wanted to, and I wouldn't have any way to protect myself. Witches do have another forbidden spell that lets them project astral images of themselves, as Roselia did to dive deeper into my memories.
I saw Roselia glance her eyes upward, and looked at me while tilting her head back a bit.
"Say, Naoto. Me being here is mostly to teach you and Emma that incantation, but otherwise you're free for the most part, right? That swordsman said you didn't have to come back to his place until next week. Do you have any plans until then?", Roselia asked me.
"Oh! I am also curious if you're busy or not, Big Brother. That's when I go back to St. Astraia, I really want to show you around Heimdallr before I resume school!", Princess Alfin suggested.
"I don't see that being a problem, but I will be unavailable for one or two days at most. I'll be taking it easy today, but I want to head to Crossbell City tomorrow. I have some unfinished business to take care of there.", I said, drawing everyone's attention again. As I said that, I looked down at the lilac-haired girl sleeping beside me. Roselia was on my lap, so I placed Sherryl's sleeping figure to the side of me. Her head was propped up against my leg right now, acting as a pillow.
"Crossbell huh, is it for Sherryl by chance?", Princess Alfin wondered. She knew Sherryl came from Crossbell, so I nodded my head. I think it was time to bring Sherryl back to her older sister. I haven't a clue if their parents are still alive for that matter either.