"Eye of… the other world?"
"The Key to the Lands of Kwixt. A land filled with horrid nightmarish lifeforms cursed with the abnormality of evolution. They live in a world no human can survive in. That rip in space you see up there is connected to that world."
"Lands of Kwixt…? I've never heard of such a place before."
'Is it from the previous era?'
Celeste knows little about the continent's history. Maybe the academy has this place recorded?
"I thought humans are familiar with that land? Haven't your people been attacked by those otherworldly monsters nearly every century? Or did I misremember what I heard?"
'Did something like that ever…' Celeste suddenly realized what the goddess was talking about.
Otherworldly monsters…
"…Are you referring to the world beyond the Intermid barrier?"
"Barrier? I don't see any barrier on that mountain or anywhere around here for that matter."
"There's no barrier?" Celeste looked up at the orange arc of light.
There didn't appear to be any border, just like the goddess said. The Intermid barrier at the empire's border was visible even to the naked eye. It changed colors sometimes but it's still visible even during the day.
How could a rip in space—that leads to that world—be possible?
"Just to confirm… Have any monsters come through that place?"
"No. However, I suspect that it is a key to allowing the monsters to invade your world. If the key is turned then the eye will open, which will cause many holes to appear in space-time. That ultimately leads to an invasion. From what I understand, your people has someone capable of defeating those monsters."
"Indeed… She's Freya York, the Archmage. Are you saying that the rips in the barrier only appears when that eye, or whatever you call it, opens?"
"Yes, that's what I observed. Travelers come through this mountain frequently. I get my information from them. One of them told me many decades ago that their nation was overrun by the monsters from the Lands of Kwixt. At the same time, I could see the eye observing the world. It was at that moment that I knew that the eye was the key that should never be turned."
Celeste had nothing to say to this. She just looked dumbstruck.
Normally people would laugh at what this goddess was saying. The only explanation that humans can accept was: "The world has always been divided. There was no single world, but three separate dimensions—the demon world, the land of the Intermid, and the continents of humanoids".
"Why is it called the 'Lands of Kwixt'? The people in this world call it the Intermid Border. Well, they call the barrier that but we refer to the world beyond the barrier witth the same name."
"I only know that Kwixt was a mortal with the dream to obtain true power and rise above the gods of time. His wish was not granted but he obtained a fraction of that power. However, this power corrupted his very mortal form. It turned him into a beast of questionable and mysterious origins. He loathed what the power did to him but he came to accept it and spread his influence throughout the world, causing fear in the hearts of the weak. He had another wish—to find others like him. However, that wish was also not granted to him. Thus, the thing he was then decided to create more like him. He wanted to build a nation filled with only his own kin—gods. Yet again, he failed.
His children could not grow, they had no signs of being sentient like him but they had one desire—to destroy. That was the only link he shared with the children he brought into this world by raping countless creatures. Melis did not let him continue doing as he pleased since he was a threat to her creations. She created what you people now call the 'Intermid Border' to keep his children from escaping. The barrier has been there for thousands of years and is beginning to show signs of breaking. This mortal who went by the name of Kwixt was banished from this world, seeking another purpose. However, each wish he has never comes to fruition. Fate turned its back on him. He now wanders as a beast seeking yet another meaningless wish."
"What kind of name is Kwixt exactly? I've never heard of it before."
"It's from a language called Godorin. Its origins started on my home world. It translates to 'Star' in your language."
'So the Lands of Kwixt was originally the cage of this monster that wanted to create his own species?'
Celeste smiled wryly, "That sounds rather unbelievable."
"There are many iterations of the tale of Kwixt. What I just told you is the iteration of my people. Your people came up with your own story for it just like we have. But I'm sure ours isn't far from the truth. I believe there exists a grimoire somewhere in this world that can tell the true story of Kwixt. If you wish to know more, then find it."
"I'm not interested enough to go looking for a book so I'll pass."
Still, she'll need to report what she just heard to the magic tower in the empire. They can relay this information to the Archmage.
Of course, Celeste won't mention the crystals. If Lunaria and Arnold kept the crystals a secret then it must mean that they don't want people to know about the crystals just yet.
"These crystals are very important in keeping this world and the Lands of Kwixt separated from each other."
"?"
Noticing Celeste's questioning face, the goddess continued:
"Mana is the source of power for a majority of the things in this world. It can help magicians wield arcane of the grandmasters, it can be used to enchant and strengthen equipment, it can enrich the soil of the earth… The lists goes on. The crystals that the people of the mountains gather for me are used for a very special purpose."
The goddess pointed up at the orange arc of light.
"That tear in space needs a constant supply of mana, something that most things can't provide."
"….How much mana are you talking about exactly?"
"There's no definite answer to your question. Some days it needs less than average and other days it needs a lot."
"I don't understand. Surely there can't be a crystal big enough to continuously provide mana to keep a rip in space closed."
The biggest type of crystal that Celeste knew about was a city core. A city core mainly controls the water systems of every nation. They are one of the most important resources for a city to have.
Dungeons usually harbor giant crystals all of the time. Although they can be found outside dungeons as well, it's rare to find them everywhere. Places with high concentration of mana have crystals that are capable of becoming city cores.
The water doesn't just get transported to households, it gets cleaned to ensure that its both drinkable and capable of cleaning one's body.
They don't last very long despite how big they usually are. One can only last up to five or more years. The continent was vast so the nations never run out of crystals.
"There is a ginormous crystal underground which is supplying mana to the Key. I cannot say for certain if there are more crystals of the same size elsewhere. My job is to redirect the mana through a hole that leads to the crystal. I throw more crystals into that hole whenever the mountain people bring me more crystals. It's important that the Key receives the right amount of mana otherwise even a ripple can cause portals to appear in the Intermid Border. I must ask, why do you care what I do with the crystals?"
"This land belongs to someone I know. The resources are also his and these people are using it. The crystals will secure profits for his land which in turn will benefit the House he'll rule. My House."
"Land cannot belong to a single individual, dear. It can only belong to a community of people."
"Spare me the speech, lake goddess. Fine, I understand that it's important that you receive these crystals so I won't stop you. Even he would understand. However, I want those people to go to the city where they can build new homes and not disturb the city lord's advisor's work. They had the audacity to come to the city and demand we leave their land. A compromise must be made or I will have to kill them all once I leave."
"…You are threatening to kill people so casually?"
"Either that or they accept the compromise."
The goddess looked at the knights who were standing behind Celeste.
"Is that why you brought these knights? To hurt innocent people?"
"They're mainly here to guard me from whichever idiot tries to attack me."
"Violence is not always the answer. Have you told them about accepting them in the city?"
"All I told them was that I'll make a decision after meeting you."
"I see…"
"But I prefer it if they come to our land and live there. I'll have Lunaria give them plots of land to build new homes. Wouldn't that benefit you as well? You won't need to waste your power giving these people protection from monsters or anything else. You can only focus on protecting yourself or whatever disciples you get. They can still bring you the crystals but only the amount we agree on."
"…You make a compelling argument. I agree that they're bringing an excessive amount of crystals despite the fact that the huge crystal—which is the main source at the moment—is still capable of providing power on its own. It has been providing power even before the Demon Human War. I believe that it will be another few decades before it burns out completely."
Celeste smiled, "Excellent. Then I assume you're fine with my decision?"
"Indeed. However, I will need to speak with the chief first. Would you mind calling him down?"
Celeste looked back at one of the knights. The knight hurriedly turned around and jogged up the crater.
The chief came down with the knight soon after.
He immediately prostrated in front of the goddess.
"Divine Goddess, I am honored to speak with your divine self again. Your body and face exude the same brilliance ever since I came here as a boy before becoming chief. Your toes up until your head is perfectly crafted, as one would expect of a goddess."
The lake goddess smiled wryly seeing the chief kiss the top of her foot.
"…I thank you for the compliment and your loyalty, dear believer. Thank you for praying for me every night. A burst of power fills my body when I receive your people's prayers."
"We promised to worship thee! And that is what we shall do every day of our lives!"
"Can you stop kissing her feet like a dog? We have important matters to discuss."
The chief got up. His expression turned stoic.
"I hope you made the right decision, First Lady."
"I think listening to this child is in your people's best interest, Ugur." Phistia spoke to the chief instead, "I've lived in this world for hundreds of years and have met many humans from the world outside this forest. I've seen what humans do to each other when one side is pushed to the limit of their patience."
"Goddess…?"
"This forest will remain standing since I will always be here. I cannot protect both the forest and your people. I've been keeping quiet about this since it's a disgrace to admit to one's followers that you cannot provide them protection for too long. It manifests fear in their hearts then hatred. A god's greatest fear is being hated by the people who revere them."
'She's lying without batting an eye. I thought gods were pure-hearted?'
If she was really weakened or didn't have enough power to protect the mountain people then she would've agreed with Celeste much sooner.
The chief lowered his head silently.
Celeste decided to speak.
"Your people are now officially citizens of Whitage. Well, you're more like welcome in its settlements."
"…What?"
"You can still visit the forest to worship the goddess but you're forbidden from using the crystals unless you ask the city lord or his advisor."
Celeste doesn't legally own these crystals so she didn't mention her name.
"But my people have lived in these mountains for hundreds of Great Moons! How will we survive in a land of the unknown without our precious crystals!?"
"The city will have everything you need. I can't guarantee that you can hunt all the animals here in the forest as you please from now on but if you want to hunt then you should apply for a hunter's license in the future. It's not necessary for all your people to get one, the chief having one will suffice. Until then you buy or trade your food at the markets. We'll provide building materials but you're forbidden from cutting the trees down in this forest. Cutting the trees will only be done if it's necessary to expand the city and its settlements. Also, violence is prohibited, especially the challenger-for-the-chief-position nonsense. If you want to act like barbarians then do it where normal folk can't see you. And don't think of doing that in the forest since we'll have workers all around the forest in the coming future."
"First Lady—"
"I won't hesitate to chase your people away if you stand against this decision. I'm sure Lunaria would agree that you hold no worth for Arnold von Berkley or the city. I'm giving your people this opportunity to live a better live without relying on something that will eventually run out. Is this kindness not enough for you? These crystals will eventually run out and that will be a problem for the future generations. They'll have to force themselves to adept without relying on the crystals. In the end, what point is there?"
"….."
"Even if you stand against us now and we decide to leave your people, you won't be able to stop Arnold von Berkley from mining the crystals. But if you so much as touch the workers, who are sent here to mine the crystals, then you will be chased from this land."
The chief lowered his head. His staff fell down.
"!" he suddenly pulled out a dagger from his backside and sprang towards Celeste. He aimed right for her throat.
Celeste stood there calmly.
A barrier suddenly appeared in front of Celeste which made a clang when the dagger hit it. At the same time, two greatswords aimed at the chief's neck, ready to cut him down.
The goddess was the one who made the barrier.
"Chief! What are you doing! Do you realize the danger you just placed your people in!?" the goddess yelled.
Celeste merely laughed when the chief fell with his knees on the ground.
His hands trembled and the dagger fell onto the ground.
"Please… Please don't hurt my people. Kill me instead so that I can repent for my actions."
"My way of doing things is to kill the family or friends of the one who tries to attack me or wrong me." Celeste said with a smirk as she lifted his chin, "So your plead will go on deaf ears, chief."
"Oh, goddess… Oh, goddess… What shall I do…" the man held the goddess' robes and clung to her waist.
The goddess didn't answer him. She merely stood there with her gaze averted. Her poker face probably did the most damage to the chief who was seeking an answer.
Seeing that even she wasn't going to help him, he let go.
"Something like that can't be forgiven, you know? I can execute you for trying to kill me, a noble. But I'll soften your sentence," the chief slowly lifted his head when Celeste spoke, "You will be given plots of land to build new homes around the other settlements. I doubt any of you will want to live inside the city."
It will take a long time before any of them is able to live in modern society. You can't expect a group of natives—unfamiliar to any of modern society's norms—to live among normal folk.
The chief stood up, ready to leave. However, he stopped and spoke with his back turned.
"….Please answer one question…"
"What is it?"
"Will my people survive under Arnold von Berkley's rule without the goddess' protection?"
"That's not something you have to worry about. We will soon have these knights spread throughout this entire land. Now, what will you do, chief?"
Celeste already made the decision for him but she wanted to know whether or not he'll follow along.
"….Thank you for accepting my people as your people, First Lady…."
Celeste smiled.
The chief left in a hurry once Celeste dismissed him. Celeste was about to leave as well but the goddess stopped her.
"What will you do with the knowledge of the Key that I gave you?" the goddess seemed concerned about something.
"I'll have to tell someone at the Magic Tower in the empire. They can relay everything to the Archmage once she returns to the Academy."
"…I fear doing so will burden this magic user you refer to as Archmage."
"Hm? Why do you think so?"
The lake goddess glanced up at the mountain peak, at the "Key".
"Keeping a seal from breaking apart isn't as easy as providing it a source of power from a magic crystal. It requires precise control so that there aren't any hiccups. The hiccups have a high possibility of causing cracks in the barrier."
"Hmm…" Celeste suddenly recalled something, "I heard that the main camp of the border patrol reported holes appearing in the Intermid. The monsters were trying to bruteforce their way through but Freya York responded to the distress signal. The matter was dealt with before any of them were able to cross to this world. This leads to a question I have in mind: Was the magic crystal supplying power as it usually had over the decades it has been providing power?"
'Could this be the hiccup she was talking about?'
"…Yes… I expected something like that to happen again but… if she didn't respond to the danger then many would've died. Unlike what she's capable of, all I can do is guide the mana towards the seal. I feel like it would be partly my fault if the creatures managed to cross over."
"So, what's needed is a skilled magician to keep it intact? I can assure you that many mages will jump at a chance to hold that seal intact. They would gain nationwide recognition and wealth, after all."
The Intermid Barrier—well, the world beyond it—has been a major problem for all of humanity throughout history. If someone manages to find a way to keep the key sealed forever then they would be regarded as one of the greatest individuals to ever live.
With this came fame and fortune, something that many elite mages aspire to achieve. It's safe to say that all six Magic Towers will want to come to this city to get the aforementioned.
Celeste noticed the goddess smiling bitterly, "What's wrong?"
"…I fear it's not as easy as providing a solution for keeping the seal closed. A solution already exists."
"Yes, you said that the mage has to be capable of high magic precision and control. There are many elite mages who fit both requirements."
The goddess shook her head, "I think that only humanity's strongest magician can bear this burden. If I were to be honest, it's something I wouldn't wish on anyone."
"What is it?"
"The Archmage—if she decides to ever do it—will need to bind her body to the seal. In other words, she needs to become one with the seal in order to keep it closed."
"?"
"She will need to be bound to it for all eternity, watching the world from that mountain peak until her body perishes."
Celeste's eyes widened slightly.
"Isn't that… similar to being imprisoned?"
"Yes. If humanity wishes to keep the seal closed to avoid letting any holes appear then they must sacrifice the one who has attained the peak of magic…"
◇◇◇
Celeste arrived back at the village.
She thought back to what the goddess told her.
How could they sacrifice the Archmage—the protector of humanity? She—just like all the others before her—had protected this continent from many adversaries. It's thanks to her that the people can live normal lives.
What will happen to that peace when she's imprisoned for the sake of the people? Celeste couldn't fathom the monstrosities that their world will have to overcome without the Archmage.
It was said that Freya York protects the entire world from outside magical forces. No one knows what specifically so it's mere speculation at this point. But it wasn't totally absurd given how busy Freya always is.
'I'll just relay the information I received to the Tower. They'll have to decide amongst themselves.'
Lunaria approached Celeste.
"The chief gathered all the people in front of his residence. They're waiting for you, Lady Celeste. May I ask what changed his mind?"
"I will tell you everything later. Let's just finish up here so that we can leave."
She wanted to get started on providing them materials to build as soon as possible. There was no reason to delay it to when Arnold arrives.
Celeste will have to manage multiple territories in the future anyway so this will be a test for her. Becoming the First Lady brings many challenges. A First Lady must show others that she does not live in the shadow of her husband, waiting to be ordered or told what to do.
Celeste and Lunaria walked for a short while. They arrived in front of a large crowd that was gathered outside a two-story hut. The hut seemed to have been build around a tree, probably to not let the hut fall apart.
Celeste ignored the crowd at first. She looked around the village.
Puddles of water were formed on the road that was really just sand and rocks. There wasn't a draining system so most of the roads were under water.
There were no farms since there wasn't a lot of open spaces near the village to accommodate one. The villagers didn't have tools to cut the trees down so they're forced to live on only the vegetables that the forest gives them.
The men and women who hunt for the villages have to travel to the other side of the forest to find big game since the bigger animals don't live this high up in the mountains.
Knowing the state of their villages, doesn't Celeste's offer sound enticing?
Celeste stepped forward and began speaking, "I'm sure the chief already told you what he did."
The people looked at the chief who lowered his head in shame.
"I won't let such actions go unpunished. If you're unfamiliar about how feudal lords rule their citizens then allow me to—"
"Uhm, miss First Lady, may I ask a question?"
One of the women, who was carrying a baby, raised her hand.
"…Go ahead."
"If we go… outside the forest and mountains… Will we be safe without the goddess' protection?"
"Do you see those knights over there?" Celeste pointed to the two elite knights, "They are under the rule of my fiancé for as long as his contract with their Order stands. They can slay anything that might threaten our people. How many more of them will come to our city, Lunaria?"
"200 will be ready to dispatch in about one month."
"And how strong are each of them?"
"The expected levels are 70 to 85. The strongest one we have is the one guarding the minerals below the mansion. That knight is level 90."
The people gasped.
"If safety is your primary concern then you need not worry. We will not allow any monster to enter our land and put the people in danger, not as long as you are under the rule of Arnold von Berkley."
Murmurs resonated. The woman from earlier raised her hand again.
"W-What about when one of us gets sick or contracts a harmful parasite? Our children fall victim to illnesses every year. More children die then there are children born," she lifted the baby in her arms, "My little Cluclu has been coughing for the past few days. Our shaman predicted that she will not survive the next winter even with the power of the crystals."
Celeste looked at Lunaria.
"What does Whitage city intend to do for the sick and young?"
"Healthcare is paid for by taxes so none of our citizens or those that live on our land, but still pay taxes, have to pay medical fees. There are no major healthcare facilities yet but I have employed meisters and doctors from all over the continent. Also, a hospital has already started construction. I predict that it will be finished in a few years if all goes well."
"…Are dokters and m-maisters like healers?" the woman asked.
"They are traditional healers so yes. But they identify health problems using science and biology, which is a better alternative to healing with magic."
"Siens and bialoji? Cians… bialogi…" the people tried to pronounce those strange words to get familiar with it.
"Do you get it now?" Celeste addressed the crowd, "All you have to do is live on our land and pay taxes by growing your own food and selling it. In return, you get free healthcare, receive education for your children and you can walk the streets at night because there will always be a guard nearby to stop any crime. What's your decision?"
Celeste looked at the people. No one stepped forward yet. But to their surprise, the chief stepped forward first.
"…If my people's future is guaranteed then I offer my loyalty to the First Lady and the Lord of Whitage." He got onto his knees and prostrated.
"For the crime of trying to kill me, you shall receive 6 months in prison, Chief."
"Prison? No matter. If it will allow me to repent for my sin then I will rot in prison for all eternity if it's for my people's safety and prosperity."
"I-I would like to live under L-Lord Arnold and First Lady's rule!" the woman from earlier also got onto her knees.
"Me too!" another man stepped forward.
Celeste smiled in satisfaction when she saw more and more people stepping forward.
Soon the entire village was filled with people getting onto their knees.
Celeste glanced at the mountain where the Key was located.
There's no doubt in her mind that the news of the Key will create chaos. Not just to humans, but to non-humans like Elves, dragons and demons as well.
What will the people do?
Will they simply ignore the threat and continue fighting the monsters trying to cross the barrier or will they offer up their Archmage for the good of humanity?
The choice they make will determine whether they live or die. It will also determine whether humans are worth protecting.