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-Paradise
3rd POV*
Ascella stood up and smiled at the crowd. "Good to see that everyone is still in one piece. That means you passed Atlas's cruel examination and I commend you for that" he first complimented their will for surviving Atlas. "I am Ascella, your new lord? King? Chief? Ah whatever, just think of me as your head. And I hereby announce that your curse is now lifted. You will never suffer from hunger and rough living place, you will only live in blessing with your freedom intact. I won't force you to do the impossible but I just want you to follow my reasonable demands. If you can't stand following it then slap me with your logic that will wake me up, that I permit everyone. Live your life to the fullest here! This will be your new beginning after that cruel end, make sure to enjoy it all!" Ascella ended it while raising his beer in the air, of course his aura was also showing forming a haze in the air.
That showcase was enough for the hardheaded orcs as they raised their own mugs and shouted. """OHHHHHHHHHHH!!""", ""YEAAAH!!"", "WE ARE FREE!", "LORD ASCELLA!", ""LORD ASCELLA!"", They all started chanting his name making him chuckle. Atlas was also in a visible happy mood showing from his aura. Some orcs were crying as they can't believe that they are finally free. What Ascella didn't know was that his words were not simple. The moment everything escaped from his mouth, it became absolute and can never be broken. The curse that was always on the orcs back was destroyed without anyone knowing. The orcs only felt relieved from something, their bodies became lighter than before with their strengths started rising.
Atlas the most perceptive among them first notice the change in his body as his eyes widened. He turned to his lord with baffled gaze, he never expected that the casual words that came out of his mouth would bring this much result. "Thank you my lord" he gave his gratitude to Ascella while placing his head on the floor. "Hm? What is this supposed to be? Stand up, don't worry about anything" Ascella just shrugged it off as he don't know why Atlas is suddenly thanking him. Atlas tried using the mana but still failed. 'I see, we who are born with the curse could never communicate with those spirits.. but that is not the case with our descendants. I am sure that they would be able to communicate with the stubborn spirits' Atlas thought. "My lord, can I add something?" Atlas asked permission which gained an approval from Ascella.
"Listen up! Those with wives or lovers shall indulge themselves tonight. I am having a experiment so everyone need to participate!" Atlas shouted making the place quiet before it returned with a more stronger cheers from the man part of orcs. "What the..?" Ascella could only open his mouth in bafflement at Atlas's announcement. "I apologize for doing that without prior notice my lord" he apologized. "Its fine, is this part of your plan? What would you achieve by doing this? Nevermind, I don't want to know" Ascella stopped himself and just continued drinking his beer. "Yup, beers made by orcs are really high class!" He commented while nodding his head. Ascella thought of something before he snapped his fingers making the mana move.
Something formed from those bunch of manas as they rised up in the sky before exploding. *SSSSSHHHHHH!!* Fireworks appeared covering the beautiful night sky. It formed into various shapes that amazed the orcs. Even Genib and Tania who are sleeping was awoken by this commotion, but they didn't get angry as they were mesmerized by the beautiful scene. Ascella nodded his head when he saw their expressions, just seeing them satisfied is enough for him. He is not totally heartless after all, he just don't care about anyone besides his friends and rule. He was satisfied seeing Lina and Luna chasing each others, Tania and Genib looking at the sky, Atlas narrowing his eyes at the group of orcs messing around. "This is the best" Ascella muttered.
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The morning arrived with Tania being woken up by Luna. Genib also manifested herself making everyone present in the room. The exhaustion they felt from yesterday was all gone like it was dream. "Genib.. why am I so.. energetic today? I.. should be exhausted.." Tania asked tilting her head in confusion. "Ah, that. It is probably because of the natural law of this land. Ascella probably didn't know but this land is like a different world. Everything that occurs here is all because of Ascella, he probably thought of something like 'I want everyone to be energized when they woke up' while making this land, so its kind of a natural law here to be energized when waking up" Genib explained as Tania finally understood. "Master can do that? He really is bottomless, I could never see his limits" Luna commented.
"Yup! Master is surely an anomaly that even the gods didn't anticipate. If they did then they might do everything they could to stop him" Lina convinced herself not knowing that it is close to the truth. "Let's go outside, Ascella is probably awake already. Genib is hungry too" Genib lead them as they went outside only to see a weird scene of Ascella talking to a tree. "Have you finally gone mad Ascella? Genib expected this but never this fast.. sigh, everyone will pray for Ascella's wellbeing" Genib said sighing. "Hey, thats rude. Whats wrong with talking with a tree?" Ascella asked seemingly geniune not knowing what is wrong with it. "That.. is messed up.. in many ways" Tania commented adding the damage to Ascella's heart. "Not at all, it is not weird Master, even we dark elves communicate with trees and plants" Lina defended Ascella making Genib sigh.
"You should not spoil him Lina, he will turn into something worse if you keep doing that, follow Genib's example, we need to keep Ascella from going insane" Genib shook her head in disappointment. Lina seemed to gain some understanding as she nodded her head wisefully. "Anyway.. how can you talk with plants.. Ascella?" Tania asked with her usual slow way of talking. "I don't know? It seems like another power has awakened in me or is it new? I can talk to any kind of beings before but now I can even talk to vague existence like trees or rocks" Ascella explained. Genib grabbed a stone the same size as her and tilted her head at Ascella, "How about this one?" She asked. "Huh? What are you trying to pull? I can't talk with that rock, and why should I talk with it in the first place?" Ascella asked confused.
"As expected.. only those things that Ascella wanted to talk will gain consciouness, others who are not permitted by Ascella will stay same" Genib nodded her head after she confirmed her theory. "Oh, I see. My power works like that huh? Though I feel like that is not all within my power.. more like this power is much more scary than the thing that destroyed the land when we were practicing" Ascella made Genib remembered the thing that scared her the most. It was a terrifying phenomenon that defied almost all logics in her head, everything turning dark because light was devoured? Genib shivered remembering it but she was now cautious with his new ability knowing that it is more strong than that one.
"What ability are you talking about? Is it a new power of master?" Lina asked with stars on her eyes. "Ah, you won't probably see it since this guy swore to never use it unless necessary. That thing is equal or even more stronger than an authority" Genib explained. "Ah, I'm getting tired with this conversation, did you pack your things already? We are proceeding to the next town after all" Ascella reminded the girls as they returned to their resting places. "Oh right, Tania, I saw some potential in space and time within you, I'll teach you how to use gate later.. once I finish making it a proper spell" Ascella said smiling at Tania who was overjoyed. She was finally getting out of her position as the useless one in the party. "How did you know that Ascella? Even Genib could not see anything" Genib asked.
"Huh? I just asked them since they are dwelling inside her. They are pretty hostile from the start but once I convinced them that I am her comrades, they introduced themselves" Ascella said making Genib's head ache. Luna who was watching the scene quietly couldn't help but wonder in her head, 'This man.. our master really has no limits. Talking to conceptual things and treating them as everyday thing.. who could do such things? Probably no one except the Creation God' she thought as her fanaticism towards Ascella has raised to an upper level. Everyone finally has their luggages they smiled while waiting for Ascella to open the gate. "Next town is the town of fishes right? Then they must be next to a sea, are we going on a beach next?" Ascella asked pretty excited at the thought.
"Sea..? No master, there is no sea on the next town. There is a huge lake though, it is said to be so huge that it could be mistaken as a sea. Every fish is exported from that place, it is the number one handler of fishes after all" Luna destroyed Ascella's expectations with her explanation. "No sea..? Ahh, I'm losing interest in that place.." Ascella started muttering some things that made Genib sigh, "That place is said to be beautiful, and Genib remembered reading that they have a lot of unique dishes that you will only taste there" Genib added as Ascella stood up immediately. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get moving already!" He said enthusiastically as the girls chuckled in amusement. It really doesn't get boring with Ascella on their side.
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-Royal Palace, Thalassia Kingdom.
Princess Adhefera POV*
It has been a month since I last gained a vision. Everything was going well and Royal Father manage to destroyed those factions who wish to do rebellion in the middle of chaos. This is probably thanks to that mysterious man. I wish to thank him but even his face is a mystery for me, I really need to ask father to look for him. The only thing I could get from that blurry vision of mine is his height which is roughly higher than me and his fascinating black hair. I have lived that month in this castle as usual, with no attempts of assasination sent on me which is pretty rare since they are always desperate to assasinate me. I should probably thank my father for placing this great person as my guard.
I looked at the beautiful woman with a long blond hair that reached the floor. Her young face doesn't cooperate with her age as she is already 92 this year. Her name is Cassiopeia, the only Grand Mage in our kingdom. She is a genius born with dual affinity for elements which is Water and Wind. I admire her so much, she tells me story that I cannot imagine as being caged in this palace doesn't really help. "Oh, young lady are you thinking of something rude?"... I forgot to mention that she is really sharp, specially about her old ag—, "So you really are thinking of something rude. There shall be no adventure story for you today. You will sleep early" she said smiling which looked nothing but scary to me. "U-Understood.." sigh, now the chance was destroyed.
I really need to control myself sometimes, random thought seemed to enter my head often. "Goodnight, madam.." I said bowing my head as she smiled before turning off the lights. Time to prepare myself, I will probably have a vision today since it has been a month. The only thing that I need to put in mind is where, which brought me to the information that I gained from father just hours ago. Apparently, the town of Kafram was destroyed by the Demon General Dameas and the mysterious person. I could probably get some informations if I focus more on that place. Hm, it is been decided, I will look more on that place. I could get some good informations if I focus on their after all.
I closed my eyes succumbing to my slumber, not long I regained my sensations as I started floating at this dark place. This is the usual process of having vision, I will only need to wait for the vision to form, which is already starting looking at the broken mirror shards floating in the air forming a whole new world. Hm? What is this? Something under the sea is being awoken? By who? I inspected the area only to find a group of 4 observing the scene while practicing magic!? We have more human mages in this land!? This is a vital information, I need to inform father! I inspected their figures only to see them blur, but one thing is creepy. One of the figures which had a visible black hair turned his head towards me.
....What? Can he see me? No, that is impossible. This is the future after all, there is no way a human mage could perceive me looking at his figure. I convinced myself with that but the unsettleness was boiling inside me. I rubbed my eyes thinking that it was just a fluke but the moment I opened it the man was already infront of me! How?! This is impossible! "Hello? Who are you? Why are you observing us?" That was the last thing I heard before my consciouness was dragged back to the real world. It seems like my vision ability deemed it too dangerous to converse with that man. Still.. that was terrifying! And at the same time cool! I wonder what he really look like? I will never forget about that black hair of his.
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