Chereads / The Lord Of The Nin9th Fortress / Chapter 16 - Memories: Zephra, The Goddess Of Balance

Chapter 16 - Memories: Zephra, The Goddess Of Balance

"Hello! Anybody here!?" Ryuga was calling out to the alchemist in the library, where she normally was. But no response came.

He walked in further, his footsteps echoing in the eerily quiet library. A cool breeze blew by his face and he turned slowly.

"What are you doing here?" A pitch black figure was suddenly standing behind him and his eyes fell on it blocking his field of vision.

Hastily, he jumped back and took a clear look. It was the alchemist in her robe. Her face is covered by a hood. "You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?" She asked in a displeased tone.

"Master Rouchefort sent me to you."

"Really? I wonder what about?"

"He said something about me needing to know, 'More'." he quoted the last word.

"I see. Come with me." The alchemist led the way.

Xicor followed her, but the silence was uncomfortable so he spoke first.

"If I'm going to need your help, shouldn't I know your name?"

"You can call me Mavis or Mavis the Alchemist. And since you want a conversation, why don't you tell me what you know about the Necromarcs and the Primes."

"I don't really know much but, I did read some books. It is said that a long time ago, millenniums actually, it was time of wars and lust for power. As a result many weapons were forged but only five stood above all. This five powerful Swords were known as Necrozmaz blades. The first ,The Resemblance. The second, The Thundergod-sword. The third,The Judgment. The fourth ,The Elemental. And finally, The Ruler. Since they had been forgotten, no one thought they'd need them again or ever return." Ryuga looked at the Mavis with his last words. "That is until now of course."

"Whatever book you read seems to be within the boundaries of facts. Now the Primes."

"The empire has powerful individuals who rule over its territory. But all of them dwindles by might in comparison to the Primes. The eight Primes each own a planet and have worlds of their own to rule over. There are eight Primes in total and anyone is to succeed them, they are to kill them in single combat." Ryuga explained with a blank expression.

"That is partially accurate. The Primes do not rule worlds. They each rule a universe given to them by his majesty Emperor Zarten."

Ryuga 's gaze looked even sharper. But they came to a room with large wooden doors. Mavis drew a magic circle on it and they open widely with a creak.

"So, do you know the names of the Primes, Ryuga Xicor?" Mavis asked walking into the dark empty room with Ryuga still following him. The doors closed with the creaking sound again.

"No. I never took interest in them. Rather , I lost interest in the empire before I learnt about them." Ryuga bluntly stated.

"Ahh, here we go." Mavis tapped her foot twice and a door openes infront of them. "Was there a reason to doing that?" she walked into ahead in.

"Yes. A personal one."

Inside the room they walked in were four other people. Starr Crimson, Ezekiel and two others. Wielder of the ruler, Katie and wielder of the elemental, Shiro.

"Now everyone, sit down please. I was supposed to do this next week, but it seems we have no time to waste." The alchemist spoke in firm tone.

Everyone else took their seats and she stood before them like a teacher in class.

"Each of you has been chosen by one of the five Necrozmaz blades. Each has abilities unique to them, and you will use those powers to seal the queen of Netherworld." Mavis got straight to the point.

"Why doesn't the emperor or any of the primes handle that?" Xicor followed with a question.

"Simply reasons actually. Zephra was Goddess, one who manifested in this through the concept of Balance. But she interfered in mortal affairs. Because of that she was stripped off her devine powers and memories and sealed in the heavenly realm of the Gods. Ten years ago she broke her seal and some of her consciousness fell into Netherworld." Zephra explained.

"I don't think that answered my question." Ryuga spoke bluntly, surprising others that are present.

"If any prime sealed her, the problem would only be postponed for some centuries as she would break out of it. His majesty 's majesty's power is an absolute power of rejection, he would eventually kill her and let's just say that isn't a good thing." Mavis looked at Ryuga who simply gestured for her to continue.

"Your five blades are an ancient existence, so you will know more about them than anyone else. Only they can seal Zephra for eternity. I know you may think this is a fairy tale out of a book, but the books are the ones written because of this fairy tale. Any questions?" Zephra asked learning against the wall.

"If I may ask, how is such a feat expected from us? I mean, look at us, some of us have never even been in a fight, and suddenly we have to seal off a runaway Goddess." Shiro calmly voiced his concerns.

"You don't have to do it together. The reason you should master those swords is so that you can share their power amongst yourselves. And the imperial research department is working on a magic circle that can withstand your power."

"And what of our training? Who's going to be in charge of it?" Katie asked looking displeased. For someone from a noble family she had no understanding of commoner. And showed little to almost no respect to most she seemed beneath her.

"You will all have sword training with the emperor's right hand man sir Rouchefort. Seems like you have no heavy concern so go ahead and check all the books in here on anything you want to know about. Your training might begin promptly in an hour or so." Mavis left the room.

Mavis tapped the wall on her way out and like ripples across a calm lake, vibrations moved on the wall clearing it and bookshelves appeared behind the walls.

Ryuga got up and went to a bookshelves, took books as if random and only reading few pages before switching to another.

Katie then broke the reigning silence by walking in. "Since we are a team chosen by fate, why not introduce ourselves to get better acquainted?"

"Please begin My Lady." Shiro answered.

"Very well. I am the fifth heir in line to leadership of the Moon family. I'm Katie Moon of the Nexus Noble family, nice to meet you.i hope we get along well and that you know your place."

Ryuga broke into laughter listening to her. He just where he saw this kind of personality before. "Are you related to someone by the name Pergusis Moon by any chance?"

"Yes, he's my brother. And what is so amusing?"

"It's just that your condenseding personality matches his so well, one could say you're the same person. I'm Ryuga Xicor, nice to meet you." He went back to his book yet again.

"I'm Shiro Qin. Hope to get along with you."

"Ezekiel Unlbiquitos here."

"Starr Crimson. I just hope we all live."

They each introduced themselves one after the other. And with that out of the way, they were able to engage into conversations. Two hours passed in almost an instant to them. And finally Mavis came and told them. Their training is of the next day. She showed the others to their allocated rooms and left.

But since the sun was yet to set, everyone still had time on their hands.

The alchemist is standing in the garden by the fountain with Ryuga who is immersed in a book.

She takes her hood off and shows her face. Long silver hair and blue eyes. She looks like a woman in her mid twenties by her healthy skin.

"Isn't silence so much better."

"Yes, especially when I'm able to read my book in peace." Ryuga responded. He was basically telling her to leave him alone, but instead she snatched away the book in his hand.

"Just spare me a moment. Will you?"

Ryuga sat down and looked at Mavis, expecting her to start talking.

"Ryuga, what do you plan to do?"

"I mean about confronting your own feeling. About serving the Empire and your own loses?"

"Let's leave that aside and tell me this. How did the empire come into information about Zephra? Her origin and all of that?"

"That is classified. If you want to know more, go and ask his majesty himself. Though I doubt he'll tell you anything." Mavis uses magic to make chair and sits facing Ryuga.

"And you knew it was classified so I don't get why you still had to come and ask me. Am I wrong?" She lockes eyes with Ryuga as she asks him. "And we are going to talk about you. Don't try to change the subject."

"I was under the impression that you disliked me. Guess I was a bit wrong. Sure, what is it you want to know?" Ryuga gave in, looking defeated.

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