Eldric Nightveil, the commander of Cargon Sun Reign Army and the third apostle under Zephiron, had stood loyally by his side for countless millennia. Through the passage of centuries, he had witnessed Zephiron in many battles, political struggles, and moments of quiet contemplation.
Yet, despite their long history together, Eldric had never once seen such a complex array of emotions flicker across Zephiron's face all at once—something that struck him as both unexpected and unsettling. It was as though layers of his master's usually calm and impenetrable mask had slipped, revealing thoughts and feelings that Eldric had never thought possible.
Eldric shifted his gaze from his lord to the colleague sitting beside him, noting the same look of surprise and confusion mirrored on his face. It wasn't often that they witnessed Zephiron displaying any significant emotion, much less a range of them, and the fact that his companion was just as baffled only deepened Eldric's curiosity.
Now more intrigued than ever, he found himself pondering the origins of this young lad and the mysterious Ceasarcrest clan that had clearly made an impact on his Liege.
'What is this Ceasarcrest family? Could it be some reclusive clan, hidden from the world? But I know most of those families... Or could they somehow be connected to my Liege in a way I don't yet understand?' he silently mused, his mind swirling with possibilities as he tried to make sense of the unfolding mystery.
Zephiron, with a slight tremor, steadying himself as he tried to regain his composure. Once composed, he finally opened his mouth to voice the question that had weighed heavily on his mind, the one that had eluded him until now.
"Where... where are they? Where is the Ceasarcrest aristocracy? Where have they been all this time?"
The words came out slowly, almost haltingly, as if forcing them. In all the tens of millennia he had lived, nothing had ever brought him to this state—until now. Yet here he was, confronted by the reemergence of a name—one that clearly held more significance than even his closest allies knew.
"They are dead," Kael stated, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. Contrary to anyone's expectations, there was no hesitation, no trace of grief or attachment. As though he were discussing something utterly unrelated to his own life.
"I am the sole survivor of the massacre that took place at my clan's residence back then," he repeated, pausing briefly to let the weight of his words settle.
"How could that even be possible? The mighty Ceasarcrests, who vanished without a trace for centuries—fallen now? It's inconceivable!"
"The whole council of deities has scoured the realms for eons, searching for any trace of them! And now, after finally getting a lead, you tell me they're dead?"
"No! I refuse to accept it!"
Zephiron was unraveling, his composure completely shattered. He had been too thrilled at the mention of the Ceasarcrest clan, and now, with the crushing news of their demise, it was as though the weight of the entire revelation had broken him.
"Who are the Ceasarcrests, my lord? And why would the deities be searching for them?"
"How could an aristocratic family hold enough power to warrant the attention of the council of deities?"
Eldric, who had been merely startled by his liege's excitement earlier, now found himself shaken to the core—both by Zephiron's fury and the shocking revelation that the long-hidden council of deities had been scouring the annals of time for them.
Zephiron took a deep breath, trying to calm his pounding heart, though it didn't take long considering his immense strength. He paused, taking a moment to gather his thoughts, then explained everything in short, measured breaths, allowing the information to fully sink into the minds of those still ignorant.
"The Ceasarcrest family, the first kings of Aethyrias, maintained the myriad realms for countless epochs. They were unrivaled, with all their rulers ascending as supreme deities wielding the highest authorities. Many of the greatest heroes emerged from their ranks, securing victories against the incarnations of demon gods."
"As the first and only rulers to truly unite all realms under a single banner, they were blessed by the heavens, the giants of their age. Even after withdrawing from the outside world and entrusting their responsibilities to the rising stars of a new era, remnants of their legacy remain. Diluted branches of the Ceasarcrest bloodline can still be found scattered throughout the realms."
"These families, known as the Arcane Lineages, alongside the commanders of Supernovas and other leading deities, banded together to form the Council of Deities, all in pursuit of reclaiming the glory of this god-tier aristocracy."
"And this young lad standing before us appears to be the heir of that clan. Yet, what I still can't fathom is the magnitude of the force that could bring such devastation upon it." His words were contemplative and filled with unspoken questions.
"Sir, what if, what if the Ceasarcrest family that you mentioned is different from the Ceasarcrest family this lad belongs to. Because I think if their past had been so glorious, it wouldn't be possible for them to be wiped out so silently. Without even the counsil of deities noticing." Regent cyran gave his analysis on this matter.
"No, this isn't possible, you must be knowing about the uniqueness of an arcane legacy families right? Their family names can't be taken by anyone other than their kin or inherited ones, unless of course they want to face tribulation so bad, Ceasarcrest is the first family to deify their family name "
"If what you said were true, this so-called heir would be nothing but ashes by now." Zephiron dismissed the notion with unwavering conviction, his gaze sharp as he looked upon Kael, acknowledging the strength the young man must carry.
A moment of silence followed, as Zephiron's expression turned resolute. Bowing his head with reverence, he spoke solemnly.
"Esteemed heir of Ceasarcrest, I, Zephiron, Hero of Warcraft and vessel of the Ceasar War Guardian, bow my head in deep regret for not standing by you in your time of peril. As I near the end of my own journey, I can no longer offer myself to your service. So, allow this humble guardian to submit all that I can still call my own to you."
Then, with a sudden resolve, Zephiron dropped to his knees, his voice quivering with uncontained emotion. He pledged his loyalty, begged forgiveness, and poured forth all the sorrow and guilt he had carried—an old warrior seeking redemption before the last heir of a broken clan.
This time, it was Kael's turn to be shocked. He had not expected there to be a council of deities out there searching for them. He also couldn't believe that this Hero of Warcraft was actually the vessel of the Ceasar War Guardian—the Oathkeeper of their clan.
"I don't need all that. Just help me get stronger—strong enough to fight against them and whatever else might come my way. That is all I need." Kael replied in a cold, unyielding voice, a hint of grief seeping through the facade he was trying to maintain. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—Zephiron noticed.
Catching hold of the small flicker of grief Kael displayed, Zephiron contemplated a better course of action. He was taken aback; even as a deity, he struggled to find an answer. He realized he had to employ his divine ability of quantum divergence to think of a solution to this intricate problem.
A few minutes later, as a heavy silence enveloped the room, Zephiron observed the stillness, the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging in the air. Finally, he broke the tension, his voice steady but resonant with gravity.
"After much contemplation and weighing the potential paths before us, I have arrived at an alternative course of action. While it may seem unconventional, and perhaps even disrespectful to some, I wish to offer my mentorship to young master Kael. Furthermore, I formally declare him my official heir."
This time, both Regent Cyran and Eldric Nightveil exchanged glances, agreeing that it was indeed the best solution. Zephiron felt a sense of relief that his decision was not outright rejected, but he also harbored a sense of shame for needing to use his divine power for this purpose. Kael absorbed everything Zephiron had said, and a moment later, he nodded in agreement.
In a respectful gesture, Kael lowered himself slightly. "This disciple bows to greet his master," he said, his voice steady. However, Zephiron hurriedly interjected, his tone urgent. "It's not fitting for you to bow your head to someone like me, young master. You should understand that this identity is merely a guise to deceive others—and possibly your enemies. I'm not truly qualified to be your master; I'm here only to mentor you as an unfilial apology on my part."