Chapter 4: Portal to hell
[Mythiopia]
Lawrence had many books sprawled on the large oak wood study table in front of him. This small secret chamber in the library was piled up with many ancient books and scriptures.
Even he didn't understand most of them. Though they were are all originated in Mythiopia, the language and script has changed a lot over time, and it was difficult to translate them to the current language.
Right now Lawrence was studying an ancient map which had four gate like structures drawn on it and had some faded lines connecting all of them.
He found it almost four years ago. And after a lot research he concluded that they are the gates of four realms.
Heaven, Hell, Magical Realm and the Human Realm.
"Your Majesty. The morning court is about to start."
Lawrence lift his head and saw his most trusted confidant, Dexter.
Leaning back on the chair, the king yawned and closed his eyes. Though he looked tired, that didn't diminish his aura and charm even a little. Rather, it added more mature air to it.
Dexter felt bad looking at his king like this every day. He hoped he could help him, but he also knew he didn't have such capabilities.
"Your Majesty. You have been studying this map for years, but we still haven't found where the gate to the human realm is. Perhaps the answer is not here."
Dexter said thoughtfully. Only a few people knew that their crown princess was in the human realm, but no one knew how to open the realm gate and bring her back.
"Even if we know where it is, we cannot open it until someone from the other side is also willing to open it for us." Lawrence said.
"And even if they are willing, they should be powerful enough to open it." Dexter filled the remaining sentence.
Lawrence nodded. He could do it from the magical realm, but his daughter Isabella lost her magic, and she probably didn't even know that there are four realms, let alone the gates.
He can only stubbornly try from one end.
"Your Majesty, you are getting late." Dexter reminded again, and Lawrence finally closed everything before attending the morning court.
Mythiopia is a peaceful land with no major dissatisfaction among the public. The only people creating trouble these days were the old court officials and ministers urging him to announce Stella as the crown princess.
"Your Majesty, there was a huge landslide in the western borders yesterday night. Reports sent over say that the landslide spanned over seven villages." Sir Devin, an official in charge of the western borders reported first.
"Your Majesty, people also reported that there were weird vibrations under the ground noticed by the farmers there recently." The agriculture minister reported this time. The western regions were the most fertile land in Mythiopia.
"Did you send anyone to check what vibrations?" Lawrence asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The vibrations came from the mountain that collapsed. Recently many beginner wizards have been practicing earth magic there and hence it softened the mountain base."
"Worry not Your Majesty, we have deployed our troops as soon as we heard about the vibrations. All the villages were evacuated. But we still need to send troops to restore the area." A young general answered.
Lawrence had been appointing many capable youngsters for the past few years and each one of them performed extremely well. This was also the main reason for some dissatisfaction among the old factions.
"Good. Send the troops and make sure to rebuild all the facilities again. Set up more practice arenas to avoid things like this future."
"Noted, Your Majesty" Sir Devin replied.
"Inspect the mountain ruins and the ecosystem properly. Take a group of healers with you."
The wizard king gave out few more orders. He also specifically asked to check for talented earth mages there. No matter how much one practices, it isn't easy to bring down a mountain. That person must be powerful.
Soon enough, the old folks again brought up the crown princess but this time Lawrence didn't hold back and severely reprimanded them.
"Your father was my teacher Duke Kael. So I turned a blind eye for your irresponsible governing in your dutchy last time. Don't force me to look for a replacement there" Lawrence warned.
These people were in such a hurry as if he would die at any moment and leave the kingdom without any heir.
Duke Kael clenched his fists inside his robes but still made a polite bow and apologized for his rudeness. He was in his fifties, but excessive alcohol and sex made him look 20 years older.
What more? Lawrence previously removed his eldest son from the vice general of the army position and appointed some nameless newbie in his place. Every person in the court could see that Lawrence was uprooting them one after another slowly.
The session went on for a while with memorials and reports piling up one by one for the king to check and approve.
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[Vandrad]
"Eat more. I heard you have been practicing your sword all the day." Kristina said as she put more more meat in Calhoun's bowl.
Calhoun smiled and thanked his mother before starting his dinner.
"Calhoun. Is it true that Princess Stella fancies you?"
Calhoun paused and looked at his mother.
Seems like this matter was broadcasted all over the kingdom. Even his reclusive mother who doesn't entertain any gossips knew about this.
"Only the princess can answer that question mother. I have no idea." Calhoun replied nonchalantly.
Kristina pursed her lips looking at her son. He was already 21. Most of the beast men in Vandrad find their mates eventually. But her son didn't have a beast. So it was her responsibility to make sure her son has a life partner.
"Then what is your opinion on Princess Stella?" Kristina asked carefully.
She has met Stella on a few occasions before, and she was indeed a cheerful and innocent girl who can keep her son happy.
"Sigh.. Mother. I respect the princess a lot. She is kind and talented. But I don't feel any attraction towards her. I am not interested in getting married or engaged right now."
"How can that be? Are you planning to spend your entire life like a lone wolf?"
"May be"
"Sigh.. Why are you like this? Falling in love and getting married is such a blessing."
"Really? So you say falling in love with father and marrying him is a blessing to you?" Calhoun blatantly asked her. He couldn't look at his mother's love-struck expression anymore.
"Of course. Your royal father and I have harmonious relationship and .."
"A harmonious relationship where he brings a dozen other women into it?"
Kristina clenched her fists hearing this.
"Your father is a king. He has to do some things to maintain peace and order in the kingdom." Kristina reasoned, but still couldn't hide the disappointment flashing in beautiful brown eyes.
"Fine. Whatever makes you happy. But I would never be happy with someone who says 'I love you' in the day and walks into others bedroom in the night."
"Enough.. Is this how you speak about your father?" Kristina glared at Calhoun in anger.
His words infuriated her a lot, especially because everything he said was as true as the earth beneath her feet.
Calhoun stopped talking and let his mother's anger calm down. There was no point in talking about his father's love life anymore.
Kristina calmed down after taking a deep breathe and silently went on with the dinner.
"Calhoun.. I was just worried about you. The queen will not let you go after Adrian becomes the crown prince. I just want you to have some backing."
This was Kristina's biggest worry. Queen will surely plot against her son to eliminate him even if he is no threat to her son. Won't it be better if her son has some strong backing?
Calhoun understood his mother's worries.
"Mother. I promise I will be safe. Your son is not that weak, okay? I can protect myself. And I can protect you. Don't worry." Calhoun gently pacified her.
He wasn't bluffing. He wouldn't have survived this long if he didn't have his own strengths.
Though he didn't have his beast, he has inherited his mother healing abilities which no many knew of, and was good at poisons. Not to mention the arrogance of the beast men which is their biggest disadvantage.
And he has his ace cards hidden well.
He soon left to his chamber after making sure his mother is fine.
"Hey prince, I saw that creepy limping guy going in and out of that kid's room since he came back."
His snow white cat gracefully walked towards him with it's tail swaying left and right with each step it took.
Yes, it has a special ability. It can speak.
Calhoun found it on snowblood mountains when he was lost years ago. It was severely wounded and was freezing to death. But he managed to save her, and it followed him ever since.
"I see the old guy is back. What did he say?" Calhoun asked as he plopped on his bed.
"Many things. First to make good impressions by saving the medis valley. Then to stop playing with prostitutes all the day. And finally to target the crown princess of Mythiopia when she returns rather than princess Stella." The cat replied.
It was a very capable spy. It's footsteps were so light that even dragon ears couldn't catch it.
Calhoun sneered hearing the last part. The queen's party was even more pathetic than he was. So desperate to cling onto someone.
"Sasha. Why do you think king Lawrence made princess Isabella the heir?" The prince asked curiously.
He had seen king Lawrence a few times before, and heard a lot about his values, fame, and power.
Every year Mythiopia hosts a ancestral worship ceremony and all the royal families are invited.
It was two years ago on that occasion when Calhoun caught the king sitting in the garden alone, gazing at the stars, narrating how the celebrations went, and promising that he would soon bring her back home, hoping it would reach Isabella.
Though the king looked sad and vulnerable that moment, it made Calhoun respect him a lot. More than he ever respected his own father.
He and the crown princess were somewhat alike. None fit into the society they were born into. But while his father thought of hiding him away, Lawrence choose to protect his daughter, ignore her flaws and became her strength.
"I don't know the credibility of the source, but I once heard that the dark witch opened the portal to hell."
"At that time the twins were just born, and the youngest daughter was born with magic more powerful than the king himself."
"The king alone wasn't able to close the portal, and hence took every bit of power from the youngest daughter to close it. Probably he feels guilty because of that and gave her the title."
Calhoun curiously listened to Sasha's explanation. He didn't believe everything but it was indeed interesting.
There was no way a baby can hold magic powerful than Lawrence's, who cultivated it for decades.
And Lawrence would drain himself rather than draining the power from his new born baby.
But the dark witch and portal to hell seem to be something that could occur.