The dim ray of the rising sun managed to peek through a gap in the deep burgundy curtains right over my eyelids, waking me up rather pleasantly. Rubbing my crusted eyes, I took a moment to silently take in my surroundings. The Rose Manor wasn't built with attackers in mind, so the exposed stone walls were rather thin, allowing for more windows. The room I had been occupying was large and lavish; the luxury I indulged in was the fact that I had my own private washroom with a heated water supply—something I realized to be truly rare in this world.
Shifting my glance to the figure of my mother sprawled out beside me in bed, I shook my head. "She looks better now," I thought to myself.
The pillows were all over the place. Carefully getting out of bed, I gently put my hand on her forehead to check her temperature because she had been sweating in her sleep yesterday.
Mother stirred awake for a few seconds before letting out a yawn and curling back to sleep, pulling me back into the bed. "Mom, it's time to wake up now," I said in a soft tone. "Just a little bit more," she replied in a sleepy voice. Sighing, I laid back down for a few minutes.
After she woke up and left my room, I headed to the bathroom to wash up. After that, I walked over to the dresser, unhinging a thicker robe to wear over my comfy clothes to fight against the frigid morning air that I had become unaccustomed to.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I took out the beast core I had stolen from the MC, a dull green orb smaller than my fist. Before I could do anything, my curious tiger sent me a message. I stopped and made a shadow graphic of the funeral tiger to summon her. After she materialized, I gave her the core, and after inspecting it, she swallowed the whole core. I was surprised and panicked at first, but then I realized what she was doing and stayed silent until she spit it out again and pushed it in my direction.
Probing it with a string of mana, I suddenly saw the shadowed figure of the elderwood guardian appear inside the vast black space of the beast core, bowing at me with a face full of gratitude.
"Thank you for freeing me from the evil curse," she said while bowing.
"You're welcome. Do you remember what happened?" I asked.
"The last thing I remember is the fight before they put a curse on me that left me in a bloodlust, rage state, and a lot of pain when I tried to fight," she replied.
"Do you know how or if you were transferred to a different place before, or if they used any specific tool to put the curse on you?"
"No, I'm very sorry; I can't help you. I don't remember what happened afterward," the elderwood guardian said in an apologetic voice.
While I was thinking about these things, a sudden feeling interrupted me. It wasn't as intimate as the mental transmissions I had with the tiger, but a primitive form of communication. Realizing that it was "a beast's will," I felt a wave of disgust wash over me as I sensed what she was trying to do. From what the elderwood guardian was trying to express, she was attempting to give me her beast's will.
"I don't need your pathetic help or your feeble will. A mere beast thinks it can make me stronger? What a joke ! I'd rather die than accept your will or the will of any other beast to gain strength. It's utterly irrelevant whether you're S-class, higher, or even Asura—you're all just beasts in my eyes. How amusing!" I said, dripping with disdain.
She didn't respond.
"But don't worry; I know someone who will use your will to its fullest. I'll use you as a bragging tool to get what I want. You want revenge, yes?"
"No, I just want to repay your kindness," she said in a weird tone.
"My question is clear: do you want some kind of revenge?" I asked again, tilting my head.
After a few moments, she answered, "Yes."
"Okay, that's more like it. I'll find you a suitable host," I replied, thinking about someone I could force into a contract. "I'll contact you later," I said as I let go of the beast core.
It was only a little past morning, so the manor, which always seemed to be bustling with maids, was very peaceful, with the only noises coming from the few cooks in the kitchen getting ready for the day. I made my way to the living room.
"Good morning, Grandpa," I greeted him.
"Ah! You're up late today, boy?" my grandfather said while drinking his coffee.
"I was tired because of the journey, and my mother didn't let me out of bed until she was fully awake," I complained.
"Let her be; you deserve everything she will do to you, bahaha," he laughed at me.
"Well, I deserve it. Grandpa, I need a favor," I said in a serious manner.
He looked up at me for a brief moment before asking, "What do you need?"
"I want to enroll in Xyrus Academy, but I'm 11 years old, and I think if you want to enroll normally, you need to be at least 12 years."
He looked at me for a moment before saying, "You are 12."
"No, I'm elev—" before I could finish my sentence, he cut me off.
"You are twelve years old," he said with a non-arguable tone.
"Oh, yes, I am," I finally got it.
"Before everything else, go take permission from your mother."
"Of course," I replied back.
After some time passed, my mother finally came down to the living room. She greeted us like usual and sat down on the couch. After some small talk with Gramps, I said, "Mom, can I enroll in the academy this year, please?" using my most deadly puppy eyes.
Looking at me for a full minute, her eyes reflected a lot of emotions before returning to normal. She finally said, "Yes, you can, sweetie, but I will put some rules in place, and if you ever break them, I'll bring you back myself. Now, let's have breakfast; we will continue this topic later."
"Foo, I thought she would definitely refuse," I thought to myself.
These past few weeks, I had been doing little outside of training myself, helping my grandfather with his work, learning more about the family business , and going out with my mother to have a relaxing time. Thankfully, she was fully recovered and more clingy than before. At first, she didn't even talk to me that much, but now I wished that she was still angry at me.
"Good morning, Father—and good morning, my little princess. Did you guys sleep well?" My mother, who was walking to the dining room, said to us, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Mother, I'm not young anymore!" I pushed her away, wiping the spot that was kissed.
"Did you guys sleep well?" Grandpa asked, half-smirking as he watched my mother dote on me.
After saying good morning to everyone, I got back to eating a vegetable omelet with a very light soup.
While eating, my grandfather suddenly spoke up. "That reminds me. Kid, if you don't have any plans, do you want to go with us to City Square? There's a big announcement in the Capital City of Etistin where the King and Queen reside, and a couple of artificers are going to put up a live projection of the broadcast in City Square."
"So it's today, huh?" I thought to myself.
"Sounds good. I don't have anything planned today anyway," I replied to him and got back to eating.
____________________________________
The City Square, usually bustling with activity, was unusually packed with civilians and nobles alike.
At the base of the large clock tower, four orbs floated in a square formation, with two artificers in brown robes beneath them. Their plain attire suggested they sought no glory, yet they chanted with grand gestures, as if conducting a symphony.
As the crowd grew, a crackling image formed within the orbs, gradually revealing the Glayder Castle.
A finely dressed man with a thick gray beard addressed the audience, which seemed to number in the hundreds of thousands.
"Attention, Humans, Elves, and Dwarves! I am Blaine Glayder, King of Sapin. Today, I speak not just as a king, but as a representative of the Continent of Dicathen!" The crowd knelt, some even going on all fours in worship.
The projection zoomed in on the castle balcony, where King Glayder stood with my aunt Priscilla and other dignitaries. I spotted Alduin and Merial Eralith, the King and Queen of Elenoir, with Virion standing behind them, arms crossed and white hair neatly tied.
Next to them were two dwarven representatives, dressed in oversized, extravagant clothing; they were the king and queen.
"It is an honor to speak on this unforgettable day. As King Glayder stated, I agree about our continent's future. For many yearning for adventure, Dicathen is filled with unknowns, like the Beast Glades beyond our borders. Countless adventurers have explored them, yet much remains uncharted. While mana beasts have not left the Glades, who can say they won't? Even in Dicathen, there are dangerous places unexplored. What if I told you greater mysteries await?"King Eralith paused as murmurs filled the crowd.
"That's right! You heard correctly. Today, February 10th of the 1005th Cycle, we announce evidence of another continent."
The crowd erupted in a mix of anger, fear, and curiosity. My grandfather and mother showed no surprise.
"They know something," I thought.
"We don't know much, so your guess is as good as ours. What we do know is that another continent may be within reach in a few years.
Evidence suggests they have tried to reach us, but our current technology limits our travel."
Chaos erupted in the capital until the dwarven king stepped forward.
"QUIET!" he roared into the voice-enhancing artifact.
"As Alduin said, we know little. In these uncertain times, wouldn't you agree that unity is best for our continent? Our children are at risk. We must not fight among ourselves. Our appearances and cultures may differ, but we are all born in Dicathen. I am proud of that, and I hope future generations will be too."
Silence fell, then applause erupted, triggered by a few claps. The Dwarven King's words, though less eloquent, resonated deeply. Even Elijah clapped excitedly while Sylvie watched the screen with curiosity.
"The process of uniting our races will take time, but today we will anoint six individuals—those we believe to be the most courageous, tactful, smart, and powerful."
From behind the podium, six warriors emerged: two elves, two humans, and two dwarves, all clad in refined white armor. They knelt before the kings, who presented them with rings from a small ornamental box. King Glayder adorned the elf knights, the Dwarven King the human knights, and King Alduin the dwarf knights, instructing them to stand and bow. Cheers erupted as King Glayder spoke again.
"What a group of cowards and dogs without pride," I muttered under my breath. "But they can be useful."
"These six will be known as the Six Lances, signifying their ties not just to their kingdoms, but to the entire continent. This is a historic moment, as the first Lances are anointed. Their main goal will be the well-being of Dicathen, exploring dangerous dungeons and working alongside us to protect our home from foreign threats."
The crowd roared, throwing flowers and hats into the air. As excitement filled the square, I reflected on how the leaders expertly manipulated the crowd's emotions.
"While the title of Six Lances is prestigious, it also carries great burden and danger. Children of the new generation, strive to be one of the Six Lances! Grow strong and noble, for even the heavens are not the limit!"
As the orbs descended and the image faded, chants of "Long live the King, long live Dicathen!" filled the air.
Beside me, people murmured, "The Six Lances... that sounds awesome." Children began play-acting the anointment, claiming they too would become Lances and fight evil.
As we navigated through the crowd, I overheard conversations about the Lances. They would become symbols of unity among the races. Composed of two representatives from each, they would stand impartial to all humans, elves, and dwarves. The three royal families had crafted a bold plan to unite the continent.
It was clear the kings had intentionally cast a shadow over the new continent, creating a common enemy to foster unity. Logically, this could lead to significant advantages, such as trade in raw materials, shared knowledge of magic and artifacts, and technological advancements, but the implications were complex. The excitement in the City Square was palpable as the crowd buzzed with anticipation. The announcement of the Six Lances had ignited a spark of hope and curiosity among the people but it's too late now.
My grandfather stepped into the carriage waiting for us at the edge of City Square, instructing the driver to first take him and my mother to King Place.
"We have a few things to take care of. Do you want to come with us? They missed you," he said.
"No," I replied.
"Okay, we'll meet you back home later tonight."
At the sight of my grandfather's carriage leaving my view, I beckoned for a public carriage with a wave of my hand. Finally, an unpainted wooden carriage pulled by two horses stopped for us, the driver tipping his hat as a silent introduction.
"Please take me to the Artifacts facility," I prompted, directing the driver to our next destination.
I was thinking about the ship they would build later and how it would get stolen by the enemy. Should I stop it or not? How should I stop it? Should I warn them or just beat the hell out of them? .
It wouldn't matter anyway because Agrona Vritra have a way, and that yandere bitch will help them out. Should I kill him first? No, I already marked his shadow; I can kill him later once I've used him.
About thirty minutes into the drive, the scenery shifted from tall buildings to small houses, with signboards reading "Artifacts" and "Elixirs" on many of them. I arrived at my destination, taking a tour around the city and looking at the different artifacts to buy and use in my new base.
Time passed quickly; I bought a lot of artifacts and was now sitting in a small bakery in the city, thinking about my next phase.