Weeks had passed, and the Golden Empire of Verticulas had been preoccupied, not with the emperor’s upcoming birthday celebration but rather with the unprecedented instability of the Hēnte barrier. It was reported that the people in the country were worried and could feel the rumble far underground, outside the barrier, in an uncanny sequence. This rumbling sound desperately tried to emerge from the underground.
The mages of Aechmā had decided to spread out and investigate where the rumble was coming from. There might have been a loophole unseen within or at the edge of the barrier. Meanwhile, Apollis, the Archmage, needed to stay behind to protect the golden crystal heart of the barrier in the Golden Empire's underground labyrinth.
To alleviate their people's worries, they posted a memorandum in each empire stating that the matter had been resolved and that there was nothing to be afraid of. The memorandum also stated that the emperor of each empire would protect its people no matter what.
Time alone will tell when this unforeseen rumble turns into a blood-curdling tremor.
Ella was braiding Irelina’s hair in a Celtic waterfall style.
“Lady Irelina, are you going to the library today?”
“Yes, the regent said I can use the library because the Concubines don’t have class today. She also ordered the servants not to go on the second floor until 3:00 in the afternoon.”
“Then, I will prepare snacks for you to enjoy while you read.” Ella smiled.
She glanced at the opened window for a moment and thought, It would be nice to walk in the garden. The regent’s garden was filled with African violets—Mother’s favorite flowers.
“Yes, please. I would love that,” she said and curiously asked, “Did something happen in the palace lately? I heard a lot of noise outside the other day.”
Ella put the comb on the table as they prepared to leave the room.
“Now that you mention it, I heard from the servants that mages came to investigate and check the barrier here.”
“Barrier?” she wondered.
“Yes, the barrier protects the country from the shadow demons and monsters. I don’t know much about it. But I heard a peculiar rumble going around that they were trying to figure out.”
The second floor was quiet, and no one was lurking around. They continued their conversation in the hallway heading to the library.
“Do you think they are the same demons who destroyed Mercius?” Irelina asked.
“I believe so. Would you like me to look into it?”
“If you can, don't push yourself too hard to get information. This is not Mercius, so be careful when you listen to the servants' or guards' conversation in this palace.”
“Of course, you know me. I will not make unnecessary trouble for us.” Ella chuckled.
She entered the library, and Ella returned to the kitchen to prepare tea and snacks.
In the Emperor’s Palace assembly room, Zeddrick frowned and pondered about the uncanny rumble of the barrier with the presence of the other four Emperors of the Empires: Īsern, Aechmā, Coldēus, and Vicentus. Devin Gratus, Zeddrick’s assistant, stood behind him. They all look unsettled.
“Could this be an indication that the Demon Lord we know of shall rise again and uprise against our defence?” Earl asked.
“I don’t think so. The Demon Lord has been in a deep sleep for thousands of years after being struck by the Sword Goddess of the Protectress that was sealed in his heart and imprisoned him somewhere in the Black Weald of Ur that is untraceable,” Doris explained.
“Then, how do you explain that for the last ten years, we have been fighting against the shadow demons and monsters? And on top of that, the monsters have been multiplying rapidly in the North. And every time these monsters broke the Wall Barrier of the North, they evolved and came back stronger and more resilient to the barrier spell,” Castaeus debated.
“I can’t debate on that because we don’t know how these monsters multiply in such a short time. We found that they hibernate for a month and come back in a different form, just as you said. Unless you want to volunteer to enter the Land of Sanatus and check, then that will at least help us solve something,” Doris said tauntingly to Castaeus.
“So, you’re saying our only option is to infiltrate the Land of Satanus?” Castaeus frowned and added, “Isn’t it bringing our men to a mass suicide? Aren’t you insane, Doris Aechmā?”
“Watch your mouth, Castaeus—”
“Enough!” Zeddrick intervened. “Instead of bad-mouthing each other, we should come up with a proper short-term solution. How is Apollis doing with the new barrier spell?”
Doris Aechmā cleared his throat.
“It will take at least a month. But—”
“But what?!”
“Even though Apollis can strengthen the new barrier spell, it will only last for 3 months.” They were surprised, and he added, “If we want to make the barrier dominant for three years, at least, we need the Black Obsidian Crystal from the Empire of Horos, or to acquire the current emperor’s blue blood.” Doris suggested.
The Empire of Horos in Helleus was the antipode of Hēnte, standing independently as one empire. It was the second-largest prosperous country and had a dominant barrier coming from the Black Obsidian Crystal with the stained blue blood of the emperor in the heart of Helleus's underground labyrinth.
The current emperor was Sidañian Neus Horos. He became the newly appointed emperor when he killed his eldest half-brother Nikolas Neus Horos, who was supposed to be crowned emperor. Sidañian did not do it out of jealousy, but he was a powerful inborn blood-cursed bastard son of the deceased emperor Apocalipteus Horos. It was said that his blood was blue with a smell of Amorphophallus titanium, known as the corpse flower. The people respected him despite his cruelty; no other kingdom dared to wage war on them. On the contrary, the Emperor of Horos had intimidating tiger eyes with a black leather eyepatch on his right, and he captured the heart of every woman he desired. But Sidañian was a well-known shadow reaper who could reap fifty people with a snap of his fingers using his blue mana blood. He could also kill shadow demons like Zeddrick, but with limitations.
Regrettably, Hēnte and Helleus were not on good terms, because Sidañian was an avaricious man that Zeddrick hates the most.
“Of all countries, why does it have to be Helleus? Is there no other better option than this?” Zeddrick asked.
“I understand that Hēnte and Helleus are hostile to each other. But we must consider the point of view of the citizens of Hēnte. We cannot take the Black Obsidian Crystal, as it is the heart of Helleus. This must be the most humiliating suggestion, but this is the only option we have to get the Emperor of Horos’s blue blood,” Viktor Lan said.
“Beware, Viktor Lan. We should be mindful that once we seek help from the Emperor of Horos, we should be prepared to return the favor, whether we like it or not. What we need is not something easy to obtain,” Castaeus said.
At that moment, Zeddrick needed to decide. If the Empire of Horos was the only way to make the Hēnte’s barrier dominant for a couple of years, he must later return the favor in good will.
“Then so be it. Send an invitation to the Emperor of Horos to attend my natal day in the coming months. From there, I will decide whether I will seek his help or not,” he commanded.
The assembly meeting ended soundly, leaving the emperor with doubtful thoughts. Whether the Emperor of Horos would gladly give them what they want without asking for something in return—or maybe, in the back of Zeddrick's mind, there was another way to avoid such a nuisance without spilling blood in Hēnte.
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