Seated on a throne completely made of shining gold, adorned with gems and precious stones along with the statues of two lions attached to either side of it, the sun of the empire looked down at Sage Theron, who was kneeling on one leg.
Golden blond hair, emerald-like red eyes, and a sharp gaze that would pierce through everything.
Adoring various valuable ornaments and a gorgeous golden crown with three red diamonds, he looked very imposing and dignified.It was none other than Edmund Ashborn, the current Emperor of the great Everhart and the absolute ruler of the great Everhart, a being who is considered akin to the sky in the empire.
Currently, in front such being in the royal court was Sage Theron who was kneeling on one leg to show his respect.
It has been 17 days since the Emperor's messenger delivered the royal edict to Sage Theron and invited him to the Royal Palace.
They departed as soon as possible and after a long journey, Sage Theron and his family arrived at the royal Palace.
The Journey itself went without any problem as they were accompanied by the Royal Escorts who were second to none in the whole empire.
Under the protection of royal escorts, Sage Theron and his family were escorted to the capital with the utmost respect and hospitality, and today, he was summoned in front of the Emperor for official matters.
'I know he is the emperor, but the pressure he gave off is no joke'
Even for Sage Theron, who was an 8th-class grand magician, it was hard to dismiss. Sage Theron lowered his head and placed his right hand on his chest and greeted the Emperor with respect.
"Glory to the great Everhart empire, Long live the Emperor"
He slightly gazed at the emperor who was nodding toward his greetings.
The emperor had deep Red eyes which shone like emerald and blond hair that symbolized the Royal family, with a well-built body and his natural charisma, the emperor looked as imposing as he should be.
'So that's the emperor', thought Sage Theron as he stood up. It was his first time seeing the emperor in person even though he had heard a great deal about him from the rumors.
It was no hidden matter among the public as to how the current emperor Edmund Ashborn rose to the throne.
In fact, it was actually quite popular.
Edmund Ashbord is an Emperor who seized the throne by eliminating all his competitors.
Even though he was the 6th prince, he occupied the throne by killing all his brothers and sisters and crowned himself while his clothes were still drenched in their blood.
And he didn't rest even after his coronation, he slaughtered all the children of the previous emperor, except the 9th prince and the 11th princess who renounced their right to the throne and settled in some remote regions.
Everyone else was slaughtered without mercy. He did not even leave the illegitimate children thinking that they might become obstacles for him in the future.
The incident was so shocking that it was still a topic of discussion among the commoners, of course, they didn't dare to utter any of this in front of the officials but it was a different story behind their backs.
And that's how Edmund Ashborn got his title…
'Heartless Emperor.'
Sage Theron stood with his back drenched in a cold sweat looking at the emperor, that's how much pressure he was excluding.
'Even though I, myself is an 8th class mage, I can't help but shudder at his Aura'
It was like he was telling Sage Theron that he is just an ant that he could crush at any time.
Though Sage Theron felt displeased at such pleasure, he endured as he was not the only one who was present in court.
The Prime minister, the mind of the great Everhart, and the strongest among the seven sages, the Sage of Wisdom, Sage Braham was seated in a position a bit lower than the emperor.
The Minister of wealth and Sage of Decisiveness, Sage Basara was seated to his right.
One of the three Dukes of the Empire, Mir Khan was present on his left.
And many more powerful and influential figures were present in the court with their gazes directed at Sage Theron.
At this movement, Theron was relieved that he left his daughter and wife in the residential area, if not, they might have collapsed under the pressure of such strong beings.
"Sage Theron"
Suddenly, the emperor began his speech and silence downed in the hall.
"I have heard a great deal about your deeds and powers, Sage Theron. Despite coming from a common background, you have worked hard and have reached heights that should have been impossible without any support."
Sage Theron, from the origin, was not a Nobel. Being from a humble common origin, he was just a peasant from a remote village. But he had the determination to reach the peak and he worked tirelessly for it!
And as a result he now stood at the apex of the magic world as an 8-star magician. All his achievements and powers were purely the results of his own hard work and talent. He had worked very hard to rise to be an 8th-circle mage, despite the lacking resources that he could access.
So, It was indeed an outstanding achievement that he was able to grow this strong.
"I am honored that you think so highly of me, your majesty"
But despite all that, Sage Theron wasn’t arrogant, he was still humble in front of the emperor.
"There is no need to be modest, you have earned it with your own effort," The emperor said as he seemed to be satisfied by Sage Theron’s words.
"In recognition of your service to the empire till the movement and your achievements, I, Edmund Ashborn, the Emperor of the great Everhart will bestow upon you the title of Sage of Diligence, thus you shall be respected as one among the 7 sages of the Everhart, and henceforth I pronounce you as the new master of the 7th magic tower, Does any of you present here have any objections?"
No one dared to speak up, so the emperor continued.
"Since no one has any objections, I will ask you directly, Sage Theron, do you accept this position?"
The Emperor glared at Sage Theron as he asked that.
Sage Theron was also overjoyed, who would reject the glory of being one of the seven sages of the great Everhart? It meant that he would be officially on the same level as the Sage of Wisdom, Braham.
He couldn't be happier.
"I will humbly accept the grace, your majesty"
Sage Theron said so as he bowed respectfully to the emperor.
"Then it is decided, you shall take up the position as the new master of the 7th magic Tower in the capital as soon as possible, all preparations needed for your stay will be made in the magic tower itself.”
The emperor then turned towards Braham.
“Sir Braham, please take care of any further matters"
The Emperor instructed the Prime minister to oversee any further needs of Sage Theron.
"I shall do as you desire"
And Sage Braham replied to the emperor with a calm demeanor.
With that, the matters regarding rewarding Sage Theron as the 7th magic Tower's Master came to end and the court continued further discussion regarding various concerning issues.
Duke Mir was the first to rise.
"Your majesty, lately there has been an intel of the rebel army gathering around the Frostgate province....."
As the court continued with serious matters, Sage Theron was busy admiring the Sage of Wisdom, Braham with shining eyes.
***
"Tower of Temperance in the North, Tower of Patience in the South, Tower of Purity in the East, Tower of Prudence in the west, Tower of justice in the Royal palace and Tower of Wisdom in the south of the capital, together there were six magic towers, each headed by one of the six sages"
Sage Braham explained as he slowly walked in the hallways of the royal palace.
His head was full of white hair, a light-white robe with a golden border design was covering his body, and his back was slightly bent indicating that he had lived for a long time, but despite that, he had very sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through everything.
Although he looked like a kind and easygoing gramps with his long white beard at first sight, there was a sort of majesty and mystery to this man.
"But now that you have joined, it will be 7 magic towers, I guess"
Sage Braham smiled gently, turning his head back.
Walking just behind him was the newly appointed master of the 7th magic tower, Sage of Diligence, Theron and he was looking at Prime minister Braham with eyes filled with pure admiration.
Even though he himself was above 50 years of age and also being an 8th-circle mage, he couldn't help but show utmost respect to the man in front of him.
Because, the one in front of him was none other than the Sage of Wisdom, Braham, who was known throughout the empire as the mind of great Everhart for his immense knowledge and insight.
There was a reason why he got a title as grand as that and it's not something like a secret as everyone in Everhart was aware of it.
Going back in time, even before the rise of the great Everhart empire, when the land was divided into small kingdoms and ruled by native lords, Sage Braham served as a minister in one of those kingdoms.
It was not clearly known what happened, but they say he suddenly stepped down from his position and went somewhere unknown.
And after ten years, he reappeared in the kingdom, along with a young man, who later became the first emperor of the Everhart empire.
They say Sage Braham was the one who aided the previous emperor to conquer the land and rise to glory. Along with the previous Emperor, he was one of the founding members of the great Everhart empire.
The previous emperor was a disciple of Sage Braham, and he was very fond of him, as a result, he appointed Sage Braham as the prime minister, and ever since then, his position has been unshaken.
It is said that the previous emperor even thought of sage Braham as his father figure, so there was pretty much no one in the entire Everhart who could stand against him except the emperor himself.
And despite all these things, his knowledge and wisdom were still unsurpassed.
All in all, it wouldn't be wrong to call him one of the pillars of the great Empire, that's why for the citizens of Everhart and all the mages, he was nothing short of a role model.
And since such a figure was personally guiding him towards his residence, Sage Theron couldn't help but feel excited.
Growing up Sage Braham has been a role model for him, and it was only now that he got to meet him that too being appointed as one of the seven sages. It was probably the happiest day in Sage Theron's life.
"I am honored that you think of me as an equal, Sir Braham"
It wasn't him being humble, Sage Theron really felt that way.
"Don't lower yourself, Sage Theron, You have worked hard to get into this position."
Sage Theron smiled with contentment and didn't say anything in return as he thought it may sound disrespectful. He quietly listened to Sage Braham's instructions while admiring him inwardly.
---***---
Guest abode of the royal palace.The grandeur of the Royal palace was as exquisite as one could expect, the hallways were decorated with various exquisite decorations and everything down to the floor was shining as if it were screaming the word 'luxury'.And in such a luxurious and overbearing place, a rare melody wafted through the air.Calm, like a flowing river, and serene, like a field of grass, the melody penetrated the hearts of those who listened, capturing their minds and souls. The source of this enchanting sound emanated from inside a room where a young maiden, as beautiful as a flower, sang with abandon.Seated by a small pond, designed as an ornamental feature, was the captivating maiden who possessed pitch-black hair, jade-like skin, and eyes as sharp as obsidian swords—she seemed to be the epitome of beauty. And a mole just below her lips further enhanced her charm, rendering any man beneath the sky captivated. She could rightfully be called a goddess on earth.As the m
A week passed after Sage Theron was appointed as the new 7th magic tower master. Nothing special happened during this time; Sage Theron officially took the position of 7th magic tower master and settled down there along with his family. With the help of Sage Braham, who answered all his questions and queries, Sage Theron was able to adjust to the position of Tower master very quickly.However, something bizarre happened today, which made Sage feel conflicted."Give me your daughter."It was early in the morning that day when the Emperor of the Everhart, Edmund Ashborn, himself visited the 7th magic tower along with his royal guards. There was nothing wrong with the Emperor visiting the magic tower, so Sage Theron greeted him and treated him with the utmost respect.The Emperor himself took the initiative to continue the conversation, and at one point, the topic changed."I saw your daughter the other day; she was truly beautiful, a moon maiden indeed."Sage Theron didn't know how to a
"Calm down, you are too nervous, Sage Theron."Regulus Healingrove, the Royal Physician of the Everhart empire, said to Sage Theron who was walking back and forth in the hallway, outside of a room."How can I, Sir Regulus? I don't know what's taking so much time"Theron said, still as nervous while holding both his hands together."Giving birth takes time," a gracious woman replied. "And stop walking around, you are making me nervous as well."It was Sage Theron’s wife, Vatika. Time passed as Luna stayed at the 7th magic tower and finally, the long expected day has come. Luna was giving birth today!"I'm worried about our daughter," Theron replied. "W-What if something happens to her and the children? What should we do, Vatika?""Nothing will happen," She glared at her husband in annoyance. "Get a grip, will you? Sir Regulus is here to make sure nothing like that happens isn't he?"Theron glanced at the white-haired old man who just consoled him before. He was leaning on the wall at
'Ah! I am Finally dying.'The young man thought as he felt the hard rope pressing against his neck. It was after two years in prison that he was finally being hanged to death.'I would have preferred if they had killed me with sleeping pills, but I guess I don't get to decide.'It was pretty crazy that an imprisoned convict was smiling from ear to ear while the executioner was covering his face with black clothes, giving chills to the officers who were observing the execution. Finally, the noose was tied around his neck, and the executioner pulled the lever.'....'But, something was amiss.'I should have felt pain right? Am I already dead?'There was no pain, so the young man thought confusingly, before noticing something else.'Is it normal to hear a baby's cries as you die…?'He just gave his neck to the rope, and maybe the executioner already pulled the lever, maybe he was already dead. He didn't know. But he was hearing the cries of a baby.'Who brought a baby to the Execution pl
Reincarnation.A fantastical notion believed by many, yet simultaneously dismissed by others. I, too, did not believe in rebirth. My life was a continuous stream of suffering, and I considered such thoughts absurd. Death, in my perspective, marked the end.Even in my dying moments, amidst my disbelief in rebirth, a fleeting wish crossed my mind – a desire to be reborn into a wealthy family, to taste the joy of life at least once. It seemed ironic how someone like me, who didn't believe in God, found himself offering a prayer in his final moments.However..."My little pumpkin, look here!Before me stood a beautiful lady with black eyes and pitch-black hair cascading over her shoulders. She shook a blue-colored baby rattle to capture my attention."There is also a red one!"In her left hand, she presented a red-colored rattle, continuing the enchanting display.Rattle!Though I wrinkled my face at the sound of the rattles, the lady persisted in her shaking."Aboo."I sighed softly and
It has been more than 150 days since Valerius's birth, or rather, his reincarnation. He still hasn't seen his father, nor did the Emperor visit to see his children. The excuse being that the Emperor was currently busy dealing with the revolt in the Frostgate province. Although his mother and grandparents tried not to show it, Valerius understood one thing: their father, the Emperor, didn't even care about them. It was maybe obvious seeing how Luna wasn't even the official consort of the Emperor, but considering the position of Sage Theron as one of the Seven Sages and the master of the 7th magic tower, it was a huge disrespect.Nevertheless, it wasn't like Valerius cared for things like that. All he wanted was to stay back and enjoy his life, and it would actually be better if the Emperor didn't pay attention to him.Leaving that matter aside, since the Emperor was 'too busy' to name his children, Sage Theron took it upon himself as their grandfather to name them. A grand ceremony w
They say time flies like an arrow, and indeed, it was true. Six years had passed since the day Valerius was named.The first thing he learned in this life was how to use the toilet! ‘It was so humiliating…’ Having been subject to the shame of having his nanny wash his butt, Valerius had found it challenging to emulate the carefree demeanor of a child, but now it was all over. Valerius had to bear such shame for two years before he was capable of using the toilet by himself! ‘Let's bury the memories of this dark past.’ He didn’t want to remember any of this in the future because it was so humiliating! Nevertheless, it wasn’t the only thing Valerius had learned in his past years; he had also learned how to talk and walk.Valerius had learned the ability to talk at a mere six months old, yet he chose to keep this skill a secret until he turned one. He didn't want to surprise his mother and grandparents, who only witnessed Blondie's first words after an year. Valerius wasn't concern
"Valerius!"As soon as he heard the voice calling him, Valerius's frustration and irritation increased exponentially.The boy calling for him with that annoying voice was Ethan Ashborn.He was older than Valerius by two years."Why are you alone without your incredible Twin? Did you two break up? Kuhaha."And the other brother who was mocking him was Noah Ashborn, who was one year older than Valerius.They were both brothers belonging to the same mother, although, like Valerius and blondie, both were children of a concubine.From what Valerius had observed till now, both of them were the literal explanation of Assholes.'How can such young kids be so annoying?'Valerius thought as he turned around to face them.He had not a single good memory of these two brothers in the past years they were together.They had bullied him and Astra from the movement they entered tempest manor, although Valerius could beat up some kids with his adult memories whenever he wanted, he held back thinking t