Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop!The sounds of horses' hooves stomping on the ground echoed on the large road.It was the road leading either to the Frozen forest or the Lunarstella Empire.The other carriages on the way immediately made a way upon seeing the blue snowflake emblem on the carriage, which was the emblem of the Niveis Royal family."If I may ask, what are you going to do there, Your Highness ?"Inside the carriage, Zara asked Karen."Lady Zara, it would be-""Don't worry Nea."Before Nea refused politely, Karen spoke."B-But Princess…""It's okay, Nea. Lady Zara helped us a lot before so we can say that, right Denis ?"Karen said and turned toward Denis."Of course Your Highness! Miss Zara is trustworthy!"Denis said enthusiastically.Nea sighed at that."But what about the Lord Commander ?"She whispered to Karen while glancing stealthily at Aita, who was looking out of the window.They could trust Zara since they had known her since a few years ago, but Aita was the New Lord Co
"I can't believe it…"Karen said while eating quietly."Did you see that, Sir Denis ? He has a Wind Unique Attribute…"Denis nodded his head."Yes, Your Highness. As expected, the Emperor of Lunarstella didn't choose a young man for nothing."Though they didn't show it, Denis and Karen were apprehensive about the new Lord Commander, like all the nobles of the Niveis Kingdom.But slowly they started to understand Emperor Linus' decision."What do you think ? Nea ?"Karen asked Nea's opinion."...""Nea ?"Karen looked at Nea who was staring blankly at the fire crackling."Nea!""Y-yes!"Karen's loud voice broke Nea from her frozen figure.Karen narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth."Could it be Karen that you fell in love with Lord Aita…?""W-what?!"Nea stood up, shocked."T-There is no way, Your Highness!"Nea denied vehemently."Then ?""I-I was just wondering about the Lord Commander's identity…""Identity ?"Karen tilted her head."Yes. I mean we didn't hear anything about someo
"Aaaachooo! I-It's cold..."Karen said as her body shivered.It wasn't the first time she had come here but, as always, it was even colder than in the capital.They were currently walking toward the frozen forest.It was early in the morning and the cold breeze chilled them."When will we reach it ?"Aita asked, annoyed.He and Zara accompanied them, as they were taking more or less the same route.Aita wanted to part with the other three but Zara convinced him after a long session..."We are nearly here."Denis replied with a wry smile."You said the same thing ten minutes ago!"Aita retorted angrily.He wasn't irritated because of the cold as he was using his wind to cover him.No, what was annoying him was the fact that he was wasting his time on a matter he didn't care about at all.Thwack!"Calm down, Aita."Zara gently hit Aita's head with her fist."Tsk!"Clicking his tongue, Aita walked ahead."Oh...I thought he was going to hit you back."Karen said, surprised by Aita's react
"A temple ?"Zara let out a surprised voice.Before her was a beautiful small temple.The white temple was ornamented and really clean.Snow was covering the roof of the temple."Yes, Commander Zara."Karen nodded and slowly approached the entrance of the temple."This is the temple built by my great-great-grand-father more than a hundred years ago. He hid our treasure inside it. Since then, we of the Niveis family have to come once a month to confirm the presence of our treasure.""I see.""It has always been my father, but lately he is too busy so I came in his stead. Well, I have already come with my father so I know what I have to do."Karen added before biting her thumb."Y-Your Highness ?"Zara was confused by Karen's action.Soon blood came out of her thumb.Then she covered all the fingers of her right hand in her blood before putting her palm on the transparent barrier before her.RUUUUUMMMMBLE!The ground trembled but Karen didn't budge.She had her eyes closed and mana was
"What happened, Your Highness ?"Denis asked, worried about Karen."I-I don't know either, suddenly the ston-!"She stopped immediately.She nearly talked about their family's treasure."I-I suddenly felt my mana absorbed"She corrected herself hurriedly."Hmm strange…Aita had the same reaction a few minutes ago."Zara muttered thoughtfully."Eh ?"Karen turned toward Aita, confused.The latter didn't spare her any glances.He was looking in a specific direction without moving."Sigh…let's leave. The Lord Commander and Lady Zara are busy, we shouldn't keep you anymore with us."Denis said with an apologetic smile."Well, we still have to meet our army here, so we are going in the same way."Karen replied.There was an army in the Frozen forest keeping the Ankouna army at bay."Your Highness, I will take care of that, you don't have to see that…""Commander Denis, they are my people fighting for our Kingdom. It's my duty as princess to at least greet them."Karen shook her head."Sigh…
"Commander Denis, it has been a while."A lean, middle-aged man came out."Yes, Commander Franck. Six months maybe ?"Denis nodded with a smile.Denis, Aita and the others were currently inside the building serving as the Niveis army headquarters in the Frozen forest.They were all seated around a round table."Yes, half a year huh..."Franck muttered before turning his gaze at Karen."Greetings, Your Highness."He stood up and bowed elegantly."Greetings, Commander Franck."Karen nodded her head.Franck nodded and sat back.Then he turned his gaze toward Zara.A charming smile emerged on his fairly handsome face."As beautiful as always, Lady Zara.""Thank you Sir Franck."Zara replied with a smile.Denis lowered his head in frustration seeing the exchanges.Karen and Nea sighed, seeing Denis' state.Truthfully, they wholeheartedly supported Denis in that small war between Denis and Franck.Unfortunately, Franck was more assertive towards Zara than him.Moreover, Denis didn't have co
"What are you going to do ? Listening to them and cutting off your relationship with Lunarstella or refusing and sending that Lotfi's head to Ankouna ?"Aita asked with a cold and serious tone.He would never help the Niveis Kingdom if, in the end, they ran away instead of helping Lunarstella when the time would come.Rather, he would give a helping hand to Lotfi as a 'parting gift'.Karen lowered her head.She knew that Aita wouldn't accept a half-hearted answer.By refusing Ankouna's offer, they would become fully their enemy and that would cause countless deaths without doubt in the future.But cutting off their relation with Lunarstella would be no different than pledging allegiance to Ankouna.They could maybe live peacefully under them ?But…"No."Karen shook her head."We will never accept their offer."She didn't know why Aita asked her instead of her father, but he must have a reason, she thought."We have been allied with Lunarstella for centuries. Our relation is not that
["Eagles should show their claws, though dying"]|Even when you're going through a rough patch in life, be true to who you are. Don't let life beat you into submission.|~The Saga Of Olaf Haraldsson, C.186~***"Weak."Aita's single word froze all the people around."W-Who is this ?"A knight of Niveis stuttered."I-I know! It's the New Lord Commander of Lunarstella!""Eh ?""Isn't that just a young boy ?"Aita's identity quickly spread on the battlefield and soon both sides were aware of the newcomer."AHHHHHHHHHH!"Rummmmmmble!Boooom!An enormous explosion swept several trees away.Crack_!"Arggghh!""H-Hel-!"The knights of Ankouna who were near the explosion died instantly.Aita tried to peer behind the curtain of smoke.A huge pillar of fire shot out toward heaven.The smoke vanished, revealing Lotfi's angry figure.Blood was leaking out from his mouth and Aita's fist was printed on his right cheek."So you are the new Lord Commander of Lunarstella ?""...""They really put a ki
The Nychterin Empire, once overshadowed by hardship, had transformed into a beacon of power and resilience on the Dreamland continent. This remarkable evolution was a stark contrast to its past, a past marred by the scars of a war that had ravaged the nation hundreds of years earlier. During those tumultuous times, the Nychterin Empire had borne the brunt of the conflict, losing countless knights to the enemy's clutches.The aftermath was even grimmer, marked by a scarcity of labor and, more poignantly, a pervasive sense of desolation that had settled over the populace. Widows mourned, children became orphans, and the Empire seemed to teeter on the precipice of despair. Yet, amid this darkness, a glimmer of hope emerged.The Solaria Empire, a benevolent force, extended a compassionate hand to their beleaguered neighbors. Without seeking recompense, they aided in the Empire's reconstruction and dispatched healers to tend to the wounded souls. Although the specter of gloom lingered, the
“You-You want to take part in the tournament?”Selena stammered, speechless at Aita’s demand.“Yeah.”Aita nodded casually.“Why, suddenly? You told me yesterday you were not interested?”Selena tried her best to keep her calm.“I want the reward.”“!”Shock filled Selena’s face. Did he want the reward? So Princess Evelyn? She couldn’t believe it.“Wh-Why? You already have me…”Selena started to doubt her own worth now. She didn’t want to brag about it, but she considered herself not less beautiful than Evelyn Nychterin. Or maybe Aita liked the innocent-type more?“What?”Aita, as dense as ever, wondered what the hell she was speaking about. He only wanted the second reward, the other part of his spear after all.“Can I use you in need every day? Would you be with me any time?”Aita said in a mocking tone. She wasn’t a weapon after all.“Idiot!”-Thud!Selena threw the cup of coffee in Aita’s face and ran away with a tomato-red face.***“Princess.”“...”“Princess?”“Ah!”Selena brok
“Ahhhh…He’s taking his time.” Daisy yawned as she rubbed her sleepy eyes. More than an hour had passed and Aita still hadn’t come out. She was on the verge of sleeping on the floor but held back. She could wait for Aita. Aita had still saved her best friend and her. “What the hell is he doing?!” Anna, still hidden in the corner, was reaching the limits of her patience. “Anna, seriously, we should go…I really want to sleep…” Isabel leaned on the wall and was on the verge of falling asleep like that. “No! Wait a little mor-” “Daisy?” “““!””” “Le-Lena?” Daisy was surprised to see Elena here. She was sure Elena would play or speak with Aura for a few more hours at least… “What are you doing outside and you will catch a cold like that.” Elena sighed, seeing Daisy standing there in a negligee. Elena was also wearing a blue negligee but she was wearing a jacket on it. “A-Ah, well…” Daisy scratched her head, not knowing what to do. Aita was still inside the room after all. Still,
Late at night, Aita left his room. He wandered in the corridor of the palace aimlessly. The guards roaming around would bow to him upon seeing him, otherwise they would let him. They probably thought he wanted to take a breath of fresh air.After an hour or so, he started to walk toward the section reserved for the girls in his class. Like Daisy had promised, she would leave him in their room. Waiting for the right time, he went to the ladies' side. He made sure to erase any sound of his steps with his wind. He didn’t want to cause another uproar and be labeled with another cringe nickname. He already wanted to erase his memories just thinking about what he was doing. Infiltrating the ladies’ dormitory at night? Anyone would label him as human trash.Reaching the room of Daisy and Elena, Aita knocked on the door. He was having a hard time keeping his face from distorting. All his actions seemed like he was going to sleep with a woman late at night…“Look, Isabel, I knew it!”At the en
“You had a tough day, Aita.”Selena said with a glare.They went back to the palace and the first person who welcomed Aita was Selena. She had an exhausted complexion but she still looked like a perfect princess. Her sapphire eyes were staring angrily at Aita and mostly the knights of Lunarstella. She told them to look after Aita so he wouldn’t do anything, threatening their truce, but they couldn’t do anything. They all averted their faces in shame. They couldn’t tell that Aita at that time was too scary to speak to. More than that, they were also angry at Rex and the others for what they had done.“...”Aita stared at Selena. Her face overlapped with the mature Selena of the recording. Her tears, her sad expression, her helplessness, everything overlapped with the current Selena. He couldn’t understand why that woman he didn’t know at all was making his emotions stir that much. He cared for Selena Luna Lunarstella, but not her great-great-aunt.“Aita?”Selena called out to Aita sinc
“What happened…”Aura asked. Behind her were all her classmates, the knights of Solaria and Lunarstella. They were silently waiting for two people to answer. The two people were, of course, Aita and Elena who, after two days, finally reached the entrance of the rift. Austin, Jake, Jaxon and Daisy had already arrived as well the day before, so everyone was there. Well, everyone except Gaut and Rex, who were killed by Aita. By the way, Bein was sitting with a blank expression in a corner ignoring them. Anyway, most of the stares were gathered on two people. Aita and Elena. Aita had his black mask off but he still had his skin mask, which didn’t please him in the slightest as he felt uncomfortable with it, so his current annoyed expression. Right behind, strangely close to him, was Elena, who seemed to be happy to finally reunite with her classmates.“Nothing.”Aita replied clearly, showing that he was annoyed at her question, and walked ahead. “Hmpf!”Aura harrumphed and went to Elena
“...”“...”Silence reigned in the empty hall. The runes weren’t glowing anymore. Aita and Elena were not speaking. Elena had a pained expression, a little more and she’d have cried. Remembering Selena’s face and her words, she felt despondent for her. She glanced at Aita. He was playing with a little stone. It was the White Crystal that was inside the coffin with the book. The book disappeared as soon as the recording was over. As for the skeleton, Aita had put Selena’s remains inside his space ring. Elena looked at the stone with a complicated expression. She needed four of them to go back on Earth. No. She needed five of them. Four to destroy the space rift, once on the other side, she needed another one to finally reach Earth. In any case, the one in Aita’s hand didn’t belong to her, in the first place, so right now she had nothing.-Gurgleeeee“...”“...”Elena buried her face in her knees, not daring to look at Aita’s current expression. She depleted her mana, so she was exhau
“I am going with the name of Selena Mona Lunarstella. The First Princess of the Great Lunarstella Empire.” Her domineering voice echoed. Looking at her, Aita started to understand why she was hailed as a heroine back then and even now. He could understand how she alone was able to defend Lunarstella from enemies everywhere. She really had the aura of a leader. “I do not know who you are, but I know that you are here with the help of my blood. How many years had gone since the war ? I just hold the hope that my Empire is still there flourishing like it should…” She said in a nostalgic tone. “You, who discovered my tomb. I am going to reveal what I discovered in the hope that you are my blood, or at least someone of my Empire. I gave my spear to my brother so he could give it to his children. I engraved runes on my spear that will serve as key to entering this place when the time will come. I transmitted this emplacement to my brother before leaving the Empire forever.” Selena spoke
“I did nothing! B-Believe me, please!”Elena’s quivering voice kept ringing in the hall. She was speaking to Aita, who was standing, looking at his surroundings. He didn’t seem to care about Elena’s words. Stretching his limbs for a minute, he removed his shirt.“Ah! W-What are you doing, Lord Aita?!”Elena turned her head away with a flushed face.Aita ignored her and took out a new white shirt and put in on while making sure to hide his pendant so Elena wouldn’t see it. He glanced at the ground and saw the silver spear. Stooping down, he took the spear. As usual, it looked like a newly crafted spear as its silver color shone with purity. Swinging the spear a few times, he turned around. Elena was looking at him nervously.“How long have I been out?”He asked. Vivid memories of Artemis were still present in his mind. Memories he shouldn’t have as he wasn’t even born at that moment. Why had he the memories of other people? Anyway, it felt like years had passed, so he wanted to know.