The Sacred Empire

Chapter 1: Lifeless

"You finally wake up" a stranger's warm smile greeted him. As he opens his eyes, he sees a young lady dressed in plain and dull clothes.

He groans in pain, forcing himself to slowly move and tries to get himself up.

"You were nearly dead when I found you," she said as she came near him to assist.

"You might be one of the civilians who escaped the ambush from the East Coast incident from the Central Kingdom," she said in deep concern.

"You needed more rest, for now, lie down in bed" she insisted.

He helps him to lie down again and introduce herself to him.

"By the way, I'm Hidelga and you are in the place called the land of the forgotten in the empire." She said,

__________________________

Once, Sacred weapons came from the Heavenly realms and the Supreme being.

It was entrusted to humans for a certain goal and that is to maintain protection and peace.

It comes in different types, ranks, and individuality of the weapon itself and its ability to choose its threader.

A threader is a person who owns and was chosen by a sacred weapon. The capability to use it in its full capacity will rely mostly on its threader's entity.

A very strong sacred weapon is at its weakest with a weak threader and the average one is an absolute work of art with the right one.

Usually, royal families around the world own the strongest Sacred weapon. Simply because the Heavens set the covenant among the leaders and the monarchs first.

Nowadays, due to different instances some of them were stolen and the worst part, destroyed.

The things that are meant to obtain peace and protection had become the main reason for war.

Legends to decades passed, William Lance Seigmund an ambitious traveller/ researcher who found, and was chosen by a sacred weapon called Chromomisa, one of the strongest and considered a legendary sacred weapon, to be its owner.

Chromomisa is an amulet with an eternal, circular-shaped diamond gemstone at the centre and was about the size of a human heart or a fist. It has outstanding power, attack, revitalizing, and recovery mechanisms. Its primary domain is under the 'manipulator attack- type' and can stun a whole battalion in an instant and can take down a whole city. However, it is not under a 'defense- control type' but it still has an outstanding defense mechanism that can defend a whole town.

He conquered almost half of the world. He had taken over nations and built his own empire, called the Silver Crest empire.

The biggest and strongest empire in history.

The Emperor was entitled as one of the strongest threaders, for such powerful reigning, people ended up concluding that he might be one of the Legendary Eternal threaders for he nearly obtained that divine line but the heaven declined and the conclusion was set to fail.

Legends talk about the so-called "Eternal Threaders'. They will be chosen by the Heavens and not by the weapons themselves.

Owning the permission to use the most powerful among all the sacred weapons on earth yet it was said that having such great power has an equal cost.

One day the Emperor suddenly disappears, leaving a statement declaring that his son shall now ascend the throne and become the next ruler of his empire.

The emperor has two sons and a daughter from three different women.

The first prince was Prince Howard Elrich Sigmund.

He was the only son of Princess Cherish, the first princess of one of his huge countries, Fidelpia.

He has the most brilliant personality and background, he always transcends in almost a lot of things, he is excellent in a lot of ways, in any skills, knowledge, and performance.

He is a picture of full nobility and perfection.

Prince Howard is the one who is most suitable to inherit the throne. However, even though he owns such a reputation compared to his two siblings.

He was still not chosen to be the heir to the throne.

The second prince is Prince Evan Shawn Sigmund.

The prince with an unknown origin and also known as the 'the bast*rd prince.

The Emperor just brought him in and said that he's a prince and his son. Then, locked him up inside his own mansion in the palace.

When he appeared on his grand debut ball, people wanted to doubt if he is really Emperor Willaim's son but no one dared to when they saw some of his features.

He looks exactly like a younger version of his Father.

However, having all these traits and being a ruddy beautiful lad. He inherited a pair of stunning eyes that was a trait not from his father but said to be from his unknown mother.

It has the pure cool color of the trees and seas combined that shines in a dark gloomy background and can pierce into the heart and soul with just a simple glimpse.

Probably, his eyes were the reason why the Emperor treated him with such fondness.

The whole empire expected the first prince to be the emperor's favourite son but after Prince Evan's debut, the emperor let him out of his cage completely and even proclaimed to the whole world that he would be the royal heir of the throne instead of Prince Howard, who seems to be very suitable for the throne.

People disapproved of his decision at first and even said that it was rubbish for an illegitimate child to take over the throne.

More likely, when the second prince frequently goes against his father and commits the emperor's assassination personally in the middle of the night.

The emperor never counted the second prince to be a subject of treason or even sentenced him to death or exiled. Emperor William even punishes anyone who opposes or slanders his son.

He burns them alive in an open field, soaked by flammable fluids pooling around them.

This torture is called ' the dance of death in flames and waters' those who are guilty will even try to run to get rid of the flammable fluid but cannot escape it and consume them to coal and ashes.

It was an art of torture designed by the former ruler originally to protect the honour of one of his sons.

And lastly, the youngest, the imperial Princess Lizobelle Emberlaine Sigmund.

A very beautiful young lady with long blonde hair and rarely Auburn eyes that she inherited from her father, the Emperor.

She is very serene and elegant. She was labelled as the empire's 'delicate blooming flower'.

Her mother, Lady Sylvia, was a late governor's eldest daughter who was engaged to marry the Emperor but later on, Lady Sylvia hated the emperor so much that she ended up being exiled back to her homeland because of her insolent behaviour. She was supposed to be beheaded however in consideration for the young princess, her life was spared.

For a mere reason that having a daughter instead of a son shattered her ambitions of becoming the queen mother and blames it all on the princess

_______________________

Hidelga entered the room carrying his meal.

She sat on the chair beside the bed and placed his meal on the side table next to her.

"How are you? Are you feeling well already?" she checked him.

As usual, he did not eat his food.

She releases a deep sigh and takes a few seconds of silence before she speaks again.

"What's your name?" she asked with a concerned tone.

"Why did you save me?" He asked her in return, wanting to know her real motive.

Shy smiled and answered, "Because you need help and also everyone deserves to live," she said plainly.

He stood up with weakened knees and Hidelga assisted him.

He declines.

"You seem to be a noble or a high-ranking commander based on the uniform you were wearing when I found you," she stated as she slowly let go of him and guarded him with her sight.

"Do you want to go back?" she said.

"Do I want to?.. I have to," he muttered while slowly bearing weight in every step on each of his feet.

_________________________

The day of the coronation is now on its way, prince Evan will be crowned as Emperor.

It is one of the most awaited events in history that the empire will now have its successor.

People are spreading the news from town to town. Celebrating the blissful touch of this breathtaking event.

However, those are just fancy kinds of stuff and formal acts. Emperor William is a very tough ruler and reigns over the biggest and strongest empire.

Behind those 'everything fancy kinds of stuff' comes insults and critics about the passing of the crown.

Being the next ruler is never his aspiration but prince Howard's.

Everyone around the first prince always says that he was born for such a fate. As a result, the first prince gave all his effort and strength in reaching that goal, building that flawless perfect character which is really impossible and far from reality.

Nonetheless, he ended up disappointed when the emperor selected the second prince instead of him.

He even beat his brother with the use of his Sacred weapon.

Emperor William perfectly overruled the custom of making the first son as heir.

While Prince Evan, the one who puts himself off from politics, hierarchy, and noble bluffs.

The black sheep and the notorious child. The one who is always being scolded and punished for being mischievous, stubborn, rebellious, merciless, and insolent is now in line for Kingship.

There had been a wide uproar during the declaration, and during that time almost everyone kneels desperately pleading with the Emperor to think it over again but he doesn't want to change his mind.

It was said to be very alarming.

"It is a very opportunistic event for the enemies, they can take advantage of it. The empire will surely fall into deep destructions!!" They said in a big outcry.

But the emperor finalized it on his Last Testament.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Fidelphia.

Another bull's eye for the first imperial prince, targeting the portrait of the Crown Prince.

"Haven't missed a shot, ?sire" says Jonathan, the personal butler of prince Howard. He entered with a stroller of his meal.

"The coronation is coming..." Jonathan said but before he finished his sentence. He almost receives the next shot, he unexpectedly became the next target.

His eyes followed where the knife went and return his gaze to the first prince. He probably has his hysteria attack triggered by what the careless butler has said.

He slightly lifts both of his hands. Giving an 'I surrender signal'.

"I AM SUPPOSE TO BE KING" the prince exclaimed.

"Indeed, sire" he agreed to calm the prince while erecting his posture slowly.

"THAT IS MY PLACE! THAT IS MINE!!!" He said. "I work hard for it BUT FATHER ONLY SHAME ME FOR THAT BAST*RD IDI*T!!" he said madly.

"I understand, sir. I have your medicine here." He pulls something out from his pocket.

"After, we can think of a certain plan on stealing it from him. I mean TAKING IT BACK.. from that unworthy guy" he said, taming his hysterical attacks.

He was once a bright, wonderful, and pleasing child, blessed with wonderful things yet gets despised and rejected. Shame knocked him down, disappointments entered, and even rejection. His ego was stepped on and also his pride was hurt beyond his breaking point.

Unfortunately, he acquired emotional and psychological issues. Massive depression, anxiety attacks and even gaining hysteria. Simply speaking, he has gone a little mad but not to the point that he had seen any hallucinations.

Just hysterias; psychological and emotional instabilities.

Jonathan, let him seat on a chair and give his medication so he can remain still.

Back to the Center Kingdom.

The Coronation finally took over.

People started to protest but the Crown prince just turns his eyes away.

Stephen was being uneasy and concerned.

"Just pushed them away so they won't cause too much trouble," he said. "I'm still going to be emperor whether they like it or not, whether they live nor die, so I don't mind," he said neglecting.

"You are so considerate to spare them, sire," Stephen said.

"I just don't want to waste my time worrying about unnecessary things. I can execute them if I wanted," he uttered in firm pride.

Stephen, his butler, sighed deeply. He was worried about the second prince.

"Hey," the prince called out while staring at one of his parchment scrolls that states the empire's regulation during the coronation.

"Yes? Sire?" Stephen asked.

"Whatever happens after I want you to..." he said with a soft tone and the next words make the mere butler feel acknowledged.

"Live" he muttered randomly like a sweet little boy with a grown-up appearance.

Stephen smiled at him as a response and said, "As you wish, sire. Rather, I will serve you until death." He bows in respect.

Prince Evan looked at him in a cornered stare like it was his natural way to look at things.

He is like building walls of his pride together but still hiding a soft heart.

Now, he is prepared and ready to face his people.

Along the way, he met his younger sister, the princess.

Princess Lizobelle gave him her warm smile and greetings.

"Greetings, may the Heavens acknowledge you and bless you with a long life and good health, Great emperor," she said and bowed slightly.

He stares at her.

"Is the Flower left in my castle just merely have thistle or poison?"

The emperor proceeds.

The princess' attendants were astonished by his sudden behaviour.

However instead to react hastily she gave a signal to calm down.

"I am amazed in prestige" she muttered in sarcasm.

"The Emperor acknowledge me either to be a friend or an enemy," she said next.

(These must appear vague but will be cleared in the next chapters).

Yet the servants just see that the emperor just doubts the princess' loyalty and overreacts.

When they cross the line to slander and mock the royalty she speaks up.

"SILENCE!! Still, you are not allowed to slander anyone in the royal family, especially inside this castle. Father's absence is not a permit to commit such crime." She scolded.

"You are neglecting a fact! The identity of the second prince's mother is unknown yet the former emperor did not come from any royal family either he was just a commoner." the princess said bluntly and her servant was silenced.

The real half-bloods were the first imperial prince and the imperial princess. It is not rational to make the rule of society valid when it was already overruled ever since.

"Do not be absurd," she added now in a much lower voice.

"It will be a big idiocrasy to leave a strong empire that my father desired and built for years just to be thrown down away into ruins," she added and everyone was moved.

Although, the second prince wants to check if his sister is taking any sides. He wants to check if she is trustworthy enough and takes his side.

When the imperial princess was still a young girl a boy arrived and he looked exactly like her father. Her father announced that he was a prince and his brother.

No one knows where on earth he comes from and how it happens.

The emperor locked him away so out of curiosity, she sneaked inside the young boy's mansion inside the palace and found him through his window as she climbed the branch of a fruit-bearing tree.

'Even though no one likes him, I've always wanted to play with him but why does father lock him up in this place?' the princess' thought.

However, he was always summoned by the judicial court, the imperial high priest, and by my father, the emperor for being the ulterior head of treason, assassination, and creating troops and army on his own even though he was locked up.

But never charged with treason.

Nonetheless, none of these had ever witnessed or had been proven in the eyes of the people inside the Center kingdom up until the time of the second prince's official debut.

'The same young boy who stood with trembling weak knees after being beaten up and uttered things like "I want to save my mother, she was taken away by a heartless monster and I need to find her and take her back" and hoping powerlessly. The one with these beautiful dazzling innocent eyes that I've been admiring... was a chosen threader.' she thought.

"You almost kill him..." deep in thoughts the princess muttered.

'You almost killed father, 

effortlessly

But why?

That incident happens right before my very eyes

At that moment I fully comprehend

Days, weeks, and months after every war there is a leading elite masked knight that always bothers me because above all knight.

That one.

I have never seen his face

Nothing but a cold glare with the whole troop and armies marching with a solemn atmosphere.

and

Death.

Until I found out who that is.

It was You.

You are the youngest elite warrior and Father's most dangerous weapon.

You are the head of all the assassins.

You are always kept hidden

An outrageous threader and

Yes...

Father?

I am fully convinced.

A very capable ruler...'

He went beyond father's line that Father even wanted to kill him out of envy but as he looks at that beautiful face.

those eyes.....

I know he sees someone else than a stubborn son.

I think that was very nostalgic."

"Princess" Vladimir her butler called and her senses went back from her deep thoughts.

Suddenly an explosion was heard from the east sidewalls. The city gates were opened from the inside by traitors.

Vladimir, the princess' butler runs covering her.

Everyone started to panic. All the guards were running back and forth.

"What's happening?" Vladimir asked one of the passing guards in the Castle's hallway.

"The first prince attacked, he is entering the Center Kingdom." He said and ran off.

Those words shook the princess.

"Release me, I".. she was abrupted.

"My lady. You should better think twice. What are you going to do? Even with your sacred weapon, you cannot barge into the problem" Vlad said.

"I am the Lady of this Kingdom and those are my people. A lot of people will be killed! let me save them!" she commanded insisting.

Vladimir released her.

Princess Lizobelle rends the lower part of her dress up to her knees, so she will be able to run and move freely.

She covered herself and her face, so no one will recognize her. Then, she releases the Amigine, her sacred weapon.

Amigine, is a long metal bow that can be summoned from nowhere and it is under the treasure-type sacred weapon.

Treasure-type weapons are very valuable. Aside from having a booster effect and infusing power to the attack, it can regenerate strength and power also to the other threaders who fight along with it. Also, it can manipulate the arrows and the amount of power it uses and released and can simply be combined with the acquaintance's attack.

The princess's entity and skills made her qualified to be Amigine's threader and one of these is being an excellent archer and a peace-loving empathic royalty.

But she kept it a secret from almost everyone to prevent the selfish motive of using her and her sacred weapon.