On one of the palace balconies overlooking the seaside of the city, the boy sat with his sword.
"How on earth did you survive Basilisk's suicide attack...?" Nokio's annoying voice interrupted Rodeln's quiet moment.
"Hmm? Oh... Nokio was your name, right? Well... I managed to apply the 'Empty Hand' technique with a success rate I've never reached before."
"Hmm," curiosity washed over Nokio's face. Rodeln knew he wouldn't escape Nokio's obsession with gathering information. He sighed.
"Fine, I'll explain. Since I am a 'Converter,' my grace, StarFarm, works by converting the light emitted from me toward inanimate objects and non-conscious creatures, breathing life into them so I can move them as I wish."
Nokio's intense focus and nodding encouraged Rodeln to continue.
"As for my 'Empty Hand' technique, it allows me to change the properties of the matter I control, though it narrows the range of my influence. I can turn solid into liquid, for example... that's what I did back there."
"Haaa! That's brilliant!" Nokio's eyes lit up.
"But since I consumed most of my light fighting the Fallen, I didn't have much left for the Empty Hand. My technique didn't absorb the whole shock. The grace's effect ended before the impact did, so I fell among the ruins, suffered a bad concussion, and was exhausted from using all my lumen."
They continued talking about the fight, unaware of the listeners in the room, mercenaries and soldiers who were so eager to know how Rodeln survived that some had even placed bets on it.
__
The coasts of the Kingdom of W. Okousia stretch from the rocky northern tip of the Horn to the mountain ranges in the south.
The north is filled with valleys branching from the Yuria River, which splits the Horn in half. Some valleys are blessed with water; others are merely massive, silent cracks in the earth. The weather is cold, sometimes snowy, but it moderates as you move south. The beaches are diverse,rocky and sandy. The Great Port remains active despite the kingdom's fall. Life must go on even if today was the day of the royal family's execution.
The Prince, found dead on the palace hill, was presented to Vanguard.
The guillotine was prepared. The crowd looked upon the family that had ruled them for so long. A long history, carried in the blood now being spilled from severed necks.
These are the harsh laws of war. The King, on his deathbed, was spared out of respect for his age and his approaching natural end.
A Questian soldier read a proclamation under the gaze of Wilhelm and Vanguard.
"Today marks the end of the Gatherial family's rule. All Okousian commanders are dismissed, to be replaced by Questian leaders. Martial law will remain until the death of the last King of the Gatherials, Teodolf. After that, all assets and lands will be annexed by the House of Erdnduk and the Royal Crown under King Alphonse."
Some in the crowd listened with resentment, their loyalty still tied to the old family. Others didn't care. What does a change in kings matter? The same life, just different names.
Life goes on. Children in schools, markets as they were. Ships sail toward a void unknown to Vanguard and his men.
Canaria, who grew up here, took her friends on a tour. She showed them places they couldn't have imagined,weapon shops with historical gear, brothels, strange foods. A new world. They ended up at the shore.
"So... where do those ships go?" Tartar asked.
"Ah... right. They didn't teach you about the world outside the Horn of Yuria in Questia. Well... the world is made of giant continents. We are here in the Continent of Yuria, which is mostly uninhabited except for the north. We live by trading with the outside. Okousia's trade relied mostly on sea resources. The continent behind the sea is called Galassia. It's a group of united kingdoms under the rule of 'The Great Parliament of Power '."
__
The Grand Parliament is the highest point of rule and power on earth. It includes all kingdoms of Galassia. One of the kings is elected as the head, but that is mere formality..
..
"The real power is centered in the corridors and offices of the Parliamentary Palace. The elected King only approves decisions to give them a sacred touch," Canaria explained. "Questia might soon become part of this system."
They all looked toward the horizon where the sky meets the sea. If they could see further, following those ships, they would find cities of unimaginable beauty.
The world is truly vast and growing. The Kingdom of Galassia is the heart of that continent,a place that never sleeps.
Steam trains cut through wide lands, leaving clouds of white vapor behind. Elegant buildings, resorts, and gardens. Vast cities with covered markets under glass ceilings,markets so enormous you could lose yourself in them for days.
In the center of the capital sits the Parliamentary Square. The Palace there looks more like a government building than a royal one, yet it retains a heavy dignity. Its vast corridors are packed with people in civilized, disciplined clothing. Clerks hurry to transport papers and treaties.
But while those people are busy with work, the ones gathered in the quiet room are busy with something else. A platform stands in the middle of a hemicycle meeting hall.
On the platform sit seven people. Three to the left and three to the right of the man in the center. An elegant man with brushed back black hair and graying temples he wore an calssy black suit over a buttoned white shirt.
"The power is shifting," the elegant man said.
"The prophecy is fulfilling itself," said a man to his right, holding a cat. This man had very short hair, nearly bald, and wore a similar neat suit..almosy everyone did.
"We cannot intervene! Not now!!" a voice shouted from the hall.
"We will intervene... we will be part of the prophecy!" another shouted.
"TheCult will surely step in. The Horn of Yuria will fall into chaos!"
Voices and opinions clashed. But the man in the center raised his hand, silencing the room.
"My apologies, Mr. Helsifer... my interruption was reckless," muttered a fat man in the hall. Everyone waited for the elegant man in the middle to speak.
"Ahem... well. The data we have will be shared with you shortly. Information on powerful recruits, abilities, and decent Graces. It seems the Horn of Yuria is ready for a collision with Fate."
A man to his right, elderly with a trembling voice, said: "What we have is enough to justify staying out for now. We will send observation forces soon. Likely, even TheCult will stay back and just watch."
A man on the left with round glasses added: "Yes... after the disaster in Caltia five years ago, the balance of power was disturbed.. The Incarnate Grace 'Niracyne' infiltrated the kingdom's ranks and annihilated all forms of power within it."
The bald man with the cat said: "And yet, TheCult could not intervene and watched in silence."
Helsifer prepared to speak.
"My fellow advisors—Lunin, Donabov, Dempsey—thank you for your input. Yes, all that was said is true. But there is a focal point we must address. What happened to Niracyne after the 'Virgin Suicide'?"
Questioning looks were exchanged. Helsifer explained:
"An Incarnate Grace controls the mind of its host. Because it lacks leadership, it always works to achieve the maximum impact. These Graces do not distinguish between good and evil,they simply do what they believe must be done. And indeed, after Niracyne gained the trust of the entire kingdom, she committed the Virgin Suicide,which is the Incarnate Grace's version of the 'EmptyHand '."
...
Indeed... the ruins of the capital, Caltia, drown inside a giant lake that was once a massive crater. An explosion so horrific it shook the world and flipped the scales of power. It was the turning point that put the Horn of Yuria in a state of permanent alert.
The disaster happened five years ago, when the capital of Eastern Ocousia woke up to an explosion that swallowed everything within a circle the size of the entire city.
...
The speaker continued.
"Not many know the truth, even in Okousia and Questia... but Niracyne was swallowed days later by 'The RoamingForest '."
A roar of questions and confusion filled the hall.
"We thought He was a myth!"
"Is He real?!"
"Yes," Helsifer replied. "Yes, unfortunately, it seems He is real. And that is why neither the Parliament nor the Cult intervened directly in that incident. And it is the reason here as well."
...
Yes... in those cold mountains north of the Horn of Yuria, there are trees so tangled they seem to weave into one another. Tall trees, unlike any around them, hiding a pitch-black darkness within. A darkness that might stretch to every corner of the three former kingdoms.
After some whispers and a review of the distributed papers, everyone prepared to vote.
Helsifer stood. "Very well... who opposes the decision of non-intervention?"
No one raised a hand.
"Who approves sending intelligence forces?"
An overwhelming majority.
"I thank the members for their efforts. On this agreement, we conclude our meeting today."
A parliamentary gathering of an entire continent's power ended with a decision to prepare for something massive. Meanwhile, in Questia, no one knew what was being plotted in the corridors of the Galassian palace.
In Questia, something entirely different was being plotted.
Vandal was nearing a new world in his life.
Days had passed since their return to Questia. Everyone had rested, and the celebrations of victory had faded after they discovered things they never knew existed.
The vast world was throwing its weight onto this small corner that had become the center of attention.
"It seems Zvyrf was right," Vanguard said.
Hilda looked at him. No response.
They both looked out at the night from a window in the palace of Little Questia.
"If I had known all this... if I had known things would turn out like this... I would never have left the village."
A vacant, hollow stare filled Vanguard's face. A look that did not promise anything good.