Interlude 1 - Rising Awareness
A large kingdom, enough so to become an empire at the current continuing rate of expansion, right in the middle of the main continent of Luheim, at the eastern part of the western half bordering right at the edge, next to the Dragon's Spine mountain range that split the enormous continent.
The Kingdom of Freydal, and it's methodically named capital Freydal, a city of a million residents. Located in the middle, situated on a hill, surrounded by an additional high wall, is the royal palace.
A moment ago an exalted carriage stopped in front of the main gates.
The doors forcefully shot open as an imposing figure in magnificent sanctified robes proceeded to hastily march towards the throne on the opposite side of the hall.
Standing, not kneeling, unlike the accompanying 2 priests and 2 priestessses, before the person in regal attire sitting on the throne, the rushed and flushed, out-of-breath head of the church, with a grave expression on his face, uttered the following words,
"My King, the Gods have spoken! They themselves personally appeared and gave myself the most important and urgent of revelations thus far!" He paused, inhaled and exhaled deeply, steadying his breath.
The king's, the one appopriately on the throne, attention had already been fully drawn the moment the pope had entered the auditorium, but now, heard about the message, he grimaced and made all preparations to receive whatever was about to be announced. He spoke,
"Proceed!"
"Yes, my King! By the Great God's divination we have been informed that just a week ago there was a great disturbance in the world. The implications of it are all but good. Something appeared. A great evil has decended on this world, a demon, and it will do nothing but bring utter devastation and destruction upon the whole world unless handled immediately! It is the greatest imperative to track down this demon and eliminate it at all costs! Thus have the Gods commanded, and they will aid us and make our nation prosper!"
The gasps and exasperated vociferation by everyone present, including the king, following the proclamation was expected, but nevertheless quickly quieted down by the pope's imploration.
The importance and the beneficial return of this task was keenly made clear, and by the king's behest the rare, once in a decade gathering of the round table was announced. After council, every person of importance scattered off to their relevant assigned duties, leaving only the king, the royal guard, and the pope and his entourage discussing other, more private details of this recent forewarning.
- - -
Another nation, but far from similar to the Kingdom of Freydal – known as the Elysian Empire.
And just like what happened in the Kingdom of Freydal, the emperor's throne was approached by a figure. However, contrary to the former, the throne room was nearly empty, calm, eerily quiet.
There were just two presences. The one who just arrived – standing tall in front of the throne, a figure clad from head to toe in pitch black robes, not a speck of skin visible, the face concealed by a deeply dark fuzzy shadow resembling mist. And the one seated on the throne – a black gown veined by silvery lines covering the otherwise unpredictably burly body, shoulder length gray hair, but a clear complexion and strong bone structure, and in the middle of the face dimly glowed two argent eyes still full of vigor, yet listless at the same time, the Immortal Emperor.
"Your majesty," the figure clad in black addressed his monarch. Though he received no answer, expectedly. He continued, "I discovered an anomaly in the essence of the world, a great disturbance ran through the world a week ago, and I have now determined the cause. A powerful demon seems to have carnated into this world, one yet unobserved, but I'm sure the gods have also taken note of it's appearance and no doubt informed those contemptible zealots. Though unsure of their objective, both the demon's and the gods', I'm confident that gaining the demon as an ally would no doubt be beneficial."
The figure proceeded to explain his discovery and give some of his insights into it. In the end, the only reaction was,
"Interesting..."
- - -
Now, at another place.
It's still a nation, however, its kind is somewhat of a rarity in the world. It's a nation ruled by elves, the majority of its residents also elves. The peculiarity comes from the fact that nonhuman races tend not to form any kind of collaborations much larger than tribes and such, very much so for forming whole countries. Well, true, there are some.
Situated at the sweltering climate of the equator and near the monster infested tropical forests, the elven nation has grown unexpectedly large. However, on the other hand, the expansive territory can mostly be contributed exactly to the presence of many hostile creatures and to the fairly inhospitable conditions.
It is due to the characteristic survival abilities that the elves have thrived in such a region – one thing is the survival skills, but the other factor is no doubt their proficiency in nature magic.
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Thus we're looking at the humongous capital. Though the sheer size of it can be intimidating, the amount of residents is not that great, compared to the population density of most human cities, that is. Well, elves tend to covet more personal space also, so it works out pretty well.
Like all nations, this one also has a government, naturally. However, different from the sprawling human kingdoms, there's no single ruler or a monarch, but an assembly of sorts, the Council of Elders.
The senate hall was not in so much as an uproar, but definitely apprehension and dismay were present.
The same topic that was examined elsewhere in other upper echelons, was being discussed here as well.
"A week ago the Ancient World Fragment picked up a ripple in the all-pervading, ever-present World Magic Essence, and we have now tracked down its source," a youthful-looking ashen-skin man dressed in a bluish tinted toga spoke. "It seems that a powerful being has appeared in this world. Since its likely location is far in the northern wilderness, the being is likely a demon."
The listeners, 20 odd similarly dressed men, all with the same characteristic pointy ears, gasped almost in unison.
"However," the spokesman stated in a way that the reverberation subdued the place, "Though it requies further investigation, we've determined that the being is not the reincarnated Demon God."
After additional clarification a discussion commenced. And the result, as the most age-worn, experienced-looking, yet still youthful individual stepped onto the central podium,
"The decision is that we will continue investigation with a small scout unit. However, there's no need to mobilize the armies, as any certain threat has yet to be confirmed."
Meeting adjourned.
- - -
A week ago, there was also another reaction to our protagonist's awakening.
In the distance emerges second of the five highest mountains in the world, the Thransis. Situated on the eastern half of the main continent is the Titan's mountain range, where we're currently looking.
Hundreds of peaks in every direction, pointing out from the layer of clouds beneath, thus a very high altitude.
Basking in the glow of the setting sun, standing on a ridge separating two valleys is a figure.
Though covered by clothes, the figure is no doubt tall and slender, and at the same time harmoniously toughened by numerous experiences of combat. From the prominent bosom you judge that the figure is female.
As her chest heaves from earlier strain and the dark red long ponytailed hair sways in rhythm with gushes of wind, she looks down into the valley upon another humanoid form. However, that which lays down there like a corpse, is far from anything human, or is reminiscent of any other race to any degree. It's a colossus.
A stone colossus of 50 meters sprawled on the ground, dead. One of the greatest, strongest colossi, an exceptional type II magic creature, lies motionless, tranquil before her eyes. If ranked, this colossus would be class 2. Meaning, the colossus whose remains now lie still, was second only to the chief of the colossi.
From the marks and signs of battle – the damaged terrain, burnt, smashed and sliced body of the colossus, and the ragged equipment of the survivor –, it's quite straightforward to conclude that namely these two beings had just been engaged in combat. And the victor was the comparably tiny human.
How was such a thing possible? How did this come to be? Or, the correct question would be – how powerful is this female human, to have defeated an opponent many times larger than herself and who belonged to the top of its group? However, we will not dwell on this inquiry at present time.
So, while having a rest amidst the aftermath of extensive devastation, she suddenly perked up and turned westward towards the setting sun. And she mumbled to herself,
"Huh? What's this? Isn't this a familiar presence?... Just as I had come to this world some time ago and was enjoying myself here, he also happens to come here... A coincidence, maybe? No, can't be. Or perhaps really so. He is that sort of guy anyway, so he must have coincidentally reincarnated into this world... But this aura no doubt belongs to that beloved, whimsical friend of mine. So I guess I'll go take a look some time or another..."
The moment she finished, a ripple formed in front of her, expanded into an oval, opaque window, and as she stepped into it, she just up and disappeared without a trace, the portal closing behind her.
- - -
Thank you for reading! Though this chapter is a bit short, it was a necessary part. The main story will continue in a few days, so look forward to it.
Any feedback is appreciated, and please rate the fiction.
Best wishes to all!