EPISODE 122: SPOILER TITLE
— Edryan Queendom, Year: 7291. Season: Color Fading.
“Welcome home Lawruthian,” my mom said.
I’d been lifted several feet off the ground as what appeared to be a large version of my mother hugged me.
“Mom, you’re… a lot bigger than I remembered. (Inspect),” I said, pulling back as I inspected her. Although the woman hugging me was a carbon copy of my mother as I remembered her… there was clearly a problem. Mainly, her size—it reminded me of…
Titiana Koltius Verlio Edryani — Level 310: Demigoddess of Love
My breath caught in my throat, however, before I could comprehend what I was seeing, spatial fluctuations occurred again as over a dozen figures appeared near us. The first was Marna, followed by Margret, and Mariam moments later. Countless high level royal guards showed themselves as I recognized Eliana’s cousin and familiar family hair. They surrounded us in a protective encirclement that forced all nearby dozens of meters back.
“Mom,” I said slowly. “ Let me go. ”
My mother heard my tone, and after one final squeeze, she released me. By the time I recovered my footing, Madria was already swept up in the arms of her mother, who planted kisses all over her face. A few moments later, my mother’s size decreased back to normal. There were tears in her eyes and her demeanor was scattered. She reached a hand forward and placed in on my arm as to assure herself of my presence.
I opened and closed my mouth several times as we stared at one another. There was a lot I wanted to ask, say, do… especially after what I just saw, however, none of that emerged. Instead, when I next spoke, it was simple but words I longed to say after my displacement during the Battle of Starglow Valley.
“I’m home.”
----------------------------------------
Several hours passed, but to me, they felt like minutes. There was a lot. A lot I was behind on. A lot going on in Edryan I desperately needed to address weeks ago. Tomorrow, the Imperius Army would return victorious in a large march through the city. There, they would have paraded me as a conquerer and champion. That wasn’t the biggest issue on my plate.
Fine silk garments draped over my skin as I returned to a life of luxury. I found myself in a large room that was recommissioned into a minor operating room. Mainly, there was a large bed-like structure for me to lay on. Standing close by was Madria and her mother, who prepared to regrow me a new arm. Most of my mother’s council was present, but I didn’t see Liana or her mother anywhere. It was strange as one of the two were usually present.
Long hugs were exchanged with each of the women but most of all my mother. She’d barely let me out of her sight since my return. Her eyes remained a constant tear stained red, but a warmth entered my heart at the sight of her affection.
“This… Mountain of Final Hope, you will tell us more on it later,” Mariam said.
“Don’t worry, I, we…,” I looked to Madria, who still held the hand of her mother. “…intend to give a full recount of the events after the Battle of Starglow Valley. In the meantime, what is this about an… Imperius Grand Summit?”
I was confused. I knew of Edryan Summits, but they were typically events that only happened when a new king or queen was rising to the throne. This was an event that summoned the family leader of every House in Edryan. It was not something that could be called for casually—not even by the Queen.
“Well…,” Mariam hesitated, but I didn’t miss the glance she sent in the direction of my mother.
She’d initially raged at the sight of my arm, threatening violence to the inhabitants of Starglow Valley. It took great effort in my part to assure her I was mostly fine. I’d found a workaround solution for the {Cripple} de-buff. Although it wasn’t perfect, it worked and established new ideas, I couldn’t wait to put to the test. I could hear how Minerva would shrilly chirp as some of those ideas flashed through my mind.
Goddess, I miss her.
This time it was my mother who addressed my question. “The Houses of Edryan seem to forget who rules this country. They have hurt you, they have hurt my son. They must be reminded through blood and steel. ”
I looked at my tear stain mother. The Queen of Edryan who held both mortal and divine authority. A Demigoddess of Love…
Strangely, it made sense.
My mother being the Demigoddess of Love that is. There was a story to be told, but I first had to do whatever damage control I could at this point. It was far too late to cancel the summit… perhaps it could be the opportunity I needed to set in stone a system that would change the Edryan Queendom forever.
“The Imperius Grand Summit is a restructure of the political power, capital, and more. Starglow Valley held far too much sway and capital in the transfer of goods in and out of Edrya—and their call of favors even allowed me to be lax with your protection. What occurred there will never happen again. When they were meant to bend the knee, they resisted. Now, I will ensure none resist. ”
The air trembled from the strength of her words. It was through my new understanding of the attributes that I could see and understand a lot more as my mother spoke. She spoke with a strange force—Intent, that made her words hold weight within the world. I didn’t know what effects this truly held, but I imagined it worked like a geas—a binding effect like the oath I swore to Edrya.
“We can do more than just restructure the political power and capital,” I began, sensing my opportunity to speak.
As I talked those within the room quickly turned their attention to me. I took a deep breath, this was my magnum opus —this was my strike against the Houses of Edryan and the power the held. This was my strike against the noble system.
“I want to reform the government of Edryan,” I turned to my mother. “I aim to turn us into a form of constitutional monarchy—before I become King.”
There was silence, which was expected. Many of the women were looking at me strangely in the room. Edryan… for as long as history was told… was an Absolute Monarchy. Yes, the various kings and queens held court and passed laws in that manner, but in truth whatever they say goes. Not out of their absolute power that could not be challenged… but their divine right to rule. There was a medallion on my mother’s person… the inspiration behind the Mark of the Citizen project and more… that represented that right. One day, it would be long to me, but it was not this day.
I gazed at my mother. What I was asking her could be considered a challenge to her power. It was-
“Of course my son, it is best we prepare you now as the throne will be yours very soon.”
I looked at my mother—glancing her up and down, confused by her words. She didn’t appear unhealthy or sick in any shape. I expected her to leader for at least a hundred years. She glanced toward the members of her council before speaking.
“I will be abdicating the throne soon—within a few years, perhaps a decade at most. The Path of Apotheosis is opening and I, we—intend to travel to Mt. Redcoomshi to ascend.”
“What do you mean…?”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“I am not the only demigod in Edryan… I… we…,” she said, a complicated expression on her face.
I looked around, first toward Margret, who avoided my gaze. Then to Marna, who responded with a forced smile. Ahhh, I see, so I was the only one outside the loop. I turned to Madria for reassurance but she too… looked away. My gaze traveled to each of the women in that room and none would meet my eyes.
“Ahhh. What a grand welcoming I received,” I said, chuckling and shaking my head.
“It was not my intentions for you to learn this way,” the Queen said softly.
“For how long has this been decided,” I asked.
The Queen hesitated, pain in her eyes as she looked at me. Silence settled over the room, and we continued to stare at one another. Eventually, the Queen spoke.
“It was why you were born.”
“How grand, now I will know how to celebrate my seventeenth birthday.”
I stood, bowed to my mother, before turning to leave. I’d yet to return to Edrya for a day and already, I wish I hadn’t. Not if this was the news I was receiving.
“Now I understand why I was Born… it was To Be King.”
----------------------------------------
Queen Titiana watched as her only son left, the grimace still apparent from his leaving words. This time, she didn’t follow behind him like a worried mother duck. His footsteps echoed until none but silence remained as he left the large room they gathered in.
“Madria, why don’t you update us on what happened… after…,” Marna commented.
The Queen sighed and sat on a chair prepared for her. Her mind was a mess of scattered thoughts, and she half-heartedly listened as Madria began her tale. Several things caught her interest, mainly the gift she gave to protect her son always, as it lie around the young woman’s neck.
Together, the woman gathered around Madria as she recounted their tale for the next hour and a half. At times, they were on the edge of their seat with worry. At others, they held small smiles of appreciation when hearing of Lawruthian’s actions. Yet, nearly all the women held the same reaction when it came to the disappearance of Minerva. It was here Madria paused her tale, stating that the next part should include Lawruthian. Marna hugged her daughter tightly once she finished as the atmosphere in the room lightened.
“We… will attend to the prince, it will not due for his arm to remain in that state much longer,” Marna said.
Queen Titiana waved them away as a dismissal. This left her with Mariam and Margret left. The two women continued their silence, unsure of how to approach the topic.
“I… I must be a failure of a mother.”
“My Queen, you are far from it. Lawruthian is just under a lot of pressure, I know his intentions were not to cause grief,” Mariam said.
“When we fought to keep Edryan united and eradicate {Greed} from upper noble society, we never knew where this path would take us. We never knew how close you, or I would get to apotheosis. On that faithful day when you prayed for a child, in the beginning, perhaps its intentions weren’t out of passion—but as we watched Lawruthian grow, as we understood and interacted with him, so did our reasons to complete this journey. It no longer became the desire for greatness… it became more —so that we may protect him, protect Edryan from harm—to relieve the burden Goddess Madris faces,” Margret said.
The Queen listened, but it did not help the sadness in her heart. However, before she could respond, the door opened and the topic of their conversation returned.
Lawruthian entered, followed by a surprised Marna and Madria. Calmly, he walked up to the Queen before kneeling over to hug her.
“I apologize for my words earlier. This secret you’ve kept, I’m sure you held reasons for it—and I believe I deserve to know.”
Lawruthian moved back and placed himself on the long bed where his small operation was to be held. “It’s best we regrow my arm while this takes place.”
The Queen’s expression visibly lightened at the return of her son and his words. She seemed to regain her state of mind as her aura in the room grew.
“I… leveled… I haven’t leveled since your birth,” she began.
“As you know, the three ducal houses were infected by {Greed} and they became beholden to the Sin rather than our Goddess—worshiping it and directing their faith to it. My brothers… somehow became infected themselves, and as my father’s death grew near, so did the tension within Edryan. I knew none of this—since I was but a child as he did he best to keep me away,” the Queen looked away as Marna cut into Lawruthian’s arm.
“You know the rest of the story. Of my fight to keep Edryan whole. Well, it was during this fight that I stumbled into a dungeon and a [Touch of Divinity]—a Touch with no law but one that was able to comprehend one. During my conquest, I began to understand Love. The Love for one's countrymen, the Love of friendship and more—accelerating my understanding of the Law of Love but ever enough to ignite the Touch into a Seed. Once…,” she hesitated, her gaze returned to her son, who hadn’t once spoken but hadn’t paused in looking at her.
She found strength in that gaze and continued. “Once Edryan was reunited, and I was close to completing the Touch, I called upon the Goddess—for it was our Mother of Magi who tasked me with keeping Edryan united. A single favor was the reward for such a divine quest, as I rejected the opportunity to become [Chosen of Madris]—I chose to use that favor to ask for you. I held no family of my own left living… none besides a sister. So I asked for a child, and it was on the day of your birth… that I comprehended what it means to Love. It was on that day I became the Demigoddess of Love. ”
As she ended, Titiana Koltius Verlio Edryani laid her heart bare for the first time in decades. Not to a partner, but to her son—her only son who taught her familia love.
“Thank you for telling me,” he said, grimacing as bone and tissue began to grow.
Marna continued to softly chant, channeling divine mana as Madria helped. The pair’s focus was entirely on Lawruthian’s arm and sweat dripped from their foreheads.
“What is the Path of Apotheosis,” Lawruthian asked. “…and why must you leave for it?”
“It is the main way Demigods and Prestiges ascend into the Astral. The Path of Apotheosis is an opportunity to turn your seed into the next stage and allow it to blossom—igniting the spark to turn you into a God. We have kept the knowledge of our few Prestige and Demigods a secret as to prevent…,” the Queen hesitated, looking to Mariam.
“Well, the cat is out of the bag, we might as well tell Lawruthian it all,” Mariam began, throwing her hands up. “You’ve shown yourself to plenty of eyes today, Titiana. They know Edryan has a demigoddess.”
Mariam turned to Lawruthian and continued where the Queen left off. “Are you not curious as to why nearly every country has some sort of divine protection. Even those within the lower kingdoms.”
Lawruthian nodded his head, his teeth gnashed together as his arm continued to grow.
“It’s part Sins, it’s part military force, part divine, and more. However, even with all this—isn’t is a wonder that Edryan only has Goddess Madris? Well, that’s because they kill us all. Any magi-humans who achieve level three hundred and either Prestige or becomes a demigod is killed—without exception. The previous to-do so, and stand out publicly, was your great-grandmother, and you know the history of what happened. Az wasn’t just greedy to use Princess Carina as a chance to ignite his divinity outside the Path of Apotheosis. He was coerced in a multitude of manners and promises for protection from those that would see Edryan never rise—and he was desperately close to becoming a true God, enough so that the death of another powerful demigod would ignite his [Seed of Law].”
Lawruthian let out heavy breaths and looked down at his newly grown hand. He stayed silent for a while as he tested the body part before his attention returned.
“Then, knowing all this, you still wish to journey to Mt. Redcoomshi?”
“It is not out of greed or a desire, although I cannot deny those factors come into play,” Margret spoke up.
“It is a necessity. Our Goddess has been alone in her protection of Edryan for several thousand years. She holds the burden of faith from millions of magi-humans, and has done so for eons. That burden holds a price, and we must do our best to relieve her in any manner necessary. If any of the [Seven Heroes] succeed in rising to the Astral Realm, outside of dying as most have, then we will offer greater protection for you and Edryan as you proceed on your conquest,” Margret finished.
“Well, who is all going,” Lawruthian asked.
This time it was his mother who spoke. “The [Seven Heroes] and much of the upper society that surrounds us. There will be a small shortage of high levelers within the country, but it will not only be in Edryan. All of a sufficient level must go to Mt. Redcoomshi when the Path of Apotheosis opens—there is only one exception, and he is restricted to the Temple of the Sun.”
The prince nodded at the words of the women before he rose from his position. “Then it’s best we prepare for the challenges ahead. I’ve looked at the schedule for the summit—here’s what we’ll change…,” he declared, red-gold eyes burning with determination.
EPISODE 122: DEMIGODDESS OF LOVE