EPISODE 130: SHOCK AND AWE 2
— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR 7291. SEASON: COLOR FADING.
“ Heroes…, ” Amaya whispered. “No, that goal is too small for me now.”
Her eyes remained fixed on her elder sister.
“ Today, it is with pleasure, I announce our Great Edryan has three new demigoddesses: Margret Musa—Demigoddess of Spell-Crafting, Camilla Romus—Demigoddess of Battle-Magic, ” Lawruthian paused.
Amaya watched as his gaze settled on his mother, who smiled down upon him and tilted her head slightly forward in a nod. That seemed to be all the indication their [Chosen of Madris] needed.
“ My mother, Queen Titiana Koltius Verlio Edryani—Demigoddess of Love. ”
Amaya smiled, she didn’t know all the details of what occurred in Starglow Valley, but Lawruthian returned a changed man. His demeanor was… cleaner. If that was a word she could use to describe him. He was far more assertive in his desires and open, which was a surprise to her. She’d always known of his goals in targeting the Houses to lessen their power. His, hers…, Lawruthian wanted to reshape all of Edryan into his ideal image. The conversation they held in the parlor a few days ago still resonated with her. His public apology was a shock. Amaya was nearly scandalized at the prospect of it. Fortunately, it was between a group of people who would never reveal such a secret.
What brought her the most shock was Lawruthian pulling her to the side after. Even now, she still recalled their conversation.
***
Amaya was bursting with energy as she gazed over the documents in her hands. She hummed happily as she walked behind her elder sister, who was doing much of the same as they made their way through the palace grounds.
“This Mana Pressure Gauge is… an interesting concept. What is this… ‘radio?’ It is an intriguing concept of using undetectable waves to send out signals, while this Mana Pressure Gauge will help by applying more energy depending on the mana levels within the atmosphere. The higher the general mana, the more energy is needed to transmit this radio,” Amaya said aloud.
“There is more to it than that. Out in the atmosphere undetected by us are radio waves—they are a special type of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum,” a voice said from behind Amaya.
“Lawruthian,” Amaya said, jumping as she turned around.
The prince smiled at her and waved at Margret, who distractedly waved back. Several guards followed him in an orderly manner, and the pair of sisters slowed to allow Lawruthian to accompany them. Magical constructs were over Margret’s eyes and around her as she began to cast multiple types of detection magic. “You never shared this information back then Lawruthian. Had I known about this undetectable field, perhaps we could have had a breakthrough much earlier.”
The prince smiled ruefully, “Back then I didn’t have access to my perk—to Minerva…we MUST rescue her. It’s only recently that I…,” he trailed off.
“Scouts are already being sent deeper into Wyvern’s Roost. Don’t worry, Lawruthian, your bird is smart and will be fine,” Margret said.
“Thank you, Margret—but…, that’s not why I’m here,” he said, turning to Amaya. “I’d like to speak to you a bit more… privately, if that’s alright Amaya.”
Amaya’s eyebrows raised in surprise, and she pointed a finger at herself, to which the prince nodded. She slowed her steps, and Lawruthian did the same. Margret, on the other hand, didn’t bother as she continuously moved swiftly through the halls, giving the pair room. Once she was a distance away, Lawruthian cast a simple sound-blocking barrier around them. An invisible force of air swept around them, cutting off all sounds both inside and outside in a radius of five meters.
Silence pervaded the air between them as Amaya wondered what was going on. The prince seemed to wrestle with something before he shrugged his shoulders and blurted aloud.
“I’m sorry for… well… erm… not inviting you to be a [Hero] properly?”
There was a single, loud, intensive moment of silence that stood in the air between them. The click of Amaya’s platform heels against the marble floor echoing around them.
A palm hit his face and Lawruthian shook his head, his face covered by his hand. Amaya instantly burst out giggling at the display. A large smile on her face at the antics of her friend.
“I’m not too upset over it anymore Lawruthian, but I truly appreciate your apology,” Amaya responded sincerely once she stopped giggling. “I’m sure you have your reasons.”
“It’s not reasons, it’s just, I don’t know—complications. I have a skill, (Party), that allows me to send offers to create [Heroes] but once offered they can never be rescinded. In the eyes of the people, to be a [Hero] means something different from my own interpretation. I still don’t fully understand what it means, and I wanted to be assured that those who I gave the class would be my closest friends and allies. You are one of them, but…”
Lawruthian’s words trailed off, and he looked away and toward the wall. Silence pervaded throughout the barrier around them once again. This time it was Amaya who broke that silence.
“You have many things to consider and… over these two years, as our friendship developed, I’ve begun to understand something about you Law—you are both the [Chosen of Madris] and not. You try to separate who Lawruthian is and who the [Chosen of Madris] needs to be for Edryan. Today, in the parlor… you showed us Lawruthian, but outside… in the academy and everywhere else, you are the [Chosen of Madris]. There is no fault of your own, I do not blame you for your task is heavy. That skill is something the [Chosen of Madris] needs to consider cautiously and not something Lawruthian can have out whenever. Such a powerful skill likely has a price to be paid by both the recipient and the offeror.”
“You’re right… on everything.”
“Of course I am, I study everything, and it’s only a matter of time before I figure out anything I don’t understand,” Amaya responded. It sounded cocky, but the Musa bloodline aloud their family an edge when it came to researching, discovering, and using new magic. The fact that her sister managed to become a demigoddess in the same field showed Amaya the power of their bloodline.
“Then,” Lawruthian’s demeanor changed. Amaya stiffened and gazed in shock at Lawruthian’s words and actions. She’d seen this change in demeanor many times, but the vast pressure and attraction Lawruthian held over her always made her gasp. She could feel her very worship, reverence for the Goddess Madris through the young man before her whenever he released his full aura. It nearly felt like she was directly in the presence of the Goddess Herself. That intimate connection was something she barely held the words to describe. All she knew that if Lawruthian ordered her to do anything in this state, then she would complete the order without hesitation.
“As your [Chosen of Madris] allow me to send you an offer. As I’ve told Madria… I need companions I can trust and heroes I can rely upon, you have been one of them for a long time. It was my own indecision from doing this correctly as I should have weeks ago. (Party),”
(Party)
Description:
You have received the offer to join Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani’s (Party). Joining the (Party) will immediately result in a class advancement that will show three different professions aligned with your current class.
Accept
Decline
“ I… ,” Amaya swallowed. It was right there… her dream since a child—to follow in the footsteps of her sister. This was everything she wanted.
“…will have to think on it.”
***
That was two days ago, and even now, the notification was listlessly floating in a corner. She hadn’t rejected him, but she hadn’t accepted it either.
If before his journey to Starglow Valley, Lawruthian offered this to her, then without a second thought, she’d have accepted. So… why did she hesitate now?
The shutter that ran through the Great Houses was visible—like a raging wave on a stormy summer night. Yet, there were three separate reactions visible to those who could gaze on the proceedings from afar.
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Amaya and those around her lit in excitement, as did several other families near them. Her eyes remained fixated on Margret Musa, whose power was kept on a tight leash around her body, yet Amaya could feel the strength of her presence even from forty meters away.
Amaya’s reaction was far from the standard. There were three other groups who held noticeably different reactions. Usually, these reactions would be kept in check, but the shock of this information was far too huge. The representatives from the Dioni, Kabal Dioni and her stewards, held complicated mixed faces that flashed between horror and resignation.
Since Kabal Dioni arrived in the Edryan Queendom in 7278, the once girl had grown into a beautiful young woman of twenty. The third princess never imagined that she’d spend the next thirteen years living in Edryan. Now, her father was in talks to marry her to the [Chosen of Madris]. Her blue eyes glanced toward Tendra Kaimon Lorde. He’d grown in the War Throne palace alongside her, abandoned by their families to reassure the magi of their willingness to stay submissive— as if the capture of those who they worship wasn’t enough.
The once sun kissed young boy who grew into her friend after their… harrowing meeting with the once young [Chosen] gaze was heavy, but his expression was not one of despair. That reassured Kabal, as their first meeting with the [Chosen] led them to create strong bonds of friendship. His strong dark eyes assured hers as they locked together. For that brief moment, Kabal felt that everything was ok. That she was in the comfort of his embrace and his tender kisses would wash away all the pain.
“REJOICE! MY GREAT EDRYAN! WHETHER YOU ARE HERE IN EDRYA, OR IN THE FAR REACHES OF OUR GREAT NATION—THE MU’JAH MUD PLAINS, DNARRI FOREST, OR ON THE PLAINS OF THE ONI. KNOW THAT THREE MORE WOMEN—DEMIGODDESSES, ARE RISING TO PROTECT US—TO WATCH OVER US AND KEEP THE SINS AT BAY—TO KEEP THE ENEMIES OF GREAT EDRYAN IN FEAR! THEY HAVE RISEN AS NEW BEACONS OF HOPE AND WILL CONTINUE TO RISE TO BE NEW STARS IN EDRYAN’S NIGHT SKY. WHEN YOU THANK OUR GODDESS IN YOUR PRAYERS AND OFFER HER FAITH TONIGHT, DO NOT FORGET TO THANK OUR DEMIGODDESSES—OUR [HEROES]!”
That moment was gone.
----------------------------------------
I smiled as I watched the parties below shift. Their reactions were expected—planned for even, and they were everything I was hoping for.
My eyes gazed at the heads of the Adel, Jarrah, and Ursisus Houses who in turn were gazing at the Lorde and Dioni. All the aforementioned were part of the Old Powers. A group of nobles with like-minded ideals that supported the Ahuum in their thirst for more power. It was their {Greed} that led to the decline of their families and only now were they in the process of recovering greatly. Mainly through their trade with the Lorde and Dioni. Both were considered the Great Houses of Edryan, although they were two separate families that held kingdoms of their own. Quite smaller in comparison to Edryan lands, but these families weren’t magi-humans instead, they were offshoots of humanity who settled here for reasons known to only them.
The nations were forced to join the Edryan Queendom from the capture of their Gods by Goddess Madris — The Challenger. Since several thousand years ago, God Ynir of Oceans, and God Mal of Ice were captured by the Goddess and forced to reside in her divine kingdom. From them, the two nations became submissive to the Edryani.
If there were going to be any problems, it would arise from the five of these Houses. The third faction, was a collection of neutral houses that I’d slowly dissolved and pulled toward me. When I gave my impromptu speech, mixed with my apologies to the children of the Six Great Houses, I mentioned how I did my best to succeed my mother’s expectations. I mentioned how I looked to gather allies elsewhere when there was no need to.
I lied.
Well, not fully, but I’d only told partial truth. I’d spent most of these years absorbing the neutral faction into my own. The Ca’Ronna, Carter, Zeno, Nepos were a few to name. Most of the Houses who specialized in fields outside of combat were part of the neutral faction when my mother fought her civil war. Each held various reasons to be neutral, but one thing was clear. They profited the most from the infighting.
A few Houses I’d yet to name glanced toward the Ca’Ronna and more—only to be disappointed in what they saw. For the Ca’Ronna and the rest were already closely aligned to me. Therefore, they were aligned with the crown.
I smiled.
I’d have been a wonderful politician in my previous life.
The last of the reactions were mixed. It consisted of those who’d withdrawn and weren’t on either side and chose to truly remain neutral. The figures in the Lance Houses were an example of one. Their expressions remained impartial as the leader of their family, and her husbands… were strangely missing.
Just another problem I’d have to resolve shortly.
If I counted my support base for the change I wanted to see overcome my Edryan Queendom, then I’d total out at eleven houses. That was just over a third of the most important houses in the Edryan lands. Once I resolved the Lance issue, then perhaps it would turn into twelve. Now, it was about gaining the support of a majority. If I could gain the support of them all, then that be fortunate. That, however, was an impossible goal.
A golden brown light surrounded my body as I channeled [Aura of the Chosen] to its maximum. Behind me stood my mother who radiated pink light. I could feel the love I held for her pulled to the forefront of my mind just by being in her presence. I didn’t understand the powers of a demigod fully, but I was beginning to see a pattern.
Next to my mother stood Camilla Romus and Margret Musa, both in their (True Body) as they hovered above the ground. Their aura’s interacted and sparks of magenta colored lightning raced arcs of rainbow-colored lightning across the ceiling. Even now, at such an important event, the two clashed.
My smile grew deeper.
“GUEST OF MY EDRYA—GUEST WITHIN MY WAR THRONE PALACE. TONIGHT, WE FEAST! TONIGHT, WE CELEBRATE! FOR A NEW AGE HAS BEGUN WITHIN OUR COUNTRY. THE END OF THIS SUMMIT WILL MARK THE START OF THE GOLDEN AGE AS THE WORLD IS INTRODUCED TO GREAT EDRYAN!”
The attention of the Great Houses snapped back to me as I spoke. I could feel the gaze of Goddess Madris watching closely. Not just the Sage, who was responsible for me. All three aspects of Goddess Madris were watching closely.
It was strange for through my connection to the Goddess… through the plans, ideas, schemes and more upcoming… I could feel… approval?
She approved of the actions I was taking. Not just approved of them, but waited eagerly for their outcome.
Oh, I would use this to further my plans.
“ DO YOU FEEL HER? ”
The question was sudden and not meant to be a part of the speech I planned. “ I ASK AGAIN, ” I began, hearing no response to my question after stunned silence. This time, I infused more Intent into my voice.
“ DO YOU FEEL HER? ”
“ YES, ” a voice said—followed by a dozen more.
Not just me, but every single noble, servant, worshipper… could feel Her gaze. It was here, directly paying attention to the proceedings. It became visible, as my aura exploded with range and power.
Goddess Madris has cast (Wisdom’s Embrace) upon you.
“ OUR GODDESS WATCHES CLOSELY—EXPECTANT AND EXCITED FOR THE CHANGES TO ARISE IN EDRYAN. SHE IS HUU-, ” my words halted as I gasped. Unable to control my outburst as my body seemed to explode with power.
Status Effect: Blessing
Name:
{Wisdom’s Embrace}
Function:
Wisdom’s Insight
No illusion, no skill, and no power can overcome you. While in effect, all mental-based skills are enhanced to the next tier. Gain the passive (Wisdom’s Insight) and directly access the insight of a God.
Function:
Herald of Wisdom
All attributes and regeneration are increased by 300%.
Function:
Aura of Divinity
Radiate the presence of Goddess Madris. Your might is unrivaled. Those who worship the Goddess are {Suppressed}. Failed resistance to this suppression and the target becomes {Enslaved}.
Description:
Oh, adding three new demigoddesses to my church? You didn’t even ask Lawruthian. It’s no matter—they’re some of my favorite daughters. Make sure you pick a good name for the new church. It can’t be just the Church of Madris now, can it?