EPISODE 19: A CLASH OF IDEALS 2
-Edryan Queendom. Year 7290, Season: New Beginning
The upcoming birth of the Chosen One and Holy Son of Edryani is a cause for celebration. We here at the Scholar’s Abode do congratulate Her Majesty Queen Titiana Koltius Verilo Edryani, yet we cannot help but ponder the implications of such a child being born. Neigh, we do not cry out in dismay for such a joyous occasion. We only wish to divine the implications of such an event.
Our Goddess Madris has often spread boons amongst the populace of Edryan and she has held several champions. Some of which have risen to become Her Messengers upon the Mortal Realm. Descending upon the mortal world with wings aflame in times of need or in great battles in which Edryans fought. These boons and Messengers have outright changed the landscape several times. Each causes massive changes with each descent. We have records that show the country of Az’Dawn used to be a beautiful forest and not the hot desert it currently is.
We at Scholar’s Abode ask…
What massive changes will one directly descended from the Goddess Herself cause?
-Scholar’s Abode, Those who always search for answers.
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“Why?”
Lawruthian cocked his head left at the question of Ade Oni. Until the Oni nodded his head and gestured at the scars. Ade Oni himself was flawless. His skin showed no blemishes or marks before the Crown Prince injured him in several different areas. With cuts and stabs littered throughout his body, Ade Oni would look like a match for the Crown Prince. Two scars really stood out to the young Oni. One massive scar ran the circumference of Lawruthian’s left hand as if something pierced directly through it. While the second was a jagged tear on his chest and near his heart like some feral beast attempted to eat him.
Lawruthian chuckled and he stabbed his sword into the ground in front of him. Using it to hold the weapon while he gestured. “This one on my hand? It was my first reminder that this world is dangerous,” he began.
“The creatures of this world are dangerous. They will kill you given the chance. I kept it to remind myself of that every day since. And this one…,” he gestured at the large, jagged scar across his chest.
“Is to remind me that even if they look humanoid. They will still try to kill you.
I keep these scars to remind myself… I can never pause in my advancement to the top.
What scars have you kept?”
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-Edryan Queendom. Year 7278, Season: New Beginning
On the center table in a large hall filled with all types of gadgets magical and physical sat several dozens of small children. Age’s reigning from three to four. These children gather around tables with messy plates filled with whatever food they could muster upon it.
At the center, table sat eight distinguished children each doing their best to mimic and copy the young child who sat at the head of the table. These children were still in the early stages of their development and even if their minds were cognizant their bodies were still small and not all their precise motor skills were developed.
Lawruthian ate his food. His thoughts ran all over the place as he wished this birthday event was over already. He didn’t need to be around a bunch of brats. Lawruthian pondered on whether he made the right move as he followed in his mother's footsteps.
I wonder how cool I look saying it. Lawruthian couldn’t help but chuckle to himself internally. Now he just had to let time pass and soon these brats would be back to their parents.
I hope that cute dwarf girl is all right. Lawruthian was surprised when he saw that he was being presented with slaves for gifts and that surprise quickly turned into intense anger. With Kabal Alexandra Dioni, the third princess of the Dioni Kingdom, and Tendra Kaimon Lorde, the second prince of the island Kingdom of Lorde, as the finishing touches to the event… Lawruthian’s anger was at an all-time high. Just as he was contemplating these actions a voice spoke. Addressing him for the first time since he served himself food and began to eat.
“It is never a bad day to spill blood! How did you come up with something so refined!?” The young childish voice asked.
The voice interrupted Lawruthian's musings. It was here for the first time that the young child paused to look at the other figures sitting at his table. He turned to study each of them in turn. The first person his eyes landed on was the chocolate brown girl with straight black hair and highlights of gold spread throughout them randomly. She was in a white lace and shied away from his gaze. Putting her hands above her face yet peeking from the gaps between her fingers. The young child next to her stuck her chest out as her twin afro puffs swayed with her movement. Next to her sat a boy with golden hair who held the hand of a similar-looking girl with silver hair. Next to them and Lawruthian himself was a girl with large oversize glasses who popped a book open as she ate. Clearly ignoring the current ongoings as her eyes roamed throughout the book. The final two members were a green-eyed boy with similar features to Liana Drumian and on his other side was the young boy who chose to speak. A bright, red-eyed child with an outfit that enhanced the color of his eyes and striking red hair.
“I didn’t come up with that saying. My mother did,” Lawruthian said coldly. Recognizing the boy from one of the families that offered him, slaves, as a present.
The young boy was taken aback by the tone of the Crown Prince’s voice. That held such hostility at such a young age. As a scion of the Oni, no one had ever spoken to him in such a manner. Not even his father, the person he respected the most. The red-haired boy continued to try despite the hostility presented in the Crown Prince’s voice. Not hesitating to begin the conversation anew.
“The food here is amazing, I would love to send some of our slaves to learn this yellow pasta. What is it called,” he asks. As he took another bite of the food. It seems most of the children were absorbed in eating the pasta covered in a yellow sauce.
“That is called macaroni and cheese. No slave of yours will ever step foot in the royal palace. I’ll make sure of it,” the Crown Prince said. His tone and mannerisms outright projected hostility as he pushed his plate away and left the table. The young prince already dismissing the boy from his mind.
“I’ll make sure of it.”
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“Did you know that the Oni had to restructure their entire way of life when you declared every person under the Prime Sun free in Edryan?”
The flames covering Ade Oni continued to grow stronger as the fighters held a small intermission from their battle. It was clear that both fighters wanted their next confrontation to be their last. Both used this time to catch a breath as they prepared themselves for a final clash.
Ade Oni continued speaking as Lawruthian remain silent. “The Oni is a warrior clan entirely focused on honing our bodies to the absolute limit. It has been this way since my ancestors join Edryan and began to worship the Mother of Magi.”
Lawruthian picked up his sword never taking his eyes off his opponent. He began to pull greater at his mana and feel for his connection to the four base elements. The fighter's eyes never left one another. The glow of Ade Oni’s red eyes grew stronger. While the red-orange fire on his body began to shift. Its hue grew darker and hot enough for Lawruthian to feel dozens of feet away.
The final confrontation was coming.
“The Oni have dedicated ourselves to our craft to such a degree that we’ve ignored all other fields. Farming, healing, building, everything. Everything but fighting and producing the best warriors of the empire.”
Lawruthian changed the grip on his dagger. Most of the fight it remained reversed as the young man used it more for downward stabs and blocks. Now, he held it forward alongside his sword. Both raised as he took his stance.
His opponent was not much different as he also did the same. Preparing himself for the final confrontation to come. The darker hue grew more prominent and the crowd which had been silent. Gripping the edge of their seats with anticipation and excitement, began to murmur. The ones who knew and understood the history of the Oni were shocked. While those who didn’t were confused but were quickly filled in by their peers.
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“Then Imperius Law comes into effect. A young Oni new to the world remembers a conversation he had with the Holy Son all those years ago,” Ade Oni said in a bitter tone.
“And he believes it was his fault,” Lawruthian finishes.
Blue flames erupt upon the field. At its center stood an Oni.
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Queen Titiana gently tapped her fingers against her armrest with one hand. The other brought food and drink to her plump brown and pink colored lips. Across from her enjoying the same view as the other members of the Greater Six was the Red Oni. Akeem Travax Oni ate his meal furiously his eyes alit with excitement as he stared at the rare occurrence on the screen. The deep reserves of the Oni were pulled out for his two children and the older one already showed promise. Igniting the blue flame of his ancestors.
The [Blue Oni] would rise again.
A few minutes before the current situation between the fighters. A Council of Heroes was meeting. On the screen in front of the small gathering were Ade Oni and Lawruthian Edryani fighting against one another. For the Queen and her Lords and Ladies it was clear since the first clash what the outcome would be. The crown's resources were deep and its foundations stronger than ever before. Especially after the Iron-Blooded Queen took control over Edryan. Purging those who rose against the crown and those who supported her siblings in a quick and efficient manner. The six figures in the room with her were the ones who supported her and were counted as her core following.
Drumian.
Romus.
Gamal.
Musa.
Oni.
Consus.
The Drumian were regarded as some of the greatest spell-swords the queendom produced. Their fighters were wanted as far as the middle kingdoms because of their great resilience and ingenuity. The Romus held the lead when it came to the greatest war mages of Edryan. Their highest mages were able to restructure the landscape with their firepower. The Gamal were considered those closest to the Goddess Madris underneath the Edryani. This gave them the ability to be the greatest healers of the queendom because of their faith and classes. The Musa was the greatest researchers of esoteric magic. Their curiosity knew no bounds. Daring to research even the forbidden magic no matter how dangerous. The Oni were the purest warriors of the queendom. Forgoing magic and instead walking the path of Chi… while the Consus fed them all. Their lands and products were vast and bountiful. They grew 15% of the queendom's crops alone.
Alongside their queen, these six figures were regarded as the core of Edryan. Akeem threw up his hands at his son's first down.
“Ugh, not the boy embarrassing me on such a stage.”
“Don’t be too hard on the boy. He is only learning to walk his path,” Camilla Romus said with a chuckle.
“Even so no Oni should ever go down like that. Hmph, I’ll deal with him when the first year has passed.”
“I believe it has all been worth it,” Queen Titiana said. Drawing the attention of every member of the Greater Six. The members waited on the Iron-Blooded Queen to continue.
“Our children are developing in ways we thought lost to the Pilfered Aeons. Lost to the Jagged Crush. In the time when the Old Gods remain protectors of the Elrunian continent.”
“Elrunian we are no more,” Liana said with disgust.
“A fascinating people. If not for them magi humans would not exist. Did you know they were the ones who created artificial dungeons? They created so many, that artificial dungeons became classified in the system. It is said they were able to travel through the stars with their technologies and into new realms. A child without the system could survive in the vastness of the void with no protection,” Margret exclaimed.
“Just boastful rumors and hogwash from the elves of Elysium. They believe they’re so superior to the rest of the continent because of their bloodline closeness to the Elrunians,” Camilla Romus scoffed.
The conversation between the two mages continued while the rest returned their attention to the screen. Watching the battle between the Crown Prince and the young scion of the Oni family.
Ade Oni remained on the ground until a voice shouted out. Drawing the attention of most of the participants in the room. Liana Drumian let off a wry smile at her little cousin's antics. The shout seemed to stir the crowd out of the spell the Crown Prince cast over the crowd as a resounding ONI was shouted in response to Lorde calling out.
The [Red Oni] thumped his chest and let out a grunt of satisfaction. One that Liana rolled her eyes at, and the rest ignored. The call from the young scion of the Drumian family seemed to awaken Ade Oni.
The battle was far from over.
“Good,” Akeem said as his son stood.
“Can he bring out my son, however,” Queen Titiana questioned. The tapping of her fingers never halted. Since his birth, anything Queen Titiana set upon the boy was completed with relative ease. The boy even learned to cast spells at record speed. This was without the queen providing any resources to make his six attributes stronger. Whatever Lawruthian put his mind to was accomplished. The only thing the boy seemed to lack was one small little thing. One thing the Queen was attempting to rectify now. A miss calculation on her part.
Friends.
She thought over the years with Lawruthian attending different events with the noble scions of the queendom, eventually, he would get a group of peers. This didn’t happen as so far, the boy had only one person who could be considered his friend. Someone the Queen wasn’t sure if she should let get close to her child in the first place.
What he needed was a support group of allies similar to hers. That was not something she could force. When she left, only Lawruthian would be able to protect himself. Already she could see that he would hold the strength.
Yet strength was not everything in this world.
The two boys clashed again. This time Ade Oni began to pull extensively on his bloodline as steam and eventually flames began to emit from his body.
“SHOW HIM WHO YOU ARE,” Akeem exclaimed. Roaring out in excitement as he did so.
Vivianus Consus spoke for the first time since their gathering. The hefty man would look more at home on a farm than in the noble attire he wore. His appearance wouldn’t fool any of the Greater Six. As they knew he was far more dangerous than his jolly nature let on.
“Hmmm,” he began. Leaning forward as he looked over the frames of his glasses. Yet he didn’t say anything else as the red-orange flames from the battle flickered across his lenses. It wasn’t until a few more moments of combat that he spoke again.
“Hmm, race should come out as Legendary small chance at Mythical. His bloodline is unquestionably superior, however. Madris Blessings, Akeem it seems your son will go far in life. Perhaps he can truly bring out the strength in the Crown Prince.”
“Of course, he will go far in life. He’s my son,” Akeem boasted.
“And what do you see of Lawruthian,” the queen suddenly asked.
The two boys stood across from one another conversing. It was clear they were getting ready for a final confrontation. The next move would decide it all. Blue reflected off of Vivianus's glasses as he gazed at Lawruthian.
“There is nothing about him that is beneath Mythical.”
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Ade Oni’s eyes met my own and for the first time, I could say I understood him. Since that faithful day one month ago when the young scion of the Oni walked into Class 1 and challenged me. I wondered. I wondered why? The only time I recalled having anything to do with the Greater Six was at events such as my birthday or with my mother's birthday. When the nobles of the queendom would show up in droves to bootlick. Those events were usually quickly put out of my mind with the only one having any type of impact on me being my third birthday.
The day the two subsidiary nations under Edryan showed up late and…
The day I discovered Edryan still practiced slavery.
Those actions led directly to Imperius Law. It wasn’t until I did a bit deeper diving through my memories that I recalled a certain event taking place after the gift-giving.
Blue flames licked Ade Travax Oni's skin and I couldn’t help but admire the look and aura he was giving off. If this was a comic or anime, I would be flicking through the pages in anticipation hoping and praying for his win.
Too bad this wasn’t.
The Blue Oni readied himself. Enough words were exchanged, leaving nothing more to be exchanged between us. Nothing more except one final attack. I prepared myself. The excitement from the battle displayed as a confident grin on my face. The same could be said for Ade Oni. His eyes were a clear red with hints of blue within their depths. He was in a sumo stance with one hand spread before him. While his other was cocked back and a bright blue flame gathered upon it. Calmness radiated from the Blue Oni as the crowd shouted for both of us.
“CROWN PRINCE.”
“ONI.”
“CROWN PRINCE.”
“…”
“ONI.”
“CROWN PRINCE.”
“…”
“ONI.”
“CROWN PRINCE.”
“…”
Ade Travax Oni was not the only one gathering power for one final move. I began to lower my weapons. Since the beginning, I called upon the four elements, and with each blow against Ade Oni my mana was expended into the surrounding area. Allowing my mana to permeate into the air and ground. I chose one specific element to control. To create something that I hadn’t done since my Third Step. The Third Step is what made me understand that this world was far more dangerous than it originally appeared. It's also when I came up with a new set of spells. The dangers here were not just the Gods. It was the simple monsters as well.
“(Blue Emperor: Fire Fist).
SHOW HIM WHO YOU ARE!”
“(Elemental Harmonization: Air) …
…Crush.”
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