EPISODE 24: Happy Birthday, Lawruthian
-Edryan Queendom, Year 7291. Season: New Beginning.
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I woke up to a brand-new day. My body felt great, and the power of magic coursed its way through my veins. I could feel it building into something special… something that would change my life forever. I began my day with several deep breaths. Slowly, gently letting them out in a huff of air.
“Huff.”
“Huff.”
“Huff.”
There were no dreams this week. I hadn’t dreamt much of anything since my arrival in Edryan. The memories of Earth were growing distant. My old family's faces, mother, father, and siblings were fading. The uniform of a second-year student lay on the edge of my bed. It’d long since been prepared and ready for me to wear since last night. Not that I got much sleep with the final hours of the countdown ending. Not that it mattered much as magic could sustain my body for a while.
Tapping the tattoo-like bracelet on my left wrist, I checked the time. It was 6:47 A.M. There was no class today as it was a national holiday. The ability to wield skills and gain levels… it would be in my grasp in just two hours.
I began to dress, taking care of my daily needs in the large room allocated for the topmost students of the academy. It was far grander than what the first-year students received. Red-gold eyes stared at myself in the mirror. The whites of my eyes are clear and free.
“I am Lawruthian Edryani, Chosen and Hero to the people of Edryan,” I spoke aloud. Only the Goddess knew if it was to convince myself or if had I said it as a matter of fact.
Was I still living that dream? Did I still follow those ideals? The scars on my body told a story of danger and opportunity. Daily reminders to myself of the dangers of Edryan and the world itself. There were no posters of the idols I once looked up to. The days of reading comics until late in the night or watching anime until I fell asleep…
Gone.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!
The bracelet on my wrist went off, alerting me of the dwindling time for me to leave. Shaking the thoughts from my head, I delayed no further and left the apartment. Today was the day I unlocked the system yet I feared the implications that came with it. Sixteen years…
Sixteen years and not a word from Madris.
Sighing, I grabbed a small snack as I headed out the door. Smiling and waving to the students who greeted me as I made my way across campus. Madria and Amaya were in the usual spot. An air around the two as they unlocked the system months earlier than I did.
“Good morning,” I said with a wink to the two girls.
“Good morning Lawruthian.”
“Good MORNING!”
Amaya held excitement in her eyes. Gazing at me up and down like a piece of meat on the chopping block. I chuckled and went on my way.
“Are you ready?
“What class do you think you’re going to get? Madris’s Grace I’m so excited. The things you can do with core skills versus regular ones are amazing! Did you have breakfast? I can’t believe-”
“Amaya stop pestering the Crown Prince. It is his big day. Let him have his moment.!”
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Queen Titiana stepped out of the carriage and onto the campus of Imperius Academy. Her red-gold eyes seemed to capture everything in sight. Her long hair draped nearly past her waist, the very ends of it turning white, ebony-gradient as the members of the Edryani family were. Her eyes met Principal Camilla, who gave her a short but courteous bow.
“Your Majesty,” Camilla Romus said. The light in her rainbow-colored eyes flashed with deep excitement.
Queen Titiana smiled. A sight that was rare but captivatingly beautiful as the crowd of nobles accompanying the Principal paused. Sighs of admiration aplenty.
“Where is my son?”
“He will be headed the second year gardens, Your Majesty. Allow me to guide you to him.”
“Good, it should almost be time,” Queen Titiana said. She looked up at the clear, cloudless sky as they made their way forward. Golden radiance seemed to shine from the sun and the chirping of birds and buzzing of bees made the atmosphere lively.
Several notable figures greeted the Queen of Edryan as they made their way through the campus. Students traveling here and there paused in shock as they recognized the faces walking through the second-year allocated area on campus. Accompanying the Queen were the leaders of the Six Great Noble families. Alongside plenty of notable figures such as General Alexandria, Masters’ Lou, Devin, and Boron of House Ca’Ronna, and Masters’ from the Carter and Zeno Houses. With plenty more figures arriving. A feverish excitement seemed to be in the air. So much so that the magic began to react. Small flashes of lightning appeared from the clash of power. If anyone bother to check they’d quickly realize that representatives from all 33 noble houses were present.
Queen Titiana smiled brightly as surprised red-gold eyes met her own.
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I stared in surprise at the swarm of people approaching me. Next to me Amaya and Madria froze, letting out a startled gasps as various notable figures appeared. After a long breakfast, we were sitting in one of the open parks on campus as I watched the time tick down. I calmly chewed an apple as the minutes ticked by.
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It was best you remain in a clear area when your system is unlocked. It wasn’t necessarily dangerous to you but the people surrounding you could be hurt as the process happened. People would sometimes explore the new power and skills they received without thinking.
My eyes landed on my mother, who was the leader of the pack. I hadn’t seen her since my month break and a brief return to the castle after the first year ended. Next to her was Principal Camilla Romus and behind them were Vice Principal Femi Gamal and Vice Principal Primus Tullius Nepos. Behind them was a swarm of people with various faces I recognized. Liana, Eliana, and Garo Drumian. Margert Musa and plenty of figures I worked with when creating Hero Golems were present. A tightness to enter my chest. Not from nervousness but the anticipation of what was to come. I knew what was coming, I’d only hope I’d done my best to prepare for it.
I stood waiting for my mother’s arrival, the clock ticking all the while. The early morning sun seem to shine golden while the sky was a free blue. The wind gently blows the smell of fresh spring air into my nose. My favorite types of days.
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My heartbeat sped up and my mother gently embraced me. I received her warm greeting but I was definitely confused. I now stood slightly taller than her yet still shorter than Liana who gave me a wink as I hugged my mother.
“Happy Birthday, Lawruthian, and congratulations,” my mom said warmly.
“Thank you, mother, but… what’s all… this?” I asked as I gestured around us. There were multiple noble houses present that I recognized. I understood that the day your system was unlocked was important, but this was beyond that. Every great noble household was present. Not representatives but the heads of the houses themselves. What was going on? What were they expecting?
The moment I mentally asked this, reality… shifted.
The golden rays of sunlight converged and landed directly around us forming a circle three meters in diameter. A strange hum seemed to be in the air. The steps of a thousand-thousand soldiers marching in sync. I could picture the image of men, magi humans marching. Ready to fight… and die for their queen. The image became so vivid I’d lost myself for a moment. I fought in a Great War. I fought for my queen, I fought for my Goddess. Then it was gone.
The crowd around us grew still and silent. Their gazes turned up… as did mine.
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Two figures with wings aflame blue, descended on golden steps that appeared from the very heavens, the Astral Realm itself. A golden door was left wide open in their wake. Upon the door were carvings of large Birds of Prey. Each, fought for supremacy of the sky. Lifelike to the point I believe it was only a matter of seconds before those birds rose in a fantastical eruption of lost feathers and piercing talons. Their battle would take place above us, a legendary moment in time.
A single figure surrounded by a circle, a coin-like sun, with rays expelling from it seemed to overlook it all. The figure's face was bare but its body divine. Steps, molten gold, flowed forward in a playful manner. The magic within them is alive. The two figures descended; the liquid flowed in front. Quickly but playfully forming step after step for their foot to land upon. Each step sent water-like ripples throughout the platform. One figure was tall, far taller than any human or race I’d seen so far. It was armored to the teeth and carried a great sword on its back. No hints of flesh shone. Just the startling dangerousness it radiated. Equipped in its right hand was a long spear and on its left arm a great shield. Flaming golden eyes was all I could make from underneath the helmet. These beings were upwards of twenty meters in height.
“The Weapon Bearers,” a voice whispered.
Weapon Bearers could only mean one thing…
The other figure held a book of massive proportions. She wasn’t as tall as the armored figure but was still far larger than any human I’d seen. I squinted in confusion, her face seemed familiar, yet I couldn’t recall where I’d seen her. She wore a scholar's garment and held reading glasses on her face. A smile of appreciation appeared as she gazed upon us. Her expression was warm as her golden eyes met my own.
Then the world stopped, and a third figure left the doors.
Slowly… beginning their descent.
All sound seemed to halt, and it was only because I could still make out the surrounding people’s breathing and the beating of my heart, that I knew the world hadn’t truly halted.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Thumping sounds were heard around me in tandem with my heartbeats. Yet my gaze never faltered once it met the gaze of the graceful figure descending. Not a step seemed out of place, not an action was unnecessary. My mind went through a series of emotions… shock, wonder, curiosity, and finally acceptance. Her face was one that I’d seen daily. A name that I heard in any situation. A power that I felt a lifetime ago.
Step…
Step…
Step…
Every movement drew my gaze. Her figure divine and beyond mortal beauty. To such a point that no words were suited to describe her. Feet bare yet footsteps were heard through the hum I recognized as Song of War. Through the golden doors stood a divine kingdom that every single Edryan wished for.
A Promised Land.
The figures descended; the steps became small along with the three descending them. Those above come to more mortal limits. The hum of the song grew louder with each step. Until you could no longer hear your neighbor. Until you could no longer hear your thoughts. Until you could not help but beat your heart in tune with it.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Consumed by it.
A smile was present on the third figure’s face and in their eyes.
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Step…
Step…
Step…
My heartbeat was now in tandem with those steps, as were those of the people around me.
There was one final, lessor thump near me. Only as I heard this one, and I felt a pull at my hand, did my attention turn away. My gaze flickered around me as the people who once surrounded me kneeled. A hushed whisper came from them. It was the pull of my mother's hand upon my arm that I realized…
None dared look in the face of God.
Nor stand in Her presence.
None… except me.
Even my mother's head was down. It was not touching the ground like the rest of the people around us, yet still it was bowed in a respectful and subservient manner. The figure whom the queendom bowed towards dress flowed to the ground. A black maxi that seemed to pull in the light around it with stars of gold that represented her in the night sky forming a belt around her waist. Wisdom is shown in her eyes and a timeless aura seemed to radiate from her.
[5]
[4]
[3]
[2]
[1]
The red-gold of her eyes was vibrant and displayed with might and vigor.
“Happy Birthday Lawruthian!”
As she wished me a happy birthday, a notification appeared.
Congratulations Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani! You have made it to your 16th birthday without incident and have entered a suitable age to access the Prime System. Below you have two options. One is a full walkthrough of the system. Your consciousness will be transferred to an augmented reality where you will be able to deep dive into the mechanics of the Prime System. Or you can decline and choose your class.
Accept
Decline
I barely scanned the contents of the notification before Madris – The Challenger picked for me. Calmly, she walked into my space and grasped the notification. She swiftly turned it around a pressed decline.
“Ugh, you’ve spent 16 years being taught the ins and outs of the system. I won’t have you wasting my time by astral traveling to learn with all the other noobs from this world.
I’ve waited 16 years for you to develop and I won't have main body complaining in my ear if I mess this up.
I am Madris – The Sage. Or the third and newest incarnation of Goddess Madris.”
A vibrant and bubbly personality seemed to explode from the Goddess. As her words left her mouth and I comprehended them, I took a half step back. Partly out of shock as I finally took a good look at the Goddess. She appeared young perhaps a few years older than me and she was in no way the Goddess I met all those years ago. I mainly stepped back out of the shock of Madris grabbing my notification and manipulating it.
The young…Goddess rolled her eyes at my look of incredulousness. While the woman to her left gave me a smile that said, ‘bear with it’. With the woman being so close I couldn’t help but take a good look at her in those scant few seconds our eyes met. Besides her red-golden eyes. The woman was clearly of Madris’s bloodline, yet I couldn’t place my finger on who. I only knew that I’d seen her portrait somewhere.
“Have I shocked you with speech? To busy double thinking?” Madris said as her eye flashed a lustrous red-gold. “I don’t like those scars on your body. No Chosen of mine will look this way. You may only keep one. Choose quickly or I’ll choose for you.”
“Th-this one,” I said hesitantly. Holding up my hand and displaying the scar from [Jackalope – ★].
“I-Wh- I mean… you’re not… this is…,” I began multiple times. Faltering with each attempt at words. This was not what I expected.
“Oh please, you act like you haven’t heard of the three faces of Madris.
The Challenger.
The Lavish.
The Sage.”
Madris – The Sage listed off her three faces casually. Afterward, she turned to me with an expectant eye. Seeing me still hesitate and glancing around at the people praying with a feverish excitement around them, Madris clapped and an opaque dome spread around us. Leaving only the Messengers, a Goddess, my mom, and finally me.
Madris moved passed me and towards my mother. Gently grabbing her by the arms and pulling her to her feet.
“No need for my favorite granddaughter to bow!”
The Messenger with the reading glasses rolled her eyes and it was here that I finally understood who she was.
“You’re Carina – Carnage One.”
It was said more as a statement, rather than a question. As I began to recognize the prominent features of my closely related ancestor. It was at this moment that another notification decided to appear, yet before I could grasp the contents of it. Madris – The Sage stepped up and smacked it away.
“You can chat with your ancestor later. It is time to deliver what I came here for.”
The playful and light aura Madris held previously was gone. In its place, a mature air seemed to surround her as the goddess stepped up. The incarnation grew until it was several feet taller than me. Her Messengers followed suit. The opaque barrier around us grew in size before turning translucent. I couldn’t even feel the fluctuations of the magic that controlled it yet I knew it was still there only because of the slight shimmer at the edge that met the ground. The grass underneath us began to shine golden as divinity spread from the Goddess, changing its properties, and blessing it with her divinity. A same divinity that buffet me in waves upon waves of power.
Madris held out her hand and Carina took a half step forward. Gently, she placed the large tome in it. It seems whatever the incarnation was here for was about to begin. Her voice came out in song, and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. Not in the language of Edryan but in that of magic. Spoken through runes.
“A Chosen.
A Child.
A… Hero.
One of my blood.
One of my thoughts.
Magi, yet human.
Human, yet mortal.
Mortal, but divine.
I blesseth thee with my favor.
My Chosen.
My Child.
My… Hero.
A Quest.
A Journey.
A… Crusade.
Eons have passed.
Elrunian fallen.
Pantheons decayed and broken.
A Challenger,
Of Lavish,
And Sage.
My Chosen,
My Child,
My Hero.
Unite the continent under the banner of Edryan.
Your Quest.
Your Journey.
Your… Crusade.”
The nobles and students gather outside the barrier shuddered, a ripple extending from the center outwards. The words of their Goddess resonated throughout the area. The barrier, it seemed, was only in place to halt the amount of divinity spreading from Goddess Madris – The Sage. A divinity that quickly turned on me. Infusing into my skin and giving me the same golden luster and shine of Madris’s clergywomen and men but far stronger in light and strength. I could feel the power of my body growing stronger. It was like a workout in a gym but a thousand times stronger, better, faster. The tension in my body caused my muscles to undulate and ripple as a cry escaped my lips. Not of pain… but ecstasy. It would be later that I would recognize this ecstasy as leveling.
She gazed down at me, eyes bright with a feverish light. One that was displayed in the followers around her. The people gasped as the barrier popped and the divinity of their Goddess washed over them. Shudders of excitement and cries of joy spread.
A single step.
Just… One… Step in my direction and reality seemed to strain. The very air around Madris curved as light struggled to escape. It was as her divinity buffeted out in waves upon waves that a resonance seemed to happen. A wave of something came back. It came from my Edryans, my people and into the incarnation of Goddess Madris.
The Goddess leaned forward and left a kiss on my forehead. Giving my mother a gentle look and pat on the head. A final gift as another burst of power nearly stole my consciousness.
With a turn and a wink, she was gone. Her Messengers were taken with her. Princess Carina was the last to disappear, showing a sad smile as she gazed at my mother. Before she left that smile turned on me. The apparition and appearance of the Promised Land gone. Only the golden grass remained.
Like they were waking from a dream, the people slowly stood. Marna Gamal and her sister approached stopping just outside of the golden grass before they kneeled. This was not the near spawl they did once the Goddess appear, yet it was still full of utmost respect and… worship.
Not directed at my mother but at… me?
A small amount of energy seems to leave them and infuse into me. It was here that began to form my hypothesis on what this was. The distraction of others dropping and doing the same brought my thoughts away. Students and staff who worshipped Madris came to the park and joined the congregation. Only several moments had passed since Goddess Madris’s departure and several notifications appeared. At first, seemingly hesitant as just one appeared, yet as if sensing the presence of the Goddess gone. A host of several followed suit. All the while the entire school seemed to appear. First, the blue outline of the uniform showed that they were in the second year. Then the third, who were significantly leveled and stronger, faster, and more agile than their peers. Their uniforms held no blue or gold outlines as the second and first years did. Only black and red as were all the uniforms. The new first years were the last to show while the staff followed suit.
Some of the energy flowed towards me but a majority flowed to the three meter circle. A portion veered into my mother as well. Her eyes were closed, and a smile was on her face. The gold and silver choker she always wore shined with a brilliant radiance. We stood there encircled by almost forty thousand people and I turned my attention to my notifications. For too long have I been waiting for this. I could give a speech in a few moments after I checked everything over. Taking a deep breath I began to read.
A new Achievement has been unlocked!
Achievement Type: Blessing
[Chosen of Madris] – Stage 1
Description:
Goddess Madris has proclaimed you her Chosen. A physical representation of Her Will upon the mortal world. The stronger your faith in your Goddess the more stages unlocked.
Effect 1:
The Greatest Gift
Gather the Faith of the People and convert them into attribute points.
Effect 2:
Aura of The Chosen
The Aura of the Chosen of Madris surrounds you. This aura decreases and eventually cures all aliments/de-buffs under the Rare tier while strengthening all attributes of your allies by 25%.
Effect 3:
Power Onto Thee
+50 All Attributes
Crusade: Holy War of Unification
Quest Details:
Goddess Madris has tasked you with a quest for unification. Unite the lands of the Elrunian Continent underneath one banner. You must start a war within the next ten years or face the consequences.
Rewards:
Didn’t I save your soul three and a half times? What more do you want? I guess you can have one thing.
Emperor of the Edryan Empire and Detraction of a half favor you owe Goddess Madris.
Failure:
Your potential and soul are reaped by yours truly. 😘
A new Achievement has been unlocked!
Achievement Type: Feat
[One Small Step]
Description:
You have taken the first small step of many on a long and arguidos path. One that will end an old age and begin a new one.
Effect:
+20 Self, +15 Intent, +15 Mind.
A new Achievement has been unlocked!
Achievement Type: Feat
[Acceptance of Self]
Description:
The hardest step to take is often the first that begins the journey. You have taken that step and progressed your mind to a new level. Accepting the death of your previous life has pushed your mentality to a new height.
Effect:
+30 Self + 20 Power + 15 Vitality + 10 Intent
I took a look at the first notification, my eyes widened slightly before I returned my attention to the gathered Imperius Academy. There were several more notifications to read but I’d take a look later. My mom’s eyes were opened, and she gazed at me expectantly. Taking a half step back to leave me as the only one remaining dead center. Nothing but pride radiated from her gaze and the warm affection I saw in them put me at ease. I think I’m going to tell her about my past.
I took in a breath and cleared my throat. This drew the attention of those closest to the circle and it spread as a ripple until all gazed at me. They seemed to be held back by some invisible force as none dared to be near the golden grass. Principal Camilla seemed to sense my intentions as an orb was pulled from the folds of her rainbow-colored robe. Yet she did not dare enter the radius of the circle. Only gently placing it outside. Her rainbow-colored eyes gazed at me with wonder and curiosity. I saw no worship within them.
Gently, I walked over and grabbed the orb as the Principal and several other notable mages, such as Garo Drumian, and Margret Musa began casting spells. An apparition of me appeared in the sky above. The free blue of my favorite type of day still gave off an air of openness.
I smiled.
A smile that only showed just that to the people at Imperius Academy.
Yet to me…
It said so much more.
It was a smile of relief. Goddess Madris had finally made a move. She finally came to collect one of those binding favors I owed her. Even if it was only a half, it was still a countdown to complete freedom. It was a smile of acceptance. Acceptance that this wasn’t some fantastical dream and something of reality. It was a smile of excitement.For how could a hero have a task any less grand? I fist clenched the orb and my eyes radiated these emotions. My debut into the Prime Realm could not be small. It was a smile of countless other emotions and feelings. I would not allow it to overwhelm me. I would not allow this to defeat me. I have potential.
I will be great.
After all…
I was [Born To Be King].
End of Season 1.