EPISODE 31: LAWRENCE BROWN
-Edryan Queendom, Year 7291. Season: New Beginning.
The Legends of Madris Edryani – The Challenger:
Chapter 1: The Magi Ancestor
The oldest tales of the beginning of the Magi-Human must start from somewhere. That beginning can be traced exactly to one ancestor. Madris Edryani walked the Elrunian continent when it was naught but a savage wilderness filled with wild beasts and monsters. Before she discovered the origin of man, she hunted beasts of the wild with her hands. Eating them raw and drinking their blood.
These beasts were also in competition to feast upon her flesh and halt her path. She who held skin brown like the earth and red-gold eyes bright like the light of the Prime Sun. It was through the System that she found survival.
Power…
…was the first attribute she used. Increasing the strength of her fleshly body until a single blow could destroy a mountain. With Power, she came to conquer the beast of the territory and establish herself as a Pinnacle.
-Excerpt from The Legends of Madris Edryani – The Challenger.
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“Chirp… Chirp!”
“Don’t patronize me I’m going, I’m going,” I gave an exasperated response to Minerva.
The chick hadn’t changed since the day of her hatching, and she still held her ebony-gradient plumage while her eyes and beak were a matching red-gold. The young owlet unknowingly had become a great support that I carried with me daily. The communication between us easily passed through this strange bond we shared. Sometimes I didn’t know if I was speaking to an entirely new being… or another aspect of myself.
I checked over my outfit one last time. I wore a long dashiki type of tunic with matching pants. Down the center and surrounding my neckline was a pattern of gold interlocking chains. The pattern was also displayed on my cuffs while two earrings sparkling with diamonds shone from my earlobes. The necklace my mother gifted to me on my third birthday remained snug, but not chokingly so, around my neck. There’s only been a few times I removed it since it’s been gifted to me. Upon my shoulder sat Minerva who preened and puffed out her tiny chest causing a small chuckle to escape my lips.
Satisfied with my level of dress, I turned to leave. The doors opened by maids as I walked out of my room and into the corridors of my section of the palace. Today was the day, a heavy nervousness overtook my chest the moment I stepped outside my room. A nervousness began brewing since I confirmed with Minerva my intentions to reveal my past.
“Chirp.”
Minerva snuggled herself closer to my face as a way to comfort me. Causing much of the tension to ease. Since I left Imperius Academy a few weeks ago, I began to experiment and try and see the exact limits of the knowledge stored in Minerva’s mind. What I found out amazed me but also made me wonder about the limits of magic. Minerva could recall any information that was available down to the exact day I died. Whether it was the Pythagorean Theorem or a blog post written by a famous Instagram model. As long as it occurred before I died Minerva could show me the information. The experience was almost like I had a search engine directly connected to my mind. The only limiting factor was myself and what I could think of.
My steps made their way to one of the many balconies of the Edryani Palace. The early morning sun and the clear blue sky gave me an invigorated feeling. My mother lounged on one of the cushioned chairs enjoying some of the many sweets I introduced since my rebirth.
Queen Titiana gazed at me curiously as I greeted her before taking a seat across from me. Minerva hopped down from my shoulder and scrambled her way into my mother’s lap. That traitor!
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Queen Titiana gave her son a smile of victory as the divine beast made its way into her lap. Lately, she’d been wondering if she should get an intelligent pet of her own. The way her son interacted with Minerva always brought a smile to her face. She let out a small sigh as her build was perfect. A [Tamer] class would not fit as all three of her class slots remained filled. Nor could the |Tamer| skill be added, as her dozens of skills had been optimized for Queen Titiana to be the perfect ruler and warrior.
Her son seemed to be nervous, and it made the older woman wonder what this was about. A cornered expression appeared on her face. All her son told her was that he wanted to tell her something important. Today, they were at the location he picked. A week before his official coronation at the end of one season and the beginning of the next.
Lawruthian fidgeted in his seat for a few moments. His thoughts churned just like the mana storm that raged for Minerva’s birth. The young man tightly clenched his fist before a resolve seem to overcome him. He gazed up at the queen and spoke for the first time since his greeting.
“Mom, no Queen-Mother,” he began. Using his official title for her when in the presence of the public.
“I’ve been… reborn from another world… with all my memories of my past life and who I once was. I… Well technically I am your son but… I have memories of the past?” His voice came out quiet and confused at the end. The queen stifled a chuckle as she gathered her thoughts.
Lawruthian groaned and put his hands over his face, his head slightly downcast. Queen Titiana sat there her expression unknown to Lawruthian. The pair sat in a stiff silence for a few moments before the Queen finally spoke.
“So…?
Is that it?
That is what you wanted to tell me?”
Queen Titiana could see the importance of this to her son, but… she couldn’t help expect something a bit…
“Reincarnation is not new to Edryan or even the Elrunian Continent. You are my son…
That will never change.”
A heavy sigh escaped Lawruthian, and his hands came down as he gazed at his mother. A smile of relief but so much more on his face. Queen Titiana sat up as she next spoke. Gazing at her son with as much affection as she could convey. Her red-gold eyes are clear and true as she looked into the face that resembled hers so much.
“There are much stranger things in this world than reincarnation. Since your birth, I theorized your extraordinariness with Margret. We knew something of such must have taken place since your youth, my little warrior,” the Queen said. A bright grin on her face. “There are also ways to test the age of a soul but… we never have. That does not matter to me.
You are my son.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“That pain of your birth will forever be in my mind. Your past has ended… but your future has only just begun! No matter what, no matter who…
I will always support you!”
Lawruthian looked at his mother, tears in the corner of his eyes. The young prince nodded, and his smile turned even brighter, replicating the woman he looked so much alike.
“Would you like to tell me about your past?”
“I think… I think I’d love to tell you about Lawrence Brown.”
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The evening sun sent dazzling rays of light to the balcony we spent most of the day upon. The curiosity of my mother was finally satisfied. She asked about everything, from my childhood growing up with several siblings, to my previous occupation and what my parents were like. She grew very interested in the level of technology displayed and finally connected the dots of why and how I introduced innovations to Edryan. As I told the tales of Lawrence Brown to my mother Minerva snoozed on my lap her belly stuffed with treats.
“I’ve had my fill of tales of your previous world,” my mother said before turning and waving over a maid. “Call for the Royal Tutor,” she said. Taking light sips of red wine as the shine of the sun made her choker flash brilliant colors.
“The events of your coronation have been fully planned; however, Eliana will once again cover it for us. Until she arrives, I will explain part of the benefits the system will give you.
Obviously, you will be Titled. The [Crown Prince] and [Crown Princess] titles have been thoroughly recorded and studied. Thus [Crown Prince] first stage gives you +25 to all attributes. As you have nothing and no one to challenge your rule for the throne. It is expected for you to receive the max tier and receive +50 attribute points. As you know this is a Dynamic Achievement and is subject to change thus, they will not be hard coded into your attributes.
You shall also receive access to a new Menu option. One that allows you to check the status of Edryan as a whole, issue quests, assign new classes, and other minor matters. This would be the view you’d get as a [General] or [Baron] and higher titles, yet in a more limited fashion. The [Crown Prince] Title covers several avenues. Your overview of the queendom will almost be as detailed as is mine.”
My mother paused here as Eliana appeared. The Royal Tutor us slight bows that was acknowledged before she sat. The older woman was truly starting to show signs of her age as she was over 150 years old. Her high Vitality would most likely keep her alive for a few dozen or so years. The same could not be said for my mother who was near 80 but appeared to be in her early 30s.
“Lawruthian how have you been keeping up with your studies? Who ruled Edryan in 1654?”
“Queen Lara Cronx Valor Edryani,” I said with a small chuckle. A warm feeling in my chest from the random quizzes Eliana would hit me with.
A satisfied smile came from the older woman, and she eased herself into a chair not far from me. Before turning her attention to my mother.
“You’ve called for me Your Majesty?”
“Yes, I want to go over the events of Lawruthian’s coronation once more.”
Eliana quickly took over the majority planning of my coronation once she heard. She turned to look at me while I gave her a cheeky smile. One that was returned in kind. Eliana taught me everything I knew about this world and magic. She was there for me every step of the way when building Imperius Academy and the public education system in Edryan.
“The official day is Sunbright 1st and first day of Central. Lawruthian pay attention. Even if we’ve rehearsed this a dozen times over, we’ve yet to do it in front of Her Majesty,” Eliana scolded. I sat up straighter and turned serious.
“The coronation will start in the early morning. It is tradition for you to walk from the outmost gates and to the palace center. If you had any discontent siblings this would be their opportunity to challenge, you in open combat. As there are none, you will proceed to accept the praises of the masses as you make your way forward before the royal palace. What are your next steps,” Eliana asked sensing my mind wandering.
I rolled my eyes and quickly ducked underneath the swing of a ruler. Grinning as it missed my forehead by inches. The mage-turned-teacher was probably still faster than me, but the rise of my attributes had turned me into someone beyond the level of human.
“Queen Mother will be within the gates. Outside of them, I must kneel until she walks forwards and places my new coronation crown upon my head. From there Mother will give a small opening speech before I take over. Mages will be scrying in while others broadcast my voice and image to all territories in the queendom.
It is here that I will announce the establishment of a new army under my control and my intentions to roam the queendom for recruitment and with an innovation that will forever change Edryan,” I said. My fist clench and my gaze was straight and true. Things were starting to develop at a fast pace. Shipments of CGB had been stolen in recent years and I knew other countries were starting to truly see the potential of batteries. When I showed the Low Kingdoms that we too could have highspeed movement… how would they react?
With the proclamation by our Goddess Madris spreading like wildfire… it was only a matter of time before the Low Kingdoms erupted into chaos. I hope these developing plans to train my army like a modern fighting force translates well into the Edryan structure.
“Good,” my mother said. “Your general has arrived in the capital. She shall pledge herself to you on the day of your coronation. The Indrian Family has gifted 1000 of their private troops alongside the general relinquishing their Oaths to the family. Several other families have also offered their men. My royal family cannot lag … which [Gate Protector] of our royal family will you like to take?”
My eyes widen at the question of my mother. East, West, North, South, and Central. Each of the massive city’s gates of Edryan had a general station in control of them. With armies of 10,000 each under their command. It may seem like a small number but each of these men was easily in the upper 100s with two classes underneath their belt. While a number of them were three-class holders. An achievement that meant you were near the pinnacle of humanity. At the minimum, they’d hold over 150 levels combined with all three classes. That was near the peak of power within the Low Kingdoms. A [Gate Protector] would be at a minimum level of 200.
These levels were not easy to maintain. Just the number of calories needed to sustain individuals at that level meant you needed to eat a significant amount of magical beast meat. The equipment, training, and pay for such just one of those forces would nearly equate to a semester of LSG revenue.
This was a vastly generous offer from my mother. Not only would it weaken the capital for a time, but it would offer me a great shield of protection. Both the second and third years of Imperius Academy were mobilizing to build the transportation system for the RAILs. Although we’d have our teachers and a few other staff and guardsmen to protect us. The fighting, cooking, cleaning, traveling, and the entire journey were expected to be undertaken by the students. It wasn’t that I couldn’t have another force undertake this task. It was a need to provide levels for nearly 20,000 students. The second years were the most important as each needed to achieve level 25 for the first-class advancement and unlocking of their second class. While the third years would be well on their way to understanding how to use two classes together.
“I…,” I opened my mouth to speak but paused. Thinking over my decision once again. What are the pros and what are the cons?
Pros:
1. Super strong general under my command.
2. Years of experience training soldiers.
3. Extra layer of protection.
Cons:
1. Gate Protectors are hardheaded and loyal to my mother first and foremost.
2. Have their own proven and set methods.
3. Extra layer of protection.
Not to mention each is a member of the Queen’s Guard. Some of the known highest leveled people in Edryan. All held Oaths of loyalty to my mother. No matter the [Gate Protector], I’d have a general with a minimum of 100 years of fighting experience under their belt. That is no small feat. They’d be able to organize any force in a matter of seconds due to their class skills and abilities. While also offering me a layer of protection. I did not necessarily fear for my own life. No assassin had tempted fate yet but with the decree of Goddess Madris, I didn’t doubt that the surrounding nations would be taking the Holy Son of Edryan very seriously. Someone titled with the [Gate Protector] under my command would be a force to reckon with.
That is where the problem lies. [Gate Protector’s] are a force to be reckoned with. The three men and two women hold years of experience under their belt. I knew from several events over their years how stubborn and hardheaded they could be. I didn’t doubt that whatever army I held would be molded into one to be reckoned with. That meant losing a great portion of control to them. Would it be my army… or theirs under my name? The extra layer of protection was both a benefit and a curse. I needed to level and hit my class reset and unlock the second-class option as soon as possible. I need to take a more proactive view in increasing my personal strength. A general of that level would not allow me to take any risky measures like the ones I have planned for Operation RAIL.
“Thank you, Mother, but I believe my strength and that of Imperius Academy is a strong foundation to establish my army already.”
“Mhmm, then Mariam’s Lash shall accompany you.”