EPISODE 54: THE FIRST RIDE
— Edryan Queendom, Year 7291. Season: Central.
To His Royal Highness Lawruthian,
The Council of Elder Mages regrets its decision to have to reject your invitation to the War Throne Palace. Although an honor, our Spatial Convocation cannot go a day without its key figures leading.
The Council of Elders has been informed that His Highness plans to open a new method of fast travel that will promote greater trade and prosperity. We of the Convocation would like to offer early congratulations to Your Highness; however, we do inquire as to the nation of this fast travel system and the reasoning behind the exclusion of the Convocation in the planning and transferring of goods. As His Highness Lawruthian surely knows, the expansion of trade wagons is the Convocation's main heritage in keeping up with our practices.
It is truly a regret that the Spatial Convocation and her Council of Elders led by Grand Magi Thraag cannot in good faith leave Starglow Valley. We at the Convocation humbly summon His Highness Lawruthian to a meeting at his earliest convenience to discuss the stated matters above and renew our trust in the Crown and her allies.
May the stars always align in your favor.
Thraag Volkensha and the Council of Elders.
Grand Magi and Head of Trade Affairs.
SEAL.
— Response Letter Addressed to Lawruthian Edryani from the Council of Elders
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You don’t know what you’ve lost until it's gone. Wilarax felt the wind blow through her long hair as she experienced her first train ride in her new life. Although there wasn’t the internet, television, and more, the realm of Elrunian held certain magical technologies that worked just as well as science. The Air Train moved swiftly through the lands, following a set pathway, and picking up passengers along the way. Many paused to stare or gawk at her, as the exact silver coloration of her hair was only known to be on one other person.
Many knew that other person to hold a daughter, but none knew of her face until now.
The freedom of fresh air and the ability to travel wherever she wanted was a freedom Celina didn’t know she dearly missed. Her long sixteen years at the temple dulled her mind to the pleasures of the wider world. Her days were spent studying history, arts, and magic. She was a gift, a soul from another world with a passion for business and a secret hobby of art. They called her the [Daughter of the Sun] in the language spoken by the Elysiums. A holy child and one touched by the divine. She didn’t feel that way .
The Air Train came to a pause, the countryside of Elysium in sight.
Wilarax observed the pair of mother and child entering the Air Train. They were haggard and looked like they’d miss a meal or two. They moved through the train slowly and shot towards the back through the disdained looks of others. Heads down, it was only by chance that the young child looked up and caught the silver-gold eyes of Wilarax staring back at her.
A halfling! So cute! The child paused and stared, to the bewilderment of her mother, who attempted to pull her child further to the back.
“So pretty! Like a goddess!”
Wilarax smiled and stood from her seat. The watching gazes of her followers had long since drifted over. The moment she stood; the human mother immediately showed a look of fear. A pleading voice emerged from her as she began to drag her child back to her.
“Please forgive us, we are just looking for safe passage back to our homeland.” The haggard woman spoke as she clutched her daughter to her body. Raw desperation colored her voice.
“ Please forgive us, we are just looking for safe passage back to our homeland .” She began repeating herself like a broken loop, and Wilarax's heart bled. Tears fell from the young mother’s face as she kept her head down and vision away from Wilarax.
“ Please forgive us, we are just looking for safe passage back to our homeland. ”
If there was anything she noticed as they traveled through Elysium, it was the diversity of the races. Goblins, orcs, gnomes, and more were a dime a dozen. The elves, of course, were the most populous. Yet, there was a striking situation that Wilarax hadn’t fully realized. So much so that it nearly became obvious to her when she finally saw the first humans in the country. Wilarax gently kneeled and patted the girl's head, looking up at the mother as she spoke gently.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” she smiled gently and guided the pair to her seat. The mother was still in fear, but she finally paused in repeating herself.
“Tell me, what is your name? I will take you home. ”
The train began to move, and so did Wilarax's heart as she gently prodded the woman to open up to her. The world was not the steadiness Wilarax experienced for her first sixteen years. Now, she would find out so much more.
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Even if it was gone, I was doing my best to return to a semblance of the world I was from before. The first part of Operation RAIL was finished. Now that my people knew what I wanted, the process of completing the other planned railroads would not need my direct supervision. It was time to go face the Council of Elders and Grand Magi Thraag – Dimension Shaper.
Laughter and amazement echoed through the train as we sped along the tracks back toward Edrya. A pure, unfiltered excitement was in the air, while a flood of notifications alerted me as I leveled. A new feat quickly joined my growing list.
You have gained five levels from worldly experience. Please assign the levels to [Imperius Golemlord] or [Holy Prince of Edryan].
[Chosen of Madris] has activated!
Effect 1:
The Greatest Gift
Gather the Faith of the People and convert them into attribute points.
You have been awarded 50 Attribute Points.
A new Achievement has been unlocked!
Achievement Type: Feat
[Forefather of Edryan Innovation]
Description:
You have led a grand change that has affected the lives of millions for the better. Bringing new ideas and changing mindsets. You have become the Forefather of Edryan Innovation.
Effect:
+100 Mind
Grants Divine Skill: (Forefather of Edryan Innovation)
A divine skill? I read over the description once again. It was nice to receive the recognition. Golems, New Classes, Public Schools, Jobs, Ending Slavery, I’d done so much over the years, and this was only the beginning. Once I read all five skills under (Forefather of Edryan Innovation), I grew giddy at the thought. I knew the perfect project to use the skill with.
The laughter and excitement filled my heart with warmth. Alexandria gazed hadn’t left the large windows as we passed through trees and mountain ranges. Over swamps and through forests. She was not the only one. Ameri did the same across the seats from us. Her red eyes are wide like saucers and her thick plush lips wet with paint. It was such a novel thing, but the look of pure joy it brought to my people’s faces filled me with strength and a sense of fulfillment. To actively affect the lives of the magi-humans and see the outcome let me know that I was on the right path.
The first rail system held a winding path that took the train through the lowest magical zones. Where creatures wouldn’t possess more than a star or two of strength. Under the railroad itself were long, large tubes that a grown man could walk through comfortably. If I ever figured out a way to have stable energy sources, all the piping needed was ready.
I let out a soft sigh. Minerva, in the lap of Bucca, chirped for strokes and brushes. The Sky Elf kindly agreed and smiled brilliantly as she played with the bird. Seeing them relax, I opened my status and allocated all my new attributes. Once I was satisfied, I overlooked everything.
Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani – Level 35
HP: 705/705 (+300)
SP: 705/705 (+420)
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MP: 990/990 (+420)
Base Atk: 120 (+95)
Base Def: 71 (+59)
HP Regen: 36/Hour +18
SP Regen: 36/Hour +26
MP Regen: 50/Hour +26
Bloodline: [+]
Main Class:
[ Imperius Golemlord ]—30
Perks:
Codex of Earth
Power: 240 (+190)
2nd Class:
[ Holy Prince of Edryan ]—5
Core Skills: [+]
Vitality: 235 (+100)
3rd Class: [LOCKED]
Racial Skills: [+]
Endurance: 235 (+140)
Faith:
Goddess Madris
Status Effects: [+]
Mind: 330 (+140)
Affiliation:
Royal Family of Edryan
Equipped:
A Mother’s Gift
Imperius Academy Uniform
Self: 171 (+150)
2nd Affiliation:
Imperius Academy
Skills: [+]
Intent: 200 (+140)
Achievements: [+]
Active Quest: [+]
Magic Affinity:
Attribute Points: 0
With each attribute allocated, I felt a part of my body, mind, and soul, shift then change. The only way I could describe the feeling was like going through puberty without all the hassle. One day you’re a faceless, hairless human and the next hair is pouring out from every pore in your body. With each point of Power, my muscles seemed to shift, solidify , and become stronger. As I loaded up Vitality and Endurance, my breathing slowed able to do more with less oxygen, and I felt the raw life force within me strengthen. I think if I held my breath, I could just hold on for 10–20 minutes on that single breath.
The quantity of mana I could hold deepened. Suddenly, I understood I could now ponder on runes higher than the fourth tier. I could now comprehend higher forms of magic. Magic that Alexandria wields and more. The physical attributes of my body became stronger. Like Superman, regular blades without strength couldn’t hurt me. My sense of surroundings grew as my Intent did. Passively, I could detect things up to 60 meters around me. I was unable to tell exactly what you were doing unless I focused extremely hard on an area, but now I understood the source of my innate (Danger sense). A skill that has yet to be offered to me. Interesting.
My Intent spread a domain of influence around me. Mingling with the domains of others stronger and weaker than me.
The Prime Plane is wonderful! I’ve never felt my existence so validated !
Presently, my priority in leveling was to get my second class to level fifteen. That would unlock the remaining five class skill slots, totaling me at thirty-six skills. I still held three general skill slots available. Until I received my third class, I would not be receiving any more skill slots.
The beauty of Edryan passed through the large train windows. Four trains transferred all the students and personnel with us back to Edrya. The low chugging along the tracks lulled many to sleep. A well-deserved sleep in my opinion. A smile still present on my face, I closed my eyes to join them.
Just over a day and a half was spent traveling on the tracks back to the capital. As the train pulled into the first station, a large gathering of people stood outside the disembarking region. I easily spotted my mother and her royal guards. None dared step off the train before me. The eyes of my Imperius Academy were on me as I disembarked. My generals behind me and a small accompanying guard. Four new members of the Oni clan were added to the [Imperius Guards]. Perhaps I could make them something more than just a guard detail for me. Perhaps I could elevate them to something great.
“Merit.”
I kneeled to receive the word of my Queen. Behind her, a chorus of merit was echoed. Various prominent figures were around my mother. [Mother of Magi 1st Daughter], Marna Gamal, Madria’s mother and the woman who helped my Hero Golems come to life. Margret Musa, Liana Drumian, Eliana, and Garo Drumian. Various ministers and more.
“[Chosen of Madris], [Holy Prince of Edryani] you have done a great service to Edryan, her people, and her military. Tell me, my favorite child… What Is It You Desire?”
This time I stayed silent as I thought over my choice. What Is It I Desire?
‘ To be released from this dam quest, so I can enjoy my life! ’
‘ Fat chance of that, ’ Minerva chirped silently, realigned on my left shoulder.
What I needed was a connected Edryan before I plunged this world into war to save my soul. This goal was accomplished. What I required was a communication system that would be easier than all the current methods available. This goal was in progress. What I required was the Spatial Convocation to bend its knee. Humbly summon me? To summon Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani? [Chosen of Madris], [Holy Prince of Edryani], [Forefather of Innovation], and so much more. Not invite , but summon . If there was one thing I learned in my time as a prince, it was not what you said, but how you said it . I was always careful with my words, and the Council of Elders was far older magi who could not make a mistake. They believed their prestige was strong enough to summon me. Perhaps this would be a different story if I was a middling prince with several others to contend with.
“Oh…, so that’s it!” I said softly. I looked up and into the red-gold eyes of my mother. To the similar face that was a more feminine version of my own. I looked according to my greatest supporter and remembered her words from so long ago.
‘Tell me your dreams and I will help you fulfill them!’
“I desire the Spatial Convocation to bend its knee.”
I was no middling prince, perhaps it was time to truly start exercising my rights as the next ruler of this country. Minerva’s talons tightly gripped my shirt as this thought flashed through my mind. The perk stayed silent.
A look of shock appeared on Garo Drumian’s face. He opened his mouth, but the hand of Eliana was placed on his arm. Silently, he closed it back up. I knew he held connections to the convocation and Grand Magi Thraag, but I didn’t know the extent besides them formally being close friends. A relationship that was severed far before my birth.
Those eyes stared deeply into my own. Nothing but boundless love radiated from them as my mother gazed at me. Her black-painted lips opened… and she spoke.
“ Then, ” her eyes met mine, recognizing the same coldness as some might call it, but all Edryani’s truly knew the look Goddess Madris held in so many of her depictions. It was the same look those of her bloodline who walked a certain path would take.
“ You Shall Have It ,” she stated.
Indifferent, like her next actions wouldn’t doom thousands.
She turned to Liana Drumian. “Summon the [West Gate Protector] , a large door needs to be knocked down.”
This was how I learned the indifference a ruler must possess. When I died those years ago, it was not a coldness Goddess Madris looked at me with.
It was indifference .
If that was the case… what were the other two meanings?