EPISODE 177: INHERITANCES 3
— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR 7291. SEASON: COLOR FADING.
The Astral Above is divided into many sectors. The coalition of Free Cities are spread all throughout the continent—each backing another from any forces hostile take over. This is regardless of whether they are Gods, other Prestige, or among the few powerful forces composed of many alignments—including a few of the native races found in the Astral Above. This has allowed a unique perspective to be given in the War of the Twelve Thrones—who hold the Astral Keys to the Great Ashaka’s Gate. The keys to the Mortal Realm are hidden, lost since the Knowledge Breaker's burning of the realm.
The second [Chosen of Madris] — Carno Edryani, may his soul be scattered to never experience reincarnation , was perhaps the most damaging entity to exist since the Remnants of Oblivion roamed the realms. The scourge’s destruction of the Mortal Realm and its knowledge was so thoroughly done that many forces who held a connection to the Mortal Realm has lost such bonds. And, it is unfortunate that his wipe of knowledge even affected the Astral Above. His domain was one that directly targeted knowledge at the source. And, he did not spare any who may be able to recreate this knowledge— nay —Knowledge Breaker was thorough in his methods to ensure the Aspect of Knowledge would be greatly weakened. We feared… had he returned home to confront the Aspect and did not face the Light of the Sun in the Battle Against Extinction—then he would have won against the Aspect and the continent would have fallen to the darkness that is magi.
Let it be known, should this third [Chosen of Madris] choose to be… detrimental to the realm in a way his predecessor has—then the Free Cities may choose to throw away everything to ensure the longevity of our beliefs.
— Excerpt from the Thaedon Rapport in the Free City of Juston.
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Would you like to activate Carno Edryani’s inheritance?
Yes.
No.
“…yes,” Lawruthian softly whispered—so quiet he barely heard the words he uttered.
He sat in silence, waiting for a sign or any indication of what Carno Edryani’s inheritance would be. A few seconds passed, only the sound of fireworks and celebrating could be heard—loud enough to penetrate the walls of his study. Kathrine, his personal maid, waited patiently outside, ready to enter should he call for her service.
Nothing happened. At least, not anything Lawruthian expected. There was no injection of knowledge, or cinematic flash back—or anything else. No, there was only silence and the background noise that accompanied it.
Lawruthian gazed around for the notification, but it dispersed shortly after he accepted it. “Well… that’s interesting,” he muttered, breaking the quiet.
He sighed and turned his chair, preparing to leave—only to freeze. A figure stood there, not too different in appearance from himself—but much older. The figure remained silent, quietly studying him, just as Lawruthian found himself doing in return.
“A bit theatrical aren’t we,” Lawruthian stated, breaking the silence. He gestured to the couches near his fireplace. “How about we sit there?”
Lawruthian didn’t wait for his guest to respond. He moved toward one of the couches, the sound of his footsteps louder than he expected in the stillness of the room. Carno Edryani continued to keep his silence. Like when Lawruthian first saw Alidra, the man was nearly see through—a ghost or echo of his past.
Lawruthian quietly poured himself a glass of cold water, the steady trickle echoing in the heavy silence. He glanced at Carno, hesitating on whether he should pour a second cup. He studied the silent man. Carno’s hair—long, ebony-gradient with shaved sides—cascaded over his shoulders and dispersed like mist into the air. The long, mist like hair framed a face that was weather from time. The signs of days spent under the sun etched deep lines into his skin, the kind that told stories of hardship and endurance. Their heights matched exactly, down to the centimeter. Their faces were nearly replicas—versions of Her, silent and daunting, as if they carried the weight of the same destiny.
Of everything Lawruthian noticed, there was one stark difference—Carno’s gaze was deep, with a ruthless edge to it—eyes gold-red and full of confident might.
This was the man who was proclaimed [Knowledge Breaker]? This was the man who burned the long history of the continent more thoroughly than any before? Lawruthian would be lying if he said he wasn’t the slightest bit nervous. Before him was a man who walked the same path as him—successor of Alidra Edryani.
Minutes passed, the celebration taking place on the palace grounds had spread beyond and into the city. The people of Edryan danced in the streets, drinks in hand, as they traversed to different areas of the beautiful city. Their laughter echoed through the city, a merry should that was unrestrained and free.
“Has and End been put to Adventure?”
His first words could’ve held many meanings—God El — the Adventurer, the origin of the domain and more. Lawruthian knew it was only meant against one thing—one being. He, however, didn’t answer. Lawruthian calmly looked at the couch that was placed across from him, its orientation tilted toward the fireplace. He didn’t answer, instead he threw a few logs in and sent a wisp of flame to ignite them. Then, he calmly crossed his right leg over his left and waited—silently staring at the seat across from him.
The fire’s crackle picked up, its rhythmic sound the only noise in the otherwise quiet study. Lawruthian’s eyes narrowed as he realized something—the sounds from outside had disappeared. When had that happened? He couldn’t remember.
Carno Edryani remained motionless at first, his gold-red eyes locked on Lawruthian, as if waiting for something.
A log popped in the fire, and Lawruthian blinked. When his eyes refocused, Carno was already seated in the chair across from him, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, hands folded over his mouth. His gaze never wavered. The tension in the room thickened, the air growing colder as Carno took a deep, heavy breath. Then, as he exhaled, the temperature spiked—hotter, almost stifling.
“Not yet,” Lawruthian finally replied, his voice delayed. It was… difficult seeing a face so similar to his own in another setting. “But we hold plans to do it soon.”
The [Chosen of Madris] inhaled again, and the room’s temperature dropped once more.
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“So… I’ve failed.” Carno's words carried no bitterness, only a quiet, cold acknowledgment of the truth. His expression remained neutral, barely shifting, though something unreadable flickered in his gold-red eyes. “He will have regained some strength. How long has it been since my generation?”
“Between two and four thousand years,” Lawruthian responded, shrugging slightly. “The timeline isn’t clear—especially since you destroyed most of the written records of… well, everything.” There was a hint of irony in his tone. “Some events are recorded as happening before or after I estimated you were born into the realm.”
The [Chosen of Madris] red-gold eyes narrowed. He’d answer a few of Carno’s questions out of politeness, but there was much he was curious about. “Why did you do it,” he questioned bluntly.
“You are still young for a [Chosen]—let me guess, the third and last. Has the Goddess completed her third incarnation,” Carno questioned, ignoring Lawruthian’s words. He continued to speak, choosing to answer his deductions versus waiting on a response. “Of course She has—I don’t sense the aura of the Challenger or Sage around you as much as I.”
Carno’s eyes narrowed into slits, his gaze locked on Lawruthian. “A new domain, hmm—nothing I have sensed before. So, she didn’t consume mine—what [Messenger] did she pass it to then? No, you’re not at that level you wouldn’t know yet—you’re far too weak. You lack the arrogance of someone in our position. You’re soft, charismatic, calculating ,” he observed—watching Lawruthian as if he could see every aspect about him. “You plan every move before you make it, but you’re young—so perhaps you gamble when it suits you. Your gaze holds more years than your body suggests, but you’re still young—perhaps a reincarnated magi, not Alidra, she fell out of favor, but another one of ‘Her Daughters’,” Carno mocked. “Interesting… You… are very interesting.”
Lawruthian chuckled, shaking his head slightly at Carno’s words. The laughter stopped as abruptly as it started, and his eyes met Carno’s with unwavering focus.
“The End of Adventure harmed you, didn’t he?” Lawruthian’s voice was low, cutting. “You were young when you broke into his mountain, unaware of the danger within—raised as Madris’s Chosen from birth, indulged in every way. An overinflated ego, your every want catered to—who could deny the Chosen of the Goddess? But Rasheed’s actions sparked something, didn’t they? A deep hatred. You learned his weakness was Knowledge, so you lashed out, burning history—knowledge across the continent, hoping it would weaken him enough for you to kill him.”
Lawruthian leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. “But you failed. Your actions isolated the magi, brought hatred upon them— You… are not interesting. You are a failure.”
Carno Edryani sat back in his seat, his ruthless eyes locked on Lawruthian’s. He… laughed —a clear, unrestrained sound, like he held the world in his palm. It stopped as suddenly as it began. “You’re a boy, not a King—barely a Chosen. You’ve only unlocked Her second stage, haven’t you? There’s a disconnection between you and Her. One that will not bode well for the future. You take their feelings into consideration when you have no need to,” Carno gestured to the window, where burst of fireworks could be seen. “They will never rebel, nor deny you. Weak . You are weak, but you’ll learn— you have to . I played her game and suffered for it, and so… So Shall You .”
Lawruthian shook his head. This… was not what he expected. Actually… Lawruthian wasn’t entirely sure what he expected. No matter, he’d gotten the confirmation from Carno he wished for.
“What is this, a dick measuring contest,” Lawruthian’s sharp voice cut through the crackle of the fire. “We are the same but in different faces—different formats. We hold…,” he paused and gestued at their bodies. “…the same face, voice, features—the only difference between us is our experiences and upbringing. What is your inheritance Carno Edryani — Knowledge Breaker . Give it to me and begone from my sight.”
Carno smiled, a callous, ruthless thing that held no pleasure in the action. He crossed his legs, matching Lawruthian as a near perfect copy.
“I am your inheritance.”
Quest Complete! You have completed the first portion of the System Generated Chain Quest: [Born To Be King] — The Hidden Truths.
System Generated Chain Quest: [Born To Be King] — The False Sky
Quest Details:
You have met remnants of both previous [Chosen of Madris] and have understood their initial plights. Now, you must seek powerful ancient artifacts created by the Genesis Six that could tip the balance of power and control over the Genesis Realm.
Objectives:
— Heart of the Stars — Ashaka [+]
— A Mother’s Embrace — Folkrun [+]
— Laugh Tale — Jaa’ja [+]
— World Heart — Molten [+]
— Cohort’s Shield — Daahk [+]
— Dragon’s Tear — Rasheed [+]
Rewards:
Titled: Born To Be King
Failure:
Destruction of the Elrunian Realm.
WARNING: A time limit of two-hundred fifty years is in place for this quest.
Lawruthian sighed for the fourth time tonight. This was going to be a long night.