Sunbeams danced in a gleeful display of gold and silver hues as the morning emerged, bathing the land in their ethereal light. The air was cool, almost minty, a refreshing caress that filled one's lungs with invigorating purity.
Emilia, the Queen, listened to the rhythmic clopping of hooves against the cobblestone road, a comforting symphony interwoven with the periodic rattling of the carriage. Her lips curled up into a delighted smile, yet it wasn't the bumpy ride or the enthusiastic crowd, gathered so early on a nippy morning to bid her farewell, that stirred joy in her heart.
Today was a pivotal day for their Kingdom. As their Queen, Emilia carried the weight of her people's hopes and expectations, and it was her duty to rise and meet them. The bright smiles, exuberant cheers, and showers of flowers that marked her passage were reminders of her people's aspirations. Their high spirits mirrored the significance of the day, adding layers to the immense responsibility she had taken upon her shoulders.
In an effort to quell her people's anxieties and answer their silent prayers, Emilia Valheart, the singular and revered Queen of the Twilight Kingdom, gave a modest wave to her people. The crowd responded with an uproarious cheer, their voices echoing across the streets.
Beneath her well-restrained exterior, a surge of emotion threatened to overwhelm her. She felt a tumultuous storm within her chest, fuelled by equal measures of excitement and anxiety. It was a unique mix of feelings she had never experienced before, causing a small void to form in the pit of her stomach.
"The previdere..." She whispered under her breath, a soft incantation to calm the fervor within her heart. Her hand rested gently on her chest, as if physically anchoring the galloping rhythm of her heart, reminding it of the composed image she had to uphold.
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A little over two hours had elapsed since the carriage had departed the royal castle gates. Emilia drew in a deep, calming breath, slowly releasing the last vestiges of her excitement with a controlled sigh.
"Forgive me for the disturbance, Your Majesty, but is the young Prince faring well?" queried the man seated across her, his form shrouded in full plated armor. His voice was filled with concern, drawing Emilia's attention away from the passing scenery outside the carriage window. Her gaze now fell upon her lap.
Tightly nestled in her arms was a young baby, swathed in a blanket of immaculate white. The infant bore dark hair and sapphire-blue eyes, mirroring Emilia's own distinctive traits. A wave of affection washed over her at the sight of her youngest child. Despite having birthed other children before, the bond she felt with this one seemed more profound, more intimate. She chalked it up to his resemblance to her, or perhaps because he was her youngest. Regardless of the reasons, her heart brimmed with love for him.
Lost in her thoughts, Emilia took a moment before responding to her guard's inquiry. "Yes, Gareth, Lazarus is perfectly fine. Oddly enough, he has been exceptionally quiet despite this being his inaugural carriage ride. I wonder why? Both Ana and Clovis were inconsolable during their first journeys, making his calmness rather peculiar."
"Perhaps he is simply special," Gareth mused, nodding thoughtfully. He diverted his gaze to the floor, seemingly lost in contemplation. Despite receiving an answer, Emilia could tell that something still plagued him.
"Do you have something else on your mind, Gareth?" she inquired, curiosity piqued.
Caught off guard, Gareth hesitated before finally succumbing to Emilia's probing gaze. "You're truly perceptive, Your Majesty. Nothing can escape your notice. Although I may be overstepping my bounds, I can't help but wonder where His Highness is today. It's a significant day, after all. I'm curious about the matter that could possibly take precedence over attending the young Prince's previdere."
Emilia sighed, empathizing with Gareth's concerns. "I understand your apprehension, Gareth. There was an issue at the Elves' border in Dralia Forest. Veyron had no other option but to address the matter with Lady Syrawi."
Gareth muttered under his breath, his brows furrowing, "Lady Syrawi, the Elven priestess? I see... Please forgive my presumption, Your Majesty."
"Oh, Gareth, there's no need to apologize," Emilia replied, dismissing his concerns.
Escorted by an entourage of knights, both on foot and horseback, their carriage finally left the confines of the kingdom. They journeyed seamlessly across the grasslands, finally reaching a point where three roads converged. Centered amidst this junction was a resplendent white chapel perched atop a small hill, nestled at the center of a crystal clear lake. The chapel stood as a radiant beacon of hope and tranquility, seemingly in stark contrast to its remote location.
Stepping down from the carriage, Emilia's gaze swept over the three forked roads, each leading to one of the neighboring kingdoms. She turned her attention back to the chapel, a sense of nostalgia washing over her. "How many years has it been?" she murmured.
Inhaling the familiar air deeply, she relaxed her body, taking in the sight of the chapel once more.
"Lady Emilia, if you please," Gareth interrupted her reverie, extending his hands towards her. Emilia tenderly handed Lazarus to him, advising, "Please be gentle with him."
Approaching the lake's edge, she paused as the surrounding air seemed to hush in anticipation. A soft, blue glow began to emanate from her. She extended her open palm, and a thin blue hexagon of light materialized in front of it, intricate scriptures tracing its edges. As she uttered the incantation, "Erus, valtos, tiamu!" a faded blue orb of light appeared, pulsating within the hexagon.
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With a burst of power, it shot forth, creating an icy path across the lake. The knights braced themselves against the gust of wind caused by the powerful spell, and one knight who had closed his eyes in anticipation opened them to an awe-inspiring sight.
Emilia had frozen not just the surface of the lake but the depths below, creating a clear path wide enough to match the castle gates. A feat of this magnitude was beyond the capabilities of most mages, placing Emilia in a league of her own.
Her magic was indeed formidable. A knight could spend hundreds of years in the lake, freezing a small portion, replenishing his mana reserves, and repeating the process, and yet, he would fail to replicate what Emilia had achieved in mere moments.
In the world of Valeria, where magic was as abundant as air, Emilia Valheart, Queen of the Twilight Kingdom, outclassed many mages he had known. Few could rival her powers.
Her rise was a testament to her magical prowess. She had started as a member of a minor noble family. However, her exceptional feats, such as single-handedly repelling a bandit mob at the tender age of 13 and later winning the grand magic tournament, had garnered her the attention of the then Crown Prince of the Twilight Kingdom.
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"Men, get into position!" A commanding voice echoed through the crisp air, interrupting the knight's musings. Quickly, he snapped to attention, falling into formation as the knights began their procession across the icy path, each maintaining a perfect parallel line with the others.
The trumpets blared, and on cue, they hoisted the flag of the Twilight Kingdom high. The red banner, emblazoned with a sword and shield design embroidered in golden thread, billowed proudly against the azure sky.
Walking a few steps behind Emilia, Gareth, the head of the knights, served as a vigilant, protective shadow. Emilia, with young Lazarus cradled tenderly in her arms, led the procession towards the hill. The profound significance of the day weighed heavily on them all; it had the potential to dramatically shape the destiny of their beloved kingdom.
As Emilia gracefully made her way past the knights, they sequentially lowered themselves into a respectful kneel. However, she noted their strained smiles - expressions they struggled to suppress. This observation triggered an overwhelming surge of joy within her, causing her previously restrained smile to transform into a radiant beam.
Even these stalwart knights, usually so steadfast and stern, seemed to share in her contagious anticipation. They had escorted her, protected her on this journey, all for the sake of this special day. Clearly, they too understood the immense importance of today's ceremony.
Upon reaching the chapel, Emilia cast a glance over her shoulder. As anticipated, the knights had respectfully remained within the bounds of her icy path. Even Gareth had ceased his advance, halting mere centimeters from the lush, green grass edging the path.
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The massive doors leading into the chapel were an intimidating sight. Emilia, her arms filled with the precious bundle of baby Lazarus, was in no position to open them herself. But she remained untroubled, confidently striding towards the great wooden barrier. As if moved by an unseen force, the doors creaked open before her, revealing a spacious, solemn, and warmly inviting interior.
Drawing a deep breath, Emilia entered, the grand doors closing behind her with a resonating creak. She traversed the length of the chapel, her heart beating faster with every step she took. Upon reaching the altar, she sighed softly, willing her frantic heart to settle.
"Lady Emilia Valheart, Queen of the Twilight Kingdom. You have arrived," a voice rang out, melodic and soothing, like the chiming of a bell. Its tone bore the weight of expectation.
Yet, there was no one in sight.
Golden particles began materializing out of thin air, twirling and dancing like autumn leaves caught in a gentle breeze. These particles began to converge, forming a humanoid figure cloaked in a golden glow. Suddenly, a brilliant flash of golden light filled the chapel, and where once there was a cloud of dust now stood an ethereal figure of striking beauty.
The being had lustrous golden hair cascading down to her waist, and her eyes bore a deep blue shade accentuated by hints of magenta. Her expression was serene, her gaze warm yet indifferent. The light radiating from her smooth, flawless skin bore a stark contrast to her dark purple armor. The plate armor, contoured perfectly to her slender frame, revealed an underskirt of silver mail beneath a thigh-high slit. Pale, delicate shoulders peeked out, and armguards bearing a golden cross on each arm complemented the color of her armor. A magnificent pair of pure white wings stretched out behind her, gently fluttering as she descended from the air to land atop the altar.
"Elysia..." Emilia whispered, her voice barely audible as she addressed the celestial being.
Angels were a rare race in Valeria, harnessing mana for their magical abilities. Their ethereal beauty and the power they held were both a source of reverence and fear among other races. Their seemingly unblemished appearance, coupled with immortality, immense magical power, and a noble sense of justice, made them almost godlike beings.
Comparing the mana reserves of humans and angels was like comparing a barrel of water to a vast lake. The discrepancy was vast, granting angels a scope of magic incomparable to that of humans. Elysia, in particular, was an archangel known as the Golden Angel, revered even among her celestial kin.
Greeting Elysia with a heartfelt smile, Emilia broke the silence. "It’s been a while, Elysia. Years even.”
“To me, whose time is eternal. It was-... merely yesterday. I still remember that fateful day when you were still a maiden," Elysia responded, her eyes shifting to the infant in Emilia's arms.
"He is...?" she asked, curiosity lining her melodious voice.
"Lazarus-... He is Lazarus Valheart, the second prince of the Twilight Kingdom," Emilia responded proudly. The question sparked a conversation, leading to the understanding that Emilia held high hopes for young Lazarus, especially considering the substantial mana reserves her other children had demonstrated in their 'Prevedere' - a ritual that determines the mana reserves of the young and their potential for growth.
Elysia, understanding Emilia's expectations, proposed to start the ritual for Lazarus. As she reached out and touched the infant's forehead, a silver light glowed from her fingertips. Emilia's heart pounded in anticipation, her breath hitched in her throat as she waited for the outcome. Once the light dimmed and Elysia opened her eyes, Emilia found herself taken aback by the expression of surprise on the angel's face.
Elysia, the perfect, emotionless entity, was clearly shocked. She murmured something inaudible, her fingers returning to Lazarus' forehead as she repeated the process. This was something Emilia had never seen before – the Prevedere was being repeated, unheard of in any previous interactions with the angels.
Tension coiled within Emilia as she waited for the outcome. When she couldn't bear the suspense any longer, she asked, "H-How is he?"
Elysia looked straight into Emilia's eyes and, with an expression that still carried traces of her surprise, said, "This child possesses... no mana."
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Afterword:
Well, It's been a long time. And I've worked on the reboot from time to time and I've managed to stash a few chapters that I'm planning to upload maybe once or twice a month. Let me know what you think of the first reboot chapter!
For the new readers:
I hope you enjoy!
For the old readers of Exiled Prince:
This reboot will have more details and better quality than the original (I hope). There are some changes to various event compared to the previous one and I hope you will enjoy this as much as the previous one!