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Forsaken Hope
12: Revelations

12: Revelations

Now the coat.

Usually, warriors feel attachment to their weapons. Some even give their weapons nicknames. But in my case, I like more this coat than my weapons. It saved my life more times than I can count. Fighting many mages at the same time, especially in battlefields, it's a nightmare. With so many mages drawing mana from their bodies, one can easily feel disorientated and not know who to focus on. During the first battles, when I started my rebellion I was the only mage defending my army while the enemy had many mages.

One of the basics of combat of higher ranked mages is to put negative mana around themselves. However, I didn't have that luxury. I had to focus all my mana to protect my soldiers from their attacks and also give artillery support. That's why this coat was a lifesaver when I couldn't use negative mana to protect myself in time. In most battles, the enemy had more mana potential than me. So I always had a horse with me to carry sacks filled with Power Crystals. When my mana potential reached the 10,000-15,000, I sucked the mana from the crystals.

... Now that I think about it...

I pour mana into the Light Crystal on the wall. Ok, it emits light. I suck the mana and... The mana doesn't return to me. It refuses to enter back in my body. So that's why we, Servants, have to swallow the power crystals? This is strange...

Well, whatever. I'll just adapt to this new rule.

Anyway, at the end of each battle, there were only a few times when I walked out of the battlefield on my own. I passed out in most of them.

"Fuwaaa~~"

It seems like she woke up.

"Ah!" - She quickly gets up from the bed and goes straight to her dresser.

"What's the hurry?"

"I found a clue! I had a dream about you meeting 2 girls, I think one of them was the Queen Aldorah IV!"

Ah, I see.

"Who?"

"She was Coeburg queen 900 years ago. She is famous because she managed to defeat the invaders despite the drought."

"Sounds like a strong woman."

She puts herself behind the curtain and starts undressing her pajamas.

"She was, but she also bit off more than she could chew. She tried to reform some organizations and laws."

She tried what?

"How so?"

"I don't remember the details well, but in short she tried to give more rights to the black hairs and lower the power the nobles had. However, she was so aggressive about it and tried to change it too drastically. It resulted in her assassination."

"..."

Aldorah...

"Thanks to her, black haired people got more rights over the centuries. Today they have better conditions than before." - She closes the curtain already dressed in her uniform - "You could say she is an icon to the common people."

I'm rubbing my eyes, just in case I can't hold tears from flowing. Obviously I already knew she was long dead, but knowing that she was assassinated leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. And she tried help my dream in the end... Did you really love me that much? I'm sorry I was never able to answer your love...

Nora quickly opens the door.

"I want to check her story as soon as possible. C'mon Al."

"Yeah, let's go."

"Uh? Is there a problem?"

"What?"

"Uhm, normally you would say something like ≪Not the library again≫."

"I gave up that battle."

"Battle?"

"No matter what I say, we are always coming back to that place. If there is a god and he is controlling our actions, he surely is lacking imagination."

"What?"

"Always making us return to that cursed library. If he has an audience that he wants to entertain, I'm sure they will soon get tired of his story."

"What the heck are you saying?"

"Breaking a wall that should never be broken."

"Uh!?"

"Ahh, just forget it. Let's get it over with. The sooner you check what you want the sooner we will get out of that place."

"Oookayyy...."

I just said whatever came up to my head to distract her from my mood. C'mon, pull it together Al!

...

.....

.......

We get out of the library after Nora checking Aldorah story. It's almost noon.

"The book didn't mention her and her sister being taken care of by another family. *sigh*" - Nora says.

I wonder why...

"Anyway, I think we should give up on the legends for now. I'm pretty sure my dreams are the answer to discover your identity."

"What if they are wrong?"

"Well, maybe some details are not true. But these dreams are supposed to be rare and I am having them almost every night. And they don't have discrepancies with each other. So I am going to assume for now they are the real deal. Once I have enough clues, we'll try again those legends."

"Sounds like a plan."

It doesn't matter what she discovers about me now. I'm not in any of those legends, I'm not registered in history... Now I am just keeping my act of being amnesic just for the sake of the lie.

"So princess, what do you want to do now?"

"... When are you going to drop the princess thing?"

"Maybe one day if I feel like it."

"Aren't you the rebellious type..."

I shrug my shoulders - "Well, anyway, it's almost noon. Lunch?"

"Yeah, let's go to the cafeteria."

We make our way to the cafeteria.

...

When we reach there, Karli and the Slut are already waiting for their orders.

"Nora!" - Karli calls, pointing to the spot next to her.

"Hi Karli, sorry for yesterday."

Nora sits next to Karli. I, reluctantly, sit on the chair in front of Nora, next to the slut.

"Don't worry about it. Let's do it tonight!"

"Tonight? But tomorro-. Oh right, tomorrow we don't have classes. It's free day so we can go train with our Servants."

"Yup! The tournament is after tomorrow, after all. And I got my hands on something special~."

"What?"

"Let's just say the Academy doesn't allow it~."

Nora giggles. - "Karli! Not again."

"Tomorrow is going to be a challenge to get up *giggles*."

In other words, they are planning to get drunk. Of course, they can't say it directly because a noblewoman shouldn't get drunk.

"Do your majesties desire some cheese to go along with your wine?"

"Al!!"

Hehe, classic. I always pissed off my sister with that line.

A few moments later.

"You sure are having fun."

Just great... Vanadis is the one who said that.

"Vanadis." - Nora replies.

Without asking, he sits right next to Nora.

"Figured that I should get some lunch with my wife and her friends. By the way, where's the other two?"

"I think they are training in the forest, your Highness." - Karli replies.

"I see."

A maid, with a different attire from the others, comes with a tray.

"Your Highness."

She puts his meal in front of him. She must be one of his personal maids.

Then she walks away.

"I hope you don't mind I start eating before you."

"Uhm, no. Go right ahead." - Nora replies.

He starts eating.

"These etiquettes and rules... By the time I am done, this country will be in a golden age."

"What are you planning?" - Nora asks.

"Look at the last two thousand years. There's almost no evolution. A few inventions here and there and that's about it. Hell, even our borders are almost the same. We have become too complacent"

"..."

"Now look at Qahs Holm. In the last 800 years, they invented more powerful weapons that put ours to shame. They found ways to neutralize our magic attacks. And god knows what else they are making now as we speak."

Qahs Holm?

Vanadis speaks lower, but at a good volume so we can hear.

"And you know why? Because they don't have our stupid rules and way of thinking. Because the nobles are happy with how things are now, they don't want to change. So they censored any kind of invention that might endanger them. I will force the change."

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"Vanadis, that's..."

"Dangerous? Someone might kill me? Ha, let them try! Anyone who stands in my way and the way of my vision will be dealt with."

"..."

"Qahs Holm way of doing things is not the best, but it's close to what we should aim for. Someday I will conquer that island and get their inventions before they become a more serious problem in the future."

Karli gets up abruptly and says:

"But your Highness! That would mean the death of many nobles and Servants!"

"If their sacrifices mean we will progress hundreds of years, I will happily do so... Now, sit down and think twice before doing something like that again."

Karli, with an afraid expression for a second, immediately sits on her chair.

"What are you planning to do exactly? - Nora asks.

"I'm going to make it so anyone, no matter the hair color, can become a noble. I will remove the limitations we impose on the black hairs."

"..."

What?

"The hope for a better future is what makes us develop. The common folk can't hope for much because we limit them. We don't allow them to own too much land or money. But what if we remove their limitations? They will have the encouregement to develop and progress. Soon after that, our country will easily surpass the others in everything! Economy, tecnology, military... The sky will be the limit!"

"But your Highness, many nobles will not stand for that." - Karli replies.

"Well, the campaign against Qahs Holm will just have to happen sooner rather than later won't it?"

"..."

I don't like this guy, not even one bit. But I have to admit that I respect his vision. After all, it's almost the same what I was aiming for...

"Why are you telling us this? Especially here in the middle..." - Nora asks

"There's too much noise and we are far enough from other people. No one heard us." - He looks at Karli - "And let's say someone heard and decided to share with others, I wonder if anybody would believe that somebody..."

Karli gets the message and looks down.

"And I told you because your Servant will make my plans much, much easier." - He has a smile as he says that.

So basically, he is aiming to be a totalitarian, a king who can do whatever he pleases. His word is absolute and anyone who tries to get in his way will be destroyed. If I learned anything about politics, and I did, this guy will be assassinated sooner or later. His plans already put him in a bad position, but his attitude will only get him more enemies than friends.

Even a tyrant needs friends.

He finishes his lunch.

"I was planning to chat about other things with you Nora but unfortunately, I have business to attend to."

He gets up.

"We'll chat later, maybe tomorrow."

He turns his back and waves his hand as he walks away.

Our food was served a few moments later. The rest of the day was uneventful.

...

.....

.......

It's night, we are in Nora's room with Karli and the slut.

"So, check this out..." - Karli pulls a bottle from her bag - "Red Coel Liquor!"

"What!? Karli, I don't know about this. That thing has too much alcohol."

"That's the fun my dear. We can go wild tonight." The slut says.

"Well..." - I get up - "You girls have fun, I'm going for a walk."

"What, you don't want a drink Al?" - Karli asks

"No. Tomorrow I need to practice so I need a clear head."

I reach the door.

"But dear, you need to relax a little and enjoy yourself. Come have a drink wit-"

"Thanks but no thanks." - I exit the room and close the door.

That liquor is not a joke. Just a little bit of that thing can make anyone drunk, no matter how resistant they are. And getting drunk in a room with 3 women, especially considering one of them is looking for a way to get me naked... Let's just say I would spend tomorrow praying they weren't on their dangerous days.

"This is also a good chance to give a few swings with my sword. I spent too many days without practicing."

And thus, I make my way to a good spot I know in the campus.

...

"Ahhh! Ahh! Yahh!"

I can hear yells. Someone is practicing.

I walk in the direction of the yells. Soon enough, I find Musclehead training, with his master watching. They didn't notice me.

"You sure you can defeat him?"

"Don't worry. He may be strong but I am more than enough for him. Besides, the prince said he was going to limit him."

"Good good. Just make sure you make it look like an accident."

"Don't worry, I'll blow his brains with ease."

The hell?

I quickly hide behind a bush.

"I was starting to think we would never get the chance. Good thing the prince forced him to participate in the tournament."

"There are only three types of strong warriors. The ones who enjoy fighting like me, the ones who desire power and the ones who are forced to fight. He is the latter for sure. He obviously doesn't enjoy fighting so there's no way he could have become strong if he wasn't forced to fight."

"I don't care about his story. I just need him dead... Well anyway, that's enough for today, let's go rest."

"As you wish."

Musclehead stops swinging his heavy sword and they walk away.

...

I wait for a few moments to make sure no one is around.

"Tsk."

I get up. Pity he didn't say why he wanted me killed. I need to watch myself if I end up fighting Musclehead.

I make my way to the spot I had in mind. Meanwhile, I try to come up with theories as to why I became a target to kill. Politics? Noble intrigue? Envy?

...

Whatever the reason, doesn't change the fact that someone wants to kill me. I should focus on that fact for now.

...

I reach the spot. It's close to the greenhouses. It's strange how my favorite spots are somehow close to them. Maybe it's some plant calling me... Or not.

As I was about to summon my sword, I hear someone breathing violently.

Is someone behind that greenhouse?

I head in the direction of the sound.

When I get closer, I hear 2 persons moaning. I hide myself behind a wall and look in their direction. I see Vanadis and the maid that served him earlier. She is kneeling in front of him giving him a blowjob.

Well well, aren't you the faithful type? Anyway, it seems it is consented, so no need to stay here.

As I was about to go away...

"Fuck I love you..."

"Hmmm... Haa, haa... Are you enjoying this my love...? Haa, haa"

"Fuck yeah."

"I promise you, no one can do better than me. Not even your future wife~~"

"She may be my wife but I only have one love."

"*giggles* That makes me happy. But... Did we really need to do this outside of your room?"

"Think of this as an adventure. It's more exciting."

"Haha, well, as long you protect me if someone finds out~. Well, back to business..."

She goes back to her "business". I have to get out of here as soon as possible.

I quickly go away from the greenhouse.

That wasn't simply him releasing some stress. It seemed like he loves that maid.

"..."

This reminds me of... Shit...

Depression hits me.

...

I don't feel like training anymore. I'm just going to burn some time. Later I'll return to the room.

*******

Next chapter

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Sorry for the late update. I was planning to update yesterday but my PC crashed and I lost the whole chapter. I had to rewrite it again.

Also, college starts this week so I won't have much free time. I promise that I will update at least a chapter per week, on weekends. It will depend if I update during the week.

If I don't update, it's because of some major reason (tests or exams).