I was born July 12th 2471 as Felix J. Phoenicia. It’s important that you understand who the Phoenicia clan were to understand this story though so bear with me for a bit.
The Phoenicia clan was one of the three great noble families of The Vulracious Empire. The other two families were the Vulgate and Zepar.
We’re direct descendants of the Pillar God Julius Phoenicia who was one of the ten heroes who slayed Murlock. The Vulracious royal family which we served under are descendants of the Pillar God Romulus Vulracious the “Freyr” clan.
The Phoenicia were split up into four divisions, the Saturn bloodline was the most pure of all and descended directly from Julius. They were the political members of the clan.
I’m from the Jupiter division, the Holy Knights of the Royal Family and their castle. Then there was the Venus division who handled the capital's disciplinary duties much like a typical police officer or prison guard would.
Finally there was the Uranus division which handled the empire's treasury, but by the time this story takes place the Uranus division was already extinct from unrelated events.
Before the original Julius Phoenicia died he placed his Anima [Gaius] into a specially created [Sealing Stone] which would only allow those worthy enough to unsheathe and wield [Gaius]. He made the declaration that anyone who could withdraw the blade from the stone would be rewarded his name and title as clan head.
Hence forward for the following two millennia plus many members of the Phoenicia clan would try to unsheathe [Gaius] only to fail and wait for the next generation to try. In those two Millenia plus there were only two who managed to withdraw and wield Gaius.
Julius S. Phoenicia who lived around 1900 years ago and 250 years ago Julius S. Phoenicia the 2nd. As you see both were members of the Saturn division which gave them the title of the purest division.
It seemed as though that would continue forward with Bjorn S. Phoenicia. Bjorn could withdraw [Gaius] from the stone but not wield it like one would a weapon. The supernatural weight of the weapon tore his muscles and fractured his bones when he swung it.
Bjorn's grandfather, Tyor S. Phoenicia the head of the Phoenicia clan at the time said that if no one in the next generation was able to wield Gaius he would receive the title of Julius. The title of Julius is the most prestigious thing a Phoenician can be given. The greatest of honors and Bjorn was of course full of pride and arrogance by this undeniable future.
Then I was born, Felix Jupiter Phoenicia. From what my parents had told me I was a sickly child from the moment I came into this world. I myself remember constantly visiting doctors and having to perform many labs to determine the source of my illness but it always seemed like there was nothing wrong with me. I was just sick and feeble.
As a Jupiter it was expected that I’d become a Holy Knight but as the years passed on that seemed to be impossible, I couldn't even wield a wooden sword like my fellow children could.
Then at the age of three I did something unexpected, I remember it clearly myself. My father had left the front door open so I’d left and walked through the many corridors of our clan estate. I felt as though something was calling to me, a voice that was familiar and sweet. One that made me feel warm inside. When I found the voice it was coming from a large white sword placed into an ancient boulder covered in chains and paper seals.
I climbed up the boulder and with a single hand withdrew the sword, [Gaius]. To me it weighed almost nothing, it was like I was wielding a feather. I swung it around through the air and played with it like I my fellow generation did with wooden swords.
One of the Maids saw me with Gaius and screamed a blood curdling cry which drew the attention of the entire clan and before I knew it everyone was around me cheering and hollering. To witness the birth of the 4th Julius was the 2nd greatest honor in the mind of my clan.
There was an exception, one man who lurked in the shadows with a seething hatred and envy. Bjorn was not pleased with me, he felt as though I’d taken his birthright from under his nose. A lesser member from the Jupiter line had stolen what he was rightfully owed.
Luckily for him I was not crowned with the title of Julius immediately. It was customary for every child at the age of nine to attempt to draw the sword Gaius. As for why the age of nine I have no idea that was just the custom. Maybe the original Julius created Gaius at the age of nine but that’s just a theory of mine.
Anyways Bjorn had six years to prove himself to his grandfather and he trained hard for those years. Everyday for hours he would wield Gaius, get injured and then be healed. For those six years he repeated this process. But he wasn't the only one training hard.
My father and the rest of my line pushed every bit of knowledge onto me. No expense was spared in teaching me the way of the sword. I was not to be a Holy Knight but something akin to a God.
Of course at the time I didn't understand any of this, only that my mother and father were finally happy about something I did. So I worked hard and by the time I was six I’d become an [Advanced] level swordsman in all four styles. Not only that but I’d naturally developed Observation, enhancement and reinforcement from the brutal training I partook in. You could call it a forced baptism of sorts.
It might sound horrible to you but to the Phoenicia clan it was standard practice for children to be coughing up blood and having broken bones by the end of every practice. It was only when we no longer did those that we were accepted.
Years passed and my 9th birthday was rapidly approaching. I was at the high point in my life. My mother prepared a massive cake for me and my father bought the highest quality of equipment that was available for my sword drawing ceremony.
It was the night before my birthday that the Devil came to our home and whispered into the ear of Bjorn. He muttered things only the father of lies could know to say. But the devil's name is not Satan or Lucifer. It’s Randolph Sisyphus Freyr. The ghost of the Freyr clan.
During the Forgotten War the Freyr clan was massacred over night by an unknown assailant leaving not a single blood relative behind.
The Vulgate family who was in line to join the Freyr family through an arranged marriage between their two heirs was quite furious at the situation. The rug had been pulled out from under then and they fought like hell to get that title of Royal family for themselves.. The Zepar were no different, though not having married into the Freyr clan they had their own connections. The third contender was a lower ranking noble family, the Emperor had married a woman from the Schineider clan so they had the greatest claim to the throne of all three.
But then something really unexpected happened. The low ranking Lapetus family came in with an unrelenting passion and took the throne from right under everyone else's nose. The Phoenician family didn’t care much for who sat on the throne. We only served them and the empire so when the Lapetus clan became our ruler we swore to them our blade just like we had the Freyr.
Going far back enough I’m sure the Freyr and Phoenicia were much more closely connected like Romulus and Julius were said to be. However by the time the Forgotten War occurred those kinds of feelings were long gone.
Randolph himself is a mystery, whether he’s a true Freyr only he knows. Not even El-Saber has the true answer. But for his entire life he lurked in the shadows of the Vulracious Empire slowly building his own empire underneath the official one.
That night he promised Bjorn the title of Julius, Crescent Moon God and Clan head if he did one thing… he just needed to aid Randolph in “Removing the Phoenicia clan from the board.” To the humiliated Bjorn it was a miracle, it was a small price to pay for ascending into Godhood.
Bjorn had been given the name “War God Mars” by his grandfather to help soothe his heart. A silver metal so he too could be engraved in history but for him it wasn't enough. That dreaded night he armed himself with the Phoenician treasure [Espada] and began the [Execution Event].
Bjorn being able to lift Gaius was not by pure luck. It’s possible to lift Gaius without being considered worthy. If you have enough physical strength it’s possible to withdraw it from the stone but using it like a blade is a different story. You might be able to bench press 225 lbs but can you throw it up in the air like a basketball and catch it?
Needless to say Bjorn was the strongest Phoenician at the time and with the aid of Randolph and Titan he completely annihilated our clan.
I was the last one he came for, or rather I should say we were the last to encounter him. My father and mother hearing the commotion quickly understood the situation and had me take [Gaius] before trying to escape.
Bjorn caught up with us and my father stayed behind to fight him to buy time for me and my mother to escape. My father Stephano J. Phoenicia was… painfully average for a Phoenician. He was only Advanced in the Crescent Moon Style and he might as well have ran with us. His fight with Bjorn was over so fast it didn’t even add a single second to our escape.
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After cutting my father down Bjorn descended upon my mother with [Espada] and carved open her back with a loose slash. Seeing this all I can remember is fear, anger, hatred and disgust. A man I didn't even know hated me enough to kill my mother to get to me. It was like my vision turned red and everything became distorted with swirling effects. I swung Gaius without any form or intended action besides hurting him.
If I was maybe a bit older or taller I could have killed him but my short reach only made the tip of Gaius reach the front of his face.
I carved a straight line from the bottom of his chin to this temple on the right side of his face. He let out a primitive cry of pain and clutched his bleeding face giving my mother and me the chance to escape our estate.
She ran through the dark night making it across the entire capital of Vulcon in only an hour or so. I don't think I could even do that now let alone while holding someone and having my back slashed open.
It's said mothers are able to unlock extreme strength for their children when they’re in danger but… I know she didn’t do it out of love for me, much like my father she saw me as a deity or symbol instead of a son.
I’m Julius Phoenicia the Pillar God Of Swords. The clan's founder and he who wields the world's strongest blade. In my mind I still like to think she had some kind of other emotion in her as she pushed me off into the ocean with her dying breath. I doubt that to be the case but it’s just something to help keep me going every day.
I was in a small raft with nothing but [Gaius] to my side. I drifted endlessly throughout the Vulracious sea for weeks, maybe even months. I have no idea how long I was out on the boat for. Eventually the currents pushed me to the shore of the Verous Union where some fisherman found me. I was nothing but skin wrapped tightly around bones. I remember not even being able to chew the bread they gave me or lift the cup of water handed to me.
The fisherman, thinking I was a child surviving a boat wreck, took me to the local church's orphanage where I would stay for the next year. Apparently the only word I could say was “Hate.” And that's all I would repeat for hours on end while clutching Gaius.
No matter how much they tried to help me they couldn't do a single thing. After that year they gave up hope thinking I was possessed by some Demon and called the Venator Society to exercise it.
At the time Jinen was 17 years old and a new recruit who eagerly took every available mission. He came to the church I was being housed at and saw my sorry State. Feeling some rare empathy he took me to El-Saber who upon seeing [Gaius] introduced himself to me and put his full attention into my recovery.
Another year passed and I joined the Gamma department after completing the entrance exam. I began to train under the Gamma captain at the time Izimar Bucharoist, a Dragon Slayer Style God. I quickly ranked up to the Vice Captain. When he retired about 6 years ago I took his spot as Captain of the Gamma department.
I was never close to my family or clan, I loved my parents but I don't think I loved them like you did yours or Hayai does El-Saber.
To me it’s something primal, like a monkey clinging to its mothers back so it doesn't fall off while she swings across the trees. I don't know if that counts as love because I’ve never had anything to compare it to. Love is a dangerous thing, it makes people do things they normally wouldn't. Things against their better judgment. Love is what made Bjorn kill our family, his love for praise and power let him be manipulated by the Devil Randolph. But I’m not exactly sure why I want to kill Randolph. Of course Revenge is the base reason but the motive behind that is something I’m unsure of. I just feel as though that’s what I must do and maybe after I do that I’ll understand why.
To reach my goal I’ve made two contracts with my soul.
1. I cannot knowingly or willingly kill those who aren’t associated with Randolph Sisyphus Freyr
2. I cannot love until I reach the title of Crescent Moon God
# # #
“And that’s everything” Julius said, looking up at the moons in the sky with Kanashi.
“Why did Randolph want to kill the Phoenicians?” Kanashi asked.
“I don't know, it could have been something as foolish as envy over us pledging loyalty to the Lapetus family or a greater plan that we can’t even begin to hypothesize about. But either way I don't really care about the reason. I simply need to kill him.”
Kanashi didn't say anything, what he’d said during their travels to Albur made much more sense now. He was in fact talking from experience and Kanashi couldn't blame him.
[I cannot love until I reach the title of Crescent Moon Good]
What a tortuous thing to inflict upon yourself, a roundabout way of forcing yourself to kill Bjorn…
Julius' entire life had been eaten up by revenge and he seemed miserable talking about it.
“Can you explain more about these Pillar Gods?” Kanashi asked, trying to change the conversation.
“Oh, well it’s an old term but there were the ten heroes who slayed Murlock and they were named the God Pillars or Pillars God depending on the translation. Ever since then the ten strongest people in the world have been given the name of God Pillar of [Thing].”
“Oh so is Jin one?” Kanashi asked, knowing the answer already.
“Jin is the first God Pillar, the Pillar God Of Magic.”
“Then who’s number two?”
“The Pillar God Of Death Randolph Sisyphus Freyr.”
Ooo, right back to the sore spot. Kanashi thought with a frown.
“As you can see I’m fighting a ridiculous battle here, wanting to kill the second strongest person alive. It’s something I can never hope to achieve yet it's the reason I wake up in the morning.”
Kanashi wasn't sure what to say so he just sat there with Julius in silence for a good while in thought.
“I… I don't think that’s such a ridiculous battle honestly, I saw how strong you were just now and I can tell that you were holding back so as to not hurt me. I know I’m talking out of my ass here but I honestly think you can achieve your dream someday. I’ll always be here to help you along the way if you ever need me.” Kanashi said as kindly as he could.
Julius smiled and looked over to Kanashi. “Thank you Kanashi.” He said.
“Of course.” Kanashi replied with a smile.
# # #
Kanashi entered his apartment, it’d been a week since he’d left so he was happy to be back home. Or at least as close to back home as he could have. He took his shoes off and tossed them by the front door and walked into his kitchen where someone was sitting. Someone with a large ball of curly black hair and a tanned complexion like one would earn from spending all day out in the sun for years on end.
“Pompeii?” Kanashi asked out loud with a quivering voice. The man he’d seen back at the meeting a few weeks ago, one of the captains, was now in his apartment. He wasn’t even remotely sure as to why Pompeii would ever enter his apartment. The ominous shadow casting down onto Pompeii's face made from the overhead lamp made him look like some kind of mafia don which didn’t at all help soothe Kanashis worries.
“If I told you I wanted you to kill someone would you believe me?” Pompeii asked with a stone cold face and shining green eyes.
“Um… No?” Kanashi answered with a raised eyebrow.
“Good, because that’s not why I’m here, I’ve just always wanted to say that and this was a good opportunity.”
“Alright..” Kanashi said even more confused than before. “So why are you here?”
“Oh, well there’s a favor I have to ask you.”
“...”
“In around 5 days you’re going to board the Cymba, a boat which will take you from here to Edoland. In about the two and a half weeks worth of time on that boat there’s a certain animal I want you to get a blood sample from.”
“Wait, this Cymba thing is news to me.” Kanashi said, trying to process the sudden information.
“Oh really? I guess you weren’t supposed to know then. Well forget about all that except for the blood sample part.”
This guy… Kanashi thought with a frown.
“Well anyways on that ship there’s a griffon, I need you to get a blood sample from it. Using that I might be able to-”
“A Griffon!?” Kanashi screeched out and jumped onto his kitchen table.
“Yeah?” Pompeii asked, now being the confused one.
“I thought they were extinct!”
“Well in the wild, yes. But there’s a handful of them in private collections and research facilities. However no matter how hard I try I can't get my hands on one. So I was hoping that if you got me a blood sample I could-”
“Wait, how do you even know this? Are you sure it’s legit info and not somebody trying to pull your leg?”
“Ah… Well you see I did some stuff I’m not supposed to involving insects that may or may not be able to relay information to me but that’s not really important.” Pompeii laughed nervously.
“Why is it on the boat in the first place then?”
“Oh, probably being trafficked to someone's private collection either as a display or for a taxidermy but that’s besides the point with the blood sample-”
“I wanna rescue that Griffon then!”
“Wait what!?” Pompeii yelled out.
“I don't want it to die or get locked up in some dudes basement! We have a chance here to save the species with a live specimen! If It’s a female can’t you figure out a way to clone a male for her to breed with?”
“Wow, wow! wait a moment Kanashi this isn't something you should even know about in fact if El-Saber knew I was telling you about it or that I knew about it we’d be in all sorts of trouble. I’m not allowed to use my magic to spy on people but ya know sometimes stuff happens and-”
“Don't be a coward dude! Who cares about the law right now!? Right here in front of me is the chance to save a species from extinction and most importantly save an animal from a life of suffering! That’s a million times more important than some made up rules!”
“Kanashi this isn't just getting a stern talking to by El-Saber rules. This is a world wide law! I’m putting my life out on the line here man, someone on you can see the bigger picture right!? If you get me that blood sample I’ll be able to clone a million Griffons!”
Kanashi grit his teeth and furrowed his brow. “I get that but… I can’t just leave someone in need of help to suffer while knowing about it. Blame it on my ancestors but saving animals is a Sarumalder instinct!”
“I get that you’re related to Darwin! He was an amazing man and a hero who changed the world with his research but sometimes you have to be willing to let one life end for a million others to succeed. If you had to press a button to save your family or a million people, which would you push!? The million people button right?!”
“Hell no! I’d push the button to save my family without a second thought!”
“That’s selfish!”
“And? Humans are inherently selfish! It’s wrong but no matter how hard we try to change that it’s not going to happen!”
“Guhhh!” Pompeii groaned, slamming his head onto the table in defeat. He imagined Kanashi as someone who could see the bigger picture like Jin but he was in fact more like Julius. He was best friends with Julius of course so he knew just how hard of a nut to crack he was. It was impossible to change Kanashis mind.
“But don't worry Pompeii! I’ll save the Griffon and get you a blood sample! You can have both!” Kanashi said, patting Pompeii on the shoulder.
“But I only need the blood sample for the DNA! Within the next few decades I’ll be able to create artificial wombs and create as many Griffons as possible!”
“I’m sorry but.. I can’t just let that Griffon go…” Kanashi said, ending the conversation.