“Aaaaaaah!!!”
The young man's cry echoed in his burning hometown.
The music, the food, the dancing, and their laughter turned into ashes when an overlord of the sky came and just like that the once warm festival of harvest became a scene of hell.
All the young man could do was gaze at the monster flying in the sky with hatred and hope that a miracle will happen killing it for him.
Unaffected by his puny killing intent the monster opened its maws spewing hot red blasting fire snuffing even the luck of those who survived.
It then circled the hell that it created like how a painter admires his own work before flying towards the south it left the town where the smell of burned meat pervaded.
Pitter~ Patter~
As the rain passed it doused the remaining fire creating a fog that veiled the view of the town making it harder for anyone to see its state.
Suddenly shadows of different people could be seen from the distance, slowly they arrived in front of the burned gates of Evergreen Town.
Neigh~
The sound of the horses stopping on their tracks echoed as the silhouette's became just clear enough to distinguished their traits.
A boorish red haired man irritatedly gazed at the ruins of the town.
“Again!?
“How many does this make?”
He shifted his eyes at his side where a white haired man is.
“Four, check if there's any survivor first.”
That man ordered before passing through the remains of the blazed gate.
The group followed him before splitting apart to search on their own, they circled around the burnt ruins and gathered when someone gave them the signal.
“Captain! I found a corpse here!”
A man with an angel-like smile pointed towards a human shaped black thing.
“Can this still be called corpse? It looks more of a coal.”The red haired man said as he curiously poked what he called the human-shaped coal.
“However in the towns that we passed only ashes remained how sturdy its body could be?” A grey haired 'old man' questioned while he brushed his same-colored beard.
A giant bald man next to him agreed.
”Its body could be par with mine.”
“It's still alive.” The lady dressed in hooded robed briefly said.
What she said made the place suddenly turned silent.
“That alive!?”
The surprised voice came from asilver haired young miss.
Which a woman with long ears and auburn hair bent over to check it for her, “This thing is still breathing.”
“What should we do Captain?”
The innocent-looking man looked towards the one in charge of the group.
“Mhm, Heal him, if his mind was still good then we could asked him what happened.”
One of them an uncle with brown hair prayed for him as light descended on the human coal.
“The God must've blessed him, it was a miracle for him to survive, I'll be sure to show you the God's grace.”
The white haired man who held the authority in this group looked away from him and ordered the rest.
“You lot, build our tents we'll staying here tonight.”
“Damn we will sleeping in the ground again!”
“Its nothing new, at least it would be warmer and refreshing than the damped prison.”
The bearded old man patted boorish man's shoulder trying to comfort him with the facts.
----------------------------------------
Mayden Empire, a county that stood tall for over 500 years, it withstood countless wars, great changes, and calamities until it finay become the ruler of the continent, Tiran.
This seemingly impregnable empire just quelled the rebellion that lasted for almost three years when all of a sudden the Sage came down the mountain and together with him was a prophecy of the coming calamity, one that might even bring destruction of the entire continent.
In the throne hall of the Nitier Castle, it was filled with people dressed with the most luxurious attire like a jester in the theater but more fancier, this people called the nobles were discussing about the news with grim faces.
“From the lost of Fort Arnian from the barbarians of the south, to the plague that pestered the great western harvest plains of the empire, to the rebellion that killed many of our soldier and now another grand meeting was taking place after the news of the Sage coming down the mountain spread, I hope the news will be a good one if not I could only see the empire's collapsed, sigh.”
“What are you sighing for! As country that prevailed during the Waning Times I'm sure it could triumph this challenge too.”
Thud~
A sudden sound stopped the gossiping nobles from uttering another word making the hall suddenly turn quiet.
“Your Majesty Emperor Romone lll is entering!”
The massive double door slowly opened until a person dressed in more luxuriant manner than any noble in the hall paired with a golden crown can be seen, its a pity that his looks did not came in par with his shining attire but both his chest and chin was raised up high and his back as straight as rod, not any person would think that he is a man without a rod.
““Your Majesty!””
When the nobles saw that person they all solemnly kneeled before greeting him, only when the emperor and his entourage took their own spot did they stood up before bowing in front where the throne is.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
“Your Majesty may I?” The old man with sparse white hair that is standing in the right of throne asked solemnly.
“Hmm.”
When the emperor acknowledge it the old man took a step forward and unfurled the parchment in his hands before reading it out loud for the nobles in the hall.
“'When the day becomes the night, a great calamity will peer through the cracks, bringing with it chaos that spells the fall of the four towering flags.'”
The solemn air in the hall suddenly turned heavy as the nobles started to get anxious about the future—no their future.
Not minding their horrible expressions the prime minister furled the parchment before he continued, “This was the Sage's prophecy.”
Murmurs echoed around the hall after he spoke, they did not stopped until a noble in the frontmost section raised his hand high.
“Yes Duke Lennon?” the prime minister looked at him.
A staid man with bulging belly and beautiful mustache lowered his hands and asked, “Was the prophecy deciphered?”
Instead of answering the Prime Minister took a step back and gestured with his hand towards the lower pedestal where a man in his prime stood.
“I leave the question to the Royal Magician.”
“Thank you Prime Minister, cough, Duke Lennon before the grand meeting started His Majesty already given the task and together with the group of magicians well-versed in this field we deciphered it.” The one called royal magician proclaimed.
“Then what did you found about it.” An impatient noble asked.
“In the first sentence we points it to a rare phenomenon called 'eclipse', and this rare event will happen in the next season of bloom.”
His words caused commotion in the hall, as everyone's face became uglier only a few people was calm or rather good at hiding their emotion this people were paying their attention to the following sentences.
“What about the rest?” Duke Lennon asked for those people.
“The second sentence of the prophecy about the calamity was pointing towards the dragon.” the royal magician gave a smile.
“Dragon!?”
“Isn’t just a myth?”
The audience was dumbfounded as what they thought a myth all along was something real but those who are experienced was different as they either saw or fought with creatures that has likeness close to the dragons from what the myth described.
The royal magician shook his head as he replied to their musings, “Sadly its not, we found an old book in the library detailing about an encounter with a creature called dragon, it was named by the author as Dragon of Calamity Bahamuth.”
As an Empire with long history it is of course rich with knowledge and finding a book or two about a dragon's sighting was not that of a surprise what should be praised was finding that one book from among the thousands.
“From the writings in the book we learned that this dragon was fond of destroying a town or two without any good reasons, that's why me and other magicians was sure that it was the 'calamity' in the prophecy.”
A mythical creature like dragon that said to be able to wiped out lands as easy as breathing was truly worthy as the calamity that the sage foresaw, that was what many thought but there's still ones that doubts everything, like Duke Lennon.
“How sure you are about your claims?”
“Very much and it is also confirmed by the Pope.”
Those with doubts snuffed it out when heard that, as the Pope was an apostle of god and also his messenger with his confirmation there was no doubt it was the dragon.
“So where is this dragon that you said?” A noble wondered.
“It is confirmed to be living in the unexplored lands of the Northern Extremes.”
“Then does Your Majesty have a plan?” Duke Lennon shifted his focus towards the decorated man sitting on the throne.
“Replenish more soldier and foster new talents, it would take at least four months before the calamity dawn upon us, we have more time.” His calm voice suited the anxious nobles.
This emperor would be considered a great one if not for the repeated misfortune of the Empire in his reign.
Then another noble raised his hand and after being granted the right to speak by the emperor he asked, “Your Majesty, what about the previous plans that was made after the revolt, will it be temporarily stopped?”
“It will continue, its best not to let the citizen know the prophecy yet or else another chaos would ensue, that's why the rest of you here keep it to yourself.”
Those words shut the people with loose mouths up.
“This gathering is not just to inform you but also to get your suggestions for the coming future.”
When the nobles heard that many of them raised their hands as its already well known that the emperor often do this thing and if their suggestion was praised by him then they could boast it in their social circle.
The prime minister picked among the many raised hand and the one he choose was an old man with long beard, he was dressed in blue robe the same as royal magician wears just different in color, the old man adjusted his monocle first before speaking.
“His Majesty already had planned to foster new talents, my suggestion is to open the Academy not only to those blessed in magic but in other different fields, also the establishment of specialized classes to those genius among geniuses.”
Hearing his words many nobles where confused and after getting a nod from the emperor a noble asked the monocled old man.
“Sir Mortenbard are you saying that the Academy would also opened their gates towards the people with no magical talent?”
“Yes, it has been in my mind for a long time that we shouldn't limit it only to those that could wield mana and wealthy, many crafters could not feel the mana but they are gifted with their hands not only them but also people with great imaginations or the commoners that don't have enough money to enroll! I was planning on bringing it to His Majesty before but the rebellion happened and now with the impending apocalypse it is the time for it to become a proper academia that could nurture not only talents of magic but also in other fields, maybe even a hero.”
The other people we're not that keen on his proposal when they heard the word commoner but they could not complain when they saw the emperor opened his mouth.
“Hmm, I'll send the Finance Minister later to you Count Mortenbard to talk about the details.”
“Its my pleasure Your Majesty.” An obvious smile was on the Count Mortenbard's lips as he bowed towards the throne.
Many eyed the count with envy when they heard the word finance.
Then after many more suggestions, a tall bulked man filled with trinkets in his shoulders and chest raised his hand, his action made the hall all of sudden turn solemn as the nobles all glanced at this man.
“Go on Deputy Commander Hensrooth.” the prime minister called the man.
“Your Majesty I suggest we attack the place where the dragon is.”
“Are you sane Commander!? Where would you find enough troops and money for your expedition!?”
“That's right, the attacks from the different borders where intensifying as we speak and there are currently lack of forces to bolster those fronts.”
The quiet hall suddenly burst with profanity towards the commander but it was stopped by a loud thud as the emperor slammed the butt of his staff making all of them settle down.
“Explain yourself.”
“Yes Your Majesty, I think it is good to wait and be on defense but it would be better for us to take initiative, for the rest I let the Second Prince himself explain it to you.”
The nobles shifted their gazes from the commander to the second step where the princes and princesses are.
Feeling their stares the second prince that inherited his father's looks raised his chin.
“I agree with the Deputy Commander that we should take the initiative and about the forces, we have those pigs that are wasting our resources while doing nothing.”
When the nobles heard that some had a puzzled expressions while some had an enlightened eyes.
The second prince looked towards his side and saw the beautiful first princess frowning which only made his smile grew more, he did not only inherit his fathers face but also his flaws and it was much worse.
“That's right I am talking about the prisoners! After the empire experienced calamity after calamity we forgotten about those sinners that need to be judge! If they're going to die then why not let then die while becoming useful?”
Another murmurs resounded the hall as they discussed how feasible the plan is.
Then one noble raised his hands and asked, “Prince this may sound a good plan but what if they anger the dragon and it would hasten the prophecy?”
The prince smile widen revealing his yellowish teeth before he calmly answered, “To travel from here to north would took a long time and most likely they will arrived their near the end of the cold season, even if they anger the dragon they would surely damage and weaken it, either it would attack us or not, weakened dragon has no demerit for us.”
The noble that asked the question was satisfied with the answer like others are but still there are many who have questions which did not even bothered the prince instead he was delighted while the faces of his siblings especially for the eldest princess turned into frown.
“Prince there are thousands of prisoners, it will be hard to control those ferals and we also need to arm them with weapons and feed them food, it would waste much more resources than them staying in the dungeon until they die.”
“That's right a thousand of those sinners would just be a wastrel of our resources, that is why we'll select the strongest among them by letting them fight among themselves, we can then bind those that are left with contract spell that would be modified to which if they don't do their job they will lose their lives and lastly to motivate them we could promise them their freedom if they miraculously killed the dragon.”
The Second Prince took the spotlight for this meeting as the audience was at awe towards the his ideas.
“How about it father—no Your Majesty?”
The emperor's lips twitched a little but he still gave his praise.
“As expected of my son.”
The prince eyes curved like a moon as he eyed the sour face of the princess next to her.