Five figures rapidly flew in the sky and stopped after arriving at the Imperium Capital City.
There were rows and columns of commoners and nobles, awaiting Empress Elaina's successful delivery.
"Come, brothers and sisters! The day that our beloved Prince to be born has arrived! Soon, the Imperium will rise, and all of humanity will prosper!", one of the crowds shouted in excitement.
The others cheered. Decorated houses and formal attires implied the significance of an event about to happen.
It was a busy day since it was that time that the alleged Child of Destiny would be born.
"Fools, prostrating on a ridiculous proclamation.", Elder Sylvia remarked.
Elder Rashomon narrowed his eyes. He knew that Elder Sylvia had always looked down on the Great Human Imperium.
`To think that Emperor Marcus would go this far to set up a farce.`
The others did not say anything.
"Let's move.", Elder Rashomon waved his hands, reappearing near the Imperium Sanctuary, a few kilometers north of the Imperium Capital City.
It was situated beneath a mountain range.
A thick forest and an array formation covered the exact location of the Imperium Sanctuary.
Elder Rashomon called out, "Elder Jasker,"
Elder Jasker performed several hand signals before incantating, "Formation Retraction.", extending his left hand to the air in front of him.
Silver lines surged out of his hand, performing mysterious actions against the barrier. Various shapes were formed that rotated, shifted, or moved from one place to another.
It slowly decrypted the concealment array formation that was set up. The silver lines flashed, and Elder Jasker closed his eyes in concentration.
After a while, the lines faded away until the sight of a huge dome-shaped building appeared in their eyes.
A swirling dark pillar of mist could be seen, bringing an aura of death and destruction in its wake.
"Isolation?", Elder Jasker asked.
"No, their concealment array formation is more than enough.", Elder Rashomon assured.
He turned around and faced the other four, "Raskael, Drummond, ready yourself for any potential ambush from the Fleeting Shadow, or if additional Imperium guards come over. Elder Jasker, Elder Sylvia, come with me.", Elder Rashomon entered the barrier.
Once inside, a small breeze of comfort and relaxation washed upon them.
However, the place was devoid of life. Withered trees and plants filled the surroundings and the ground was painted in greyish-black.
The three Higher Elders briskly walked towards the entrance. Two lifelike huge statues of humans donned in golden armor stood in front. One held a sword while the other held a spear.
Eyes closed; they were oblivious of the dark mist that threatened the foundation they were guarding.
`These quasi-guardians are not responding to the threat?`, Elder Rashomon was shocked.
Although they were artificially made by the old generations of the Great Human Imperium, he could not easily face them singlehandedly.
For the Witch to disable a security mechanism like this, it only proved that they were wrong on their previous assumptions.
`To think we've underestimated the curse. If only one of the Supreme Elders were here…`
Unfortunately, during this time, Supreme Elder Wyngella roamed deep in the ancient ruins to progress her level in magic. Nobody and no reason could persuade her to go out right now.
The other Supreme Elder was nowhere to be found, and Supreme Elder Azzad was apathetic to everything.
The other Higher Elders could not help because of the threat from the Templars. If they sent more people to deal with the Witch's curse, the Templars might use the opportunity to launch a strong offensive against them.
`Blood?!`, a strong scent of iron assaulted Elder Rashomon's nose, `From the inside.`
'Plak!'
They stepped inside the Imperium Sanctuary. Solus's red light radiated from the ceiling, illuminating the entire building. It was beautiful, if not for the dark mist that was still swirling at the center.
There were groups of unconscious Imperium guards laying on the ground, corrupted with the dark mist.
Some of them were decapitated, blood gushing out of their bodies, painting the ground red.
`Fresh, recently happened.`, Elder Rashomon analyzed.
Their armors and weapons were tattered. Even the walls were cracked or scratched.
"Aura of Purification.", Elder Rashomon softly spoke, purging the dark mist on the guards' bodies.
He didn't know about the dark mist, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"We must hurry.", He urged.
As they made their way to the center, a series of clanging and explosions could be heard.
This intrigued the Higher Elders, `Who could be so strong to persist this long against the Witch?`
At the center of the Imperium Sanctuary was a circular area with many statues, plants, trees, and a small rectangular platform at the center.
There was a glowing golden orb floating atop of it, held inside an arch. Three rays of light originated on an array formation above, rotating slowly. They struck the golden orb, which then shone down on the unconscious beautiful lady dressed in an empress gown.
It suppressed the dark miasma emanating from her body.
`Empress Elaina, she's still alive, and the baby too. Where's the Emperor?`, Elder Rashomon looked around and found another group of unconscious people.
`Four of them here,`
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Their clothing was tattered as well, and some blood dripped on their mouths and heads.
"You damned creature! How dare you act atrociously on our sacred ground?! Die!", a loud shout resounded on their right.
'Boom!'
A clash ensued, dust flying around.
The dust settled after a few seconds.
They saw a burly middle-aged man facing a monstrous and dark ethereal woman with long claws, and black hair. Her red eyes stared fiercely at him.
`So that's the Witch, eh?`, Elder Rashomon noticed that the dark mist originated from her.
Before they could make their moves, the middle-aged man was struck severely by the Witch on his abdomen.
She slashed at him, making him bleed profusely. He collapsed due to exhaustion and the injuries he sustained.
"My Emperor, my Empress, I have failed.", his eyes slowly closed.
Before his eyes could fully shut themselves, the Witch grabbed his neck, forcing him to open his eyes wide. Her red eyes glowed intensely, knocking the middle-aged man unconscious.
Elder Rashomon observed it and understood a bit more about the Witch.
'Boom!'
They felt a low rumble.
`Earthquake?`, Elder Rashomon looked at the ceiling.
Amidst this, the Witch charged at them. She slashed her long claws at them from their left, forcing them to dodge to their right.
This caused them to go farther away from Empress Elaina.
The Witch stopped moving and breathed a huge amount of air.
The latter quickly performed multiple hand signals and set up a defensive array formation, "Bulwark Formation!"
A huge shield appeared in front of them. Meanwhile, the Witch finished her preparations then bellowed at them.
Her loud shout reverberated throughout the entire Imperium Sanctuary, shaking it to the core. The unconscious people were unaffected, however.
Inside the shield, the three Higher Elders suffered from the high-pitched scream of the Witch.
`It can penetrate this kind of defensive formation?`, Elder Rashomon was shocked.
Elder Jasker's bulwark formation could block any kind of physical attack, and one couldn't also attack from the inside either. Unfortunately, it wasn't effective this time.
There was something different with the way the Witch's attacks work. It didn't crack the shield, but it slowly cracked their souls instead.
`A mental-based attack?!`, Elder Rashomon realized,
'Boom!'
Another rumbling occurred.
"What is it this time?", he shouted.
The Witch stopped her shout and turned around. Elder Rashomon noticed this, `What's this Witch up to now?`
He meticulously observed the Witch.
`Fascination! She seemed to have seen or sensed something great1`, he could not believe what he saw.
Suddenly, a blinding flash of light illuminated the sky. The three Higher Elders were forced to cover and close their eyes.
`To think Elder Lyda's divination was this accurate!`
Elder Rashomon didn't know whether he should feel happy or mad about it.
A low explosion resounded, then it became louder and sharper to the ears. It was more intense than the Witch's shout earlier.
`Shheww!`
After that, a strong shockwave befell upon Pandragea, shocking the entirety of its inhabitants.
It shook intensely like an earthquake.
It reverberated loudly like a thunder's rumble.
It surged harshly like a raging tsunami.
The withered trees turned to dust, some of the statues fell to the ground, broken and in pieces.
The array formation above intensified, rotating faster than before. It generated a light projection shield, protecting Empress Elaina from the shockwave.
`Too strong!`, Elder Rashomon couldn't take it anymore, falling to the ground alongside the other two.
`Why do I hear the scraping and squeaking of metals all of a sudden?`, Elder Rashomon was dumbfounded.
Another loud and sharp sound resounded, then the rumbling and flash of light vanished.
`Is it over?`, Elder Rashomon slowly opened his eyes. The whirling dark pillar was no longer there.
He stood up and looked around.
`The Witch is no longer here. What happened-?`
"Graahh!", he heard a low cry.
Elder Rashomon was dumbfounded, `Cry? A baby?`
There wasn't any baby when they entered earlier, how come there was one now?
He took a few steps forward, getting a closer look at the crying infant.
"It's a girl.", Elder Rashomon remarked, "But where did this baby come from?"
He sensed the surroundings but found nothing, `The Witch's essence is gone. Did it vanish because of that light?`
"Hrm!", a low groan resounded beside him.
It was Empress Elaina. There was no longer a dark miasma on her body.
"She's about to deliver the other baby!", Elder Sylvia exclaimed, but Elder Rashomon stopped her.
"Time to leave.", Elder Rashomon softly spoke, waving his hands and teleporting the three of them out of the area.
He reappeared right beside Drummond and Raskael, "Let's go. They're already awake.", and vanished again.
…
Supreme Elder Wyngella listened to Elder Rashomon's recount of what happened 16 years ago.
After hearing his narration, "The Witch didn't vanish that day but became that girl named Victoria. However, something still bothers me about Kane. How does he still have a remnant of the power of the Witch if that had happened?"
Elder Rashomon thought for a moment then replied, "The curse must've remained in Empress Elaina, and he inherited the curse from his mother."
Supreme Elder Wyngella took in his words and nodded at his assumption.
"Elder Rashomon,", her voice suddenly turned cold.
"What is it, Supreme Elder Wyngella?", he narrowed his eyes, `She's up to something.`
"Do you think we can conduct a supreme trial about what happened earlier?"
"It's best to take our time first, Supreme Elder. The Imperium is in chaos right now and the other faction must've made their move. Once the public unrest reaches a certain threshold only then should we do our part as the CPL.", Elder Rashomon advised.
`Does she want to spur Zachariel's hatred against the Imperium?`, he thought about Supreme Elder Wyngella's plans.
The Eldens were very open to accepting talented students like Zachariel. A Primal grade being was a gift for them to explore.
She would have the final verdict to the supreme trial, regardless of whether it was baseless or not, assuming that she opted herself to go.
`If she chooses to act on siding with the Imperium and pressurize the boy, it should probably work.`
He simulated the outcome on his mind, `She would then secretly approach him and con him to join the Conglomerate. If he joins, Supreme Elder Wyngella could easily request for his presence in the Tower, and research his power and talent.`
His thoughts were cut off.
"And Elder Malcolm? He's Marcus's father after all.", Supreme Elder Wyngella reminded.
"We must take him into account as well. 2 humans and I. You can then include yourself if you want to, Supreme Elder.", Elder Rashomon did not want to create discord in the ranks of the Higher Elders just because two young brats couldn't control their emotions well.
Supreme Elder Wyngella smirked, "Good, you may leave now.", waving her hands in dismissal.
She leaned on the armrest, "Kane Cromwell, Victoria Spencer, Zachariel Strom. I can't wait to divulge the secrets that each of you hides so well.", curling her gorgeous hair in anticipation.
…
Imperium Ward.
Elder Sylvia was currently dressed as a human healer, secretly helping out individuals that were injured during the wraith attacks earlier.
Some felt a burning sensation on their skin, while others cried as they dreamt of nightmares when they fell asleep.
`These victims, how pitiful.`, she felt sad looking at the humans suffering in pain. Even though she generally scorned them, a part of her didn't do so.
She walked on the hallways, looking for another patient to tend to.
She stopped when saw something strange, `Hmm? Why are there many personnel running in and out of this room?`
"Hey, these people have been going in and out of this room a few minutes now! I wonder if the patient inside is okay.", a person gossiped.
She wanted to look over as well when she noticed a group of students with a downcast expression on their faces. It touched her heart.
She approached them, asking, "Kids, why do you look sad? Is your friend that person inside?", pointing at the room.
It was actually Lia and the others.
"Ah, not really, ma'am. It's just that the healer in that room hasn't visited our classmate in this room. We're worried because they were both carried here at the same time.", Lia worriedly replied.
"Is that so? Do you mind if I take a look on him instead?", Elder Sylvia suggested.
This made everyone look at her with admiration.
"Really? You will look on our classmate?"
Elder Sylvia nodded, smiling with a caring look on her eyes, `This girl, how naïve and cute and the same time.`
"We thank you, kind ma'am.", Iria bowed at her.
The others followed suit.
"Stay here, I'll be back.", Elder Sylvia opened the door and went inside.
The students heaved a sigh of relief.
"Finally, Zachariel's going to be checked out. I've been sweating here for minutes already.", Luiz swiped off the sweat on his head.
His hands were still trembling in nervousness, afraid that Zachariel had met the same fate as that other person in the room.
"Alright, alright. Calm yourself down.", Luka comforted him.
"Hey Luka, I've got another question to ask.", Luiz asked in seriousness.
Luka narrowed his eyes, "What is it, Luiz?"
"I'm a bit unsettled that Sabrina and the others were taken away by their Prospect seniors but they didn't include Zachariel. You know, he's a Prospect candidate so why…"
He was cut off when a flash of light originated at Zachariel's room, "Eh, Luka-", pointing at it.
"Hmm?," Luka turned around when 'Boom!'