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Chapter 7: Of Empire, Royalty and The Divine.
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- Scanning… Scan like crazy… Hm, hm, hm…
Felt was keeping up his Majestic Presence while he was busy scanning… amidst the many people present.
Ding!
Scan Leveled Up!
Level 4.
Vision Level Up!
Level 5. New Bonus
Majestic Presence Level Up!
Level 4.
Large amount of people perceive you as a mystery!
Fame +100.
Charisma +10.
- Oh, what a delight…
DU-DU-DUM...
The preparation went on smoothly. The Welcoming Ceremony was grand. Drum beaters were doing a fantastic job, and the whole environment turn so much livelier than before. The ceremonial riders accompanied the guest of honour into the Grand Gate of the ARM Academy.
- It’s so loud, I can’t sleep!
- Oh Master, apologies. There’s welcoming ceremony going on and as a first year I had to be here… well, I want to… here I could keep on scanning… scan, scan, scan… oh, there’s one level 25 among first years… Julia… ah darn, the returning seniors are still too far…
- Ah, welcoming ceremony… Apprentice, lift me up a bit… I mean the gauntlet… I want to see.
Felt put his hand beside his head. He was lined up along the other first years facing the Grand Gate. He was on the second row in the middle of the whole 420 first years. They were divided into eight companies, lined up in 4 in front and 4 in the back. He was with the four companies at the back. The seniors who were their facilitators were acting as their Commanders, and by their side, the chosen first years. As the procession was approaching closer…
“Companies, stand to attention!”
Felt return his hand to his original position at the back.
- Sorry Master, I had to return the hand back to position.
- Hey, wait… ah!! The one in the middle… He seemed quite important.
- From what I have heard, the guest of honour would be the second prince of Radiant, so that could very well be him. He’s supposed in his 40s… Hm? Those two…
- Hm? Who? Who?... ah, Magic Gunners, eh… how nostalgic.
- Chance! Scan… Ah, I failed with the Prince? Then his vassals… those gunners… Lady’s first! …Ah, failed. They’re still too far…
Felt observed among the six people surrounding the alleged Prince, four at the front were clearly Knights with thick armors. However, the two behind him were wearing light armor much like Wyvern Knights. One man in purple light armor and another was a lady in silver-white armor. They were each wearing white cape.
- They are very rare… So there’s at least two accompanying the second Prince. In the whole Radiant there’s only about a hundred or so under the service of the royal family.
- Very rare? That reminds me they are indeed not many but it should not be that rare. Perhaps that only applied to Astaria… We have a lot of warriors of different specialties… Gunners in particular consumed large amount of Mana… Especially heavy gunners.
- They are probably part of Royal Knights… Could they be Father’s former comrades?
- Oh? Your father was a Royal Knight?
- Yes, though my Father was with the King, so it’s unlikely. Not impossible still, I guess. He was one of the three Captains of Royal Knights.
- Hehh… from what you said before, he been conferred Baron Rank just recently. So was there any complaint about him being a Royal Knight’s Captain while being a commoner?
- Many. Though most were silenced by the rumours that he was the King’s third cousin. Though Mom said he had to retire early since he was uncomfortable with the palace politics. Very uncomfortable.
- Politics… meh. People conspiring against one another… The Kaiser really disliked such thing. He loved to unify people, not conspiring against others. He did do some during his rise, but that was only because they were cruel against us.
- He? You are very casual with his pronoun, Master.
- Of course! He did not care much about such trivial thing. As long as you respected him as much as you yourself would like to be respected, he didn’t mind.
- A great man.
- Yaa… a great man. Darn, it annoyed me that the other Empires took them away.
- Them?
- Oh, sorry. I’m remembering the others… Astaria had a lot of different warriors… It was the Kaiser who cultivated their talents… The other Empires seriously were thieves. AHHH…! It’s our fault for losing the war anyway…
- …
Felt did not comment. He recalled that even after building a large and prosperous Empire and gathered so many talented individuals, Astarian Empire still succumbed to the onslaught of four Empires…
- Among them, the Rune Empire was the strongest while Brayen Empire was the most cunning… Amria with the most resources… Franz… Franz… darn! I can’t really point out what was good about Franz. As the new Kaiser, I need to be strong, cunning and resourceful… and learn from Franz never be too near with the enemy… I think.
- Apprentice?
Shia’rine could not hear anything from him, since he was in deep thought.
- Master, is it fine if I ask something a little sensitive, but necessary?
- Sensitive? Well if it’s necessary go on…
- Why did Astaria lost even when we have so many heroes, so superior technology and technique… I never heard or know so many techniques written in the book. I know I’m just 14 years old, but… May I hear from you regarding that, Master?
Felt took another glance at the procession. The drumming was getting louder and intense as the Prince and his escort approaching them. He kept on his Majestic Presence.
- …
- Ah, Master. Apologies. If it’s too hard to answer…
- No, no… you have the very right of knowing. The book did mention some, but the Kaiser was probably too distressed to put it into words properly. He did an excellent job, to withstand the attacks for ten years… at a time, we were very near victory. If I have anything to say of why we lost, it would be because of our lack of resources… Even when they overpowered us four to one, we were winning. However…
- Uh huh… resources…
- It was during the last three years of our ten years war that we started to be strained with our war effort. During the ten years, the Kaiser did his best to offer peace treaties… as I know; over 26 peace treaties were offered. Most were unfavourable to our Empire, but not as much as to become servitude to others. Thus, I am very sure it was the Brayen, the Mastermind of the Coalition that rejected and convinced other Empires to reject our offers.
- Because time would ensure Astaria to become stronger?
- Yes. We were really efficient at using our resources. If anything, one of us was better than five of them. However, they were very cruel… efficiently cruel. They destroyed and killed civilians who were responsible for mining, processing and preparing our equipments and war machines. Even our farms… They raid them during nights… what annoyed us, was that they even killed children and women. We never do that, even when we entered Franz Empire’s Capital. Hmm, though weaker, Franz was more honourable than the others, at least.
- I remembered those events from the book. So Brayen was the mastermind?
- Yes… it was probably naïve of us to expect them to be honourable. Why must they destroy us? We lacked food and equipments during the last two years of the war. If the peace treaties granted even just two years of armistice… ahh, I should stop saying if…
- ...I understand Brayen was far away, while Rune and Franz were just on Astaria’s doorstep. But from what you said Master, it seemed if we wish to win, we have to destroy Brayen first and foremost… Specifically, the Masterminds.
- True… Yet knowing where they were, was impossible. Our spies were caught and slaughtered one by one. Our messages got intercepted, and we were relatively blind to their underground activities… Umm.. Ah! The Prince is here. Can we continue this another time, Apprentice? I wish to see the procession…
- Of course, Master. I myself need to focus here too. Those Magic Gunners… Observe well… Lady’s first…
SCAN
Ding!
Name: Excrose Marthus Lahant
Alignment: Good
Level: ???
Class: Mage -- Sharpshooter
Title: Master of Precision
Fame: 20,000++
Speed: ???++
Fighting Spirit: 300++
Charisma: 100+
Leadership: 200++
Charm: 120+
Art: 140+
More Information would be possible as Scan skill increase.
Name: Valiano Marthus Lahant
Alignment: Questionable.
Level: ???
Class: Mage -- Heavy Gunner
Title: The Destroyer
Fame: 24,000++
Infamy: 5,000+
Speed: ???++
Fighting Spirit: 300++
Charisma: 110+
Leadership: 200+
Charm: ???
Art: 120+
More Information would be possible as Scan skill increase.
- Lahant? Are they sibling nobles from Lahant? Oi, this Valiano has infamy… quite a high one too. Their stats incomparable to students…
- Really... Hey Apprentice share those scan windows with me!
- Huh? Oh sure Master.
“Always share all windows with Master Shia’rine Ciellune Saran.”
- Oh! Appreciate that, Apprentice… Questionable… means he’s not that bad… though not that good either. He probably has his own set of values. Woah the procession… the Knights are coming!
Shia’rine was a bit excited. She probably was recalling the sweet memories of her fallen Empire. Soon after the Prince passed by, Felt, along with the others move in lines and stopped in front of the grand stage prepared by the seniors.
- Uh, the Knights… Scan… high… Level 90+ and 120+… those Knights are scary… with all those shiny armor…
Scanning… yeah… scan, scan, scan… I feel quite dirty right now… wonder why? Oh, level 50+ among the seniors… ah, can’t see the PACT members clearly. Too far…
Stolen story; please report.
Most first years were not among those who were involved with the Prince’s inspection. Basically, they were there as audience and celebrated newcomers for that year. The Prince would only inspect the riders and seniors who was lining up in front. In the middle of the whole assembly, a large route was open in the middle, allowing better view of what was happening in the front.
The Prince later greeted and conferred Knighthood to selected individuals who had proved their worth during their missions. Aside from the Knighting ceremony, there were also awards to those who had done their job with excellence. Among them were Zack, Zoei, Faith, Ayster and the rest of PACT members.
- Chance! Wow, all above 50s… Level 60+ too…stats quite high… not as high as Zack or Zoei’s, though I could see only some of their stats… I wonder, I wonder… the curiosity’s killing me!
Afterwards the Prince stood within a magic seal, and through it, he spoke, greeting the newcomers and honoured the Principal and his excellent students. His voice reached out to the audience even to the far back. He spoke of honour and pride of being the protector of the nation, against the threat of entities within and without.
“Empires surrounds us. They were clearly stronger. Those who know history would realize that our peace now may not continue on without proper self-defense. As well, greed is within many of us. Some are within people who controlled our very own nation. All of you, do not succumb! You are the hope of our people. Your future status would be higher than other citizens… however, it would not be for boasting or to gain personal profit, but for you to use it in any way necessary to defend the weak!”
“...Long live His Highness the Prince and The Royal Family!”
The audience roared in agreement. He waited for them to calm down. He continued.
“Knights, and future Knights, officers and soldiers… do not succumb to selfish desires, but commit your best so for one day, you will be able to answer well in front of the Providence that he may confer mercy upon you. Do you have what it takes, my fellow people – Knights and future Knights of Radiant?!”
Again the audience roared, this time in excitement.
He delivered his speech majestically. It was a bit far, but Felt did remember to commit his usual… deed.
Ding!
Name: Ford V. Agustar
Alignment: Good
Level: ???
Class: Wyvern Lord
Title: Benevolent Prince
Fame: 40,000++
Infamy: ????
Wisdom: 100+
Fighting Spirit: 400++
Charisma: 360++
Leadership: 300++
Charm: ???
Art: 200+
More Information would be possible as Scan skill increase.
Scan Leveled up!
Level 5.
New Bonus!
You have observed a very charismatic person giving fantastic speech!
You are inspired!
Charisma +5.
Art +3.
You have observed powerful atmosphere of Honourable Knights.
You are inspired!
Honour +1.
Mentality +1.
- Success! And new bonus too. Hm hmm… That’s more information than expected. Was it because I’m more focused and had observed more of his action? Such a high stats… as expected of a prince… still can’t see much physical stats… eh, Wyvern Lord…
Felt noticed at the side of the stage was a Dark-green Wyvern, much like the one Zack had… albeit bigger. Some Royal Knights were clearly guarding it with respect.
- A Wyvern similar to Zack’s… Eh, wait… hmmm… HMPH!!
- Apprentice? What’s the matter? Indigestion?
- No, no… could it be coincidence…
- What? What coincidence?
- The—nevermind that Master. It’s nothing important. Oh yeah, the notification…
Felt remembered about one of the notifications.
“Scan Skill Window.”
Scan Level 5 – 0%.
Gather information by scanning your target. You will receive possible information based on your current mastery level. As the skill increase, the more possible information will be available.
New Bonus:
Intelligence +10. Wisdom +2.
Observing people in remarkable action may increase a little of related stats.
Cost: 40 Mana/Target NEW
Allows better scan.
Requirement:
Takes a few seconds of observation to the target for it to activate.
The better the observation, the better the result would be.
- Oh, nice… but the new cost… darn, this will hamper my progress a little. I wonder how much I can benefit from the new bonus…
- Oh my… quite a nice bonus you got there, Apprentice. You are indeed the Kaiser’s Successor.
- Master, is this bonus really good? It clearly consumes more Mana.
- Hmph! From your Mana Pool and high Mana Regen, this kind of cost is really kind of God to give you.
- God? W-what do you mean Master?!
- I mean what I said. I don’t wish to discuss it since it is out of my field of knowledge. Our Kaiser has a close relationship with God. Regardless, be thankful to Him… Now.
- Err I see… Thank you God. Though I don’t know yet how useful this will be, still, thank you… I’m grateful.
- …
- Master? Master Shia?
- *Sigh* Good enough, for now. You’ll know how useful it would be later.
- Hopefully, Master. Thank you God, for giving me such a nice and sweet Master.
- Oii… wants another bite of that lightning? Hm?
- No, no Master… I’m serious. Thank God! With all my will and heart! You’re indeed the Most Merciful, O my Creator!
Ding…
New Stat!
Faith Stat Generated.
Faith + 20.
W-what’s this?
- Hooh… you’re lucky, Apprentice.
“Window on Faith Stat.”
Stat: Faith
Faith is your conviction to God.
It is funny you did not get any earlier on, since the Kaiser and your father have close relationship with God. Faith determined a lot of things. Any holy-based attack or defense will be boosted by this stat, and resistance to Dark-magic will be increased proportionally.
Bonus: Your Wind Manipulation now has slight Holy attribute!
Any religious people or true religious order would see you in better light.
Any ill-intended people or misguided religious order would be more hostile towards you.
Faith: 20 +20
- How come this description is a little… meh nevermind. Thank You… God. I’m grateful.
Felt noticed that the Prince was giving his final inspection towards the seniors. . Then, taking on everyone’s expectation, he went through the group of newcomers… the 1st Years. He went through the first four companies, giving his salutation to everyone… He was a lean, yet tough man. He was wearing his blue-red-white ceremonial uniform.
The first years looked at him with eyes of admiration… He did not stop at all, merely walking at a slow yet clearly powerful pace. However, at the middle of the fifth companies, he stopped.
His guards took a quick glimpse at each other.
“Your Highness?”
He did not answer the Knight asking him, merely raising his hand to put him at ease. The two Magic Gunners turned to look at what he was looking.
The Prince stopped directly before Felt.
- Really, now that I could see him this near, I could feel his charisma even when he was merely standing.
The Power.
The Authority.
The Dignity.
- A human could instinctively tell that he is not your equal…
“Your Highness, it’s an honour.”
“Your speech filled me with inspiration, Your Highness.”
He nodded to the two boys in front of him, acknowledging their existence. However, his gaze was on the second line, on Felt. Felt himself, was breaking cold sweat. His hand was still on his chest as salutation, since everyone did the same.
- Ah, the Majestic Presence… did that attracted him?
“What’s your name, young man?”
“Felt Godfrey, Your Highness.”
“Felt Godfrey… Godfrey… I’ve heard that name before.”
“My father was a Captain of Royal Knights under His Majesty, Your Highness. He retired three months ago.”
“Ah… Sir Gealm Godfrey… So you’re his son… I see… makes sense. I’ll be watching you. Do well in your training… Felt Godfrey.”
“You honour me with your kind words, Your Highness. I shall.”
“Mmn.”
He nodded, and then proceeded towards the other companies of 1st years without stopping.
- He said “Makes sense?” So my father had a rather respectable reputation… Prince Ford V. Agustar… third in line to the throne… interesting.
Felt pondered. His father did not tell him much story of his exploit. He was not the type to brag or flaunt himself, so many people in their hometown did not know of what he had gone through. They merely know his rank and previous rank.
Ding!
You gained attention from important figure and thus the masses.
Fame + 250.
Your name will be spoken among the students for quite awhile.
- Ah, free fame, I would welcome you anytime… Thank God.
- You need to be careful though, fame also brings enemies.
- Yes, Master. I’ll be careful.
- Really careful. Remember those assassins…
!!
- Oh God, your servant humbly asks for your divine protection… hiii...
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