Revelation

by Sisa, Michael

  Marquis Carlos didn’t expect the king to bring up the past like this. He awkwardly scratched his stubble. “I was still a kid back then, Your Majesty.”

  King Alvis chuckled. “You even pointed your sword at me. What was it again? ‘You don’t deserve to be the crown prince! Someone like you! The spawn of that tyrant king!’”

  The king skillfully mimicked the way Marquis Carlos had threatened him. Seeing the flushed face of the retired general, the king laughed heartily.

  Marquis Carlos lowered his head and gazed at the ground in embarrassment. King Alvis patted his lifelong friend on the back. “But look at us now. We’ve been friends for four decades, right? These nobles too. Let’s give them a chance.”

  King Alvis looked to where most of the nobles had gathered and saw several familiar faces.

  “Carlos, what is the best archer of the kingdom doing here, in a hunting competition?” said the king.

  Marquis Carlos frowned. “I didn’t invite Farsight, Your Majesty. He’s never attended a hunting competition before. That man… he hates crowded places.”

  Elias ‘Farsight’, the best archer of the kingdom and one of the royal court magicians, was walking toward the king. Beside him were Priestess Thea and Lady Ropianna.

  The other nobles, who’d been preparing for the hunt, momentarily stopped and stared at the new arrivals.

  The three paid their respects and greeted the king.

  “I didn’t realise that the three of you enjoy hunting competitions,” said the king.

  Farsight remained silent. Priestess Thea smiled and shook her head. She said, “Lady Ropianna here requested we accompany her to this event, Your Majesty.”

  “Ropianna did?” said the king.

  Lady Ropianna slowly nodded her head. In her usual raspy voice, she said, “I’ve received a revelation from the Water God, Your Majesty.”

  The elderly female magician looked around her for a moment, as though afraid of other people hearing her next words.

  “Although it was not clear, the Water God told me to accompany you today, Your Majesty. And to bring the priestess with me,” said Lady Ropianna. “It’s rare, even for me, to receive a lengthy message from God Nereus. Something of great importance will probably happen today, and that’s why I forced Farsight to come and guard this place.”

  Although Elias ‘Farsight’ remained as stoic as ever, as though he wasn’t even interested in the Water God’s revelation, he’d been constantly watching the surroundings should any danger arise.

  “With Elias here, nothing too dangerous should happen,” said the king. “But it makes me wonder… For the Water God to ask all of these people to gather here at this moment.”

  Baron Morivar, the chosen host for this year’s hunting competition, approached the King, bowed his head and obsequiously said, “Your Majesty, everything is ready.”

  Under normal circumstances, very few nobles would have attended this year’s hunting competition since it was being hosted by a mere baron. But the sudden declaration of the king that he would be overseeing the competition made the nobles sign up for this event. Although they obviously came to build deeper connections with the ever-growing royal faction, Baron Morivar was still pleased that the event he was hosting had been such a huge success thus far.

  Prestige was of great significance for the nobility. After hosting this event, Baron Morivar could proudly boast to the other nobles that King Alvis attended the hunting competition he’d hosted.

  King Alvis went up the dais and said to all of the nobles, “It’s been several years since I last attended the annual hunting competition.”

  The voice of King Alvis was soft and unhurried, but it held an authoritative air. The nobles could clearly see that he’d indeed regained his vitality.

  “When I received the letter of invitation from Baron Morivar here”—the king looked at the baron, smiled, then gazed at the nobles gathered around the dais—“I realized that it’s been a while since I enjoyed a hunt. I’ve got to say, Baron Morivar has done a great job organizing this event.”

  Baron Morivar raised his head upon hearing those words. After his second son, Omie, joined the small group led by the trash of the Marcus Duchy, their family had been losing their prestige. Maybe with this hunting competition, the Morivar Family would be able to recover the reputation they’d lost due to the black sheep of the family.

  “As much as I miss the thrill of a hunt, I’m afraid that I can’t join the competition this time.” King Alvis stretched his arms wide. “We’ve released fifteen silver foxes and five red boars in the forest. It should be easy to identify them with the tags on their necks. Your goal is to hunt these elusive creatures and retrieve the tags. The one with the greatest number of tags at the end of the competition will receive a reward from the royal family itself.”

  The last part of the statement stirred up the nobles. They all knew how generous King Alvis was, based on the previous awarding ceremonies held in the capital.

  “Enjoy the hunt,” said the king. “And good luck!”

  The hunting competition began.

  For several hours, the nobles participating in the competition delved into the forest, accompanied by a single guard. Although the foxes weren’t a threat, the five red boars were capable of killing even a veteran soldier.

  On the other hand, the female nobles gathered together over sweets and tea. While the males were busy with the hunt, the female nobles tried building connections with powerful individuals. They even invited Lady Ropianna, but the elderly female magician refused as she didn’t wish to leave the king’s side.

  The event went on for several hours. And when it was almost dusk, those who were participating in the hunt finally returned. The winner of the competition was a fat noble from a declining Barony. Judging by the bloodstains on his guard’s armor, it was apparent that he’d received some help to win the competition.

  But no one complained, nonetheless. Without anyone to monitor the forest, it was well-known that such things always happened during these competitions. Even the other nobles who’d lost received some help from the guards they’d brought. Only a handful of the nobles who participated didn’t pull off this kind of underhanded trick.

  Nevertheless, the king decided to reward the winner as promised.

  “Baron Cromwell, for winning this year’s hunting competition, the royal family bestows upon you the insignia of the silver arrow. A testament to your skills with the bow. Proof that you won the hunting competition,” said the king.

  Elias Farsight clicked his tongue. He looked at the beautifully carved insignia that was now pinned on the fat noble’s chest. Disgusted that someone so unworthy was receiving an arrow emblem.

  “Thank you, Your Majesty!” said Baron Cromwell. “This emblem shall become our family heirloom. A treasure we’ll pass from generation to generation.”

  The king was about to hand the monetary reward to the baron when suddenly, lightning flashed, and the sky rumbled. Tremendous pressure swept through the hunting ground.

  Elias Farsight pulled out his bow and nocked an arrow. He roared to the royal guards, “Protect His Majesty!”

  Farsight noticed before everyone else: massive clumps of mana had formed in the sky. So colossal that it even far exceeded the mana used to create the barrier currently enclosing the capital.

  The royal guards moved quickly to secure the king. Lady Ropianna cast several barriers around them and Marquis Carlos unsheathed his blade.

  “What is happening, Farsight?” said Lady Ropianna.

  The sky continued to rumble, as though it was going to be ripped apart at any moment. A pressure so massive that even the non-magicians could feel it had swept over the kingdom.

  Normal humans wouldn’t be able to see that thing in the sky. But Farsight could see it despite the distance.

  “It’s in the direction of Wizzert? No, it’s probably near the lake,” Farsight mumbled to himself.

  “What’s going on, Farsight?
” Lady Ropianna raised her voice as she repeated the question.

  But Farsight didn’t answer. He channeled more mana into his eyes and was mesmerized by what he saw.

  “It’s beautiful,” he whispered.

  A vortex of lightning had formed right above the skies of the Lake of Full Moon. Judging by its size, it was probably as large as the lake itself. And inside this vortex, an azure sphere slowly emerged.

  The azure sphere glowed brightly for a moment, before receding inside the vortex. The vortex rapidly spun and slowly shrank, eventually disappearing from sight.

  The rumbling of the sky finally stopped, but the nobles were still rooted by fear on the ground.

  Lady Ropianna was about to ask Farsight about what he saw in the sky, when suddenly, her vision turned white. She felt something warm touching her face and neck, as though someone was embracing her body.

  The sensation was oddly familiar.

  It was the same sensation she always had when she was speaking with the Water God.

  ‘My child. As we’ve promised, we shall give a revelation when the time has come. The demon sealed in the ice prison has been set free. Seek the help of the one who traveled through time. It is the only future wherein the human race survives.’

  And the vision ended.

  Lady Ropianna found herself standing on the hunting ground once again. She looked around and saw the nobles still rooted by fear on the ground. When her eyes met Priestess Thea’s, she realized that she was not the only one who received the message from the Water God.

  “You heard it too?” said Lady Ropianna.

  Priestess Thea slowly nodded her head, her face pallid from horror. “It’s the first time I’ve heard her voice. But somehow, I’m sure that it was her… God Nereus.”

  “And what did she say to you, Priestess?”

  “She told me”—Priestess Thea looked up at the sky—“to seek the help of the one who traveled through time.”

  VOLUME 7: CHAPTER 1

  “William, prepare the carriage,” said Big Mona. “I shall depart for Blackstone Town right away.”

  His assistant, who was still pallid from terror over what Big Mona had done to the slave, strongly nodded his head. “Y-Yes! Right away!”

  After the assistant left the room, Big Mona spoke to the slave sprawled on the ground, “And you. Get out.”

  The slave grabbed the hem of her clothes and ran out of the room, as though afraid of Big Mona changing his mind.

  “Another recovery potion,” muttered Big Mona as he gazed at the pool of blood the slave had left behind. “A far stronger one at that.”

  The fat merchant went toward the mirror next to the desk, fixed his garb, and flashed a smile. He looked dashing today, he thought.

  Several knocks were heard on the door. The assistant said, “Sir, the carriage is ready.”

  Big Mona cast one last look at the mirror, before leaving the merchant guild.

  “To Blackstone Town,” the fat merchant instructed the coachman.

  Big Mona was about to mount the carriage when suddenly, lightning flashed, and the sky rumbled. The horses neighed and thrashed about. Big Mona took several steps back, narrowly evading a kick in the stomach from one of the horses.

  “What’s happening?” said Big Mona.

  All of the passersby on the street were struck by terror as the heavens continued to rumble. Most of them were staring at the lightning that continued flashing in the sky, while some rushed inside the nearest house they could find. The rumbling of the sky was so loud that it muffled the screams from the terrified citizens, the sound of bawling children, and the neighing of horses. Moreover, an inexplainable, tremendous pressure swept over Lion City.

  “W-What the hell is that?”

  Big Mona’s eyes widened when he saw the vortex of lightning in the sky. Judging by its direction, it seemed to have appeared right above the monster-infested lake. Inside the vortex of lightning, an azure sphere slowly emerged.

  It was definitely massive, for them to see it all the way here in Lion City.

  Eventually, the azure sphere receded, and the lightning vortex dissipated. The rumbling of the sky stopped and the massive pressure that had swept over the entire city vanished along with it.

  The citizens who’d witnessed the phenomenon started talking among themselves. Soon, buzzing and murmurs filled the streets.

  Big Mona looked at the merchants guild. His merchant’s intuition was telling him that now wasn’t the best time to go to Blackstone Town—to stay in the city.

  “My gut has never been wrong before,” he mumbled. After pondering over it, Big Mona had decided. He went inside the guild and gathered the shadows that had been protecting the merchants guild for years. The same people who guarded him back when he first negotiated with Lark Marcus.

  “You called for us, sir?” said the leader of the group.

  “You saw the sky, didn’t you? It’s in the direction of the Lake of the Full Moon. Investigate what happened.”

  “As you wish.”

  The shadows bowed their heads and disappeared from sight. Big Mona leaned on his chair and sighed. He really had a bad feeling about this. The scary thing was his gut feeling was always right.

  Half a day after receiving their orders, the shadows returned and gave their report. Big Mona hadn’t expected them so soon. Something must have happened—and he was right.

  When he received their reports, Big Mona was horrified.

  “A horde of monsters?” said Big Mona in disbelief.

  “Yes, sir. And it’s several times larger than the wave that attacked the city two weeks ago.”

  “It doesn’t make sense! It’s not even a full moon! Why are monsters coming out of the lake? Right in the middle of the day!” said Big Mona.

  According to his men, the monster horde easily passed the thirty thousand mark. It was almost ten times the number of monsters that attacked Lion City the previous month.

  Big Mona remembered how the monsters destroyed a portion of the merchants guild back when they managed to breach the walls. They even broke through the underground basement and damaged several treasures kept inside.

  “It’s not even a full moon,” Big Mona muttered to himself. “Is it related to that thing we saw in the sky?”

  The fat merchant was certain that this was the first time something like this happened. Although the city was currently protected by the magic towers built by Lark Marcus, Big Mona doubted they would be enough against the current monster horde.

  Big Mona wondered if that damnable Valcres was somehow responsible for this. He’d already told that fool to stop poking the hornet’s nest. That it would be better to leave the adamantite vein underneath the lake alone.

  What if this happened because the city lord kept sending his men to that lake?

  “Valcres sent more than a hundred soldiers to the lake before,” said Big Mona. “What happened to them?”

  “Most of them are dead,” said the leader of the shadows. “But we spotted a few scouts who managed to escape. The city should hear of this news soon.”

  A shout was heard outside the room. It was the administrative assistant.

  “Sir! It’s terrible!”

  Although the assistant entered the room without even knocking, the shadows managed to conceal themselves on time, disappearing the moment the young man entered the room.

  “You’re too loud,” spat Big Mona. “What is it?”

  “Sir! Monsters! Tens of thousands of them!”

  Although the assistant barely made sense, Big Mona easily understood what he meant. After all, he’d already received this news from his men.

  The assistant moved his hands animatedly as he added, “Monsters are coming out of the lake! I heard that there are more than thirty thousand of them. They’re coming here as we speak! The city will be overrun at this rate!”

  Unlike the first time, Big Mona was calm. “What about the soldiers?”

  “I believe Commander
Daltos and his soldiers are currently headed toward the western gate.”

  The city bells rang outside. They heard several shouts, probably people panicking upon hearing the news of the incoming monster invasion.

  “Sir, we should evacuate the city while we still have time,” said the assistant, his voice pleading as tears started forming in the corners of his eyes.

  “And what? Leave all of the treasures stored underground?” Big Mona glared at the young man.

  “We can just load them on the carts!”

  “Imbecile! There are treasures in the underground chamber that are impossible to move freely. Some of them are bound by spells to protect them from thieves. Are you telling me that we should leave all of those behind?” roared Big Mona.

  The very thought of leaving all of those treasures behind filled him with wrath. It had taken him decades to acquire that much wealth—and yet, it’s still nothing compared to the Vont Family that ruled over the merchants guild in the capital.

  “We can just come back for them later, sir! Your life, our lives, should be our priority!”

  “Enough! I’m not leaving them behind. Although we fortified the underground chamber with thick iron doors, I have no intention of letting those monsters come and go freely in my merchants guild. I am staying here.”

  “But, sir—”

  “William, contact the mercenary guild. Five gold coins. Tell them that I am willing to pay each mercenary five gold coins each if they help repel this monster invasion.”

  Although the sword saint was no longer here to lead the mercenary guild, the former vice leader who took over his role was said to be as strong as Commander Daltos. Moreover, the mercenaries under his command were experienced with monster subjugation.

  Although it would cost him an exorbitant price, it was still better than losing the treasures in the underground chamber. Big Mona knew that now wasn’t the time to scrimp with the city’s defenses.

  “And tell those fools in the Tower of Pollux. It’s about time they help with the defense of this city. Although they’re weaker than the magicians of Wizzert, they should be useful enough in defending the city. Tell their master that I’m willing to give him a few middle-grade mana stones in exchange for their participation.”