Although the royal carriage with its Morninglory crest was a valuable target for the rebels, the presence of five hundred armored escorts accompanying the vehicle discouraged hidden enemies from attacking. Thus, Luka wasn't surprised to arrive in the capital without stopping even once.
Camellia's exclusive maids received updated reports from messengers, quickly analyzed them, and passed relevant information to the princess.
Luka politely stepped away to allow the five women to discuss amongst themselves. Although he was Camellia's fiance, Luka wasn't part of the royal family just yet. Hence, he shouldn't intervene in such matters unless the king or Camellia requested his assistance. Luka watched her face to discern her mood. But to her credit, the princess remained calm.
Finally, Camellia turned and walked up to him. "Luka, may this princess ask for your help to take back the castle? Please break down the castle wall so that our loyal troops could rush through the holes in a surprise attack. Our traitorous brother somehow scrounged up five hundred rebels to defend the castle."
"Conventional theory of warfare requires us to have 3x that number to siege successfully. But this princess doesn't wish to waste that many soldiers to surround it when we also need troops to maintain our borders. Your help would immediately end the stalemate," she explained.
"Okay," he agreed.
The princess ordered her knights to gather at two corners of the castle wall.
Luka divine summoned Stowne and asked the stone god to break down the thick walls.
"Is that all?" the deity scoffed at this simple task. Stowne pointed at the castle wall before him. At first, nothing happened. The obstacle abruptly broke apart and caused the huge rocks to fall off. Suddenly, the materials assembled to form two giant stone golems! The minions burst through the newly-created openings and rampaged through the defenders!
Human cries echoed throughout the castle as stone fists slammed their fragile bodies into meat paste!
Stowne then repeated his action along the other corner of the castle wall. The four golems attacked the rebel knights for a horrifying minute before their magic finally ran out. The stone god disappeared with a satisfied look on his face.
The loyalists surged through the gaps in the castle wall and attacked the demoralized defenders. The rebels lost half of their forces to the golems, and now they were outnumbered two to one!
Princess Camellia, Luka, and their escorts followed the attackers into the castle and quickly made their way to the throne room.
Josen sat calmly on the throne as if he was a host expecting friendly guests. "Welcome, dear sister!" he smiled pleasantly.
"Your rebellion is finished! Now, call your men to surrender!" she declared.
The brother laughed. "Hahaha! Silly girl, you're not as smart as you think," he admonished her. Josen raised his hand.
An attendant fired a flare out the window.
Lumina opened its underbelly to unveil its gigantic focal lense. Three lens pieces on the city's corners began to collect sunlight and redirected their energies to the primary lens.
"You called Lumina to attack the castle? Are you insane?" Camellia cried out in horror!
"If this prince cannot keep the throne, then let's burn it all up!" he replied and laughed like a maniac.
Luka closed his eyes and calmly collected the light essence. His magical senses spread high above the castle as the mage patiently waited.
When the central lens reached its limit in storage capacity, a powerful laser burst out and fired straight at the castle!
Luka opened his eyes and cast Reflection! However, Lumina's laser beam fired continuously and broke through his first barrier. The mage immediately replaced it with a second layer, then a third, four, and finally the fifth layer before Lumina's weapon ran out of energy.
Luka's last Reflection shot through the primary lens and rendered it unusable! The energy beam also sliced through the fortress and incinerated a portion of the rebel forces in the northern district.
Using Touch the Horizon, Luka teleported above the castle and looked around for more threats. He noticed a valkyrie squadron flying toward him and waited for their arrival.
"Luka, your mother was captured by General Ilbryen! He demanded that you appear in Lumina's public plaza. But it's a trap! Bishop Lawson wants to plant a slave crest on you!" the leader of the group warned.
"The elf activated an antimagic field over the city, and you cannot teleport into it. Three transportation gates are still active, but the rebel forces are guarding them. They will arrest you as soon as you use one of those portals," a second valkyrie added.
"We can fly you up to the city," another squad member offered. She took out a rope.
"No need. I will teleport above the field and drop straight down," Luka replied.
"Luka, we will pray for your success in rescuing your mother!" Camellia shouted from a nearby balcony.
He smiled at her and then looked up at the flying city. The mage cast Touch the Horizon and abruptly appeared a hundred feet above the antimagic field. Luka activated Enragement and dropped like a meteor!
BOOM! Although he landed in the city, the intruder broke his hips and legs with this reckless stunt. Luka gritted his teeth and drank a superior healing potion. The daredevil gasped as his bones slowly mended.
"What the hell happened?" "How is he still alive?" "Is he human?"
The plaza soon became crowded with bystanders who witnessed Luka's crash from the sky.
"Stand back!" "Make way!" The knights pushed through the crowd to approach the perpetrator.
One of the priests accompanying the guards cautiously approached. "Are you Luka Heavensfell?" the man asked.
Luka's eyes carefully surveyed his surroundings. There was nowhere to run if the troops belonged to the rebellion. Thus, he gave a straightforward answer. "Yes, I'm Luka Heavensfell, the Godson of Altima!" he declared proudly.
The priest fired a flare, and Luka's heart sank because this action confirmed which side of the conflict these men belonged. "Seize him!"
Luka tried to cast a spell to enhance his body, but it fizzled out.
"Brat, there's an antimagic field surrounding the entire city!" a soldier laughed.
Luka put up his fists and gamely fought the men. He knocked down several before the rebels overwhelmed him with sheer numbers. They quickly shackled his wrists behind his back.
The priest raised his hand and pointed at the bell tower. "Please look up, Your Grace," he said politely.
When Luka raised his head, he was horrified by what he saw: his mother standing on the balcony with her wrists similarly shackled! Juliette sported a black eye, and hives broke all over her skin. She wore a see-through dress and no underwear beneath! Even worse, the captor standing proudly behind her was the mad elven general, Ilbryen Elorshin!
"I'm here as you wanted! Release my mother!" Luka demanded.
"Hahaha!" the elf chuckled. "Welcome to the liberated city of Lumina! I once made a promise to make Juliette Silverblade my woman, and now I will publicly take her!"
"Do it!" "Fuck that bitch!" "Let's take turns with that valkyrie!" the men behind him shouted gleefully. They hated the valkyries and their arrogance toward men and wanted their general to publicly defile and humiliate the valkyrie captain.
Ilbryen shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I can't disappoint my followers," he said casually and reached for Juliette's dress to rip it off.
The prisoner suddenly turned her head, bit off her tongue with her teeth, and spat in his face! The bloody, hot, meaty slab of human flesh smacked him in the eye and made him scream!
The brave woman immediately jumped off the balcony; her eyes stuck with Luka and ignored the rest of the world. Her gaze revealed her defiant, noble spirit in the last moments of her life.
"NO!" Luka roared in anguish. He unleashed Enragement to the max. His lithe body bulked up and turned blue. His powerful legs leaped to the sky as he flexed his biceps to break free of his restraints. The son ca
refully caught his mother in the air and slammed back to the ground. BOOM!
The shockwave knocked the soldiers back and gave the ill-fated pair a brief respite -- for a final farewell.
Luka tried to cast Advance Cure several times, but his spells fizzled out.
Juliette smiled gently and opened her mouth. "Live," she croaked. Hot blood gushed out and dripped down her chin, coating her sheer dress with red dye.
"Don't leave me, mother!" he cried tearfully. "I'm going to destroy the antimagic barrier immediately and heal you. Watch!" Luka poured all his energy into his divine summon.
A brilliant light flashed in the sky. Goddess Altima appeared and descended from heaven to land on the ground.
The residents of Lumina felt her divine aura wash over their bodies. Everyone, except for Ilbryen Elorshin, prostrated before the deity of their worship.
When Altima saw the teary-eyed Luka holding his beloved, dying mother, the angelic goddess became enraged. "Who did this?"
Luka pointed at the balcony where a shocked Ilbryen stood staring at Altima.
"That insect shall feel my divine wrath!" She unleashed a murderous aura, which caused the weaker people to faint.
The object of her scorn reeled back several steps before he regained his footing. The elf ripped off his chest plate and his shirt. He pointed at a clear container embedded in his chest in place of his heart! Inside was a miniature tree! "My life is connected to the World Tree, which is the power source of Lumina. If you kill me, you'll also destroy your beloved city!"
"Beloved city? Hahahaha!" Altima laughed mockingly and shook her head. "You know nothing at all! All I care about is my darling boy, Luka, and his happiness in my world of Zaleron. I helped a predecessor pope build Lumina, and I can destroy it at my whim! Now die!" The goddess pointed her finger at the infidel, and a golden light burst from the tiny World Tree inside his chest.
"No!" Ilbryen screamed before his body became engulfed by the destructive energy. When the light faded, he disappeared.
The antimagic field covering Lumina vanished. Without a power source supporting the city, Lumina abruptly lost its altitude and began to fall from the sky!
The goddess turned toward Luka with pity in her eyes.
"Can you bring my mother back to life? I'll do anything!" he pleaded.
Altima slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry, my child. The universal rules governing Zaleron forbid resurrection magic. Your mother has departed from the living, and I cannot change this outcome. This city is about to crash. Let's take you to a safe place." The saddened goddess waved her hand to teleport Luka and his deceased mother away.
Before Altima left, she looked at the people remaining. "For making Luka cry, I condemn you all!" she said scornfully and finally disappeared in a golden flash.
Epilogue
Luka found himself inside the secret treasury at his family estate. He gently laid his mother on the ground and cast Cleanse and Mend to clean her body. He drank a full magic recovery potion to replenish his mana before teleporting to the nearby Alaife Dungeon.
Once Luka arrived in the control room, he divine summoned Glacius. "Please make an ice coffin for my beloved mother," the summoner requested.
The ice god encased the woman's body in ice to preserve her beautiful face and figure for all eternity. Then Glacius departed.
Luka stared at her face through the icy container for a long moment. Although he spent only a short period with his mother, Luka was thankful and proud to be her son. Juliette Silverblade loved him dearly and showed him how to live a dignified life to the very end. Luka was determined to uphold her teachings for the rest of his life.
The dungeon master created a stone chamber to store the ice coffin and sealed it tightly to prevent air and water from entering. He reinforced the tiny room with a permanent magic barrier linked to the dungeon core. Then Luka fed a year's worth of energy into the magical relic. He made a mental note to return before year-end and teleported back to his family estate.
Luka cast Invisibility and slowed toured the exterior of the mansion. The people were aware of the rebellion in the nearby capital, and everyone was anxious that they would target the Heavensfell duke house next. Loyal knights secured the walls, and the servants all carried weapons and prepared to serve as reinforcements if necessary.
The young master quietly entered the residence and made his way to his mother's study. The room was neat and orderly. He wrote a letter addressed to the steward and left it on the desk. The contents read as follows:
"To my most loyal family and friends,
I'm ashamed to inform you that I failed to rescue my beloved mother, the late Duchess Juliette Silverblade, from her captives in Lumina city.
When they sought to humiliate and defile her publicly, she bravely committed suicide to retain her noble dignity. Consequently, those evildoers received divine punishment, and they no longer exist in Zaleron.
Afterward, I buried my mother's body at a secret location. I have no intention of revealing her burial site except to my future successor in the Heavensfell duchy.
I plan to embark on a soul-searching journey accompanied only by my animal companions. Regarding the dukedom's day-to-day affairs, I appoint Sir Orella to govern as my proxy, and I recognize Hanna Wilmworth as my official concubine. Please support the two of them with the same diligence and loyalty that you would offer me.
Please arrange to send a bouquet of red roses to my beloved fiancée, Princess Camellia Harchesta Morninglory, as an apology since I won't be around to help rebuild the castle walls. I fully intend to hold our marriage ceremony once I graduate from the royal academy.
In the meantime, please ask Headmaster Ladis on my behalf for a one-year leave of absence from school. I'm more than willing to repeat a grade as necessary and graduate a year later.
While I'm away from home, I wish everyone safety, good health, and happiness.
With all my love,
Luka Heavensfell
Head of the Heavensfell Duke House"
Luka read the letter twice and saw no changes necessary; he signed and officially sealed the letter to confirm its authenticity.
The young master took one last look at the room before teleporting away for his new journey.
Final Status Card
Name: Luka Heavensfell
Race: Human (10% Corruption)
Age: 15
Primary Class: Divine Summoner
Divine Summons: Alraune (Nature), Altima (Light), Glacius (Ice), Stowne (Stone), Tes (Lightning)
Subclass: Sage
Magic: Air (IV), Earth (VI), Fire (III), Light (X), Shadow (X), Space (X), Time (III), Water (IV)
Familiar: Belphesto (sealed Demon King)
Contract Beast: Gripper (Thallian Gorilla)
Titles: Administrator of Alaife Dungeon, Benefactor of Langerlan, Disciple of Alectos, Godson of Altima, Head of Heavensfell Duke House, Honorary Elf, Master of Gilan's Shadow Realm, Ptelea's Friend
Health: 1,200/1,200
Mana: 16,000/16,000
Stamina: 6,000/6,000
Skills: Archery VIII, Aristocracy V, Arithmetic V, Barehand Combat VII, Domestic V, Enragement II, Etiquette VII, Farming VIII, Horsemanship II, Hunting III, Literacy VI, Staff-Fighting VI, Swordsmanship VIII
Traits: Critical Insight, One with Magic, Singleminded, Spatial Sense, Toughness
Special items: Pendant of Life, Recall Stone, Shadow Keystone, Staff of Alraune
Glossary
Abby: a pegasus who serves as Juliette's partner in the valkyrie squadron.
Agathon: a deacon assigned to the church in Tirli City.
Aien Aracan: tofu factory supervisor in Langerlan.
Ailduin Yllalar: an elven guard who breaks up an altercation involving Luka.
Ailmon Ravafiel: chief elder of the Village of Langerlan.
Alaife Dungeon: a newly born dungeon located within the Grandlan Forest.
Alberto Tom: Luka's sword instructor during childhood.
Alectos: also known as the God of Magic. He is the patron deity of elves and has a complicated love-hate relationship with Altima.
Alexandria Theresa Morninglory: eldest princess and second child of the Morninglory royal family.
Alraune: a divine spirit and nature god who serves Luka.
Altima: also known as the Goddess of Light. She is the patron of mankind in Zaleron.
Aquilan Liaynore: an elvish boy who teaches Luka archery in Langerlan.
Ardgery: a maid serving Cloten Evans.
Ardryll: a baker in Langerlan.
Ariela Puljon Morninglory: first queen of the Morninglory royal family.
Artem Heavensfell: Luka's late grandfather and former head of the Heavensfell duke house.
Asbjorn Mogensen: head of legal studies department at the Morninglory Royal Academy. He supervises grading essay portion of the entrance exam.
Auselka Granden: Leen's mother who receives treatment from Luka for her illness.
Belinda: a church apprentice who acts as Luka's big sister during his apprenticeship.
Belphesto: also known as Bel. He is a former demon king who signs a familiar pact with Luka.
Berka: wife of Chief Waxen, and Luka's first patient as a visiting healer.
Bianna: head maid of the Heavensfell duke house.
Big Oak Tree: an eatery in Tirli City which welcomes beastmen patrons.
Black Curse: a group of dark mages eventually destroyed by the Divine Church of Light.
Blanche: an exclusive maid of Princess Camellia and her confidant.
Boza Uvarov: Class K rep of Luka's Fan Club.
Bryan Ernsworth: head butler for the Morninglory royal family.
Brye Keelan: a B-rank adventurer working as fighting examiner for the Morninglory Royal Academy entrance examination.
The Divine Summoner: Godson of Altima Page 91
