Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Chapter 15: The Interlude

Insurrection or sovereign. Golden splendor or twilight. The traditional structure that governed the continent crumbled unexpectedly. Despite everything, not all the population was ready to assimilate this unprecedented condition.

“Insurrection or sovereign.”

The fact that the Golden Sovereign, Ray Eurys, commanded the rebel forces did not imply that every faction rendered submission to him unconditionally. In the same way as the old crown, the rebel side constituted an amalgam of factions moved by particular ambitions.

Because of this, the Iron Brigade belonging to the insurgents, provided with mystical protections, formulated a questioning.

They addressed the mysterious warriors in dark armor, who bore the emblem of the night raven.

“Our devotion belongs solely to one individual: the Emperor.”

The dark riders declared. The insurgents did not hesitate upon hearing such words.

Their purpose was to examine the strange events of the northern territory. Although myths circulated about the return of the empire of yesteryear, those illusory narratives lacked logic. There had to be a real explanation behind everything, and they intended to discover it. Because of this, the Iron Brigade raised their swords against the warriors in dark armor.

However, the confrontation did not come to pass.

The dark energy that covered the blades of those combatants easily shattered the metallic protections of the Iron Brigade.

There existed a period when a lone combatant was capable of destroying a hundred. In that time of devastation, the night raven knights promised fidelity to their leader.

“For the House of Sachsen.”

Neither the insurrection nor the monarch represented their true answer.

Their devotion had always corresponded to the individual named the Black Duke, as well as his descendant, the “Black Prince,” with the House of Saxony being the true core of their loyalty.

In the desert region, a forgotten kingdom emerged from the past once again.

And in that place, exercising command, remained the Black and Golden Sovereign, a legendary character.

This situation was extremely shocking for a humble village girl like Yufi.

“Miss Yufi.”

“Mi-Mr. Dale…”

For this reason, when Dale named her again, Yufi was about to exclaim something, but she held her breath.

“Do you enjoy your stay in this place?”

“It represents a great privilege, Your Majesty…”

Dale let out a slight laugh upon hearing the title.

“I ask you to address me in the way you used to.”

“However! How could I speak to Your Majesty in such a common way…?”

“I no longer possess the status of emperor. And this territory has ceased to be my domain.”

Dale explained.

Even though Dale and his kingdom had returned, he preferred to evade that reality.

Warriors faithful to the House of Sachsen still remained alongside the sorcerers belonging to the Black Tower. However, they lacked inhabitants or territorial expanses to manage. No matter how enormous their destructive capacity was, the situation would not change.

“Despite that…”

“There is no reason to maintain such distance from me.”

Yufi tried to reply, but she preferred to remain silent. Dale gave an ironic grimace and continued.

“This territory constitutes only a safe place for your protection, and I remain here with the purpose of honoring that given word.”

“Mr. Dale…”

Yufi’s tone lowered noticeably, but she showed a happy expression.

“It makes me happy.”

“What do you mean?”

“It is the initial occasion in which I notice such genuine joy on your face.”

Yufi mentioned. She recalled the twilight that covered his clothing when they first allied with the insurgents.

A twilight filled with isolation and frustration, giving the impression of being the last living individual on earth.

However, upon definitely arriving in this region, said twilight vanished. Yufi experienced true relief for this reason.

“I am also happy to contemplate your joy, Miss Yufi.”

Dale stated, showing a kind gesture. For an instant, a gloomy nuance altered Yufi’s features, although it disappeared quickly. She had experienced multiple experiences throughout their journey together. The dilemma of that previous day almost took her existence, or at least that had been her thought.

“It was thanks to your company that I managed to advance to this point.”

Despite everything, the support he gave her led her to this place.

Therefore, Yufi showed a wide smile and replied.

“It is true!”

“The monarch and the insurrection.”

The individual uttered those words. In a previous era, he maintained the illusion of seeing the winter kingdom built by his descendant, and at this moment he contemplated an indecipherable environment upon returning to consciousness.

“The nascent Golden Sovereign commands the insurgents against the Ninth Empire. They belong to the Eurys lineage, who have seized the mystical tome property of the Bloody Duke, the ‘Book of Blood’.”

“Even after the rise and ruin of nine kingdoms, the situation remains identical.”

The subject, Allen of Saxony, stated with disappointment. Certainly, the facts presented themselves just as he pointed out.

“What will be your course of action, Dale?”

“…”

“If you determine it, you in the company of this fortress possess the capacity to establish absolute dominion over them, just as you did in past eras.”

Before the questioning of his progenitor, Dale interrupted his movements and subsequently made a negative gesture.

“I do not possess such a pretense.”

“…”

“I offered too many losses with the purpose of transforming the environment. I thought that even the fear of those close to me constituted an indispensable loss.”

“Was that loss justified?”

“Liese provided me with the solution.”

Dale commented, exhibiting a gesture of self-disappointment.

“When Liese accepted the suffering for my benefit and that of those close to me, I finally managed to understand the affliction that involved. And I understood the suffering that my close ones must have experienced in the face of my own losses.”

What Dale cataloged as a necessary loss constituted, in the background, a test of pure selfishness. He managed to assimilate it only when Liese, without understanding the entirety of the situation, tried to offer her life for him.

Even if everything corresponded to a meticulous design by the leader of the Blue Tower, that did not change the facts.

“Liese possesses great lucidity, similar to that of her mother.”

“Excessively lucid for her own good.”

Dale affirmed with a happy gesture.

“I hold gratitude towards Liese. And…”

He interrupted himself momentarily and directed his gaze toward his aged progenitor.

“In the same way towards you, father.”

“It comforts me to hear those words.”

Allen expressed, showing an affable gesture.

The steel described an arc in the air. It was the robust and massive blade characteristic of the House of Saxony.

The weapon of Sir Helmut Blackbear was projected and Dale managed to evade it masterfully, executing an immediate response.

The combat was resolved through a single impact.

“It evokes the time when Your Majesty was an infant.”

“Those represented pleasant moments.”

Dale let out a light laugh and Sir Helmut continued with his intervention.

“Upon measuring strength with you on that occasion, I supposed that the day would arrive when my skill with steel would not even manage to approach your level.”

“Your words are extremely generous.”

Dale showed joy and turned his face.

The night raven knights remained motionless, showing fidelity towards Dale and the House of Sachsen. They had remained dormant in the winter kingdom built by Liese and returned upon concluding infinite time.

They did not lack bewilderment. However, their work continued unchanged.

Their duty consisted of backing the House of Saxony, and upon their leader presenting himself upon concluding the journey, the landscape did not change.

In that precise instant it happened.

A member of the night raven knights advanced towards Dale to communicate a message in a low voice.

“Your Majesty, a dispute occurred between the individuals who call themselves ‘insurgents’ and our warriors in the vicinity of the Imperial Territory.”

“Did I not entrust you to request their withdrawal in a courteous manner?”

“Despite the notification, they attacked the warriors and a minor combat was unleashed.”

“Were there casualties among our ranks?”

“To tell the truth…”

The emissary showed hesitation.

“Their level was so low that it could scarcely be considered a real dispute.”

Dale experienced confusion and held his breath for an instant.

“Certain warriors have held them as captives and are heading back to the metropolis, while others continue with the surveillance work in the northern region following your directives.”

“I understand.”

Dale affirmed by moving his head.

“I insist on this, avoid exhibiting your capacity or causing panic among the inhabitants of this territory.”

“We will fulfill your directives.”

The warrior performed a bow before Dale’s indication. A moment of absolute silence was maintained and Sir Helmut advanced formulating a query.

“What are your future intentions?”

“… I question it.”

In the same way as his progenitor interrogated him previously, Sir Helmut exposed the identical doubt.

As much as he intended to remain on the sidelines, the outside environment prevented him.

If the rebel forces had reached the northern domains, the hosts of the Ninth Empire would undoubtedly advance after them.

In this place there were no populations or regions under his administration. Only the members of great power of the House of Sachsen were found, who represented the historical force of the kingdom.

He still lacked a clear determination.

However, unusually, he experienced less heaviness in his obligations.

“Sir Helmut, as well as the totality of the warriors gathered here, what is your desire?”

“…!”

Because of this, Dale formulated the question back.

Sir Helmut along with the rest of the combatants experienced great bewilderment at the unexpected question.

“I am aware of the losses and the effort that you have dedicated motivated by your devotion to the House of Sachsen.”

Dale continued expressing himself with serenity.

“Diverse kingdoms have risen and extinguished, however you remain in this place, loyal to my person. I have decided not to require more of your obligatory submission.”

“…!”

“Therefore, in my condition as leader of the House of Saxony, my actions will be directed exclusively to repay your loyalty and the losses suffered.”

For Dale, there no longer existed any obligation to sustain for the benefit of the environment nor losses to assume in an obligated way.

“What is the meaning of that report?”

inquired with great agitation the Monarch of the Ninth Empire, the Sovereign of Shadows.

“The Great Magical Empire, the Fourth Empire?! Do you intend to affirm that the totality of the Magical Empire together with its monarch truly have returned to life in this period?”

“The informants that we maintain infiltrated within the insurgent hosts testify that it is an unquestionable reality, to the degree of not allowing any doubt.”

“It is inadmissible! In what way could such a nonsensical fact occur?”

William of Brandenburg increased the volume of his voice while his subordinates bowed their gaze maintaining silence.

“What destiny awaits my kingdom? What kind of madness is affecting my domains?”

Despite holding the name of Lord of Shadows, he did not possess the faculty to glimpse the reality of the facts.

Even when his predecessor had been Count Philip of Brandenburg, and despite Philip coming truly from the golden descent of Sovereign Arthur as well as the royal lineage belonging to the Third Reich, such a situation did not change the current landscape.

The dispute sustained between golden splendor and twilight had been transformed only into an appearance lacking content, and even if it corresponded to reality, there existed no possibility that legitimacy would have effect on his descent, vitiated as it found itself by deceits.

Chapter 15