Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Consequences

Following the definitive fall of the God of Insignificance, the destiny and sovereignty of the Tenth Empire fell under the tutelage of Dale and his intelligent consort, Charlotte.

Nevertheless, despite the inevitable minor frictions that frequently emerged among the high commands of the territory, the “Lord of Black Gold” chose to remain outside the public sphere most of the time.

This evasive behavior persisted even when open disputes broke out between the feudal lords and dependents that made up the imperial coalition.

Due to Dale’s secrecy and voluntary isolation within the imposing fortress of Saxon, various sectors began to mobilize, driven by their own desires for power.

Factions emerged demanding a radical restructuring of religious dogmas, the return of revolutionary movements thought dead, and the definitive collapse of traditional hierarchies.

Generally, whenever the dark-armored warriors bearing the raven emblem intervened, the revolts were ruthlessly suppressed. The result was identical when Charlotte, unanimously acclaimed as the deadliest warrior in the entire continental territory, made an appearance.

The prolonged visual absence of the Lord of Black Gold led to the forging of conjectures among the civilian population regarding the whereabouts and condition of the sovereign.

Rumors spread that presumed the monarch was dead, suggesting that his spouse was pulling the strings of the kingdom clandestinely.

These suspicions, initially confined to discreet whispers, quickly transformed into open debates that shook the foundations of imperial society. The internal disputes among high-ranking nobles to claim absolute control of the throne became ruthless.

None of them underestimated the latent danger of the Raven Knights, the sacred blade of Charlotte, or the influence of the eminences of the Grand Magic Empire. However, they all knew that none of those forces equaled the terror of witnessing the total dominance of the Grand Magic Emperor, the true Lord of Black Gold.

And in that context of uncertainty, unexpectedly, the supreme leader interrupted his long period of inactivity.

After the course of several annual periods, a council of the high nobility was organized under imperial mandate.

The principal vassals of the crown, fully established in their feudal domains, progressively answered the call, and it was in this setting that he returned before everyone’s eyes.

“Y-Your Excellency…!”

The Lord of Black Gold stood before them.

As his gaze swept across the hall, the murkiest secrets surfaced without being able to be hidden.

Clandestine brotherhoods orchestrating a coup d’état, remnants of the Ninth Empire intending to usurp the dynasty, and conspirators seeking to poison Charlotte in order to destabilize the crown were revealed.

The unbridled ambition and greed of the aristocrats present were of a repugnant and desolate nature.

It was a spectacle capable of breaking anyone’s spirit.

Regardless of the sacrifices made, the environment remained unalterable: a cruel, asymmetrical reality, replete with torments and devoid of hope.

“In the past…”

Before that congregation mired in moral decay, the Lord of Black Gold raised his voice.

“I bore the guilt and the debts of this world with the intention of transforming it.”

The courtiers, who had previously reveled in assumptions about the monarch’s demise, were unable to decipher the underlying meaning of his declaration. Nevertheless, the weight of his words struck deep, wounding their pride.

They had committed the audacity of plotting treasons against an unbeatable entity, and the time to face the consequences had arrived.

“I founded a nation built upon unshakeable convictions, yearning for a destiny where well-being would be universal.”

A sepulchral void dominated by panic took hold of the room as Dale continued his speech.

“However, after a tireless search, I understood that there is no design where fulfillment reaches everyone equally.”

His tone reflected an absolute and glacial detachment.

“Behind the privileges and opulence you enjoy as the dominant caste of this nation, the pain and laments of an invisible multitude are hidden, in the same way that my own well-being is sustained.”

“Your Majesty, I assure you that we would never…!”

“Absolute equity is a fallacy. I have accepted the bitter verdict that my own stability feeds upon the deprivation of others.”

Dale displayed a grimace laden with cynicism.

“Nevertheless, for those who forge plans to end my wife’s life, dismantle the achievements of my government, and usurp my position… do you not consider it an act of profound injustice that you seek to achieve glory through those means?”

“Dale!”

Charlotte’s countenance turned severe immediately upon hearing the revelation. A plot to poison her? Such a ruse was ridiculous against her physical capabilities. Dale understood this perfectly.

“Alan has opted for the discipline of the sword, dismissing the mystic arts.”

“What is the purpose of mentioning that matter at this moment?”

“The time will come when he must assume the guidance of our legacy.”

Dale explained.

“The times to come will not be subjugated solely by steel, nor by sorcery. In our condition as the last bastions of this historical period, it falls to us to settle our responsibility.”

His declaration sounded devoid of human warmth, but it held the profound concern of a parent focused on the destiny of his offspring.

“……”

Charlotte uttered no words, limiting herself to showing her agreement with a slight nod of her head. She thought in detail about her firstborn, Alan II.

She recalled the docile and protective face that the Lord of Black Gold reserved exclusively for the child. It was an almost implausible facet, devoid of hostility and overflowing with affection, a memory capable of dispelling her current rigidity.

“We beg you, forgive our transgressions!”

“No, mercy, nooo!”

In that environment of stability that the nobility had taken for granted, the countenance that the protector of the empire directed at the insurgents transformed into an image of brutality and horror.

Despite this, Charlotte averted her gaze without intervening. Her own nature shared that same rigor.

Simultaneously, in the outer grounds of the Saxon fortification.

Amidst an icy and piercing atmosphere, a child executed movements with a metal blade.

“Excellent, a formidable technique, my young lord!”

Sir Helmut Blackbear feigned faltering before the assault, theatrically dropping his weaponry while letting out a resounding laugh.

“Look at that, I have managed to defeat Uncle Helmut!”

Alan II, baptized in honor of his ancestor, displayed a broad smile overflowing with innocence.

He possessed features highly similar to those of Dale and Charlotte, highlighting a head of hair that evoked the gleams of black gold.

“Certainly, not even with all my veteran experience can I contain His Highness’s aptitudes!”

In a period where arcane forces were experiencing a systematic decline, a very small number of outstanding warriors preserved the splendor of the faculties of yesteryear. Helmut was part of that select group.

His facial hair already showed silver tones and the marks of experience furrowed his face. Despite the years, his essence remained unalterable.

The heir to the crown, legitimate bearer of the bloodstream of Dale and Charlotte.

The warrior heritage of Saxon united with the prestige of the Orhart lineage, historically remembered as the sacred blade of the kingdom.

Even so, Alan II did not possess an extraordinarily mystical nature nor uncommon gifts, remaining at the level of the mortals of his time.

When Sir Helmut chose to simulate his defeat, the child did not decipher the strategy with the astuteness that Dale would have shown; he simply surrendered to the joy typical of his age. And that was enough.

Upon experiencing the transition toward this new reality, Sir Helmut managed to glimpse the codes of the future.

In fact, he felt a profound relief upon verifying the consolidation of an environment where no individual with supernatural abilities could tyrannize others based solely on arcane mastery.

Territorial disputes would continue to arise and human disagreements would never find an absolute end.

But that was acceptable.

He himself had belonged to the lineage of formidable beings, and finally, an era was making its way where such anomalies would not arise again.

“The control you exercise over the mystic arts registers an evolution worthy of praise.”

Rize stated toward Yufi, who responded with a respectful bow.

“I express my gratitude to you, Mentor Rize!”

“Do you not find a profound beauty in this knowledge?”

At her instructor’s intervention, Yufi gently extended her upper limb. The winter currents coming from the northern regions swirled slightly around her phalanges, dissipating almost immediately.

“Absolutely!”

Little Yufi possessed an undeniable affinity with the mystical flow. Nevertheless, due to the global withering of mana, her capabilities would never reach the zenith of the mysticism of yesteryear.

She lacked the faculty to manipulate the wills of others as if they were marionettes, as well as the ability to extend a web of celestial energy over the continental geography to watch over the inhabitants.

Despite these limitations, Rize experienced genuine satisfaction in guiding the minor’s steps on this path.

“What is the fundamental purpose you pursue in dedicating yourself as an advanced mystic, young Yufi?”

Faced with the question posed by Rize, Yufi offered her stance with total determination.

“I yearn to use these faculties to safeguard the well-being and joy of the people.”

Exactly the same ideal that drove Rize’s actions in her younger years.

Every time she closely observed Yufi, she managed to contemplate a reflection of her own childhood. That chronological passage she used to categorize as lacking maturity, a stage where she perceived herself as a naive apprentice.

“Without a doubt, that is the elemental premise defended by our Blue Magic Tower.”

However, upon evaluating Yufi’s conduct, she understood a fundamental truth.

That honesty of purpose constituted the supreme value of a true practitioner of the arcane.

Under the influence of the villainies and crises of society, Rize had sacrificed that internal purity, transforming over time into just another one of the fearsome titans of her generation.

From the moment the protective deity of this reality sank into an imperishable lethargy, the last reserves of magical energy began their countdown toward extinction.

Even so, entities of Rize’s stature subsisted, guarding an ancestral mystical potential of colossal proportions, and the passage of time would be required for these forces to extinguish completely.

Inevitably, these exceptional beings would suffer the ravages of aging. Upon concluding this process, an authentic “world of humans” would be consolidated.

When said scenario materialized, the infant under her tutelage would assume the role of the mystical guide who would wisely orient the course of mortal society.

“Shall we proceed with the instruction session?”

“Of course, Mentor Rize!”

“My lady, would you not consider evaluating your determination once more?”

The veteran Baro, remembered in past times as a warrior of questionable reputation but possessing an unshakeable code of honor, now enjoyed a renewed status in the governmental order, dedicating his days to the consumption of alcohol and to rest.

The lady situated before him replied without delay.

“Baro, what is the reason for your reluctance to remain by my side?”

“It’s simple, I am nothing more than a drinker devoid of ambitions, who consumes his days in the most absolute idleness…”

“Certainly, it is an unencouraging prospect for a lady to associate with an individual who spends his existence between inactivity and taverns.”

In prior eras, she had served as a servant consecrated to the deity of shadows, nevertheless, at present such ecclesiastical ranks completely lacked relevance. Likewise, the veteran Baro no longer served as the lethal executive arm under the direct orders of Dale.

“How would you feel about moderating your drink rations and escorting me on a routine inspection to the properties of the fief during this day?”

“……”

Before such a request, the veteran Baro fixedly contemplated the drinking vessel he held in his hands. He analyzed the movement of the liquid inside, rubbed his scalp, and showed a slight smile laden with resignation.

“It shall be executed according to your arrangements, my lady.”

“Father!”

Upon perceiving the call, Dale reoriented his attention and located his progenitor, Elena, who advanced escorted by “two Allens”.

“Mother, father.”

Dale made a polite greeting inclined forward, while Allen II reflected an expression of joy.

“Grandfather, grandmother, let’s coordinate a new play session for tomorrow’s day!”

Allen II advanced promptly toward Dale, expressing himself with the enthusiasm typical of his young age. The progenitors shared a look of complicity and Dale took Allen in his arms to embrace him in an affectionate greeting.

“Dale, have you concluded your preparations?”

At that precise instant, Charlotte burst into the place requiring his presence, dressed only in her resting attire. Upon realizing the lack of protocol due to carelessness, Dale showed agitation, while Allen witnessed the scene with a complicit smile, deciphering the family dynamic.

“Allen, would you think it appropriate to retire to rest in the company of your grandfather for this night?”

“Is that a real option?”

Enthusiastic about the presented alternative, Allen the Second evidenced great joy and approached the veterans, while Dale externalized a show of shyness over the incident.

“I offer you an apology for the unforeseen event.”

“Do not worry about it. I enthusiastically await the moment when a new descendant is added to our lineage.”

“I will put all my effort into making it so.”

“The management of married life demands efforts that surpass initial forecasts.”

Allen declared with an analytical tone, provoking a light laugh of approval from Dale.

Without a doubt, his assertions corresponded entirely with reality.