Chapter 5: Sunken

[Breaking News! Breaking News!]

Big bold text could currently be seen on the front page of a newspaper that could be currently seen in Giliath's hands, seated at the dining table with a cup of coffee? beside him. It was a a black drink of sorts that was releasing puffs of hot air, so I could only assume it was a drink similar to it.

It was morning, and the next month May had just started. Our villa was located quite far from the capital of the Erebonian Empire, Heimdallr City. Vast rolling hills and trees separated us from them, but we still could still get express delivery on the latest happenings.

To be more specific, with each passing day, a guy in a tux wearing black glasses would deliver the daily newspaper to Giliath. I could tell they would change their members up since they would have a difference in hair color. If I had to guess, these guys belonged to the secret service that directly serves the Emperor of Erebonia.

Kasia did warn us several times about not seeing where hidden eyes and ears may lay, but she was likely referring to these guys. They would come and go at certain intervals, or if anything, at least once a day.

As for me, since I was still a toddler. I was seated on the table with Giliath right behind me. Both of us could be seen reading the newspaper, and it looks like there was breaking news today.

I had yet to see breaking news since I got reborn, but seeing the headliner in front of me, I became dispirited.

"Dad...", I uttered softly, seeing the news.

"Hmm, this news is quite unfortunate indeed.", Giliath also responded.

There were simply two images. On the left was a bright and upstanding man dressed in royal purple garb, with short hair. His hair was in fact almost a matching color to mine. Next to him was a rather beautiful woman. To the right showed what was left of a shipwreck in the middle of the sea, likely taken after the event transpired. I'm sure this was not only a surprise to us, but shock to the nation situated south of our empire. In fact this might be shocking news to each and every country on Zemuria.

[Breaking News! Crown Prince Judis von Auslese's and his wife's sudden passing while aboard the orbal passenger ship Eterna! No passengers survived while Eterna was sunk in Calvard waters!]

"To think a member of Liberl royalty would succumb like this, and it is the crown prince no less. Is Calvard really looking to start a war?", Giliath questioned.

"Oh dear...This is quite saddening.", Kasia also responded. She then looked over to me with worry in her eyes.

"This won't cause any implications now will it?"

"There is the possibility. I made sure to not leave any traces of that incident, but this news will affect Naoto in one way or another.", Giliath answered, only to stand up, which drew our attention.

"Dad?", I asked, also wondering.

"I must go, Kasia.", Giliath declared. Hearing this Kasia's eyes turned wide.

"You cant! Tensions with Liberl are pretty high aren't they? Those pro-war Noble fools are looking for any chance they get to stir up more trouble. Don't forget you're still a general in the Imperial Army!", Kasia responded with obvious worry.

"Me going won't fill in the Imperial Army's shoes. It will simply be as father and son to witness their passing. I've already received intel that their deaths have been confirmed and they will be holding a private funeral for Crown Prince Judis and his wife."

"So you already knew of what happened...It sounds like your mind is made up. But must Naoto go? And little Rean was just born a few days ago too...", Kasia responded, still worried.

Upon a closer look, Kasia looked over to her side, and saw a small crib. Within it was a small figure wrapped in a tight cloth, sleeping peacefully. The few strands of hair on his on his head matched Kasia's hair.

That used to be me until I could start walking and talking a couple months back, but now this crib was occupied by another. I also peaked past the newspaper to have a look, to which Giliath found my action amusing.

'Rean Schwarzer...', I inwardly spoke to myself.

Oops, I guess the 'Schwarzer' part isn't attached to Rean's name yet, as that has yet to happen. For now he is Rean Osborne, just as am I Naoto Osborne, two sons, making us a family of four.

However, it seems my one year of peace has ended, seeing this news appear on the paper. Judis Von Auslese, son to the soon to be retired Liberl Queen, Alicia von Auslese. Yet now, her retirement would be far from over.

Alicia was presumed 60 years old by the events of the first game, so going back to S1187, that should put her at 45 years old...

Similar to Erebonia, Liberl also houses a monarchy system, so Alicia had full rule over her country. But to be 45 and going strong, she is a great ruler.

And it looks like we'll be going on a family trip!

Of course, according to Giliath, who I'm still trying to adapt as my new father, said this would be a gathering for a private funeral. But no doubt the remaining Auslese line will be in attendance. Not many know but Judis and his wife did have a daughter before their passing, who was basically the sole Liberl princess.

She did not attend that cruise ship from what I could remember, only to remain in Grancel Castle, which was the castle the Liberl royal family resided in. If we do actually go to this funeral, I may very well get to meet her. She was born the same year as Estelle Bright, and me. Oh the irony.

Giliath saw a look of interest in my eyes, and leaned forward to pick me up into his arms. He was the one to speak next.

"I do not know if bringing young Naoto here is the right choice or not, but if Queen Alicia learns they have more surviving blood, tension may relax a bit. But you are right, I do fear a war could break out soon."

"You better not let him out of your sight. It is proper to meet his other half, so I will pray to Aidios for your guys' safety.", Kasia responded with a smile.

Giliath nodded hearing that. He then looked outside. In the next moment we heard an engine of sorts approaching our door.

"Naoto, this will be your first time travelling. When we brought you here back a year, you were just a little baby then. The Orbal Revolution will be another topic will cover at a later time, but are you interested in seeing an orbal car?" Giliath asked me.

"Yeah!", I responded excitedly.

"To even prepare an orbal car...It's only been a couple decades since Orbments were introduced. Going all out huh?"

"We'll be back before you know it, Kasia.", Giliath answered. "Let's go, Naoto.", He said.

"Okay!", I said. I've been here for a year and a month now, but I've been enjoyed this new life of mine. My father held me in his arm, and I could feel his warmth. I knew he would undergo changes later, but seeing General Osborne like this, I could truly feel he was fatherly, so I had to respond in kind.

My past life was no more, and I was reborn into this new life. And with that, I was given the Gamer System. I was taking this last year to explore how it worked, but I could start testing things out.

We left through the front door as my mother waved at us. Sure enough there was a driver waiting for us next to a pitch black orbal car. Orbal energy did not emit fumes like gasoline did, which allowed the rides to be extremely smooth and silent.

And as we left, it was time to test one of these bad boys out that I got from the Gamer System. I'll be doing a deeper dive into my status in a little bit, but I wasn't without anything once I reincarnated. Turns out my eyes were actually something.

Before reaching the car, I inwardly spoke out an Active Skill.

[Vermillion Eyes]

The moment I inwardly spoke that, my eyes glittered golden. This went undetected as if it didn't happen, only to cause an invisible force to spread out in all directions, allowing me to see things within it. It kept expanding out until it detected two figures off on a distant hill. One of the two figures seemed to phase in and out of existence while another was a figure who was dressed in full plated knight armor, just like a Valkyrie.

Seeing these two within my radar, I squirmed a bit while in Giliath's arms. Giliath saw this, only to see me stick my head out a bit, and turned it toward a certain area.

"Oh, has something caught your interest, Naoto?", Giliath mused seeing me look somewhere in the distance opposite to where Heimdallr City lay.

"Weird knight lady...", I answered my father. Hearing me say this, Giliath's eyes suddenly became serious.

"Weird knight lady...? No, it couldn't..." Giliath caught on rather quick. I wonder if I said too much?

His head also turned around to the hill I was looking at. A glint of light streaked across his eyes before his pupils focused, and sure enough he spotted something. Yet I felt a cold chill the moment his eyes became like that.

Meanwhile, a few moments ago, far beyond the backyard of my villa...

Space seemed to have distorted as a portal appeared out of nowhere. It was rather serene, and not chaotic. A figure soon emerged, who was that fully armor plated one. Not long after, another one emerged, a second woman in fact. Her beauty was otherworldly, and even her mere existence was currently flickering in and out of reality. Yet as for the armored knight, this didn't seemed to phase her.

The armored knight who appeared just like a Valkyrie stayed silent, watching the villa in silence. To be more specific, her eyes landed on Giliath, who was happily chatting away with another woman and a little child.

In the end, she let out a simple sigh.

"So this is who you've become...", The knight woman said as she observed Giliath from far away.. Her voice remained calm and serene.

"You expected this outcome, didn't you, Lianne?", The otherworldly figure said.

"...", The knight woman responded in silence, but she didn't deny the second woman. Another moment passed in silence.

Next, the otherworldly woman saw the knight woman turn around to face her. Surprisingly, she knelt down onto one knee and spoke our in a resolute voice.

"The name Lianne Sandlot is of the past. A dead name that has found its resting place. I pledge my loyalty to you from now on, My Meister."

Hearing this pledge, the otherworldly figure let out a rare smile.

"Then I shall welcome you into our ranks, Lianne. No...Since you have thrown out that name, you shall receive a new one. I know the perfect name.", The otherworldly figure replied.

"What is it, My Meister?", The knight woman asked while still kneeling down.

"Arianrhod."