14 Durandel
"where am I?",
"am i dead?"
"what's with this light?"
A lady opened her eyes and found herself in bed in an hospital. An rabbitkin who was taking care of her was surprised on seeing the lady awakened and immediately informed the alchemist who has been treating her for months. He immediately left for lady, seeing lady awake, he was about to blurt out waves of tears,
"how are you feeling? my lady".
"I am fine but what exactly is this place?",
seeing the confused expression, alchemist removed the curtains from window and introduced her,
"this is new Bartos city, welcome my lady".
The Corrupted city, she once knew was brimming with positive vibes and full of new opportunities. The lady was mesmerised by the view of the city.
"when did this happened?"
"it was 2 months ago, my lady"
"wait, don't tell me, I have been here for 2 months, I have to go back".
As she tried to wake up from bed, her body gave up and her expression became worsened,
"what's happened to me"
"calm down, my lady you have just woken up, your body is still recovering",
"I can't be here, my country would be perished",
Alchemist got angered by lady's stupidity and scolded,
"if you go on battlefield with these, you will perish even before your country".
Hearing alchemist's scolding calmed her down,
"why are you helping me?, I thought demihumans hate humans"
"how could I hate you? , I think you haven't remembered me my lady"
"I am Diaz whom you saved by taking me in as slave".
On hearing the name diaz, random memories began popping in her head. The lady was princess of Ledia kingdom, Ivy Paxton, which was one of the weak nation of the continent. Ledia was peaceful nation because of Vestry backing them. But an ancestral tressure which can't be revealed to the Vestry i.e Durandel, an spirit devouring sword was exposed and Vestry demanded for Durandel but Ledia refused to hand it over, so Vestry waged war on Ledia kingdom. As Vestry waged war, all the other neighbouring nations joined hands with Vestry and invaded Ledia kingdom.
The reason for Vestry's invasion was because it felt its future trembled because of Durandel due to its ability of devouring spirit it can be defined as hero slaying sword. As heroes were the foundation of Vestry's strength, they can't take any risk.
As for relation between Ivy and Diaz, as Diaz was elf, he was slave since his birth as his mother herself was slave who died while giving him birth. They met each other in market where slave seller was auctioning him, since Ivy was 8 year old at that time and was quite obstinate, she demanded for Diaz. The reason was quite childish for her demand,
"he looks sad".
For her, these words were nothing but for Diaz he has found someone who cares whether he was sad or happy as if new world opened for him,so he was purchased by her father.
Years passed, Ivy and Diaz grew up together as friends but due to their social standing some people can't bear it. And due to the provocation of some people, he was sold to the old alchemist who saw talent of Diaz in field of medicine.
Even though Ivy stood against it but wasn't able to stop it. Diaz who was used to these kind of circumstances gave up and decided to treat it as dream. When one door closes , another open, Diaz lost a friend but gained an virtuous master who treated him like his son.
Diaz trained under oldman for many years but after the death of old alchemist, paying his respect to oldman's grave, he flew from the place because the guards were searching for him as he was an ownerless slave with great abilities in alchemy.
Diaz remained fugitive for many years but one day he heard the rumours of Bartos city being controlled by demihumans. As he was one of them, it was last place for him to seek for shelter.
On reaching Bartos, he was questioned and due to his abilities in alchemy was taken in and met Magnus as he was the first fully fledged demihuman alchemist that Bartos has admitted was given high priority due to his knowledge.
On seeing Ivy in pitiful state, Diaz was filled with sorrow and immense hatred towards the those who were reason for this. Rather than being sorrowful, Diaz devoted himself in treating Ivy.
As memories of Diaz returned to Ivy, remembering her parents and friends back in Ledia filled her with sorrow and she began crying holding Diaz, after a while due to weakness she fell asleep.
Ivy got out for a day while Diaz continued treating her.
Next day, on her awakening, She sees an charismatic man standing near window staring at the cheerful citizens. On seeing an unknown person, Ivy startled but calmed down on seeing Diaz next to him. Diaz introduced Magnus as the hero and city lord who saved demihumans from their suffering.
"Don't mind me, princess I know about your circumstances and I can help",
seeing the suspicious behaviour of Magnus, Ivy questioned,
"what do you want, I don't think you are a person who will help others out of mercy"
"hahahahaha... you really are Princess, provoking me without any hesitation in my own city".
Diaz shed cold sweat as the heated conversation continued between Magnus and Ivy,
"I know you can't kill me, what do you want city lord"
"I can provide protection to your nation and save everyone but in return I want Durandel"
"Are you out of your mind, that's our ancestral sword we have been fighting to protect"
"huh a sword which can't be weilded and it isn't your ancestor's sword but the sword of Spirit king am i right, little princess"
Hearing Magnus's reply, shocked Ivy as the secret of it being the spirit king's sword was the family secret of Ledia's royal family. Noone in their family till upto date has formed any contract with spirit king due to which sword has became unweildable.
"I think you have understood about your situation why don't I show you the real thing"
Magnus ordered Diaz to take Ivy to the temple with them, Diaz who doesn't have any power to oppose Magnus took her with them.
An flame was blazing at an heightened place in temple, Ivy was still thinking of way of getting out of the situation.
"don't take much stress, Miss Ivy you will soon understand the gravity of situation you are in". Hall filled with blinding light and devoured Magnus and Ivy , in next moment Ivy found herself in an enchanted forest and an huge eagle staring at her, it was none other than Phoenix.
Even though the last connection of phoenix was perished but due to Magnus's action, phoenix got interested in him and left an blazing void to him for the future uses.
Magnus consulted and learnt many things about the spirit world in past few months which gave him knowledge of Durandel.
"we got a little guest here"
"master, pardon my intrusion but I think you would be interested in this "
Phoenix laughed,
"you never seize to amaze me"
"she is from the bloodline of Durandel's weilder but its sad that it had become an useless sword without any weilder"
Ivy who was amazed by the situation came back to her senses and asked,
"pardon me, O great spirit Phoenix, I beg you to enlighten me on wielding the Durandel"
" I hate to express it but you doesn't have any talent that its weilder needed"
Hearing the cruel answer disheartened Ivy and she despaired,
"so there's nothing, I can do to save my country".
As Ivy was mourning, phoenix spoke up,
"there is a way to save your country"
" what is it, please tell me I will do anything"
"you have to find the person who have contracted with Spirit king or Higher spirits like me".
Ivy despaired again,
"where will I find such a person"
"well, he isn't away from your eyes"
"Magnus can weild it"
"how can human with no bloodline of our ancestor can weild it"
" princess I ain't an human in first place".
Ivy got shocked and began thinking what kind of freak, she has been hanging out. Phoenix spoke up,
"Natural laws doesn't apply to Magnus, he can do things which can't be explained with logic, logic revolves around him"
Phoenix praising Magnus glittered an spark of respect for Magnus in Ivy's mind. At first Ivy thought of Magnus as another selfish human seeing on gains from helping her. But on seeing his relationship with almighty phoenix, she realised that Magnus doesn't want or rather required any materialistic wealth.
Ivy was still hesitating on her decision on whether to accept the deal with Magnus or not while the situation in Ledia was worsening with every seconds they waste.
