The Three Travellers (2)

Knock knock.

"Mila?"

"Yes, milady. May I come in?"

"Sure, go ahead."

Adelaide sighed as she closed the human autonomy book and put it on the nightstand. She thought she would sleep right away, but tiredness was not equal to sleepiness. It was frustrating, but anger could not solve anything, so she decided to read something boring.

'Did I become a workaholic? My tired brain went full study mode the moment I opened the book. This isn't good news.'

Instead of boring her, Adelaide became even soberer. But it wasn't good news – she was even more tired.

"Milady, it seems like you couldn't sleep?" Mila asked worriedly. The maid was carrying a small delicate tray. On the tray was a glass of warm milk.

'I feel like an actual kid, having someone make me drink milk like that.'

"Seems like I couldn't," replied Adelaide while reaching out for the glass. "I guess I'm stressed more than I thought."

The maid's face turned even more worried after listening to her lady's answer. She felt a little bit of guilt for forgetting that her young lady was a six-year-old sometimes. Even though the lady's progress was not as extraordinary as the young master, she was brighter than most children her age. Mila did not know what young master Alfred's workload was back then, but she was sure this wasn't normal.

"What about a glass of warm milk, milady?"

"Sure, but I doubt it will work."

Mila's face scrunched up even more at her lady's tired response. Even when she was exhausted, the young lady was still as obedient as ever.

Just when the young maid was anxious thinking she should do something, a random idea popped up inside her head.

"Milady…"

"Yes?"

"Do you mind if I…read you a story?"

'A bedtime story?'

Adelaide's brows arched slightly at Mila's determined face.

'It's true that I've never had any type of bedtime stories despite being a child. Such a thing is abnormal.'

"A bedtime story? Yes, that might help. Thank you, Mila, as always."

"It's my pleasure."

Mila's shoulders relaxed. If the lady had refused, then it would be hard for Mila, who had always been doting on the young lady, to convince her otherwise.

"Do you have a specific story you want me to read in mind, milady?"

"…Anything's fine. I haven't read a lot of fairy tales, so I don't really know."

'Don't look at me like how you'd pity poor children, will you? Of course the first book I wanted to lay my hands on wasn't fairy tales.'

A weird feeling of indignant rose inside Adelaide as she noticed the gaze her maid sent her. If she had prioritized fairytales, then Adelaide would surely doubt herself as a fully functioning young adult.

"Then does that mean milady did not know about the most famous story about our Empire's founding?"

"Of course, I know about that." Adelaide frowned, wondering if she was being tested on her History knowledge. "The Empire was founded by the First Emperor, Duke Charles the First, and Pope Da'rion. As for the war and unification…"

"That's not what I meant, milady." Mila exclaimed, "It's the bedtime story about the founding that I'm talking about."

"Oh, then I didn't."

'Those were just fabricated stories for kids, right? Well, not that I'm not interested.'

"But milady probably won't fall asleep to stories with too many details. What about a more musical, shortened version?"

"Sure."

Adelaide smiled at her young maid's satisfied expression.

---ΘΘΘ---

"The Three Travelers, wandering the lands.

Accompanied by Ava, they witnessed the pain.

Poverty, sorrow, it was insane.

'What should we do?', pondered the men.

'That's the cycle of life', Ava proclaimed

'You cannot stop it, nor can you prevent.'

'Though I shall grant you powers, destined in your veins.'

The three men smiled, proudly exclaimed.

'Thank you for your wishes, we shall make a change.'

And so begins the journey,

Of the three dignified men."

Fate has existed since ancient times. If not, how could three men from different backgrounds, with different characters, belonged to different regions got together and created a legend?

Brynjar was an energetic young man living in a remote village with his parents. Unlike the other villagers, he was special. The young man possessed bright golden hair that shone brilliantly under the sun. He was happy, living in the village and surrounded by the people he loved. The village was small, but the people were happy, for they had lived peacefully in the middle of the forest, hidden from all harm.

The name 'Brynjar' was an uncommon name. Brynjar loved his village, but deep inside, he felt like a frog living in a well. He wanted to go explore the world, despite how chaotic it was. Wars, merciless slaughterings, and colonizations happened everywhere. The seemingly forgotten village was like an oasis sheltering its residents from hell.

That was until the night of the 7th of January when invaders came and lit the small place on fire.

Brynjar was one of the rare survivors. He was fortunate enough to survive, but was not fortunate enough to be freed. He was caught by the invaders and was forced to become their servant.

The young man suffered, but he did not give up. That was because he did not suffer alone.

Brynjar made friends his age. One was a servant like him – someone pitiful. He was a war orphan named Da'rion who was led to the dark path. The teen changed, but it was too late. It felt like the Gods had abandoned him.

The other true friend Brynjar made was, surprisingly, one of the invader's advisors, Charles.

"How could you become one with those people? They are all bad people!" Brynjar was angry when he found out. He felt like he was betrayed.

"Anger never solves anything" Charles replied. "So is stubbornness. But worry not, my friend, for I have a plan."

Brynjar was hot-headed, but he was not unreasonable. And so he waited, and waited, and waited. He observed what the invaders had done to the people and engraved everything in his heart.

Different groups of brutal invaders roamed to different lands. In his wandering hard days, Brynjar witnessed it all. He restrained himself, but with a heart full of passion.

'Liberate them. Give the people true freedom and peace.' was his sole purpose.

"Mother Avaline enlightened me!", yelled Da'rion one day. He was no longer lost. Their chance had come.

With the power of friendship and the support from the people, the three brave heroes united the continent under Brynjar's leadership. It was the 7th of January when they won their last war. Brynjar knew he couldn't have done it without his troops, his citizens, and most importantly, his trusted friends.

"I told you we would make it." Brynjar felt a pat on his shoulder. Charles and Da'rion joined him as they looked down at the festival below. People were no longer sad. They were happy.

"The 7th of January used to be the day that marked my nightmare.", Brynjar mumbled.

"Now, it's the day happiness blessed the land," Da'rion replied with a peaceful smile. He no longer looked like a rebellious kid. "Goddess Avalina is my reason of existence, but you two saved me. I will never forget that."

"I miss our wandering days."

"It came to an end. But every end is a new beginning."

The three men hugged each other. They were no longer just Brynjar, Charles, and Da'rion.

They were now the Emperor, the Duke, and Pope. But they would always be the Empire's first wanderers who succeeded. Under Goddess Avalina's grace and blessings to every single citizen of the Empire, the image of the three heroes will be portrayed for thousands of years to come.

"His Majesty the Emperor,

His radiance brightens the land.

Under his benevolent reign;

The Empire shall thrive, ever than before.

Glory, for generations to come.

Wealth, to Empirians for eternity.

Happiness, for people of the land.

Oh, His Majesty the Emperor,

Under his benevolent reign;

The Empire shall thrive, ever than before."

"Winford, our impenetrable fortress,

His Grace, our eternal stronghold.

Eyes, as blue as the sky, as deep as the ocean.

Hair, as black as the dark night, as shiny as the finest silk.

No lies shall escape his eyes.

No crimes shall be hidden under the night.

With his sword in hand,

The Empire shall remain safe.

With his sword in hand, he shall pave the way

With his shield on hold, he shall protect us from harm."

"Under mother Avalina's guidance,

Everyone shall return to her embrace

We were born different, yet the same

Like leaves of the same tree,

We shall return to our roots.

Oh, death is nothing to be feared,

For death isn't the end, but the beginning.

As His Holiness once said,

'Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.'

Death was nothing but a peaceful sleep

For a new cycle to come."

"What's special about them, you ask?

Oh darling, for they were the Three Wandering Travelers,

Travelers who brought prosperity to our land."

ΘΘΘ

Mila's sweet voice died down as she finished the song. With careful actions, she closed the book and lifted her eyes. The young lady was finally asleep.

Mila smiled upon seeing the girl's peaceful face.

'It was fortunate that my voice isn't bad.', she thought.

Little did she know that it was an accurate guess. The content that was deemed meaningless by Adelaide was saved by the maid's gentle voice instead.

The maid fixed Adelaide's blankets, turned off the lamp, and made sure the curtains were closed before tip-toeing out of the room.