Medal For Merit I

The Medal for Merit: a prestigious decoration bestowed by the Emperor of the Slatemark Empire upon those who had rendered exemplary service or achieved feats of outstanding valor. It was not handed out lightly, but reserved for moments when an individual's actions tipped the scales in moments of grave consequence.

In my case, the honor was granted for saving the lives of three princesses—each representing powerful forces within this world—from the grasp of two formidable demon contractors. It was a symbol of recognition, a tribute that would be broadcast across the globe. Yet, I knew deep down that I hadn't done it for the accolades. This medal, these rewards—they were simply echoes of the true act, the life-risking choice that had set this all into motion.

"We're proud of you," my father said, his voice steady, pride glimmering in his eyes as I adjusted my suit.

I met his gaze, feeling the warmth of familial pride, and then turned to my mother, who was fussing with the final adjustments on my collar. Her touch was gentle, methodical, and spoke of a worry that only mothers knew how to convey without words.

She stepped back and looked me over, a smile creasing her lips. "There, now you look the part of a hero," she said with a teasing glint that barely hid her emotion.

I chuckled, more for their sake than mine, and glanced at the polished reflection in the mirror. The man staring back wore the sharp uniform with an ease I didn't truly feel.

Valen's words echoed in my mind, a cryptic reminder that still gnawed at the edges of my thoughts. Even Luna, ever-present in my mind, hadn't been able to hear them—proof of an enigma buried so deep that not even Alastor, a 9-circle mage, could reach it. The nature of my existence in this world remained shrouded in questions, each more tangled than the last.

But I would uncover them, piece by piece, and carve out my place in this world. Because, at my core, I was selfish. I acted for myself, followed my desires. I saved people because I wanted to, loved those I loved because it made me feel alive, and fought to protect this world to ensure a future for me and my loved ones. I wasn't a hero like Lucifer Windward. And that was fine. I didn't have to be.

A hero alone wouldn't be enough to save this world. But I would do it my way, on my terms.

Steeling my resolve, I stepped out of my room just as an attendant's knock echoed against the door.

To my surprise, waiting for me in the corridor was Cecilia. She stood like a vision in crimson, the color matching her eyes and casting a warm glow against her skin. A ruby necklace rested elegantly at her collarbone, catching the light and shimmering with a subtle intensity. She was radiant, with a smile that spoke of mischief and triumph.

"Well, come along, Art," she said, her voice playful and rich with confidence. 

I glanced around, noting the absence of Seraphina and Rachel. Clearly, there had been a silent contest, and Cecilia had won this particular battle. The realization tugged a smirk from my lips as I reached for her outstretched hand.

"Lead the way," I replied, matching her playful tone.

The hall was grand, more so than I could have imagined. Chandeliers of pure crystal refracted the warm glow of enchanted lights, casting splintered rainbows across the polished marble floors. Noblemen and women adorned in their finest silks and brocades filled the chamber, their eyes all drawn to the central dais where Emperor Quinn Slatemark sat with an air of regality and command.

The whispers stopped as I stepped inside, Cecilia's hand slipping from mine as I made my way down the aisle. I could feel hundreds of eyes on me, their combined gazes a weight pressing against my back. Yet, I held my head high, each step purposeful until I reached the base of the dais. I knelt, bowing my head to the Emperor.

"Arthur Nightingale," Emperor Quinn's voice resonated through the hall, commanding silence and attention. He rose, the rich scarlet of his imperial robes flowing like liquid fire. "For acts of valor and bravery that go beyond duty, for saving the lives of our cherished daughters and defending the honor of the Slatemark Empire, I bestow upon you the Medal for Merit."

The polished medal gleamed as he held it up, the hall bathed in a breathless silence. He leaned forward, affixing the medal to my uniform with practiced ease before offering me his hand. I took it, and as we shook, a subtle nod passed between us, a silent acknowledgment of the weight and significance of the moment.

The hall erupted in applause, a wave of sound that echoed off the vaulted ceilings. But as the ovation died down, the Emperor spoke again, his eyes fixed on me with a glint of something unreadable. "As promised, we bestow upon you your three rewards."

An attendant approached, holding a velvet-lined tray with three items carefully arranged. The first was the legendary Eclipse Blade, an Ancient-grade artifact forged to channel and withstand all elemental energies. Its sleek, dark steel shimmered with hints of starlight, as if containing the night sky within its core.

The second reward was a finely embossed key—the pass to the Chamber of Shadows, a place known only in whispers. It was where legends went to shatter their limits, an isolation chamber infused with ancient magic, said to drive its occupants to new heights or madness.

And finally, a sealed document that bore the Emperor's crest. It was simple in appearance but carried a weight known to only a few: an imperial credit voucher. Enough wealth to set to heavily boost Noctalis.

The Emperor's eyes locked with mine as he spoke. "These are your due, Arthur Nightingale. Use them wisely, for the future holds more trials than glories."

I bowed my head, accepting the tray as I absorbed the significance of the moment. The hall once again erupted into cheers and applause, but this time, it felt different. Not as a crowd merely witnessing an event, but as a gathering that understood they were seeing the beginning of something greater than any of them could fathom.

After a final bow to the crowd, I returned to my chambers, the echo of applause still ringing in my ears. The room felt both vast and suffocating, a gilded cage filled with noble obligations and the weight of accolades. I let out a sigh, sinking into the plush bed as my phone buzzed incessantly with updates and congratulatory messages. The broadcast of the ceremony had ignited a frenzy, but I ignored it, letting the noise fall away.

My gaze drifted to the tray on the desk, the Eclipse Blade resting in its unassuming ring form. I reached for it, its polished surface cool beneath my fingertips. With a deliberate movement, I pricked my finger, a droplet of blood smearing across the artifact. The instant the blood met metal, a surge of power pulsed through me—a connection that felt raw and visceral, binding the artifact's essence to my own.

Unlike Seraphim's Embrace or Mind's Aegis, this bond was immediate, fierce, as though the blade itself whispered of untapped potential. It wasn't a passive guardian like the other artifacts; this was a weapon forged to answer the wielder's call.

I turned it in my hand, feeling it shift, elongate, and transform into a longsword. The blade was a swath of darkness, like the sky at the witching hour, adorned with delicate, star-like etchings that seemed to shimmer when touched by mana. 

A soft glow emanated from my skin as the sigils of Lucent Harmony activated, channeling my mana into the sword and forming an aura blade that crackled with life. The air hummed with energy, vibrating under the sheer potency the weapon exuded.

"Incredible," I whispered, mesmerized by the interplay of light and shadow that danced along its edge.

Luna's voice stirred within me, cool and analytical. 'A fine weapon, more than capable of carrying you through your trials—until you stand at the very peak.'

I nodded, the affirmation sinking in. Ancient-grade artifacts were the stuff of legend, capable of withstanding the might of Radiant-rankers, even if only briefly. For me, at Integration-rank, this was more than a boon; it was a game-changer.

I pushed a surge of mana into the blade, testing its true nature, and felt the artifact respond with a fluid grace. Its defining ability resonated in my mind: the power to combine and weave elemental auras seamlessly. A trait akin to Lucifer's sword, a weapon that had already etched its legend into this world. 

With Lucent Harmony, I could see the elements in their pure forms, all laid bare before me. And now, with the Eclipse Blade, I could wield them together, their essences merging into something altogether more potent.

A grin tugged at my lips as I imagined the possibilities, the intricacies of battle that now lay within reach. This was no ordinary weapon; it was a harbinger of change, a tool to reshape not just my path but the fate that lay ahead.

"Let's see just how far we can go," I muttered, the midnight blade thrumming in agreement as if it shared in my ambition.