Chapter 61 - The Passing of Time

Time waits for no man. A lot of things can happen in a day, what to say about months and even years.

It was the year 2739 A.D.E (Anno Domini EON).

There was a major incident in the Border between Ansem and Rhodnius, where Dragon General Elizabeth Marion Dai Baruna infiltrated the Rhodnian Territory and assassinated the Commander of one of the small armies annexed to the Black Turtle Army, Roland Du Sacar. The Great Council of Rhodnius accused the Dragon General of invading the Great Territory, and demanded her head as compensation for her clear act of war.

The Kingdom of Ansem replied by saying that Roland had invaded the Kingdom of Ansem first, in company of a small group of Beastmen and tried to make a move against citizens in the city of Corona. Rhodnius denied the claims, and both countries' relations got even worse. For the next months there were multiple skirmishes and battles on the Frontier, and General Elizabeth managed to overcome an ambush from both the Black Turtle and the Red Phoenix Armies' commanders, Dylan du Sacar and Felitia Du Venteria, in a magnificent battle two against one, in which Elizabeth, the Iron Maiden, managed to cut one of Dylan's arms and also injured Felitia, while getting away.

One of Elizabeth's new personal guard, a young man named Elijah No Rademia accomplished the unthinkable by helping the ambushed army get away from the point of ambush with a brilliant war tactic, by using the terrain to infiltrate the enemy camp and quickly destroying one of the sieging points, allowing the army to get away with as few casualties as possible, which later allowed the Dragon General to utilize her full power with no fear, and finally grasped victory from defeat.

Due to this, Elijah No Rademia was put on the Cleansing List from the Rhodnian Territory in position number 95, a great accomplishment in the eyes of the Kingdom's citizens, since most of the people on the list were great and elite warriors rank 5 and above who had done great merits against the enemy territory.

In future battles Elijah made several successful infiltrations and did a lot of damage against the Rhodnian Army, avoiding an assassination attempt against his life, though he did suffer from severe injuries. After several months of silence, the young man was absent from the fights and many feared that his talent had been capped, and would vanish into oblivion in the future.

Who would have thought that one year later, all of a sudden, he would appear in the city of Pellam, the last border city that belonged to Rhodnius, and destroy the city gates, while also decimating the city army. The Ansem Army later appeared, led by General Elizabeth and Regimental Commander Sebastian, and successfully conquered the city before the Rhodnian Army could make a proper response.

This was an unprecedented victory for Ansem, since it had been more than 600 hundred years since any one of the territorires managed to gain total domination over the Frontier and expand the territory.

As the heroes of the Kingdom, both Elizabeth and especially Elijah who had worked as a spy and managed the crucial breakthrough point that allowed the Army to get a speedy and resolute victory were awarded the Grand Medal of Heroes by the King himself, Johannes Dai Ansem III, the Lion King. Elijah was also officially introduced into the middle army ranks, when he was named Lieutenant, a quite rapid progression for an orphan such as him.

He was quite liked in the army, and soon developed a strong group of followers who were fiercely loyal and seasoned. Elijah himself also managed to meet and get pointers by several of the Army's old officials and generals, and having the support from one of the Dragon Generals, it was quite obvious he was on the way to success. Even though he also faced some opposition from rivals in the army and some members of the Great Families who did not want an orphan with no clear sense for the needs of the nobles, to gain so much prestige. However his ascension seemed unstoppable, especially since Lord Falma, the Gran Dragon General also expressed his support and even gave him some pointers in his training once or twice.

As for Elizabeth, she wisely used the Fruit of the Mountain God to spearhead towards becoming a Saint when she was just 23 years old, just being short of Armand Dai Mikaleli's previous record of 22.

As the years passed, a group called the Dark Brotherhood started making their move on the whole continent. They advocated for equality of rights among the rich and the poor, and denounced the excesses and abuses made by the Temple and the elites of the different Territories. They were called heretics by the Temple and the major organizations, and were apparently persecuted on the open.

However they seemed to have integrated well into the lower tiers of society, and the social discontent against the ruling classes of the world was festering non-stop.

…

It was the year 2743 A.D.E.

This was a magical place. There was a huge Lake named St. Marcol, surrounded by majestic mountains and a magnificent, opulent and huge city in the Lake Shore were men and women of all races could be seen happily talking to each other, and piously looking towards the center of the lake. There was a long strip of land that extended towards the center of the Lake and at each side of said strip there were cherry trees with flowers blooming all year round, like an eternal miracle.

In the center of the Lake there was an immense temple made of stone and marble, grand and tall, filled with paintings, murals and statues depicting the true glory of EON and His appointed servants throughout the years. At the back of the magnificent temple there was a garden. The garden had trees from all around the continent and every fruit imaginable could be found in it. There were also a myriad of animals and beasts living in it in peace. There was no such thing as turmoil or war that could spoil this hallowed ground. This famous and beautiful garden was aptly named Eden.

There was a small log in the entrance to the garden and a tall figure was seated on it. The figure was clearly male, and seemed to have long fair hair of ashen color. He was hooded and there was a veil covering his face so only his eyes, blue and brilliant as a sapphire could be seen. His clothes were white with some red laces and belt attached, and the hems of the clothes were also red in color. As the man was seated on the log, he seemed to be a part of nature itself, and was being fully embraced and loved by the world.

He seemed to be enjoying a rare moment of peace and solitude, which was sorely broken by the arrival of a servant who looked at the man with clear zealotry and devotion.

"Your Excellency. I'm sorry, I meant to say, Your Holiness, you've been called to the High Chamber. The Conclave of Cardinals has finally taken a decision. It was about time, they sure took their sweet time making this important choice, they had left all believers in the world orphaned. But now we can finally rejoice, as there is a new Shepherd for us" said the man with clear excitement in his voice.

"Caesar, you should not talk like that about our Lord's servants. All men have to learn to see past themselves and their personal interests, what more the Cardinals who wield such great power. We may be the persons closest to the Lord, but we are also the ones most attacked by temptation. Always remember that and do not be led astray from true devotion to Lord EON. Also you should not call me your Holiness. Until the Conclave truly makes a decision, we should stay humble. The Conclave could have made a different choice, and I would totally support it should that be the case", said the hooded man. His voice seemed to have the ability to calm any and all tiredness, and his disposition was close to being truly ethereal.

"Yes your Excellency. But they would not dare delay this decision for longer. They are getting a lot of pressure from all the Territories. Besides, we need to make Ansem pay for the death of the last Vicar, we need a leader. And who would be better than you, my lord. Please guide us and lead us away from the darkness we have been subjected to". The tone and excitement in the voice of the man told that he would be willing to die if the hooded man just gave the order, as if it was his greatest honor.

The hooded man stayed quiet in a sigh, and was then led to the High Chamber. As he entered, he went to an amphitheater, where there were close to 40 men and women seated on High Chairs. In the position of honor there was a currently empty seat, as if it was a throne. All of these people were exuding an incredible power and the pressure they emanated was beyond compare. Any person standing in front of them could very well die from the pressure alone, if they were not powerful themselves.

These people were the current members of the Conclave, where the decisions of the most important Institution in the world took place. It was made by the 7 Grand Cardinals, 12 Cardinals and 21 Archbishops that led the different branches of The Temple around the continent.

For the last 10 years they have failed to choose a successor to the position of Vicar, the Right Hand of EON, the representative of the Lord in the world. The infighting brought by greed and thirst for power had made this election the longest in the history of the Temple since its inception.

When the man stared back at the men seated in front of them, some of them were smiling at him joyfully, some were quite angry and filled with resentment, and some were even avoiding the pure look in his eyes. Even his fiercest opponents had to admit that the man in front of them was truly blessed by EON and loved by the world. He also had the power to make them submit, though he had never used it to coerce them to make any choice whatsoever in his favour. Therefore they had nothing that could either move nor soil his reputation.

The man on the right of the center throne was an old and stern looking man, with thunder like eyes, and a full head of hair as well as a full beard. His clothes were luxurious and filled with ornaments with sacred images, yet he looked more like a hunter than a priest, but he was truly the Head of the Grand Cardinals, and the main opponent to the hooded and gentle man for the position of Vicar. His name was Fender Ben Longinus and was a member of the Longinus Grand Clan from the Oligarchy of Lutzomya.

When the silent was turning a bit too much to handle, Fender was the first to speak:

"Maester Nikolau, leader of the Ascetic order. As a member of the Ascetics, you should have no part whatsoever in this Council, and stay away from the ruling of the Temple. However, due to the difficulties experienced by this sacred Conclave to choose a new head, the demand from the lambs across the Continent has reached our ears and we have learnt of the despair and need for a new head.

So, asking for a revelation, several of the Chardinals and Archbishops suggested that a member, not from this sacred Conclave, a so-called middle man should take the position of Vicar of the Temple. A man that was not led nor influenced by any group, nor was he prone to greed, nor riches, truly devoted to the cause of the Temple and the needs of its parish, and with enough power to demand the respect and awe from the whole continent.

As such, and after a long deliberation, you have been selected by this sacred Conclave to hold the position of Vicar of the Temple, to be the Right Hand of EON, the Keeper of Balance. What say you then?"

The tone in Fender's voice was stern and mighty, as if thunder itself had come into existence in the room. However it couldn't even move the clothes on Nikolau's body.

Then the placid voice from Nikolau was heard in the High Chamber: "It is my honor, and with humble attitude that I respectfully accept the decision of this Sacred Conclave. May EON's name live forever, and his truth be spread upon the World."

And so it was. That after 10 long years after the death of the previous Vicar, the Temple finally chose a new leader. Nikolau I.

___

The ranks for the Ansem's Army are in ascending order:

- Private

- Corporal

- Captain

- Major

- Lieutenant

- Brigadier

- Commander

- General

- Dragon General