An Empire Ruled With Fear | Chapter Three
short note :
.
.the later narration will temporarily address Arius as Marquis Gabriel Batair.
.
"Welcome back, your Majesty". - ‖
Ashen eyes turned deep green, light hair now jet-black, tensed shoulders soothed at the sight of his familiar aides, "Mn".
"Took you long enough, m'lord", Darius added beside the other two men, back slouched from tiredness.
Exhaustion showed through Caspar's slumping shoulders, with a heavy sigh, the aide's leader informed, " You've come just in time, sire".
╰━ ⋅𖥔⋅ ━━✶━━ ⋅𖥔⋅ ━╯
. . .
. .
.
Footsteps halted its path to their destined fief, the person leading them disappearing into the deep sea of people from Sioddonna— their lead has just fled to another direction, thoroughly separated by a large crowd.
" Our lord keeps piling up trouble wherever he goes, no?".
‖ - "I swear that very person might end my life one day".
»»»
WMMAP Chapter 23**
Slender palms clenched from treachery, ears unbelieving of what he's hearing, heart hurt from his prospective spouse's adulterous deeds.
Behind a corner hid Claude, a short stroll away stood his most-despised brother with the second prince's betrothed.
The prince's jewelled gaze pierced air, eyes squinted with hatred, lips carved in a thin line, hands shaking from restrained anger.
Bile threatened to break out of Claude's throat, his disgust showed from what he had seen, the sight of Penelope clinging to his blood brother's chest made him nauseated.
"Lies".
"You never meant to stay by my side the moment you promised that".
Trembling lids of cerulean orbs drew shut, lungs greedy for air, hands gripping silk cloth to stabilize heated nerves.
Claude knew,
It was too good to be true.
The woman was never meant to be by his side,
Not when he was the unfavored member of the royal family,
Not when he's the inferior brother of the crown prince.
Penelope saw nothing worth in him,
He had nothing,
He wasn't given the throne,
He did not have his Majesty's favour,
Nor the servants' praise.
What he had was the empress' hatred—
Her loathing burning him every time she caught sight of him.
He was never made to surpass his brother,
the one set to reign on that throne,
was never him.
.
Everything changed one day,
Things turned for the worse,
His elder brother —
The other person aside from his mother who was close to him,
Now detested him.
»»›
"Have you heard of the scandal encircling the imperial palace?", whispers of gossip rung through the well-known cafe within obelia.
" Who wouldn't when the news is spreading like flames?". - ‖
‖ - "But is this perhaps why Ms Judith has been delaying her and the second prince's engagement announcement?".
" Perhaps so, it has become quite noticeable of her engagement with the second prince even without an announcement, seeing as her position as a count's daughter didn't let her aim for the crown prince, no?". - ‖
‖ - " That aside, is it not quite audacious of her to do so? Is she not afraid that the prince may imprison her of lèse-majesté? Our emperor might take into account her action as disrespect towards a member of royalty".
" Let's not jest, all nobles within the empire knows of the Empress' displeasure towards the second prince, a word of complaint from him may be dismissed and unregarded by anyone". - ‖
‖ - "But why must the second prince be disregarded like this, is he not a prince of royal blood?".
" Are you perhaps from elsewhere or have you been staying within your home for more than a dozen years? A consequence of royal blood mixed with a commoner's is not welcomed within the royal family's heirarchy". - ‖
Three years passed since Arius had come to Obelia and rumours around the blonde brothers were already circulating within the empire.
Stories like these entertained the nobles to no end, that much Arius can see.
The second prince must've turned sixteen at this time of the year. Arius does somehow feel terrible for the young prince, even he was not cheated on when he was sixteen, though everyone does have their fair share of troubles.
"Excuse us, sir. Here is your tea. Would you like to see the carte du jour perhaps?", a worker walked to the male's table, a large list of desserts and beverages worded, "We have famed sweets that are available in this fervour season, it is our honour to have you try them".
" I'll have the dessert with less sugar than the rest", Arius requested, glimpsing through the menu handed to him.
" We'll be taking that into account then, sir".
/////
[A|N] :
• It's been three years,
To be more clear — The current ages : not canon.
Claude : 16
Anastacius : 23
Penelope : 20
Diana : 14
/////
¦|¦
‖ - "I can't believe the rumours were true",
" The tale has spread far and wide, and all of Obelia knows of how Ms Judith acts, there are no portions of details the crown can deny". - ‖
‖ - "My, how malevolent. I would have never thought of someone from such a position to take any kind of litigation towards royalty— with the Crown Prince involved, mind you".
Handheld fans veiled painted lips of amused noblewomen, disparaging laughs leaving their mouths in entertainment. Gossip was definitely what entertained the ladies within the capital.
A ball held by the Emperor attended by all heirs and established rulership of noble houses.
The activity took the great surprise of aristocrats as it had been a while since the Emperor invited all people of noble calibre.
Set within heirs of distinguished ranking families, Arius— presented as a Marquis from the far east of Obelia, entertained the ladies curtsying to him, small talks of noblemen about the ball's purpose heard beside him.
The tale that had recently commenced a few months ago had escalated to the ears of the townspeople, which had certainly raised hesitancy towards the crown for assigning such a woman as a royalty's betrothed.
The minds of those who have heard of it seemed to have already believed it, though the rumour was indeed not false.
While the rumour has been going around and doing its work, the royal family has yet to confirm any of the nobles' discussions, not yet at least.
That may be the reason for this ball.
. . .
. .
.
"His Majesty Aevum de Alger Obelia,
our Sun's Moon and our Empress,
Hetara of House Eris
Alongside Obelia's First Star and Future Sun—
His Highness Anastacius de Alger Obelia,
Accompanied by House Judith's Second Miss,
Penelope Judith,
And His Highness the second prince,
Claude de Alger Obelia—
Has entered the hall".
" That must've been a mouthful to say", Arius muttered with a breathy laugh, low enough for no one to notice.
Without delay, all nobles and attendants brought by their masters bowed as the Imperial family graced them with their presence.
Silence filled the spacious hall from that moment on, though dubious murmurs of nobles soon took over as the emperor decreed for them to raise.
‖ - "See what I told you?"
"You are right, Ms Judith came with the crown prince, what a scandal this would be if my strict elders were to see this". - ‖
‖ - " She's standing quite near Her Majesty, is Ms Judith that desperate to strengthen her stature within the noble court led by the Empress?".
A female's voice spoke and interrupted the nobles' chatter, "Ladies, I believe this isn't the place for nobles to discuss such things".
" Miss Rosalia! My, how disrespectful of us to show you such behaviour, we are deeply sorry for having your younger sister as a scandal's centre", mocked the nobles, scowls hidden under handheld fans, though not obscuring the crease on their brows.
"You—!", hostile utterances would have been exchanged that moment if they hadn't been in a banquet surrounded with nobles in their level.
The hand Rosalia held high directed to the noblewoman's haughty face halted, as much as she wanted to retaliate, she did not want the emperor and empress to see her brazenness in such situations.
Her younger sister especially begged of her to supervise her plan, in other words, persuade their father into shifting her engagement with the second prince — to the crown prince. 'The better man'. The heir'. And the one who'll satiate her sister's greed for wealth and comfort of money.
"Miss Judith?", a simple question from a male's low tone of voice was enough for Rosalia to have her turn her head to the sound, "Yes? What may I help you with?".
"Apologies for the lack of introduction. Earl Nero of the Aspérez county, Miss.
May I be honoured to have your first dance this night, m'Lady?". - ‖
The first lady's peridot eyes took a look around the busy hall, it seems the royals had already had their dance and started the ball during those moments she was deep within her thoughts, "I do not see a reason to decline, I am glad to accept your offer".
The music started its journey, from ear to ear, either something to listen to or to block out conversations meant for privacies, it still set the mood—
For House Judith's first miss, at least.
The lady let her curiosity jump out her orbs of peridot, if not for remembering the reason she came here for and for who she was, she would have asked the man, 'Would you marry me?'. The man seemed familiar, they had their hair out of their eyes' way, his piercing eyes the colour of silver bordering blue, it seemed more of a sea's surface cascaded by the moon than a sky's hue nearing afternoon.
How poetic the lady had become, she had never believed herself to be someone to admire someone so long before, she seemed like a heroine meeting her prince in a ball, so as she read from platitude novels written with common thinking writers. --Perhaps she had become a simp.--
Wealth was what she wanted, she shall get. Admiring a man the position of Earl wouldn't hurt, she'll be Countess either way and help her sister be empress.
She had heard of Sir Nero's name more than enough to have her be reminded of it once she sees a knight, but this was the first time they personally met, he truthfully could steal the spotlight from anyone anytime he wants.
Was the Earl of Aspérez higher than he made known?
That, Rosalia could not confirm.
But a miner's eyes are attentive of gold,
And a parasite wisely chooses its hosts.
The opportunist saw something shiny sticking out of the dull stone, unnoticeable, but still there.
She saw something more into this person than other nobles could have.
As much as she would dislike to give herself more trouble with being greedy of something she was yet to have—
She'll be observing for a while,
To see if he's someone worth loving,
fun to fool around
Or someone she'll wring dry.
. . .
. .
.
Or was it the other way around?
¦|¦
short note :
Arius and Nero's rank within Obelia's nobility are completely different from each other -
Respectively a Marquis and an Earl - generally known as a Count.
Arius' faked identity's position is of a Marquessate/ March—.
lower than that of a Duke,
though senior to Count.
»»›
"have you enjoyed your dance?". - ‖
"No, quite literally not, sire", the earl of Aspérez responded towards the tone directed at him, " My feet feels conscious of every step it takes and her eyes exhibit the full orbit of her thoughts".
Arius hummed at the remark, "then?".
"First lady Judith is very conscious and is controlling of everyone— Her mind easily ransacked once her plans have gone south", Earl Nero recalled the observation he had made of the noblewoman,
‖ - "An unworthy litigant, I must say".
"Sure, however— you've lured her quite well, no?", taunted the marquis of the east, pestering the mind out of his scout. The lady of their conversation had gone off to personally greet the imperial family with the other members of house Judith, resulting in both colleagues having time to converse, absent from other nobles presence.
"Lady Rosalia was of naive mind in love, previously on securing her income, perhaps all of House Judith has gotten that hereditary— a fool is what I see in her eyes", Nero Asperéz was an aide sent to Obelia as an eye and a common noble within the empire. Whatever rumour has started nor whoever has commenced a flame within Obelia's palace walls, the Clentian royal learns.
A low laugh exited lifted lips, amused at the comment his aide had shared, "I can tell, her eyes meant she'll want to talk to you later after her audience with the royal family".
‖ - " Not unless we've returned first—, would she be daring enough to visit the Aspérez county with all the boiling rumours about her family?".
Passing a glass of champagne from the lengthened table of desserts, Arius prompted, "I don't believe house Judith's head would like to hear us talking about his daughters being incautious".
‖ - " How would he infer when he's still lying sick in bed?".
"Who taught you such speech", however serious the words had seemed after being said, it still had not denied the fact a wheeze would've left Arius' throat if he continued his talk any further.
Nero had far before noticed his sire's amusement at the gossip→ since he started it, "Who else do you think it is, sire?".
With now a clear throat, palms lacking beverage and suits neatly dusted, the Marquis reminded his friend of their purpose, " It's about time we greet them, quite a few has already done so and I wouldn't want to stand out".
"We'll be parting then".
»»›
"it's a great day for a toast your Highness—, but why have you not laid your hands on those desserts plated at the table?". - ‖
Thin lips curved upward, expression daringly showing its mischief, two slices of a cake had rested unto Arius' palms, taken from the servants passing by, " It would be a waste to have such delicious food be left untouched".
"... No, I'm alright, I doubt I'd want one", cerulean eyes focused previously on his brother and his fiance now unto the male, Claude's face remained stoic, not finding anything much of value.
The rumours encircling House Judith's second miss made it simple to discontinue their engagement, that was what Claude was glad about— , he wouldn't aspire to tarry with a woman caught in infidelity. The ball was organized for their engagement's discontinuation and the preparation for Anastacius' soon reign of Obelia.
All that had been happening currently had given the second prince attention from all meddlesome aristocrats' discussions. And who's to say one had not yet thought of assassination.
The marquis of the east stayed still, narrow smile unmoving as though he hadn't heard a thing, ultimately seizing the prince's complete scrutiny, this person was surely irritating— " Was there something else you needed to say?".
"The name's Gabriel of House Batair, your highness", a fraudulent identity introduced itself from uplifted lips, Arius's nonchalance towards the prince's annoyance might have further irritated Claude, "Blessings and glory to the second Star of Obelia".
"And?", Claude's brows met at his temple, eyes squinted at the male bothering him, nobles would only greet him once they've collected enough murky water at him, what more could he expect of people.
"I've sent multiple invites for His Highness to visit our March. Perhaps sire must've been busy to address my offers".
A funny stare found its way unto Claude's stiff expression, "I don't remember ever seeing any invitation from Batair Marquessate, maybe it had fallen off somewhere else".
" If so, since his Highness now knows. I directly have permission to visit, don't I?".
.
The audacity of this one.
║▌│█║▌│
‹ "The crown prince's coronation had shifted its directory and shall be prepared for in advance— ·,
I hope for no one to oppose of the first prince's immediate rule of the empire—
all should be taken care of and I wish for all noble houses to be ready for the crowning of the heir apparent this season". ›
The emperor stood from his throne, footing elevated a few steps from the nobles' standing. The second prince had broken off his engagement and the crown prince's coronation was brought quicker than all had expected.
‖ - "Did something happen?".
"Is there a reason for the crowning to be held in such a rush?". - ‖
‖ - "The crown prince already held a portion of the royal affairs even before the coronation, I'm sure there wouldn't be much of a change".
Whispers resumed its flight through the banquet hall - , though music no longer veiled its noise.
█║▌│ █│║▌ ║││█║▌ │║║█║ │║║█║
───── ❝ wasted power is authority given and held in nefarious cards- 𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 -𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 ❞ ─────
- one would gain none for doing such indecent acts with the authority they have,
while the insatiable shall lose all for the power they seek and will never find— .
-
Claude had far before given up on his brother. Nothing can ever change him.
To Anastacius, Claude was nothing but a two-faced wretch, one who would sneer at him — . Claude was unfavored, yet had everything Anastacius didn't, that may have been what the wretched prince did not see, for what he noticed was what is seized from him—. A love from family, and Penelope, for whom he had thought was a second friend.
"I'll prepare something more powerful than you,
something made with the one you thought would've stayed with you".
Jeanette Margarita.
»»›
‖ - ". . . — So, has the weather done his Highness good? Or did you wake up on the wrong side of your wondrous bed?".
" That wasn't an outstanding conversation starter, Marquis". - ‖
‖ - "I know, just play along".
Visits from Marquis Gabriel had been frequent after the banquet, much to the second prince's annoyance— he hadn't expected for the noble to continue to greet him even after his elder brother's early ruling announcement.
The prince's expression hasn't changed the days after the aristocratic event, though it became more tense as the time for a certain moment came closer to the present.
The security within the palace had been that of a dense forest, no gaps for inside rumours to get out, nor visitors to easily get in. Guards stationed every dark corner of each attached buildings, more so afront the crown prince's palace. All nobility inclined to their sides if there were to be any unexpected assaults from anyone.
Though Marquis Batair seems to be exempt from that strict rule.
" How come the crown prince lets you in the imperial gates every time?". - ‖
Felix, who stood beside where the second prince sat, also wondered the same. There was no way for the Heir Apparent to not have been informed of Marquis Batair's startling visits. Nonetheless, Anastacius never did choose to face the Marquis.
‖ -"Perhaps this Lord was too handsome for the guards to block out the palace?".
If Claude could zip shut the Marquis' narcissistic mouth with a sword, he would've done so the moment the noble had talked.
" You're in your early twenties and recently received the
I believe? Shouldn't you be busy at this time?". - ‖
Maquis Batair casually slouched his back on his seat, waving a hand as though to wash away the prince's 'worries', "I had someone else take care of those".
•
Another silence ensued.
As a legal-aged member of the royal family, Claude was also given paperwork, though less significant than the matters handled by the Emperor and the crown prince. As the unfavored son, although more talented, the second prince's influence on the people was low, nothing he says can impact the people under the crown.
It was favourable for him to work harder.
"Good for you". - ‖
Both parties were in the second prince's office, it was too small for a royal, yet too big for a typical aristocrat.
Claude was very busy, the Marquis knew, though he couldn't care any less— who else was he to annoy when he had given all his work to his envoys—...
‖ - "You're Highness".
The marquis called.
The prince reluctantly turned his eyes away from his desk, hearing a tone more serious than the ones he'd heard from the man. —Though he shouldn't have, seeing as an amused smirk lengthened the Marquis' lips, a book in a different diction suddenly in hand—,
‖ - "Would you like to learn something?".
║▌│█║▌│
" Crown Prince", an attendant greeted before informing the person of his findings, "The Marquis is in another audience with the Second Prince".
.
"I've told you, matters regarding that Marquis does not need to be reported", a trace of red threatened to glint at the crown prince's pupils, he was too tired of hearing anything about that person that such name is taboo in his presence.
"Yes, we will take that into consideration, your Highness". - ‖
║▌│█║▌│
" Are you sure you're strong enough to ensure my right to the throne? Your fear of a mere Marquis is indeed doubtingly suspicious".
"He's no normal being", a croak resounded, it was a sentence, indirectly spoken by a soul, yet it tuned more like rattling stones.
The crown prince's temple creased, eyes squinted into a frown. Then what could he be? Was there anyone more powerful as the previous great emperor of Obelia as written in records within the library? {...}
If there was indeed such a threat, he'll have to rid of such pest the moment he's crowned.
"Never have such thoughts, he'll know".
"What made you this scared of a person?", Anastacius' grip tightened on his quill, uncomfortable with what he might hear as an answer.
"All you need to be aware of is his danger, do as planned and nothing else". - ‖
Anastacius felt disgusted, it seemed as though he had become crown prince just to be some servant of someone who's relying on him, "We'll see about that".
█║▌│ █│║▌ ║││█║▌ │║║█║ │║║█║
"This isn't enough".
Drawbacks were something he didn't wish to exhibit to anyone, Aeternitas may have been meek once before, but such memory is no longer worthy of his worry. He's grown, he has promised himself to work harder, learn—, prove to the tower magician of the talented youth he lost due to arrogance.
Yet—
After all the talk he had with himself,
He found nothing more helpful than dark magic,
It was what progressed his strength much quicker.
¬ But it wasn't enough. ¬
Hands scurrying through a tower of books, Aeternitas never cared for his troublesome countenance, nor did the bags under his eyes bother his scampering. What mattered was information regarding methods from different landmasses. If he didn't find any within Obelia, he'll search each corner he can reach.
·
: The Revered Ruler of the Holy Land :
Dominique Agnes Von Salacia
·
"What toy is this",
He didn't know of such a name that ruled Obelia.
Aside from the term Holy Land, there was no indication the person came from Obelia. Yet was there any more divine of a land than Obelia?
Aeternitas did not think, more so believe such silly jokes.
Confused profanities muttered as the youth turned a page from the olden book, it was a wonder as to how long that book resided in a corner, yet it still held a spark that interested Aeternitas.
.
xxx, land emerged far from the foreign soil of Kaspia, the immense quarry soon claimed by its current ruler. Becoming a proper living community for the impoverished residents from other continents.
Another page turned.
xxx, the land gained wealth, throughout different jurisdictions, Clentine overpowered states that had long before stood on its own.
And the next.
Talents grew within the land of Clentine, but as it grew, so was its mystery so far still run by its Emperor.
Another one.
Visitors came, yet nevë̵̠̥͠r̵̠͙̈́͆ ̸̗̈́͒̍c̵̩̹̐̇͆ͅḣ̵̥̬͚́o̵̯̺͍̿́s̷̼̘̆̇ȩ̷̒͆͌ ̸̡̻͚̐t̸̡͓̿̂̌o̴̹̟͖̾͐ ̴͈̳̱̑̑͊c̷̳͔̰̅͂o̷̮̬̾͊m̵̘͕͇̊̓e̶̗͑̉͒͜ ̸̞̥̒b̸͙̳̘̈̄̊â̷̟͖̪c̷͍͓̊̈́ḱ̸̮̪́ t̷͔͙̋o̶̩̱͐ ̸̗̗̣͆w̶͇̭͌͐͠h̵͔̾ȩ̷̅̅̅r̴̹͇̪̈́̾̂é̴̢͍ ̷̺͔͋̑͜t̶̞̍͗h̴̝̺͐e̶̮̻̭͗͑̾y̸͚͘ ̵͓͈̊ć̵̪ǎ̷̧̡̪̾͗m̵̦͔̏̋̒ę̸͉̓ ̷͍̝͑ͅf̵̳̏r̶̮̟̬̎̃̕ȯ̴̢̈́m̵̡͓̟̍ —̸̢̛̖̞̈́̚.̵̹̈́̽̄ ̶͎̝͊͛͑F̴̳̗͛́́o̵̥̼̔̽ṟ̸̢̲̉ ̴̡̝͗̄͜C̴̮̒̍l̵̛̳̋͠e̴͙̪̾̈̿n̶̥̝̏̀t̷̛̰̯͓̓ǐ̶͉n̴̯̐ë̵̞́̍ ̷͚̲͙́w̸̠͓͗͝ȁ̴͈͓̄s̷̩͓̉̀͒ ̶̨̮́̑̆ä̵̘̩̻́͘ ̶͙́p̷̧̤̲͛́á̷̝̱͈ŕ̴̹͕̃̽a̷̦̻̓͠͝d̵̫̥́͒͘ì̴̧̫s̸̫̼̗̀̊è̴͍͍͕̋͠.̸̖̮͕́̑
: —yet never chose to come back to where they came from— For Clentine was paradise.
next.
All secrets remain hidden until̵̳̔͊ ̴̩̈̽i̵̝̅͒ț̷̢̄'s̶̖͔̈́̓ ̷͍̪̀u̷͔͌̓n̴̖̓c̷̟̩͘o̷͙͌͐v̶͍͌e̷̘͈̊̾r̶̠͋e̸̡̿͒d̷̜̓,̷̝̲̊ ̷̰̞̂̕C̴̱̎͠l̷̲̗͑ẽ̶̺̈n̸̛̯͛t̵̥̯̓i̴̜̠̾̽n̷͓̑e̴̲̎ ̷̪̳́̀ḩ̸̰̑i̶̮̊d̶̰̼͌͝ ̸̯̓̾c̸̣̈o̴̫̓͝n̴̂̋ͅf̵̨̃̇i̴͔̞̒͝d̷͔̑͘͜e̸͓͐n̷̼̂t̶͍͕̑͝i̷͍̿ȃ̶̭̦̚l̶̼̔ ̶̮̾͠m̸͇̰̽̂ä̶̯́t̴̮͈̍͝t̴͕͐e̵͈̟̍̽ȑ̷̨͕s̴̰̔ ̷̬̍͛t̵̢͆͝ö̶̫̙ ̴̻̆ẗ̵̤͈́͠e̷̡͇̐n̶̪̲̓̈́a̸̲̐͐ņ̸̕͠ṫ̴͇s̴̛̹̼ ̴̰̈́n̴̪͗o̴̜̞̓ṯ̶͆ ̶̜̋b̵̠̑̾ę̷́̕l̵̢͒o̸̙̚ǹ̷͕g̷̦̅ï̷̻̺ǹ̸̙̹͝g̸̬̦͐͛ ̶̹͔͌t̶̬̾o̸̬͛ ̵͔̈́t̶͍̉h̶͖͙͗͝ẽ̸̲͍i̵̬͐̎r̸̻͋ ̴̛̦͕l̸̡͐ǎ̷̮n̶̚͜d̵̬͐̚.̶̹͊ ̴̣̩̕͝
— until its uncovered. Clentine hid confidential matters to tenants not belonging to their land.
next.
T̶h̶e̶ ̶v̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶C̶l̶e̶n̶t̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶l̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶f̶a̶i̶r̶ ̶b̶l̶u̶e̶,̶ ̶t̶r̶a̶n̶s̶p̶a̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶y̶e̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶r̶c̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶h̶i̶d̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶n̶e̶a̶t̶h̶,̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶l̶l̶,̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶c̶r̶e̶a̶t̶u̶r̶e̶s̶ ̶s̶w̶a̶m̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶s̶w̶a̶n̶s̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶v̶e̶.̶ ̶ ̶
̶A̶ ̶b̶o̶d̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶w̶a̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶c̶l̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶e̶n̶t̶i̶r̶e̶t̶y̶ ̶y̶e̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶s̶e̶c̶r̶e̶t̶s̶ ̶h̶i̶d̶d̶e̶n̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶m̶a̶g̶i̶c̶.̶
next.
next.
next.
next.
Aeternitas quickly shifted the book's thin pages to another, blurred letters welcoming his dull cerulean orbs. Why would such a thin book hold Arlanta's former name {Kaspia° not canon} when it had long been centuries since it was revised? Why would an ordinary work have messed words? How could a land suddenly appear next to Arlanta when It had only been a vast space of saltwater ever since he could remember?
The youth paused on his movements, eyes struck with surprise. The page no longer held a surface crowded with blurred words, only— it wrote a judgment. Clearly specifying a warning.
「 A notice to an unfamiliar holder.
This is as far as you could read. 」
The book thrown at the pained floor of the silenced library, Aeternitas gritted his teeth. He had already been in a faulty mood, yet this book took it another level lower.
"What joke is this?". Aeternitas took another glimpse at the blank pages that soon came after the warning, it clearly had writings when he first skimmed it, yet it was gone.
「 A warning. 」
What could a mere book even do? The youth sneered, the book now off the ground and unto his palms. He planned to bring the work to his chamber, he'll keep it hidden when he's gotten clues.
Clentine— huh.
I'll have to search that vast sea more thoroughly.