Chapter 151
It was an endless series of surprises.
priest Roman was the Emperor's blood relative.
And that such a person had been a gladiator slave.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Viscount Drian replied.
"To tell the truth, even we didn't know where Roman, or rather, ray, had gone. In the future shown by the Sword of Divinity, ray didn't appear at all."
"How did you get separated?"
The viscount sighed.
"We knew we'd have to part ways. My eldest and my wife lived here, but Ray disappeared. Even so, since he was my son, I kept watching over him until the end."
He paused for a moment and then continued.
"At the time, the Geroz Mercenary Corps was massacring refugees, and the Grand Duke's trackers were searching for us as well. The refugees blocked the way, while the Mercenary Corps was chasing from the front."
I listened, waiting for the broken story to continue.
"I had no choice but to entrust my family to two retainers and stay behind to hold them off. If I had blended in with the refugees, I wouldn't have been able to protect my family."
"It was a hell like no other. As I fought desperately, arrows rained down onto the refugees, and the sea was filled with ships engulfed in flames."
"We barely managed to elude the pursuit and tried to board a ship, but by then all the ships had already left. At that time, I thought Ray had also escaped with the family."
"He must have taken another ship."
"Knowing we'd be separated from the retainers as well, I told them to head to Mouk if their ship went north. I thought at least one of the two retainers would end up in Mouk."
That retainer is at my house.
"I knew that Johnny, whom we met during our flight, was accompanying you, but I didn't know which of the two retainers went to your house. Nor who took Ray."
"So, father, you didn't recognize priest Roman."
"That's right. There was talk that a priest was at the fortress, but neither Gaz nor I realized he was Ray."
It made sense. When Father last saw the Emperor's blood relative, he was an infant.
It would be hard to notice priest Roman and the Emperor's blood relative were the same person just from the vision.
"It was only much later that I found out the butler had escaped with Ray. I have no idea where they went."
"What was the butler's name?"
"Gwyn."
He was Roman's master.
Roman once said he was going to look for his master's acquaintance. Maybe he was coming to look for Viscount Drian.
"Did the butler know Roman's true identity?"
The viscount shook his head.
"No. He only knew that someone was trying to kidnap Ray. I told him as well—to head north to Mouk."
I was surprised.
When priest Roman first came to our fortress, he had said it was on his master's advice to head north in the continent.
That was why, as a mere trainee priest, he came to Arshaire and ended up all the way at our fortress on the northern edge of Mouk.
There was a training area in the north, but...
Roman never spoke about his family. There weren't many opportunities for a long conversation.
All this time, I thought he was an orphan.
"I searched everywhere for Ray. For over ten years, I couldn't find him, but when you rescued him from the Order's island and went to Tris, I finally learned the truth."
"You learned then?"
The viscount nodded.
"That's right. After all those long, anxiety-ridden years, I was finally relieved. One of our people had gone to Tris to watch your achievements and send reports."
"Do you know Roman suffered?"
"Did he?"
Guilt came over the viscount's face.
To him, Roman was his son. He probably didn't know that Roman had been a gladiator slave.
I hadn't planned to tell him. From now on, Roman should be considered not just as the viscount's second son, but as the Emperor's blood relative.
Viscount Drian would have to do the same in the future.
But things had become complicated.
Roman was currently in Tris.
"Does the Grand Duke know Roman's hair color?"
"He shouldn't. I left false information that he had brown hair and green eyes. While being pursued, both sons shaved their heads and wore headscarves."
"I see."
But then, how could it be proven?
"What can prove that Roman is the Emperor's son?"
Again, the two smiled.
"We'll tell you about that later. There's something that needs to be written down, but we can't carry it around with us."
"All right, let's do that."
The viscount spoke again.
"I know you'll act as you see fit, but don't tell Ray for now. He needs to grow stronger still. If word gets out, the war could start sooner."
"You think the Grand Duke has hidden strength?"
"The power he's shown so far is just the tip of the iceberg. He has an organization across the entire continent, and the giant tribe in the far west of Arshaire is virtually his army."
This was the first I'd heard.
"The giant tribe?"
"There is an area in the northwest sea of the Arshaire Continent where an intense cold persists. Except for Aindel, it might as well be the edge of the world."
"It's completely unknown."
"No one can go there because of the barrier of cold. That area originally belonged to Gadisil."
"You mean those are the Gadisil?"
The viscount shook his head.
"I don't know their exact identity. Maybe they're ice giants. They emit a powerful cold."
Are they a new species?
Or a mutated one?
"How did the Grand Duke get in?"
"That's the question. Who are they, and how did he meet them? Why do they obey the Grand Duke? It doesn't make sense."
"You saw them in the vision, right?"
"That's right. I can't tell you all the details, but everywhere they passed was frozen over."
"How many of them?"
"There seemed to be millions."
That was beyond a hidden power.
It was enough strength to trample the entire empire.
Eilin's father spoke.
"They're probably the Gadisil. Elin likely sealed them there with magic for some reason. The powerful cold barrier was also Elin's doing."
"So, they weren't extinct—they were imprisoned."
"That's right."
The west of Arshaire and Aindel face each other across the sea.
If Gadisil had lived in northern Aindel, they're quite close. Maybe there's a giant prison there.
Whether they mutated and were sealed by magic, or because they were sealed, they mutated—over the long years, it seems Gadisil evolved into monsters of freezing.
"So, that's what it meant for the Grand Duke to be in hiding."
"Exactly. To win, we must win completely. If they hide or flee, the whole continent is in danger. Next time they come, they'll lead a legion of giants."
Maybe the 30-year cold came from there.
The barrier of cold was cast to imprison Gadisil, and every thirty years, the barrier grows stronger.
Only a handful, like Urald, know the continent is round. That's why most didn't realize the cold sweeps down from the north pole to the far east of the continent.
I know, having experienced the 30-year cold.
Even if not to that extent, if they give off such powerful cold, just how devastating is it?
Originally, I'd planned to find the Emperor's blood relative and after a few years' preparation, strike at the Grand Duke.
But the Grand Duke's strength was far beyond what I imagined.
It's not just a fight between us and the Grand Duke's faction anymore—tens of millions could die.
Everything we've built could be ruined in an instant. This isn't a simple matter.
The freezing giants are weapons of annihilation. The Grand Duke wouldn't use such power lightly.
As long as he remains the top power in the empire, he'll see no reason to activate them against anyone but us.
We'll watch and prepare.
If the Grand Duke is about to make a move, we must strike first. Or, we could take out the freezing giants first.
"With this orb, we could even observe the ice giants. But isn't it dangerous if the soul travels to the past?"
"It's not moving the soul, but simply observing through someone from the past."
"And I can't move by my own will?"
"Your father couldn't move at his own will, either."
Eilin's father added,
"This is only possible here. The souls of the seven dragons can send you to the past. There are six orbs, so choose carefully what past you want to see."
There were supposed to be seven orbs, but one was empty. It seemed my father had used one. The sizes of the orbs varied.
The viscount continued.
"The smaller the orb, the shorter the time."
"How short?"
"The smallest is a twenty-breath span. Next is one hour, then a day, a week, a month, and finally a year. Your father used the one-day orb."
Twenty breaths is about a minute.
"But if you use the one-week orb, do you have to lie here the whole week?"
"No. Even the one-year orb, at most, would leave you lying here for just four days. It's like a dream—even if you live ten years in a dream, you wake up and it was just one night."
"I see."
I understood how it worked.
The past is already gone. Since you cross space and time, the timeline doesn't have to match.
"Let's try one right now."
Eilin's father said,
"The longer over a week, the longer the recovery period. Your father used the one-day orb and was bedridden for two days, being weak."
"If I use the one-year orb, do I need to recover for a year?"
"It won't be that much. There will be a set recovery time, maybe just a few extra days."
Maybe three or four days for the one-week orb.
Since recovery is necessary, I'd save the longer ones for when I had time. The one-minute orb should be used for witnessing crucial events. If I discover a critical moment is coming during a past journey but can't reach it right away?
Return to reality, recover, then head straight for the scene. Just view that juncture in history, then come back. The one-minute orb is perfect for that.
I'd have to be well-prepared to view something like the one-year orb.
"Then I'll look at the one-hour orb."
"You want to do it right now?"
"Yes."
The two stood before the dragon orbs.
A soft bed was in front of them.
"Lie on this."
I lay down on the bed.
The two waited a moment.
They seemed to be requesting something from the dragons.
"When and where do you want to go?"
What would be the best time?
I most wanted to see when the Grand Duke met the freezing giants. It was the most urgent threat.
But I didn't know the precise moment—if I tried to find it, I'd waste several orbs. Better to investigate that area first and use the orb later.
Father knew the youth of the emperor's siblings, and the dragon souls had watched the ancient times, so I suppose they'd know the correct era.
Maybe I should meet Yan's hero.
He was my ancestor, and I was curious. He couldn't have been a hero from the start—how did he grow?
I was a little curious about the places where the legion commanders who left behind the demon's essence had died. I might be able to learn something with the one-month orb.
"I want to see Rod, Yan's hero."
"When?"
"Just before he became a hero."
"Lie comfortably and close your eyes."
I closed my eyes.
Nothing happened.
I only felt drowsy.
* * *
Caw. Caw.
Somewhere, the cry of crows rang out.
Moans could be heard from all around.
I was lying somewhere.
There was a terrible stench of blood and rotting corpses.
A battlefield?
My mind was clear but I couldn't open my eyes. Since the person my soul was connected to had his eyes closed, I couldn't move as I wished—I could only listen and see through him.
Finally, the eyes opened.
I could see the sky, oddly tinted red.
At that moment, someone rushed toward me.
"There you are—I looked everywhere. Are you okay?"
It was a Yan warrior, covered in blood.
"Can you still fight?"
"Yes."
"Get up! You'll die if you stay here."
The man lifted "me" to my feet.
Though limping a little, I wasn't severely injured.
Shouts rang out from all around.
"Forget the wounded, gather the arrows first!"
"If we leave them, they'll die!"
"We're going to die anyway!"
It was a dismal, horrific battlefield. More than ten thousand corpses littered the ground, and even more grotesque creatures' bodies were scattered about.
The place I'd come to was a gorge. There were three barricades down below, all burned to the ground. The earth was studded with monster bodies and countless arrows.
The surviving warriors gathered arrows as they moved toward the upper barricade—this was the final defense in the gorge, the very last bastion for this tribe.
Just as they moved toward the last barricade—
Somewhere, the earth rumbled.
Something began to surge into the gorge.
"They're coming again! Run!"
"Hurry inside! Hurry!"
The warriors raced for the barricade.
The man and this warrior ran as well.
The warrior spoke to the man.
"What happened to Rod?"
"He rushed off, saying he'd bring someone! Hang on until he returns! I don't know who he's bringing, but—!"
Rod was this warrior's friend.
The one supporting me was Rod's older brother.
Glancing back as we ran—
A horde of monsters was swarming in.
If we couldn't hold them, the tribe would be wiped out.
If only I could move of my own will.
Could this warrior hold out?
I had to see Rod before the vision ended.