Chapter 92: King Magnus Lightbringer
Lightbringer.
It was more a title than a name, one earned by the royal family since the early years of Avera.
During a time when most of the world was overrun by corrupted beasts, a time when humanity stood on the brink of extinction, a single lineage emerged that contracted a spirit that wielded power unlike any other.
Light.
The first king of Avera was a man who had succeeded where many had failed, rekindling hope in humanity.
He had fought to reclaim most of their lost land from the corrupted beasts and he was the first to create a bastion for humanity.
Alongside four other monsters, they led humanity to a victory that had once seemed unattainable.
They were then known as the harbinger of salvation, and that was how the king earned a special title,
Lightbringer.
A symbol that showed that as long as their light existed, humanity would never truly fall.
And that symbol of this generation was currently sitting on his throne with his cheek resting on his fist.
He was the man known as King Magnus Lightbringer.
He had golden blonde hair and blue eyes, and from the aura around him alone, one would be able to tell that he was no ordinary ruler.
It was an aura that would immediately compel anyone weaker to their knees, in his presence.
Fortunately for The Grand Duchess Anna and Renelle, Grand Duke Boreas had enveloped them with his own aura, causing them to remain unaffected by the King’s.
"Fancy seeing you here, Boreas," King Magnus spoke up, "especially without prior notice."
His tone was calm, casual even but it was also very clearly a tone of questioning.
"If I had sent word beforehand," the Grand Duke replied without a change in his expression, "I have a feeling this meeting would have been postponed."
"I see," King Magnus then nodded and sat up straight, seemingly already having an idea why the Ardent’s were here.
"Isn’t it basic courtesy to announce your visit?" A figure in a completely white robe with golden patterns, that they hadn’t noticed before, spoke up, "Even if you are a Grand Duke."
Boreas looked at the figure before frowning, based on the robe he wore, he could only belong to one group.
The church.
"How strange," Boreas spoke up as he looked directly at the man, "I could’ve sworn the church is an outside entity with no connections to the internal affairs of Avera’s royal court."
"Since you have kept yourself locked up in the North, you might not know this," the figure in a white robe continued, "but the royal family and the church now have an alliance through engagement."
"Is that so?" Boreas muttered turning to Magnus, "And why was I uninformed about the annulment of my daughter’s engagement?"
"That matter has already been decided between the parties involved, has it not?" The king said with a frown on his face, "There is no need—"
"There is every need," Boreas cut him off, without hesitation, "a broken engagement between the royal family and a Grand Duke’s house is not something that is simply ’decided’."
The hall suddenly got colder, and all those who had been silently sitting immediately felt a heavy pressure fall on them, causing them to raise their guards.
But Boreas had no interest in them, instead, he continued looking at the King as he added.
"Unless, of course, the crown wishes to imply that my family is unworthy of proper acknowledgment."
He didn’t know why, but his instincts told him that there was something completely wrong with the man before him.
Even though his aura still seemed brilliant, Boreas couldn’t help but feel as if the king was not the same man he had previously known.
"No such implication has been made," King Magnus said leaning back on his throne and letting out a sigh, "both your daughter and my son came to a mutual agreement and I saw no reason to interfere."
"A mutual agreement?" Boreas let out a chuckle, but there was no amusement behind it, "From what I recall, my daughter was humiliated during the royal ball."
King Magnus seemed to want to say something, hell, even the elders at the side seemed to have something to say, but the person in robes spoke up first.
"It was the most convenient moment," he said with a soft smile, "when two individuals recognize incompatibility early, it prevents unnecessary complications in the future."
He folded both arms into his robe before continuing, "especially when greater unions are at stake."
There was silence from all parties in the hall after the man’s words and the nagging feeling that something was wrong grew.
No, if it was a suspicion before, Boreas was sure of it now.
The church had done something to their king and it was definitely nothing good. After all, the Magnus he knew would not allow anyone else to speak on his behalf.
Neither was he one who would suddenly make such a rash decision.
"I am not asking you to accept it blindly," Magnus suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence, "I am telling you that the decision has been made."
"I see," Boreas let out, "then I guess we are done here."
Without courtesy, he turned towards his family, about to leave when suddenly,
BOOM!
An explosion that shook the entire castle was suddenly heard outside and the next second,
"For the Master!"
Multiple individuals who had been silently standing around suddenly let out as they stuffed something into their mouths.
To everyone else’s surprise, they suddenly fell to the floor writhing as their skin started turning black.
Next, glowing red cracks appeared on their bodies, before they rose back up, standing still for a few seconds.
Without warning, the creatures then lunged, aiming for the king, the Ardent family, and the robed figure.
But just before they could reach the Grand Duke, Sebastian suddenly appeared, both his hands on his cane.
He looked up at the corrupted humans before lightly lifting the cane and tapping it on the floor.
The moment he did, the corrupted humans seemed to freeze in the air for a second, and then, as if puppets that had their strings cut, they fell to the floor.
The others aimed at the king and the robed figure met the same fate, as the King’s shadows made their moves before the corrupted humans even had the chance to make a move.
Unfortunately for the elders gathered around, they hadn’t been able to react quickly enough to protect themselves.
"Let’s get you to safety your majesty," one of them said as they kneeled, "it seems the palace is under attack."
But just before they could move away with him, they suddenly slammed into what seemed like an invisible wall.
"Now now," a voice was suddenly heard, causing them to turn towards the door that led to the hall where the figure was standing, "It would be rude to leave a party that has only just begun."