Aurora Scroll

Viers was a villain. He never thought of himself as the good guy. Even so, he was a villain with people at his side.

Clarissa, Farley, and Paina. These three women might be his closest comrades and confidants.

Among them, Paina didn't always agree about his way of doing things. However, she still remained in his camp. Paina and Viers had an arrangement for mutual benefit in the past. That was one reason, but the main reason was because Viers never crossed a certain line of villainy.

He didn't massacre children, plague towns, or sacrifice virgins on the altar of a devil god despite being a villain. Neither did he enjoy seeing the suffering of innocent people. He wasn't doing evil for evil’s sake.

Viers was a villain with standards.

Because of that, Paina, who knew Viers’ true nature better than other Viers’ allies, hadn't had a fall-out with him yet.

Viers got to say, he was pretty good at his job as an evil CEO of the Viers Corporation. He was fostering loyalty in his subordinates, and no one had tried to backstab him yet. Surely that was because he was doing something right.

The CEO told the three executives his experience in the Grandia Castle and the Tower of Remorse was also to enhance the cohesion between them.

Of course, he called them not just for being buddy-buddy.

“So, what have you three been up to?”

“Your city has four hundred more lamias now,” Clarissa said.

“Hou.”

Paina and Clarissa told him about their own adventure.

“Intriguing. Especially the lamia sacred ground. The villagers? No problem. I’m going to tell Carlo to take care of them. The guy is quite competent.”

“Compared to them, I shamefully didn't achieve much. I’ve been with Jessica and the young ones in the Crimson Capital. I was only doing the regular training routine.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Viers said to Farley. “I’m not expecting life-changing events every week. Right then. For the next week or so, we’re going to be busy. Here’s the plan...”

For Clarissa and Farley, Viers asked them to do tasks that would help in his recovery. The Battle of Grandia literally ended with him blowing his heart out of his chest. Clarissa could help with her eastern-style alchemy, while Farley shopped or hunted for the rare ingredients in the Latias Kingdom’s Capital. Money wasn't an issue.

With his healing factor and healing chamber, Viers would recover in time, but time was an important resource. He would rather burn money and use other resources to save him months of inactivity.

“The holiday period of the Sinclair Academy is almost ending, right? Hope we’re going to be done before that. Hmm. I wonder if Croix and Boram plan on going back to school, especially the prince, with the war and all. As for Paina-”

“I want to go to either the Grandia Castle or the Tower of Remorse. I’m going to help the people there that are struggling with the aftermath,” Paina said her wish.

Viers remembered Paina said she was going to do lots of good karma and lessen his sins in exchange for training and cultivation resources as a member of Viers Corporation. This was in line with her ideals and Profound Codex, helping the little people after getting impacted by Viers’ grand endeavors.

“All right. I have no problem with that. Just be careful. There will be lots of Church’s people down there. Keep your guard up.”

“I’m not in any danger. The Church folks are mostly reasonable people. But I’ll take care so they cannot link me to you.”

“I’d expect no less,” Viers liked her response. “The reward this time is substantial, material or otherwise. I received several Level 5 Inheritances and even six living subjects. If you’ve got plans, I suggest you delay them and do some training. I think it’s high time for you all to become Level 4s.”

Paina gave Clarissa a look. A strange look. Viers and Farley didn't miss that. The eternally 16, 9000+ year old lamia princess just smiled sweetly at Viers.

Actually, Clarissa’s soul felt a bit different since she came back from that outing. Viers could feel it though the soul Zoom call. It felt like her soul was stronger.

A lot stronger, actually.

She wasn't a soul Pathseeker. If her soul was strengthened this much...

Could it be?

“Clarissa, what’s your Level now?” Farley asked.

Clarissa's smile just got wider, like a customer service’s smile.

Viers stared at Paina for answers.

“Nope. I don't know anything,” she lied and evaded eye contact. “I saw nothing, I heard nothing.”

Clarissa never said what ‘treasure’ she got from the lamian ruins, or what it did. A ruin that was supposedly kept sealed since the Age of the Gods.

Viers’ suspicion grew stronger. He opened his mouth to say something.

“A woman keeps secrets, Viers. Understood?” Clarissa said.

Viers closed his mouth at once. Clarissa’s tone wasn't threatening or anything. Still, her message was clear.

“Yes, Ma’am. Let’s get to work.”

I suppose it doesn't really matter, Viers didn't press the issue.

***

Before Viers went to his healing and training montage, he needed to check up on his Latias comrades. More accurately, Boram, Croix, Sakuya, and Ciel.

They were with him in the Battle of Grandia Castle. A Level 6 demon appeared, then a Level 6 immortal appeared. A Level 5 Harkelan ten general appeared, then Avel the dragon appeared.

Viers ran off after that, mostly because he was heavily injured. It was necessary, yes, but he could imagine the chaos of the battle’s aftermath. He needed to pick the stranded three cardholders in Latias. Also, finding out what the Latias Kingdom’s next move would be beneficial.

Grandia Castle, the objective of Duke Valentine’s campaign to secure the Latias-Harkelan border, was reduced to smoking ruins. Rostov the Blanket of the Ten Tundras, was sent running by the double-dragon team of him and Falmerion after losing pride and limbs.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

What now?

Would the war continue?

Knowing the actions Latias Kingdom took would be beneficial. Going back to Latias wasn't the worst idea.

The question was: how?

Viers had a cavity on his chest. His lungs and heart were starting to grow back, but he was far from out and about. If he generated Arsène now, the clone would come out in the same bodily condition.

No big deal. Viers came up with an answer immediately.

***

Croix Ash Latias, the 51st Prince of Latias, a young man of the age of 18, red of hair and gray of eyes, sat in his tent with a tired sigh.

Yesterday’s battle was... Croix couldn't find the right words. It was beyond everything he had seen. The gigantic demon with power surpassing Level 5 and how he was defeated by a mysterious man. Their fight changed the land and weather as easily as turning one’s hand. Such a thing left an impression.

The result was no simpler. Grandia Castle was gone, Avel turned out to be a dragon, who flew away right away, leaving more questions than answers. Boram and Ciel were as confused as he was. People were asking him about Avel, thinking that he knew because Avel was his vassal.

He didn't know shit, but he couldn't tell them that. Not when the Duke himself was asking.

Fortunately, the inquiry wasn't long, because there were many things that required the duke’s attention. He was injured during the battle against the demon but still attended the war council anyway. Croix had nothing but respect for the duke’s dedication to his duties.

The war council was stressful enough, for he read the names on the casualty list.

One among them was Lutz Diamond Latias, the 11th Prince. A half-brother that Croix respected the most. Fallen because he was unfortunately too close to the demon when he emerged from under the castle. Such bad luck.

Apparently, Boram managed to save one of Prince Lutz’s aide? Vassal? Consort? Croix wasn't sure. The woman with the name Pulamela was now sleeping. She had been forced to sleep with medicine because of how hysteric she had been. The grief cut her deep.

His siblings were dying in droves.

When he entered his name for the fight to the throne, he wasn't expecting this. Not to this extent.

Now, the names of the royal bloodlines from the Latias Grand Prix were only three.

Vadym Sapphire Latias, the 34th Prince, age 19.

Celestine Amethyst Latias, the 49th Princess, age 18.

And his own.

Dark rumor had it that Prince Cassian was murdered by Prince Vadym. Croix still didn't know what to make of it.

He became more and more aware how precarious his life was, dragon or no. Countrymen and abroad, there were people who wanted him dead and they were fully capable of it.

Princess Celestine’s face was similarly grim. No one knew where Prince Vadym was. Was he plotting their death? Croix couldn't help but wonder.

Aunt Grace was right. She warned me about this.

The Harkelan Empire said a missive about a temporary truce. The demon’s appearance hit them just as bad. The Duke accepted but there was much to be done. He didn't let down his guard either. The possibility of a ruse remained.

As if the war council wasn't stressful enough, Headmaster Castellos of the Sinclair Academy personally came and demanded from the Duke that every academy student should secede from the war.

That meant Croix, Boram, and many else. What was left anyway. Too many had died because of the war.

It wasn't as if Croix wanted to fight in a war, but he had a duty as royalty.

Then there was the matter of Stormberg. Aunt Grace released Croix’s mother from Chancellor Soren’s political confinement. She did it by blasting a few palace walls. They had since returned to Stormberg but the Chancellor lay siege on the city.

Apparently, Celestine had struck an alliance with the Chancellor and wished to broker peace and informed Croix about this. Yet another matter that he needed to consider.

The war wasn't over, nothing was resolved, and his problem kept piling up. Croix wondered if he would be going bald at the age of twenty.

Boram placed a hit tea in front of him.

“Thank you, friend.”

The younger teen gave a nod.

“Any word from your master?”

“No.”

“Do you know he’s a dragon?” Croix asked after a sip.

“No.”

“Does he-”

“Do I what?”

“Waaaah!?”

Avel’s sudden voice startled him. A tiny snake-like blue dragon the size of his palm came out from behind the flower vase.

“Avel?”

“Master?”

Croix and Boram asked at the same time.

“I sensed a powerful presence and hid myself. It’s gone now.”

“Ah, must be the headmaster that you sensed.”

“I see, the headmaster of the Sinclair Academy is said to be one of the most powerful Pathseeker of Latias. Quite a reasonable claim.”

“Master, I am so glad you’re okay.”

“In part because of you, Boram. I haven't forgotten. My thanks to you as well,” the blue dragon said before facing Croix again. “As you can see, this is not my true self, but a fragment of me. A soul fragment. Quite useful for things like this. Because of the battle I have to seclude myself. I return to find out what course the kingdom and you all will take.”

Croix elucidates him of what he wanted to know.

“And that’s that. Your counsel will be appreciated, Master Avel. Stay and war? Back to the academy?”

“The war is at truce, even if temporary. The Grand Prix is postponed indefinitely. Where does your heart tug you the most?”

“...Stormberg. Mother, Aunt Grace, Alfred... I want to see them.”

“Then go to them. Following your heart is never a wrong answer. Boram, what about you?”

“I’ll follow you, Master. As always.”

“There’s something I want to say about that, actually.”

The little dragon assumed human form. Avel stood before them now, albeit half-see through.

“Boram, during the battle with Rostov, you took a blow for me and saved my life. Well done.”

Viers placed his hand on Boram’s shoulder.

“I...” Boram was lost for words.

“I found you as a slave. I fed you, clothed you, and gave you strength. I gave you a life. Yesterday, you saved me. A life for a life. And so I now release you from the chains of slavery.”

The slave mark in Boram’s body and soul was shattered this instant.

“Master, I-”

Rather than happiness, Boram was mostly confused.

“Five years since we met... I consider the accounts between us fully settled. You owe me nothing. You’re now a free man, no longer in forceful servitude to me.”

“...Am I no longer needed?”

Boram almost looked like an abandoned puppy. Viers smiled.

“I am not throwing you away like used raggedy clothes, Boram. You still have my card, you’re still welcome at my place. You can come anytime. Only this time, not as a slave.”

“But... what should I do now?”

“It might be overwhelming at the start, with no longer orders to follow after getting used to it for so long. However, I believe you’ll find yourself soon enough. For now, I'll give you a hint. Follow your heart. Isn't there a girl that is waiting for you?”

A certain girl’s face came to Boram’s mind.

“The world is open to you now, its wonders and horrors. But you’re equipped to deal with it now. You’ve won back your freedom through your own efforts and ability. Be proud.”

Croix looked at his friend with happiness.

“If you still want to learn from me, that’s fine too. But for now, it’s time for you to spread your wings and have an adventure of your own. One that is of your own choice, and not mine. If you need help, the club is available to you. Don't be afraid, and face your future head-on, just like how you faced your foes until now.”

“...You’ll always be my Master, sir... Thank you. I owe all I have to you.”

Boram looked down and held back his tears. Viers tightened his grip on his shoulders.

“Prince Croix, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Would you say Boram’s service to you is enough to warrant a knighthood?”

“Thrice over, Master Avel,” Croix smiled.

“Perfect. Do you accept, Boram?”

“Master, what...”

“You’ll return that girl not as a slave, but as a proud knight, Sir Boram Rockboa. Be proud of what you have achieved with your own hands, because I’m proud of you.”