Aurora Scroll

Boram’s knighting ceremony was done plainly, with only a few people in attendance. Prince Croix, the one doing the knighting. Avel, a soul fragment of him. Sakuya, as the white-masked White Bloom. Finally, Ciel Valentine. Her status as a Silver Legionary made her qualified to stand as the ecclesiastical side’s representative.

Sakuya and Ciel gladly took part. Ciel was a bit too eager, planning on a more grand ceremony, but Avel wanted to keep his presence a secret so it would just be them few.

With his sword aflame with dragon fire coating, Croix tapped both shoulders of Boram. The ceremony was solemn and official. When Boram rose from his knees, he was a knight, in both the eyes of men and heaven.

When it was over, the others gave Boram congratulatory gifts. Viers had things for his disciple too. He wasn't so cruel to send him out into the world without ample supplies. After all Boram had done for him, he deserved that much.

It was just, he didn't have any right now.

After a discussion with them all, Croix would be going to Stormberg before returning to Sinclair Academy. Ciel would remain with her father’s forces and aid her birthplace while doing Silver Legion duties when there were any. Sakuya would be going back with Viers to Dia’s Biome.

“In that case, I’ll rendezvous with you at your place, Master, after I accompany Prince Croix to Stormberg,” Boram said.

It’s a bit worrying if the Prince is without a single bodyguard.

With that consideration, Viers didn't gainsay him.

“Then I’ll send your war merit and reward with Boram. It should be done by that time,” Ciel said before bowing to them all. “Thank you for aiding the Valentine Duchy during this trying time. Your valor and courage will not be forgotten.”

After the pleasantries got out of the way, Ciel took her leave. There was much for her to do.

They both sensed they wouldn't meet again face to face for some time, but as the Justice Arcana cardholder, she could see him at least twice a month in regular club meetings. Therefore, it wasn't a long goodbye, but still.

It seemed like she wanted to say something to Viers but refrained. After their one-sided marriage, Viers felt Ciel put some invisible walls between them.

Viers shook his head and sighed. He was fully aware of her feelings and why she acted this way.

Love can't be bottled up, girl. You just Can't Help Falling In Love.

As cruel as it might be, Viers let her be. He had other things to do and couldn't answer her feelings.

Oh, Viers. You really are an evil scumbag. After you’re the one who orchestrated her predicament. What a cad!

“Master Avel, I want to introduce you to someone. It will be brief.”

Viers transformed back to a mini-sized dragon and let Croix carry him to the infirmary. Meanwhile, Boram and Sakuya were doing their own preparations.

Croix couldn't find the person he was looking for and asked the nurse. The patient seemed to have regained consciousness and took a walk. The Prince went and searched, while telling Viers about her a bit.

The girl’s name was Pulamela. She was Prince Lutz’s close companion. Boram saved her during the Battle of Grandia Castle. Lutz died but she survived. Croix wanted to ask Viers for advice, because the girl was in pretty bad shape, mentally.

“Falmerion, can you track her scent?”

Apparently, the dragon could do a dog’s job well enough.

Under a falling rain, the two found Pulamela hanging from a tree.

“Ahh... It’s my fault,” Croix sighed with sadness. “I should have paid closer attention.”

“She must have loved Prince Lutz very much. With his passing, her heart died with him.”

“Indeed. What a shame. She had so much life still ahead of her.”

Viers studied Pulamela’s face. Her sad face remained as her last breath left her body. Because of the rain, she looked like she was still crying.

“I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate... All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... May you finally rest in peace.”

Croix mistook Viers’ soliloquy for a prayer and followed suit.

“Let’s put her down,” Croix suggested.

“Wait. We shouldn't touch her,” years of seeing Detective Conan taught him not to disturb the crime scene, especially since it was clear Pulamela had already passed. Also, doing it carelessly might make people suspicious they were the perpetrator. “Go get the guards, Highness. I’ll keep watch.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

A vassal shouldn't order his lord but Viers wasn't just a vassal and he was a soul fragment that came in secret, so the job could only be left to Croix. Fortunately, the prince wasn't so prideful and did so without complaint.

“One more thing, Highness. Please keep this a secret from Boram for now. She is someone he rescued, right? I don't want to sour his day. Today, of all things.”

“I agree. Leave it to me.”

After Croix left, Viers finally acted. It was the real reason he sent Croix away.

He deduced Pulamela had a special constitution. Delving slightly into his memories' data bank, the girl was a Luck Pathseeker. How rare.

“I’ll ease your soul’s passage to the afterlife,” Viers said to Pulamela’s soul, still bound to the earth as a tortured spirit. It was invisible to Croix, but not to him. “So don't think ill of me, all right?”

Arte - Emergence of Reason!

Viers’ power enveloped the corpse. A short while later, a golden marble was extracted from her chest and landed on Viers’ palm.

Phew... I almost don't have the Victa for that.

Viers’ soul fragment was blurrier than before but the result was worth it.

The golden marble was part of Pulamela’s luck power and affinity. With it in his hand, he could do something like giving a non-Pathseeker luck affinity, among other useful uses.

The new technique worked like a charm.

He learned this technique from a prisoner who took powers of others in the hidden floor, where he bust out Jordan, Yunis, and the rest of the six. A guy as notorious as the legendary Blade Demon Vaan.

This was the core technique of the guy who eventually became a menace enough that it took the Silver Legion a group of ten Level 5s and thrice as many Level 4 supports to beat.

Unfortunately he’d rather die than accept Viers’ deal so dead he was. Viers still gained something from him, whether he was willing or not.

He had obtained another way of exploiting the dead,

From his dead enemies, he could already take the worldly possessions in their inventory item, their soul for Myriad Souls in One, their knowledge via soul search, their blood energy via Blood Arte Proof of Death, their corpse for eating or crafting.

He could eat their flesh to gain a bit of lifespan but Viers hadn't the need to go so far as cannibalism since monster cooking was aplenty.

And now, he could even extract their potential, gaining their earthly powers rather than see it rotting into dust.

If there was an angel of death, she would have been appalled, seeing how far Viers made a mockery of death. He was already on his path to immortality already, and then all these?

Not even necromancers went this far. Viers put even a lich to shame.

Little did he knew, if one of the seven devil god cult, the Death Society, was aware of Viers’ expertise, they would have recruited him on the spot and made him a holy son, heir to their core teachings.

Oh, how I pity my enemies. Truly.

Because Viers was feeling sympathy for Pulamela, he didn't capture her soul for a bite or two first. Her body was also left as is. No taking blood or whatever, since Croix and the others would come and send the body to her family. Can't have her look like a vampire had sucked her blood.

Croix returned shortly with a couple of guards, and nobody realized the great feat Viers just did. He left in a hurry after saying his farewell to Croix, without waiting for Sakuya. The soul fragment had become too fragile after using that Arte. He sneakily entered the hidden Gate Plant he strategically placed nearby to Viridis.

Still confined in the healing vat, Viers’ soul fragment returned to him and brought back an unexpected souvenir.

The soul fragment is pretty useful. The ability is redundant since I have Arsène, which is superior to soul fragment in everyway. Soul fragments can even touch things without special tech. Still, in this circumstance, I can only appreciate such an option is available for me.

Luck, huh? I have used luck increasing items or the like occasionally on important events but they are so rare. Also, I cannot determine how effective they are with or without them. Now that I think about it, I wonder if Freya and the Church realized what I have done to the Aurora Scroll by now? What will be their next move?

If I really erased my name from Fate, do I not have any Fate at this very moment? Thinking back, that’s quite a reckless move. Who’s to say erasing myself from Fate won't erase my existence with it? There are certainly Fables to that nature. And how does luck affect me now? So many questions.

Well, thinking about it now won't do much. The arrow has been loosed. The deed is done... I think I already settled the majority of things. I can focus on my healing, then breakthrough afterward.

Viers was planning on using a variation of No Pain No Gain Arte. Part of the reason he was strong was because he used the Forbidden Arte during his Level Up to Level 4. Just like Saiyan constitution that grew stronger after bouncing back from almost dying, the variation of this Arte would give him a little overall boost on his stats. Perhaps it was just a little but every bit helps.

Ah, I almost forgot. I was planning on having the soul fragment check on Freya’s gift. I hope it’s not spoiled or anything.

During the battle with Freya, his clone bit a chunk of flesh from Freya’s neck and swallowed it.

After he got back to Viridis home base, he puked it out before merging with the real Viers.

The chunk of flesh was kept in an alchemical solution for preservation but Viers hadn’t been able to check it since then. He hoped it was okay.

One might wonder why, in the name of all that is holy, Viers was concerned about a bite-sized human flesh.

The answer was two words: Madara, Hashirama.

Viers didn't really get the details but the gist of it Madara transplanted the First Hokage’s flesh into himself and got his power? And he created Zetsus with it?

Viers wondered if he could do the same, or should he even if he could.

At any rate, his main idea wasn't so radical. He wasn't trying to transplant anything to his body. He just thought if a door required Freya’s bio signature to enter, he could potentially have a free key. Potentially useful when he infiltrated Silver Legion’s stronghold in the future, perhaps? There was a slim chance that perhaps analyzing the little bit of flesh could allow him insight on Freya’s abilities and many more similar little thoughts. He was just grasping at straws, really. But throwing the bitten meat away just felt like a waste.

Oh, well. If I can use it, I will use it. There are enough Fables with goodies, abilities, or inheritance that only the chosen one can obtain. The rest are not worthy or not fated or something. How about that. Now I have a piece of the chosen one in my storage. Just a tiny piece of her, but a chosen one all the same. Imma going to code call the thing the Key of Twilight! Mwuahahahaha!

Viers’ penchant and expertise for exploiting his enemies was almost at the level of art.