One Day Later
In the village of Wildress - Heartstone Empire
In a park, there were five people: three young men and two young women. They were Althair, Alex, Rio, Alicia, and Clara, but they all wore different, new clothes, though still simple like before.
The reason they weren't wearing something like cloaks was that it would look suspicious. If you're wondering why they didn't wear armor from the start of the battle, it's because they had a habit of fighting without it. It was a habit formed at the Ostrivien Grand Academy, a dangerous habit, really, because when fighting monsters, monsters have higher durability than we do. For some, even with armor, the monster still wins in terms of durability. But that was what the academy aimed for: students were forced to unleash their true potential in dangerous battles.
"Where is this 'Heartwood' located?" Rio asked Althair.
"Honestly, our journey is already 50% complete. Heartwood is an unexplored place..." answered Althair, who now had a different appearance.
"You mean it's off the world map, right?" Alicia cut in, understanding immediately.
"That means there will be monsters or other challenges that will stand in our way," Clara concluded.
"It's okay. This is our only option," Alex said reassuringly.
"Is the place safe?" Alicia asked.
"Very safe. Even if you lived there until you died, you would be safe. Plus, the forest is filled with animals that are all tame," Althair answered his friends, who also had different appearances.
This was thanks to an artifact, a Unique-grade artifact. It was a necklace-shaped artifact that would change three of your original features: hair color, eye color, and voice tone.
Althair had light blue hair, amber eyes, and a voice deeper than his age. Alex had red hair, red eyes, and a voice like a 12-year-old boy. Rio had brown hair, black eyes, and an explosive tone like someone who angers easily. Alicia had dark blue hair, green eyes, and a voice like a mature woman. And finally, Clara had brown hair, dark blue eyes, and a voice like an unstable girl.
"Why don't we take him to Ostrivien Academy?..." Rio suggested.
"That's precisely the worst idea among other bad ideas," Alicia cut in.
"Although the academy is a place of learning, there are politics within it. There are even organizations within the academy that represent which Empire you support," Alicia said. "Students can even die mysteriously there just for bumping into a high-ranking noble, and the academy doesn't even do anything."
"I know that, but hear me out first," Rio said, asking for understanding. "The academy system is like that, but what if we ask the headmaster for protection? Considering we're quite close to him."
"Yes, but he wouldn't help us sincerely. He would surely ask for something in return. I don't want to be someone's puppet," Althair answered definitively.
It wasn't without reason that they were close. All the genius students would often meet the headmaster because he paid more attention to the potential of the younger generation.
Except for Prince Arthur.
Arthur was a prodigy, someone who could reach Transcendent at the age of 19. But Arthur always hid his true power, so the academy never paid special attention to him. If you remember, Arthur was in Class 11C, which was the lowest-ranked class there. Arthur unleashed his true power during the battle for the throne at the age of 15, but no one saw his real power because they were all already dead. Arthur's name was written in the history books as the youngest emperor at 17 years old. Then at 19, his name was written again as the youngest Transcendent in the world.
Previously, He even has his own nickname; he is called the useless prince. However, there has never been a prince who entered class C.
[1 piece of information: all emperors, from ancient times to the present, are mages.]
Back to the present
Moonstone Empire—in the royal palace
In Emperor Alarik's private chambers stood a one-armed man with blonde hair and golden eyes. Even though his family name was Moonstone, his appearance was different from the moon itself.
"Arthur... HAHAHAHA HE'S TRULY A MONSTER," said Emperor Alarik with a happy smile. "Even though it was two against one, he still managed to take Valen's head, plus my arm."
"Who would have thought he had developed that far? Even though we are both Transcendents, he understands this level better."
"I thought I was several steps ahead of him, but it was the opposite. It turns out the place I walked into was a lion's den."
"When he annihilated those monsters using the 'Supernova Explosion' spell, the place became filled with energy that created a perfect field for Arthur himself."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"My lord, it is the Empress."
"Enter."
The sound of a knock on the door, accompanied by permission from outside, was heard. It was the Empress of the Moonstone Empire, or Emperor Alarik's wife.
A beautiful woman appeared, around 22 years old, with cream-colored hair and plum-colored eyes. A stark contrast to the Emperor, who was currently 53 years old; his wife was still very young. The Empress's name was Felisha von Silverlake, now Felisha von Moonstone. Felisha was the sister of Archduke Silverlake, who had just died fighting the Grand Duke of the North (Duke Kaelvros/Althair's father).
Felisha already had a child with Alarik; the first prince was born just a month ago. His name is Rion von Moonstone.
Don't use logic in a fantasy novel. After all, if this were the real world, it would be impossible. I mean, a 53-year-old man getting a young woman pregnant.
Felisha didn't come without reason; she came because he had summoned her.
"What is it, my Lord?" Felisha asked softly.
"My beautiful wife, come to me."
Without delay, Felisha understood Alarik's desire. She immediately went forward and knelt before him, opened her mouth, and...
I don't like writing this.
The reason Felisha knelt was because she had just given birth + her lower parts were still in the recovery stage, so she satisfied Alarik with her mouth.
Oh shit, I've never even experienced that.
If you're curious whether Emperors Alarik, Oberon, Valen, and Lucien know about Althair's situation, the answer is yes, they know. But they are not intervening personally. They have only sent their subordinates to hunt him. However, Lilith and the elves have decided to pursue Althair and his friends themselves. The reason is simple: Lilith and the elves take the threat of Arthur's child and the heir of the North seriously. The emperors, on the other hand, are relaxed, assuming that those rats can be handled by their subordinates. The emperors want to enjoy their days without thinking about Arthur's terrifying power. They are satisfying themselves with worldly pleasures.
The Grand Church
A place where priests, bishops, saints, and the high priest reside. It has its own territory, separate from the five continents. The place is a large island, which even has its own population. This is a kingdom disguised as a place of religion, the only neutral territory in human politics.
So where are the territories of the other races? I'll explain that later in the main chapters.
In the Church, there was a great commotion. It was said that the chosen hero had appeared, a salvation from God.
"Tell us what you see, High Priest," a bishop there said.
The High Priest, with his eyes closed, said, "I see... a hero who fights for humanity."
"A person with blonde hair and golden eyes."
The people there who heard this tried to remember which noble family had such characteristics, and then one name emerged: Moonstone. That was the characteristic of the Moonstone family.
"Praise be to God, finally God has sent us help," said another bishop.
The people there celebrated this, and this was the beginning of the alliance between the Moonstone Empire and the Grand Church.
It's already night where I am, I'm sleepy, and I'll be busy tomorrow. This is why I'm releasing a short chapter, I'm sorry.