Chapter 167 – Journal Entry 17: False Peace

Before I know it we arrive on the seas of Fernery. In the seas of Fernery lies a blue clear ocean. The red light that I have been used to disappeared the moment we entered the boundaries of the seas of Fernery. Entering the place made me gasp. I was overwhelmed by the lumen, wisps of light that fly around like bees ahead us.

Apparently, they fill the airspace of Fernery as if natural. At the skies of the seas, I could see airships flying in low attitude. They are mostly carried by air balloons while having the form of a boat. They are using a weird steam propulsion system that allows them to navigate the airships.

“This is quite wonderful.”

I complimented the world that I see before me. Elena who was watching along with me in the rails started to explain how the territory of Fernery works again. I appeased her ‘talk’ and let me smoke a cigar watching the open seas of Lumen.

While I watch the scenery before me in peace I heard an explosion in a further island. The sea then shook for a bit and I almost fell down the water. I climbed up back to the deck of the boat. I wiped my sweat off and sat on the floor cross-legged.

“What was that?”

“Sea earthquakes, it usually happens now and then.”

“What causes them?”

“Oh just the curse of Sanctus doing its thing again, you’ll get used to it.”

“Shouldn’t that scare you?”

“Why would it be? The world has been put to curse for a hundred years already. Ever since I was born I have already experienced these kinds of quakes.”

Elena said that without any hint of fear in her face. Her expression did not show any sort of indication of worry about the world being in a curse. I noticed that the people, most of the folks I encountered never seem that particularly caring at the curse. I have taken note how unfazed they are at the fazed of the Sanctus Curse.

“That’s weird...and here I thought this world was peaceful despite being cursed.”

“Pfft, that‘s really funny!”

Elena slapped my back as she laughs at my statement. I tilted my head and wondered what was wrong with what I said.

“That wasn’t a joke you know?”

“Well, then it might as well be.”

Elena scoffed as she looks at me. Her expression went cold. The glare in her eyes was quite something. And when I turned at the two elven on the deck their stare was that of the same thing. What was wrong with them, I was bewildered at the thought of their gentle expression turning that of cold-blooded. My skin could feel the chill, and for the first time, I felt a bit of fear.

“Saying the world is ‘peaceful’ is a big joke. It’s only ‘peaceful’ mainly because we are not on the front lines. Out there, blood spills everywhere, there are little to eat, and there almost no optimism to be found. Gann is only safe mainly because it is a small nation. It’s already a miracle that the nation of Gann prospers despite the situation of the world.”

“That sounds...bad.”

“It is worse. If it wasn’t for the Western Nation spreading the technology on the Hero’s Ancient Mechanical Sword then the situation wouldn’t be stable. And despite the technology we have right, and the flying ships that we have, we still won’t be able to defeat the Sanctus curse mainly because of the higher beings that are on the dark elven lands.”

“Higher Beings...?”

I tilted my head in wonder. Miss Leone who was folding her arms added.

“Beings that are far stronger than dragons, elementals and cosmic abominations that would take millions to kill, and even with millions there is still fifty percent chance of failing. Even the new firearms, the explosives, and the new magic won’t be able to repel these beings. Luckily, we are safe for now due to those beings being held in the former dark elven lands.”

“You saw those lesser Grim beings in the road right?”

“I did.”

Elena asked, and I replied.

“Those are merely the lowest in the food chain. The strongest one, the beings that are far greater than them rests in the Sanctus lands. The Hero Eziel, the Witch Regina, the War Maiden Elizabeth and the Lass possessing magical power that could topple nations, Dace, aren’t a match. If they were, then the world would have been long free. At best, the people on the frontlines could hold off the lesser and medium beings by sacrificing bodies after bodies.”

I think I could understand what Elena was implying.

“So the world really isn’t peace?”

“No, not ever since the curse landed, it has never been. Why do you think we are building golems for other nations while keeping ourselves isolated at the same time? Fernery Island, no, the Mistress knows that the whole world is on borrowed time. Those Higher beings will asunder this world, and if that happens then the world will go to waste.”

“That can’t be.”

“Sadly it is.”

Elena said with a grim tone on her voice. Leona who was listening nodded her head in agreement as she added some of her thoughts.

“That is why the world isn’t truly in peace. Hence, even we the Elvens are desperately trying to gain relations of the Mistress in case the lands of ours burns. We are not just here for the golems, but also we are trying to negotiate a deal, that will allow a few of the young ones in the Elven nations, mostly the high blooded elvens to be allowed to live on some of the islands just in case the higher beings would get out of the seal that surrounds the dark elven lands.”

“The seal?”

I didn’t know what the seal was. I have no memories so I have to be explained in what the seals are.

“The seal, a barrier that surrounds the dark elven lands prevents the higher being from escaping. At first, the barriers were strong, but lately, the seals, the barrier, have been weakened. As if the power of the barrier got halven. We don’t know what caused it. Heck, we don’t know who put it up in the first place. I suspect that it was the Carnifex, but he has never been seen and disappear within the dark elven lands.”

“Sadly...if that guy was still in the world then we wouldn’t have to worry. Too bad he ran away.”

Elena added, with a bit of disappointment. I have no idea who this Carnifex guy is so I asked her. She then told me that there was once a powerful existence that was beyond imagination. But that existence disappeared and if that person was still out there then the world would have been safe. No one really knows what happened to the Carnifex, but some have suggested that the man himself became the Dark Lord of Sanctus, who drowned in his own power.

It was a surprised.

It seems that this world despite its peacefulness and unity is actually riddled in a false sense of peace. The world only looks peaceful at the moment but in the end, it still cursed to the point that it could end at any moment.