“How are our troops, Malick?” a king sat on a throne made out of stone asked his general.

“All prepared milord! Half of Oros is already under your rule. More and more dragons are coming to your side every day. The council of dragon has been nothing but a thorn in their eyes since its creation so it’s obvious than when someone like you, who demonstrated strength that even surpassed dragons came along and promised them freedom, they will naturally follow.” A knight in white armour said to his king.

Kaiser has been busy with the dragon recruitment, especially ever since he recruited Malick, a white dragon with incredible power. It was also Malick who has advised Kaiser instead of talking about ruling over the dragons; he should say that he was here to free them from the dragon council’s tyranny. And it was a perfect strategy that aimed at the core of every dragon. They were a race that valued individuality, strength and most importantly freedom. To not be bound by anyone’s rules, that was the adage of the dragon. To some extent, they could be seen as egoist who only cared about themselves. Taking advantage of this natural instinct, Kaiser has assembled an army of a thousand dragons in just a few days, a testament of discontent of the race against their council.

“Somehow I feel like I am tricking them…Not something a king should do to his people.” Kaiser admitted his uncertainty about this strategy.

“While what you are saying is correct, a king should not limit himself to moral means. Sometimes a king must commit acts that would make him like a villain in order to protect his people. Just look at yourself! When those humans wanted to harm miss Syralth, you kill them without any hesitation. To their family, what you did was an atrocity. But to others like Celdora, it was justifiable.

Morality is defined by people and people are not perfect creatures. Therefor the norms of morality itself are relative to each and every one of us.

The end justifies the means. In our case, you will get your army of dragons to aid your father. Although you must release them afterward. If the dragons want a king, they will elect it themselves. A king that takes his throne by force usually doesn’t last long.” Malick said.

“Then why are you helping me, Malick? I find it weird you are willing to aid me even though you knew my true intentions.”

“Don’t misunderstand me! I judge you as a great individual, one who is destined to be a monarch. Perhaps one day you will rule over the dragons for real. Who knows? Just not now.

As for aiding you, I have my own reasons. Let’s just say that I too share the desire to free the dragons.”

* * *

“Find anything yet?” a small girl spoke.

“Give it time! You can’t skim through a book like that. It will damage them. These are treasures left to us. Who knows what wisdom and knowledge it holds?” a skeletal figure held an old grimoire gently.

“You damn bookworm! I ask you to come with because I think you are the wisest in that castle. Now I am starting to regret it.” Lilith said with disappointment.

“Thanks for the compliment but I will take my time. You don’t even tell me why you brought me here and just want me to look for clues about a god-know-what rock called Akroma. How the hell am I supposed to know what I am searching for?”

“Even God knows nothing about that thing! Just keep searching! I don’t want to spend more time in this creepy place.” The Goddess complained as she resumed to reading the book she had. To her this was all just some strange words putting together as she understood nothing.

The two were currently inside the manor of the Artificer, located in the North of Ragna. This place has been secretly guarded by the demons ever since the old man died ten years ago. Although it has been searched thoroughly, it was unclear whether secrets still lied somewhere inside this ancient manor. It belonged to the man who has created so many strange contraptions after all. It would not be a surprise if something else was hidden here, unknown to the world outside after all those years.

“Well I will bring this pile of books to another room. At least there won’t be anyone disturbing me.” Noroeth stacked five books he took from the shelves and walked out of the room. But as he went outside, he was suddenly struck with a headache.

“Damn it…these are starting to become frequent…I didn’t know that undeads could be sick”

Indeed undeads were immune to sickness and all diseases so it could not be possible that Noroeth was afflicted with one. However if then what caused his headaches that became more and more periodic these last few days? In addition he felt like he was hallucinating, seeing the image of the time he spent at the demon lord’s castle before he died.

A strange yet familiar conversation rang in his head. However there were parts of the dialogue he could not hear clearly and even the scenes seemed to jump from one to another.

“How I can trust you?”

“Well you just have to find out. But I can say this to you with confidence: I love her!”

…..

“I hope we could achieve peace together”

“It will be difficult! Too much blood has been spilled.”

“Are you giving up?”

“Of course not. You two have shown me that peace is possible. And I want to create that future for your coming son.”

…..

“I want you to name our son.”

“Wait what? Me? You sure about that? An old sage like myself tends to give weird name you know?”

“You are like a father to her. It’s natural that you will have the honor.”

“Hum….well how about Alastor?”

…..

“Theoron, I have invited a special guest to come for Alastor’s birthday. Can I ask you to take him in?”

“Why not ask one of your servants? You want me to miss my grandson’s birthday???”

“Don’t be so dramatic! He will probably come in any moment now, I think. He is an important guest so I would like you to come greet him. I think you two will have a lot to talk about.”

“Really? Who is that?”

“He is …….. ”

The images have stopped. Theoron found himself back in the hall of the manor again. Still shrivelled by the memories, he dropped the pile of books he was holding.

“Something wrong, Noroeth?” hearing the noise outside, Lilith called out to check.

“No…nothing. Yes nothing! Just trip on a crack. That’s all.” The skeleton replied. He quickly crouched down to pick up the books.

“You had me worried for a second. Pay attention will you!”

“Hahaha I will” Noroeth faked his laugh.

He remembered now. The lost memory that was hidden away. Perhaps it was due to the trauma caused by his death that made him lose a part of his memories just before he died. But now he got the name. The name of the person that visited the castle the day Alastor was born. The day his parents died.

“It can’t be….” Noroeth muttered.

He started to feel disorientated. He pushed his hand on the wall to stand up. The headache was coming back. The visitor… How come he could not remember his face? No he did remember seeing someone coming from afar. But there wasn’t just one visitor….there were two he saw.

Continuing walking the hallway while pushing his hand on the wall, Noroeth suddenly felt his hand being dragged into something. By accident he has found a hidden wall that opened up upon pushing on it at the right place. However behind the wall was a staircase leading down and Noroeth felt down to it.

BAM BAM BAM

“Damn it hurts. Poor my old bones!” Noroeth slowly stood up. “Where am I……. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

“WHAT? What are you screaming for?” this time, hearing a much louder noise with a scream, Lilith rushed to the hall and saw the opening wall. She stepped down the stair and saw Noroeth standing motionless. What happened to him? But now she understood why he was screaming when she saw what was inside the room. “What the…..Stella?”

* * *

Alastor’s POV

So I still needed two others keys to enter Tartarus. Judging from what the other two were, I must find two Tempus Machinas. One of them looked like some kind of long staff or sceptre. The other I had no idea. I thought there were seven Tempus Machinas in total. How come the door only required four? Could it be that there were more doors after the first one? But where would I find these artefacts? So far it was by pure chance I stumbled on them. Should I count on my luck, wishing that they would eventually come to me or should I actively search for them?

Either way I decided to back to Mara. If I recalled, the organisation that Maria told me about, Sanctus I believed their name was, was the one who previously possessed the two artefacts I found. Perhaps they were collecting them as well. Then I should pay them a visit. I still didn’t forget that they were the one who did all those experiments and caused Shana’s death…I would make them pay for that.

“Alastor? You listening?” a voice brought be back to where I was.

I was in the Grand Cathedral of Caelum together with Morrigan and her knight Catrina. If you wondered why I was here, it was because I wanted to go to Zagon and what better way to go there with the Empress. From what I have gathered so far, I did not think Morrigan could be the one who killed my parents. First of all, indeed she was a talented soul mage but not nearly enough to be a big threat to be able to kill everyone at the castle. Secondly I learnt from Theoron that before even Lakyus departed from Zagon, she was out of the line to inherit the throne by the decision of the king. Even if she succeeded in killing the demon lord, came back as a hero, she would only have a few years, if not months to live. Morrigan had no need to kill her if she wanted to keep the throne for herself. That would be too risky to take on both the demon lord and the Hero at the same time.

There was also a third reason why I thought that Morrigan was not the culprit. My disappearance after the murder. Everyone was so absorbed in finding who killed my parents and forgot about the fact that I was also taken away. If someone murdered the entire castle, why let me live? Would I not become a threat to them? Not just me, Ingrid and Morgan also survived. Basing on what happened to Ingrid, it could be fair to assume that whoever killed my parents did that to Ingrid but for she managed to get away along with Morgan. So why not pursue the both of them? For someone who killed both the demon lord and the Hero, that would be an easy task? Why let Ingrid being found and taken away by Mikael?

What I believed happened was that someone killed everyone at the castle and for some reasons, perhaps they were injured or something, did not pursue the fleeing Ingrid and Morgan carrying me. Yet if it was the case then why did Morgan stay silent for the last ten years? During that time she could easily find a way back to Ragna to contact the others if she was indeed innocent. And when Mikael confronted her, she clearly had a feeling of remorse and sadness. This meant two possibilities: either she was an accomplice but changed her mind midway and decided to save me. Or she knew the culprit and that person was actually among our allies, keeping her from contacting the demons.

Either way I could not find any clue that could link back Morrigan. And even if my deduction was wrong, by being close to her I had more chance to find something rather than avoiding her.

“Sorry! Just thinking about something. You are saying?”

“I am asking you to become the heir to Zagon throne.” Said Morrigan.

“Hum..seems like a hassle…” I teased.

“You dare..” the knight intervened. Despite being a demon, she seemed to be quite loyal to Morrigan. How come a demon ended up in servitude of an Empress?

“It’s alright, Catrina! I won’t force you if that’s your answer, Alastor! Then tell me! If you are not here for that then what are you here for?” the Empress asserted.

“Well I didn’t say I won’t either. It’s just asking me to be king of a country I have never seen before is a bit difficult. So to give you a proper answer, I am thinking about going to Zagon. Just taking a tour if you don’t mind.” I said.

“You think this is a game? Your Majesty has asked you that kindly and yet you….”

“Catrina, be silent!” Morrigan affirmed.

“My apologies. I have stepped out of line!”

“So you want to go to Zagon?” Morrigan asked me. “Alright we will go back to Zagon then. I also have some unfinished business to go there.”

“So I heard. With the rebellion and everything. Can’t be easy.”

“You are well informed. The country just turned to shit after what happened. Did you have anything to do with that?”

“Hum…a bit…slightly…mostly….”

“Things are not that easy with you either huh? Can’t say I envy that.”

“You are not going to ask me about it?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Nah it’s a pain to explain. Just know that I kind of save the world.” I grinned.

“What kind of demon lord saves the world? Not that I am complaining.”

“Never said I was one either.”

“Then what are you? Who are you fighting for?”

“My family”

* * *

The group of refugees leading by Maxime has finally arrived at a settlement that lied in a hidden valley inside the Whispering Forest. The beastman Garrick has kept his promise and gave them shelters along with food for the people. The villagers, all beastmans of different features, were hesitant at first but greeted them warmly afterward. For some it was their first time seeing a human so they could not hide their curiosity.

But the question Maxime had was what would be the price for this? Surely Garrick’s change of mind was not out of kindness, even the kind bishop knew that.

Garrick has guided Maxime along with Viviana and Lucas to a large hut in the village. He asked them to wait outside while he would inform his chieftain. After a while he came out.

“Alright only the girl and the priest can come out. The boy will stay outside!” Garrick said.

“What? Why?” Lucas clamoured.

“That’s what the boss said. If you are not happy with this then you are free to leave, along with the rest of your people!”

“….Lucas, please wait outside!” Maxime said to the boy.

“But…”

“Lucas!”

“Fine! But if they do something to you, shout as loud as you can! I will be right here!”

With that Maxime and Viviana walked into the hut together with Garrick.

Inside, a large beastman sat on a red carpet on the ground. He had a very muscular body with dark skin and claws but his head had many fur that formed a mane around his neck like a lion. Indeed, you could tell from a glance that this man was of the Lion tribe, one of the leadings tribes of the beastman races.

The beastmans used to live in specific clans divided by their origin. So Lion tribesmen would only live with other Lion beastmans but that was a long time ago. Nowadays, all the clan members were mixed up and the pure blood line has faded with time, leaving all beastmans usually very similar to humans but with a bit of fur and retained only a few features like ears and tails. This meant that someone like this beastman was very rare. Actually even someone like Garrick was rare. Compared to Viviana who looked just like a human with cat ears and tail, these two must have descended from pure breed, making more powerful in term on strength.

“Chief Zen, I have brought the priest and the girl. Here is Father Maxime and Viviana of the Cat tribe.” Garrick presented the two.

“I am Zen, chieftain of this clan. No need for formality! Here in the Quin clan, we value only strength. Words are filled with lies and reserved for the weak! Therefore I will be honest with you the best I can. And I expect you will do the same.

So who are you exactly and what are you doing here?” asked Zen.

“My name is Maxime. I am a bishop from Caelum and this is Viviana, one of the hero apprentices for the Church…” Maxime was stopped before he could continue.

“Wait wait. A beastman working for the Church? Is this a joke?” Zen questioned. “Don’t you have any pride, girl?”

“What are you talking about?” Viviana raised her voice.

“The Church rejects our belief in spirits, constantly trying to convert our tribesmen into their religion. And when we refuse, they treat us like demons, pillaging our villages without any warning, saying we are heretics. Are you not aware of this?”

“What? Is this true?” Viviana turned to Maxime for answers but the bishop could only lower his head without able to look her in the eyes.

“Hah, tricking one of your own so you could control them. We know that the Church is trying to convert simply because we are more powerful than they are. In my eyes, you humans are even worse than demons. And you dare claiming being the voice of Gods and all. What a joke!” the chieftain said.

“Wait you are wrong! Father Maxime is not like that!” Viviana proclaimed.

“I admit that the Church has done despicable things in the past. There is no way around it and I can’t express how deeply sorry I am. But I implore you: the people with me has nothing to do with this. The fault lies with us the members of the Church. So if you can overlook this…” Maxime pled.

“Words…in the ends that’s all you have, pretty words. But like I said, we value strength and actions here and I would not dirty my hands with the blood of women and children. So here is my proposal: starting for today, you will work for us. The elves have declared war against the beastmans and soon their army will march through this great forest.

As you know, we are divided with no leader. If an enemy like the elves attacks a settlement like this one at a time, we won’t be able to do anything. That’s why currently all clans are unifying to find a new leader. The problem is how to pick one. We can’t let all the leaders just beating each other to death until one remains. That would reduce our force too much. So it was decided that each clan will send a member of that clan to fight in a tournament and the leader of the winner will become the king of the tribesmen.

Garrick has told me that you are a spirit shaman. That’s something very rare. If someone like you could make a pact with a great spirit then victory is certain. Do you get what I am saying here?” Zen explained.

“That is….” Before Maxime could protest, the girl next to him has already spoken.

“I agree. In return you will make sure that our group is well fed and sheltered.”

“Wait Viviana. That’s a little rash don’t you think?”

“I have my own reasons for this, Father. Making a pact with a great spirit is a chance in a lifetime. I know that I am weak after what happened in Caelum. If this can get me stronger, it will help get closer to that demon.”

“Hahaha well said girl. That kind of thinking is the way of the beastman. Very well! I welcome you to the Quin clan!”