CHAPTER 3
The Day of Revival
1
The Founder, Nebulis.
In the past, she had turned the Imperial capital into a sea of flames. She was the strongest and oldest astral mage. Though the Empire called astral mages witches, she was the one they called the Grand Witch.
“The most bloodthirsty rage in the world. Such strong feelings of resentment, enough to annihilate the Empire.”
Lord Mask looked up, unable to hide the jubilant quiver in his voice.
It had all been so much. It had all happened so suddenly. After tremors that had set the underground lake in motion, a girl had awakened before his eyes.
“The Revered Founder…”
Only shards of broken glass remained of the coffin. The fragments were continuously fluttering through the air in the massive current of astral energy, almost like a snowstorm.
“Beautiful…”
The color of the energy shifted from red to yellow, then to green, then to blue.
In its light, a tanned girl slowly rose from the casket, her pearlescent hair fluttering.
“It is an honor to be in your presence, Revered Founder.”
Lord Mask knelt on a knee and lowered his head before her.
This was most definitely the Founder. Though the astral energy had already begun to fade, it was doubtful anyone would question who she was after seeing the divine energy she had released upon her awakening.
“…………”
The girl stood before Lord Mask.
Her slim sun-bronzed figure peeked out from her worn cloak. From appearances alone, she seemed as if she could be only thirteen or fourteen years of age.
The Founder swept her gaze across the underground lake.
“This is the subterranean level of the palace…?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Lord Mask nodded deeply.
He could not hold back the crescent moon–like smile that bloomed below his mask.
Why now? Why had she, the most powerful astral mage in existence, awakened now of all times?
That didn’t matter.
What mattered was retribution—revenge against the Empire. For the Zoa, whose greatest desire was to rescue Growley, understanding the mysteries of the Founder did not matter.
All they needed were her emotions.
As long as they both had rage fueled by their desire for revenge against the Empire, that was enough to suit the Zoa’s needs.
“I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I am On, the adviser of the house of Zoa.”
“Zoa?”
“Your sister, and the first generation of our family, was blessed with three children. At present, we are divided into three bloodlines: the Lou, the Zoa, and the Hydra.”
“…” The Founder was silent.
In contrast to her youthful appearance, the expression on her face was complex and mature.
“I do not care…”
“I fully share your sentiments. To you, O Revered Founder, the current monarchy is a trivial matter.”
He stood up. Lord Mask bowed to the small girl and snapped his fingers.
“I will gather the family posthaste. We shall serve your every—”
“No need.”
“Then what will you have me do?”
“…”
Her pearlescent hair fluttered around her as she glanced at Lord Mask.
“I will do it alone. I will burn the capital to the—”
“Stop right there!”
A sweet voice echoed throughout the rocky cavern.
Then they heard footsteps.
“……Ugh.”
A golden-haired girl ran toward them, out of breath, and Lord Mask clucked with his tongue.
The tremors had been massive. He’d had the suspicion someone would show up, but he hadn’t expected her to be the first to arrive.
“Well, I wonder what could be the matter. Why do you look so upset?”
He did not show any indication of annoyance on his face, instead welcoming her with the best smile he could deliver.
“My dear Alice.”
Twenty minutes ago.
“…Huff…ugh… Why now of all times?!”
Alice ran down the steps of the queen’s palace, panting.
The elevators were no longer functioning. The Nebulis palace was the Planetary Stronghold. Although the lifts ran on astral energy rather than electricity, they had abruptly stopped functioning.
…The astral energy in the entire palace is on the fritz.
…This didn’t happen when the Imperial forces attacked, though!
It had all started with the tremor.
The quake that seemed as though it would overturn the very ground itself had begun to disrupt the astral energy flowing within the palace.
“Are you sure it’s the Founder…? Your Majesty!”
The queen was not here. She had entrusted her daughter with the reconnaissance work as she stayed behind to give instructions and control the situation in the halls. That was why…
Alice had to run.
“This is no laughing matter! We cannot allow her to awaken again!”
She knew because she had seen it once before. The Founder Nebulis was no friend to the Sovereignty and would never be the Sovereignty’s savior. The Founder was a calamity, a prisoner to revenge.
“I will annihilate the Empire.”
“I am a witch, and you are my enemies.”
The Founder cared about nothing but destroying the Empire.
She wouldn’t bat an eye, no matter how many sacrifices there were and no matter who was hurt, Imperial or not. That was who Founder Nebulis was, who that witch was.
…But that’s wrong. It’s wrong!
…That’s not the future I want!
Alice needed to stop her.
“Rin…”
If only her attendant were by her side, Alice would feel so much more assured. She bit her lip as she ran down the steps to the underground level.
She descended a hidden path only the royal family was allowed to traverse. Opening up ahead of her was hard rock face and water that glittered bright blue.
The underground lake.
The queen had designated it as the place to seal the Founder away again.
The moment she set foot in it…
…Alice felt an intense burst of light and wind that made her voluminous golden hair stand on end.
“A current?!”
Based on the ferocity and vast size of the blast, it must have been astral energy that was full of rage.
She understood that, whether she liked it or not.
What had happened here? What terrible events had led to this?
“Stop right there!” she yelled, her voice raspy.
“Well, I wonder what could be the matter. Why do you look so upset?”
A man’s sonorous and melodious voice echoed throughout the cavern. The man wearing a mask greeted Alice with open arms as she struggled to catch her breath.
“My dear Alice.”
“Lord Mask…” She glared at the man in front of her. “Is this your doing?”
“Mine? Oh, no, you’re quite mistaken. The Revered Founder herself willed this to be.”
He gestured at the broken coffin. In the center of the fragmented glass stood a girl whose iridescent hair fluttered.
Blank.
That was how Alice would have described the vacuous eyes staring back at her.
“The Founder…” She was too late. Alice bit the inside of her cheek when she saw the girl was already up. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it…?”
“…”
The Founder was silent.
Or so Alice thought—instead, the girl averted her eyes as though she hadn’t seen Alice. She began to scale the rock face on her bare, slender feet.
“Uh! Stop right there!” Alice cried. Her loud yell echoed throughout the underground lake cavern. “Founder Nebulis, I will not allow you to leave!”
“…” The bronzed girl stopped.
It was almost as though time itself had halted. Or that was how it seemed as the girl slowly, languidly almost, took her time turning to face Alice.
“So it’s you.”
“It’s an honor you remember me,” Alice answered. “And I remember how much trouble you created last time you were awake.”
Rin had been cut down as she tried to protect Alice. Embers had rained down on the neutral city of Ain as though from the ravages of war. The image had been forever engraved in Alice’s mind.
“Are you planning on destroying the Empire…?”
“What else is there for me to do?”
“I wouldn’t have a reason to stop you if that were all there was to it.”
The girl was so much smaller than Alice, and looked even younger than Sisbell. Regardless, the witch’s mechanical gaze was enough to send a shiver down her spine. Its depths were endless. How much power and how much hatred could be contained in such a tiny body?
“As the current proxy to the queen, I implore you! O Founder, your rage will not lead to the Sovereignty’s future. You cut down your own allies to destroy the Empire!”
She balled her hand into a fist.
“We don’t need your powers.”
She pressed on, taking a stand against the oldest and most powerful witch there had ever been. Though she felt so overwhelmed she could hardly breathe, Alice strained her voice regardless.
“I will unify the entire world. In different way from you!”
“…”
A long silence followed. Alice’s voice echoed against the rock face and disappeared like the ripples of waves. How much time had passed?
Hmph. A lifeless sigh escaped the tan girl’s lips.
“Begone, girl.”
In that same moment, crimson flames engulfed Alice’s vision.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login