Chapter 174: Dark Clouds Over the Kingdom of Ersten
In stark contrast to the war-torn city of Weiburg in the north, the Kingdom of Ersten, in the center of the continent, was now bathed in a seemingly calm but treacherous undertow.
A thousand years had passed. The human kingdom, once led by the first emperor, Ersten Norne, a kingdom whose symbol was the holy sword 'The Light of Ersten', left behind by the god-slayer Rhodes, was now a shadow of its former self, its influence and its borders a far cry from what they had once been.
But it seems that to rise and then to fall is the eternal law of the world. The once-ideal nation, over the long years, had been scarred by internal strife, by the shifting tides of power, and by the darkness that had grown within it.
In the south, new human kingdoms had sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, competing, allying, betraying, and consuming one another. And after centuries of a brutal struggle, a new power had emerged: the Southern Unified Empire. It had devoured the weaker kingdoms around it and had, in the end, united the entire southern continent under its banner, a behemoth to rival Ersten itself.
And now, this southern beast, having consolidated its power, had cast a greedy gaze upon the kingdom that was the symbol of human orthodoxy and ideals. Border skirmishes had escalated, and small-scale conflicts had become a common occurrence. The empire's army, like a shark that had scented blood, was a constant presence on their borders, putting a heavy and unprecedented pressure on Ersten.
In the capital city of Ersten, the great city that had been built by the Holy King Norne himself, the setting sun cast long shadows over the streets. Two hundred years had not changed the city much, only made the statue of their first king a little more worn, a little more faded, a subtle, but clear, sign of the kingdom's own decline.
In the depths of the royal palace, the current emperor, Ersten Fidel, was wearily rubbing his temples. He was in his prime, and in his features, one could still see a faint resemblance to Norne. But the mountain of urgent reports on his desk was a weight that was crushing him.
"Your Majesty, the army of the Southern Empire has once again crossed our borders, destroyed two of our outposts, and captured nearly a hundred of our soldiers."
"A supply convoy on the border was attacked by an unknown armed group. The losses are heavy. We suspect it was the work of bandits supported by the Southern Empire."
The worried voices of his ministers still echoed in his ears. The Southern Empire was a tightening noose, a noose that was slowly suffocating his kingdom.
When had it happened? When had these insignificant little kingdoms grown into such a monstrous empire? A hundred years ago? Two hundred? He didn't know.
Against the massive and fanatical army of the empire, even with their superior equipment and greater number of mages, Ersten was beginning to falter. The main reason was that Ersten was an 'ideal nation', a home for all humanity. And so, even in the face of their constant provocations, he had always held back, trying to avoid a full-scale military conflict. But his restraint had only emboldened them. The threat of the demons had not yet been completely eliminated, and they were already turning their blades on their own kind.
A deep sense of helplessness washed over him. The glorious history of their ancestor, Norne, who had united humanity and had fought alongside the great god-slayer against a god... it was now just a cruel mockery of his own incompetence. The 'Light of Ersten' was still enshrined in the deepest part of the palace, the sacred treasure of the kingdom, the symbol of their faith. But it was too heavy, too sacred. Only in a time of a dire, national crisis could it be wielded. It was more of a spiritual totem than a weapon.
And just as he was on the verge of being crushed by the weight of it all, a man appeared before him.
He called himself 'Grausam'.
He had been introduced at a court banquet, by several of the emperor's own ministers. And as he had entered the audience hall, the powerful magical aura that surrounded him had been a silent proclamation of his immense power.
"Your Majesty," he had said, his voice slow and elegant, "allow me, Grausam, to offer you my most humble respects. I have traveled the continent and have heard of the unprovoked provocations that your kingdom has been enduring. As a fellow human, I wish to offer you my meager assistance."
His words had been humble and proper, and had instantly won him the favor of many of the nobles and ministers.
The emperor, though wary, could not ignore his powerful magical aura, his calm demeanor, and his offered support, especially not now, when his kingdom so desperately needed a powerful ally, an outside mage. Ersten had no shortage of its own mages, of course. But they were all a part of the holy St. Kalua, the first magical academy of humanity, and he did not want to call upon them unless it was a true crisis.
"Lord Grausam, I thank you for your kind offer. But what do you have in mind?"
He had smiled. "Your Majesty, the Southern Empire relies on its vast numbers. But as long as they are human, they will have a weakness. In the face of power and slaughter, even the largest of armies will grow fearful."
He had raised his hand, palm up, and had revealed his own magic, a subtle and skillful manipulation of mana that had made even the court mages gasp in awe. "If Your Majesty would but trust me," he had said, his voice a convincing and magical sound, "I will personally go to the border and give those arrogant fools a lesson they will not soon forget."
He had then clenched his fist, and a wave of a powerful magical energy had washed over them, forcing them all to take a step back.
And the emperor... he had been moved. He needed power. He needed a resounding victory to boost his people's morale and to strike fear into the hearts of the Southern Empire. The appearance of Grausam... it was like a lifeline to a drowning man.
"Your strength is... astounding!" he had said, and had even stood from his throne. A powerful, outside mage... it was as if he had been sent from the heavens themselves. "If you can truly help me to deal with the threat of the Southern Empire, the Kingdom of Ersten will grant you whatever you desire!"
"To be of service to Your Majesty is my honor," he had said with an elegant bow, but a cold, hard light had flickered in the depths of his eyes, a flicker so quick that no one had seen it.
The smile on his face was perfect, a carefully-crafted mask.
But beneath that perfect exterior lay a terrible truth, a truth that could bring the entire Kingdom of Ersten to its knees.
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