Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
On April 10, the sky was blue and everything was basked in the warm sunlight under the gentle breeze, which made them feel slightly lazy.
The square outside of the Nekso Palace had been surrounded by the Sword of Truth’s Knights, who were covered in full silver armor. They blocked the citizens that had swarmed over.
“They’re here! They’re here!” There was no telling who shouted first, but the crowd suddenly fell quiet and focused their eyes on the central avenue that was defended by the Verdict Knights.
Many black wagons that had been painted with the emblem of fire of arcana, pulled by the selected silver Dragon Scale horses, moved onto the outer square of the Nekso Palace.
Tall gentlemen and ladies got off the wagons, wearing the most popular clothes of Holm. Had it not been for the arcana and magic badges on their chest, they would’ve convinced anybody that they were mystery sorcerers, but they only left the impression that they were the upper society who led the trend of fashion.
“They’re gorgeous. The sorceresses are not nearly as pale and slim as the Church described. They are just like any other lady.” A young man was dazzled.
Although there were plenty of sorcerers and apprentices in Rentato, they never revealed their identity in public, so most of the citizens did not know what sorcerers actually looked like at all. Their stereotype that was imbued by the Church had gradually been twisted by Arcana Voice.
A girl nearby, as her eyes widened, also said. “That’s right. I always thought that sorcerers were supposed to be pale, dry, stinky, and liked dissecting bodies at night… Now I realize I was wrong.”
The intelligence workers of the Congress of Magic chuckled in the crowd. Their reaction was exactly what the Highest Council wanted to achieve. Evans’ wedding had been considered a great occasion to display the new image of sorcerers. That was why the most attractive arcanists had been selected as Evans’ guards, and most of the necromancers of the Hand of Paleness had been asked to stay in Heidler city. It was expected that all the ordinary people learn that sorcerers represented civilization.
“But I’m told that the sorceresses in the past are particularly good at alluring people…” Some other men said regretfully.
In the meantime, some girls were feeling pitiful, too. “Don’t you think it’s very cool that a pale, handsome gentleman dissects a corpse attentively? Like Mr. Felipe…”
Regarding that, the intelligence could only shake their heads. It was true that everybody had a different taste. After they were adapted to the sorcerers’ new image, the mysteriousness of sorcerers had to be invoked again.
After the sorcerers all stood on the two sides of the red carpet, the crowd realized that they hadn’t seen Lucien Evans, the star of the show today.
When they were confused, roars echoed in the sky, so terrifyingly that everybody shivered in front of the top creature.
Then, the blue sky became dark because a pair of gigantic wings appeared and a translucent shadow fell and landed at the center of the square.
“A dragon!” Somebody shouted.
Living in the capital of the kingdom that was heavily guarded they only knew dragons from tales and news programs.
The dragon held its hideous head high proudly, reflecting the sunlight with its crystal-like scales. Everybody somehow felt that it was beautiful, too!
After the brief shock, somebody pointed at the back of the dragon. “Is there somebody over there?”
“Oh, has Mr. Evans arrived on a dragon? So cool!”
While they uttered their admiration, a kind girl said in a low voice, “Dragons are intelligent creatures. Will they feel humiliated if they are mounted?”
Alferris looked at her and decided that such humiliation should come as often as possible. It drooled when it thought of the glittering gold that it ‘borrowed’, considering whether it should start the business of ‘dragon knight’ in the spare time.
On the back of the crystal dragon, a young man in a black tailcoat flew down and stopped at the front of the red carpet. His face was handsome, and his eyes were deep and dark like a lake that attracted the soul.
“As expected of a great musician!”
“He’s exactly like what the tales described!”
…
The gentlemen and ladies complimented in satisfaction. It was more splendid than they imagined.
Unhurriedly, Lucien walked into the Nekso Palace on the carpet.
The Original Fire, who was hiding in the crowd, nodded at Kritonia. “Hathaway, Winston, and a few other legends are here. We will wait for the opportunity when they are only protected by Hathaway.”
After that, he exited the crowd and vanished.
Kritonia was grim. He had known the Original Fire’s preparations and knew that the odds of success were high, but how did the guy get the connections? Through himself or the Church?
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his doubts and stared at the Nekso Palace, because there was no turning back now.
…
After passing through the palaces, Lucien reached the queen’s bedroom. He was amazed by Natasha who was in a white wedding dress.
She had often worn white dresses or knight suits before, but those clothes were too simple. The hazy laces, the fluffy hemline and the pure gloves made her look like a purple-haired angel that was glowing.
“Am I beautiful?” Natasha chuckled. When she spoke, the sacred feeling was gone, and she was still the resolute knight.
Seeing that Grand Duke of Orvarit, Granny Hathaway and Aunt Camil were eyeing him, Lucien found it impossible to be as casual as usual. He blushed and said, “You are beautiful.”
Natasha raised her eyebrow in satisfaction and looked at Grand Duke of Orvarit giving mixed feelings. “Father, you will finally see me married.”
Greatly relieved, Grand Duke of Orvarit patted Natasha’s hands. “I’ve finally seen you in a wedding dress. You are as gorgeous as your mother. From today on, you will have your own family. Great, very great.”
“I will always be your daughter.” Natasha blinked and said in a smile.
Grand Duke of Orvarit turned to Lucien. “You are a warrior who removed my worries. I hope that you will always love and look after her in the future.”
Since Natasha was the queen, there was a ritual similar to a wedding inside the Nekso Palace, except that the role of the priest had been replaced by Grand Duke of Orvarit. It would’ve been too hilarious if the Highest Council let the clerics of the Saint Truth host the wedding.
“I will, in the name of arcana and magic.” Lucien said sincerely.
Grand Duke of Orvarit spoke to Natasha again. “You will become his wife. I hope you will always understand and accompany him.”
“I will, in the name of the Lord and knighthood.” Natasha nodded heavily, declaring as a knight.
Grand Duke of Orvarit smiled and put Natasha’s left hand in Lucien’s hands. “In the name of her father, I bring her to you. Bless your new family.”
Holding Natasha’s hand, Lucien paid respect to her father, Granny Hathaway and Aunt Camil, and then went out of the Nekso Palace with her.
Passing through the palaces and the garden, they reached the gate of the Nekso Palace.
The man was handsome and steady, and the lady was sacred and glorious. The beautiful couple stunned the two groups of knights and the crowd, who fell quiet to appreciate the view.
Lucien and Natasha raised their crossed hands together!
Exclamations immediately rose:
“Long live the queen!”
“Long live His Excellency Evans!”
The area around the Nekso Palace was immediately roiling with cheers.
…
In the next instant, for safety reasons, Lucien and Natasha went to a platform for the magic steam train instead of riding on the crystal dragon again under the protection of Hathaway. Winston and the rest of them stayed in the company of Grand Duke of Orvarit and other nobles for their security.
Wu! ‘Klaus’ moved. In the most heavily guarded carriage, Lucien, Natasha, Hathaway, Grand Duke of Orvarit and Camil were left alone. Winston and other nobles were in other carriages.
“Very powerful defense circles have been deployed here.” Natasha was very excited; both for the wedding and for the upcoming battle.
Hathaway preferred to stay quiet whenever possible. She looked at Lucien.
Lucien smiled. “It’s only equal to the ninth circle and not nearly as good as the defense of the City in the Sky.”
“Is that so?” Natasha looked around and asked curiously when she had questions.
Rentato was not far away from Allyn. The magic steam train finished half of the journey very soon.
Natasha looked at Lucien in confusion. They were already close to Allyn. Had the enemy given up?
After they reached Allyn, Lucien couldn’t be killed even if the pope arrived in person.
Lucien was about to respond when a crack appeared inside the carriage. The frozen black, white and grey spread out, blasting Hathaway, Grand Duke of Orvarit, Camil, Lucien and Natasha!
A crack of the World of Souls?
The deadly colors raged like a surging river, expanding the crack quickly, which consumed Lucien and Natasha without giving them any time to react.
Hathaway transferred Grand Duke of Orvarit and Camil to a different carriage without any hesitation. Because she had no time to dodge, and the attack did not contain any damage, she was consumed by the crack, too.
After only one moment, the carriage became empty, and the monochrome crack quickly disappeared.
Inside the World of Souls, a complicated magic circle had been deployed next to the rail. On top of the magic circle were three terrifying experts.
One of them was a tall mummy that was enshrouded in yellowish cloth with a gold crown on the head, and one was a skeleton in a magic robe, whose head was surrounded by spinning stones.
Lucien recognized them the moment he saw them:
“The Primordial Mummy! The Lich King!”
“Is the World of Souls taking part in this, too?”
The third of them was a brilliantly smiling young man. It was exactly the Original Fire!
Looking at Lucien, Natasha, and Hathaway, he sneered, “Have you forgotten that the World of Souls overlaps the main material world? We can bridge them with magic easily!”
Natasha felt that everything around her was slowed down. No. She felt that the Primordial Mummy, the Lich King, and the Original Fire were so fast that she couldn’t capture them at all. In the meantime, a glittering river fell from the sky and slashed at her.
It was Kritonia, Heart of Time!
Seeing that the Primordial Mummy and the Lich King stopped Hathaway, the Original Fire cast spells on Lucien who had been slowed.
Right then, his eyes slightly constricted as he saw that Lucien, who was wearing a black tailcoat and a bow-tie of the same color, had brought out a silver pocket watch at some point. The black second hand was ticking, and the gems in different colors were glittering. The tiny chain of the watch emitted vague, silver brilliance.
It was still colorful? A legendary expert? A legendary item?
In the World of Souls, only legends could retain their original colors! Also, he had never heard of such a legendary item before.
When did Lucien advance into legendary?
Greatly shocked, Banham, ‘Original Fire’, cast the spell:
“Fire of Soul!”
Inside his pupils, Lucien smiled like the most courteous gentleman, before his right thumb pressed the silver pocket watch in his hand.
Crack!
