"Athalia," my sister turned her head to me while experimenting with potions. She's trying out some new magic circle that she created as well and she's also trying to investigate the huge crystal in the middle and it looks like she was intrigued by it. The Crystal of Life that Aisha left. I tried breaking this befor to try and use it for Azrael's flame but it won't break.
"What?" She answered. As of now, Abel is not here, I ordered him to check the barriers I made.
I asked the Emperor to give me three days just for asking Athalia some questions. And to let the little demon prepare himself with all the things that we ae going to do.
I already asked her about Azrael's empire, and I already know where it is located. But, it might take me years before I can go there and get some holy crystals. I didn't know about how the curse works, but I figured out that there's a flame within Alina's core. I never knew it is in the sealed divine core. Maybe because this body is only 10 years old, and I can't still touch my main source of power, even sensing small magic has become difficult for me. I didn't even noticed that jerk who once bumped into Alina when we snuck out to the plaza. And I still can't get out of the second layer of my divine core, and there are five layers of it.
This is so annoying. Why did I even thought of hopping worlds just to look for the crystals when Athalia is here. Still, we can't unseal her without the permission of the Emperor. I waited for a long time to have a chance to become closer to those guys, and all of a sudden I felt a familiar soul coming back to this world.
Clara, the person I've been guarding in Earth killed herself, and I watched her die. No. I've been watching her kill herself many times, as much as she was reincarnated. The poor noble soul of hers, is something that is already beaten to a pulp. For many times that she has been reincarnated, she was never introduced to a great family like the Ciera, and this is the first time that her family treated her this well. Unfortunately, she's cursed. Of course...she's originally cursed.
"How long will it take to go to Erevale?" I asked. Athalia's expression turned into an annoyed face as she slowly look at me.
"You planning to go now?" She cock her brow with curled up lips. She really hate the idea of me going to her God's empire. It's not like I'll cause chaos there, I just want to get some holy crystals.
"No. Just asking," I replied.
"It's easy to teleport from here to Erevale, but you should know that time flows differently in Erevale and Lumia, and it's even more different when we enter the Empire. A day in Lumia is three days in Erevale, three days in Erevale is a week in Azrael's Empire," That means, a week in the Empire is one day in Lumia.
"No need to stay there for a week. Stealing holy crystals is not that hard of a work," I spoke. It won't be easy to melt the holy crystals as well, so we need to use Azrael's flame too in order to melt it and then pour it to the same flame that's burning Alina's divine core.
"Also, where is Azrael?"
"In his Empire. He's been visiting me in my dreams while I was sealed, actually. He was banished from this world so he stays in his realm, I'm quite interested in what the Empire have become," Athalia answered, smiling. Yeah, she does looks excited.
So, Azrael stayed in his Empire. Meanwhile, Aisha lives her life being reincarnated over and over again with her past memories removed. Someone who was once a God became cursed and get reincarnated in different worlds, with the memories of her past lives taken off. I wonder why they gave her such heavy punishment and let Azrael live his life peacefully in his realm.
Is it because her betrayal almost lose the lives of the whole world?
I wonder...is it really wrong to fall in love?
Why were they cursed for loving each other? Why is it that the Goddess of Life have no rights to fall in love?
Why does loving someone can cost the lives of the living beings? The Primal Luminars may be Gods created by Raini, but they have hearts too, don't they? And the reason for being cursed was because the Goddess of Life should not love anyone but her people. And the one who cursed them was not their creator, but another entity that is equal to Raini's status. Someone who is also considered as a creator of another world. The same one who cursed the five of us.
"Brother, you asked for three days before departing. Do you really have that many questions?" Athalia asked. I scoffed and nod my head. I do have a lot of questions in mind. Some of them have been answered when she was unsealed, I even got information about the holy crystal and Azrael's Empire.
"Yes. For example, how did you lose against Virexon," Her face crumpled as she glare at me, but I only smirked at her. Until now, it's still a wonder to me how she lost against that jerk. I know he's Raini's brother, but that jerk lost his divinity when he abandoned Godhood. I can even push him away from someone else's body without sweating.
"Bro, he literally possessed a Ciera. A Ciera—his fucking descendant! Of course the body will be perfectly compatible!" I sighed. It's true that the Cieras are his descendants, of course we didn't let anyone know about that. The only thing that recorded that fact is the book that I left to Alina. Since she's originally an adult, reading and learning all the information about this world won't stress her that much. And she's bound to know about it anyway.
"Still, there were two of you. Aeron was even trying to help, wasn't he?" She grits her teeth and all of a sudden, she's releasing mana. She looks irritated just by remembering the past. She took a deep sigh and calm herself, finally the mana's going back to her.
"He harmed Aeron's soul, and tried to use Fel's love for Aeron to capture her. Many things have happened, and the next thing I knew Fel's been poisoned and I was being accused of doing it," she replied. I'm not asking for a detailed story but that's so lacking.
"Also, where were you? It was Fel! It's Fel!" She then turned to me and glared at me.
"And?" She stayed glaring at me for a moment and clicked her tongue.
"There might be differences but the soul is the same," She added. I sighed in disbelief. What is she trying to imply now?
"The heck are you on about, it's not like I wasn't trying to help. My task was to find a way to get Virexon back to hell, in case you needed a reminder," I stood up from the chair and head to the huge crystal in the middle of the tables.
"Brother. I thought you'll be the first one to rescue her—"
"I don't know what you're trying to point out, Lia, but if it's about the soul forget it. And let's move on from this conversation. If I leave this Empire, you should watch over Alina in my stead," I cut her off and placed my hand in the huge crystal. This crystal have rich mana flowing within it. I wonder why Aisha left it here.
"Of course. You don't need to tell me about it, I'll do it without your request," she answered. I turned to her and she was serious about it.
"That's a relief then. Also, the Unyielding Flame will be needed as well to melt the holy crystals. Since you're able to use it as a curse, let's make use of that unique power of yours," I smiled at her, and she looks at me with disbelief all over her face.
"Did you unseal me to use me?"
"Yes,"
"Seal me back!"
"No,"
"Argghh! So annoying!"
I chuckled and turned around to face her.
The other Dukes and the Duchess of the East had no idea about Lia yet. The Selene is someone that is not very known in this world, as her records disappeared after she was sealed. There's a story about a black magician that cursed the Odilia, but the book never mentioned about her being the Selene.
I bet, only few people knew about her. No, I'm sure only the Imperial Family, Kier, and that lime demon are the ones who are aware of her existence now.
"Lia. Your existence has been hidden for a long time. Fortunately, even though you were deemed evil, your name and identity as an incarnation was not revealed. What do you plan to do about it?" I asked. I noticed her gritting her teeth, but she immediately calmed down and took a deep breath.
"Hah? I'll just tell Orphy to reveal everything about me. No need to tell the people about the fact that I am written as an evil black magician—fuck, that was infuriating. Once I see that demon shit, I'll bash his head with a huge rock," Heh, she's still the same. Her vocabulary never changed, too.
"Orphy, huh? Also, you should look after the Ciera's. Virexon once possessed a noble in Central Empire, he can enter the Central Empire's boundary without difficulty even though he's become weak. I already cast barriers in the other Dukedoms when I went there to inform them about investigation, and I haven't remove the barrier that I placed here during Alina's birthday. Make sure to always check on the barriers I placed and add more layers to it," I spoke, she look at me blankly. As if she's in disbelief that I'm trusting all this to her. That's also the task that I gave to Abel this morning. To add more barriers to the ones I placed.
"I should just stayed sleeping," she complained and sighed.
"Well, you're here now. And don't forget that we'll head straight to Erevale once we're done with this investigation," She stared at me for a few secons and then took another sigh. She's only been awake for a few days but she already have so much responsibilities.
As a Selene, she should get used to it.
"Yeah yeah..." She rolled her eyes as she continue with her new experiments.
Leaving Alina and Eri is actually a heavy decision for me. Who knows what could happen while I am away? However, Lia and Abel are with them, so it should be fine. I already placed countermeasures should people with ill intent try to harm any of the Imperial Family.
Come to think of it, how did that jerk of a Marquess was able to enter my barrier without notifying me? If he was using the same magic they used to create that dark barrier and neither Abel or I noticed it, that means the power was something that came fom a powerful being than us both. Definitely not Virexon, he's currently weak because he had no useful and compatible body.
Either the other demon or Dearil.
Tch, that dragon is so troublesome.
•
"Your Highness, we're done with your hair. We should go now," I yawned as I nod my head to respond to Mina. They just finished fixing my hair, while Themis and the others are waiting outside my room.
Today will be the day that Asher and Ziel leave.
And I'm kinda sad, because Ziel will be away from me again when he just came back here one and half month ago. And I'll definitely miss Asher's arrogance and teases too.
Hah...
"Thank you, Mina and everyone," I rubbed my eyes and yawn again. I don't know what time it is in the morning, but the sun is not rising yet. Do they really have to leave this early?
"Good morning, Your Highness. The Second Prince and the Third Prince are here to accompany you," Themis spoke outside the door. I jumped down from the chair as I smile widely.
I'm sure Brother Heli's with Dad and the others right now.
When I opened the door, I saw my second and third brothe smiling at me.
"Good morning, Ali," They greet simultaneously. Look at how pretty they are this early in the morning! My brothers are so gorgeous, it's blinding!
"Good morning, Brothers!" I greet back as I raise my arms to offer them my hand. Both of them chuckled, accepting my hands.
"We'll take care of Ali. Prepare her breakfast," Brother Aeli ordered. The maids bowed their heads as they respond.
"Understood, Your Highnes,"
I bid farewell to my maids and told them to eat breakfast first before they prepare mine. Themis and Mina refused at first, but I was able to forced them when I said 'It's an order'. They just chuckled at me though, they probably found that cute.
"Finally, the worst people are leaving," Brother Dae mumbled as he sigh in relief. He was even smiling. I can't believe him...
"Brother, they're going to a dangerous mission, you know? You should be worried, otherwise I'll tell you to Sister Kae," I warned. I heard Brother Aeli chuckled before he spoke.
"Right. Zain's really a meanie, isn't he?" I nod my head repeatedly when my second brother said that. He will always find a way to tease his younger brother.
"What—uh..." I saw Brother Dae glaring at Brother Aeli but the latter is just smiling at him.
"You should've joined the Astra and Kafziel..." Brother Dae murmured, with irritated expression. It's noticeable how our second brother is suppressing a laugh.
"Brother Dae!" I called.
"Alright, yes. I was wrong, don't tell Lea about it, 'kay?" Brother Dae asked, ruffling my hair as he smile. I giggled and nod my head as my third brother glare at Brother Aeli again.
"There they are," Brother Aeli spoke, which made me face the entrance of my palace. And there I saw everyone, even the other Dukes are here?!
Asher and Ziel are already here as well.
"Good morning, sweetieee!" Of course, that's my Aunt Chan! It's a while since we've last seen each other.
"Greetings, Your Highnesses," Uncle Clovis greet. Look at this oldie, he's still gorgeous despite being mid-thirties. I can say the same thing with my Dad and Uncle Ran though...
"Good morning, Aeli, Zain, Ali," Uncle Ran smiled.
The three of us greets them simultaneously with a bow.
"Greetings, Dukes and Duchess," we all said in unison.
"Good morning, Dad!"
I run towards my father and he made me float again towards his arms. When I am finally properly placed within his arms, we faced the others here.
Besides the Dukes and Duchess. Lia, Sir Abel, Sir Kiernan, Ryna, and the Count and Countess are her as well.
"This mission won't be easy and it might last for five years or more, are you sure you two are ready?" Dad asked. We all turned to the two of them and wait for their answer.
"I am always prepared," the Astra answered. Look at this oldie within a kid's body, he's always so proud of himself. Sometimes, power makes people become like Asher...
"I'm ready, Your Majesty. You can trust me," Ziel..
'He's only 11, why the heck did you think of bring him with you?' I glared at Asher, and the guy just stared at me with a blank face.
'Don't miss me too much,', What a jerk!
'Will never,' I rolled my eyes at him and he just chuckled at me, which made the others glance at him. Maybe they're thinking he's making fun of Ziel.
"Yes. Just trust us with it. And remember, we'll report every week, look forward to it," Asher spoke.
"Yes. We shall await your information," Brother Heli answered.
'I hope the Princess have already freed the dragon before we can visit him. Otherwise, his curse might affect us if we visit him in the Dukedom," I stared at Asher for a while and gave him a slight nod.
'Leave it to me,' I replied. His lips formed a small smile.
'I'll trust you to it,'
I haven't asked about him about this Hidden Era yet, and now he's leaving. I still have many questions to him, but I didn't have enough time, he was in the Magic Tower, and I didn't want to disturb him. Maybe I can just ask Lia or Sir Abel about this hidden and forgotten era called The Era of Luminal Genesis.
Haha...life is so complex.
While the Year 1 that we believed, is supposed to be Year 1001. This era that I live in is called The Age of Luminal Reverie.
There are a lot of confusions in my head now, and I have many questions. I feel like my head is going to explode with all the information I am sinking in my brain.
***