Chapter 378: The King Dies, The Land Splits
The news that both princes were recognized by the Divine Dragon spread throughout the entire Kingdom of the Vale, and even throughout Unova.
As soon as this news was released.
The Kingdom of the Blessed Isles and the Kingdom of Plenty instantly vanished without a trace, as if dead.
Many people disappeared from the Kingdom of the Vale all of a sudden; no one knew where they went, nor where they came from in the past.
When two Divine Dragons flew across the sky of Eindoak Town.
Everyone realized.
This land is about to face a huge change.
Just that except Will, no one knew what this change really was.
Today.
King Dresa dragged his seriously ill body and called Will to the bedroom alone.
Coming into the room.
Will felt Dresa so weak that his breathing could barely be felt, unable to help sighing.
How to say.
Ten years.
They are monarch and subject, but also friends, trusting each other very much, never afraid of being stabbed by the other party suddenly.
Seeing the other party in this appearance now, Will felt really uncomfortable in his heart.
"State Preceptor..."
"Sigh, Your Majesty, you might not survive this week."
Will didn't intend to deceive Dresa.
Because he knew Dresa was most worried about the Kingdom of the Vale and the two princes.
If dying suddenly.
He will die with everlasting regret.
Must inform him in advance, give him time to arrange affairs after death, so he can be reconciled.
"Cough cough, I know."
Dresa propped up his body.
Maybe it's the last radiance of the setting sun.
At this moment, Dresa's eyes were not cloudy, but very clear and firm, just like when Will first saw him ten years ago.
"Rami got the support of Zekrom, Kazan got the support of Reshiram. Once they go to war, every inch of land in the western continent will no longer be peaceful. At that time, Blessed Isles and Plenty..."
Will frowned and told him the current situation.
Who knew.
Dresa just raised his hand, stopping him from continuing.
"Let Rami and Kazan solve the matter between them by themselves. Winner becomes King, loser becomes bandit. As for Blessed Isles and Plenty, I am not worried. Although I die, isn't the State Preceptor still alive? I believe you will create a battlefield for the two brothers that won't be interfered with by a third party."
"..."
Will was silent.
He watched Dresa lie on the ground, taking out a box covered with dust and moss from under his bed.
"This is..."
Will narrowed his eyes looking at this box.
It was the first time he knew there was such a thing under this bed.
Saw Dresa open the box.
Inside the box was a scepter.
The length of this scepter was only one meter, but it was made of gold from head to toe, flowing with the luster of molten gold, with mysterious carvings of unknown meaning on the shaft.
At the very front of the scepter seemed to be a container, able to put down a lost object.
"Scepter of the Vale (Earth Scepter), left by my grandfather, symbolizing the highest authority of the Kingdom of the Vale. Although...
Maybe no one recognizes this thing today."
Dresa held up this scepter, looking at the front position and sighing,
"Once there was a gem here, but now it has disappeared. However, for us People of the Vale, it's the same with or without that gem. Just for you, State Preceptor, might need that gem."
Dresa handed the scepter to Will.
Will took it subconsciously, then looked at Dresa in confusion.
"The symbolic meaning of this scepter is almost non-existent now, but it has another identity, that is the controller of the Sword of the Vale."
Dresa pointed to the floor beneath him.
Which is the palace they were in.
"Sword of the Vale, needs this thing to control?"
Will opened his eyes wide.
He didn't see Dresa or Damon use this thing in the anime.
"People of the Vale can directly control the Sword of the Vale by relying on their own bloodline, but need to pay some price; I don't know what the price is."
Dresa shook his head, then pointed to the Scepter of the Vale,
"And the Scepter of the Vale can allow people without the blood of the Vale to control the Sword of the Vale, just need a gem as the core."
"Why give it to me?"
Will asked.
But he had a guess in his heart.
Could the item named "Earth Core" carried by him be the gem Dresa mentioned?
"Others, I don't trust."
Dresa led Will towards the council hall, while saying to the close minister standing outside the door guarding at all times,
"Summon civil and military ministers and the two princes; have important matters to announce."
"Yes!"
Wait until that person left.
Dresa looked at Eindoak outside the window while walking forward:
"Rami's character, Kazan's ability, I trust these. But Rami's ability, Kazan's character, cannot let me rest assured to hand over the scepter to them."
Dresa turned to look at Will, saying solemnly,
"I need someone to hold this scepter, so as to help or restrict them through the Sword of the Vale in the future, and I only trust the State Preceptor."
"How do you hope I use it?"
Will looked at Dresa.
He could feel that with every step Dresa took, life aura was flowing away quickly.
If staying in bed all the time, maybe could live for a week.
But now getting out of bed.
Probably won't live for three days.
"This scepter hasn't even found the gem; I naturally don't expect the State Preceptor to really use it, State Preceptor need not worry too much."
"However, if the State Preceptor is lucky enough to find that gem, I hope you do me a favor."
"If my two unfilial sons push the Kingdom of the Vale to the road of destruction in the future, making the entire western continent devastated and barren, at that time, I implore the State Preceptor to take away the Sword of the Vale, and then for me..."
"Clean up the house."
Dresa's eyes were cold; at this moment, he was extremely like Kazan.
Just.
Dresa considers the Kingdom of the Vale, the western continent, while Kazan will prioritize himself.
Will looked at his figure, falling into silence.
All this is not as simple as Dresa thought.
The Sword of the Vale is indeed the honor and symbol of the Kingdom of the Vale.
But it is also the seal of the Dragon Veins.
Once the Sword of the Vale is moved, the Dragon Veins will definitely riot; at that time, the entire Unova land will fall into a huge disaster.
Don't know if Kyurem and the Forces of Nature have that ability, anyway, Black and White Dragons cannot stop the riot of the Dragon Veins.
However.
He didn't tell Dresa these.
He already understood Dresa's determination.
Arriving at the council hall.
Dresa sat on the throne looking outside quietly, seeming to fall into reminiscence.
Half an hour later.
Everyone who should arrive arrived.
Even Zekrom and Reshiram stood beside Rami and Kazan respectively.
Don't look at Black and White Dragons as Legendary Pokémon.
But they are also subjects and elders of the Kingdom of the Vale.
Back when they and Kyurem were still one, they followed the first King, conquering the world and establishing the Kingdom of the Vale together with him.
So.
If Dresa orders, they will also listen.
"Summoning you here today is to tell you that my days are numbered. Before that, I want to finalize the candidate for the next monarch."
"Your Majesty!!" (xN)
As soon as Dresa finished speaking, all ministers knelt down one after another.
Many people's eyes began to shed tears.
Especially those old ministers, who chased after Dresa since young; monarch and subjects have accompanied each other for thirty or forty years till now.
Loyal hearts clear as sun and moon, not acting on the spot, but true feelings revealing.
"However, before that, I want to ask the State Preceptor's opinion first."
Dresa looked at Will beside him.
But he already knew Will's answer long ago, so didn't expect to get any response.
Just to let all ministers know.
The choice of the next monarch is entirely his own decision; the State Preceptor didn't express any opinion, completely didn't participate.
Even if this monarch is fatuous and incompetent in the future, that is also because he, Dresa, chose badly.
Nothing to do with the State Preceptor.
"Your Majesty, just decide the candidate yourself."
Will sighed.
Looking at the two disciples below with a complex face, a trace of unbearableness crossed his eyes.
He knew Dresa looked forward to the future described by Rami more, trusting Rami's character more.
But choosing Rami, Kazan will definitely go astray; at that time, one of them must die to stop the war. Should he stop Dresa from choosing Rami? But that would be too unfair to Rami.
Will clenched his fists, struggling very much in his heart.
They all have their own persistence, philosophy, dreams...
They worked hard for these for more than ten years.
Under such circumstances, no matter proposing any one person, it is unfair to the other disciple, and may destroy the other disciple's more than ten years of effort and struggle.
Finally Will felt a burst of powerlessness, remaining silent.
Let it be.
Let King Dresa choose personally.
No matter how miserable the final ending is.
At least he, the teacher, achieved fairness and justice, not favoring anyone.
"Good, I announce, the next monarch of the Kingdom of the Vale is the First Prince Rami, ascending the throne in three days!"
Voice fell.
Will immediately sensed monstrous negative emotions.
Anger, hatred, dissatisfaction, frustration...
Various emotions superimposed together; the strength of resentment even overshadowed everyone else's mood.
Will looked up at Kazan.
But saw his face calm, didn't even blink his eyes.
"All dismissed."
"Yes!" (xN)
Everyone retreated.
Leaving the council hall, they all walked quickly away from the palace, daring not stay long at all.
In just thirty seconds.
Only Rami and Kazan were left outside the council hall.
Kazan didn't say a word, walking alone towards the distance.
"Kazan!"
Rami watched his brother's figure and called him hurriedly.
Kazan paused on the spot.
Turned around to look at Rami, silent eyes seeming to look at a stranger.
"Where do you plan to go?"
Rami asked.
"Does it have anything to do with you?"
Kazan responded.
"Stay, you and I together, definitely..."
"Rami."
"You are not worthy to sit on equal terms with me."
Three days later.
The King died.
Dresa died of illness in bed.
First Prince Rami hasn't ascended the throne yet; the King's memorial ceremony hasn't been held yet.
Second Prince Kazan left Eindoak Town with most of the troops, all the way south.
First Prince Rami had no ability to stop his departure.
Since then.
The Kingdom of the Vale, split in two.
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