novelraw Chapter 256: Epilogue Tres
Chapter 256: Epilogue Tres
Chapter 256: Epilogue TresThe damsel was on the point of stretching forth her hand when Erec hastened to challenge her, little heeding the other's arrogance. "Damsel," he cries, "stand back! Go dally with some other bird, for to this one you have no right. In spite of all, I say this hawk shall never be yours. For a better one than you claims it—aye, much more fair and more courteous."
The other knight is very wroth; but Erec does not mind him, and bids his own maiden step forward.
"Fair one." he cries, "come forth. Lift the bird from the perch, for it is right that you should have it. Damsel, come forth! For I will make boast to defend it if any one is so bold as to intervene. For no woman excels you in beauty or worth, in grace or honour any more than the moon outshines the sun."
The other could suffer it no longer, when he hears him so manfully offer himself to do battle. "Vassal," he cries, "who art thou who dost thus dispute with me the hawk?"
Erec boldly answers him: "A knight I am from another land. This hawk I have come to obtain; for it is right, I say it in spite of all, that this damsel of mine should have it.”
"Away!" cries the other, "it shall never be. Madness has brought thee here. If thou dost wish to have the hawk, thou shalt pay quite dearly for it."
"Pay, vassal; and how?"
"Thou must fight with me, if thou dost not resign it to me."
"You talk madness," cries Erec; "for me these are idle threats; for little enough do I fear you."
"Then I defy thee here and now. The battle is inevitable."Erec replies: "God help me now; for never did I wish for aught so much."
Now soon you will hear the noise of battle.
- Chrétien, de Troyes, Erec et Enide (1170, 2nd Era)
"You still want to host the remainder of the tournament?" Arch-Magi Trellis looked at the King with a ludicrous expression.
The King maintained a stoic expression. A hot, steaming cup of tea was carefully placed between them, levitating outward with the soft scent of honey mixed with lavender imported from Vega and, therefore, from Eden itself.
"Your whole kingdom just revolted against you, and you had a civil war down below for an entire day, and you still want to let the tournament reach its conclusion?" The Arch-Magi pressed forward, twirling his beard as he shrugged.
King Crisimus shrugged his shoulders. "I was honest with you from the first day we'd met. I was honest about my plan in our correspondence, and I have appreciated your loyalty and support during these times. This was not unplanned, though it came with far more force than we imagined, but it would be a shame if we were to simply discontinue something due to a corruption and rot in my kingdom being excised. Many have looked forward to this tournament, and seeing it reach its conclusion will be a chance for my people to heal.”
Trellis shook his head with the wonder of it all. His eyes were bright as a smile played out across his face. It had not been an easy week—that much was certain. The official announcement to those on the tournament grounds was that the tournament was postponed, though everyone there could see what was happening. Knights were scrambling down below, and blood and wounded were coming back up.
Those who could magically scour the surface could see the military and Knights diving into their own Kingdoms and fighting battles. And those were the outsiders who hadn’t been drawn in with enticing trade contracts, among other promises, in the future, and lent a hand during the stabilization.
He had to give it to them, though. With their city so hidden beneath the ground, it was hard to see the extent of what had occurred. He only knew because of his briefings with the King and his help in quelling both the caverns and surface. Vega’s current status as a preferred ally, which went both ways, meant he was far more privy to this than any other. And so he got a good amount of the juicy details when offered, and began his plan of ridding Vega of those red priests upon their return. ṜＡNỗ฿Ęș
Only that first night had seen damage on the surface. Thankfully, the presence of the Grandmasters and both he and Arch-Magi Elvis had essentially quashed any misbehavior up there. It was only later, after the first twenty-four hours, that he’d gotten a glimpse down below.
Somehow, those priests had managed to open up a rift amid the Kingdom and invite in another army from somewhere else entirely.
Trellis personally thought the idea terrifying. He studied rifts in great detail and concluded that none could be opened to connect one place in this world to another. They worked on a dimensional theory, and the energy needed to supply them and to create a cross-gap between these different planes of existence relied on the ambient mana available in the void. This is what fueled them and let them last, or perhaps stabilize. So, connecting two points in this world without touching that ambient void took a lot of mana.
Enough that he’d thought it to be impossible.
Someone had done it, though. They found a way to fuel all the required mana to not just form a Rift between two points but also stabilize it. That kind of magical power was terrifying to behold, and the consequence of an invading army having direct access at a sudden moment was devastating.
After they’d located it, he managed to disrupt it and cease the invasion, with a contingent of their Grandmasters as support.
His only regret was due to the nature of the emergency; there hadn’t been much time to study the oddity.
Trellis spoke after sipping his tea and savoring the slight tang of lemon in it: "If that's what you wish, it's your Kingdom, after all. Were I in your place, I would be consolidating power, licking my wounds, and making sure everything was fine."
"I am doing that; showing the ability to precede with a tournament is the sort of power my nobility will be consoled by. A sign that things are maintained and have not been altered; it fits our culture. My people will take time to recover, but appearances are important before the court. Confidence instills loyalty, especially after a move like this. Though it will take months to fully stabilize, it is to be expected. Besides, assuming one of my sons is a victor in the tournament, they will be further encouraged. Though not a certainty, there is a chance.”
"Oh," Trellis said. In Vega, things like this wouldn’t fly. You’d have to crack down and bust heads to make sure no more trouble popped up, or it would as people got funny ideas in their head—but they were managing different people, and their cities couldn’t be more different.
That’s what made the alliance so appealing. This Kingdom was a powerhouse, and before now had been a solitary, lonely place. Sealed off for hundreds of years. He was careful to ask for too much information, lest it strain their new friendship. All he could do was advise and help. Because the truth was, he liked this Kingdom. He enjoyed the way they operated with honor and knighthood; the values present were refreshing compared to his people, who always looked out for themselves. And overall, the thing he liked most was their vision. A world brought back into control of humankind, the wastes made into a safer place.
Trellis wanted Vega to be the jewel in the desert, an attraction for countless people across the wastes. But that couldn't happen unless there were countless others across the wastes to do that. So, their dreams went hand-in-hand.
He smiled at the King and lifted his tea cup, “Well then, to the good chances of your sons. If I’m not mistaken, they still have a few rounds to go before they can claim that title.”
The king nodded and returned the smile. “Much appreciated. Given some of their competitors, they should be pressed. Men grow the most through challenging times, so even if they fail, I’m confident it’s for their benefit. Besides, this whole event had been rather eye-opening. If my reports are to be believed, the ancient power we fought is not the only one touching our world. I’m curious to see how these things will develop.” Trellis leaned in with that, hoping the man might say more. But the King halted it there, keeping an ominous smirk, and then, casually slipped their conversation back into less intense topics. Namely, the role of the Magi and the tournament finales’ details.
For now, whatever ancient powers he had hinted at appeared to be another one of this fascinating Kingdom’s secrets.
Still, coordinating the rest of the tournament would have its challenges. Many of his knights who had been in the tournament finale for various brackets were either wounded, killed, or no longer able to participate since they now had more pressing duties, meaning that, for the most part, the competitors would be from outside nations. They’d have to select contenders from the rounds who’d been disqualified from rejoining the tournament duels before.
Always something here. Trellis thought as the King continued to ask his opinions. It was fascinating how this King’s mind worked, from the way he so carefully cultivated a rebellion in his kingdom, to how he used it to solidify his power and move his aims forward. To the way, even now, he was obsessed with planning out the minute details of a social event like the tournament, not only for his people, but also for the outsiders still inside his walls, he wished to impress. A terrifying man. Even though Trellis didn’t feel a power coming off him like the Grandmasters or his own Arch-Magi, there was something else here. An intelligence that went deep, like he saw layers ahead.
Trellis shook his head and smiled, delighting in the tea and company. He was happy indeed, for he had a new stalwart ally to face this harsh world.
— - ☢ - — - ☼ - — - ☢ - —
Erec lay in the hospital bed for many days; they bled and ebbed away as his scratched soul made it difficult to focus. He felt it dimly; it burned slowly with a silver fire, ebbing away the pain and healing it gradually over time. Every day, his focus returned a little more. It did help to have Enide by him; her hand was warm, and her smile and jokes, though he couldn’t understand them, were a welcome comfort.
Eventually, he once more understood what she was saying.
“You always push too far,” she leaned in, her nose in front of his, lying there next to him in the hospital bed.
“Agreed, " he said gruffly, which caused her to startle. Then, things slipped a little back into normal. A day later, he had enough sense to finally address the flashing circle in the corner of his vision.
AgilityRank C - Tier 7 → Rank C - Tier 9
Psyche Rank D - Tier 4 → Rank D - Tier 8
Perception Rank D - Tier 6 → Rank D - Tier 7
Vigor Rank C - Tier 9 → Rank B - Tier 2
Strength Rank B - Tier 3 → Rank B - Tier 7
Soul (Aspect: Fire) → Soul (Aspect: Heavenly Flame)
Soul (Aspect: Heavenly Flame) Rank B - Tier 1 → Rank B - Tier 5
What?
Erec felt it; then it made sense. His whole soul was that silver fire, no longer normal with the silver hidden beneath. An endless sea of silver had consumed all that; he touched it and still felt with it. His mind began to fade and focus. Less anger and more the desire to fight and prove his might…
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Erec let it slip… And then it made sense. The memories of his far-flung lives were there too; within grasping distance if he reached. He’d fully melded with his mantle in that fight, his body now enough to bear the weight of his title, of who he truly was.
But he had to be careful; his body, mind, and soul were still too weak from the conflict to reach too much into it. As much as he wished to just flare his fire and heal his wounds, it would also have a price that was too much for his recovering soul to handle for the moment.
Erec sighed and stared at Enide as she hunched over, cozy in her little nook with a book in hand and a rifle leaning next to her. His love—and now, as so many memories had come back to him, slipping in that silver sea of his soul, he knew it went more than that.
There were many Enides, just as there were many Erecs. An eternal, countless love, as the two found one another in the many worlds their souls touched. And now he knew it would only be a matter of time before she also awakened to the fact. Last time he'd been the slow one; she'd been very frustrated with him.
Erec smiled a rueful smile as her eyes flickered to him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing, just grateful to have you in my life.” He responded, honestly, and kept the secret. It was not his to spill. They’d come to this agreement after so many times; the mantle had to come naturally. It was simply too hard to explain that you were just another life in a span of countless numbers going through many ages and worlds.
Erec shook the thoughts from his head as the silver flames slipped away. Coming more into the here and now, putting those old, ancient memories aside. Enide slipped a hand into his. Her eyes were bright. “Well, hero, it’s good you’re feeling better, because our friends will be by in a bit with some news that might not make you quite as happy to hear.”
She refused to elaborate further, and a couple of hours later, he finally understood what she was talking about as Garin, Colin, Olivia, and even Bedwyr and Gwen came in to visit him.
His brother looked different than before. His hand was missing. His recovery had been swifter than Erec’s, due to the lack of soul damage instead of physical damage. But… He was short a hand now; Bedwyr’s eyes had also hardened. He knew Bedwyr felt like a failure, having been unable to see the victory until the end. More or less, he would have died had it not been for Erec. But that was just the nature of being a Knight. You relied on your brothers to save you, just as you saved them yourself. There should be no shame in it.
To make up for it, his brother had been visiting frequently and taken the forefront of restoring the Seven Cavern from all of the destruction. Thankfully, the Kingdom had thrown resources at him to do so, since although much of the lower caverns had seen the results of war, no place had been quite as targeted as their home.
But in the way that his brother stood awkwardly in the room amongst Erec’s friends, that wasn’t as true as it should’ve been.
Garin gave a small cough and rubbed the back of his neck after they got through all the normal small talk. “So uh, they’re continuing the tournament.” He said.
“What?” Erec responded, shocked.
“Yeah, I feel the same way. A lot of the Kingdom reacted like that, too—but the King says it must continue, and afterward, there will be some grand announcements for his Orders. Things are changing, and the Kingdom must adapt.” Garin held Olivia’s hand and sighed.
Colin smirked. “At least the result of all of this will be that I can face off against the prince anyway. And show him his bravado is unearned.”
Erec and Bedwyr looked his way; both aware that within him was the third of their cohort. Sir Kay—it could be like that sometimes. Mantles claimed rather than reborn; inheritors to the title. At their stares, Colin got defensive, as the newest and after such a brief exposure to his Mantle, the man hadn’t been to either of them asking after it.
Maybe in his mind, it was a vague hallucination… Erec hadn’t had the chance to breach the topic or spill to Bedwyr exactly what he knew either.
“I know you are disappointed you cannot attend, Tin-Can. But I will win it in your honor. This I vow.” Colin smirked at him and folded his arms, pleased with himself.
“Even if I don't feel good enough to compete in the tournament, the least I can do is watch" Erec said, rolling his shoulders as he tried to get out of bed, tired of it. Enide was there in a snap of a second, her hand pressing him back down into the sheets.
"And I," she said, keeping him pinned. “I think the duels are in a couple of days. You can go if I think you're good enough. So your job is to rest and recover if you wanna see the spoiled brat win." It was a command, not a request. Erec laughed as Colin protested loudly, but accepted her demands.
“Mhmm. If you’re seen in public, I expect our delayed summons to be expedited. Better to follow her orders and stay here until I can complete my match with the prince.” Colin agreed with her, though the delayed summons…
“What do you mean by that?”
“All of us have a pending summons by the King. He wishes to see those of us who were in the Seventh Cavern and has let it be known. Though I think they’ve also waited to send yours, not wanting to burden and slow your recovery.” Colin replied.
Garin shook his head, “I think by telling him that, you might’ve just burdened him…”
“It is acceptable. Besides, if he wishes to see me thrive tomorrow in his place, then he shall find the strength to get out of his bed, and it will happen regardless.”
Erec just laughed at that and settled back in his bed, eyes flickering between all of his friends and his brother. Through the window, he saw the light of the day coming in to greet them, knowing that tomorrow he would witness Colin in the tourney. It felt odd cheering for his friend’s chances, rather than his own, but… Well, things had changed.
He gazed at Colin. Knowing that his friend had just taken his first step into his new life.
And also, he was eager to see how he might fare against a prince. Maybe Forrest, too, if Erec didn’t have the chance to face him down.
— - ☢ - — - ☼ - — - ☢ - —
“I’ve waited for this for a long time,” Colin called, his voice booming out in thunder; his hand wrapped around a thunder sword as Prince Soren stood opposite him; the crowd cheered. Later tonight, he'd see this stuck-up brat's father, summoned to the throne room.
It would be all the sweeter to see the King with the knowledge that he’d bested his son in front of thousands of others just hours before.
Soren stared at him, Armor obscuring his face. Not that it changed much, but the prince had a frustrating demeanor, letting nothing to the surface. And that callous attitude toward life frayed every last nerve. So let him experience a shock to his system.
“I’d heard you’d mastered a new spell. Impressive.” Soren said, not moving. Which Colin saw was a lie. His golden eyes tracked the flow of mana in the ambient air, and he’d flooded it with his own. As a consequence, he saw it moving, shifting due to the prince’s movement.
He wasn’t sure this would work. His backup was just to cast wide-ranging area of effect spells, but this… It was far more efficient. And therefore, his victory would be far more assured.
Colin felt a swell of pride, like a warm glut in his soul as he tracked Soren’s movement, seeing the overconfident scum move towards him, to the crowd he would look the part of the fool. He knew his father was up there somewhere, watching.
And felt within him, growing with that pride, the spark of golden electricity that made his magic… Something more.
His sword took on a golden cast, a flood of knowledge ran through him, and he pointed… At the true prince. And fired.
The fight was over in three hits; Soren could do little against his overwhelming might. Colin brought him to his knees, ripped his helmet off, and then made him admit defeat in front of the entire crowd. They went wild; his soul only flared brighter with pride. This was who he was. THIS was his legacy.
And if there was to be a coming storm, he, among the rest of the Knights of the Round, would end it.
Colin raised his lightning swords to the sky and cheered along with everyone else; the rest of the competition didn’t matter. This was all he had joined the tournament for to begin with.
— - ☢ - — - ☼ - — - ☢ - —
Erec, Bedwyr, Colin, and pretty much the entire squad of Knights who had been down in the Seventh Cavern during the fight with the false Goddess knelt before the King himself, though they had a surprise guest in the form of Grandmaster Oak and Grandmaster Lotus. As for the King, the man, as always, Erec thought, didn’t look the part. Far too drab, with listless hair and a demeanor that made the eye want to look past him. Even with that golden crown on his head.
But now, his eyes were keen. And the court was just them.
“Rise.” The King said, lifting his hand, as all among their number took to their feet.
“Sir.” Sir Boldwick said, “If you wish for the official report in person, I could have—“
“No, that is not what I wished. I’ve called you all here since I’ve read through that report. I’ve even questioned your Grandmaster, and a couple amongst your number. Aside from you, Sir Boldwick, I’m aware you’ve been busy in the caverns dealing with our issues, and I am grateful for your efforts.” The King replied.
Boldwick bowed his head again. “It is my honor to serve the crown.”
There was confusion there, though, as not even the Master Knight knew what this was about then. Erec’s eyes flickered to his friend and Bedwyr. The two of them were also Knights of a different caliber… Could it be…
“Grandmaster Oak. Grandmaster Lotus. If you will.” The King gestured to his sides, and the Grandmasters broke line with the rest of them, walking over to stand next to him. The King’s eyes then turned to the rest of the ranking Knights. “Before me, today, I wish for you all to verbally confirm the truth of this matter. Three Knight Initiates, bravely and with a power that one would not expect, managed to subdue and repulse a probable cataclysm-level threat to our Kingdom, within our own caverns. Swear it to me by the oaths you’ve taken as Knights.”
There were nervous replies all around. Dame Morgana—Dame Juliana—Even Sir Boldwick wasn’t sure where this was going, but nonetheless, confirmed the truth. All did it in a guarded way, but before their King and his court… It was what it was.
It had happened.
Erec felt the eyes of the Grandmasters and the King level on them with each confirmation of the story.
“Ah. I see fear. Sorry, that is not my intent, young ones. Even you, who bested my own son in combat today, in a well-earned victory. Do not be afraid. But be proud. You’ve done your Kingdom a service. Tell me, do you know amongst the Knights, how many are left after our troubles?”
Erec shifted in his spot, his tongue heavy; he couldn’t say. Today had been the first day he’d left his bed since awaking, and most of it had been spent with Enide, cheering Colin on in the tournament, and then, delighting in his friend’s eventual victory over both Soren and Forrest. He’d been picturing himself down there, daydreaming about fighting, but… It hadn’t crossed his mind with everything else.
“No, sir.” He said, seeing both his brother and Colin had even more lead tongues than he did.
“About a little over a fourth of us, all told. A vast number of those from the Silver Flames. Casualties, too, mostly amongst the higher-ranking Knights. We’re in a time of change. Our traditions are important, yes, but we are also utilizing our resources the best we can. I’m sure you’re all aware of the two-year requirement of the Academy?” he asked, his voice calm, as now it was apparent he didn’t really expect an answer. Of course, they knew.
They all nodded.
“I will be lifting that. With recommendations from instructor Knights to promote worthy candidates to Knight Errant as soon as deemed capable; however, you three are beyond capable.” He pointed to Erec. “Slayer of the Stag, and the one who brought us knowledge of the false Goddess, having tracked down his mother, who had been lost to us for years.” His finger shifted to Bedwyr, “Older brother of our Kingdom’s hero, top of his class, and in the testimonies here, has been confirmed to be in a league of power far above,” lastly, he pointed to Colin. “Son of one of my most loyal Dukes, and victor of our tournament.”
Erec felt an odd sensation; there was the wind of change here. An energy in the air that spoke of trouble to come… But also, of a quest.
“There is no question in my mind that you three are the most capable of the Knights. And are operating on a level far beyond the expectations of a Knight Initiate; so I must say that your days in the Academy are done.” With this, he turned to the Grandmasters. “Please. Proceed.”
Grandmaster Lotus moved first, the lethargic old man squatting down and looking into Bedwyr’s eyes. “Repeat after me, youngster… You’re to be a Knight Errant. So you’ll need to swear your vows.”
And then he spoke, with Bedwyr following behind.
“Upon the Order of the Crimson Lotus, I swear upon these vows. I shall bleed so that the rest of the world may not. I take as much blood as I give to my enemies. Those are the vows that I swear now before my King, my Kingdom, and our people.” Bedwyr said, his eyes lighting up as he did so.
The Grandmaster stood up and then bowed his head. “Welcome, my newest Knight Errant. You’ve served us well, and will continue to do so.”
At this, Grandmaster Oak shifted in, starting with Colin. Erec could scarcely believe it, hearing his heart stir in his chest even as his friend swore the oath next to him. In a day, he'd seen the end of the tournament, and now he was to be a Knight Errant… Given the weight of everything else, it still held a place in his heart, it was… Well, everything. Even with his lives before, it didn’t change who he was now. They were not the same Erec he was; this was the goal he’d dreamt about, what he’d worked so hard for in so many years.
When it came his turn to speak, he spoke his vows perfectly, a silver fire glowing in his chest: “Upon the Order of Verdant Oak, I swear upon these vows. I will give back to the world more than I take. I will sow twice what I reap.” He stopped, the next words catching in his throat. Boldwick looked down at him, a smile on the Master Knight’s face. Grandmaster Oak set a meaty hand on his shoulder and gave a thumbs-up. “I am of nature, my brothers and sisters are of nature as well. Those that are human, animal, or plant are natural, and to nature I am beholden to serve. Those are the vows that I swear now before my King, my Kingdom, and our people.”
He stood up, getting a clap on the back from Boldwick, joining both Colin and Bedwyr. Knight Errants all. Brothers in this ceremony, and brothers amongst the Round Table.
The King bowed his head. “It is good to have new, promising blood rising in our ranks. For our troubles, we only expand with our growth. And now we know that outside of these walls is a force that sees fit to wage war on humankind itself. We will need every Knight we can have at our disposal; those who prove apt will be rewarded. Congratulations, my new Knight Errant. Your Grandmasters and senior Knights will tell you the rest.”
With that, and a heavy sigh, the King went back to his throne. Erec looked at him and then looked at his brothers. Pride. Accomplishment. Joy. All of it swirled in him in a silver conflagration, but with the King’s words, he thought once more of that sorrowful false deity. And how, he and his brothers in arms owed her still. In the future, he knew, they would have their vengeance, for a force like that never hid in the shadows too long once provoked.