Beyond the Bloodline-Chapter 107: Glimpse of Argent
Althalos muttered as he looked at the Mermaid contained within the luminous confines of the prism in his hands, appearing frozen in an eternal moment of defeat.
The surrounding water finally began calming down from its previous state fraught with elemental chaos.
The Paladin sheathed his blade and turned towards the remaining mermaids and dragons running helter-skelter. He was about to put the sealed Transcendent away when he felt a familiar surge of spatial energy wrap around it and warp it away from his grasp.
"Your Majesty?"
[Good work, Althalos. I’d handle the rest from here.]
As Jamie’s voice resounded in his head, Althalos sensed a surge of energy erupt from behind him, and when he turned around in the direction of the surge, he saw the array of lights resembling the eyes of a spider on the imposing behemoths of machinery that were the EREs flicker dangerously.
The beams of energy they fired into the ground also reduced in potency, before eventually seizing.
Next, the massive interconnected limbs that resembled skeletal appendages, folded inwards, together with its articulated arms.
But Althalos’ gaze was not on the scene of the EREs being disabled but locked onto the suit-wearing humanoid figure who was floating in front of them with an outstretched arm.
He could not perceive their aura properly as the surges of energy released by the EREs as they released all the Ruindeum they had extracted but not yet released for processing obstructed his perception.
However, he didn’t need to sense their energy to know who that was.
The Paladin descended to the ocean floor and dropped on one knee, paying his respects as a knight of the Argent Empire.
He wanted to spend more time with his Liege, but he remembered the words Miranda had spoken earlier, about how Jamie’s presence here was not something he was supposed to be aware of in the first place so he restrained himself.
Besides, his thirty-minute summoning window had elapsed, and his summoning in this world was now being terminated.
The full force of the world’s repulsion against outsiders bore down on him, but compared to the repulsion of Prime Worlds, Zotov’s repulsive force might as well be a scratch on the back.
Jamie silently looked at Althalos’ uniform, noticing the three glowing stars on his chest pocket, as well as the fourth translucent half-star.
’Let’s reward him a bit. Thanks to him I have two Transcendents to use as EXP boosts.’
With that thought, Jamie held his hand in the direction of the slowly disappearing Althalos and spoke, his voice ringing out in the man’s ear.
[By my Authority as the Argent Emperor and Realm Lord of Orilan, I hereby confer upon you, Althalos Srilgun, a ’Star of Merit’ in reward for your service.
Your Military Rank is also upgraded to correspond with your Merit Level, as well as your privileges as an Argent.]
"?!"
’A Star of Merit?!’
Althalos could not believe what he was hearing in his head. To him, this was such a trivial task that he could do it a million times over and still not be worthy of even half a star, but Jamie awarded him one for it.
More importantly, it had added to the Merits he already had, granting him a Military Promotion.
It stood to reason why the man would be dumbfounded.
Jamie chuckled when he saw how shocked Althalos was, and that laugh seemed to snap the Paladin back to his senses. His second knee dropped to the ground and he bowed so deeply that his head touched the ground.
"This Servant graciously accepts Your Majesty’s Favour."
[You better do.
Now stop resisting, this world is in a delicate state right now, and if your real power erupts in response to its repulsion, you might damage it permanently.
Inform Miranda and go.]
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Althalos bowed once more, before getting up and dashing towards the Void Gate, exiting the ERE zone and reporting his departure to Miranda.
Finally left alone, Jamie calmed the turbulent energies from the Ruindeum in the EREs that he had used to prevent Althalos from perceiving his existence realm and heaved a sigh.
"That was exhausting."
He turned his gaze towards the collapsing Underwater Kingdom, spreading out his spatial perception to envelop the entirety of the ERE zone and analyse the existence realms of all the beings within.
"No Transcendents, No Superior Sovereigns; meaning nothing I can’t handle."
Jamie cracked his fingers as his eyes lit up with a glow. Spatial energy wrapped around his body and he teleported right into the midst of a group of Legendary Relam Mermaids who had been hiding away from the battle between the two Transcendents.
As for what followed...it could only be called a massacre.
◇ ◇ ◇
Capital Planet Volarth
Egeon Galaxy
Orilan Realm
February 1st
Year 2018
"Has anyone seen Sir Althalos?"
"No, I don’t think anyone has seen him today."
"He was supposed to be in charge of the New Recruits’ Training Exercise."
"It’s been more than 30 minutes and he’s not here yet."
"He’s never been late for any official function before."
A Group of men and women all dressed in black uniforms with gold-coloured linings as contrast, discussed amongst themselves with low voices.
They were in a huge arena that was enough to seat thousands, with only a bit more than half of those seats being occupied currently.
On the grounds in the middle of the Arena’s stands, were a thousand knights dressed in similar uniforms, however, these ones had white as the base colour instead of black.
There was a huge stage in front of them, with an empty podium where numerous black uniformed knights sat atop.
Each of them had a number of stars on the chest pockets of their uniforms, denoting their Merit and Military Ranks.
The event scheduled to take place here on this day was supposed to have commenced more than half an hour ago, but the person to preside over the event was not present.
Normally, someone would have taken over as a substitute, but on this occasion—the inauguration and swearing-in of new Knights to the Argent Empire’s First Order of Imperial Knights—there was significance in the rank of the Knight presiding over the event.
He wasn’t the only Vice-Commander among the First Order, but he was the most Senior of them all, hence, the Commander had delegated this duty to him.
"But If he delays any longer, someone else might have to do it..."
Just when one of the other Vice Commanders muttered this, a purple magic circle appeared on the ground in front of them.
All the serving knights had their eyes widen in shock as they recognized that ’purple’ colour and their surprise only increased when the person whom they had been waiting for emerged from the magic circle.
He got up to his feet and dusted his uniform slightly before speaking.
[Apologies for the delay; I was performing a task for ’His Majesty’.]
It took all those who heard a moment to fully grasp the fact that he had said ’His Majesty’ and not ’Her Majesty’.
That was when one of his colleagues then noticed that the number of stars on his uniform had increased.
"Althalos...! That Merit?!"
[This? A Reward from His Majesty for my Service.]
He spoke with a voice that resounded across the arena, making sure that all the new recruits heard him loud and clear.
"His Majesty...awarded you?"
Althalos could see the envy burning in the eyes of many of his colleagues, most especially the female knights. Both at the fact that he had gained a new merit star and the fact that he had supposedly met their Liege.
From the new recruits, he could hear different mutters.
"His Majesty?"
"I’ve never even seen His Majesty before..."
"Yeah, only Her Majesty."
"Rumours say His Majesty has been missing for over ten thousand years."
"We weren’t even born then..."
It had truly been a long time since Jamie had last made a public appearance in Argent, so it was only natural that these Transcendent New Recruits hadn’t seen the man anywhere besides his photos.
They had far more loyalty to Miranda whom they saw more often than Jamie whom they had never set eyes upon.
Some even felt that Jamie had abandoned Argent, though they’d never dare to voice out such thoughts.
In fact, most of the new knights were like this, and it was only the older knights who had been present before Jamie left for Estea who saw things differently.
[Unlike what many of you may think, His Majesty still has his eyes on the Empire, and as you can see, he rewards those who serve well.]
Althalos walked up to the lectern and cast his gaze upon the prospective knights as he spoke. His words made them all cease their mutters as they turned towards him and listened attentively.
[Some of you may think that the only reason I even have a chance to prove myself worthy of a merit is because of my rank; I mean, I am a Vice Commander, after all. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
However, I want you to know that I was once like you all; a recruit who gazed upon a higher-ranking knight on my inauguration day, admiring the stars on his uniform and wondering if I’d ever get one in my lifetime.
But I did not let that discourage me, I did not let those thoughts make me waver in my determination
The determination that brought me here.
The determination to Serve and to protect the Argent Empire and its citizens.
Standing before you here today, I implore you to do the same.
One day it could be any of you standing here, addressing the future recruits who would be embarking on the same path you are today.
Remember, the path to glory is not solely paved by one’s initial rank, but by the unwavering spirit, dedication, and valour one brings to the service of the Argent Empire.
Go forth, and forge your destinies with the same fervour that unites us all in the defence of our beloved Empire.]
Althalos took a few steps back, raising his hand and saluting the new recruits who quickly saluted him back.
[Hail His and Her Majesty
Hail our Glorious Argent Empire.]
The recruits echoed his words with determined voices, after which Althalos and the other Vice Commanders carried on with the rest of the ceremony proceedings.
The Paladin, however, knew that he was going to be bombarded with questions upon questions after this was done.
At the thought of that, Althalos couldn’t help but feel cold sweat dripping down his back.
