The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 420: His true origin (2)

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Chapter 420: His true origin (2)

Elric Godric, ruled with ironclad rules, regulations, and pushed the borders of his empire till they couldn’t be pushed. The Endless Mountains on the south and the Frozen Blue at north limited his expansion. Even the Taboos of the surroundings allowed them to pass through their territories. Battling a man with divine blood seemed unworthy of the risk.

’Taboos? As in more than one?’ Hex needed a moment to grasp the power of the man he had never met. Taboos were beings capable of changing the laws of the world. The world. And yet, here they seemed willing to bend their knees instead.

The reason behind their behavior might be hidden in the text. Hex just needed to find it. Yet, interesting as it was, another matter pressed even more. His master’s past. He knew he was close to the timeframe where his master would be mentioned. So, he continued to read. Everything else could be checked later on.

The name and fame of the empire and the emperor resonated throughout the world. But close to home people worried. The name Godric reminded everyone of the fate that befell the first warrior and patriarch of the first human empire. His family regressed after his death.

’It seems the emperor’s court held some knowledgeable people. They didn’t lose themselves in their glory and sought to preserve the nation.’ Hex had heard and seen many examples of failures due to complacency.

When the beloved queen birthed young Alric Godric, the empire burst out in festivities. A crown prince, healthy and handsome, his genius radiating more and more as he grew up. Having learned the ways of his forefathers, he shone with brilliance from the moment he held his first sword. Undefeated in everything. Until the meeting with a peasant child.

For a moment Hex questioned whether the young prince had been his master. But the name didn’t match. The baron could have opted to change his name to hide his roots but Hex remembered hearing the name Mikhael had already been famous before he arrived at Grindeston. It was the same thing when he met the goddess of death.

A child raised on the forgotten mountain slopes stood up to the prince when Alric wished to take a girl he liked with him...as his maid.

Small as he was, the peasant child understood the unwillingness of the girl and protested. Alone.

In a challenge that ensued, not only did the child defeat the genius prince but impressed the emperor.

Now that did sound like his master. Hex stood straight in his chair, trying to rush through the text, even skimming the lengthy descriptions of the scene and protests of others who adored the prince.

...as names were given by parents, which the child didn’t have, he was unnamed.

"As the emperor, and your master, I will name you," the emperor proclaimed, suppressing all voices against it. "From today, you will be named Mikhael Lichtenmane, bringing judgement and light where needed."

As such began the legend of the strongest, most-feared warrior.

Hex was engrossed in the tales of his master’s adventurers. Similar to other names of interest, the author referenced a list of other material to read.

Unwilling to lose any time, he rushed through the shelves, piling up books and scrolls.

Books like Epic Tales of the uncrowned prince and Devilslayers of the fifth age were filled with exploits that put Hex on the edge of his seat.

’Master was only a Squire when he raided a mountain filled with plunderers, all at the Knight stage, eliminating their terror from the region. He didn’t even suffer any grievous injuries doing it.’

...

’Wait. How did he survive the pit of doom against three calamities without any food and water for a month?’

...

’He went against the twin devils of the lava peak, killed them, and took the golden crystal...all on his own. The sonnets compare the twin devils to a Sin when they combined their powers. Master wasn’t even a Transformation Stage Knight then.’

...

The more he read about his master, the more Hex realized how little he had understood the man. He seemed to abhor evil and suffering, always going out of his way to ease the lives of others.

He was seldom at the capital.

’His relation with his master was good. Like a father and son. Perhaps, that was the reason for the real son to detest master.’

Quite a few passages described the tense relation between the baron and the crown prince. They weren’t enemies. More like rivals. A rivalry his master seemed to be winning. Everytime.

One minister had once even commented in a drunken state.

"Mikhael defeated those with the blood of gods. Doesn’t that mean he is better than the deities and represents human superiority? I think it does.

Said minister had disappeared, never found again. While his name remained unknown, his words had spread and resonated with the rest of the empire. It even was said in taverns across the continent, at both sides of the Endless Mountains.

’I understand the crown prince,’ Hex thought with a chuckle, taking pride in his master’s fame. His master was a true legend.

Talks of him being the next emperor instead of the crown prince spread in every nook and cranny of the nation. At first, they were but mere whispers but with time, it became a raging flame engulfing every talk and discussion. It exploded when such talks started to happen in the court.

No one knows what exactly was said. What is known is that the emperor tasked both students with one task: slay the Dark King.

The dark king was a Taboo residing in the chasms at the edge of the Endless Mountains. While the books provided little description, Hex recognized it with little clues. It was a Heartless.

’But I thought mother created those abominations? Was she there?’

All the tales he heard so far said so. It was the reason behind his mother getting the title of Witch. Notresol’s fall was to create a powerful Heartless. Had she done that before crossing the Endless Mountains? The timing would suggest as such. And how did the Divine Lord fit in all of this?

Many questions, very few answers. He knew the Divine Lord had been present in one way or the other during every major event of each age but his presence remained hidden.

His confusion was cleared in the next section. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

While the nation speculated and watched the two geniuses prepare to face a Taboo, no one paid attention to the heart of the empire. The emperor had taken a new wife, who later turned out to be the Witch.

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