510: A Lie

A Lie

Lusica stared at the magnificent battle vessel that the Seika had created. As the grandmaster explained, it allowed them to showcase a power similar to the Title Knights. However, since it was given on short notice, the knights were now training before the battle.2

"I am sorry, Lusica," said Grandmaster Oriole as he walked toward him. "Your powers would destroy the artifacts, or the artifacts will destroy your body. There is no other outcome for this."

"This will increase our chances to retrieve the Seika," said Lusica without any frustration, and he looked relieved. "I will lay down my life for the Seika, grandmaster. This does not bother me. I am only grateful for making Lux one of the pilots."

"The Seika has an eye for people," sighed the grandmaster with emotions. "There is something that he created just for you. It will allow you to use that technique without killing yourself."

After he said that, grandmaster Oriole turned and started walking toward the inner venues of the workshop. Lusica hesitated before he followed after him.

"I believe that the Seika explained why he chose to call you Lusica. Of course, his greatest flaw is his naming sense, but he did a fine job for you."

"Lusica means dagger in the night," replied the knight.

"That is true. However, it can also mean dagger of light because the Seika believed you to be the one who would aid him in the fight against the darkness."

"I am the darkness."

"And yet, here you are, fighting against it," grandmaster Oriole stopped walking when he reached a door and pushed a finger against Lusica's chest. "You were his favorite because you understood better than anyone how the fallen beings feel."

Lusica's body trembled when he heard the evaluation. The fact that his savior felt such a thing toward him made the knight feel like his life had a meaning. Lux believed that love is the meaning, but that was not the case for Lusica.

It was serving this man.

Grandmaster Oriole pushed the door open into a dark room. There was no light other than the far end, which illuminated a single table. The two of them walked through the room until the end of the table.

"This is the weapon that the Seika created for you. I met him twelve years ago, and he also used this golden dagger at that time. This was the only weapon that did not break down after the Seika inscribed runes on it."

"The Seika... inscribed it?" asked Lusica with visible confusion. The Seika was powerful and wise, but he was never revealed as a runemaster. Grandmaster Oriole walked toward the golden dagger and lifted it with a smile.

"This is another secret that you are entrusted with keeping. However, it does not matter because the Seika has grown too powerful for this kingdom to handle. Since the beginning, the Ghost Runemaster never existed."

The revelation made goosebumps appear on his skin, but Lusica felt like it should have been the apparent truth all along. The Seika created the countless artifacts that made Runera what it is today.

Grandmaster Oriole turned and presented the golden dagger to him. Lusica stared at the beautiful piece of art and felt a divine aura enclose it.

"This is a peak-myth-tier weapon, according to my appraisal. The runes inscribed to it allow it to transcend its tier for a short time. However, it can never be enough to fight a calamity."

"Are you warning me about the battle ahead of us?"

"Our intel says that Kar, Overlord of Vampires, has assembled his army in the capital of Livia. The vessel of the calamity is none other than the Ancient One, named Lorius. As powerful as you are against humans, please be careful. The Seika loves his people."

Lusica's body shook as tears silently rolled down his face, and he reached out toward the dagger. An unknown power flowed through his body as he held the hilt, and the mighty wind blew in the darkroom.

***

Diana left the Inner World, and she found none other than Jasmine inside her study room. The Yozian Princess seemed a different person and a changed one, having a newfound determination in her eyes.

"I will fight alongside you in battle," said the Yozian Princess, shocking Diana and making her confused. "However, I have a question to ask."

"And my answer will decide whether you will aid us," nodded Diana as she walked to the chair behind the desk. "Ask away, princess."

"I want to know the name of the Seika."

The desk froze unintentionally because Diana's hand was resting on it. Her recent lack of control proved that her powers grew berserk because of Arthur's absence. However, the question was indeed unexpected.

"This makes me suspect your motives," frowned Diana as she glared at the princess. The Seika of Living Beings was all people wanted to know about Arthur because his awakening was what made his name matter.

However, someone asking about his name before becoming the Seika was bound to know things about Arthur before he wielded these powers.

Jasmine seemed hesitant, and she stared at her hands for a long time. Then, Diana sensed a foreign emotion that this princess never had before: concern.

"I saw a painting, a small one, that my father carried around. He and three more individuals: a woman and two children. I want to believe that I imagined it, but one of the two... looks like the Seika."

"That does not make sense because if that was true, then the Seika must be older than you are. I know for a fact that he is not," said Diana as her mouth was suddenly dry.

"That was why I dismissed it, at first, but I had a feeling that the Seika looked like my father," said the princess as she rubbed her dreadlocks in nervousness.

Diana felt her mouth dry because Arthur told her everything on the riverbank. Time matters very little when a temporal fissure is involved. She can confirm it, though, by a simple question.

"I cannot reveal the name of the Seika because that might endanger him. However, you should have no reason to do the same. Tell me the name of your father, and I will see if the Seika is indeed your half-brother."

"I... understand," resigned Jasmine while looking almost defeated. Diana was sure that she could manipulate her in this moment of weakness, but she could not bring herself to do it for some reason. "His name is Seref... Seref Silvera."

Diana could feel the world growing smaller, and her heart was beating loudly in her chest, banging against her ribcage to break free. This name started to haunt her wherever she went. This man... was a cruel one.

Diana stared at the princess, and she saw herself in her. Another person might have been used to establish this path for the Seika. A person whose purpose does not go beyond serving another: Arthur Silvera.

Seref Silvera was a ruthless man who tempered people's lives to achieve a particular goal. It was unknown what he wanted to accomplish by creating this labyrinth of interconnected fates, all linking to his son.

Arthur Silvera was merely a puppet in the schemes of his father. Diana was the one who knew about his suffering the most, but she forgot that Arthur realized a certain truth: his father was the culprit behind everything.

Jasmine Yozia was the princess of a powerful empire, and being a half-brother of hers, Arthur might be considered an heir for this gigantic entity. This must have been why Seref married into the imperial family, and it would break his daughter to know that.

"I am sorry, Jasmine," sighed Diana as she shook her head. "However, that name has no relation to the Seika. It must be nothing but a similarity between two people."

"I... understand. I believe you, and thank you for not lying to me just to get my help," Jasmine looked surprised. "I expected that you would tell me the Seika is my brother whether it was the truth or not, just to make me fight for him."

"I am sure that the Seika would hate me for using such underhanded means," she smiled, but her thoughts differed entirely.

Diana lied to protect Jasmine from suffering the same fate as her, a puppet that danced in the palms of her father. However, she knew that her strength was needed against Kar and his underlings.

It was selfish of her to hide the truth, but Diana couldn't bring herself to follow the scheme of Seref Silvera. So instead, she will use her powers to save Arthur from his father without making the prophet use more people.

Jasmine left the study afterward, and Diana looked outside the window. The day was breaking, and it was time to attack the capital. The final battle will decide everything and change them all irreversibly.

"Wait for me, Arthur."

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