亚洲欧美中文日韩Aⅴ

As though noticing my expression, he spoke neither too loudly nor too softly.

“This is the price I’m paying for you to hear me out from now on.”

“I don’t know why you’re doing this. Didn’t you think I wouldn’t? Take this and bring it to the emperor?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What…?”

As I asked again, in bewilderment, Pontus’ answer remained the same.

“You may do whatever you want to with that.”

I couldn’t understand him. The man who had just yesterday asked me to become emperor was now saying it was alright for me to accuse him of treason.

“If you still feel like doing so after hearing me out, please go ahead.”

Pontus smiled calmly. From the deep gaze he directed towards me alone, he didn’t seem like a boy. I could vaguely tell that Pontus was plotting something but all I did was furrow my eyebrows as I waited for him to continue.

“Do you know anything about the God of Death?”

“It’s taboo to talk about so I’ll have to say I don’t know much.”

“Then, are you aware that before the God of Death was confined, he was right behind the Lord of the Gods in terms of rank, ranking 2nd?”

“… I have. He was the Lord of the Gods’ older brother. Moreover, he was the 2nd God in rank before the God of Snow and the Sea took his place.”

Pontus nodded his head very matter-of-factly.

“Two distinct groups of templars make up the Temple of Death. The direct descendants of the Head Templar are referred to as the Heir of Death’ and only make up a few people–one or two–at a time. The rest are the general rank and file templars. In the Temple of Death, the powers of a Heir of Death are only passed down from parent to child. In other words, its succession of power is similar to that of the Heir to the Lords.”

I nodded gently. This information was not too different from what Soricks had told me a while ago.

“This story goes far back into the past. I think you are familiar with the First Emperor who was loved by the Lord of the Gods. Though this part of history was erased, it is true that the Lord of the Gods had adored the First Emperor. It might even have been a kind of obsession. In any case, it was undeniable that He was deeply emotionally attached to the First Emperor. However, after the Empire was founded, the First Emperor had found herself a beloved companion. And that companion was the God of Death.”

“… The God of Death?”

My incredulity at his desire to bring up the Empire’s age-old founding story and the First Emperor quickly turned into curiosity.

“The God of Death was then confined. Because the First Emperor had not loved the Lord of the Gods back…”

Pontus’ expression contorted for a moment when he talked about how the Lord’s love was not returned. He erased his sorrowful expression faster than it appeared before continuing.

“In fact, there is a lot more to the story but I’m only telling you what’s important. The Lord of the Gods had loved the First Emperor passionately and as a result He had confined His older brother, the God of Death. He then imprisoned her and made it so that she could not take a single step without His help for the rest of her life.”

The First Emperor was barred from seeing her companion until she died. It was only upon her death was she free from His imprisonment. I recalled what Auresia looked like as she had explained this to me. She had a faint smile that looked like it could disappear at any moment.

“After the death of the First Emperor, the Lord of the Gods had obeyed her wishes and gave His bones and flesh to the Empire. It is because of His presence that permeates all the Empire’s land that we often bow towards twilight.”

Pontus cleared his throat for a moment.

“But before He dissipated, the Lord of the Gods had found it difficult to create an everlasting Empire through his power alone. So, he decided to share with the earth the powers of his confined brother. And before long, the stone upon which the God of Death was confined had formed a large crystal.”

My head shot up.

‘A large crystal?’

Something flashed past my mind. The crystal that sustained all divinity in the Empire. If only the emperor could control it… It must be the crystal I saw with Auresia. In surprise, I glanced at Pontus and he nodded as if to confirm my suspicions.

“The place in which the God of Death had been confined to is within the crystal sustaining the Empire.”

“But it’s said that only the emperor and his heir could control the crystal…”

“To be exact, it’s the Power of the Lords that allows them to do so. But the divinity that the crystal provides is through the confined God of Death’s powers.”

“Why on earth…”

“I’m not sure. While the Lord of the Gods might have granted the First Emperor’s wish, at the same time, He had prevented the God of Death from meeting the First Emperor forever… Even in the afterlife, her soul would never meet her companion.”

As if reading to me a nighttime story, his voice lowered, turning almost drowsy. I was left there dumbfounded.

“This is the truth the Imperial Family has been trying to bury for thousands of years and the Temple of Death’s goal is to reclaim their god. Princess, you are our justification.”

I lowered my gaze to the floor. I should take a deep breath. I paced my breathing.

“The God of Death is trapped within the crystal. Doesn’t it make sense for the Heir of Death to become emperor?”

“… Head Templar!”

“At first, the Templars of Chaos had just been another term for the Templars of Death. But, now it just refers to the templars who are currently being persecuted by the Empire. Many of those hunted down are female templars. Not only that, they were kidnapped by the Imperial Family and sacrificed to the crystal. However, that’s just wrong.”

“Head Templar, I understand why you would hate the emperor and the Crown Prince. But there’s still the 2nd Prince. He…”

“… Is a good man.” Pontus interjected before I could finish my sentence. “No, the 2nd Prince, Julian, has joined hands with those who were already aware of the truth. The templars who are currently in power. Things might get better if he ends up being the emperor. But that would only be half a step better. We will only be taking half a step forward.”

Pontus bit his lips.

“How are we so sure that he would not resort to the same choice the emperor made to make up for his lack of divinity?”

What Julian would bring if he became emperor was secession politics.

As the emperor, he would be dealing with politics and state affairs while the 5th Prince, who had divinity and the Power of the Lords, was to handle divinity-related matters. However, the powers the 5th Prince possessed were weak. Everyone in the palace knew which was why Pontus was right. The Empire could not be sustained without divinity. It would be like telling a modern man to suddenly live without electricity. Wouldn’t Julian also be tempted to do the same?

“You can make all things right.”

Pontus got up before kneeling on one knee. As he held my hand, he raised his head. He didn’t look like the man he was yesterday. But the wistfulness and the depth of his gaze remained the same.

“You are currently using your powers incompletely. And once you awaken, you will be able to use it perfectly.”

I looked up to face his earnest gaze. It felt strange. To face someone with such a mature gaze in a boy’s body. Perhaps this was how people felt when they faced me in the past.

“Do you know why your awakening has been so delayed? You clearly have divinity but you still haven’t done something. It’s something you have to do before you become an adult…”

I could feel a throbbing headache incoming. The powers I was supposed to have that had only bothered me for the longest time and showed no signs of appearing. I resented it rather much. I was the one with the most questions. Did he perhaps know the answer to this problem?

“The Power of the Lords and the Power of Death. It is because you have both powers at the same time.”

Pontus continued firmly.

“The Heir of Death is granted immortality.”

“… The inability to die?”

“It’s not that you are unable to die. However, you are able to recover quickly and are unable to feel pain. You also retain your sanity after death.”

He said that the powers allowed me to withstand all sorts of pain. So, the reason I couldn’t feel pain was because of the Powers of Death? I scoffed.

He must have spoken those words in oblivion of what I had actually gone through. I would not go insane even if I were to die. Right. Then, was it because of these powers?

“The powers of each respective god have different conditions for awakening. You are the successor to two unique gods and hence it would take you twice as long to meet the conditions of both gods. But I can tell your awakening is not too far off. What you are lacking now is the Power of Death.”

“The Power of Death?”

“Yes. And you will fulfil the conditions required for that soon.”

At the mention of the conditions, Pontus lowered his gaze. I glanced at Abel who had turned uncomfortable when he had such a stern expression just before. For some reason, Abel turned his head away with a greater contortion in his expression than Pontus. What was it? When I was just about to ask about this strange feeling in the air. Pontus removed the pendant he had around his neck.

“This is the ‘Determination of the Sea’.”

It was an Artefact of Snow and the Sea. He further explained that each Head Templar carried an Artefact of their respective god and these artefacts contained unique powers.

“Is it important?”

“Well, it doesn’t carry much power… But sometimes, a templar’s first artefact can carry great power.”

It reminded me of Amor’s bracelet. Or, was this meant to be normal? I glanced at the diary.

“I believe this would be able to speed up your awakening a little.”

“… How do I use it?”

“When you need it, break it.”

Still stunned and reluctant, Pontus hesitated before carefully lifting my hand and giving me the necklace. The Artefact of Snow and the Sea felt cool to the touch as if I was touching the air blowing under an air conditioner.

“Please…”

Pontus murmured.

“Remember.”

He pleaded. To pity all those who had died.

I suddenly recalled all the Templars of Chaos I had met. The next thing that came to mind was the sight of the desperation of the women kidnapped in the capital. The sight of them hugging each other in rags as they wept… I closed my eyes. Was that soon to be my fate?

“I’m sure you’re the only one who can change this sinful Empire.”

He spoke calmly yet firmly. Solemnly.

***

The sky had turned dark. Jewel-like stars were embedded in the sky like stalactites in a cave. Perhaps it was because it was night but my breaths were coming out in puffs of white smoke. Staring at the pale moon, I slowly lowered my head.

“It’s a little chilly.”

“Right?”

I nodded at Rusbella’s words. In front of my eyes was a building shrouded in darkness. It looked magnificent during the day but covered by the night, it looked spooky. Tonight, I was going to infiltrate this building with Rusbella. She said something about stealing herbs from a secret storage room somewhere in the building? I smoothed my pockets out of habit.

The door seemed locked. How were we getting in? My questions were quickly answered. Together with Rusbella, we traversed through some bushes before reaching a small window. It was situated well above my head but only slightly above Rusbella’s.

“As humans, we should use tools.”