A Love Buried in Time

CHAPTER 67 #6

Nang makarating ako sa chamber, naroon na silang lahat at naghihintay. Umupo ako sa pinakagitna, sa mismong upuan kung saan palaging nakaupo si Haring Drakkon.

Napansin ko ang pagngisi ni Cassandra at pasimpleng pag-irap niya sa akin.

Inirapan ko rin siya nang pabiro bago ako tuluyang humarap sa lahat.

"So, let's begin."

Tumayo si Lucius at agad na inilapag sa napakalaking mesa ang isang napakalaking mapa.

"First, you need to have a land to stay. Hindi pwedeng basta ka na lamang magpakita sa imperyo at sabihin mong ikaw ang nararapat na mamuno. You need a territory that you can establish as your base before making any major move."

Napatingin ako sa mapa, studying the different territories marked across it.

"Then we'll take one," ani ko.

Tumango si Lucius.

"Exactly. But we need to choose carefully. Hindi mo kailangan ng malaking territoryo. What you need is a strategic location, one that can be defended easily and has access to major trade routes."

Tumayo si Devi at lumapit sa mesa. Tinuro niya ang isang maliit na bahagi ng mapa, located just beyond the borders of Vermeleyon.

"This one."

Napatingin kaming lahat sa itinuro niya.

"This territory is outside the continent of Vermeleyon. Ngunit malapit ito sa bansang Wintergard. Mabilis mo itong makukuha, Rassia."

Saglit niyang tinapik ang bahagi ng mapa.

"The people here are neutral. They bow to no king, lords, or noble house. They have their own laws and they rarely involve themselves in the conflicts of other nations."

Napakunot ang noo ko habang nakikinig.

"Ang teritoryong ito ay hindi isang bansa. It's merely a city-sized territory, small enough for us to establish control over it quickly, but large enough to serve as your first base."

"If you can secure that place peacefully, you won't have to waste your time fighting for it." ani Morticia.

Tumango si Lucius. "Exactly. From there, you can build your forces, establish your council, secure trade, and slowly make connections with the surrounding nations."

I stared at the small territory marked on the map.

"If the city is peaceful, I don't want to interfere with it. Gusto ko ng isang teritoryong matutulungan ko," ani ko habang patuloy na nakatingin sa mapa.

Hindi ko gustong magsimula sa isang lugar na maayos naman ang pamumuhay ng mga tao. I don't want to take away their peace just because I need a place to establish my power.

"If I'm going to rule a territory, then I want to rule one that actually needs me."

Tumahimik ang lahat.

"I don't want people to bow to me simply because they are afraid. Gusto kong magkaroon ng dahilan ang mga tao para piliin akong sundin."

Tinapik ko nang marahan ang mapa.

"Find me a territory that is struggling. A place where the people are suffering, where the current ruler has failed them, and where I can actually make a difference."

Napatingin ako sa kanila.

"If I am going to become the ruler of Erenhal Sartorias someday, then I need to start by proving that I deserve to rule."

"I don't need a perfect city. I need a place that needs someone to save it." I continued.

Tila natahimik ang lahat at nagkatinginan. I could see the surprise in their faces, as if they hadn't expected me to say that.

I saw Raja smirking at me from where she stood, while Natalia smiled softly.

"Woah... you really are serious about becoming the ruler of Erenhal Sartorias, aren't you?" manghang sambit ni Thaddeus.

Napangiti ako nang bahagya.

"Of course I am."

Tumayo naman si Dimitrius at lumapit sa mapa. Kumuha siya ng marker at minarkahan ang isang maliit na bahagi na nasa pagitan ng dalawang malalaking kontinente.

"This land. It is also a city. Hindi ito nabibilang sa kahit na anong kontinente. Nasa gitna ito ng kontinente ng Vermeleyon at ng Palazan. Malayo ito sa dalawang kontinente, which makes it difficult for any major empire to directly control."

Napatingin ako sa maliit na bahagi ng mapa.

"But the problem is,"

Tumigil si Dimitrius at naging seryoso ang kaniyang ekspresyon.

"This city is known for its slave trade."

Biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon ko. "How many?"

"Five hundred thousand slaves."

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. Five hundred thousand slaves...

"Then I have five hundred thousand reasons to take it."

Natahimik ang lahat.

If five hundred thousand people were trapped there, waiting for someone to help them... Then I already knew where I wanted to begin.

"I'll take that city. I want to free those five hundred thousand people."

"The people there have magical chains around their necks. If they betray the officials or attempt to escape, the chains will activate."

Napakunot ang noo ko habang nakikinig kay Dimitrius.

"Magical chains?"

Tumango siya. "They are not ordinary chains. They are bound by magic, and the officials use them to control the slaves. Even if they manage to escape, the chains can be tracked and activated from a distance."

Napatingin ako muli sa mapa. "So they can't even run."

"Yeah, they can't."

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa mesa. Five hundred thousand people, living under chains they couldn't remove themselves.

I slowly looked around the chamber.

"Then our first objective is clear."

I pointed toward the marked city.

"I take the city, break those chains, and free every single person being held there."

Tumango si Dimitrius. "But there's another problem. The officials controlling the city are powerful mages. They won't simply surrender their territory."

Napangiti ako nang malamig.

"Then they can try to stop me."

I looked at the map again.

"They have five hundred thousand people to lose. I have five hundred thousand people to save."

"We can help you and fight those bastards. We can take the city within the day," ani Dimitrius.

I smiled and shook my head.

"No. I can handle it myself."

Napatingin ako sa Six Azure Blades na nasa paligid ng chamber. Lazlo, Stain, Alaric, Raja, Tyron, and Zen were the only ones I intended to bring with me.

"They have armies..."

Bahagya akong ngumisi.

"But I have Anastacio and Lucy Pearl."

"... I don't need the entire council coming with me. The Six Azure Blades are enough."

Tumingin ako sa bawat isa sa kanila.

"You six will come with me. You are the only ones I need to protect my back while I deal with the officials."

Napangiti si Raja. "Then we'll be ready, Your Ladyship."

Tumayo ako at kumuha ng kopita sa ibabaw ng mesa bago uminom nang kaunti. Saglit kong tiningnan ang mga taong nasa paligid ko bago ako muling nagsalita.

"If I already take back the city of Mysarea, you can go there freely. You won't have to hide anymore."

Napatingin ako sa lahat ng mga Erenhal.

"Ang mga tao roon ay hindi tayo kilala. Wala silang kaalam-alam sa historya ng mga Erenhal, sa Holy War, or even what really happened between your bloodline and the rest of Vermeleyon."

Inikot ko ang wine sa loob ng kopita.

"You've spent hundreds of years hiding here in Vlymir. You sacrificed your identities, your freedom, and even your place in the world just to wait for me."

I placed the cup back on the table.

"If I take Mysarea, then it can become your new home. You can finally walk among people without having to hide who you are."

Bahagya akong ngumiti.

"You deserve to see the world again. And when the time comes, I don't want the Erenhals to remain hidden in Vlymir anymore."

Tumingin ako sa kanila isa-isa.

"I want the world to know that you survived."

Napansin kong napaawang ang mga labi nila at tinitigan ako. For a moment, walang nagsalita, as if they were trying to process what I had just said.

Then, one by one, the Erenhals stood from their seats.

Cassandra was the first to smile.

"Long live the rightful ruler of Erenhal Sartorias."

I smirked as they raised their glasses, the atmosphere in the chamber suddenly filled with a new sense of determination.

"Now, I want you to prepare."

I slowly placed my glass back on the table and looked at each of them.

"Lucius, I want you to prepare everything we need for the establishment of our new territory. Find the people I can trust, secure our supplies, and make sure we have a proper system once I take Mysarea."

I turned toward Dimitrius.

"Dimitrius, I want you to gather every piece of information you can about the city. Its officials, their armies, their magical defenses, the slave camps, and most importantly, those magical chains. I want to know exactly how they work before we make our move."

Then I looked at Devi.

"Devi, focus on the surrounding territories. Find out which kingdoms or cities have connections with Mysarea. I want to know who might interfere and who might be willing to support us."

My eyes moved toward Natalia.

"Natalia, prepare the people who will eventually govern the city once I take it. I don't want chaos after the officials are removed. The people need someone who can protect them and help rebuild their lives."

I finally turned toward the Six Azure Blades.

"Lazlo, Stain, Alaric, Raja, Tyron, and Zen..."

They immediately straightened.

"As I have said, you will come with me."

I looked back at the map.

"We take Mysarea first."

My finger rested over the marked city.

"We free the five hundred thousand slaves, break the magical chains, and establish our first territory. And once Mysarea is ours... we begin preparing for Erenhal Sartorias."

Ito rin ang unang pagkakataon na gagamitin ko ang aking Eternal Flame mana. For years, I had been training and learning how to control it, but I had never truly tested how far my power had developed.

Napatingin ako sa aking mga kamay, feeling the familiar warmth of the mana coursing through me.

I can't wait to see how much I've improved...