Chương 10: [BL] 10. Situation [2]

So you did plan to trap me here, you damn old weasel… Puffing her cheeks out in sheer annoyance, Willow took two breaths in and let it all go in one long exhale. Sister Elvere reached Willow's shoulders and massaged them.

"Look, you're stressing the lass."

"Elvere… Do you care about our survival chances?"

"Before that," Willow cut in.

"I'm curious about that, but right now I want to know about this Bright Rune. Why do you focus on that despite me already having another one which, to my knowledge, is powerful?" The commander tapped his finger up and down, sucked in a breath, and thought deeply before finally speaking.

"Let's do it this way. I will answer your question, but then I get to tell you about our situation, and you'll need to give me your answer." That sounded fine: "Let's do so."

"Good, good, a proper negotiation," Sister Elver said. Willow could not see her, but she could tell the sister was smiling at the commander's glare, so Willow smiled too. You're the best sister.

"So, Bright Rune… Every two hundred years, an Apocalypse Cycle starts. This brings rifts that tear our skies, and monsters with the intent to invade. The empire has plenty of islands and one big continent that have not yet been reclaimed, thanks to the cycle. With every cycle come bright star shoots that slice through the skies; each one is an outworlder like you, and they always arrive with Bright Runes."

"Why did I mention that you do not have a Bright Rune? Well, mainly because of what it offers: the ultimate Instinct rune—the Instinct of Heroes. The Bright Rune grants you an experience boost for every monster you kill. You'll be able to catch up to someone with a tier-two class who has spent years training. Many argue that this experience boost is the greatest enhancer one could get, and I wholeheartedly agree. Besides that, there's another enhancer—Heroes' Party.

It lets you select up to twenty non-class holders and grant them the Squire class. And most importantly, the Quest skill, an ability that allow reward upon a task, it can even relate to nearby rifts, giving us information." That sounds powerful indeed…

"What about class?"

"Normally, you get to choose. Under the pretext of a Grand Purge, the Archmage and Oracle of the capital redirect the bright star toward the capital, where the heroes are summoned to the throne room before the Kings. There, they are given every class stones the empire possesses."

"Oh, that sounds grand," Willow mumbled. So in the end, was her Dark Wind Rune better than this Bright Rune? It didn't sound like it. Did Mera's summoning actually weaken her power—"Do you desire such a thing, lass?"

"Why would I?" Willow asked. The question felt like a trap. The commader let the answer go and proceed.

"I answered your question; now let's move on to our situation—Sheran Village," Alfred said.

"Outworlder, those with Bright Runes… they're always hailed as heroes. Do you know why the nobles and royals hold their power? Who decides that?"

"The people?" she said hesitantly, with a faint blush. Her answer might have sounded too simple.

"Yes, exactly. Their power comes from the people's admiration and the tangible results of noble and royal deeds. Those at the top are expected to be ready for the Apocalypse Cycle, with their families fighting on the front lines. All eyes judge them; the Cycle is often seen as a noble's true test. Throughout history, many distinguished families have fallen from grace with each apocalypse. To avoid such a fate, years before the Cycle draws near, nobles often take multiple spouses."

"Wait, I'm not sure I understand."

"They want to marry their children to the outworlder so they could claim they have the blood of heroes."

"And that might have happened to me?" Alfred nodded.

"Of course, having many children serves other purposes as well. When the Cycle truly begins, every city and village that chooses to defend rather than evacuate will face the Apocalypse for years until the Grand Purge. Throughout history, many independent kingdoms have been born from this chaos. Once most rifts are purged, these new kingdoms often take advantage of the empire's exhausted armies and launch attacks.

This has happened repeatedly, so it was decided that the emperor's children, along with many nobles, would be stationed in key cities and marry into the local bloodlines to prevent such uprisings."

"So they have the option to marry into the Blood of Heroes or secure a city's loyalty."

"That, and with the good old alliance between powerful noble houses, although small nobles much prefer to have the outworlder in their family."

"How does this relate to Sheran village?"

"Oh, everything, lass," he smirked.

"Now, let's talk about what decides if a village or city should be evacuated. The first type, these are the safest, are places too important to the empire's survival, like agricultural regions, harbors, or certain rift farm cities considered too precious to lose. The second type is a city or village that is barely worth future investment; for these, the empire is still willing to send legions to protect them if enough people intend to stay." Alfred's grin went wide. You could be reading stolen content.

Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Lastly, the third type! The villages or city that is too stubborn for their own good," he cackled.

"That's us, Sheran folks! Alongside many others! For a village that can barely offer investment to the empire to qualify for their protection, we need to show that we can at least purge our rift farms two months before the cycle starts."

"But… we're currently near a rift farm…" Willow realised in horror. The commander nodded with crossed arms.

"Are you trying to convince me to stay despite that?" She almost exploded.

"Now, listen to me here." Alfred held up an arm, but that did not convince Willow whatsoever.

"Okay, go on."

"We purposefully did not destroy our rifts."

"Why—""Because we can do it safely without losing anyone. Many duchies and counties are stubborn enough not to leave their territory despite the empire's capital's calls to join their forces. The nobles intend to ride and die on the defense. To be exact, their third son or fourth daughter stays in their territory and risks death with those who did not intend to leave their houses. Do you know why they do that?" Out of the goodness of their hearts? No, unlikely.

Besides, what goodness would it be if they just died anyway?

"Because they don't want to do their noble duty?" Or outset their elder siblings power…

"Yes, they do not want to be married to an outworlder, or forced into a random city to marry one of the popular peasants. Basically, these young nobles want to live freely and face the apocalypse with no noble burden."

"I see, such a noble is interested in Sheran village?" Alfred smiled widely and nodded eagerly, "Yes. This noble is quite powerful. Her retinue will consist of elite legionaries. With her forces that shall arrive soon, we will purge the rift together and bolster the Sheran's forces. In addition, we have been selling our Guard Class Stones to hire mercenaries, offering them the chance to live in our villages after the Cycle is over."

So the reason they held out on purging their rifts was that they wanted to do it safely? Willow had a suspicion that the real reason was maybe to keep the guards busy so they didn't leave, but decided not to bring it up.

"How reliable is this noble?"

"I think she is quite reliable. I can tell you her name, but you're probably not going to recognize her anyway."

"Hmm," Willow chewed her cheek.

"Why did she choose here? Is she eloping? Will the emperor direct his wrath at the village after the Cycle ends?"

"Reasonable question," Alfred said, caressing his chin.

"I can't tell you why she chose Sheran Village. All I know is that she convinced all the Elders, and I trust their judgment. As for the Emperor's wrath... That won't happen. After the Cycle ends, he'll still have to deal with rebellions that are bound to break out, and it's impossible to eradicate all the rifts that spawn. Some areas will be so badly infested that it'll take years and the creation of new bastions to handle them. The empire will be busy for the next hundred years before complete peace is restored.

By then, I doubt the emperor will care about our village."

"So that is why these nobles are willing to abandon their duties…" Willow muttered.

"Lass, no, Willow, may I be honest?" Alfred suddenly asked. Willow blinked.

"Sure?"

"You are an outworlder. I doubt Josha and Shera are lying about that. But the fact still remains that you do not possess the Bright Rune. You might awaken it later, but the fact remains. Your Dark Wind Rune is interesting and certainly powerful, and we will be glad to welcome you here as one of us. However, that might not be the case for most cities. Having a Bright Rune is proof of heroes; it is embedded deep into our legend, and it is the symbol of every child's stories, which everyone grew up with.

So lass, if you expect a handsome prince will welcome you and swoop you up for marriage then—""I do not want that," Willow scowled. Warm hands massaged Willow's shoulder. She tipped her head to see Sister Elvere smile warmly down at her.

"Even here you still have to watch out for marriage proposals from village boys, dear. Their parents and grandparents will probably pressure them to do it so their small family can brag about having the blood of heroes to their neighbours."

"That will be a nightmare," Willow mumbled, palming her face.

"Bah, don't worry about that. I will even get my grandson to escort you all the time if—" Alfred raised his hand in surrender against Elvere's glare.

"Fine. So that's our situation Willow. If you stay, I will make sure you have the best accommodation Sheran Village can offer and resources for leveling, of course." Alfred laid his palm upside down, above the table, offering it to Willow, who stared at it. The decision did not come as easily as she would have liked. Maybe she should talk to the Rogue girl? What was her name again? Tela? But if what the commander said was true, and help is coming…

"I know you have no attachment here, but that is something that we can forge," Sister Elvere said, her voice soothing.

"I will do it," Willow found herself saying. Alfred broke into a childish grin and was about to say something until Willow cut him off.

"But I want Josha and Shera to be freed."

"What? Willow, you do know what they did—" The door burst open, and a wiry young man stepped inside, his face horrified, as if bloods had been drained from his cheeks.

"Eh! Alduin! What is it, boy!"

"Wyvern! A flock of Wyverns attacking! And… and the creation of woods—Treants coming as well."

"My, my," Sister Elvere closed her mouth with her palm.

"This sounds like the first surge of the Cycle has started." Alfred let out an order to assemble archers and mages on top of the cliff and along the walls. The old man then looked at Willow, "Josha and Shera? I heard about Shera's Mist Rune and Frost Witch Class. Yes, she will be useful against the Treants and Wyverns, as she has shown. I suppose Josha could also protect her. Very well, they will be atop the mountain with you against the Wyvern.

"Also—""There's an also?" he intoned.

"Sorry," she mumbled quickly, knowing full well she was a bit full of herself.

"To properly enter the Sheran Guard Force, I have a condition…"

"What is it?"

"I want to keep Class Stone from monsters I kill—""Not happening. Every Class stone will be used for the good of the villages, either to be sold or given to the best prospect guards."

"Then, for this battle only. I need some sort of income—""You will receive proper wages, lass. More than the usual guards, I will bring it up with the elder."

"Fine then, one Class Stone! Just one."

"The chances of Class stones are dependent on the creature… the easiest one is one in thirty…"

"Still, I insist."

"Fine, if you got one, then you kept it. Now get ready, you will be shooting those dark winds at the Wyverns. I prefer not to recall our forces inside the Rift and abandon our siege, so prove your worth."