The time was almost at midnight when Erkard received the red jewel. It was now exactly midnight when he and Cain was standing at the center of the bridge.
The bridge itself, when Erkard look from far away, it looks like a white wooden bridge. But when he approached it, the bridge seems distorted slowly with every step he took. And finally, when he reached it, it turned into a black stone bridge, with a symbol of hexagram in the center of it.
"Hold the jewel in the front of you." Cain said as he instructed Erkard.
As he said that, Cain also hold the jewel in front of him. Seeing that, Erkard then followed his suite.
TRIING!
"...!"
The jewel suddenly flashes. Its red briliance looks captivating enough, that it seemingly sucking those who gaze on it. Erkard watch the jewel in his hand with wonder and amazement.
"Drop the jewel. Let it fall into the hexagram symbol. And then, just jump back." Cain said again.
"...? Jump back?" Erkard asks in confusion.
"Just do it for now."
Hearing that, Erkard nods. Then, together with Cain, he dropped the jewel into the hexagram symbol beneath him.
Plunge! Plunge!
"...! The jewel was absorbed into the bridge!" Erkard shouts.
"Yes. Now then, fall back!" Cain said as he jumped back.
Seeing that, Erkard followed his suite. He jumped back, away from the bridge.
"..."
A while after he jumped back, there seems to be no change at all on the bridge.
"...? Is that it?" Erkard asks.
"Well, no. There seems to be a delay in the summoning." Cain said.
"What? There's a term of delay in summoning, too?"
"Of course. Well, the ritual site was already pretty old, so some kind of malfunctioning might occurred like now. Sometimes, the ritual was proceeding smoothly, instead. And when that happened, the demon would instantly popped out from the hexagram, causing chaos on its surroundings."
"Huh? Then, does that jump...?"
"Yes, it was to avoid the demon in the case when the ritual was proceeding smoothly."
...
Erkard was speechless when he heard that...
"(What a strange old ritual, huh?)" he thought.
Cain was laughing when he looked Erkard's expression.
"Hahahaha! I believe I knew what was going on your head right now. Yes, I do also think that it was indeed strange." Cain said heartfully.
He was continued to laugh cheerfully, leaving Erkard in wonder on what he should do...
"When is exactly the summoning would be completed, then?" Erkard asks.
They was now sitting on the grass, watching the bridge as they wait for a change.
"It wouldn't be long. At most, it would be done in about 10 minutes. Just like cookies." Cain jokingly said.
"Except that it wasn't cookies, but a demon instead, huh?" Erkard said, commenting on Cain's remark.
"Hahahaha! That's right! A terrible and dangerous lesser demon, is waiting to be summoned right in front of our face, right now."
"...?"
Erkard was slightly confused with what Cain said just now.
"Lesser demon? I thought that we're going to summon the Great Demon of Apocalypse." he asks.
"Yes, it was indeed known as the Great Demon of Apocalypse. But in reality, among the other demons, it was but a lesser demon, weaker than those known as the greater demon. A Lesser Demon is a demon with a body of monster. Although, they do possess an intelligence equal with humans, if not more." Cain answers.
"Huh, I thought that all of the demons have the body and intelligence of a monster, and no such things like a lesser and greater. "
"That was a mind-set created from the image of what a demon usually like in the mind of peoples. Peoples tend to be wary at what they don't know."
"In that case, how was the greater demon looks like?"
"They looks like a human, no difference at all. But they do possess power stronger than a giant, ormagic stronger than a dark elf. They was said to be the only beings on par with those who reside in Valhalla."
...
Erkard listening Cain's words silently. He seems to be interested with what Cain just said. Cain continues with his speech...
"The Greater Demons themselves are divided into some different clans, in accordance of their power and ability. In the demons realm, they were divided into 5 different clans, which are Heunee, Lacua, Skurel, Rigaden, and Drakar." Cain said.
"...!"
"Each of the clan have a different role and tasks. This is because, like I said before, that each clan have a different power with each other. Though, this difference of power making them to be competing with each other."
But Erkard didn't listening at that part. His mind was already thinking on another matter.
"(I've heard the word Drakar before. It was the one in my dream!)" he thought.
"...but now, no one knows the whereabout of the demons. They've become something lesser than a myth, since peoples nowadays haven't even heard of them." Cain said.
"..."
"...hey, are you listening?"
"Huh?"
Erkard was startled with Cain's words just now, while Cain just shake his head in response.
"Good grief, this is why I hate greenhorns. They didn't listening when you expect them to be." Cain said.
"S-sorry. Say, can you tell me more about the demons? I've never heard any story of them. Particularly about the Drakar." Erkard said.
Cain looks interested when he heard that.
"Hmm? You seem to be interested in the Drakars. I wonder why?" he asks.
"W-well, they seem to pique my interest somehow." Erkard answers, stuttering.
"Well, too bad. But I myself don't know much, since they aren't even known anymore in this world. The available records are so few, and it was not really clear on the matter."
"...? What do you mean?"
"I've checked the records around the world about them, and I can only found so few of them. Some records said that the demons are waging war against each other, destroying themselves in the process. The other records said that the Valhalla inhabitants purged them, instead, labelling them as the desecrators of the world."
"...so in other words, they all died?"
"Not really. Because there's also a record that said that they're gone to another world."
"Another world?"
Cain seemingly smiles at that words.
"Did you know? This world we known was actually just a small part of the whole world."
"Our world...is just a small part of the whole world?" Erkard asks.
"Yes." Cain answers.
He stand as he said that. The smile on his face seems radiating his wisdom to his surroundings, and yet it hold an aura of secret.
"The world we known was named Midgard. It was the world where only humans dwell." Cain said.
"Well, actually this world was inhabited by another races, too. By the other race, from about 200 years ago." Erkard added, but...
"Wrong."
"...?"
Erkard was confused by his remark just now. Cain then continues...
"Do you really believe the common story that the other races are actually evolved from humans? Humans are already perfect in their own right, even though they might be weak. They won't be able to evolve into a giant, or a dark elf, or even a dwarf." he said.
"...what?" Erkard said, seemingly didn't really understand what Cain's talking about.
"Do you still not understand? They didn't evolved from humans. So then, where did they come from?"
"…another dimension? Like the monsters?"
"Almost correct. But then, where do you think this dimension that the monsters came from located at?"
"…you lost me there."
Cain laughed at that. He then continues…
"Commonly, we know that our world was divided into 3 main parts. First is Midgard, the world we're currently living in. Second is Nilfheim, the place where the souls of the departed will go." he said.
"And lastly, the Valhalla." Erkard added.
"Yes. The world where Asgard, the Fortress of Gods lies. It was said that the souls chosen by the maiden of war, the Valkyrie, will ascend and become the soldiers of god, known as Einherjar."
"…so what about it?"
"That story was true. As you know, some of the Einherjar has been revived and be met in this world."
"…I guess you're right. I do meet one of them before."
"But, that story is incomplete. Our whole world was actually divided into 9 different worlds, holded by the Tree of Life, Yggdrasil."
"...!"
"Midgard, Nilfheim, Valhalla. That is what people usually there's still another world existed other than those three. There's Jotunheim, previously the world of the giants, Svartalfheim, ex-world of the dark elves, and Nidavellir, the realm of the dwarves."
"What happened to those worlds?"
"They're gone...without any traces."
"...! Gone! ?"
"Yes. Well, not exactly disappeared, but rather merging with Midgard."
"...?"
Erkard was confused.
"Merging! ?" he asks.
"Yes. I don't really understand why and how, but 200 years ago, our world was shifted and combined with those worlds." Cain explained.
"200 years ago… that was the time where the concept of races was appeared!"
"Correct. Nowadays, they have merged with humans. But originally, they weren't a part of this world. That's all."
Erkard seemingly started to understand, though many more questions appeared on his head. He continued to listening on Cain's explanation as he continues…
"Continuing from that, Vanaheim, the world of vanirs, and Alfheim, the world of light elves, are also merging with Valhalla at the same time as the merging happened." Cain said.
"…? Vanir and light elves? I've never heard of them before." Erkard replied.
"Vanir are a lesser god. Just like the demons previously, as there are the lesser and greater demons, there also existed the lesser and greater gods. While the light elves are the race with a white skin, and were known for their godlike profiency in weaponry and magic, though they're not really good with technology as the current inhabitants of Midgard can."
"Hmm, the world is vaster than I thought… to think that the other world was existed in this fashion."
"Indeed. Lastly, the merging also happened at Nilfheim and Muspellheim, the world of fire, and now inhabited by demons."
"…!"
"Long time ago, before the monsters appeared, the demons was the one who inhabited Midgard. But because of something unclear, they then disappeared suddenly. Humans were created at that time, replacing them as the inhabitants of Midgard."
"...? I'm sorry, but my head was already full. I can't really follow this anymore."
"Hahahaha! I see... I guess I was too excited of imparting my knowledge."
Cain laughed heartfully while watching Erkard who was seemingly can't follow his words anymore.
Watching Cain laughed like that, some thought appeared on Erkard's mind.
"(He doesn't seem to be the Philosopher I always thought. He's just like Lady Xeyon, so human-like, just like me and the others.)" he thought.
He watches as Cain laughed, waiting for him to stop.
"Hahaha... Say, I like to say "thanks" to you." Cain suddenly said.
"...? For what?" Erkard asks, confused.
"It's been a while ever since I felt this free. Back in the castle, all I do everyday is unlocking each person's Phantasm Trigger. The other was busy with their own business." Cain said.
"I guess you're the only one who was capable of doing it, after all. It must be tough."
"Indeed. That's why, thanks to your request of meeting with the King, that I was able to go out, and inhale fresh air once in a while."
Cain laughed a little as he said that. Seeing that, Erkard initiate another conversation…
"Sir Cain, how did you was able to know about the demons in the first place? You just said to me that you yourself didn't know much about them. And how did you found about the concept of 9 worlds in the first place?" Erkard asks.
But Cain just smiles gently. He doesn't say anything but "One day, perhaps I would tell you." leaving Erkard in wonder.
"...you know, I've been wondering on why are you wishing to meet with the King." Cain suddenly said again.
"...? Didn't Lady Xeyon told you? I wished to return the Swordsman guild's emperium." Erkard answers.
"So why do you want to return it? The Emperium was a symbol of power. It was said that it might turned the wheel of fate itself. You could become the king yourself."
"I'm still an aspiring knight-wanna-be. I won't let such thoughts corrupt my mind."
Cain laughed as he heard that. Slowly, he stopped to laugh...
"Well, just remember what I told you, and especially what you said just now, for it might help in the future." he said.
"…? What do you mean?" Erkard asks.
...
Cain just looked in front of him silently. Just for a brief moment, he showed a tinge of sadness.
"Sir Cain?" Erkard tried to asking him.
"Erkard. What do you think of the era we're living currently?" Cain suddenly said.
...
"…yes?" Erkard asks dumbfounded.
"We the Valhalla Dragon guild are trying hard to protect the hard-earned peace even now. And yet, the scar of the long war wasn't easily removed. No, perhaps the vestige wouldn't be erased forever. There are peoples who lived in terror, fearing of the next war. Also the peoples who don't have any will to live, caused by the grief from the war. Lastly, the peoples who can only live in the battlefield, those who live their life as a weapon in the last war. These peoples are having difficulties in living in our era." Cain explained.
"What are you trying to say?"
"You, are also the survivor of the last war, right? What do you think of the life you're living, right now? Just think about it."
…
…
...!
"...! (I...can't breathe!)" Erkard thought in his head.
He grabbed his chest, starting to feel a heavy feeling on his body and head, as the oxygen are not supplied to his body.
It was happened as Cain finished saying his words. The air in Erkard's surroundings seems to disappear, leaving him with no air to breathe.
"(No, it wasn't from the Philosopher... Where...?)" Erkard thought.
He then turned his attention towards the bridge.
"..."
Nothing seemed to be unusual...
"(No, wait...)"
Erkard tried to look more precisely at the bridge. He saw that the seal was starting to glow.
"Just leave the thinking on the back of your head for now. It seems that the ritual is nearing its end. The demon would be summoned any moment now." Cain said.
As he said that, Cain pointed at the center of the bridge.
TRING!
"...!"
Erkard was surprised. From the center, a flash of light was shone. A pillar of light was arise from there, and inside the light, a shadow of big humanoid looking form was arise.
GRAAAAAAH!
A roar was emerged from the light, seemingly deafening its surroundings. Erkard and Cain closed their ears, as they watched the shadow inside the light was starting to move.
"It has finally completed. The ritual...of the demon!" Cain said.
The humanoid form was emerging from the light, and as it walks away from the light, the true form of it was shown. A demon with a brown-colored fur, with a head and legs of goat. It wields a huge, black scythe with both of its hands.
"Aaaaah... It's been a long time since I last summoned. Who dared to summon me?" the demon said in a heavy tone, seemingly directed at everywhere around him.
"It's been a long time, the Demon Baphomet." Cain said.
"…Cain... Seeing you remain unchanged after that long sleep was making that long slumber like nothing but a moment. What do you want this time?" the demon named Baphomet said.
Cain then moves forward. He walks slowly, seemingly without any fear, even though there's a demon with size over two, or even three times of his body in front of him.
"Don't be that cold. I would like to initiate the trial on this boy over here." Cain said as he pointed at Erkard.
"…" the demon, when he turned his attention towards Erkard, he watches over him silently.
"…is something mattered?" Erkard asks.
"…nothing." Baphomet said.
After saying that, the demon Baphomet just release a heavy breath…
"Really, just how many more times do you wished for me to do this? You humans are so blood-thirsty. Even my clans in Muspellheim would shake in terror seeing what you did to your own kind." Baphomet said.
"(Muspellheim…so it seems that Sir Cain was correct. The realm where the demons is.)." Erkard thought.
"I'm afraid I don't have a say in this. The King was the one who ordered this. I can only follow his orders." Cain said back.
"Bah, someone like you was actually obeying an order. I don't believe it."
"Hahaha, time's changing, old friend. Sometimes you need to take what is available to survive. And besides, this trial might be your chance. You know what I meant, right?"
Hearing that, Baphomet closed its eyes, seemingly disappointed with something. It then turned its attention towards Erkard.
"Boy, are you prepared for the trial?" Baphomet asks.
"Umm, not really. I don't even know what this trial asks for." Erkard answers.
"Actually, it's not that hard." Baphomet said again.
As it said that, it raised its scythe high above. Illuminated by the weak light of the glowing grass on the ground, it looks dangerously shiny on its black, sharp blade.
"All you need to do is to defeat me. It's just that, if you didn't defeat me, then you'll be killed by me in here." Baphomet said.
"What…! ?" Erkard was surprised, but…
FWOOOSH!
Suddenly, Baphomet swung its scythe towards Erkard!
TAP!
BOOM!
Barely seeing the attack, Erkard evaded it desperately. But he wasn't completely unscathed. His left shoulder was slashed, leaving a deep wound in there, and making his left arms hard to be used.
"Damn!" Erkard cursing, holding his wounded left arm.
"Draw your sword, boy. Struggle for your life. Fight for your honour. And end this chain of tragedy!" Baphomet said again, swinging its scythe again.
Thank you for reading this chapter. Wow, I'm soooo busy right now. But don't worry, this fanfic will always be continued until the end. As always, your reviews and PM (if there anyone interested) are appreciated. Well then, see you in the next chapter!
