Petra Leyte was left all alone.
Somehow, in some way, she was the only one left. No one but her remained.
Out of all the people that gathered in this "Theater" and disappeared by the cracks that suddenly came out of nowhere, leaving her a girl who became a maid for the Margrave she learned to hate after all what he did during the events of Sanctuary, was the only one left in her place.
She saw everything.
From hearing the voice of the unknown individual to everyone gone before she could do anything to help them.
The young girl felt weak. The same despair-induced feeling she once experienced when Elsa and Meili attacked the Mansion near where her village was located at before said Mansion was burned to the ground by her and Otto.
She wanted to cry, but she couldn't.
All her previous feelings were soon replaced by absolute fear as the silhouette figure of the unknown individual turned to her as if he noticed her presence.
"Petra Leyte, I assume?"
The unknown individual asked rather in a calm and civilized manner. A stark contrast of his mocking and condescending tone he used earlier when he first made his appearance.
Petra did not know the reason why the unknown individual was speaking to her in such a way, but all she knows that he was keeping things rather… calmly than he did before.
Despite her fear keeping the young maid from properly communicating with the individual, whose overall appearance still shrouded by the silhouette he somehow has over himself, she managed to make a simple curt nod. Enough for the unknown individual to easily tell that she was honest in her response.
"Excellent. Since you're the only one left in this room, I suppose it's time to remove this cover. Perhaps I should've done so earlier."
He said in a way that anyone can tell he was bemused of the response Petra made.
Before Petra could ask what he meant by that, she was soon silenced by the true appearance of the unknown individual that so beaten some of the strongest members of the Emilia Camp earlier.
He was clothed in a magnificent white academic clothes, edge in black and gold. The collar seemed excessively gaudy, but somehow it fit the overall design. With a white cloak, radiated an air of holiness, covered the already white design of the robe.
However, the exposed head was a bare skull. Points of dark red light glowed in its eye sockets, and behind that skull glowed a halo of golden radiance.
The young girl was awed by his appearance, forgetting her earlier fears of the unknown as she felt a sudden warmth at the sight of the skeleton wearing pure white clothes with lines of black and gold.
Then, she heard him speak.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself, Petra Leyte. I am the Lord of Helheim. A friend to that prick of a host, Warden. Speaking of which, I wonder why he hadn't beaten that overgrown lizard whom Fuglakóngur considered as his equal? As well as that hot silver-haired half-elf chick in black from before. Has his powers been severely restricted by Lord一?"
The individual, who introduced himself as the "Lord of Helheim", scoffed in end at the rather vague and somewhat familiar words in his introduction.
Although she doesn't know who this "Fuglakóngur's equal" is and she has a vague idea who he meant by a hot silver-haired half-elf chick in black. But the way he ended before he could say "Lord"... someone was rather odd, in her opinion.
Nevertheless, as she thought of it, the skeleton, Lord of Helheim he calls himself, appeared suddenly in front of her. Surprising the young maid as she took a step back unconsciously.
"Don't worry, I won't harm you. At the very least, this will over in an instant."
Confused by this, she reflexively responded with:
"Huh—?"
Before she was grabbed by a skeletal hand to the head and her world instantly turned dark.
He walked.
The man walked and walked.
Through the sea of trees of gigantic proportions. He walked at the straight and narrow path he took.
His dark cloak with an estranged symbol placed at the front of his cowl fluttered slightly by the wind. His white mask slightly shone in the shadows beneath the trees despite having little daylight illuminating the ground beneath the giant trees.
His clothing, neither poor nor extravagant, dressed in a manner where many assumed to be a middle-class nobility, and yet, at the same time, he did not exude such an aura befitting that of a nobility in the first place.
Perhaps it was his overall appearance, possessing the colors of Black, Amethyst, White, and the slight tangent of brown made him an odd sight of any who paid close attention of this individual.
He had gotten used to it. After traveling for some time, as well as stopping by to nearby villages to greet the locals, the man was known by the countryside as a "Traveling Noble". A nickname based on the opinion as a well-dressed noble traveling.
He accepted that moniker. It made him well-known enough to the fact that everyone in the region knows him, especially to the regional lords whom he had crossed paths with earlier on. With said regional lords being civil to a man with estranged taste and ideals.
Perhaps his view of the world had changed him from the man he formerly was to the person that is different, but at the same time, the same as he was before.
A strange combination. The idea of it happening to a person before was rare, even by this current generation's standards. Even more so as the days go by.
"..."
Raising his head beneath his cowl, his white mask came into contact at the object of the Traveling Noble's interest. The face under the mask unchanged but intrigued.
A crack appeared on the sky above the towering trees. It's black visage can intimidate the weak and lowly of hearts. Those who have a common understanding of the world can feel their hair on their skin raised by the aura the dark crack seemingly radiated with malevolent malice and despair.
"..."
However, the Traveling Noble was no ordinary man.
Unfazed by it, the man continued to stare at the crack through his mask. His posture unchanging, his body speaks of experience only few had faced in the past. As though he was a pillar, steadfast in its place, unwavering at the sight of the storm.
After all, he was considered as an "Outlier" by the Regional Lords who are baffled to no end by his very existence. To which the Traveling Noble slightly chuckled, revealing to have a distorted tone in it. Unintentionally released to the world.
Releasing a breath of air from his nostrils from the mistake he unwillingly committed, the man continued to be intrigued by the current event happening. Seemingly as though he was expecting something to happen. A thought that came from his subconscious mind.
Whether or not it may be what he thought of, the Traveling Noble has experienced far stranger sights than anyone who had walked in this world. Especially to everyone he met before.
Eventually, he saw a figure falling from the dark crack.
In an instant, the dark crack disappeared the moment the figure fell from it.
Even though it was as strange as the crack before it, the moment he saw the figure falling as though they were unconscious, the Traveling Noble made his decision in less than a second.
In a burst of astounding speed, the man leapt from trunk to trunk as though they were merely his steppingstones as he continued to leap towards the falling figure. He did so with fluidity and agility uncommon to the normal folk but otherwise a common sight to those who are trained to do so as warriors.
But his, the Traveling Noble, was a sight to behold. His very image blurred by each leap. Creating an image befitting his status as a "Noble". The way he did so was awe-inspiring.
It was until then he caught the falling figure by his arms. The weight of the figure light by his strength that betrayed his weak appearance that some considered him to be. Even so in the past as well.
After catching the mysterious person, who turned out to be a woman at first glance, he soon found himself to be out of reach from the trees' branches for him to land on.
As a matter of fact, he was nowhere near to those branches in the first place. The gap between him and said branches was like the height of a castle gate. Towering over the Traveling Noble as if mocking his inability to reach to those branches whose width are enough for two people standing together.
"..."
However, undeterred by this, the man reposition himself, landing on a nearby trunk and planting his feet at the tree.
Instead of him falling from it, as per the law of common sense, he, in such a way that has never been thought of before, had found a foothold as though his feet was attached to the tree itself.
It was a rare spell he used. A spell that was rarer than the mages who had an affinity to that Elemantal branch the spell originated from to begin with.
Even so, he considered himself as a rare individual who knew the spell beforehand. Or rather, created it in the first place.
Only then, the Traveling Noble felt a sense of satisfaction of doing so. A feat he once thought before was impossible but currently achievable as seen at this very moment.
He looked up at the sky once more from where he stood. Staring where the crack was before.
"..."
He wondered at where the crack was last seen. His head tilted in confusion as to why it appeared in the first place.
It was a common sight that happened once in a while. Currently, though, the frequency of it happening has dramatically increased. To the point where the nation's Government had taken a nationwide priority of investigating such a phenomenon and why it has appearing more frequently than in previous decades.
At least that's what he heard of from the rumors from the nearby domains he visited and from secondhand reports as well.
He looked at the figure he held in his arms.
The Traveling Noble knew it was a woman at first glance, but her appearance somewhat startled him.
The woman has silver hair, fair skin, and clothing that he hadn't seen for... quite some time now.
Most importantly, she has pointed ears. Which meant one thing.
"It seems things are getting interesting..."
The man spoke, his unsettling distorted voice, the sound he made as though several individuals spoke in an imperfect harmony. As the voices of said individuals were impossible to picked up even with someone with the ability to differentiate the voices as well.
Nonetheless, he knew the things to come will be difficult for him and the woman he held in his arms.
"Just like what he said, a Grim Future is at hand. Tch. What a joke. Especially coming from someone like him."
With a sigh, he walked downwards from where stood. His feet defying what was thought to be common sense. While musing of the possible events by the arrival of the silver-haired half-elf in his arms.
How foolish.
She heard a voice. More specifically, the voice who called himself the Lord of Helheim.
To think there is a chance that you could perhaps change things... it would seem I was wrong.
The tone, she began to hate it.
Even then, how am I suppose to think it could be possible to begin with? Interestingly enough, this time... perhaps this time it would be enough...
What is he even trying to say at this point? She couldn't even understand what was going on anymore.
Hmm...? Is it time already. Hoh? That's quite unexpected, to know I am here and root me out immediately. That was fast. Unexpectedly faster than I thought. Surprisingly, It would seem I underestimated his ability far too severely... He has certainly gotten stronger since the last time I saw him.
Was he praising someone? Emilia didn't know, but it sounds like the Lord of Helheim was praising. But to who? Is the question here.
I should leave, for now. I'll see to it that I will meet you in due time. Farewell.
Without getting any answers, that was the last time she heard the mysterious individual before waking up.
Squinting her eyes, the Half-Elf Royal Candidate had barely awaken to the sound of a nearby fire being extinguished by water.
Its hissing noise pierced her ears, enough to barely stir her awake. Although, not enough for her to fully aware of her surroundings.
"It would seem that you're finally awake. Did you have a nice sleep?"
The distorted voice snapped her fully awake. The sound of multiple individuals speaking in a way as though they spoke in unison, but in a rather demonic way.
She looked where the source of the distorted voice came from as she saw a man in dark hooded cloak and strange noble clothing sat at the opposite side of where she was as she immediately stood ip and prepared to defend herself. Casting her Ice Brand Arts should the moment he attack occur.
Instead, she felt weak. Falling back on the ground where she slept earlier. With the feeling that she couldn't muster the strength to at least prepare a spell.
"Careful now. With that Restraint Band you have over your arm, you can't do anything seriously damaging. Especially when in front of the person that saved you."
Continuing with the distorted voice, though sounding more softly compared to before. But the unsettling feeling still remained.
Emilia, after hearing what he said, calmed down. But felt uncomfortable because of the distorted voice the masked man in a hooded cloak had portrayed.
Sensing her discomfort, the masked man spoke.
"Please forgive me if my voice is unsettling. I had this for... quite some time now, and I know how uncomfortable it is when heard by other people."
He said apologetically, as if knowing that it was his voice that made her uncomfortable to start.
He must've had a rough time.
Emilia thought as she heard the Masked man's apology.
She knew what is like to be afraid of one's defining features. She herself experienced it before, when her looks were compared to the Witch of Envy that swallowed the world 400 years ago.
She learned to ignore it with the help of her knight, Subaru before he...
She managed to prevent herself from gasping in shock at the memory of what happened to Subaru came in like a stroke of lightning.
Even with her best effort, the Masked man noticed it as soon as she covered it up but... silently chose to not bring it up.
This surprised Emilia, who she thought was going to ask what was wrong.
Is he...
The Royal Candidate shook her head, shaking the thought the Masked man went silent because he's considerate off. Instead, thinking he did it because he didn't know what to say.
There was an awkward air of silence between the two after that. With the chilling morning breeze blowing the leaves of the trees above them. Creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
She looked up and just noticed that the trees, including the one they sat under, were gigantous in proportions. Far larger and taller than almost any other trees she knows of.
With the one tree being Flugel's Tree the tallest of it all before it fell during the Battle of the White Whale.
She remembered the memory of see it in the theater, where Subaru had spectacularly against the White Whale as bait, as well as the one who thought of the idea of using Flugel's Tree's weight to pin the Great Mabeast down.
She saw it happened not too long ago, before... He came.
Emilia shook her head of that heart aching memory of that incident. To stir that away, she asked the Masked man who was silently sitting the whole.
"Um, excuse me."
"Yes. What is it?"
The Masked man said politely to the Half-Elf, who Emilia noticed to have a gentle side of him despite the unsettling voice he has.
"Do you know where we are?"
She asked the man with the white mask, wondering where she is right now.
The Royal Candidate never heard of a place where the trees that are nearly half the size of Flugel's Tree at the Lifaus Highway.
Emilia heard the man chuckled, though the voice isn't as unsettling as before but it still creeped her out a bit.
"My, my. You don't know? Well, you are in a place called the Sage's Forest, young lady."
The Masked man said, with Emilia blinked her eyes a couple of times when he told her the name of their current location.
"Sage's Forest?"
"Hm? You never heard of it? I'm quite surprised, this place is a common landmark that is known throughout the world, young lady. Especially when it's a famous and sacred place in this part of the country."
Emilia was surprised at this. Common landmark? Famous and sacred place? What is he talking about?
Though the mentioning of her being a young lady was a bit surprising. She was older than him, especially being a Half-Elf who has longer lifespans compared to other races, but the thought of him being an old man under that mask made her consider that calling her a young lady was warranted, at the very least.
"You seriously don't know?"
The silver-haired Half-Elf nodded. With the man releasing an amused sigh. Motioning her to make herself comfortable before telling what it seems to be an old tale.
"Long ago, this place was once a desert. Filled with monsters of unbelievable strength and appearance.
After a certain battle waged in this once great Desert, a man, formerly a mercenary, afflicted by memory loss after an Expedition to hunt down a monster that terrorized the world for centuries before said monster was felled by the Great Hero, was sent to this land along with three individuals called the Three Maidens who would later be the progenitors of the Three Great Families that govern the land surrounding the would be Sage's Forest. With these Great Families being under the direct command of the Royal Adviser.
These Three Maidens guided the man who held ten seeds, which all came from a Tree that was used to hunt down the monster used by the Great Hero and the Expeditionary Forces to its fullest extent to fell the monster that so terrorized the world for centuries before its downfall.
The seeds themselves, after great examining and careful consideration were ordered by the Ruler of the Country, was decided to be planted near the desert. Where, the Three Maidens chose this sand-filled land full of monsters as the place for planting the ten seeds.
Ten years later, the Three Maidens returned, all with husbands and children of their own.
Having returned to the place where they planted the ten seeds, they were amazed by the growth it has since the decade they left the Ten seeds unattended.
Upon closer inspection, they bore witness that there are ten seeds on each of the Trees they planted.
Once again, upon great examining and careful consideration, they planted these seeds, which were numbered exactly a hundred, and soon left after they had done their work.
Ten years later, they all return, with their children grown with siblings and families of their own.
Once more, they bore witness with the first ten Trees far larger than what they last saw a decade prior.
To their surprise, once more, a hundred more trees appeared, with the same height as the first ten Trees a decade prior.
Once more, they planted the seeds, which was numbered exactly a thousand, and left after they finish their work.
Decades after decades. Planting seeds numbered ten thousand in one decade, the next decade a hundred thousand more seeds.
Soon, this became a tradition for the Three Great Families to plan the seeds in honor of the Great Hero and the Three Maidens, who were their Foremothers, and had kept doing so even with the thought that they will fill the desert with trees far higher than any building built by the hands of man.
The Three Maidens, after they grown an old age, before their last breath they named the forest the "Sage's Forest" after the title of the man who planted the Tree that was used against the monster.
After the death of the Three Maidens, the Sage's Forest grew in number of trees decade after decade.
To this day, anyone who enters the Sage's Forest, outside of the planting decade, has either seek Enlightenment or Tranquillity to ease their troubled souls.
However, there are those with Greedy hearts seek to find the treasure that was rumored to be at the end of the Sage's Forest. A treasure of untold riches.
But they, those who seek the rumored treasure, never returned.
All because of the monsters that inhabited this once desert land became Guardians that protected the treasure that was hidden far beyond the end of the Sage's Forest. Protecting it from those who seek it with evil intents."
The Masked man ended the old tale, finishing it with a vague conclusion that Emilia thought it was something that should've ended with something of a happy ending.
But the story intrigued her. Three Maidens. Great Hero. The Sage's Forest. The Monster that was mentioned in the old tale but not its name.
It was surreal. The Half-Elf never heard any of these even after all her studies as a Royal Candidate to win the Royal Selection which was supposed to end two more years.
However, the thought she never heard any of these began creeping in her mind. Like, she was on a land far different than any of the tales the Four Countries had written in their books.
Even then, she wondered to herself. Where is she right now? What is the name of this country?
She has many question, but found nothing to ask the Masked man who saved her.
Then, the man with a dark hooded cloak spoke. Interrupting her thoughts as he said.
"Well then, since I told you the story of this forest, I suppose it's time for introductions."
Emilia blinked in surprise as she realized that she never introduced herself to the Masked man.
"I'll go first."
The Masked man offered, which Emilia accepts.
"My name is... Krittika. Krittika Amnor, the Traveling Noble."
The Masked man, who introduced himself as "Krittika Amnor", with a respectful bow.
Before Emilia could say anything that is not related to her introduction, Krittika says.
"If you're wondering how I got that moniker, let's say that's what the people of this countryside called me. Even the Regional Lords and the Head of the Three Great Families also called me by the moniker as well."
The Half-Elf Royal Candidate nodded in understanding. Now knowing the man in front of her is most likely famous, based on his words that the Regional Lords and even the Heads of the Three Great Families knows him at all.
"Now, what is your name, young lady. With a beautiful face and hair like that, I'm sure you're name is lovely as well."
Krittika complimented the Half-Elf, which Emilia was surprised at the compliment until she realized something.
"Why aren't you... afraid how I look?"
She asked the Masked man who tilted his head in confusion at her query.
"Why should I? You look like any beautiful girl out there. Why should I be afraid of someone like you?"
"It's because I'm... a silver-haired Half-Elf..."
Emilia confessed, slightly fearing that the man would react violently.
Instead of what she feared, the man chuckled. Laughing even. Though, in an amused way, no malice nor mockery in his tone.
Despite having a distorted voice, Emilia can vaguely tell it was very genuine and nothing of the sort that can affect her negatively.
After finishing the man's laughter, he answered in front of Emilia's confused face.
"If you meant the Witch of Envy, don't bother, that Witch is dead a long time ago. Nobody is afraid of silver-haired Half-Elves Witches. Not even the elderly population is afraid of those anymore."
"Eh!?"
She was extremely confused, the Witch of Envy dead? How? Why? When?
Before she could bombard Krittika more questions, the said man raised his hand to stop her. To which the Royal Candidate stopped in her tracks as the Traveling Noble begins to say.
"Until I know your name, I'll answer your questions, young lady."
He says firmly. As if stopping the Half-Elf from wasting time.
"Uh, I'm sorry. My name is Emilia. I have no family name... just Emilia."
She introduced herself in response to Krittika's words. Before finding him stunned and silent at her introduction.
"..."
The man went silent. As if he was unable to find the words to speak.
For Emilia, she was questioning herself whether her name reminded Krittika of someone or her name just rang a bell in the Traveling Noble's mind.
After what it seems to be an eternity, Krittika finally spoke.
"You're... Emilia, right?"
Emilia nodded. Krittika went silent once more, as if contemplating on what he had heard just now.
"Hey, you're kidding, right? You're Emilia? A Half-Elf?"
He asked her. Emilia noticing that he was doubting that girl in front of him was called Emilia.
"Yes. My name is Emilia. A Half-Elf."
She reintroduced herself, this time more firmly. Enough for the Traveling Noble to ease his doubts, replacing it with calm when Krittika regained his composure.
"So, you're Emilia."
"Yes."
"...Do you know where you are right now?"
"You said this place is the Sage's Forest, right? Though I never heard of this place before, and I even studied the world map during my studies under Roswaal."
She answered, not noticing the shock Krittika has under his mask.
Then, she heard the man say.
"Listen, if you're Emilia, do you know anything about the Auguria Sand Dunes?"
He asked in a serious tone, his distorted voice sounding more menacing than he let on. One that surprised Emilia by the Traveling Noble's change of tone, but nonetheless answered while nodding.
"Yes. It's where the Witch of Envy sealed and the Pleiades Watchtower is located, right?"
She heard Krittika sighed, as if his worst fears were confirmed by the fact she knows the Auguria Sand Dunes, which is part of her studies, and also a location where everyone knows the Witch of Envy was sealed and where the Sage Shaula resided.
Then he said.
"I'll tell you one thing. The place where are right now, this is where the Auguria Sand Dunes was formerly located."
Emilia widened her eyes at the revelation, her face contorted to shock at the mention of the forest's former landscape.
Before she could process any of it, Krittika remarked.
"I see... it's true then. You really are Emilia. The Half-Elf Ruler of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica."
She looked at the Traveling Noble once more, surprised at another revelation thrown at her.
"How?" She asked him, to which Krittika answered.
"If my assumption is correct, then you're the Emilia from the past. The past before the Great Hero, Natsuki Subaru, killed the Witch of Envy."
"Subaru!"
The mention of her knight's name shook her to the core.
I thought he's...
She was suddenly reminded once more of the event that occurred earlier. How her knight was killed spiritually and she and the other Royal Camps were separated by the mysterious individual known simply as the Lord of Helheim.
Then, the words Krittika uttered further shocked her once more.
"Yes. In fact, this morning mark's the 200th year of your reign as well as the Great Hero's death. Welcome to the future, Emilia."
Me: And cut!
Lord of Helheim: Tired, Lord Creator?
Me: Yes. Whew made 5k words in just a day.
Lord of Helheim: That's amazing! Could you do as much in the next chapters Fa一 I mean, Lord Creator.
Me: You don't have to say that everytime you go in front and tell me that. I'm your Dad for goodness sake.
Lord of Helheim: I know. But, it's appropriate and respectful to begin with Lor一 Father.
Me: Good, you're starting to call me dad for once. Anyways, what are you going to ask?
Lord of Helheim: Well, Father. I was meaning to ask if Lord Reactionist has severely restricted Warden's powers.
Me:...Huh? What?
Lord of Helheim: You don't know, Father.
Me: Of course I don't know! The guy told me he didn't create Warden to become an OP God or something. What makes you think he should be on the same level as you are? Reactionist isn't the type of creating someone OP.
Lord of Helheim: Forgive me, Father. I assumed he's supposed to be stronger than the two individuals Warden is supposed to be holding off.
Me: Well, I have no control over Warden, that much is obvious. Just, next time, don't assume that Warden is supposed to be as strong as you think he is, okay.
Lord of Helheim: Yes, Father.
Me: Good. C'mon let's end this chapter.
Lord of Helheim: *nods*
Together: We hope you enjoy this chapter. If you like it, be sure to press the fav and follow button and be sure to leave a review.
This is gabrielchiong11, also known as User/ Mamon Ramon from Reddit.
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