A warrior's spirit lost stories

Colbert: another one about me eh?

Me: yeah but this time we will do it normally.

Kirche: but this time I will be joining you.

Me: Remember, don't do anything that will get us red flags, you're a minor and I don't want Colbert to be labled.

Kirche: I know… shall we move on!

The beginning of the journey:

POV: Jean Colbert

It was day like any other day. It was a day at the academy and many students came to learn the art of magic. As a professor I have taught many students and have seen many of them come and go and many of them are as unique as the last, but the most unique ones to this day for me were a certain group of students, the ondine knights led by Guiche chevalier de Gramont, Tabitha De O'rleans, the elf Tiffania westwood, the current court mage Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, Montmorency Margarita La Fère de Montmorency, , and of course Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst who apparently has fallen for me. As a teacher I'm very proud my students and I'm happy that they are doing well, but I do worry for them and their future. Me and many other teachers like head master Osmond and the newest teacher Chevreuse are a bit perplexed with how lazy mages are these days. They have taken their life styles as aristocrats for granted and many of the commoners resented them for it. The current queen is trying her best to make their lives much better than they have, but some nobles are getting in the way of her. However little did we know that my little discovery will turn our world upside down and shake it to the very core.

There I was in the archives stacking up some books that haven't been touched in years, centuries even. As I began looking through them, Kirche came in and saw me on the ladder.

"Jean is really fine for you to go through those ancient books?" I looked down to her seeing her smile at her question.

"well these haven't been touched in a long time. I figured I should organize them or something." I told her, just then I saw her smile mischievously. I know that look, and it clearly isn't good.

"well Jean don't you think you should think of something else before you begin looking at those old books." Mrs zerbst said in a flirtatious tone. Yep I knew that there's going to be trouble.

"Mrs Zerbst remember I a teacher and your my student so please don't take this too far." I said trying to deescalate the situation.

"You heard him Mrs zerbst, Please don't bother the professor right now, if you want to help please be sure to ask." That voice belonged Chevreuse, a fellow teacher. She's the newest member of our academy, she just joined us months ago. I am one of the more senior teachers having taught many students.

"Sorry Mrs Chevreuse!" Mrs Zerbst called, Finally I can continue organizing. Thirty minutes flew by and I was now on the next shelve and this time Kirche was on the ladder soing some organization herself, As she placed the first set of books on the shelf she looked down from the ladder asking me something.

"Jean these books are really dusty… don't you thing that they should be cleaned?" She asked as I was stacking a few books. I looked up to her ready to give my answer.

"remember some of these books are really old and fragile, even if we clean the dust off of them we need to be delicate." I answered.

"Why not have one of the servants to do it?" Mrs Zerbst asked. I sighed at this.

"because due to some group of aristocrats, commoners are forbidden to go into libraries with magical knowledge." I answered begrudgingly.

"I see." Mrs Zerbst said understandably.

"Are things really that bad?" Chevreus asked.

"As far as I'm aware, everything has been stagnant. Sure there are a few advancments here and there. But nothing revolutionary that would make huge changes." I answered.

"Really?" Chevreuse said in a surprised tone.

"many nobles don't see that mainly because of how lazy we've become." I told Chevreuse.

"I'm pretty sure the head master will agree with you jean, and I agree with you all the way. And yet I love my carefree lifestyle." Mrs Zerbst said with a sigh.

"That you sure do Mrs zerbst." I said smiling, just then Mrs Zerbst turned her head smirking as if she heard a good joke.

"Oh jean you really are a big tease." I chuckled at her remark.

"No I'm not." I told her.

"Jean, remember we are teachers." Chevreuse said sternly.

"I'm fully aware of that chevreuse." I told her. Mrs Zerbst however didn't like that comment and glared at Chevreuse.

"Mrs chevreuse, I respect you as a teacher be you can't go-hyaa!" Mrs Zerbst slipped on the ladder making her fall. I was quick to respond and caught her, but we both crashed to the ground which toppled a few books. I groaned in pain as got to a sitting position.

"are you two alright?" Chevreuse asked worriedly, Mrs Zerbst answered first before me.

"I'm alright thanks to jean here… but are you fine jean?" I groand but answered her honestly.

"I'm not as young and fit as I once was… but I'm alright." I answered. the two women sighed in relief after hearing that and helped me up.

"Jean you should really think about your age!" chevreuse scolded.

"I know that." I answered. just then a certain book caught my eye.

"what's this?" as I picked up the book I can't help but notice the age. It was probably centuries old maybe even millennia. I blew the dust off the book and wiped away more of the dust away. That was when I saw the front cover was shown. It was a plethora of symbols forming the shape of a pentagram.

"What kind of book is that?" Mrs Zerbst asked.

"I don't know… but something tells me that this is not like any of the books I've seen in the archives here." As I continued to look at the cover I knew that I can't tell what it is just by the cover alone, as the saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover, and that goes quite literally with this one. I turned to the two that were helping me with the archives and gave them a serious look.

"I need to take a good look at this book, if I'm right, then we would be looking at a possibility of a treasure trove off knowledge." I said in a serious tone.

"Are you sure?" Chevreuse asked.

"Who knows… it could be just a cook book but we'll never know till we read it." With that I began to take this book towards my office and began studying it. As I flipped through the pages I realized that it was written as if it were a journal of some sort. As I studied the book closer and closer I realized that this is not just an ordinary journal, the illustrations are well made, and not only that, symbols were being shown, countries I never knew existed, races I never knew that were thought to be extinct, and lands yet to be discovered. As I continued looking and reading the pages I realized that this book is one of a kind, symbols I've never seen, and languages I can't read, there is a whole other world out there that needs to be known.

Several days have passed since that time, I was studying the journal in my office till the head master came in. as entered I could hear the door close as he walked up towards my desk.

"Profesor, you've locked up in your office for quite some time now… what's gotten into you?" Osmond asked me. I looked up from my page and looked at the old head master. His white beard and long hair really stood out in the entire academy. He's a well-known mage but he can be quiet the pervert at times.

"Ah head master Osmond… forgive me for worrying you… it's just that this journal here is a treasure trove of knowledge." I answered. Osmond nodded at my answer.

"I see, but is there something bothering you? You look troubled there." Osmond asked me. I can't help agree with him, indeed there was something that's be bothering me ever since I've read the book.

"It's just that we've got ourselves a neighbor we've never even heard off, let alone had records about them." I answered. Osmond looked confused at me wondering what I said, he inched closer towards me and began asking me what I meant.

"Neighbors?" Osmond asked.

"I'm as confused as you are… however according to this journal, there is a civilization that's so rich in culture, driven by the sciences while having their own spiritual beliefs, not only that it also tell us that they were on the brink of collapse, And then stopped there." I answered.

"This is the first time I've heard of it." Osmond told me.

"So do I. and what's more… the mountains are said to be a hot spot for monsters." I said agreeing with the head master, just then I turned to him and stood up from my seat.

"But this journal clearly states that they existed, what bothers me is that we've never heard of them, much less have any records of having them meet us or something." I stated. And what I said was fact, there were no political records of any kind going on that we know off. A few minutes went by and as I flipped a page, I came across one paragraph that clearly gave me hints on them. As it turns out, these people have dark colored eyes and dark hair, black being the most common. Also their eye shape is more circular and taller. Then I realized something and stood up from my seat.

"Head master, there's something I must see for myself." I told him. He looked a bit confused but nodded anyway and I left the academy, and went to see a certain someone. Siesta is a maid loaned to us from the royal family and she's also one of the youngest. As I met her and her family at her home I began asking a few about her family, and sure enough they told me everything about her great grandfather and showed me some of their family heir looms which turned out to be a hair pin and a knife. As I take a closer look at the two objects and the illustrations in the book, I realized that they are not Tristian by design, I took a closer look at siesta's eyes and sure enough, they are darker and rounder compared to others.

"siesta I believe I may have found the ancestral home of your family." I told the young girl, siesta looked at me curiously.

"are you really saying that you've found where My great grandfather came from?" She asked.

"I sure did siesta." I told her. It didn't take long for her to smile and immediately stand up from it.

"The let us go! I have any distant relatives there I want to see them!" Siesta said excitedly.

"Hold your horses there siesta… there's a chance they may not be around." I told her.

"Why?" Siesta asked in confusion. I took a deep breath and answered her.

"There is a good chance they went the nomadic route or have died through a plague… I can't' say for sure if we do find them, I hope that they may shed some light on our family." I told her. Siesta nodded and I smiled back at her.

"We may find your heritage among any form of rubble we can find." I added, with that I left and said my goodbyes. Once I returned to the academy I talked with Osmond about the country close to us.

"there is a chance they could all be dead." Osmond deduced.

"that could be the case but what if there are any form of ruins there? Like remnants of a castle or a village… maybe even a city." I deduced.

"But still we must get permission from her majesty in order to begin a quest like this." Osmond told me. I looked up to him and nodded.

"You're right… we must have get permission from her majesty." I said acknowledging his point. The two of us went through our thoughts and we've decided to go and visit Queen Henrietta and ask her.

At the palace I was sitting in her majesties office as she was busy dealing with paper work as quickly and diligently as possible. I've told her majesty of my findings and explained to her what I have proposed. I told her about the possibility of a civilization or what's left of it was so close to us in the mountains. Her majesty listened and nodded to my words but she seemed to be skeptical about it.

"Are you sure that it's there?" she asked me.

"As far as I'm concerned… and we have evidence to back this up." I explained. Henrietta looked up to me as she finished signing her stack.

"You do realize that this could bring the entire doctrine of the church at stake right?" Henrietta asked worriedly.

"Which is why I asked you to make this a gathering quest publicly, and only let a few nobles know about the real thing." I told her.

"However what you are proposing is highly dangerous… going to the mountains rumored to be filled with monsters while hiding it from the church with a small chance of it changing history as we know it. do you realize that this could lead to unprecedented change to the entire kingdom as a whole?" her majesty pointed out. She was right of course. What I proposed is considered highly susceptible to destroying our society as we know it. the church would go after us for heresy, and eliminate us from the map. Not only that, we have enemies both in the other kingdoms and inside our own. But if we don't do this, then our kingdom can't stand on its own two feet compared to the others.

"I understand the risks your majesty, but think of what we could learn from them. Lost technology we never even knew off. Magic spells not even recorded, and so many more this yet to be discovered!" I proclaimed. Her majesty looked shocked by my outburst so I took a deep breath and calmed down for a moment.

"I know you have you reservations for this but think of the benefits we could get from this? Benefits for the commoners, new possibilities in exploration, and so much more." I added. Her majesty look at me for a second then turned to another man who she's working with.

"Cardinal Mazarin, what do you think?" Cardinal Mazarin is the cardinal who oversees the churches activities in the kingdom. Compared to all the other cardinals, he's loyal only the royal family for some odd reason, and personally requested to come to our country himself. he was helping her majesty with some paper work and advised her on certain elements in her duties as queen.

"I believe that both of you have a point in this matter. Yes the church will see us as heretics, however change will be necessary if our country is to grow." Mazarin answered. Both I and the queen looked at the cardinal in surprise. A man of the cloth willingly goes against the churches doctrine is highly unheard of. I noticed Mazarin walked up towards the window and looked outside at the afternoon sun.

"If what Professor Jean Colbert say is true, then why didn't the church know about this? Is it something we would rather forget? A dark history we didn't know? Many things may come to mind but none can be answered right now." Mazarin said continuing his point. He turned towards her majesty and smiled warmly and slowly walked towards her desk.

"the churches power right now in my eyes is in question. We've been hoarding relics and items for ourselves without even studying them, more than that, the nobility are now going lazy and stagnant because of their lifestyle. Ask yourself your majesty, how far are we willing to go for change, what will we risk?" Mazarin added as he stopped a few feet from the desk. He began to smile and looked towards me and back at her majesty.

"for centuries we've been the weakest of the nations, if this will become the cause for us to grow as a nation then we must take the initiative. But I do preach caution! What we've discussed must not go to the churches ears." Mazarin finished. He looked at both of us smiling believing that I may have secured the future of our country. Her majesty Henrietta looked at me smiling as she was ready to give her final verdict to me.

"I will allow this… however we will do multiple trips for this one, And you must take atleast a few of my knights for that." Henrietta said sternly.

"I already have a few in mind." I told her highness, with that I stood up and thanked her as I take my leave.

Back at the academy I told Mrs zerbst that I'm taking her and Tabitha with me for the trip. She was ecstatic about the trip and went to see her friend. The day after that I've visited Siesta and asked her to come with me. It took some convincing but her parents gave in as they want to know more about their family heritage. Agnes volunteered herself as she doesn't want me do anything rash. I understood why since we have a bit of a history together, one I would rather not redo. She even took four of the ondine Knights who she started train. Guiche, Gimli, Reynald, and Malincorn, all of them were students of mine. Noit only that Guiche's lover Montmorency also volunteered with her. And lastly there was One who I decided to take but it was easier said than done.

"Absolutely not!" the voice came From Duke De la valliere. I visited the Valliere estate to request the help of his eldest daughter louise who was also a student of mine. Minutes earlier after I've arrived I had a talk with the newly appointed court mage louise to come with me on this trip. She had a huge smile on her face when told her my proposal. However before she gave me her answer and way before I could finish, her father Duke De La Valliere interrupted us.

"I can't allow my youngest and weakest daughter to go on such a dangerous trip, especially after what happened the last time we went to those mountains!" duke De la valliere Proclaimed. Louise looked completely emberased by this and started to lay her rank as a court mage onto him.

"Father I'm a court mage, and Professor Colbert has permission from the queen!" Louise countered.

"No means No Louise!" duke de la Valliere pressed. I walked up to Duke De la Vallier and presented some papers towards him.

"Your grace I know that you care about your youngest daughter but these are a royal order." Duke de la Valliere took my papers and read it silently.

"Also I have protection escort ready for us so there's no need to worry, also I'll be there for her as well. And besides, Louise is a good mage and has the potential to be greater than all of us." I told him as he continued reading. He looked at me with a serious look and sighed.

"Don't make me regret it." Duke de La vallier told me. I nodded and turned to Louise.

"Then get ready!" I told louise, and she immediately went to get ready for the trip.

"Remember it'll take at least a few weeks to get the trip planned out so take your time!" I called out.

"Fine!" Louise called out. I smiled at that, then Duke De la Vallier cleared his throat and I turned towards his. His worried expression gave away protectiveness of his daughter.

"Listen professor, I know I can trust you but my meek youngest daughter can't be reckless these days… I've lost her once in those mountains years ago I don't want that to happen again." Duke De La Valliere confessed. I nodded and place a hand on his should.

"You do not need to worry your grace." I told the duke. He nodded and looked down. As I let go of his should and began to walk my way out, I turned towards the duke and gave him some final words.

"Your daughter is in safe hands! you won't regret it." with that I walked out of the manor. As I walked out I couldn't help but sympathize with the duke. His family are from an illegitimate line which makes them not liked by other nobles. However I do respect them for being more down to earth and did their best to be worthy of their title unlike many other nobles who just abuse their power of authority.

Days flew by as I began preparing for the trip and winter was closing in. I knew that I must first find a way across the mountians first before going a bit further. Four days before the days of departure, I was reading the books and quickly learned that there was a ravine pass through the mountains itself. With this knowledge We can gain a foot hold or even set up a base camp for future expeditions there. As I took a pause of reading and looked at my work from all these years I've culminated.

'Never would I dream of doing this when I was a youth.' I thought.

"it's long time since I've felt this surge for adventure." I told myself smiling. With that I stood up and thought about what I should take on this trip.

As I rummaged for anything to take along with me for the trip, I was excited think about what I may find, The descendants who may have turned nomadic, ruins of a great city or fortifications. The possibilities are endless yet I don't even know what's out there! Little did I know was that this trip would be more than what I had bargained for, and find that the civilizations has not only survived, but has also thrived and full of advancement beyond my imagination. and it would not only change the kingdom as a whole, but the world in it of itself.

Me: Ok Profesor, how was it?"

Colbert: Better than I expected, though you still have room for improvements.

Me: ah this will be the final chapter for now. But I'll update every once in a while.

Kirche: that's nice of you.

Me: ah… I don't know about that. But thanks.