Okay, here's part two of the prelude, which takes place during the (more or less) immediate aftermath of the events in the first part - in other words, "right" after a terrorist attack on Parnam that was conducted by a group of beastmen. This chapter will focus on the government's reaction and how this will lead to the "actual" beginning of the story.
The Gate Kingdom was a country situated in the south-eastern region of Landia. It controlled the old city of Parnam, the surrounding area and stretches of land to the north and to the east. All things considered, this kingdom was larger than most of the other principalities in its vicinity, but the settlement at its political centre, Parnam, was by far the most important part of its territory.
There, right in the middle of the city, stood the royal castle. The monumental building truly dominated the city – quite fitting for the seat of power of the one ruling the entire country. Speaking of him, the king, Leonard Gate, was currently leading a meeting of utmost importance in his throne room…
Leonard: HOW DARE THEY?!
...in the foulest of moods, that is. He slammed both of his fists onto the armrests of his throne without holding back. He was a fairly old man, well past his prime, but the actually quite sturdy wood creaked under this pressure. That said, this action also left its mark on Leonard. He winced and pulled his hands back reflexively. Hunching his shoulders and groaning in pain, Leonard opened his fists and stiffly moved his fingers.
It was a scene of concern for the man standing next to him, the chancellor of the Gate Kingdom, a man by the name of Rudolph Scythitor.
Rudolph: Your Majesty, please remain calm and remember to take care of yourself. Your gout…
Leonard: I know that! I don't need you to remind me of something so simple! [sternly, slightly admonishingly] If this fury of mine troubles you so, Rudolph, you ought to figure out a way for me to deal [slightly upset] with these… [very angrily] these BRAZEN HALF-ANIMALS! For good, that is!
Leonard's outburst was more than enough to silence Rudolph. Even this man, tested against the temper of his master through decades of service, could only bow his head and step back.
He wasn't the only one who opted to keep quiet. The remaining attendees waited for the king's anger to settle at least a little – rather than to try calming him down. They awaited their turn to be called forth.
Well, first in line was the one who'd brought Leonard the news that had sent him into this foul mood in the first place. That young man was the third prince of the Gate Kingdom, Gustave Gate. He stood in attendance at the bottom of the stairs leading to the throne podium.
And what news? It was about the latest terrorist attack of a rebel group.
Leonard: Now, what I want you to explain first, Gustave, is how mere half-animals managed to do this! A main road of our most prestigous city, completely collapsed in a matter of minutes!
Gustave: Yes, Father, that is indeed inconceivable, but this fact merely played in those rebels' favour! They have somehow found the underground escape tunnels, and during the last few days, they used earth magic to carve small holes into the ceiling underneath the destroyed road. The residents had been reporting strange tremors for days, and this appears to be the origin.
Leonard: And nobody did something about this while these vile creatures went about their business?!
Rudolph: Your Majesty, we told the people that these tremors were caused by a titan worm while we were investigating their true nature. [Leonard shakes his head furiously] That avoided undue panic because of these unexplained tremors, but it also meant that the people went about their days as usual.
Leonard: Some fine "titan worms" those were! But I will overlook the incompetence behind this story, for what I want to know is why you were more concerned about telling the people an unlikely cover story than dealing with this threat!
Gustave: Father, as you have concluded yourself, it is unthinkable that this ragtag bunch of half-animal rebels could forge and execute such a plan all by themselves, and they showed great patience to avoid being discovered prematurely. Not only that, but they also had to acquire a considerable amount of bombs since our investigation discovered traces of gunpowder at the scene of the incident. As already mentioned, I presume that these terrorists carved holes in the ceiling of the underground tunnel, placed small bombs inside and denotated them once everything was prepared. After that, they could easily collapse the weakened structure with earth magic.
Leonard: Hmph, so you and your agents could figure out all of that, but what else can you present? [disappointedly, slightly annoyed] A way to stop them, perhaps?
Gustave: No, it might not be that, but I did unearth one of their secrets now: There is no more doubt that someone is helping these half-animal rebels. A human, that is.
Suddenly, yet to almost nobody's surprise, Leonard exploded with even greater ferocity than before.
Leonard: A HUMAN COLLABORATOR!? Gustave, are you insinuating that one of my subject's, one of our own kind, is conspiring with such SCUM?!
Gustave: There is simply no other way for these rebels to do this. Not only did they have to gather such sensible supplies, they also needed to know of our escape tunnels. Such a carefully hidden secret could only be revealed by someone so high-ranking that they were privy to the location of the exits.
Leonard: High-ranking… One of my own… vassals?! How dare they? HOW DARE THEY?! I… I GAVE THEM… [gasps for air] their positions, their titles… their fortunes! [out of breath] And yet… they would turn… against…
Rudolph: Your Majesty, please chasten your temper! [to Gustave] And you, Your Highness, please refrain from agitating His Majesty any further!
Gustave [calmly]: I have only revealed my findings – information which Father certainly needs to be aware of.
Maybe, but this didn't change the fact that the meeting couldn't continue until Leonard had caught his breath… and his rage. However, once he'd calmed down again, he was almost too calm. It made the serious look that he drilled into Gustave all the more intimidating.
Leonard: Do you know who that traitor is, then?
Gustave [susprised]: I… [slightly at a loss] How could I, Father? As I have explained, we are only now sure of the existence of such an individual, so there is no…
This time, Leonard didn't hear his son out. He raised his hand to signal him to stop talking.
Leonard [sternly]: In that case, that is enough! I need not hear you talk more and more, yet say less and less! [upset] As usual, you are nothing but a disappointment, Gustave!
Gustave [defensively]: But Father, I have…
Leonard: NOT ANOTHER WORD FROM YOU! It is always the same with you – ALWAYS! The only thing you can do is to tell me what went wrong, and make promises of progress that you have allegedly made, but never show any results! What a disgrace!
Gustave looked down with an expression of frustration. It wasn't that he had nothing to say in response, but he knew that his father would disregard and shoot down anything he'd counter.
Leonard: When you came of age, you asked for a task to prove yourself, and I graciously gave you a simple mission to do so. I ordered you to put an end to this uprising of measly half-animals, but what is the situation now, after three whole years?! These rebels are still at large, perhaps more so than ever before! They struck right here, in our capital! They occupy the forest to the north like an army of brigands, and assassins run amok in our city, yet you are unable to do anything!
Leonard harshly pointed towards the people standing in attendance on the side.
Leonard: Begone! I have heard enough! If you have any sense of duty and pride as a member of our royal family, you ought to do better from now on! For now, I will hear the next one, and that will be a report of success that will hopefully set a good example for you! [turns his head towards the others] Leon, step forward!
Begrudgingly, Gustave bowed and joined the other attendees at the side of the hall. In his place, another man stepped in front of the throne podium. He bore a strong resemblance to Gustave, although he looked a few years older. That was no surprise, considering that this was Leon Gate, the first prince of the Gate Kingdom.
Standing in front of his father, Leon bowed before replying to the king's expectant look with one of confidence.
Leonard: Leon, what results have your visits to the other countries borne?
Leon: Father, I can proudly report that the neighbouring kings and lords share our point of view. I could convince them that the increasing unrest among the half-animals is a challenge to all of humankind, and that we shall swat them down as a united front!
Leonard [nods with satisfaction]: I see. As expected, you are the bringer of good news. What arrangements, in detail, could you make?
Leon: Among those I have spoken with, the kingdoms of Arzentum und Illysian have accepted the proposed alliance immediately. [slightly hesitantly] The remaining candidates are interested, but they have… certain demands.
Leonard: In that case, state the terms they propose!
Leon: As you wish, Father. The Duke of Aquarias is willing to join us, but only if we expand our understanding of our enemy – that is, if we also attack the pirate city to the northeast.
Leonard: Ah, these pesky exiles from the Archipelago Kingdom, is it them?
Leon: Yes, precisely. Likewise, the King of the Kran Keni Mountains will aid us in our quest if we also annihilate the defiant dragonewts who are holed up within his territory.
Leonhard was more than willing to nod to both of these requests, but his chancellor took a step closer and urged him to think this through.
Rudolph: Your Majesty, I strongly advise against meeting either of these demands. We should focus on dealing with the current rebellion rather than making more enemies. The forces we could gain through these allies are not worth the additional expenditure resulting from such a broader front.
Leonhard: Hmph, so, are you afraid of them?! Those are merely more half-animals! Nothing a united front of humans cannot overcome!
Rudolph: I am not sure about that, Your Majesty. The dragonewts in the Kran Keni Mountains have fortified their position deep within the mountains, and rumour has it that they have the support of a dragon knight.
Leonhard: A dragon knight? What a nonsensical story is that?! The dragon knights all hail from Nothung far in the north! There is no way that a dragon knight would defend dragonewt rebels in a place like that!
Rudolph: And yet, this is what our intelligence suggests. Not to mention that, even without a dragon to defend them, the dragonewts have many wyverns, and we are ill-prepared to fight them head-on. Similarly, the pirate base we are talking about is defended by a strong fleet. We are talking about a force that almost conquered the naval Archipelago Kingdom centuries ago, and even if that was long ago, the sea serpents who commanded this endeavour might still be alive. Even if we manage to overrun their city, we cannot defeat their navy.
Leonard [huffily]: Is that all you have to offer? You fool, do you think I am not aware of such issues?! I am well aware of the powers of the dragonewts and the sea serpents, but you should be aware of this: What could these two powers do combined against the humans under the leadership of the Second Hero?
Leon: It is as you say, Father. And following exactly that spirit, we are bound to create such a united front of humans against all of these half-animals. They could not withstand us centuries ago, so what chance do these inferior beings have now?
Leonard [nods]: There you have it! If we are to reaffirm our supremacy, we cannot ignore any challenge that the half-animals pose. And we will crush them in the end!
Rudolph: I can only advise you to…
Leonard: ENOUGH! [very exasperatedly] One of these days, even Lady Lunaria in all her mercy will lose her patience with you, Rudolph, and I will do so much earlier! [very sternly, slightly upset] Yes, you have given me very articulate advice, but now I overrule it! [solemnly, slightly upset] As king, I proclaim a great human alliance which will subdue all the half-animals who dare to oppose us, and as such, we welcome the Kingdom of the Kran Keni Mountains and the Aquarias Duchy, whom we will aid in their efforts to wipe out the half-animal resistance!
Rudolph stared at his king with a pained look in his eyes for a moment. In the end, he could only comply. Once he'd accepted that, Rudolph bowed his head and stepped back, much to Leonard's joy.
Leonard [slightly contemplatively]: There is one more question, Leon: [curiously] What came of our appeal to the Svaranta Kingdom? You have yet to mention their stance.
Leon: Ah, I came to a more delicate, albeit entirely amicable agreement with their king. He, too, is ready to join us, but he wishes for an even closer connection with his partners.
He threw a look at the bystanders. In particular, Leon was looking at the sole woman in the room, who was none other than his sister, Second Princess Lilliana Gate.
Leon: The king wishes for my dear sister, Lilliana, to be wed to his eldest son and heir. If I may step out of line and have a word about our family policy, I find this proposition to be very agreeable.
Such terms filled the hall with frantic whispers. It was by no means an unusual condition, yet there were some issues with it under the… specific circumstances. More than anyone else, Leonard was aware of this, and he turned towards his daughter, who, just as he had feared, seemed rather surly, although she wore even that scowl with a certain aura of grace – ironically, that was one of the traits that had already led quite the number of suitors to her.
Leonard: As it is that way, I would like to hear from you, Lilliana, what you think of this proposal.
Lilliana: Why, how could I state any kind of opinion on this man who wishes to marry me? Unfortunately, His Majesty, Sir Frederic, robbed me of the opportunity to get an impression of his son by having my brother ask for my hand in his place. It is such a pity, for none of those who came before fascinated me much, so that it would have been easy for this man to prove himself a cut above the others, but due to the circumstances, I am afraid he impressed me even less.
Leonard [sigh]: I see. I will take your thoughts into consideration, [sternly] but you would do well to remember your own situation. You are already twenty years of age, Lilliana, and even so, you remain unmarried. What age is that for a woman to not have found a husband yet?! This would be a suitable opportunity for you to change that and to contribute to this great alliance. The heir to another throne should be a fine match, so I urge you to be reasonable. You shall have time to think until we will send the Svaranta Kingdom our reply!
Lilliana nodded calmly. On the outside, it was a gesture of obedience, but none of those present believed that she would change her mind.
Rudolph: In any case, we should also consider our alternatives. The assistance of the Svaranta Kingdom would be valuable in our efforts, so we should be ready to offer them something else in exchange – if need be.
Leonard: Yes, I suppose that is correct. Very well, I will leave it to you, then, to discern what other means we have to win Sir Frederic and his kingdom over to our side.
With Rudolph's bow to the king, the curtain fell on this part of the meeting.
What followed was one report after another from various officials, all of which were of lesser importance. Assessments of the damages, forecasts of the time and cost of the reconstructions, suggestions how the residential district around the destroyed road should be supplied… It was a long list of unspectacular topics, none of which inspired Leonard's particular interest.
The only remaining item on that list which could light even the dimmest fire in the king's heart was saved for last. The final person to stand before the king was the commander of Parnam's garrison, a man by the name of Bercon.
Bercon [kneels]: Your Majesty.
Leonard: Bercon, what can you tell me about those rebels who commited this atrocity? Was it really them again?
Bercon: Indeed, Your Majesty. Among the survivors, there were a selected few who spotted unaccounted-for figures of three beastmen, clad in jet-black disguises. It is save to assume that those were the same rebels who have been terrorising our city for weeks.
Leonard [growls]: What a disgrace, to have a pack of half-animals roam through our streets like that! Bercon, I have assigned you to assist my son in putting down this outrageous rebellion since you have distinguished yourself as a fine warrior despite your youth. Normally, a position such as yours would not be given to a minor noble who has yet to reach the age of thirty, but I entrusted you with this role nonetheless. Are you, too, letting me down? How can our esteemed city guard not catch them, these… "Black Cats"?!
Bercon: Your Majesty, I can only agree with Lord Gustave: These assassins are far more than mere brigands. What they lack in the human qualities of civilisation, they make up for it with their ferocity and uncharacteristic cunning. They know how to avoid our patrols, and they only strike the weakest of our kind, just as a pack of wolves descends upon prey that is weakened by hunger or illness. Even this time, they rapidly slipped away, fleeing through the escape tunnels before our men could confront them. Due to our recent discoveries, I can only assume that they have been using the tunnels this whole time to enter and leave Parnam undetectedly.
It was a thoroughly unsatisfying explanation, even though it was the truth. Leonard ground his teeth so hard that even those standing several metres away had the feeling they could hear it. He felt like retorting, "Even wild animals flee from the hunters, yet the skilled ones will always catch them in the end, will they not?" Alas, what would it change?
Leonard: So be it, but I take it that you cannot present me a culprit for this act of terrorism? Not even a mere conspirator?
Bercon: As of now, I am afraid not.
Faced with this simple response, Leonard looked down and began to shake his head. He wrapped his hands around the armrests, gripping them tighter and tighter, until a stinging pain ran through them.
Leonard: Not even my… [inhales sharply] Argh, not even my body does what it is supposed to anymore! Just what is this… GRRR, WHATEVER MAY BE THE CASE, I… I am tired of this insolence! We will resume to treat these half-animals as they deserve!
Leonard's words made a few people gasp, all of whom could tell what was coming. First in line among them was Rudolph, who had not expected that his master would lose his temper to such an extent. However, he was too shocked to speak up and argue against the plan Leonard was undoubtedly making.
In his place, another person stepped forth.
Lilliana: Father, please consider this course of action carefully! We have been telling you with vigour that brutality will not ease this conflict, but…
Her plea was cut short when Leonard's head snapped around to face her, and he raised his hand to signal his daughter to fall silent.
Leonard: I know what you want to say! "Brutality against the weak only inspires more brutality," as it is stated in the Lunarian teachings, but where did this idea get us? Did my leniency towards these half-animals, in turn, inspire leniency? Did peace inspire peace?! These half-animals keep savaging our fellow humans with increasing bestiality! It is time to face the fact that creatures akin more to beasts than men do not understand magnanimity. If a feral monster were to rampage in our midst like this, who would not strike it down, together with the rest of its kin? It is time that we resume treating those half-animals the same! Therefore, I say that we return to the established customs: For every human casualty of this catastrophe, one family of half-animals shall be put to death, and another individual for everyone who survived with injuries! Their families, in turn, shall be sold as slaves, and their belongings will be seized – as compensation for the damages caused to our city!
A few were stunned by this declaration, especially Rudolph and Lilliana, which should not come as a surprise, given their objections to this policy. However, the predominant reaction differed vastly from that: Most of the gathered vassals, including the two royal princes, applauded, and some even began to cheer.
Whether they believed the meeting to have ended on a high note or not, once they were dismissed, everyone left the audience chamber in a hurry. Parnam's royal court was no place for dawdling, and everbody had their responsibilty to attend to, although some returned to them with more energy than others.
The probably least enthusiastic one among these people was Gustave. He shuffled through the hall with a pensive scowl that would chase away anyone who approached him. Well, it would've if there had been anyone who did, but the others who left the throne room with him simply passed by him. Not a single one threw so much as a glance at the prince… with one exception.
Bercon [quietly]: Ah, Gustave, heading to the yard for some exercise? Or maybe you want to resume the hunt for these half-animals right away? I wouldn't mind something like the latter, but if it's the former, I'd gladly join you as a sparring partner.
Startled as he'd been abruptly roused from his thoughts, Gustave winced and backed away from Bercon, who'd just walked up right next to him. For a moment, he was staring at the other, older man with a dazzed look in his eyes, but then, he regained his composure.
Gustave: So it's you, Bercon… [slightly exasperatedly] Honestly, watch what you're saying – or doing – out of nowhere. I didn't notice you at all…
Bercon just shrugged it off. It was this side of him that Gustave found almost astonishing. Not just his gestures, but also the casualness of the tone he used with him, a member of the royal family, would've normally been seen as utterly brutish. Come to think of it, due to Bercon's attitude paired with the man's strong physique and rugged features, Gustave and many others often likened him to some sort of wild barbarian.
That said, Gustave didn't actually mind it. The difference between their ranks may have been tremendous, but there weren't many people Gustave could truly trust or feel comfortable around. Having a reliable confidant and ally such as Bercon was a blessing, and Gustave wasn't so thirsty for reverence that he'd throw that away.
At the very least, Bercon was tactful enough to keep his voice down when he talked with Gustave in such a manner while others were around. Speaking of which, Gustave calmly waited for the nearby court officials to walk out of earshot before he continued to walk down the hallway alongside Bercon.
Gustave: Now, as for your question, I'm afraid I wasn't doing either of these things. I… [clicks his tongue in frustration] May Lady Lunaria tell me just what Father expects of me, for I am at my wits end!
Bercon: Ah, right… His Majesty was berating us pretty harshly again today, wasn't he?
Gustave: These Black Cats… They always get away by the time we arrive with the guards, so what are we supposed to do? It's the same with this entire rebellion: They're always hiding, only coming out to attack, and they vanish before we can get ahold of them. If only Father understood that we are not dealing with mindless cattle. [worriedly, slightly contemplatively] This rebellion… It's different than any that happened before. They are far more skilful, far better orgranised…
Bercon: Hm, yeah… There's this human conspirator, isn't there? We've been suspecting that there's someone like this for a while, haven't we? And now we can be certain…
Gustave [shakes his head]: Yes, that may be true, but it's more than just that. The leader of this uprising is no ordinary beastman either. He's the rare exception who, despite his animalistic traits, possesses profound intelligence. Instead of attacking us directly, he's prepared this stealthy, sneaky operation for many years…
Stopping in his tracks, Gustave slammed his fist against the wall.
Gustave: And I shall catch this man from one day to the next?! What lunacy! We'd have to scour the entire region – not just our own kingdom – for this rebel. Honestly, at this point, the only solution I could think of would be to wipe the beastmen out entirely.
All things considered, that was a ridiculous thought. No matter how tense the situation between humans and non-humans had ever become, nobody had ever contemplated erradicating a whole race. The concept of "mankind" in Landia dictated that even just one half of a human made someone a person, even if the other half was an animal.
However, it was precisely that train of thought that made Gustave somewhat concerned about Bercon's reaction, even though it didn't come as a surprise.
Bercon [angrily]: Hah, honestly, that sounds like a plan to me! It's about time we get to slaughter these rowdy animals! Who lets beasts roam the streets, anyway?! [excitedly] Ah, but thinking of that, I'm definitely happy with how this meeting went. His Majesty finally gave the order to deal with that scum! One family for every dead human, huh? How many casualties are there, again? I guess we ought to find us a bunch of animals to hunt!
Gustave [slightly exasperatedly]: Calm down, will you? Every single time, you get far too excited…
Bercon: Of course I do! This… [seriously] This is what I live for. You've heard His Majesty say it, haven't you? I could've got a much more prestigious or promising position, but I've joined you on your mission. That's because this is what I want… [very seriously, slightly angrily] more than anything else.
Gustave [sighs]: There you go again… On the other hand, since we have to execute Father's verdict, I guess your vigour comes in handy this time around.
Bercon: Yeah, right? So how about this: If you really don't have anything to do, let's head out right away. I'm sure it'll do you good not to worry for once, so let's go hunting!
Gustave: Alright, alright, we might as well get this out of the way as soon as possible. Very well then.
Thus, the two of them changed course, and now they were headed straight to the stables. They'd have to gather their men before their departure, but that would be done quickly. Even so, only one of them appeared to be in a hurry to get going – Bercon really seemed much, much more energetic.
Bercon: Ah, but if we go hunting, I wish it could be in the forest! That's the right hunting ground, after all, isn't it? And it's about time that we drive out all those pesky animals that have infested it…
Gustave: Hold your horses! We've discussed this numerous times: The northern forest is vast, and there's no way for us to search it thoroughly with our current numbers.
Bercon: I know, I know! Ah, but doesn't that make you excited for the new alliance!? To think that we'll finally join forces with our neighbours to end this threat once and for all! Ah, a great human alliance, the likes of which hasn't existed since the days of the Second Hero! To walk in the footsteps of this legend, what a time to serve humankind!
Gustave: Well, it will certainly bolster our numbers, so that will take care of one problem we've been facing this whole time. [frustratedly] It's just… All this glory, it will go to Brother alone for setting up the alliance. This is downright cruel! [sighs, calmly] Then again, it is a prestigious feat he's achieved. An alliance of humankind against the beastmen. Truly, something like this has never been seen since the days of the Second Hero – you are right about that. Honestly, the only thing missing to complete the picture would be…
He stopped in an instant. No, rather than that, Gustave completely froze on the spot. It happened so abruptly that Bercon turned towards him with an expression of worry clouding his face. There he was, standing motionlessly with the kind of look in his eyes that testified a sudden epiphany.
Gustave: Bercon, I think I've just found the solution to my problem. When we come back from this hunt, it'll be time to make history.
A few days later, Leonard sat at his personal dinning table, waiting for lunch to be served. He had a habit of eating alone, with only a secretary or an advisor by his side in order to keep handling state business even at those times. That obviously didn't include the servants, but more importantly, on this particular occasion, there was another, much more significant deviation: His son Gustave was also there.
Gustave: Father, thank you for receiving me on such a short notice. I shall make it worth your time. To that end, I would like to, first of all, present you with a proof of success from my recent mission.
He signalled the servants to bring in the gift he'd prepared. For a moment, it'd piqued Leonard's interest, but that made it only all the more underwhelming when a maid brought nothing more than a single tray. At first, Leonard even thought that his servants had made a mistake and were serving his meal, but when the dishes were placed in front of him, it became clear that this wasn't the case… or rather that it was, but with a twist.
Leonard: Gustave, what is this?
Gustave: Today, I had the chef prepare our meals using the food supply I have confiscated from the beastmen who were punished at your behest.
Leonard: I see. That would certainly explain… this.
There wasn't even the slightest attempt to hide his disdain as Leonard eyed what had been put in front of him: a few chunks of wholemeal bread, all of which looked rather dried-up and stale; a shrivelled pear; a bowl of fish soup, made from pieces of dried fish and various vegetables such as turnips, which had clearly been cut to remove spots that had (probably) begun to go bad. Leonard could only wrinkle his nose in disappointment and disgust over such a lunch.
Gustave: It is rather plain, that much may be true, given that it comes from the likes of half-animals. However, you will find it to be seasoned with justice, the most sublime flavour of all.
As a gesture of protest, Leonard pushed the tray farther away from himself.
Leonard [calmly]: That is what you may say, but remember this: [slightly upset] I prefer much more traditional seasonings such as salt, pepper or herbal spices. [annoyed] And now stop wasting my time with such inadequate fancies! [seriously, slightly disappointedly] So, what matter is so important that you want to discuss it with me so urgently?
Gustave bowed his head as a gesture of compliance, and his tone, while it'd been serious before, became more business-like as he continued.
Gustave: Father, I, too, have used these past few days to contemplate the human alliance that we are about to form. I can only agree that this is the way forward for humankind. Despair over our predicament has taken the hearts of many: The townspeople are struck with grief and fear after the recent act of terrorism, the hole in our city is also a hole in their hearts. Humans everywhere are afraid that they will fall victim to the vicious attacks of half-animals, and even our own troops become more and more uncertain of their eventual victory by the day. To unite all of the humans under the banner of resistance against their enemies in the spirit of the Second Hero is sure to invigorate their spirit, and…
Leonard: I wish for you to come to the point already, Gustave!
Gustave [suppresses a sigh]: Very well… If we truly want to follow the footsteps of the Second Hero and revive the united human front against the half-animals, we're lacking the most important element. It is what would truly inspire our people the most, and if there's anything to rally all of humankind, it'd be that.
Leonard [interestedly]: And what would "that" be?
Gustave: Why, to summon our own hero, of course.
Astonished murmurs and gasps floated through the room upon Gustave's declaration. Even the servant who'd been about to pour Leonard wine stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Gustave.
So, the Ritual of Hero Summoning, was it? A full understanding of this topic requires a brief explanation of the history of Parnam. Frankly, there was actually nothing remarkable about the Gate Kingdom. It was neither particularly powerful nor extraordinarily wealthy, neither home to exceptional warriors nor to great sages. However, there was one thing that set this country apart from any other place around Landia: the royal capital, Parnam.
Parnam was one of the oldest settlements in the history of Landia, with probably only very special places such as the Lunarian Holy City of Yumuen predating it. About a thousand years ago, Parnam had existed as a simple temple – which, to be honest, had been more like a tiny chapel – with a circular wall surrounding it at some distance. Actually, it would be more accurate to call it a stone fence, given that it had stood only about one metre tall… although even that term would be too lofty. It'd actually been a set of stone slates with some gaps between them, from which pathways led to the building at the centre. Inscribed on those structures and on the inside walls of the temple were ancient runes – a relic of a lost civilisation. Through these runes, the temple had been enchanted with a mysterious magic beyond the understanding of the people of this era.
It was this magic that could be used in the so-called Ritual of Hero Summoning. According to a section of the ancient inscriptions that scholars had been able to translate, this ritual opened a gate to "another world", from which a "hero" could be summoned. It was that very "gate" that gave the Gate Kingdom its name.
In the recorded millenium of Landia's history, this ritual had been performed many times, and three of these heroes from another world had been summoned.
The First Hero had been summoned shortly after an event known as the Lunarian Blaze, which marked the beginning of Landia's Continental Calendar, which was used uniformely around this world. It had been an era of chaos, yet the First Hero had supposedly settled the conflicts of this tumultuous age of mankind. Especially the Lunarian Orthodoxy, one of the most important faiths in all of Landia, revered the First Hero as a saintly figure. However, there weren't many historic records or artifacts from that time, so the actual deeds of the First Hero were almost completely unknown and remained in the realm of mythology.
The Third Hero had been summoned about three hundred years before to the current events. At that time, a horrible plague had devastated Landia, and the Third Hero had contributed greatly to keeping it at bay. It was said that mankind persisted only thanks to his efforts. Furthermore, the Third Hero established the understanding of medicine and healthcare of Landia. Even to that day, the "theory of the four substances of the body" remained as one of the two pillars of Landia's medicine, the other one being healing magic.
However, both of these significant figures were still vastly overshadowed by the Second Hero. Around two hundred years after the time of the First Hero, Landia had been firmly under the dominion of various beastmen nations, a country controlled by a union of dragonewts and sea serpents, and various tribes of elves. It had been the Second Hero who had united the humans of Landia and, through various innovations, had overthrown the non-human nations.
Summoning the Fourth Hero to spearhead a similar alliance with the goal of crushing the remaining resistance of any non-humans would certainly be the ultimate gain of prestige. Even those who were yet reluctant to join would have no other choice but to be a part of this movement, or else they'd lose face in front of all of humankind. Fighting alongside the summoned hero for such a purpose was simply something nobody could pass up.
That said, there was one major hindrance to Gustave's idea, a problem so severe that, despite all of the aforementioned advantages, no one had considered conducting the Ritual of Summoning until that point.
Leonard [seriously]: So that is it? Fine, Gustave, but where does this confidence of yours come from? I hope you have not forgotten that throughout many centuries, the Ritual of Summoning was attempted time and again, yet for all of this effort, it only worked thrice so far. Just twenty years ago, I myself hoped to summon a hero, but our calls remained unanswered. [slightly doubtfully] Would the gate open this time?
Gustave: Yes, it is true that the Ritual of Summoning has failed far more often than it succeeded. However, what results can we hope for if we do not even try? When the Second and Third Hero were summoned, I am certain the people doubted their chances just the same, but they carried out the ritual regardless, and it was the right decision. If we want to follow in the footsteps of the Second Hero, we have to follow in the footsteps of those who summoned him, first. This time, too, it is up to us to use every means at our disposal for our great endeavour, and trust that the spirits will be on our side!
Leonard couldn't deny Gustave's point, but he remained indecisive nonetheless. This didn't change until his advisor behind him approached him and whispered something.
Advisor: Your Majesty, if I may: Even if the ritual fails, showing our efforts would still convey a message to the other countries. It will show them our sincerity and eagerness, and it will elevate our reputation. Even without the Fourth Hero, after going all out and trying to summon them, the other sovereigns would have to think more favourable about our alliance.
After contemplating those words for a moment, Leonard finally nodded solemnly. He stood up and looked his son in the eye.
Leonard: Very well, I accept your suggestion. You shall see to it that the Ritual of Summoning is performed as soon as possible. For the future of humankind and all of Landia, it is time to summon the Fourth Hero!
Less than a week thereafter, everything was set up. No special resources were required for the summoning ritual, and the only necessary "tools" were the magical inscriptions on the walls. The only matter of concern were mages to conduct the ritual. In order to power the enchantments, countless mages had to channel tremendous amounts of magical energy into them for several minutes, and gathering this kind of manpower had taken a few days.
And now, everything was ready. A dozen of the Gate Kingdom's most esteemed experts on magic stood ready in the so-called summoning chamber in Parnam Castle, the one room that remained from the original temple, where the runes to initiate the ritual were plastered all over the walls. Many, many more had taken position on the lowest floor within the city walls, where the ancient slates containing the remaining enchantments lay.
Gustave: Father, everything is ready for the Ritual of Summoning. On your command, we shall begin.
Leonard, who stood in the back of the summoning chamber, surrounded by his family and the most important court officials, nodded soberly. Despite all he hoped to gain from this, he actually seemed to be the least enthusiastic about the ritual. While so many around him might've burst out with anticipation, and even the calmer wants awaited the outcome of this fateful ceremony with bated breath, he solemnly raised his right arm towards the leading mage, the only one facing the centre of the room while the others had formed a circle and were facing the wall.
Leonard: On this day, we shall summon the one to follow in the footsteps of the great Second Hero, to lead us in his spirit against the half-animals! Now I command you, open the gate for them!
It was the 30th April 1046 CC (that is, of Landia's Continental Calendar), the day the Fourth Hero was summoned.
...and you'll get to see who's gonna be that in the next chapter.
I've sketched out what I want to go for, but there are quite a few more things I'll have to look up to finalise those ideas, not to mention that I have to go through another work of mine to keep working on that one, too, so the next chapter might take a bit longer to write - but we'll see.