-M29. 671. Falmart. Italica-
Bozes spurred her horse to its utmost speed, racing alongside the rest of the Rose Knights toward Italica. The urgency in their journey stemmed from the news that their Princess had embarked on a recon mission to Zalvus and Alnus, facing an overwhelming number of bandits besieging the city.
If the reports held true, the bandits numbered in the thousands, and Italica's garrison armies were depleted due to the invasion of the Zalvus Hills. The fate that awaited Princess Pina would be unthinkable if the bandits emerged victorious.
"We need to hurry. The Princess needs us!" Bozes shouted, her voice cutting through the air.
The knights roared in unison, urging their horses to move faster, creating a dust cloud in their wake. Anger fueled their determination to unleash vengeance upon their enemies, while anxiety gnawed at them, considering their lady's perilous situation.
As they galloped across the barren soil, Bozes abruptly halted, her gaze fixed on the sky, eyes widened in disbelief. The rest of the Rose Order followed suit, staring skyward, attempting to comprehend the surreal sight before them.
"It must be a joke, right?" Panace whispered, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, eyes reflecting a mix of horror and confusion.
"I... I don't know." Bozes swallowed hard, her eyes still fixed on the sky.
Italica presented a scene vastly different from what they remembered just a few years ago. The city was now adorned with flawless black steel, reaching heights greater than any structure in Sadera. It was a marvel, an architectural wonder that transcended the boundaries of dreams and nightmares.
Behind the imposing wall, structures pierced the sky, suspended above the endless blue expanse. At the pinnacle of the tallest building, a colossal fortress floated, casting a shadow over the city, a sight beyond human craftsmanship.
"What... What is that?" Panace stammered, her voice trembling.
"... A fortress in the sky... How?" Bozes couldn't believe her eyes, rubbing them as if to dispel any illusion of the airborne citadel.
A thunderous voice jolted them from their stupor before they could fully grasp the transformation of Italica.
"Freeze!" A giant, armed with a steel staff, pointed it menacingly at Bozes' head.
Initially unseen, the metallic giants appeared one by one, each wielding a steel staff. The Rose Knights found themselves surrounded by these intimidating figures.
"Don't move!" Another commanding voice echoed, accompanied by the sudden appearance of another giant.
One by one, they materialized, their imposing presence accentuated by the steel staffs they brandished.
Bozes, drained of color, trembled in the face of these metallic behemoths. The sight was overwhelming.
"Intruder detected." Another voice resonated, different from the metallic giants. It belonged to a golem with unnatural proportions, towering over them.
Bozes fought the urge to scream as her blood ran cold. She understood the threat they posed, capable of easily dispatching her and the best of the Rose Knights. Yet, they did not strike.
"State your business, intruder," the giant in front of Bozes demanded, pressing the staff closer to her forehead.
Bozes summoned all her courage to speak, her voice resolute despite the fear gripping her. "I-I want to meet Princess Pina. I'm her knight and servant. I heard Italica has been besieged by enemies. Thus, I'm here to help her."
Her voice, though laced with fear, held an unwavering determination, a declaration of her loyalty to her Princess.
"Princess Pina is in our hospitality. If you want to meet her, follow me. Don't you dare do something careless, Lady Bozes," the giant said firmly, causing the knight to feel her muscles lose all their strength.
Thus, the group followed the giants. The menacing atmosphere was everlasting. The Rose Knights did not dare to face the giant's figure.
As they neared the wall, silently, the steel wall turned into thousands of seemingly liquid black substances.
"Get in," the giant said emotionlessly.
They pledged, directing their horses into the city. The knights could not believe their eyes as the city began to reveal itself.
The old buildings still stood firm, but exoteric features surrounded them. Peerless metal stretched around the city complex; the road had transformed into the same steel that made the wall. But it was shimmering with a faint light, forming a line across its body.
Bozes' eyes were directed upward. The grey pillars stood proudly to the sky as the cracking lightning slightly spotted on the top of them.
"Who are these people?" the blonde knight muttered slowly.
The realization only brought them fear as more and more giants were present around them. Moreover, the golem beside them was not the largest at all. Alongside the metal giants, the golem stood still with its menacing presence.
Despite the horrendous pressure around them, the Rose Knights noticed something in particular.
The Italicans did not even feel any distress or discomfort. Instead, they looked with gleaming eyes filled with hope.
"Thank you very much!"
"I-I don't think I can repay all of your kindness."
"My wound, my severed arm... Thank you. Thank you."
They had tears in their eyes. Happiness shone brightly in their spirit.
"M-My son's descendant will... Have... No." A father shuddered as his baby son clung to his embrace.
"Yes. It was obvious. But do not worry, we can cure it," the giant woman smiled softly.
"Y-You can?" the man asked.
"I will do my best," she answered.
With that, the baby and the father went inside.
Bozes could not understand what they were discussing, but she was sure it was beyond her league.
As they came closer to the manor, they could see the manor still the same, only filled with giants that were guarding it.
As they scanned more around the manor, they also noticed the golems were very much different. It was slimmer and had the same height as the giants.
The manor's door opened. There, the demi-human maids welcomed them with a bow. "Welcome, Lady Bozes Co Palesti."
"U-Um, yes. Thank you," Bozes mumbled, trying to keep her composure straight.
"The Princess is in the sanctum. You've been authorized to meet her by order of Lord General," the giant beside her spoke firmly.
"U-Understand," Bozes swallowed her saliva, dismounting from her horse.
"Only two people are allowed to enter," the giant added sternly.
This caused Bozes to stop her step, stiffened by the unknown danger lurking from the giant. Yet, when she glanced at the maids, she did not spot any fear or a sign of dread. They serenely bowed their bodies with respect.
"I will come with you, Bozes," Panace said, smiling at her blonde friend.
"But we know nothing that awaits us there," the blonde Co Palesti scolded.
"That was my reason to come with you." Panace insisted, glaring intensely into her leader.
"Stop the bickering. I promise there will be no harm to you and the rest of your friends. But I will ask you to honor this invitation correctly." The giant spoke with almost edging fluency, causing Bozes to be slightly taken aback. As she looked at the maids, they slightly nodded their heads in confirmation.
"Very well." Bozes stilled her heart, bracing for anything beyond.
Thus, both knights slowly made their way to the said sanctum. Even though unfamiliar, they recognized the term as an ancient language dating back to the Saderan founding—Sanctum is a term with two different meanings.
A sacred place like a temple. Or it can also be referred to as a very private place.
The maids were in front of them, guiding them to the said place.
It did not take a long time for the knights to arrive at the big wooden door.
The maid knocked. "We bring the guests, Milord."
"Came in." A masculine voice answered from behind the door.
With that command, they opened the door.
Bozes and Panace carefully scanned the entire room to search for their Princess. They indeed found the red-haired liege. But someone beside her is something that could not be taken lightly.
A golden man towering over all people around him, even the metal giants, could not be compared to this man. This is utterly on a different level.
"So this is your knight, Princess Pina Co Lada." The golden man said softly, fooling everyone around him like calm water.
"Yes, Lord General. They are Bozes Co Palesti and Panace Fure Kaigi. They... The most loyal knights of mine." Pina said with a warm smile.
Despite being glad about that smile, the pale face of their lady made them bite their lips bitterly.
"Princess." Bozes bowed, followed by Panace.
"Princess Pina, I think you need a rest before we can continue our meeting. Moreover, Lord Herald is still busy with the entire management." The golden giant said to the Princess.
"Thank you very much, Lord General. I will excuse myself for a moment." Pina slightly bowed, smiling politely to the said Lord General. "Come, Bozes, Panace."
As her loyal knights, they followed her command. They did not dare to speak a word; only silence filled the atmosphere. Pina began to lose her balance when they arrived at the resting chamber.
"Your Highness!" She shouted, holding her liege's body.
"Bo... Bozes." Pina said in a voice that was near a whisper.
"Please, save your energy, Princess." Bozes and Panace slowly brought the red-haired noble to the bed.
"Princess, what happens to you?" Panace said slowly, trying not to invite distress from the pale Princess.
"I... They." Pina said in between her breath.
"They... Who are these people?" Panace asked, slightly alarmed by Pina's hollow gaze.
"They... The faction that builds these wonders. They are our enemy from Zalvus Hills." At that very moment, the temperature of the room dropped drastically.
The realization struck them like lightning. Their faces paled as they could feel their souls begin to leave their bodies. They have entered the monster's maw and walked deeper as there is no escape.
"We need to run!" Bozes shouted desperately.
"Run? Where... They have full control of the city. And are you sure we can make our way out from this manor?" Pina said with a bitter smile.
"I'm sure there is a way, Your Highness." Bozes insisted as her eyes were still filled with determination, despite the overwhelming power in this city.
"I will ask you one question, Bozes. When you are in the presence of the Lord General, can you even escape from his gaze?" The question made Bozes open and then closed her mouth. The truth could not be denied, as it was a complete suicide.
"Is there any way, Princess?" Panace asked in concern.
"Unfortunately, no, Panace. There is no escape." Pina admitted with a tired sigh.
There is silence, dreaded silence that only brings discomfort to all present within the chamber.
"Princess," Panace broke the silence. "These giants. Who are they?"
"As I said prior, they are our enemies. They named themselves the Imperium of Man. A vast empire came from behind the Gate." Pina chuckled dryly. "Vast, huh? I think it was an extreme understatement."
"What do you mean by that, Your Highness?" Panace asked, deepening her gaze at the Princess.
"From their numbers, armor, and size. How strong are they? And how many of them will need to conquer our Empire?" Pina asked, smiling wryly as she rested her palm on her forehead.
"From their size and numbering in hundreds currently present in the city. But still, despite their armor. They need hundreds of thousand strong to defeat us."
At this point, Pina laughed hysterically. The pale Princess laughed with a strength that normally a person in her state could not laugh with that high-pitched noise. A laugh that was disturbingly uncaring, like a blunt mockery to anyone she intended to. In this case, she laughs at the innocent face of her knight's expression.
"Milady?" Panace asked, her voice trembling with shock at Pina's reaction.
"I will tell both of you something. A fact that it might blow your view of the world." Pina smirked. Ironically it was a hybrid of various emotions held together by her will from her eyes.
"What is it, milady?" Bozes asked patiently, feeling intrigued by the truth.
"I know you've heard that Italica endured siege warfare against the bandits, warbands numbered in thousands. And those armies were destroyed by the Imperium. They have been destroyed by four of those giants. You heard me right, only need four giants to destroy them." Pina told them with eyes that dilated with fear. Fear that was as bright as the daylight.
Though deep into those eyes, Bozes could recognize the hope beneath the layered fears. As the person who stayed at the Princess' side since childhood, Bozes could determine various emotions held by the Princess.
"Four giants?! How?!" Bozes shouted in shock.
"Which gate did you enter?" Pina asked slowly, trying to comfort her own emotion.
"We came from the northern gate." The simple answer only received a dry chuckle from the Princess.
"Then see the eastern gate. Thus, you shall earn your answer." Pina said while her eyes dilated, glaring into her hand that was shaking.
"Eastern gate," Panace murmured.
"Then what's now, Your Highness?" The blonde asked, waiting for the next order.
"They invite me to their country. I don't know, but I think it was our best hope to negotiate with their Emperor." Pina smiled an ironic smile that only made the blonde knight flinch.
"Is there something clouding your mind, Princess?" As the question was asked, Pina nodded her head narrowly.
"There is no peace talk. The only discussion about what we will offer to them." Dread began to take over both the royal knights.
"Don't... Please don't offer yourself, Princess!" The Co Palesti knight frantically grabbed the arm of her liege, pleading with her utmost sincerity.
"If that was the only way. I will do it." She replied honestly, smiling weakly as her mental fortitude had long been lost.
"No way," Bozes said as her strength disappeared from her legs.
The thought of Pina surrendering her body to the enemy noble would be a disastrous dream for the loyal knights. Horrors filled Bozes, utterly distressed by the imagination alone.
"The answer will be clear when I meet their Emperor as a diplomat myself. I will ensure what kind of man he is. But something about this Emperor's title made me nervous." Pina admitted, rubbing her head as confusion clouded her mind.
"What's wrong with his title?" The silver-haired knight asked.
"The Solar Guardians, the name of those giants. They addressed their Emperor as the Emperor of Mankind. Some of them called this Emperor as the Master of Mankind." Pina recounted her memories when Lord General Agral or Captain Raias spoke about the Emperor.
"Master of Mankind, a very arrogant title if you ask me, Princess," Panace stated carefully, trying to make her voice as low as possible.
"Arrogant? I think no," Pina said dismissively.
"I mean, a person who dared to claim such a title. To be master of the entire humanity. Isn't that... Foolish?" Bozes added her opinion, though in a voice near a whisper.
"Did you see their warriors? Did you see how Lord General's presence alone is enough to subdue any normal human? Or I would instead use their terms on us: Mortals." The red-haired explained with a sigh. The term mortals were only used by some Apostles to call ordinary humans. And that term is used by all of Solar Guardians and even their General casually addressing Pina like it.
"I must admit. They are not mere humans. If they did not open their helmets, I wouldn't convince they are indeed human." Bozes rubbed her chin, trying to recollect every moment she saw them. She only trembled at their presence.
A mighty presence that completely washed away anything in its path.
"That's the point," Pina said firmly. "If someone like Lord General and his subordinates referred to their liege as the Emperor of Mankind. I just can barely imagine what kind of being that would be."
The logic is palpable. Nothing could be denied, as speculation only led it further. A being impossibly powerful that can bear the rank of the ruler of all humanity.
"To add this bizarre fact. Colt Formal told me that their Emperor can only be described as a god," Pina said slowly, trying to avoid their eyes.
"Colt Formal is still alive?" Both of the knights widened their eyes in shock.
"Lord Herald, that Lord Agral said prior is Colt Formal. He had taken the mantle as their representation to us and those green men, JSDF." Pina explained.
"So, he turned traitor," Bozes concluded, sighing in exasperation.
"Apparently. Furthermore, he became one of their Heralds. It also means he is directly under the Imperium's protection." The Saderan Princess closed her eyes, her brows heavily furrowed.
"Then, what's our next step?" Panace stared deep into Pina's eyes, seeking resolve.
It is a wall that was impervious to any kind of breakthrough. A two-layered wall named JSDF and Imperium of Man.
The fate of Sadera rested on her shoulders. A burden that might become an ignorant bliss if her brother or father did not hear about this.
"I can't say for certain. But I will do anything I can when I meet their leaders. It will be our journey to the worlds beyond Gates. A journey that I am sure would change this world forever."
