The Return of Hresvelg.
Chapter 1: Goodbye, Grandma.
Fódlan, since the defeat of the Adrestian Empire in 1185 and its annexation shortly after was in turmoil since decades. The King of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus banished the Ex-Empress Edelgard von Edelgard von Hresvelg after the trial of Garreg Mach after being defeated by the King Dimitri and his ally Byleth.
The trial was difficult with the nobles of Leicester and Faerghus who wanted the death of Edelgard and the other side the nobles and the population Adrestian who wanted their beloved Empress to live. In her short reign, the reforms in education, the end of the monopoly of the nobility in state affairs and the relaxed trade rules made Adrestian Empire economy in a state of economic miracle in the span of only one year before the start of the war. It had only increased in the five years following in the beginning of the war.
With the threat of generalised revolt in the whole Adrestian Empire but also because Dimitri was a forgiving and kind King. He simply banished Edelgard out of Fódlan, never to be seen again.
Rhea, the Archbishop of the Church of Seiros stepped down and Byleth took her place as a new archbishop.
Peace lasted finally, but not for long in Fódlan.
The first earthquake in the fragile peace was the assassination of Rhea, the former Archbishop who retired in the ruins of the city Zanado in 1193. The assassination was claimed by the organisation of Those Who Slitter in the Dark because the witnesses found their mark on the cadaver of Rhea.
The second earthquake was the death of former Emperor Ionius IX in 1196. In his death, the Faerghus nobles makes a hostile take-over of the institutions of the former Adrestian Empire. They put under tutelage the local Adrestian families before implementing implacable rules on the whole population, despite the protestations of the King Dimitri. These laws make the population with the Adestrian nobles resent the Faerghus Kingdom more each day passing.
The people of the Adrestian Empire, facing the redo of the reforms made by the Empress Edelgard and heavy taxes as war reparations resented the Kingdom of Faerghus. To the point that the southeast region of Fódlan was in near constant rebellion. Each time, the appointed nobles of Faerghus on the Adrestian lands, the ones who despised the most the little people for having no crest repressed the revolts more brutally each time. Despite the efforts of conciliation wanted and made by Dimitri, tension increased more and more until to the breaking point.
Then, finally in the year 1216, the Insurrection of Enbarr begin when the noble Julian Donamon executed a whole family of merchants to not have paid their debt. The population outraged by this massacre revolted in Enbarr and killed the Donamon family in retaliation. Enbarr is the first city to be liberated and many will soon follow.
The news of Enbarr falling to rebels encouraged many Adrestian Nobles to take arms and revolt at their turn. The armies of occupation of the kingdom of Faerghus, stretched thin were taken by surprise and pushed out of the region of Enbarr.
The War of Adrestian Liberation began and lasted from 1216 to 1220. Despite the reinforcements send by the Faerghus Kingdom, the nobles along with the civils formed giant armies who defeated every reinforcement.
In 1220, the Eastern part of Adrestian Empire has completely fallen to the rebels. The Leicester Region, who has been taken over by Faerghus after the war against the Crimson Empress, profits of this moment to revolt in turn, leaded by the house of Ordelia. The Ordelians allies with the rebels of the Adrestian Empire.
It was a disaster for the Holy Kingdom now fighting two fronts at the same time. The Leicester region is quickly freed from all Faerghus presence in 1221.
King Dimitri sends a proposal to the rebels: he cedes the East Territory and Leicester but retains the Western Territory of the Adrestian Empire. The two allied forces refused and pushed to the Faerghus Kingdom in the end of the year. The Western Adrestian region revolted in turn, reuniting the two hemispheres of Adrestia in the beginning of 1222.
Dimitri, after the fall of Arianhord by the allied forces in the summer of 1222. Dimitri is forced to negotiate the peace. He ceded all the precedent territories to the two now freed forces. But also, the region of Charon to the Leicester territory, while Adrestian gains the region of Maghred.
The Affair of Crest was the most massive scandal of the history of Fódlan. It came immediately after the end of the War of Liberation. It is discovered that the former Archbishop Rhea has made several cruel experiments of putting Crests of Flames on people in trial to bring back the Goddess Sothis. This affair has discredited the Church of Seiros in the eyes of a large part of the people Fódlan. Considering the Church to be nothing more than a fortresses of torture for innocent people.
Profiting of this occasion, Leicester and Adtestian Empire forced the Archbishop Byleth to put the Eastern Church and the Southern Church under their direct supervision. Under the justification that a 'spiritual reform' needs to be made.
In the Kingdom of Faerghus, this affair put the Kingdom of Faerghus in further political instability after the loss of the war. Peasants assaulted the churches and destroyed the icons of Seiros while the Faerghus nobles blamed the King Dimitri to have been too 'weak' in their eyes.
In winter 1223, Five Nobles make a coup at Fhirdiad and stripped King Dimitri from his power, making him a figure-head. They put very harsh laws and repressing the peasant revolts. The laws make a clean separation between Crest Nobility and the rest of the population. No people without Crest could access any kind of important place of power, under any pretext. This coup was named the Coup of Five Winter Nobles. Finally, the Faerghus Kingdom closed it's borders and isolated itself from the rest of Fódlan.
The Democracy of Leicester is proclaimed in autumn 1223 after many negotiations between the people and the nobility. Ten Archons are elected to represent the administration and religious instruction of Leicester. The 600 magistrates propose the laws. Finally, the Assemblies of Leicester vote the treaties and laws while naming electing the Archons and the Magistrates.
But in the Adrestian Empire, the situation was complicated. The Hresvelg Imperial Family was gone in exile and the former Empress was nowhere to be seen in the other kingdoms. The problem was that the Hresvelg was a fundamental part of the Empire's identity for more than a millennium. A lot of important families hesitated to bring back Edelgard von Hresvelg because the peace was still fragile and her presence would be very controversial. The Congress of Enbarr in 1225 is hold to name a new Emperor but no families agreed to who get the throne, fearing to lose a political advantage to the other ones. The reunion ended in a dispute and all nobles families decided to become independent, bringing an end to the Adrestian Empire.
The Garreg March Monastery, isolated and discredited lose monetary support as time passes. Until in 1229, unable to sustain the debt, Byleth the Archbishop took the difficult choice to close down the Monastery, he disappeared from public life after this event. None of the nation's territories claimed the land for themselves and the region became a land for the lawless, scum and crime.
In 1230, the latest and most notable event since the war has happened. In the Adrestian territories, in the city of Aegir, a group of the Agarthans exited from the shadows. They are naming themselves, Those Who Steps in the Light. This notable group has decided to reveal all the machinations of their fellow Agarthans, even if the real reason of the Tragedy of Duscur, the Insurrection of the Seven and the alliance of former Empress Edelgard was known from everyone at this point. But they revealed a lot more of machinations happening right now in the Adrestian territories made by a lot of nobles to destabilise their opponents. It provoked a giant outrage inside of the Adrestian territories. Provoking what is killed The Thousand Days of Blood.
For at least more than two years. Armies strikes against the traitors, many were killed or imprisoned, while others fled. But also, many Argathans who has been located planted, hanged or simply disposed of, greatly weakening the traitor Argathans. After this incident, Those Who Steps in the Light was relocated to a fortress next to the capital city of Enbarr after a deal of mutual protection with the Lord of Enbarr, the Duke Basileus von Zollern.
Years later, the situation remained like that. Faerghus a Kingdom where no one is allowed to enter and where many secrets are hold behind these lands. Leicester, who has become a Democracy where freedom was expanding in every layer of society. Adestria, the No-More-Empire, where the Nobles families along with the Bourgeoisie makes manipulations and plots to gain the upper-hand in the Southern Lands. Garreg March, the Land of Thugs at it is currently named making raids to destabilise the other territories.
Many questions linger, what happened to the leaders who has participated in this forgotten war that only the old generations remember well? What happened to the King Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, what he is doing in Fhirdiad? What happened to Claude von Riegan, who has disappeared after the war against the Crimson Empress? Where is the former Archbishop Byleth, what he has become?
But the most important question is the following:
What happened to the former Empress of Adrestia? Where she has gone? Will she come back?
1245 I.Y. Principatus of Dagda.
Dagda was a vast empire in the south of the island kingdom of Brigid, itself south of the continent of the Fódlan.
It was directed by the Princeps of the city of Remus, this empire is allied with Brigid and fought several times against the Adrestian Empire for the control of the southwest oceans.
But now, since the independence with Brigid after the War of the Crimson Empress and especially the dissolution of the Adrestian Empire, who makes the threat of an invasion non-existent. The trade was going well.
Inside of the big plains of the Principatus, in a town named Maximus.
It was one of the many middle-sized towns of this big empire. It was inside of the continent, an intersection for internal trade. It has three big half-rounded theatres, a big amphitheatre, a Forum with a temple for the druids of the Empire, venerating the god Dadga, the King and the Druid.
In the merchant's streets of the town. We could see a young man marching with a big sack of vegetables on his shoulder, he is aged at 19. He is dressed in brown tunic, with leather sandals. His height was impressive with a big musculature, measuring 1.91 meters. The distinguishable feature he has on himself is the fact that he has white hair and blue eyes. It brings the attention of several bystanders but the majority ignored him.
He was walking down the streets, at a moment beside him. There is a patrol passing by a soldier who was buying some exotic fruits.
"Hey, you! You don't salute the troop?" The chief asked.
"Ha… Ave!" The soldier said before lifting his hand in the air to the troop.
"I forgive you for this time but remember to always salute the patrol!" The chief said before he resumes his march.
The young man ignored this as he advances through crowd.
After a moment, he arrived to a bigger avenue. Where a lot of markets of many exotics' fruits or objects and many merchants from all places were sealing their products.
"Papaya from the country of Palenque! Only 30 As!" a merchant said.
"Silk from the Dōngfāng dìguó! 500 As for a roll!" A female merchant called.
The young guy avoided carefully the merchants before arriving a side of the avenue. It was big inn, who has 4 floors without mentioning the roof.
It was large with a big painted sign above the entry of who said: "At Ellie's."
He goes inside of the inn.
Inside was many travellers drinking and eating. He passes beside the clients and arrived in front of the bar. Here, there is a woman aged her 40s, who has the same hair attached in long ponytail and eye colour than his. He posed down the sack on the bar.
"I am back, mom." The young man said.
"Ha! Dyanos! These are the vegetables that I asked you?" the mom asked.
"Yes, mom! You can verify them." The aforementioned man said.
She takes the sack and began to count the vegetables.
"Hm… good. Can I ask you another thing?" the mom asked.
"What is this?" Dyanos asked.
"Your sister is inside of the Forum with your father. And your grandmother wants to go outside." The mom said.
"Really? She cannot do this alone?" Dyanos asked, a bit annoyed.
"You know that she wants to be accompanied. Come on, this is not your shift yet." The mom said.
"Ugh… fine…" Dyanos said.
He goes toward the backrooms of the inn, takes his key, open the door leading to the private room before closing behind him. There is a small corridor with some doors, leading to some rooms.
"Grandma? Grandma! I am here!" Dyanos called.
"I am coming!" an elderly voice responded.
One of the doors of the corridors opened.
An elderly woman comes out aged in her 80s, her face and whole body was well conserved despite her advanced age. She possessed the same purple eyes than her grandson, while her white hair was paler and tame, in contrast of the brilliant white colour of her young grandson. This hair is assembled in a small lateral braid.
She is dressed a small white stola with smalls leather shoes. Despite her advanced age. She can still walk without a cane.
"Can you accompany me? I want to go in the Suspended Gardens. I have enough of the agitation of the Inn." The old woman said.
"Okay, come." Dyanos responded.
The young man, along with the grandma comes out from the corridor and entered in the public part of the Inn.
"I'm going out." Dyanos said.
"Good… mom. Be careful to not lose yourself in the city again." The mom of the Inn said.
The grandma grumbled.
"I am not a child, Hordia. I have lived longer than you. And I have still not used a cane!" the grandmother said.
"I just reminding you, we have taken hours to find you again, last time." The aforementioned woman said.
"Let's just go." Dyanos said.
The duo exited the inn, going outside to the streets.
They walked inside of the streets of the town. They traversed the market avenue, sometimes, the grandma stopped to see the products sold. Which mildly annoyed the grandson.
"Grandma, Ellie! Come!" Dyanos called.
The grandma stared at the silk sold before turning to the young man.
"Hey, don't be so pushy! It's not an urgency or something." Ellie said.
"Of course, you can say that because you're old!" Dyanos responded.
The grandma sighed.
"Young men these days… They were much more polite and consensual at my age." Ellie ranted.
The grandma joined and the two marched together.
"This is not against you. But we don't have money for that." Dyanos responded.
"I know but nothing forbids me to look at this. I know I cannot afford for them. I just wondered how I would have looked like inside of it when I was younger. After all, I could have bought this in my younger years." Ellie continued.
"Yeah, but it's gone now. We won't be able to buy something like that." Dyanos responded.
"Hmph… Can you just please be a little gentler with your words sometimes? I remind you-"Ellie began.
"That you have lost your business in Brigid after the War of the Crimson Empress, since Brigid has risen up the frontier customs since its independence. I know." Dyanos simply said.
"You have no mercy. I am your grandma…" Ellie sighed.
The duo continued to walk in silence in the town. The Suspended Gardens were in view inside of the town. It wasn't that big compared to the Remus one, only three main floors for one hundred meters for each side, but it's still a marvellous building.
After a moment, the duo climbed the stairs of the Suspended Gardens.
"Come on, grandma!" Dyanos called to his grandma who was ten stairs down.
"Have a respect for old people, you will laugh less when you will have my age!" Ellie responded.
The grandson waited for her in the stairs until she arrived to the first floor, she was very exhausted and Dyanos takes his hand before leading her.
They go to a free bench, at this hour of the day, there is not so much people. She sited down, breathing hard.
"Pffooou… Coming only at the first floor is a pain…" Ellie said.
"Grandma, why are you still coming here if you are so exhausted?" Dyanos asked.
"Because I want too. I want to see the decorum as much as I can before I pass!" Ellie responded.
The duo looked at the buildings who faced them and further away, the giant plains extending to the horizon.
The silence has fallen between the grandmother and the son, until…
"Dyanos?" Ellie asked.
"What do you want, grandma?" Dyanos responded with annoyance.
"Hm… it reminds me of many memories. These buildings, these plains. I had already a fulfilled life until… it comes crash down." Ellie said with a nostalgia and sadness.
"I know…" Dyanos responded.
"'I know, I know.' You have only this phrase in this mouth… I would like to hear 'Oh my, I am so sorry for you, nanny…'" Ellie responded.
"I am not 5 years old now." Dyanos responded.
"Hm… Yes, look at you. You are so big and strong. It astounds me that you still don't have a girlfriend yet." Ellie said.
"I am not interested. Also, you can talk about yourself. You married with grandpa at the age of 41 years old. You were not interested in men too. It's a luck that he given a try to you." Dyanos responded.
"Yeah, it's a luck. This is why I want you to have a girlfriend soon." Ellie said.
"Still not interested." Dyanos said.
After a moment, Ellie sneezed.
"Atchii!" Ellie exclaimed.
"Your mouth!" Dyanos responded.
"Hm… sorry. I think I caught a cold since morning. It's nothing." Ellie said.
"Let's go back. It wouldn't be good for your health." Dyanos said.
A moment later, the sun was setting. The activity has just increased inside of the Inn.
Dyanos was serving the clients of the Inn. He was not alone anymore, a black-haired man in his 40s was present behind the bar with the woman. But also, a girl aged in her 16s, who has the same white hair and purple eyes than her mom, brother and grandmother. But also, there is a woman in her 40s serving the clients who has the same appearance as well, who was straight.
"A bit meat and a few potatoes for you! And some peas with chicken meat!" Dyanos announced before the clients their meals.
"A sausage with bread!" the adolescent girl said before putting down a plate to client.
The grandma on her size was taking the money paid and putting inside of a box.
"Excuse, there is a room for me? I want to sleep for the night." A traveller with a bag asked the grandma.
"Ah? Hm… we have still a room." Ellie said.
She takes last key from one box and lead the traveller upstairs, until to the last floor. She takes him toward the last door in the end of the corridor. She opens it, revealing a room with a simple bed with a table and a candle. With a small desk with a chair.
"Here, it's not luxury. But it's sufficient for the night." Ellie said.
"I know, I know… How much?" The traveller asked.
"30 As, please." Ellie responded.
He takes a small purse of money and gives three pieces of coin with X mark on it before giving it to Ellie. The grandma exchanged with the traveller the key.
But then, the grandma has the reflex to put her harm in front of her mouth and coughed inside.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" the traveller asked.
"I'm… fine…" Ellie said.
"Okay…" the traveller responded before going inside of the room and closed it behind.
She goes downstairs to the restaurant part of the Inn. She clapped her hands, bringing the attention of the people.
"Clients of the Inn! There are no more spare rooms inside of the Inn! We are full! So, if you are searching a room. I am sorry to say to leave and find another place for rest!" Ellie announced.
Some groans could be heard and these people quickly left. The inn resumed its activity.
The second woman aged in her 40s approached Ellie.
"That's a busy period, right, mom?" the woman asked Ellie.
"Hm… it's summer after all, Meike." Ellie responded.
She coughed hard suddenly.
"Are you okay?" the woman asked.
"I just catch a cold. It's nothing…" Ellie responded.
"You should rest mom." Meike said.
"Yes, rest a little." Hordia said too.
"Hmph… fine, it won't last forever." Ellie responded before going to the private part of the inn and closing the door behind her.
"Now, let's resume our activity." Hordia said.
The next day, the family was awakened and cleaning their inn who is closed for the day.
But Ellie is still not awake.
Hordia was with her husband, cleaning the bar. Meike was cleaning the kitchen. The little sister was outside cleaning with a broom. While Dyanos was counting the pieces.
At a one moment…
"Have you seen Ellie, Arkan?" Hordia asked.
The dad turned to his wife.
"No, she is still not awake, Nellie?" the father asked.
"No, dad." The little sister asked.
"No." Dyanos said.
Meike shook her head.
"I will wake her up." Dyanos said.
The young man goes toward the corridor and arrived to the bedroom. He knocks the door.
"Grandma! Wake up!" Dyanos called.
A moan comes from the other side, which makes Dyanos worried. He opens the door and sees his grandma on the bed. She was breathing hard and sweating.
"Grandma!" Dyanos called.
He goes to the grandma and put his hand on her forehead.
"You are burning…" Dyanos said.
"Oooooh… Something is wrong… Dyanos… My whole body… it's like in fire…" the grandma said.
"I will tell the parents!" Dyanos said.
He rushes out from the room, while Ellie coughed hard, to the point her body jumps in reflex before falling back on the bed.
"I hate these marks… they are killing me… little by little…" Ellie said.
The whole family barged inside of the room.
"Mom, what is happening to you, recently? This is the fourth time in 5 months!" Meike said.
"You have chronic disease like uncle Marius said." Nellie added.
"We should send a message to him. A High Druid like him could heal you. We can't afford to heal you with normal means." Hordia said.
"Are you sure he will heal me? Are you really sure?" Ellie asked, with a frowned face.
The family was a bit taken aback.
"Yes, of course! He would heal you!" Meike hesitantly replied.
"Druids in the Principatus heals all kinds of diseases! They know the anatomy of human body very well. Why are you doubting them right now?" Arkan said.
"Hm… sorry. I just… I just have my patience running thin." Ellie responded.
"Hm, yes… we know. Rest a little." Dyanos said.
"Dyanos. Stay with me. I want you to be the one who will take care of me. Okay?" Ellie asked.
"Wait, me?" Dyanos asked.
"But I am the one who is taken care of you, mom." Meike said.
"Well, this time. He will be the one who will take care of me. Exchange roles sometimes…" Ellie simply said.
"Okay, okay… If you want…" Meike sighed.
"Thanks…" Ellie said before coughing hard.
"Bring the medicine. You where it is, right?" Meike asked Dyanos.
"Of course!" Dyanos said.
He goes to one of the night tables and takes a small pot he opens before revealing a strange green mixture. The smell was horrible.
"It stinks!" Nellie said.
"It means that it's good! Dyanos, gives your grandma two spoons." Meike said.
He takes the close spoon and does the thing to his grandma.
"Gulp… Aaaaah… Better…" Ellie said.
"Dyanos, now stay close to her. We will take care of the rest of inn." Hordia said to her soon.
"Yes, mom…" Dyanos said.
The family slowly go out from the room. Now, when the duo is finally alone. Dyanos faced his grandma, worried to say the least.
"Grandma… what is happening to you? You are falling ill more and more often each time passing." Dyanos said.
"Hm… what can I say to you, Dyanos? I am a very old woman, I am 84 years old after all… you know that, I know that… one day, I won't walk with you anymore…" Ellie responded.
"Don't remind me." Dyanos only said.
A day passed…
Dyanos is helping his grandmother to go to the latrines, she coughed but this time she has the phlegm.
"Oh… grandma…" Dyanos said before he brought her to the small room where the latrine is, then he closed to let his grandma do it.
He hears the gargling of his grandma spitting out her lungs, followed by a straining moan.
After a silence, his grandma comes out and he takes her hand before bringing back to her room.
"Are you better?" Dyanos asked.
"Much better…" Ellie simply responded.
They entered the room and Dyanos helped Ellie to lie down on her couch.
"We send a message to uncle. He should be coming in the next few days." Dyanos said.
"Why he has to teach in the neighbouring city? This is infuriating that there is not university in this place…" Ellie ranted.
"What can I say? Life is unjust." Dyanos said.
Ellie takes a melancholic expression.
"Yes, very unjust…" Ellie said.
This expression makes the young man a little surprised. He never saw this kind of expression from his grandma before.
"Hum… you don't have to be sad like that…" Dyanos said.
"Yes… I shouldn't…" Ellie said.
This kind of behaviour makes Dyanos wonder, it seems that her departure from Brigid has affected her more than he expected.
Two days later…
"A message from Marius?" Ellie asked.
"Hum, yes. We just received it. He is coming immediately. But the time of his travel is around 5 days or more…" Dyanos responded.
"Good… Marius, my little boy. The last of my children. He has become a High Druid. I am so proud of him." Ellie said.
"You say that all the time." Dyanos said.
"Hm… I know… I know…" Ellie said.
She coughed and began to suffocate, before trying to hold herself out.
"Grandma?!" Dyanos exclaimed.
"The jar… please…" Ellie croaked.
He takes the jar and opens it, Ellie crawled from her bed and throws up. But it was blood.
"Ooooh…" Ellie moaned.
"You're spitting out blood. What is happening to you?" Dyanos asked with a silent voice.
Ellie lies down on her back once again before rubbing the blood from her mouth.
"Dyanos… I think… I am afraid… that this disease affecting me…" Ellie began.
"No, don't finish this sentence. You will creep me out." Dyanos said.
Ellie only sighed.
Three days later…
Ellie's state has worsened significantly. She has a towel on her forehead to lower her fever, while she doesn't have the force to move.
"Grandma… Hold it. You can do it." Dyanos said.
"Hm… I can't just say to my body to do that…" Ellie responded.
Dyanos sighed.
"My life was a disaster from beginning to the end. My childhood robbed… my young adult years, taken away… and now, I am slowly dying…" Ellie said.
"What are you talking about?" Dyanos asked, confused.
"Hm… You want to hear a story?" Ellie asked.
"You sure, you are still in a bad shape…" Dyanos began.
"You want to hear a story?" Ellie repeated, with more insistence.
Dyanos stays silent for a moment.
"Hm… yes…" Dyanos only said.
"Good, good… my little boy." Ellie responded with a weak smile.
"What story is about this time?" Dyanos asked.
"Do you know about the tale of the Crimson Empress?" Ellie asked.
"Hum… not so much. I just know by the rumours that she is an entitled and bloody Empress who tried to take over the continent of Fódlan in the North and has been vanquished and exiled by a coalition." Dyanos said.
Ellie sighed loudly for some reason and stared at Dyanos.
"I was at Brigid when it happened. And I know a lot of details. You will be entertained, trust me." Ellie said.
"Okay, do it then." Dyanos asked.
"Ahem… All begin in the year of 1162 of the Imperial Year, the Crimson Empress, named Edelgard von Hresvelg has born in the eponym imperial family of the Adrestian Empire. She was the ninth child and fourth daughter of the beloved Emperor Ionus IX. She was studious, respectful and well-mannered princess. Nothing wrong could be expected in her life. But destiny has ulterior motives to her." Ellie counted.
"What do you mean?" Dyanos asked.
"In 1171, at the age of nine. She has to be taken away in the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus by her uncle Volkhard von Arundel while the Insurrection of the Seven. Where Emperor Ionus has been stripped away of his power. There, she met Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd. The young son of the King Lamber of this kingdom and soon-to-be King of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. They became friends with each other, the little princess even taught to him how to dance." Ellie said before chuckling at this, which the bring attention of Dyanos.
"Hum… okay?" Dyanos said.
The young man was intrigued. The manner and tone of his grandma counting this story was really strange. Then, the grandma mood darkened.
"But then, Edelgard has to be brought back to the Empire in 1174 with her siblings. Before she left, the prince of Faerghus has given her a small ornated dagger that the princess has held on it since then…" Ellie said before interrupting herself.
A few tears come out from her eyes. Which confused the boy even more.
"Grandma… you're crying? Why?" Dyanos asked.
"I… I… just… oh… my… this is so… painful… looking back at this… Dyanos, I need… I need to be alone for the day… can you do that your nanny? Please…" Ellie asked between sobs.
"Hum… of course… I would like to hear the story when you have in the mood…" Dyanos said.
"This is… a promise… you will hear the next part… I promise…" Ellie responded before crying once again.
Dyanos exited the room, leaving the grandma alone.
The next day…
Dyanos was facing his grandma once again.
"Are you feeling better?" Dyanos asked.
"Yes… I am calm now. I shall continue. If I cried like that, it's because it broke me the first time I heard this story. Especially the part that I am about to tell." Ellie said.
"What do mean by that?" Dyanos asked.
"I mean that the next part is horrible to hear. And despicable." Ellie said, with sadness mixed with a bitter tone.
"Hm… It's gonna be THESE kinds of parts, right?" Dyanos asked.
"Yes… Now, let's continue. So… when the princess and her siblings came back to the Empire. She with her brothers and sisters were imprisoned inside of the imperial palace. Then, being subjected to horrible experiences to determine if two of the most powerful crests of the world could be placed in one body…" Ellie said, with the same tone.
"Crests. These kinds of marks in Fódlan who facilitates the use of magic like I heard in the rumours?" Dyanos asked.
"Yes… The emperor, begged and pleaded to stop, to send anyone to stop this madness. But with his power gone, he couldn't do anything. Some of the children gone mad buy the pain while the rest died. Only Edelgard was the one to survive and retain her sanity. But the second Crest put on her has the consequence of her hair turning white while her body was constantly in stress, making her falling sick often. Since this day, she has held a deep hatred of the Crests of the Continent and on the Church of Seiros itself who has maintained the barrier between the nobles holding the crests and the rest of the population who was submitted." Ellie continued.
"That's horrible…" Dyanos said.
"I told you…" Ellie said.
"What happened next, what the Empress is going to do to make this dream possible?" Dyanos asked.
"She would buy her time and building her plans slowly and steady. At the year 1180, the soon-to-be Empress arrived at Garreg Mach Monastery to finish her education and reclaim what she has lost. She knows that inside of this Monastery has been gattered the heirs of the most powerful places of three nations ruling Fódlan. The Leicester Alliance, the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus and the Adrestian Empire. The first plan was to try to get rid as many potential enemies as possible. So, she employed bandits to kill as many students as possible from the houses of the Blue Lions and the Golden Deer of the Monastery, the students coming from the Kingdom and the Alliance. But her plan was thwarted as two important individuals arrived with the intervention of two mercenaries: Byleth and his father, Jeralt." Ellie counted.
"Byleth, it's that the ex-Archbishop of Garreg Mach?" Dyanos asked.
"Each moment in it's time, Dyanos… The two mercenaries are hired to be teachers in Garreg Mach, among the three houses. The Black Eagles, the Golden Deer and the Blue Lions. Byleth chosen the Black Eagles and met with the princess and learn to know each other. Meanwhile, under the alias of the Flame Emperor. She allied with the members of Those Who Slither in the Dark. An organisation who was responsible for the demise of her family. But before she could unleash her wrath against them. She would ally with them to destroy the Church of Seiros. After that, she jungled with her life as a student and her secret identity as the Flame Emperor." Ellie explained.
"She is an incredibly petty woman. The kind of who will take advantage of every situation." Dyanos said.
"Hm… you are not wrong… In the year in the academy. The princess returned in Adestria for five years and convinces her father Ionius IX to abdicate and takes the Adrestian Throne. Under the watch of her professor, Byleth. When she came back, she put the next part of her plan in motion. She and her soldiers infiltrate the Holy Tomb of the Monastery with her soldiers and her classmates in intent to pillage the Crest Stones. She found her professor sited on the throne. But her secret identity is been revealed, much to her classmate's shock. Despite that, she ordered to pillage the Crest Stones. Rhea, the archibishop who has discovered the whole plot ordered the professor to kill the Empress, seeing her as a threat for Fódlan, he does after a long hesitation. While Dimitri, the one who has given the blade to Edelgard, snapped and killed brutally several soldiers while trying to reach to her. But an ally of the Empress, Hubert von Vestra teleported away the Empress while the rest of her former classmates sided with the archbishop." Ellie continued.
"Wow… That's… there is a lot of surprises." Dyanos said.
"After that, formally taking the throne of Adrestian Empire. She declared war on the Church of Seiros. The Empress after two assaults on Garreg Mach has managed to capture the archbishop.
While the war raged against Leicester and Faerghus. She launched a purge against the ones who has wronged her family before putting up reforms to stimulate the economy of the Empire. The Bourgeoisie managed to flourish and the monopoly of the nobles on certain high positions was no more, making a surge for scholars coming from the population to the highest position. Their own reforms put the Adrestian Empire in prosperity despite the war. The Crimson Empress as she is been called because she always wears red. Five years passed after that…" Ellie explained.
"So, what happened next?" Dyanos asked.
The grandma doesn't respond.
"Grandma?" Dyanos asked.
"Oooh… my fever, it has increased. My medicine…" Ellie moaned.
The boy quickly acted and gives the medicine to the grandma.
"Here, you will be fine…" Dyanos said.
"I need to rest… I will tell what it's left next time I wake up…" Ellie said.
"Of course, grandma." Dyanos responded.
He stands up and goes toward the exit of the room, leaving his grandma alone.
The next day, the family was gattered in the closed restaurant part of the inn.
"So, what is her state?" Meike asked.
"I don't know. She didn't wake up this morning. And she stills doesn't right now." Dyanos said.
"This is serious. Her state is worsening each day passing." Hordia said.
"I don't want her to die! She has to stay just a little more, just a little!" Nellie said, with an anxious voice.
"The uncle will arrive soon very soon. We will just have to wait." Arkan said.
"But grandma could die before he does! This is infuriating!" Nellie protested.
"We can only hope. We don't have sufficient money to pay a doctor to cure her. So, a Druid is necessary…" Meike said.
A knock is heard from the other side of the door.
"We are closed!" Hordia said.
"It's me! Marius!" A masculine voice called from the other side.
The family froze before Dyanos comes with a key and opens the door.
In front of him is a man aged in his 40s, he has a long white hair and purple eyes. He is dressed in a long white tunic, with a cloak in half-circle on his head, completed with a headband.
He has a long wood staff but also a leather bag.
"Hello…" Marius said.
"Marius!" Hordia said before hugging him.
"You are finally here!" Meike said, hugging him in turn.
"How are you, big sisters?" Marius asked.
"We are fine!" Meike said.
"Us too!" Nellie said.
Marius takes a serious face.
"Now, I am going to heal mom. Let me pass." Marius said.
"Of course…" Dyanos responded.
The High Druid goes toward the door of the private part of the inn, opens it and closed behind him. The family only has to wait.
A few hours later, the door opened again. Revealing Marius, who has much sadder look and spiteful.
"Is everything okay?" Hordia asked.
Marius shook his head. The family widened.
"What do you mean?" Nellie asked.
"I have… Ahem… I have tried to use my most powerful healing spells. But the sickness who is hitting her was something beyond my comprehension." Marius said.
"What? What kind of sickness could resist your medicine?" Arkan asked.
"It comes from the blood itself. A poisonous curse who drains the energy of the body, condemning the victim to have a short life." Marius said.
"Huh? But it's that so, why our mom survived till now?" Meike asked.
"She has revealed to me that in her young years, a few years after she arrived in Dagda. Druids has managed to induce in her body a spell draining the energy of nature itself and spread inside of her body. This spell has stabilised her body and nullified the effects of the curse. But as I have studied her; I discovered that her old body was not receptive anymore to the nature energy, and so, the curse in question has regained its vitality. And it's killing her as we are talking." Marius explained.
The silence falls inside of the room.
"Mom… She could have revealed to us her sickness. But she didn't want to make us worried to her." Hordia said.
"Can we still heal her, right?" Meike asked.
"There is a way! There is still a way, right?!" Nellie said.
"Alas, no. I just managed to delay her imminent death." Marius said in a dark tone.
"Imminent… death?" Dyanos asked.
"Yes, I give her the evening or maximum tomorrow until she expires. I am so sorry." Marius said.
The silence falls inside of the room.
"No… Nonononono… It's unjust! It's completely unjust! Why? WHY?!" Nellie shouted.
"I tried… You have to believe me…" Marius responded.
"Grandma… Grandma! Aaaaah!" Nellie shouted.
She rushes out from the inn, incapable of bearing it anymore.
"Nellie!" Arkan called.
"Come back!" Meike shouted.
"I will pursue her!" Arkan said.
The father rushes after his daughter in the streets. The silence falls once again.
"Dyanos?" Marius asked.
"Huh, uncle?" Dyanos responded.
"Your grandmother wants to see you." Marius said.
"Oh… I see…" Dyanos said.
"Also, her curse has taken some… physical proportions. So, it won't be beautiful to see. Brace yourself." Marius said.
Dyanos stays for a moment before gulping and engaging toward the door of the private part of the Inn.
He walks toward the private part of the inn, closes the door behind him before engaging in the corridor, toward the room. After hesitation, he opens the door and enters.
The scene in front of him was… shocking to say the least.
The left part of her body has black fibbers covering it. Going from her arm to the upper-legs and shoulder. It was slowly, fibber by fibber, expanding to the rest of her body. Also, he could see a small light coming under the upper-part of her tunic.
"Grandma… what happened to you?" Dyanos asked.
Ellie suddenly awakened and looked to Dyanos. The young man sees that her left eye has now a dark sclera and a red pupil. But he approached her and crouched down beside her.
"Oh… Dyanos, you came. Sorry for… that…" Ellie said.
"Don't be… grandma. Don't be…" Dyanos responded.
"I look like a monster… but… A dying monster is a more correct description…" Ellie said.
"Grandma, I want you to tell the rest of the story. Please…" Dyanos said.
"You… You want?" Ellie asked.
"Yes, I want." Dyanos responded.
She stays silent before making a weak smile.
"If you want… Hm… Where I was? Ah… Five years passed as I said before. In 1185, Adrestia has conquered major parts of Fódlan. But Byleth, after disappearing for five years since the assault on Garreg Mach has reappeared and assisted the coalition army of what's left of the Faerghus forces, the Knights of Seiros and the Leicester Alliance. They clashed with the Adrestian army in the decisive battle of Gronder Field. But unfortunately, even if the Empress was present, she has lost to the coalition. Force to retreat from Faerghus, making possible to the King Dimitri to regain his kingdom. After that, she receives suddenly a letter from Dimitri to meet him in private, some kind of proposition. While being first a meeting for proposition to end the war early. It quickly devolved to a conversation that confronted their respective pasts. After all, the Tragedy of Duscur made by Those Who Slitter in the Dark and then sent the blame on the Duscur has hit him as well. He understood that she suffered as much as him, that she is waging a war in a trial to change the society. Despite trying to change her mind, she refuses to give up her ambitions. Dimitri could only return the dagger that the Empress has lost five years ago. Then, they separated each other once again…" Ellie explained, before stopping, making a sad and regretful face.
Dyanos seeing that face of his grandma is becoming suspicious of her. He began to link the dots in his head.
"After a long war, the Adrestian forces were pushed back so far that they retreated to the capital, Enbarr. Hubert von Vestra, the faithful noble of the Empress was killed while holding back the coalition. The Adrestian Castle as only defense. Edelgard von Hresvelg used her last trump card, using ancient arcanes. She fused the powers of her two Crests and transformed to a Demonic Beast, called the Hegemon Husk. Despite that, she is defeated and her power vanished completely. The King despite all she has done to him, was willing to give mercy to the Empress. Before she could respond, she falls unconscious to the ground…" Ellie explained before interrupting herself once again. Now, making a depressed look on her face.
"What happened next?" Dyanos asked.
"Hm… She is brought back to Garreg Mach to be judged. The restored archbishop Rhea, wanted her immediate execution to make an example to oppose the Church of Seiros. But Dimitri, Byleth and also Claude von Riegan, the leader of Leicester objected. They decided to banish the Empress from Fódlan forever, never to return. Faerghus then annexed all Fódlan after that. Byleth became the new archbishop of Seiros. And so, since then, the Empress has disappeared, never to be seen again, neither in Fódlan, not even in the neighbouring kingdoms. Even with the efforts of the many spies to find her, either to bring her back to Fódlan or to kill her. This is the end of the adventure of Edelgard von Hresvelg, the Crimson Empress of Adrestia." Ellie finished, with a sad and depressed tone.
Dyanos stared her, with a slightly frowned tone. Ellie sees it and only looked back to her grandson.
"Grandma, be honest me… Edelgard von Hresvelg… it's you? Am I right?" Dyanos asked.
The silence falls for a moment.
"Yes…" Ellie finally said.
The silence falls in the room once again, Ellie looked away, not wanting to face the potential accusing and hateful look on his face.
But then, she felt something in her left hand, who was almost covered by the fibbers at this point. It was Dyanos, looking at her with a compassionate expression. Which surprised Ellie.
"How did you guess?" Ellie asked.
"You give a lot of details, too much details to have just heard in a rumour. And the fact that you talked with emotion, like… no… you lived what happened to you. You cannot lie with your words." Dyanos said.
"Even here… you won't blame me?" Ellie asked.
"No… Because I am too young. The war in Fódlan and what followed after, the War of Liberation, the Affair of the Crests, the Coup of the Five Winter Nobles, the Democracy of Leicester, the dissolution of the Adrestian Empire, etc... I was not even born when all of that happened and was too far away from it. Also, I only knew you as nothing more than grandma Ellie. The one who kissed me before I go to sleep, who scolded me when I was an idiot, who teased me to have a girlfriend. This is not a plotting and vengeful Empress who wanted to get back power or something like that. No… you are just my grandma and nothing can change that." Dyanos said.
Ellie stared wide eyed to her grandson before tears comes from her eyes and she sobbed.
"Thank you… Thank you… You are such a loving grandson… thank you…" Ellie sobbed.
"You're welcome…" Dyanos said.
After she sobbed a little, she turned to see Dyanos once again.
"But even if your words relieved me a little… It cannot take back what I have done… I took so much time, made so much efforts in a trial to bring a new prosperity to the people. That no one could suffer anymore. But… I failed; I turned my back to everyone… And now, the consequences of actions are there. The Kingdom of Faerghus is isolated. Leicester has forged a new path. While the Adrestian Empire, the land where I have born, is no more. I doomed Fódlan and I can only regret, again and again and again… My name is synonymous of infamy right now. If only I could say sorry to my former companions… If only… just one time…" Ellie said.
"It has to be terrible for you." Dyanos said.
"Yes… And now, here I am. The Crest of Flames. The source of my sadness, the source of my past resolution, the source of my failures. It's making me look like the monster I am, before it kills me… I am the most horrible monarch ever lived… and the most melancholic woman of all time… When I was with you all, I didn't have the time to think about it. But when I was alone, my memories came back and I was miserable once again." Ellie said.
"Grandma…" Dyanos called.
The grandmother then looks to the furniture on the wall.
"Dyanos… open the lower drawer, please. There is a double bottom under it." Ellie said.
"Ah?" Dyanos asked.
"Do it, please…" Ellie begged Dyanos.
He stood up and goes toward the drawer and opens it. He sees the little hole and opened the double-bottom.
He is shocked to see what's inside.
He sees an ornated dagger, with the symbol of the royal family of Faerghus on it. But also, a small red cape, with the symbol of the Hresvelg family on it.
"Bring them to me… Please…" Ellie asked.
He takes them both and brought them to Ellie. She takes them with her now completely fibered hands.
"Thanks…" Ellie said.
She looked to these objects.
"These are my last living memories… it happened to me when I was alone to take them… to remind myself of the few good times that I passed in Fódlan… But now… These will go with me…" Ellie said.
"Wait, you can just give us to us, right? As a memory of yours…" Dyanos asked.
Ellie slowly shook her head.
"No, these are not your memories. Your memory from me is this Inn and all the things that happened between me and you. These objects are my past, not yours." Ellie said.
"What are you trying to say?" Dyanos asked.
"When I will die from the curse. I want you and your relatives to bury me with these objects. You have nothing to do with the past Hresvelg. Their story ends with me, the Crimson Empress. And you all, you will make sure that the memory of it fades in the abyss." Ellie said.
"Wait, really? Why?" Dyanos asked, confused.
"Because if not. It would a matter of time before the people discover what we really are and so. Revenge and lust coming to our family will soon follow. I don't want that the consequences of my past hits you, your sister and your parents, your aunt and uncle. I love you and I don't want any harm on you." Ellie said.
"Yes… but, someone could still recognize us, even without that." Dyanos said.
"Hm… even I find it highly improbable… then, if that happens, then it means that I severely underestimated the weight of my curse. I apologize to you in advance if that happens." Ellie said.
She takes the hands of her grandson and stared at Dyanos with her now completely red irises and sclera. Her body was fully transformed to a monstruous form, covered by dark fibbers, she has dark scales on her cheeks and below her mouth. But she looks more like a monster in agony than anything else, and her sad and regretful face betrays this first unhinged look.
"Promise me. Promise that you will keep the secret from everyone else outside our current circle of family. Promise me that you don't reveal it to your own children. They don't need to be ashamed or unhappy by their past because of me." Ellie said.
Dyanos has a few tears from his face.
"I… I don't know…" Dyanos said.
She turned her head to the door.
"I know you are hearing our conversation… Enter, I'm begging you." Ellie called to the door.
After a silence, the door slowly opened. Revealing the rest of the family, who surprised Dyanos.
"Wait, you were here all the time?" Dyanos asked.
"Not the beginning, but our curiosity has gotten the better of us…" Hordia said.
"But how did you know?" Marius asked.
"My curse, when I am like this, gives some abilities…" Ellie said.
She coughed hard next before falling back on her bed. The whole family go around the bed.
"Nellie, you are here. Are you better?" Dyanos asked.
"Yeah, I am sorry for the ruckus…" Nellie responded.
All turned to Ellie.
"Please, promise me what Dyanos swore to me." Ellie asked.
The other members of the family hesitated.
"I will. I will keep the promise to my death." Marius solemnly said.
"Uncle?" Nellie asked.
"Hm… I cannot believe that I am a direct descendant of the Hresvelg. It makes sense why the portraits that I have saw from the Crimson Empress in my studies as beginner Druid has a close resemblance to you. And it explains why we have all white hair, except of course Arkan…" Marius said.
"No offense…" Arkan responded.
"That is to say… I am not interested in the throne of Adrestia or something like that. This is not what I want. I am a High Druid. I am supposed to cure and help people, not rule or command them. So, not for me the throne." Marius added.
"Me too… the life in luxury won't disturb me if it wasn't for the fact that the nobles are gossiping bastards who want ruin the reputation of their enemies. Even the Emperor is not spared while he is supposed to settle down the dispute. So, no… arguing with idiotic clients is enough agitation for me." Meike said.
"Hm…I don't want to face the glares of the people Fódlan because of consequences outside my reach." Hordia explained.
"While me, I am just brought to this story just because I married you, Hordia." Arkan said.
"I don't want to leave my own friends for a court that I don't know." Nellie said.
All turned to Dyanos.
"Hm… I am conflicted. I don't want to be linked in all of this tragic story but at the same time, this is wrong to hide these things like that." Dyanos said.
Ellie only smiled at Dyanos, she extended her fibered hand and rubs gently the cheek of the young man.
"Still the honest boy you are, Dyanos… But, please, I am doing this for you, for you all. For your own happiness, the Hresvelg has to die with me. While you, make sure that its memory dies with you… And our family will be truly free… truly happy…" Ellie said.
Dyanos hesitated before taking the hand of his grandma and kissing it, while a flow of tears comes from his eyes.
"This is a promise… I swear I won't tell anything…" Dyanos said.
"Thank you… Thank you…" Ellie said.
After the family has sworn, one by one, they exited the room, unable to bear the pain anymore. Dyanos was alone with his grandma once again, she has closed her eyes and she was beginning to have delirium.
"Dimitri… Claude… Hubert… My comrades… Professor… I'm sorry… I am so sorry… I betrayed you… I can only regret now… I can only do that… Don't worry… I won't disturb you anymore… This is my last will… I hope you never heard about me again… I am sorry…" Ellie raved.
"Hm… goodnight, grandma Ellie." Dyanos said.
He kissed her cheek before leaving the room and closing the door behind him. The silence has fallen inside of the room, the candle in the room was slowly consuming and lights weakly the room.
Ellie continued to mumble and dreaming as the sun settle down and the night advanced. At one moment, in the middle of the night.
She breathing hard and was still in delirium. The Crest of Flammes, has slowly appeared on her chest, shining like a flame, lighting up the room.
Then, Ellie smiled in delight, she slowly extended her right-hand mid-air.
"Brothers… sisters… Dad… Damos, my love… I am coming…" Ellie said.
She smiled and tears up for a moment, as she was reuniting with her relatives. Then, her hand slowly goes down to posed on her body. The Crest of Flammes slowly dissipated, same with her monstruous form who dissipated as well. Then, her body goes numb and her breath stopped completely. The smile was forever on her face.
The next day, the family entered inside of the room of the grandma. They could see that their grandma was on her bed, now back to normal.
Marius goes close to the body of the grandma; he pointed his staff and a small green light comes out from it before engulfing the entire body. After a moment, the magic dissipated. He kneeled down.
"Mom… You left us but you have left in peace. May Dadga, the Druid God may accompany you to your happy afterlife." Marius said, before he breaks down in sobs.
The whole family slowly followed and breaks down. The two daughters embraced their grandma tightly.
"Mom… Mom…" Meike said.
"Mommy… I hope you are happy with dad and our grandfather, and our uncles and aunts." Hordia said.
"Grandma… I'll miss you." Nellie sobbed.
Dyanos on his side, stay a bit away before taking the cover of the Hresvelg family and covered his grandma, then he puts the dagger in his grandma's hand. The rest of the family let him do it while observing him.
"Now, as a High Druid. I want you to go out of the room. I have to prepare the body for its last burial." Marius said.
The whole family nodded and exited the room.
"Damn, the story that you recounted to us last evening… I am still appalled of all of grandma Ellie traversed." Nellie said.
"Hm… Of course." Dyanos responded.
Two days later, in front of the inn. A small crowd, dressed in white as a manner of mourning has gattered, a big part where old people, who were friend with Ellie, accompanied by their family. While the rest of the people either observed it from afar or simply didn't give attention. Four guards, with two who has two bagpipes.
Then, four Druids, leaded by Marius goes out from the Inn, transporting a small closed wood coffin. Closely followed by the small family, also dressed in white.
At these moments, the guards began to play their bagpipes, signalling to everyone that the procession is beginning. The small procession goes inside of the streets, the people giving space to the small procession, same with the patrols.
After a long moment, the group arrived to the outskirts of the city, where they arrived to the fields where the peasants are moving the dirt with their hoes. They interrupted themselves as they the procession passing by.
And so, after traversing these fields. They arrived to a clearing with several trees. This is one of the big cemeteries of the town in question. With hundreds of tombs.
The procession arrived in front of a big hole, beside a small sign with the name "Damos". The small crowd gattered around, the family just in front of the opened tomb.
Marius faced the whole crowd and he lifted his hand, the soldiers stopped their bagpipes.
"Today, we will give back to the Nature a good-hearted soul. Ellie, who has come to the town of Maximus many years ago. She married Damos, a carpenter who has given three magnificent children. Meike, Hordia and… myself, Marius. They founded the well-beloved Inn named Ellie's Inn, in honour to hard-working woman who consecrated to nourish countless also with her own family. But now, she has gone to join her ancestors, like everyone at one moment…" Marius explained.
He lifted his head to the sun and pointed his staff to the sun.
"Dagda! Druid God of our Principatus! Father of all! I ask you to welcome this old soul to your domain! Where she can happily live on with her husband, father and her many siblings!" Marius declared.
The four other Druids began to recite incantations around the coffin. And so, after they finished their prayers, supposed to bless the soul of the dead. The Druids takes the coffin by ropes and put it carefully inside of the hole before taking the ropes out.
"Pay your last respects." Marius said.
Each one member of the family, toss a flower inside of the hole. Dyanos is the last to do so. He looked inside of the hole and tosses a red rose.
Then, the Druids planted their staff on the ground and the hole closes by the outside with the magic.
While everyone talked and gives homage to the family of Ellie, Dyanos on his side goes out of the crowd to rethink.
But as he was in his thoughts, he remarked something or rather someone…
It was a man, in the other side of the cemetery, observing the burial, but the young man has the impression that the man in question was looking at him specifically.
The man seemed to be aged in his 30s, has long black hair with a beard. Dressed in a long cape of a traveller. His look on his blue eyes was cold and impassible.
This vision has taken Dyanos aback and he doesn't know how to react.
But then, the man turned his back and walked away. At this moment, the family joined the brother.
"Brother? Something is wrong?" Nellie asked.
She sees the man going away.
"Who is that?" Nellie asked.
"I don't know. Never seen him before. And he seemed he was looking at me for some reason. It's suspect…" Dyanos said.
"Hm… You know, there are curious people after all. Come on…" Meike said.
"Yes, aunt Meike." Dyanos responded.
He returned to the crowd of the guests with the rest of his family, to finish this day who is already to tiring for him.
To be continued… You cannot run away from roots.
It has been a few months since the burial of grandma Ellie. Slowly adjusting to their new kind of life while hiding the truth. But then, rumours began to spread. His family is more and more closely associated with the disappeared Hresvelg Imperial Family. The truth is slipping out. Danger is approaching.