Chapter 139: Crow Armbrust

Giliath demands your power stones!

*

One year later.

Western Erebonia. Lamare Province. Bordering the Balares Sea.

A beautiful city could be seen facing the sea's coastline. A renowned port city very similar to the port city back up in Calvard, but this one appeared much more luxurious. Many fancy white buildings littered the streets.

With it being the height of summer again, many fishing boats and cruise ships could be seen sailing the Balares Sea, allowing traders to come and go as they please.

This was the Port City, Ordis. Acting capital of the Cayanne Duchy, one of the Five Great Houses, but also home to the Egret Family, who are distant relatives to the Cayenne Duchy. Unfortunately, despite heeding a warning from a certain violet haired boy several years ago, the unfortunate maritime accident still seemed to happen, and the Cayanne Duchy suffered a large blow with its head dying in the process. In turn, the head's younger brother took over, who is ignorantly passing away his time in his own stress, as he could not find any traces of the dream he has been trying to achieve.

Yet the same violet haired boy did not know his actions that prompted a certain trial to appear has thwarted such a man's actions.

As a result, Ordis has been bustling and growing in activity each passing year. It wouldn't be hard to say that Ordis was one of the most successful cities to display its growth during the last ten years or so.

But that was what its citizens were experiencing on the outside, remaining blissfully unaware to what was residing inside of Ordis.

Similar to the Rosenberg Studio, Ordis held a single secret. One that not even its passing nobles knew about.

And yet, there seemed to be some activity stirring beneath Ordis, hidden deep within one of its vast waterways that connected throughout the city, allowing it to be a city of water.

Somewhere deep below Ordis.

"So this is the place eh?", A voice echoed inside a small corner of one of it's waterways.

"That's right. This is the entrance to the trial grounds. You'll be attempting the Azure Trial here in a year's time or so. You are not ready yet, but I'd figure it was time to at least show you its location." A second more feminine voice spoke out beside the first voice.

"Is that so? Well thank you for that. It's a lot better knowing the place instead of going in blindly.", The first voice said, only to reveal a teenage boy around fourteen to fifteen years old, very similar in age to the second figure beside him, but the other person still appeared a couple years older. This teen sported very messy gray hair.

"Hehe, preparations are the least of your worries. You need strength and your wit if you want to be successful in the Azure Trial. This place has been the property of the Cayenne Duchy for generations. And yet they haven't even reached the true trial. I doubt they even know what lies underneath this place.", The second voice said with a hint of scorn, only to shake their head.

Beside the messy gray haired teen was a very beautiful girl sporting lush sandstone colored hair. She had turned nineteen this year and had only started recently started to work at a certain famous opera house. On the outside, she was a diva, but on the inside, she was a witch, who was responsible for guiding Awakeners through their trials to come.

This woman is finally enjoying her freedom, albeit at a cost at her responsibility. Thanks to her previous actions, a certain someone placed this woman under house arrest for a couple years. So aside from checking in with the organization she belonged with, she was unable to leave her home.

"You claim this trial ground to be hard, but is that the truth?", The gray haired teen responded to the woman next to him. His eyes than landed on the giant door, which sported a fancy symbol of sorts, lost through time. This very symbol could also be seen beneath the statue of Emperor Dreichels back in Dreichels Plaza in Heimdallr, also waiting for one to attempt its trials.

"Very much so. It is a trial of one of the Divine Knights. Just do not forget, I chose you, Crow Armbrust.", The woman said, only to look back at the teen who she called Crow. Hearing that, a playful grin appeared on the teen's face.

"Haha, more like, I am the only one you chose. You didn't even bat any eyes toward any other. Still, that makes me feel like I'm worth something.", Crow responded as he scratched his head a bit while retorting that.

"Hehe, I'm not inclined to say. You just happen to fit all the bills required to pilot the Azure Knight. Now I do hope my choice was not wrong. You better not die when you're in there.", The woman retorted back at him.

"I'll try to live up to your expectations, Miss Witch.", Crow said as he pumped his arm a big, showing his vigor.

"Mmm.", The woman beside him replied, happy to hear Crow's response like that. "And by the by, how familiar are you with this tale?", The woman beside Crow asked him. Once she asked that, Crow couldn't help but shrug his shoulders.

"Not a single clue. Even restricted access has limited information. I can't believe there are resting grounds like these scattered throughout Erebonia. You won't say much since the Trial hasn't started either. All just that I'm a suitable candidate for whatever this Divine Knight Trial lies beyond this door...", Crow responded as he shrugged his shoulders.

Hearing that the woman giggled at Crow's response.

"Hehe. That's because it's passed down through select individuals, or that it's outside your current reach. Just know you won't be the only one. If you pass your trial, I can take you to meet your senior?", The woman suggested as she blinked at Crow. Crow paused after she suggested that.

"You sayin' someone already has one of these?", Crow asked with surprise, looking back at the giant door in front of him.

"More or less. She's quite an aloof character and a busy one at that, but when time allows, I can have you meet with her. There's also another friend of mine who is going to be attempting a trial, much like yours. He hasn't contacted me much though in these last couple years. I do wonder what he's been up to lately.", The woman said, resting her hand on her chin.

"Someone who is like me huh?", Crow uttered letting his interest grow after hearing the woman say that. Hearing Crow utter that, the woman turned to look at him again as an idea popped inside her head.

"Well we're mostly done here for the moment. How about a trip? Unless you got something happening right now?", The woman asked, revealing a playful smile. When Crow saw this he blinked his eyes.

"None at the moment, but why the change of scenery?", Crow decided to ask.

"Oh you'll see.", The woman responded with a smile.

"Why do I have a feeling this isn't going to turn out good...", Crow suddenly retorted, scratching his cheek.

Crow could have denied the opportunity to travel with the witch beside him right then and there in the waterway, but for some reason, he felt compelled to go for some reason. So he didn't deny her, and the two left Ordis, just like that.

Some time later...

The same messy gray haired teen and the long sandstone haired woman could now be seen standing in front of a rather familiar large pearl white castle the nestled itself on top of a glistening lake.

"Are you sure we didn't take a detour and got lost, Miss Witch?", Crow said, scratching his cheek seeing the grandiose sight in front of him.

"No, this most certainly is the place.", The woman said, revealing a playful smile.

The woman currently ignored the fact the duo was currently surrounded by several soldiers clad in green military garb with rapiers and swords pointed at their necks, coupled with a silvery-white fox who currently had her face buried in the woman's bosom, letting her tails spin around happily.

*

[Insert picture of Vita Clotilde here.]

[Insert picture of Crow Armbrust here]