A Promise To Self

Chapter 4: A Promise To Self

"I lost so much tonight, yet I gained more than I ever hoped for."

— Mirabelle (LS 1212)

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[Previously]

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I asked her softly, "How do you want to deal with this?"

She took a deep breath and looked at me. She smiled and said, "My lord, can you please incinerate the trash? We shouldn't litter."

I smiled hearing her response.

I didn't ask further, there was no need for that.

I put my RIght hand up in the air as golden flames converged on it. Noticeably faster than the previous times I cast this.

|| Souls be cleansed, the flames of the ancestor||

<Fire: Flames of Redemption>

And down came my hand.

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Year 1212, 8th day of the 7th month – Hill of Memories~

[Julian]

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I woke up a bit later than usual. I can't blame myself. The years are catching up to me. In my advanced age, fighting off a Master Wizard is not a walk in the park anymore.

*Unnggg*

I groaned as I struggled to get up. The grizzled crone got a good shot at my ribs. A few are broken…

Lucian has gotten so powerful without anyone noticing. I remember the Old Sage bragging to me about, how wonderful a wizard Lucian is. He even challenged me to a drinking contest, betting that if I lost, then I needed to stop wasting Lucian's time in swordsmanship training.

I obviously won the bet, of course! An ancient wizard who isn't anything but some pile of bones, cannot possibly hope to beat a Master Knight in vitality and endurance. The thought of it was laughable to begin with.

But I do understand his point now…

I cannot tell what level, Lucian is at right now. He was always an unfathomable child. Now even more so...

"Sigh!" I sighed audibly.

Such a promising young man. Kind, brilliant and powerful. Not to mention shows more empathy than any living being I have ever met.

He would've become a fine king. And I and all my descendants would've gladly supported his reign.

I sighed again as I peered out of my tent. The valley where the Hill of Memories is erected. Such an heroic environment. Once I heard that the heroic Aura of Mamar himself mixed with the ambience in this location.

Thus, invokes this heroic feeling among warriors.

I slowly went near the creek a minute of stroll away. Where I found a tired Celine washing with a flushed yet pale Mirabelle. They seem to have woken up recently as well. As they were washing their drowsiness away.

Celine should still be tired. She definitely made this old man proud. Taking down an Expert Rank Swordmaster herself in a jiffy.

But she almost got blasted away by the crone. Good thing Axel has been looking after her.

I can already perceive the young ones are developing their own stories. It is quite amusing to watch them get flustered about small things.

Ah, the spring of youth!

Speaking of spring. Looking at the flushed young girl. No, I should say young woman now.

I smiled.

But I am quite worried about this child, Mirabelle.

Yes, the law allows Polygamy for royalties and nobles. But, that's only when there is no heir produced.

But then again, that is only true for Rorengar, Altumia, Borvania and Centuran. The other countries have no such restrictions.

In the last war, I even heard the Prime had recently taken his thirteenth wife.

*chuckle*

As for the elves. They live a long life and mate with more than one person. But that is only true for commoner Elves, as giving birth to new elves is the sacred duty of all elves. But they have a hard time to fulfill that duty.

Don't look down on elves, thinking they are promiscuous. The elven males and females will only marry one person. And after marriage they will wholeheartedly live for one another.

That's what so beautiful about their species.

But due to the sacred order.

The female commoner elves don't marry unless they conceive a child with a male. When the pregnancy is confirmed, they settle down before the child's birth. So the child can have a warm and loving family, growing up.

As for Lucian. He is a gentleman through and through. But I can see his infatuation yet hesitation towards a few young maidens.

At least he still has his carnal desires. Or I might have thought the boy was an impossible existence.

Again,

His love for Lady Lisbeth, open and pure for everyone to see. And in return, the young lady's love for him knows no bounds.

She even struck a deal with her mother to work as a maid for the Prince. Just so she could have an excuse to stay in the castle.

Orion had, quite the headache when his niece came to him and requested this for her birthday. She only wanted to stay in the Castle, but Lady Oriana thought it might make things problematic with the Queen.

So she offered her daughter a deal she would surely reject.

Who would have thought, that she would accept the deal in a heartbeat. Such a sweet young thing.

Lady Oriana then begged me to look after the young princess. Which I didn't have to do at all. Lucian might seem very easy going, but his protectiveness rivals that of a Mother Bear.

I chuckled at my thought and greeted the young ladies, and we all proceeded to have our breakfast.

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[Mavis]

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Our journey began once again.

My king, ordered us to depart directly after lunch. He was anxious about something. But he wasn't really telling us.

Yes, the death of his dear father must pain him. But my lord isn't weak enough to show that expression to his subordinates.

Something else might be the case.

Could it be the prophecy? It can't be…

But he did say that he had a different interpretation of the prophecy. He never shared that with us though.

He simply said it was too far-fetched to be considered a theory. But if it's only one thing I know about my lord, then that will be my lord being extremely brilliant.

I don't believe that what my lord deduced to be some fantasy story. He should have proper evidence to back his deduction. He always has. He rationalizes and strive to think farther ahead.

Yesterday's battle was a proof of that. He lured out the missing piece of the Purplewing clan. And now we are going back to tie the loose ends.

Do not worry my dear lord. I will always support, whatever endeavor you might take.

"The Hawk will always serve the Phoenix." I muttered under my breath.

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[Casper]

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Last night was a shock for me and my friends. Gikko started praying to our lord since the previous night. He already believed our lord to be the apostle. Now he has reached a fanatic stage.

I can see him lower his eyes in subservience whenever our lord is in our field of vision.

Not that I don't find our lord strong. It's the opposite actually, after last night even I started to believe in his Godlike strength. Destroying the detestable Aura users in seconds.

No, I don't hate all aura users.

Sister Celine and Brother Axel are nice people. They treat a rat like me as family. Elder Julian even allowed me to call him Grandpa. But I am too shy to call him that.

I never had a grandpa after all. It feels awkward to me. All of this feels so new to me. But I don't hate it.

And since yesterday, the lord I will serve has taken a huge place in my heart. He was generous and powerful. Someone I aspire to be.

But I can't ever think of becoming like Gikko…

He is too weird. Even brother Spike is showing signs of that…

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It only took us one day to get back to Purplewing clan.

Being stunned was an understatement.. It took us six days to reach the Hill. But only one day to return… Is this magic?

And the not so flustered Elder beside me, smiled and answered my curiosity. Apparently this was an ancient writing magic, called Rune. To understand the meaning of the term, the mage must have studied extensively.

And takes ages to utilize the Runes themselves.

Grandpa told me that most Wizards take a few dozen years, to learn to craft the runes with their magic. I didn't know what was the difference between wizards and mages, but uncle Mavis answered me enthusiastically.

I also learned that, our lord was so exceptional that, he learned to invoke Runes at the young age of thirteen.

This only increased my respect of my lord. And I promised myself to get stronger, so I can at least stand beside him.

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Year 1212, 9th day of the 7th month - PurpleWIng Clan~

[Lucian]

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We arrived at the Clan compound around the late morning hours. I told the acting Elder to gather all the clan members including the non Purplewing Bloodline owners.

The elder turned a ghastly pale face, when he first eyed me entering. He knew that their clan failed. And he didn't undertake any more nonsense and gathered his people.

I didn't address them first. I let Mira handle that.

She has sworn her loyalty and life to me. And not as a normal verbal pledge. But with her virgin blood.

I do not know what kind of life I can give her. But, right this moment, she and I both know that she is mine.

I didn't know I had this emotion before.

Yes, I felt love and warmth before. I have that feeling in bundles for, Lily, whom I have known for years. But Mira is different. What I desired from her was purely carnal. But can't say I didn't enjoy it.

Every touch of her sweet lips felt euphoric as I discovered and rediscovered her body again and again and again…

I smiled remembering last night.

Maybe neither of us will forget. I know I won't. It is now engraved into my heart.

I do not know if I will start loving Mira one day, but I what I know is, I am an extremely possessive person.

I am glad to know I have such a flaw that will be apparent for people to see. I don't want my people to treat me as a emotionless doll, that only does things perfectly..

Enough about that. I peered at my woman standing in front of a large crowd as she gave her speech. Watching her glossy raven hair dance on the wind as her strong yet sweet voice make the crowd shudder.

I didn't pitch in. I know my woman can handle it. She wouldn't be approved as my woman if she can't do this much.

Mira was a capable woman, a talent that's rare to find. Yet, the Clan once known as the Guardian Birds, wasted her talents.

Guardian birds, funny. They did the glorious name no honor. But that all changes today.

It didn't take Mira long to settle the matter.

After learning about their past and the conduct of the executed elders, the testimony of their own princess, they had nothing left to doubt or protest.

They could only kneel and beg for the protection of the phoenix's wings once more.

I am a rational person, I suppress my impulsiveness as much as possible. I already planned on letting the Purplewing younger generations live. But now seeing my woman bow and request for forgiveness as well, I assented quickly.

The young generation had no fault. I am not like the barbarian savages, to punish the spawn of heretics, simply because they share the same blood.

Yet, I am not gullible as the Saint Emperor to believe the former enemies woudn't take advantage of my kindness.

So, I granted them the freedom from the blood contract. And made them pledge a new blood contract that disables them from picking up arms against me, my people, my legacy.

It is, induced loyalty, I know. But, I can't let the seed of hatred grow on the children. Similar to me, there could be a prodigy among them. Who would one day venture out to take revenge.

'Your blood for my blood.'

This reminded me of the ancient Uratan's words. The ancient men loved to wage war. I am a realist. I know, war is needed for a lasting peace. But war cannot be the driving factor for peace.

I need to take the system of monarchy at its base and change from there. My little shop, Yearning, which started as a project to feed myself. Now turned into my own information network.

I am forever grateful to my mentor, for lending me the money to start the venture. I am grateful that he believed in me. If he didn't, I might be a malnourished prince, neglected by my father.

The Queen tried her best to find out where the money came from. But how could she trace back to me when I had no direct hand to play on the matter.

Dear Jabbar, you have served me well. In the future, when the great catastrophe is evaded, I will give you the repayment you deserve.

As my new 'citizens left the square, my party members bade me farewell and returned to their designated rooms to rest. Leaving me and Mira alone.

Mira smiled at me when she noticed no one else was here. I could see her body twitching to hold me.

I returned the smile and embraced her. Tighter.

I stroked her beautiful hair as she became small in my embrace.

"You were excellent out there. Thank you for your trust and love, Bella."

I could feel her twitch in my embrace. Even I was surprised, the name came out on its own. But this feels perfect.

I promised myself, I will protect this woman, even if I can't make her happy. I will make sure nothing touches her as long as I live.

And so we both enjoyed the warmth of the other, while time flew.

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