Uncertain Future 1

Chapter 28: Uncertain Future 1

"Experience is the only prophecy of wise men."

― Alphonse de Lamartine

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A while back~

Year 1212, 2nd day of the 6th month – The Great Halls of Haranhaul Church~

[General POV]

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A vast hall housing few furniture was hosting a gathering. Many men, wearing priestly robes, were kneeling in front of a four edged star shaped monument. Leading the group, an elderly man, whose face showed the marks left by the passing of time. He had his eyes closed as he prayed to his deities, asking the majestic beings for their guidance. The rest of the priests were waiting patiently for the elder to address them.

They were the high priests and the bishops of the religion of Forsaul. And in front of them laid the Pope, who was attempting to connect to their deities.

After what seemed like eons, the priests finally noticed their Pope move. The grand figure was wearing red saintly robes that made him look majestic, not to mention holy. He had a benevolent smile on his aged face as he faced the most loyal servants of Forsaul. His smile couldn't hide his exhaustion, which caused most of the men worry.

The current Pope was nearing his nineties. A highly experienced and grand individual he was. He had the respect of every nation, that followed the doctrine of Forsaul. But others did not shun the man either. Even though their doctrines clashed, most beings in Bendever had some level of respect for the man.

He wasn't given the title of Saint for show after all. He truly was loved by a stellar group of individuals. Some even revered him as the voice of the divinities.

The Arch Bishop, seeing the Pope facing them, bowed. He took the liberty to inquire, the question that was on everyone's mind.

"Your Holiness, were you guided to the answer? Have you unraveled the meaning behind the recent… Prophecy?"

The Arch Bishop had to ask. It had only been one day since the Reader read the prophecy. And the prophecy was beyond cryptic… He had read all three prophecies that came before. All of them were straightforward. Warning them directly about the dangers of the future.

This didn't make sense to him. The cryptic poetry sounded like a cruel and sick joke towards humanity.

" Micheal, calm down, dear child. Yes, I was guided… They did not give me a direct answer but… They did tell me to look at the significant events that changed the world we know of…

They also showed me a vision of massacre… A war of races… and a warrior clad in golden light." The pope answered in a saintly but ancient voice.

"My world! Then what we initially thought might be right… The fall of the sisters should be the fall of sister states. Then this means…"

"Yes child, we are guided to do the summoning ritual again."

"But your holiness! That ritual requires immense magical energy! Not to mention a holy medium and the help of the nature spirits." The Arch bishop, now identified as Micheal, couldn't help but exclaim with anxiety.

"I know that very well child… And I will fulfill my duty as the Holy medium to connect the worlds. Minor sacrifice for the Greater Good."

"Your Holiness! I Object. With all due respect, please let me be the medium. In all of our lords' glory, it will be an honor of this servant to give his life. You are still needed to guide the humanity my lord. You are the Saint! The people live by the ethical code that is yourself. What will happen when they find out their beloved Saint is no more?" Micheal spoke with conviction.

"I understand your concerns child. But please understand reason, I am almost the doorstep of death. And I still have enough Holy Mana in my body to be the medium.

You are a bright young lad, who still has years ahead of him. Your conviction and your piety are known to all. You will do a better job of guiding humanity after my passing."

Micheal wanted to refute when one of his colleagues, the bishop of Altunia Church, spoke, " Stop Micheal! How dare your deny his holiness? Do you think the rest of us are thrilled to know of his decision?" Micheal shook his head, realizing what his colleague meant.

"His holiness is doing this for the Greater Good of humanity. He might be the only one who has enough Holy Mana to do the ritual to begin with. He was only being considerate of you, trying not to make you feel inadequate about not having enough Holy Mana!"

Micheal dropped his head. He realized that his colleague was right. He might be one of the strongest beings on the continent, but he was like a child in front of his holiness.

He bowed to the Pope as an apology and asked for his guidance.

The Pope nodded and declared, "These are troubled times. I want all of you to go back to your respective churches and deliver the knowledge to the ruling houses. Also send the knowledge we decoded about the prophecy, to the rulers who denied the teachings of Forsaul.

It is no time for us to be divided. I implore every ruler to attend a meeting that will be held on the last month of the year. Specifically on the day of Lunar convergence. Now go children, spread the light of knowledge. For the future."

"""By your command, your Holiness!"""

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Year 1212, 6th month – Scenes of different Countries~

[Country of the Wandering Tribes, Kaelin]

16th day~

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The country of Kaelin was filled with vast plains with insufficient forestry. The weather here was affected by the Irregular breeze from the Narrow Sea and the seasonal snow, for it being closer to the North. The Cross mountains stood to its North-East and Rorengar was to it's South-East. Divided by the Gulf of Savarai.

Most people here were Nomads. Moving from one place to another in search of habitable land. As the weather was too unpredictable for the people to stay in one place.

The only Standing City which is also the Capital was located near the Narrow Sea where The Gulf meets. Of course there are other villages throughout the country, but there existed no other cities to take note of.

And in this city stood the Great Palace of Everlasting Summer. Inside in a massive room sat all the important men of Kaelin. Including the King himself, who was seated on an elevated zabuton.

The king looked towards a certain young man who had his eyes covered with linen. He asked him for his understanding of the massage, "Young Zold of the Ashar Tribe, you are the most learned among all the men sitting here. What is your take on the matter?"

The man named Zold bowed and stated calmly, "My king, if the passing days have taught us merely two points, then they are,

One, The Church of Haranhaul, never released a flawed prophecy.

Two, the Deakin race will massacre all the races, if they again to revive."

The king closed his eyes and pondered on the matter. He nodded.

"Very well, I trust your knowledge lad. Reku, deliver the Church a confirmation letter. We the Kaelin's will help on the coming war. Deakins shouldn't get a chance to revive again."

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[Kingdom of Beastfolk, Beastoria]

19th day`~

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A burly man with brown manes like a lion was sitting on his bone throne. He had golden eyes, gazing at which brought fear down to the core of the observer. He had animalistic features with Sharp teeth, a noticeably ample nose.

In front of him stood a group of people, who seemed prominent on the ranking ladder. As they were dressed nicely. Looking at their features, it was clear to see that they were from the Beastial Races, commonly referred to as Beastfolk.

And the burly man sitting on the throne was their Prime or the king, Arzad Singha.

He let out a low growl which caused most of his men cower in primal fear. The Prime was absolutely irritated by a certain letter he received from the Church.

'Fighting for the Greater Good? Don't GIVE ME THAT SHIT! These humans have no integrity… They have enslaved our ancestors for such a long time. Not to mention this bullshit religion that doesn't even regard us as people. They dare to spout nonsense about beasts being inferior!

When these hypocrites themselves pray to the four beasts that protected this realm! Not that they would ever believe or agree.'

"All of you! Listen up. Tell those hypocrites that, the beast race will take no part in this bullshit prophecy."

"By your orders, Prime!"

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[Land of Eternal Snow, Snowstrat]

15th day~

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The land of eternal snow. A place so barren that if one didn't know any better, then they would presume they were in a vast expanse of white. Nothing can be found for miles. Nothing other than snow, of course.

In the Furthest South Eastern part of the massive country, stood the legendary Sunshine City.

One might ask why that city is legendary… Well, of course, for it being the only city in the whole snowy wasteland that literally had no snow whatsoever. The city itself is a miracle on the known realm.

Some said it was a blessing from the Deities, while others said it was an ancient magic Cast by one of their ancestors, the Past Men.

Inside the City, a colossal Castle can be seen standing over thirty meters tall. It was magnificent to look at.

The crowned prince of Snowstrat was now in a meeting with the higher nobles. The subject of discussion being the recent prophecy of course.

The prince with silver hair and green eyes addressed the lords, "My lords, I am sure, all of you have read the recent report. And I do believe that all of you understand the meaning of Deakins coming back."

Everyone in the room nodded with grim expressions.

The prince waited a while and carefully looked at all the lords. He was the eldest of eight children of the current king. But fortunately or unfortunately for him, his other siblings were women. He was the fifth of the eight, and he only had seventeen namedays. His father was aged and was usually in bed rest due to his frail body.

He loved his sisters plenty, but they were never brought up to be rulers. So they could provide little help in all this. Only his youngest sister being somewhat out of the norm. Who disliked what the noble young ladies usually liked and was more of a tomboy. Wanting to be a warrior.

So the pressure was huge on the shoulders of the current crown prince, But he was a learned lad. Remarkably intelligent compared to his peers. He quickly saw through the urgency of the matter and devised a pre cautionary plan.

"I, Gregory Snowstrat, hereby decree that, we will give full support to the hero summoning and I will attend the gathering that will be held on the day of the Lunar Convergence. Pass down my reply to all the noble houses and a written reply to the Church.

And I order all of you, my lords, to get ready for the worst."

""""Understood, your highness!"""""

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[Rorengar, the legacy of the Light]

11th day~

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The king was still on his sick bed. His days were numbered. And he had no idea about the prophecy, as Bethelda did everything possible to cut him out of all the current news.

Currently the Queen was holding the letter from the Church with a sneer on her face. Her father the Duke was un amused by his daughter's antiques.

Beth glanced at her father and started. "This is supposed to be a joke right? Deakins? Prophecies? What sort of horse-dung are they feeding those senile fools?"

It appeared the Queen did not believe the written history or the Church. To her they were all fairytales, mothers told their children to make them behave.

"Stop talking NONESENSE! The threat of the Deakin is very real." The duke looked at his daughter with visible anger. How could his own blood be so senseless?

Has she not noticed when she laid with her husband? The blood of the Franzer's is no joke. The protectors of the seal, the House, whom still holds the glory of being the protectors of the known realm. Why was his daughter such an eyesore.

"Believe me, if you were not my daughter I would have disowned you years ago. I gave you a simple task when I married you off to the king.

FIND. THE. LOCATION. OF. THE. SEALED. SWORD. And where is that information? I have been waiting for that for seven years now."

The queen seemed displeased by her father's words, but she grew up under fear. So, she didn't dare to talk back to him and simply lowered her head.

"Sigh! Useless. You will get the information before that man dies. If you don't I swear to the ancestors… Nevermind! Just send a formal reply to the Church. Tell them the Royal House will give their full support and the Crowned prince will attend the Gathering in person."

After saying his piece, he stepped out of the room, visibly disgusted.

The queen was seething with anger. Her eyes red and moist, Glaring at the direction of her father's departure she swore to herself. ' Just you wait you bastard. I will send you to hell with my unfaithful husband and that demon of a stepson, very soon.'

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[to be continued in the next chapter]