At this stage, Lucia's speed was far inferior to that of Lansseax. Consequently, after the two moved away from the Grand Lift of Dectus, the latter deliberately slowed her pace. Given the velocity of an Ancient Dragon, they would reach Leyndell before nightfall regardless; there was no need to rush.
Along the way, they discussed the follow-up plans for the matters Lucia had just ntioned in detail. Lansseax also briefly introduced noteworthy landmarks within the capital. After that, most of their conversation drifted into a casual exchange about the sights and figures of both Farum Azula and Leyndell.
After an extensive conversation, half a day slipped away unnoticed. Looking down from the heavens, vast stretches of fertile farmland and pastures gradually replaced the untad wilderness. In the distance, the Golden Royal Capital revealed its magnificent silhouette—beautiful buildings constructed of marble and gold stretching toward the horizon.
Suddenly, Lansseax flapped her wings and hovered in the sky. Lucia stopped as well, following her gaze toward a remote, rugged hill.
By a rough estimate, the place was at least a hundred miles from Leyndell. Its jagged rocks and barren soil had likely hindered human expansion. No signs of life could be seen; the only striking features were a few strange stone pillars standing on the summit.
"Follow ," Lansseax said. Her eyes had grown lancholy, her gaze revealing a hint of indescribable sorrow.
They dove from the sky. As the distance closed, Lucia finally glimpsed the true nature of those pillars. They were made entirely of obsidian, reinforced with magic or ancient incantations. Their rough surfaces still caught the fading glow of the sun. In shape, they were flat and varied in size, featuring protrusions near the top like crossguards. They were crude stone swords thrust deep into the earth.
"Is this a Sword Monunt?"
Lucia landed on the hilltop, looking at the weathered, dilapidated stone blades, montarily lost in thought.
"That's right." Lansseax walked ahead of him. She reached out a slender hand to stroke the characters on the monunt's surface, which had beco mottled after years of rain. "The history of the Ancient Dragon War is recorded here. Those smaller monunts behind them list the nas of the Erdtree heroes who achieved great feats during the conflict."
Lucia looked in the direction she pointed. At the very top of the list was the world-renowned leader of the demigods—'Godwyn the Golden, son of Marika and Godfrey, Wielder of the Sun.'
The inscription recorded the glorious deeds of the Golden Prince, who successfully defeated the Ancient Dragon Fortissax, known as the 'Strongest Rock,' in a one-on-one duel. The two had subsequently beco friends, jointly establishing the Ancient Dragon Faith in the capital.
"Lucia, I know you carry the inheritance of the Goddess and His Majesty. From the day you were born, you possessed wisdom far exceeding your peers," Lansseax whispered through the cool breeze. She turned around, her gaze fixed quietly on him. "After hearing about everything you've done during this journey, I am even more convinced of it."
"But... if I told you that Her Majesty Marika seriously consulted my opinion before sending that invitation to Farum Azula, and it was I who gave the affirmative answer—would you resent for it?"
Lucia froze, his mind filled with shock. He had never expected this sister to have such significant influence over the Eternal Queen. Yet, he also doubted why she thought he'd prefer the drafty, isolated halls of Farum Azula.
Accepting the invitation had been a necessity of the situation, but it was also the best strategic choice he had determined. Although being a "hostage" carried risk, he wasn't the only demigod invited; those three from Caria were also on the list.
His initial plan was simple: once he reached the capital, he would use the priests who had been preaching there for ten years as a shield. He could mingle with the most powerful group of demigods before The Shattering. Even if he couldn't learn their secret techniques, he could build connections. Once the Night of the Black Knives ended and the war began, he could simply close the gates of Farum Azula and maintain neutrality. The Great Runes and Destined Death would have nothing to do with him.
In contrast, staying in Farum Azula ant being surrounded by a slumbering King and a Council of Elders who either looked down on him or harbored hidden agendas. While his wings were not yet grown, staying there ant being a puppet.
But after witnessing the deaths of the Wyvern Warriors protecting him, and the abyssal strength of the Gloam-Eyed Queen through Samuel's body, Lucia's perspective had shifted. These few days had been a baptism of his soul.
"Sister Lansseax," he sighed softly, his gaze gentle. "During those days in Farum Azula, I saw you looking restless. Were you agonizing over this? Did you know then that Marika would send for ?"
"I was clearly the one who asked you first," Lansseax shook her head helplessly. "Demigods truly cannot be judged by common logic. By human standards, you were only two days old then—an age for crying for milk. How could you see so much?"
"Strictly speaking, I am already over a thousand years old, am I not?"
"That makes a lot of sense," Lansseax tilted her head. "Yes, I was indeed thinking about it then. The three children of the Carian Royal Family showed extraordinary talent early on. Half a year ago, I sensed the intention of Their Majesties to bring them to Leyndell. I knew an invitation for us would follow."
Standing before these monunts, Lucia understood her state of mind. On one hand was the equality and independence the Ancient Dragons had bought with blood ten years ago. Yet, with the growing power gap and the New Faction's hostility, the peace treaty was teetering. Refusing the Queen would have tipped the scales toward war.
On the other hand, as a priestess and a royal, she was his blood relative. Given the whispers in Farum Azula calling for her or Fortissax to be the New King after Gransax fell, her choice was incredibly sensitive. If she accepted the invitation, Lucia might have harbored a deep resentnt that would lead to a royal rift.
"Sister, you don't need to worry about that at all." Lucia took two steps forward, touching the rough obsidian of the monunt. "Before I set out, I spent my ti in the Great Library of Farum Azula, trying to understand this world through the ancient records."
"I learned of the Battle of the Dragon Tree. The people of Leyndell call it the 'Ancient Dragon War,' as if we started the fire—but I know that if the wings of the dragons hadn't eclipsed the Erdtree, we wouldn't have the right to negotiate as equals."
"The peace treaty ten years ago allowed us to stand without crawling under the Golden Order. It allowed us to spread the faith of the Initial Ring. I understand it wasn't the treaty that ended the war, but the life-sacrificing strike High Priest Gransax launched against the capital, and the blood shed on the Altus Plateau."
He looked calmly at her. "Understanding the weight of this peace, how could I hold resentnt toward you?"
Lansseax's expression beca subtle. She seed to be fighting an impulse, until she finally burst into hearty laughter.
"Hehe, hahahaha! As expected of our Prince! Your awareness is truly sothing else!" She looked at him teasingly, tears of laughter in her eyes.
"Sister?" Lucia looked bewildered.
"To think so much at your age... I'm touched, truly. But—" Lansseax gave his head a gentle pat. "Did you really think sothing of this level would keep agonizing for so long?"
"Huh?" Lucia was stunned. The threat of a second Battle of the Dragon Tree was a "small matter"?
"Your sister was already very powerful during the last war!" Lansseax narrowed her eyes. "At that ti, Godwyn was stationed in the capital, and with the Erdtree's backing, he fought like a god. Yet, I slaughtered a dozen heroes right before his eyes. Even with the New Faction's arrogance, no one dares shout in my presence."
"Did you think the letter I sent back was a lie?" She looked at him with soft emotion. "If you really didn't want to co, even if we had to fight another war, so what?"
Lucia wanted to speak, but the words caught in his throat.
"I wanted you to co to Leyndell because I've seen too much here," Lansseax sighed. "The Golden Dynasty rules the continent, and Queen Marika is a peerless ruler. Under her, the most talented individuals from every race and faith have gathered."
"There are the Crucible Knights; mages from Raya Lucaria; Court Perfurs; even the Black and White Kings from beyond the heavens. Cultures collide and rge here. Every day, new Battle Arts, magic, and chanical creations are born. Such a scene hasn't appeared in the Lands Between for a thousand years."
"In the distant past, we were the ones leading the era," she continued. "But the Forbidden War hidden in history destroyed everything. Farum Azula beca a ruin, the Goddess vanished, and His Majesty fell into a slumber. High Priest Gransax was tight-lipped about it; even I don't know who our opponent was."
"I only know one thing—" She looked at Lucia. "We cannot keep guarding Farum Azula in isolation, or we will beco nothing but rotting stone, crushed by the wheels of the era."
Lucia's eyes lit up, a fla born in his pupils. He understood—better than anyone—that this era would soon face an upheaval that would tear everything down. Before that tide, change ant life; resistance ant death.
"I want you to co to the royal capital, to the center of the era, and grow alongside those demigods. I want you to learn the arts of the Forge of Life, the magic of Raya Lucaria, and the incantations of the Erdtree... to beco the most outstanding of all demigods."
Lansseax gazed into his eyes. "I believe that one day, you will beco the King who leads us into the next glorious era."
Lucia looked back into her eyes, where the sa flas danced.
"I will," he promised.
"I know," Lansseax smiled warmly. "From the mont we reunited and I saw that undrawn Dragon-Scale Blade, I knew you were already on the Path of a King."
She blinked playfully. "However, you are still young. Rember one thing before you make any future decisions."
"What?"
"You are not alone. Behind you stands a Farum Azula that will eventually rise."
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