It had been a week since the miraculous Appeal of the Slave.
The sight of how a slave stood up and used his amazing knowledge and cunning to dismantle the Dukes and King that wanted to kill him simply.
This tale made the wicked Duke the cause of all the plots, and now Emeros was heralded as a hero.
For a week, the ship of Prince Alistair stayed over the lands and started communicating with Baron Merovus of the distant Umbraden Kingdom.
The Count of Umbraden now delighted and formed numerous trade deals with Umbraden. All of them centered on Perment's energy conversion circles.
In the past week, the Count was amazed at the amount of knowledge that Perment had in creating energy conversion circles. His capabilities were not underestimated as he managed to create new forms of power.
But strangely, if another were to use Perment's circle, it did not work.
Others tried to copy the energy conversion circle tattooed around Perment, but it still didn't work!
As such, Perment became the official energy conversion circle master that would create various energy fields, and he was scheduled to be brought to Umbraden with the rest.
As for Wesret, Philip, Don, and Tyra, they were constantly being trained and were called to be the official knights serving under Baron Knight Merovus.
But it was not only because they were Emeros's friends, but Merovus was shocked at the group's fighting capabilities. He believed that if these became Captains, they could challenge Champions!
He, himself, was a man who dreamed of such heroics, and now he had a team who was strong enough to help him catapult his way to that level.
For now, Merovus and the group were set on making a conquest tour to attack various races within the mines. With a small team, they would scout and wage war against all four races. The goal was to create chaos and conflict constantly.
With the Puk's strange magical abilities to alter their form and the corpses of various races that would be used, they could once again redo their invasion and act like other races.
As for Emeros, Serena, and Vivindel, they were on the large ship that was headed up toward the Floating Continents.
Prince Alistair stood by and listened as Emeros continued to explain many things about the nature of the Energy Conversion Circle. The knowledge he revealed would shock Prince Alistair as he realized that Emeros's ways were at least on par with the knowledge and power used in the Continents Above the Sky!
"There are also some elements that I can create with double the peak power. For Light and Fire elements, Soter will do. For Wind, Pnevma. For Time/Space, I will use Calaminus. For Darkness, Mysterion. For Ice and Water, Hydron. For Steel, Hyperion. For Earth and Brimstone, Histerion. Vivindel, is marked with Dentro's mark. This is why his growth and power are increasing. But I want a strong and tough true vine capable of harming and binding Champions."
"Master aims to make me his weapon?" Vivindel asked.
"A living weapon. Also, I need to create quick energy conversion circles. I'm not like my brothers, Kyros and Noxus." Emeros explained.
Serena continued to listen. She was amazed at the true background of Emeros as she was updated.
Since Emeros and Prince Alistair were talking openly about their respective secrets, Vivindel and Serena also began to learn the truth about Emeros.
"And because of those glyphs and names that I could use to mark, those who have made their allegiance to me, or those that I mark with Vasilius, could harness these glyphs. I could theoretically create High-Grade elemental Cores. But... I need more knowledge. The memories I had of Kyros were only in the first-level books. That idiot was too smart. He could easily guess things three levels high. He probably needed the third level." Emeros sighed.
"Then it shall be as I requested. Everyone is laughing at me because I was requesting to have you be accepted as a teacher. The good news is that my brothers allowed it to happen since they thought I'd gone mad. The bad thing is that you will face so many people who will look down on you, my dear Prince."
"But I'm curious, why enroll me as a student and not a teacher?" Emeros asked.
"In the Continents Above the Sky, the greatest profession that one can have is not being a king of a Kingdom. It is the lofty position known as the Great Pedagog. It is the supreme title that one can attain."
"Pedagog? You mean... a Teacher?"
"Yes. An important teacher. That title is extremely important. Not only in the Floating Continents but even in the mortal world. That Baron, Baron Yen, is a famous teacher vying to become a Pedagog within this lowly plane. Becoming an accomplished Pedagog will make you so influential that their words could condemn or raise this kingdom. Your Esfork kingdom's suffering was caused by a Pedagog."
"What?!" Emeros was astounded.
It's true. Pedagog of Orange Alchemy, Lord Barmivus Strekra Werembus, had taken a liking to the princess of your Esfork kingdom. But this old man only scared the young girl."
At that moment, Serena, who was listening, felt a sharp pain in her heart.
She began to tremble as she heard the story that she kept in her heart for so long.
"Young girl?"
"Indeed. A young girl whose beauty was said to shock those from the skies above. And so this beautiful princess was pursued by the Pedagog. But the girl kept refusing. The Pedagog went to the king and asked for this young girl to be his slave."
"The king refused?"
"Yes. The king refused. And with that, the Pedagog used his influence to attack and destroy the kingdom. On the day the kingdom fell, this Pedagog was reported to have paid a visit to the kingdom. In his rage, it was believed that he killed the girl."
Serena was listening, and her heart kept thumping though she did not know why.
Emeros noticed it.
"Hm… So that solves the puzzle, Serena."
"Master?"
"You're stories were inconsistent when I asked you about your past. Dark Dependent, vampire girl with a scared face. Your figure and form look as if a strange curse inflicted you. But the curse was too outstanding for one created by someone within this land. After all, who can forcibly alter the body and make it Dark Dependent? And the curse itself was cruel. In this land that has no tolerance for Black Magic, you would be unable to grow. Your vampire form was only a half-step. You were half-human, half-vampire. But you wouldn't enjoy each advantage. I pondered who would have such immense hatred for you, a mere slave girl. This person would have amazing powers. But why? Why attack a girl and create a powerful curse to make her life as miserable as possible? Why a girl of this place? I had figured that you were someone of position or nobility. But even then, it didn't make sense why someone who would be in the Floating Continents to have such immense hatred towards you." Emeros began.
Prince Alistair was startled as Emeros spoke of Serena's puzzling origin.
"It can't be!"
"Now it fits. Princess Sirena Bar'gasha Esfork. Inheritor of the fallen kingdom of Esfork."
"Master… I didn't mean to lie to you…"
"Oh, I know why you did lie to me. I know why you did it. Ever since my miracles, you've kept this secret aside. And I kept pondering why. I've been generous to everyone. I even took Brent and Tyra and made them our allies despite the previous conflicts we had. Yet, you were silent. Now I understand. Your enemy was something that even the miraculous me could not fight back. Is that correct?" Emeros asked.
Sirena trembled, and she bowed her head in agreement.
"...My Prince. It is not surprising. You see, Pedagog Lord Barmivus Strekra Werembus is a powerful Pedagog that has gained recognition of the Continent Above the Sky. He is a Cardinal in power and stands among the very strongest Cultivators. He is one, vying to become another Crown of this region. And he supports my brother, Prince Magnus. And he is the one who many believe will assume the throne."
"So you want me to walk the path of a Pedagog to help me rise through the kingdom's rank?"
"Yes. Your ability to steal knowledge and memories will help you grow. The school will have many brilliant minds. And if they see a young promising teacher with very little backing, what would they do?" Alistair asked.
"Try to steal his memories... interesting. You call me your Prince, yet you toss me in the lion's den."
"Would you have it another way, my Prince?"
"No. That is perfect." Emeros smiled.
"Sirena. Wait for me. I will make you a Queen one day. Our kingdom will rise. And many will see you as the true beauty I have always seen in you." Emeros wiped the tears of Sirena.
Sirena began to sob. Though the wounds on her face had gotten better, the curse of the Pedagog that robbed her beauty was relentless, and her face would not heal. And it wasn't just the beauty. This curse robbed her ability to regain her strength or even live a slightly comfortable life. Her cultivation was over, and every hope that she had, vanished when the dark decree of the Pedagog spoke into existence.
"My Prince... He is... too strong! I don't know what Kyros or your brother Noxus had. But what I see is you...! I'm already happy with how I have been spared a painful life that is set to suffering. But he is powerful! Your thoughts will be known to him!"
"You fear him, Sirena. But he is not invincible. I will not rush to kill him. But I will kill him soon. Not just because of you. But because he destroyed my entire kingdom!" Emeros answered.
"In any case, it seems fated that the woman by your side who will act as your maid is someone who was the source of Esfork kingdom's tragedy. It's as if Fate is on our side." Alistair laughed.
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