As the skies cleared, so were the troubled hearts of the citizens who were looking from a mountain top a few kilometers away from the Capital.
They were all on their knees, knights, commoners, and nobles alike, with their hands clasped in their chests to pray to the Creator to help the Empire in this chaos.
But once they saw the cloud of doom dissipate, discussions started, and all of them hoped for the better of the Empire.
"Is the enemy defeated?"
"I hope so…"
"That bright light was something formidable… For sure someone was sent by the heavens to save our Empire…"
"I pray that our Emperor, the Princes, and all the others who fought against the enemy were safe…
The conditions around them were not really optimal as they were transported with haste and without preparation. Normally the nobles would immediately complain and separate themselves away from the commoners and servants.
But no one let out a single word of complaint especially when they all witnessed every hardship that has happened last night until this morning. It was an all-out way that came so suddenly.
A way that had repeatedly threatened them with doom. They would still shudder at the thought of the countless giant boulders that appeared in the sky which would surely crush them at any moment.
But after around half an hour, the same rainbow-like diamond-shaped portal appeared mid-air. It was the same portal that transported them to safety on this mountain top.
The citizens lifted their heads up to see who would arrive through the majestic portal. Their hearts also couldn't help but feel anxious, what news would they bring?
Then they saw two figures that were clothed modestly but still stood in a dignified and revered manner. They are none other than the two queens of the Empire, First Queen, Lucia, and Second Queen Tehila.
Assisting them were several priests from the Temple and Keren with several Temple Knights.
"Your Highness, First Queen and Second Queen…" They all bowed in reverence upon realizing who they were.
Queen Tehila waved her hand to put them at ease as she looked at Queen Lucia, signaling her to do the honors of announcing the great news.
With a nod of understanding, Queen Lucia took a few steps forward and addressed the people who were taken into a refuge.
"The heavens have looked upon us in mercy. Our cries and prayers are heard clearly!
As you know our Empire tried its very best to defend itself by the sacrifice of our brave knights and warriors led by His Majesty, Emperor, Our Dear Princes, and His Eminence, High Priest.
But the enemy used abominable sinister methods to acquire overwhelming power, contracting themselves to the evil… and so our Empire had almost lost the chance to survive if not for a great miracle…"
At this point, Queen Lucia paused and turned her head to Keren, hinting her to explain the last portion.
As she was obliged by First Queen Lucia, Keren stepped forward and announced in a dignified manner.
"A few months ago, there was an oracle that descended in the Empire.
The Temple believed that the oracle was a continuation of the previous oracle that had predicted this chaos from happening. Unlike the preceding oracles, the last oracle brought hope to the Empire, upon which we have never understood the meaning.
Here says the last oracle!
'Rejoice! Oh, Empire whose name is victorious,
For the One Who Sees listened to the one who prayed.
Hold the hand of the one who was named industrious,
No longer will he who suffered be ever afraid.'
The light you have seen earlier, that descended on the skies above the capital was none other than the Paladin that the Oracle pertained to. The hope of the Empire that would deliver us from the hands of the evil one and save us all in this chaos!!!"
"Woah!!! Praise the Creator!"
"Ohh, thank the heavens!"
Upon hearing their explanations, the people went on their knees and started praising the Creator above. Queen Lucia and Tehila also looked up in the sky and sang their praises.
Unlike any other monarchy, the Seirende Empire was one of the rare lands that honors the Creator's sovereignty that was recognized to be far more superior than their own monarch.
This was true because everyone in Seirende knew that the origin of the Empire's building was due to the blessing of the heavens from the Guardian Ignis. As such, the Imperial Family was never offended to see the people sing praises to the Creator other than themselves.
"Now…" Queen Tehila allowed everyone to settle down before continuing the words they had to relay.
"As you all know, the capital was in grave ruins, many of our brave men were heavily injured and even His Majesty was wounded, as such, I implore you…."
Queen Tehila looked at the people with tears in her eyes and bowed humbly in the pleading, "As the Second Queen of the Seirende Empire, to help us rebuild our capital to its former glory…"
It was a gesture not fitting for a queen of a great Empire, and yet no one at this moment looked at her in contempt or ridicule.
Instead, all who saw this had their hearts stirred with the sense of belonging and care for their homeland, the Seirende Empire.
"We, the people of the Farauld Family, respond to your call, Your highness!"
"We, the people of the Forgeworn Family, have received your call, Your highness! Use us as you wish!"
"We, the people of the Cross Family, answer to your call, Your highness!"
One by one the acting heads of the families from the prominent clans to the common people responded willingly to Queen Tehila's call.
And so upon their transport back to the capital, the noble families need not wait for the orders from the Imperial Family to start rebuilding the empire.
No one tried to even take advantage of the chaos and tried to loot the unaware, instead, a deep sense of patriotism and compassion awakened the people, and acted as one.
On the Temple ground, Eli stood beside the High Priest with her identity still concealed from other people. They head into the meeting room where Kayden, the heads of the Temple Knights, Mishael, Keren and Joab, and Leon were waiting patiently.
There were so many things to deal with in the aftermath, but the most urgent ones were the treatment of the injured.
As most of the cure potions were used to weaken the spirit fragment the Empire's stocks were running low and they did not have enough time to concoct another batch because the curse power that hit the army was directly from Carolina.
This meant that only the supreme grade cure potion, made from Eli's spiritual power, was the only effective one. And so, the High Priest and Kayden were in a dilemma.
" I will inject them with spiritual power directly…" Eli decided, looking at numerous knights suffering in pain.
"But we need to be careful of the outside to show what you can do…" Surprisingly High Priest Enoch objected.
"But why?" Eli asked in confusion, haven't they all announced that the 'Paladin' that had appeared was the subject to the oracle?
"It's like this…" High Priest Enoch sighed heavily and started to bring light to the information of which Eli was deprived this past few weeks.
"This chaos had all started when you were in your secluded training period. There were several killings that used cursed weapons randomly in the capital." The High Priest proceeded to tell the tale of the origin of the chaos.
From the demands of a mysterious man called Lord Raven to the fight in the Third District that caused Second Prince Antoine to be greatly injured, to the imposing of the lockdown by the Emperor and the stealth preparation of the retaliation.
Then came the spark of the chaos which was the violent bombings throughout the capital's vicinity. All this pertains to one thing, somehow, the enemy that was lurking outside the empire was triggered by her capability to eradicate a part of his spirit.
This Lord Raven started to create chaos in the Empire in hopes to reveal herself.
"This…" Eli was left speechless. A great wave of guilt flowed in her heart and even with her mask, the people around could imagine the sadness and self-blame that she was dealing with right now.
But in reality, none of them blamed her, none of them blamed her existence nor her abilities.
"It's not your fault…" The first to voice out his feelings was none other than Leon, who looked at her lovingly and with great worry.
"The one at fault was the evil one, who would just find a reason to disturb other people's peace. Moreover, even if Lord Raven had not triggered the killings, we have enough evidence that the Vesalas had long planned to destroy the Empire… So do not blame yourself for this, Eli…"
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