While Renan was preparing himself for his adventure in the outside world, somewhere far away from the Dragon Empire was another empire that was way bigger than the Dragon Empire. Its castle stood tall, looking magnificent, a testament to its strength and dominance. This empire was the Empire of Humans, home to the human race and the sworn enemies of dragons.
But right now, in the heart of the Human Empire, inside the grand castle, the main hall was filled with a suffocating silence. Sitting on his throne was the Human Emperor—the first emperor of humanity, the strongest human to ever exist. His gray hair, though not from aging but natural, shone under the dim torchlight. His pitch-black eyes, deep and unreadable, surveyed the vast hall with an air of absolute authority. His face, which looked to be in its late twenties or early thirties, held no warmth as he observed the two figures kneeling before him.
Standing beside the emperor was an old man gripping a wooden staff, his expression calm yet sharp, his presence one of wisdom and experience.
Before the emperor, two individuals knelt on one knee, their heads bowed in submission. One was a woman with long red hair, clad in crimson armor that gleamed under the torchlight. The other was a man with the same gray hair as the emperor, dressed in gray armor that blended with the grand hall’s dark surroundings. They were his own children—his fifth son and seventh daughter.
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After a long moment of silence, the emperor finally spoke, his voice cold and devoid of any emotion. It was not the voice of a father but that of a ruler.
"Raise your heads, my children," he commanded.
At his words, both lifted their heads but remained kneeling, their eyes locked onto their father, awaiting his next words. The emperor’s gaze lingered on them for a moment before he continued.
"Speak, my children. What is it that you desire as a reward? My fifth son, Lucian Valtheris, for your sixth breakthrough in the warrior path. And my seventh daughter, Veyra Valtheris, for your seventh breakthrough," he stated, expecting them to ask for something grand.
But what he heard next was something he had not anticipated.
"We do not desire anything, Father. We already possess everything we need," they both declared in unison, their voices firm and unwavering.
The emperor arched an eyebrow at their response, slightly intrigued. ’Well, that was unexpected, I suppose,’ he mused internally. He had anticipated them to ask for riches, land, or power. But they asked for nothing. That, in itself, was rare.
Finding himself at a loss for what to grant them, he turned his head slightly to the old man standing beside him and spoke.
"Say, my friend, what do you think I should grant them since they claim to desire nothing?"
The old man, his most trusted advisor, Garrick, who had been with him since the beginning of his journey, now considered a friend, stroked his beard before answering in a slow, thoughtful tone.
"Your Majesty, since the prince is inclined toward ruling, I suggest granting him a small kingdom to govern. Let him prove his ability to lead and bring prosperity to the land. As for the princess, she is one who thrives in battle, always seeking to grow stronger. However, sending her out without experience would be reckless. I propose that she accompany the prince—not to rule, but to fight and protect the land, gaining experience along the way."
The emperor listened attentively, nodding in approval at Garrick’s suggestion. He then turned back to his children.
"You have heard Garrick’s words. This will be your path. If either of you has objections, speak now," he commanded.
"We have no objections, Your Majesty," they responded without hesitation.
"Good. Then rise to your feet and leave. Garrick will handle the arrangements for your departure," the emperor declared.
Without another word, the two siblings stood, bowed respectfully, and exited the hall in silence.
As the doors shut behind them, the hall fell into an eerie stillness. The emperor remained seated, deep in thought, before breaking the silence.
"It has been a while since I last saw you, Seer," he said, his gaze still forward, unflinching.
Slowly, from the shadows of the throne, a hunched figure emerged. She was a woman with dark skin, her face filled with countless wrinkles, showing the toll of time. Her eyes were lifeless, devoid of color, as if they had lost their light long ago. Her long white hair hung down her back like strands of aged silk.
"Indeed, Your Majesty. It has been quite some time," she rasped, her voice frail yet filled with an air of mystery.
The emperor, uninterested in small talk, cut straight to the point.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
The Seer stepped forward, her presence eerie as she spoke in a slow, deliberate tone.
"The Dragon Star has been born. A dragon who will be the bringer of a golden age of dragons has come into this world—born just eight years ago," she revealed, her voice carrying an ominous weight.
She waited for a reaction, expecting at least a flicker of surprise from the emperor. But his expression remained unreadable, his next words disappointing her.
"I see," he said simply.
Turning his head slightly, he looked at Garrick and remarked, "So, you were right, Garrick. The grandson of Ruston, the Dragon Emperor’s Grandson, is the so-called Dragon Star, but What a pity. The war against the dragons will resume in twelve years, leaving him with little time to grow. A Fortunate for humans and unfortunate for dragons."
Garrick, hearing the emperor acknowledge his foresight, gave a slight bow. "Your praise is an honor to me Your Majesty."
The Seer, who had expected more of a reaction, sighed inwardly. ’I suppose I should have known. After all, this is Garrick we’re talking about. The most brilliant strategist in the empire and the emperor’s most trusted mind. Of course, he would have already predicted this.’
But before she could dwell on her thoughts further, the emperor’s voice rang out once more, shattering the silence.
"What of the Calamity Star?" he asked, his tone growing more serious. "The one who will bring destruction to both humans and dragons alike, the one prophesied to destroy this world. Has he been born?"
The room grew colder, as if an unseen force had swept through it.
The Seer’s lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile as she finally answered.
"He has."
At those words, the emperor’s black eyes flickered with something unreadable—a rare moment of intrigue.
"And where is he?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.
The Seer hesitated for a brief moment before speaking.
"That, Your Majesty, is still unknown. But know this—when the time comes, he will reveal himself, and when he does, the fate of this world will change forever."
The emperor sat in silence, absorbing her words, before finally leaning back into his throne, a ghost of a smirk appearing on his lips.
"Then let the show begin," he murmured.