Chapter 128: Chapter 128 - Mad Princess (Part 3)
Western sky was covered with iron-gray clouds.
Seraiyan army retreated from the borders, but it was not a defeat, it was a solemn retreat.
There were no victory anthems here.
There were no battle banners raised to the skies.
Only the march of thousands of soldiers going back to their homes was heard on the plains.
Princess Lilia was riding in the front of the army.
She did not talk to anybody.
Her golden Divine Mark was not so bright as it was before, but it was still shining.
From time to time, streams of light could be seen flowing under the skin of her right hand as though something ancient woke up inside of it and decided to stay awake forever.
Arthur was riding beside her silently.
Lucas led the rear guard.
Both of them did not want to disturb her thoughts.
Three days later, an urgent council was held in the Royal Palace of Seraiya.
All chairs were taken.
Generals.
Royal mages.
High priests.
Scholars.
Even retired generals were called to the meeting.
The atmosphere was tense.
Reports from each border fortress were lying on the table.
Tricus was preparing to the battle.
Merchant routes were closed.
Refugees started coming from neighboring villages because of instability on the border.
The kingdom found itself on the edge.
The venerable Archmage, Magnus Veridian, slowly rose from his chair.
His white robes moved over the marble floor.
"Your Highness."
"There is...one option."
The council became absolutely silent.
Magnus thought a bit before continuing his speech.
"It hasn’t been done for almost a thousand years."
Another mage intervened immediately.
"Archmage!"
"You can’t mean..."
Magnus nodded seriously.
"The Rite of Sovereign Synchronization."
These words caused murmurs around the table.
Several younger mages didn’t know the name of the ritual.
Lilia looked at the old mage.
"What is it?"
Magnus breathed deeply.
"This is an ancient royal ritual which was made during the Great Demon War."
"This ritual allows the bearer of the Royal Divine Mark to synchronize with the wyverns spiritually."
Lucas frowned slightly.
"I’ve heard some pieces of that legend."
"They say the first queens flew along the whole flocks."
Magnus smiled a bit.
"It was never a legend."
"It was history."
The Archmage unfolded an old scroll.
Its parchment was dried and cracked.
Gold runes were shimmering on the scroll.
"This ritual doesn’t enslave the wyverns."
"This ritual asks their trust."
Arthur folded his arms.
"And why was it forbidden?"
Magnus answered quietly.
"Because synchronization is dangerous."
"If the ruler’s heart starts to waver..."
"The mana backlash will destroy both human and beast."
The room became silent again.
Lilia was reading the ancient runes.
"My heart has already been tried."
Magnus looked straight into her eyes.
"That’s exactly the reason why it may work."
By sunset the preparations had already begun.
High above the capital stood the Sky Sanctuary, a huge circular platform constructed above the highest mountain overlooking Seraiya.
Ancient pillars were surrounding the edge of the platform.
There were depictions of flying wyverns and lost monarchs on the pillars.
The ceremony hadn’t been held there for centuries.
Hundreds of royal mages were gathered in perfect circles.
Blue crystals were placed between the pillars.
Golden mana was flowing through the ancient symbols carved on the stone floor.
The air was humming around.
Arthur, Lucas and Queen Celestine were standing in a respectful distance.
Celestine was still ill, but she wanted to watch the ceremony anyway.
"My daughter..."
She whispered.
"...may the gods guide you."
Lilia stepped into the middle of the Sanctuary.
Evening wind moved her silver-blonde hair.
She closed her eyes.
Legendary Divine Mark was glowing on her hand again.
Magnus raised his staff.
"Start the synchronization."
Hundreds of mages were chanting together.
Ancient words, much older than the Kingdom itself, were echoing in the mountains.
The mana circles were lit.
Golden light was rising to the skies.
The skies answered to it.
Far away...
Distant cry was ringing among the clouds.
Then another one.
And then one more.
Lucas looked up.
"... Listen."
Dark shapes appeared beyond the western mountains.
At first it was just a few.
Then dozens.
And soon...
Hundreds of wyverns flew in the evening sky.
Their wings covered the clouds with living shadows.
Young soldiers automatically touched their weapons.
Arthur calmly raised his hand.
"Stand down."
"They aren’t attacking."
The great creatures were circling the sanctuary.
None of them was descending.
None of them was roaring.
They were just watching.
Lilia slowly opened her eyes.
She looked at the sky without fear.
Not uttering any words...
She touched the skies with her heart.
I do not call you as weapons.
I do not ask for your obedience.
I just ask you this...
Will you stand with us to defend those who can’t protect themselves?
Will you help me to take my revenge?
Silence followed.
And then...
The eldest wyvern in the flock descended.
Its emerald scales were sparkling in the fading sunlight.
Ancient scars were crossing its huge body.
It landed in front of Lilia surprisingly gracefully.
The creature was lowering its mighty head.
Not in submission.
But in acknowledgment.
One after another...
All other wyverns landed.
The mountain started shaking with the weight of hundreds of great beasts gathered peacefully around the sanctuary.
Gasp spread among the watching knights.
Even Magnus smiled in surprise.
"It worked..."
"No..."
He corrected himself.
"They’ve chosen her."
Arthur was looking at the wings filling the evening sky.
A smile appeared.
"The Kingdom hasn’t got an army."
"The Kingdom has got allies."
As the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, the cries of the wyverns were echoing around Seraiya.
Since that evening, all inhabitants of the Kingdom would remember the young sovereign whose voice reached even the hearts of dragons of the sky.
And before long...
They would give Lilia KingHeart a new name.
The Queen of Wyverns.
With the final bow of the wyvern, the entire Sky Sanctuary shook.
The Legendary Divine Mark upon the right hand of Lilia glowed brighter than ever before.
Her golden crest was beginning to change.
Ancient runes spread across her wrist like rivers of light, forming an emblem which had never been seen amongst the Divine Marks of Seraiya before.
The air itself seemed to react to the awakening.
A pillar of gold mana rose towards the heavens.
The clouds were splitting.
The sunlight was shining upon the sanctuary, despite the coming evening.
The Royal Mages were kneeling automatically.
Archmage Magnus gazed in disbelief.
"... Impossible."
"This is not only the awakened Legendary Mark."
"This is evolution."
Gold letters, invisible to all except those blessed with exceptional mana sensing capabilities, started floating before Lilia.
Legendary Divine Mark
Sovereign of Dominion
The ancient words whispered gently inside her mind.
"The duty of a sovereign is not to rule by fear..."
"But to inspire those who are willing to follow him."
Warm mana spread through every cell of her body.
Unlike the usual power, it seemed soothing.
Calming.
Inviting.
It did not demand anything.
It just invited.
One after another, the new powers revealed themselves within her mind.
Royal Command
Lilia could now give commands, filled with the royal mana.
All those who were ready to follow her would have clear minds and strong will, which allowed for great coordination of actions in the midst of chaos.
Dominion Aura
Gentle golden aura spread from Lilia’s presence.
Within its range, all her allies would feel inspired and would lose all fear and despair.
This was the aura of the ruler who was standing beside his people and not above them.
Wyvern Synchronization
The ancient link to the sky was awakened fully.
Now Lilia could communicate with the wyverns by mana and emotions instead of words.
These proud creatures would answer her because they were trusting her heart and not afraid of being forced to do something.
King’s Battlefield
As long as Lilia was standing on the battlefield, determined and strong, mana automatically favored cooperation of her allies.
The Knights moved better coordinated.
The Royal mages synchronized their spells.
Even the Healers found it easier to channel their magic.
This was how the battlefield responded to its sovereign’s presence.
Absolute Authority
The rarest power of the Sovereign of Dominion.
For a small period of time, Lilia could suppress the fear inside the hearts of her allies.
The exhausted soldiers would be able to stand firmly.
The terrified civilians would be able to find the strength to leave the danger zone.
This power would not remove the pain and sorrow, but would remind them of what they were fighting for.
Due to its incredible strain on the body and spirit, this power could be used rarely.
The golden glow which was surrounding Lilia was slowly disappearing.
The sanctuary fell silent.
Arthur looked at the Archmage.
"Have you ever seen such a Divine Mark?"
Magnus slowly nodded his head.
"Of King Aldric... but it’s different from that one."
"The old chronicles spoke about only the ruler who united the kingdoms."
"They didn’t mention the powers."
Lucas smiled gently as one of the wyverns was carefully lowering its head near Lilia.
"They don’t treat her as their master."
"They treat her as their Queen."
Lilia looked around at the countless wyverns gathering peacefully inside the sanctuary.
She smiled gently and put her hand against the scarred muzzle of the eldest wyvern.
"Thank you."
The ancient creature rumbled contentedly, echoing across the mountain.
Hundreds of wyverns roared proudly, filling the skies of Seraiya with their sound.
People in the capital hurried out of their houses and looked up.
Not with the fear...
But with the hope.
For the first time after the death of the kingdom, the smiles appeared on the tired faces.
The Royal Chronicle would remember this evening in one sentence:
"On the day the heavens answered her call, the Princess Lilia KingHeart stopped being known as the heiress of Seraiya. From that sunset onwards, she became the Queen of Wyverns."
