S1199. December 31st. 10:00PM.
Some time later...
The scenery had changed. Bringing up the plan to evacuate all of Heimdallr so I could attempt the Vermillion Trials in the coming year or two. We'll see if it takes place in two months' time, or afterward. It's not like I have to rush it. I want to be ready for whatever it has to say.
They say the Infernal Castle's structure changes depending on who does the Vermillion Trials, so I have no idea what will happen. And that's right, it's December 31st. The dance happened on the cusp of the next century!
The scenery had changed. Emperor Eugent and Father were both on board with the whole evacuation business. We need to time it right to not make it chaotic around the capital. The Vermillion Trials are the only trials known to cause what are called singularities to appear.
The Infernal Castle...
I did not think Father would request such a thing several moments ago. Like I said, the scenery changed. We were no longer behind closed doors. No, we wandered quite a bit away from that.
Presently, a sole large platform slowly descended down a gigantic shaft. Including me were five other people who stood on it, patiently waiting for the platform to finish moving.
We were now beneath Valflame Palace, slowly descending to its depths.
It was where Testa-Rossa, the Vermillion Divine Knight, was kept in captivity.
To my right was Emperor Eugent, Princess Alfin, and Chancellor Osborne. To my left were the Witch Emma, and Captain Claire of the RMP. Claire was still in uniform, as was Emma. That signaled both were guard duty. Claire guarding Father, and Emma, likewise guarding me.
While Emma remained calm, Claire was surprised to find such a place beneath Valflame Palace. She wasn't privy to this information, as the rest of the Ironbloods weren't either. We were in a very, very long shaft. The walls of the Infernal Castle rested all around us.
"I've only come across some history books pertaining to the War of the Lions, but I had no idea that such a massive structure existed beneath Valflame Palace...", Claire uttered, feeling amazed.
Looking down, she saw a long, dark corridor that stretched for miles on end. It really was a long shaft, to say the least. This was equivalent to an elevator that didn't end. These walls were very different compared to the walls back inside Valflame Palace. There were a bunch of roots and branches, likely belonging to a giant tree. They swirled around the castle walls, and had a thick and powerful aura around its roots. The overall image appeared rather menacing.
"It really is amazing, isn't it? Our clan is aware of the existence of what lurks beneath this place, but only that. We were once tasked to protect the Kin of Fire, after all. They ended up clashing with the Kin of Earth, and it gave birth to Steel. We are inside the Infernal Castle as we speak. Slumbering away, waiting for its destined one to call it.", Emma said, adding to Claire's amazement. "As I have told Claire, it is an honor to meet the current descendent of the Arnor family. You may call me Emma Millstein, a descendent of the Kin of Fire. Or commonly known as the Hexen Clan now."
Just like how Emma formally introduced herself to Claire, she took this moment to do so for Emperor Eugent, Princess Alfin, and Father.
"To think you really are a descendent of the Kin of Fire. A Witch.", Giliath said with a look of interest in his eyes. "Then that means that girl who accompanied you back then must be the current matriarch of the Hexen Clan. I take it your duty is to monitor places like these that are out of human reach?"
"Yes. I am sorry for not being able to introduce myself to you all until now. The Hexen Clan is rather secretive about doing things lately. We stay out of harm's way, residing in a little village west from here. It is close to the City of Water, Ordis. Presently, I am acting both as Naoto's guard, and his guide. I am merely here to observe Testa-Rossa. But in due time, I will be assisting Naoto as he takes on the Vermillion Trials.", Emma explained. "Oh and congratulations on the engagement, Your Imperial Highness. I am sure you are happy."
Even though some time had passed and Princess Alfin calmed down for the most part, a faint blush still remained on her cheeks the moment she heard Emma say that.
"Thank you, Emma. It means a lot to me.", Princess Alfin happily replied. "But as Naoto said earlier, this marriage cannot be rushed. There's still many years until I turn sixteen. A lot can change during that time."
"Exactly. We do not need to rush it. For now, it will be only on paper that Alfin's partner has been decided. This should help any Nobles have second thoughts of approaching her too. Two birds with one stone, as one would say.", I said, and smiled.
"That's right!", Princess Alfin said, nodding along with my words. And yet, her eyes remained on Emma. "But are you really a Witch, Emma? Does that mean Magic is real?"
"Magic most certainly is real, Your Imperial Highness. Regular humans just don't perceive it as real. While it may be akin to fantasy, people with higher sensitivity to Mana are an exception, and can sense the flow of Mana. It is much more rare to actually see it. Mana is all around us, and is quite in tune with the natural elements. Most people have an affinity for one. It isn't often for someone to possess two or more. In a way, Mana works similarly to how Combat Orbments work when it aligns to the person who uses them.", Emma explained.
"It's as Emma says, Alfin. How about a little demonstration? As for my elements, perhaps it is because of the blood I possess that I have an affinity for Fire and Water.", I began to say.
I'll ignore the fact I can use Space too. That is likely related to my Reincarnation. Only Roselia knows about it, and I intend to keep it that way. If people question my Combat Orbment, I'l just try to shrug the comment off somehow. For now, I raised my right hand, which drew everyone's attention onto me.
Princess Alfin couldn't respond before my hand extended two fingers out. Channeling some Mana, it didn't take long to become aware of the elements around me. On one finger, a little fireball ignited into a blaze. And on the other, a wet ball of water formed with a splash. The moment she saw this, Princess Alfin's eyes turned wide in shock.
Normally, any sort of incantation requires a chant. I do have several incantations in my Spell Book as of now, but it doesn't take much effort to do such a simple thing. Once you know how, you can do it as easily as breathing air. Even Emperor Eugent had his eyes remain on my fingers.
If a certain fox was with us here right now, she'd attempt to eat these two balls of Mana as a snack, haha!
"Magic is real...", Emperor Eugent said, and sighed. "I know our land has many things we do not know even to this day. It is scary enough to know it exists. Why am I not surprised you know how to use it already, Prince Naoto.", Emperor Eugent continued.
Seeing me cast a nameless incantation so effortlessly, Emma smiled.
"It looks like you haven't neglected your practice, Naoto. Given the time, I'd love to see how much you've improved since I've started my own journey.", Emma happily said.
"Haha.", I laughed. "I am no slouch when it comes to training Emma. I've been practicing both my swordsmanship and my magic respectively. It may or may not come as a shock to you, but I've been practicing long-distance teleportation when I can. I even managed to move from Leiston Fortress to Grancel Castle in a single breath recently. But to Valflame Palace from Grancel Castle is a much longer distance. I do not think I am ready to do that yet."
"If you really are able to that Naoto, then it means you would be able to pay us a visit whenever you want to!", Princess Alfin immediately said, clapping her hands together.
"You're rather accepting of this, aren't you, Alfin?", Emperor Eugent said. "You do realize the gravity of what we're talking about right now, yes? To think there is such a movement method out there. To go from Grancel Castle to Valflame Palace in a blink of an eye. That's a scary thought..."
"Hmph. Do we need to act so surprised every time we're thrown for a loop, Papa? A lot of incredible things have been happening lately. It's hard to keep track of it all. I stand by what I said earlier. To me, Naoto is Naoto.", Princes Alfin replied, and puffed her cheeks out in a pout.
"Alfin...", I uttered, and smiled again. Even Father laughed at these words.
"Hahaha!", Giliath laughed. He's done that a lot tonight, hasn't he? Where is that usual stern demeanor he has? "That was well said. One must be easy to adapt to change to succeed. Perhaps you are more suited for the throne that Prince Olivert is.", Giliath continued, only to look at Emperor Eugent. "I'm sure you have noticed. His Imperial Highness holds little desire to keep his position of Crown Prince. He likely intends to pass it down onto either Her Imperial Highness, or His Imperial Highness Cedric."
"Yes. I am very well aware of Olivert's little desire to take the throne after I step down from it.", Emperor Eugent said, and sighed. "I fear it will either fall onto Alfin as you have stated, or onto Cedric. I would hate to burden him with such a thing, but Alfin is likewise still too young to be in contention for the throne. Plus she is to be wed to Prince Naoto now, so Alfin might be out of the picture entirely. It has me in quite the conundrum."
"That is very true. Depending on what happens, His Imperial Highness Cedric may have no other reason than to take the position of Crown Prince. Only time will tell for that one.", I said, wondering how it will go from here. "On the contrary, Liberl is known to be a matriarchal society. Most of its rulers are women, albeit there have been some men in the past who held title of King. I'm surprised Grandmother made me Crown Prince this time around."
"It is something to worry about, but not for now. Who knows how things will play out from here.", Emperor Eugent said, shifting his tone. "If our tales of old really are going to see the light day once more, we have to be ready to receive it."
After Emperor Eugent said that, we all looked downward, and saw the moving platform continue its descent. Slowly but surely, we were making our way to the bottom.
The Infernal Castle required the Hexen Clan's most forbidden incantation, Lucifen Lied, to make it rise up from its ashes. But we aren't doing that tonight. Instead, we are here to pay Testa-Rossa a visit. I want to see how he is doing, being sealed away and all. Has his consciousness completely vanished by now? Or is it still there?
Likewise, part of this area included what is called the Gral of Erebos.
A place elsewhere underneath Heimdallr. I do not know how, but the Gnomes were able to transport it all the way beyond the Karel Imperial Villa before activating it to trigger the Great Twilight during Cold Steel's latter half of its story. Right now, it was just a pit of nothingness. It was just like the dormant Infernal Castle.
Ending my little demonstration, I saw it was going to be a little while until we reached the bottom. Knowing that, I turned toward Father. He noticed my gaze, and decided to ask me a question.
"Has talking about the future put some stress on you, Your Royal Highness?, Giliath asked. He returned to his usual demeanor. We were out of those closed doors. The two of us returned to being strangers the moment we took our exit.
"Not exactly. I am quite looking forward to what is going to come in the future.", I said, and shook my head. "Seeing as we have a few moments to spare before arriving at the bottom, I'm thinking of changing the topic."
"Oh?", Giliath asked, becoming interested. "Is there another matter that requires discussion?"
"Yes. I was waiting until after we finished our meeting, Your Excellency.", I said, pretending as if Father wasn't beside me now. "I don't see this as a secret to keep, unlike what we discussed prior. Before I came here to Erebonia, I had a certain device made, you see."
The attention shifted back onto me. Rummaging through my clothes, I activated "Inventory". It really is such a handy feature of the Gamer System. I can open it anytime, anywhere!
It currently has my Enigma II inside. I don't exactly have a need to hide it. Besides, I'm thinking of requesting Father with a particular task, considering the connections he has to the Black Workshop.
I saw everyone raise their eyebrows the moment I brought out my Enigma II.