Ancient Empire Calendar, Year 1839
The ship journey lasting several days had finally ended. Before reaching the Five Lands, the Kislavein army split into three branches. Each branch headed towards its own homeland.
One group went North, another went South. The remaining went to the Eastern Lands under Ricardo's leadership.
As soon as Ricardo set foot on land, he had several thoughts in mind. The first of these was the Sarcophagus in the Eastern Lands.
Ricardo had to go to the city of Ashterah to reach the Sarcophagus. Since it was on the way, he could stay in the city for a few days under the pretext of resting and thus reach the Sarcophagus.
As a result, Ricardo headed towards the city of Ashterah. Besides reaching the Sarcophagus, he also wanted to hold an official Coronation Ceremony for his son-in-law Rappa.
After a journey of a few months, he reached the city of Ashterah, the center of the Ashterah Dynasty.
Rappa was overjoyed with the relief and happiness of returning home after a long time.
"My home, my beautiful home... I missed you so much."
Rappa was right behind Ricardo. As they approached the city gates, many people had gathered to welcome them. At the very front was his beloved wife, Selia Kislavein.
Rappa dismounted his horse and quickly ran towards his wife. When he reached her, he hugged her tightly. Seeing this, Ricardo laughed.
"Haha, look at them. So romantic."
"But it's good that they get along well, isn't it, Dynasty Lord?" said Meiran.
"You're right, Meiran. Since we're here, let's see our grandchild as well. Come on."
Ricardo and Meiran sped up their horses a little and approached the young couple longing for each other. Meanwhile, Rappa and Selia continued hugging, oblivious to their surroundings.
Ricardo could no longer contain himself and wanted to tease them a little.
"Young ones, we understand you missed each other, but isn't this enough, don't you think?"
Rappa and Selia stopped hugging, embarrassed. This caused Ricardo to laugh even more.
"Hahahaha! Alright, alright, I'm just teasing. Don't be so embarrassed. It's a good thing that you young ones get along so well and love each other."
Selia bowed her head in embarrassment.
"Thank you, Father. I missed you so much," she said in a low voice.
Ricardo gently hugged his daughter.
"I missed you too, my daughter."
When Ricardo released the hug, his eyes searched for only one person.
"So, where is my grandchild?" he asked.
Selia smiled, gently and slowly took her son from her servant's arms, and extended him to her father.
"Here he is, Father. Your grandchild and the Heir to the Ashterah Dynasty, Yoriichi."
Ricardo slowly and gently took his grandchild into his arms. For a long time, he did nothing but simply watch his grandchild.
Little Yoriichi responded to his grandfather, whom he was seeing for the first time, with a sweet smile.
Ricardo's heart was filled with peace by his grandchild's smile. He gently stroked his grandchild's cheek.
"So sweet and so beautiful."
Ricardo kissed and smelled his grandchild, hugging him gently. At that moment, a memory from the past came to his mind.
"I was once conversing with an elderly Dynasty Lord. He told me, 'A child is beautiful, but a grandchild is something else, sweeter than honey.' Now I see the truth of those words. Truly, grandchildren are something else."
Ricardo continued to hold his grandchild in his arms, as if he never wanted to let go. At that moment, he heard Meiran's voice.
"Dynasty Lord, if you permit, I would also like to hold my grandchild."
Ricardo seemed unwilling to give him up, but Meiran also rightfully wanted to see her grandchild, hold him, and love him. Reluctantly, he handed his grandchild to Meiran.
"Hmph, so sweet and tiny. He reminds me of Selia's babyhood. Now that little baby has grown up and has her own little baby."
Meiran was deeply absorbed in playing with her grandchild. Meanwhile, those witnessing this family display were seeing the human side of the Dynasty members, whom they had always seen as cold, stern, and authoritarian, for the first time.
This situation had frozen everyone in astonishment. No one could make a sound; they watched the scene as if hypnotized.
Ricardo did not want to stay outside any longer with people watching them.
"Alright, enough of this. Rappa, let's return to the palace and begin preparations for your Coronation Ceremony."
"As you command, Dynasty Lord."
Ricardo and his retinue went to the Ashterah Palace.
When they arrived at the palace, a welcoming committee was waiting for them.
"A welcoming ceremony both at the city gates and the palace entrance?" said Rogan Arlac.
"Well, after all, the Kislavein Dynasty Lord, the Ruler of the Five Lands, has arrived. Such a welcome is necessary, don't you think?" said Arda Constantinos IV.
"Alright, but what's gotten into you? Why are you so excited?" said Rogan.
"I don't know. I suddenly felt as if I were someone very important," Arda replied.
Rogan burst into laughter at Arda's answer.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! You, really... Anyway, let's go into the palace."
Arda was a little embarrassed but decided to pretend not to care.
"Ugh... anyway, fine."
When they entered the palace, a great celebration and feast had been prepared. Great preparations had been made so they could shed all the burden of the journey and war. Everything was there except, as they say, "the milk of a bird."
The celebrations lasted for days, reaching their peak. The celebrations were so enthusiastic and long that even Ricardo postponed going to the Sarcophagus for a while.
A few days later, when the celebrations ended, Ricardo, without further delay, used his Nur Force to locate the Sarcophagus hidden beneath the Ashterah Palace and went to it.
"After so many years, so many wars, and so much effort... finally, the fifth Sarcophagus is also in my hands."
Ricardo reached out his hand to the Sarcophagus. The moment he touched it, he went into a trance, and the entire story of the universe began to flow into his mind.
From a time more than one hundred thousand years before the present day...