The Amber Sword

Ampere Seale Meeting

“The Archbishop will be leaving Ampere Seale after three days. He is currently in the meditation room and won’t entertain any guests Ms. Magadal.” The guard soldiers of the Holy Cathedral wore a red robe, their silver chest plates and spears shone brightly under the sunlight. Their stern looks made it clear that their polite smiles was just for formalities sake.

The Nun Princess sighed lightly.

She turned her head back, and took one last look at the Holy Cathedral.

The dome of Holy Cathedral bathed in endless radiance, but even that light seemed to be the last rays of the Kingdom. Bells rang in the background, as if to mark the end of an era. Within Rokshbe Hall, the six Dukes and their envoys sat around the table, discussing the way they should split the Kingdom and the spoils in it.

The babbling sound of discussions filled the room, even the obsidian pillars that held the dome up for ages began to sigh. Among the many voices, one could be heard with clarity, “Since the establishment of Aouine, King Erik had led his men to overcome many challenges, obtaining glory in this piece of wilderness. He made an oath alongside the other people and nobles that followed him to determine the fate of this Kingdom.Today, that very same Kingdom they swore on is on the brink of destruction. To those of us who could not tolerate the lives of the innocent being lost in wars, I urge you to form a new pact, in the name of Aouine!”

Duke Seifer raised his head after reading the plea, looking into a silent crowd. There was a wild, cold glow in his eyes, “My people! If any of you still stand by the decisions made in this old parchment, I urge you all to raise your hand with me! Prove the blood of Aouine’s nobility coursing within you!”

He raised his hand like he was wielding a sword pointing to the skies.

The Royal Faction was depending on Duke Arreck, but that did not elicit any sort of reaction out of him. Brendel saw that scene and was shocked. This is different from the past as well. This will be unfavorable for the Royal Faction! He stared at Duke Arreck coldly and his grip on Halran Gaia in the Dimension Space loosened a little.

The situation was changed once more, and he had to force his murderous intent in case a problem breaks out.

Let’s continue to observe the situation longer.

“Princess?”

“I will not allow this.” She seemed to have seen this coming and was adamant with her standing.

“Princess, I would suggest you to not be stubborn,” Moros’s expression changed. He did not expect the princess to bring him that much trouble. “Even if you’re royalty, you would need nobles to govern this country. Continuing your act would mean betraying House Covardo, I believe you would not want that, would you?”

Evidently, it was a threat.

But Princess Gryphine did not show any signs of backing off, and she replied calmly, “When a day comes that no king sits on Aouine’s throne, and one must be chosen from her people, there is another requirement that must be met. I believe all of you had forgotten that line?”

The Lionheart Sword.

Everyone’s expression changed. According to the pact made by King Erik: ‘If there comes a day where the nobles in Aouine were to lose themselves, this sword shall return to where it came from and protect this Kingdom no more!’

That sword was the Lionheart Sword, the same one that had been lost for more than two hundred and sixty years.

It was due to its disappearance that the Seifer dynasty ended, and also why House Covardo got to become the Royal Family. Unless the sword was to return to House Seifer’s possession one day, they will never have the right to return to the throne.

Everyone was stunned. The pledge was a shackle that bound the heart of Aouine’s nobles. It was the foundation for Aouine,and none could deny it. Doing so would mean denying the existence of the nobles.

When she said it, silence resounded through the hall.

Suddenly, everyone remembered something and looked at Brendel’s direction.

To be exact, at Dilferi Odinar.

Brendel shifted, turning to look at the Countess. She was not shocked, like she was already anticipating it. Her eyes were calm, but she seemed to be a little nervous. She looked at Gryphine not too far away, and there was a hidden mix of struggle in her gaze.

“Dilferi?”

“Mr. Brendel, do you think that Marsha will watch over the ones who are righteous and pure?” she whispered.

Brendel hesitated a little.

Dilferi was currently in the sight of everyone else, the emblem on her chest showing a broken sword. Brendel suddenly remembered one thing. It regarded her family, one of the most mysterious noble families in Aouine, And his face paled.

But it was too late, Dilferi had already spoken up, “The Holy Sword Guardian Family greets your Royal Highness… Three months ago… The pedestal for the Lionheart Sword shattered…

It’s time to choose a new ruler.”

Dilferi’s body was shaking when she spoke. Being a close friend of Princess Gryphine, those words may have hurt her friend.

“I’m sorry, Princess Gryphine. I do not know why that happened either. Now that it’s broken, my family has lost their purpose, your Royal Highness…” Dilferi began to tear up just as she finished her sentence.

“It’s fine, Dilferi. The Kingdom will help you regain your honor. The Lionheart Sword will never let anyone who was loyal to it down-” Gryphine smiled, raising her head with a triumph look as she turned to Duke Seifer and a sulking Moros.

“Princess Gryphine, the truth is right here in front of you,” Duke Seifer gloated. “The pedestal broke. House Covardo is not the rightful person to the throne now. Seems like the Kingdom would have to re-elect a new king.”

“According to sacred charter, the right to choose falls under the nobles’ discretion,” Moros nodded.

“Is that so? Then who do you guys think should be the new king?” she declared.

“Of course it’s – ” Duke Seifer opened his mouth, thinking that everyone in the hall was bought over by the Holy Cathedral, with Arreck included as well. Having the Holy Cathedral of Fire backing him up was as if he had the help of the gods, and the sword pedestal shattering further proved that point. He was full of glee, thinking that there was no way he would not be the next king of Aouine.

It was right at that moment his jaw dropped as if he had seen a ghost. And he gulped down the words he was about to say.

His pupils reflected the silhouette of a girl.

Or to be more accurate, a probational female knight. That knight was standing next to Princess Gryphine and was looking oddly familiar to Seifer. She has the uncanny resemblance to the wielder of the ‘Staff of Fire’ Everton. Don’t tell me she’s his descendant?

But then, his focus shifted to the sword she was holding up high above her head. Four feet long, with a guard like widened wings, and a male lion biting onto the sword, as well as an icy cold blade like that of silver snow.

It reflected a ray of sunlight right into the eyes of everyone in the hall.

The Lionheart Sword.

“That’s impossible!” someone yelled from amongst the crowd.

“If there comes a day where the nobles in Aouine were to lose themselves, this sword shall return to where it came from and protect his Kingdom no more! But as long as there’s someone who’s still loyal to the sword, it will protect this piece of land and everything on it– House Covardo had never forgotten this oath. But I wonder, what about all of you right here?” Gryphine looked at the sword, and felt a little dizzy. But she kept herself up and spoke with confidence.

Duke Seifer was confused with everything that was going on in the span of a few minutes, “No! That’s impossible! The Lionheart Sword has been lost for centuries now, and without a single clue, there’s no way you guys could have possibly found it! Archbishop Moros, please believe me. It’s a fake!”

Archbishop turned and looked at Gryphine with sharp eyes, “Your Royal Highness, can you prove that the sword in your arms is truly the same Lionheart Sword that King Erik had?”

“Archbishop Moros, are you suspecting me for lying in this sort of place?” Princess Gryphine said coldly.

“Not at all. I’m just keeping everything fair and just, your Royal Highness.”

Princess Gryphine frowned. The hall fell silent too. The Lionheart Sword was the embodiment of Aouine, but no one expected Duke Seifer and Archbishop Moros to be that persistent even when the sword is shown. Some of the nobles felt that the two sides would not stop until the other is dead. They just looked at the two, waiting for the outcome.

Even Arreck lifted his eyelids with curiosity.

But then, a deep, heavy voice echoed across the hall, “I can prove the authenticity of the sword.”

All of them turned back, surprised as the doors of Rokshbe Hall opened gradually while a silhouette stepped out as soon as sunlight filling up the room. His back facing the light, everyone had to squint their eyes because of the light rays that were like sharp knives. But their vision began to clear and they could make out who it was- a knight with an emerald armor.

“Ah!” Dilferi was so shocked she fell back into her chair. “How’s that possible?!”

It’s the Guardian of the Lake! Brendel too was shocked and jumped out of his chair. This timeline is truly too unpredictable!