Age of Heroes

'Arial. Arial!'

'Yes, Kyle. What!' Arial finally said startled and look at Kyle with annoyed expression.

Kyle then said excitedly

'Hear me. I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty and exotic. Like that daughters of the House of Asturias, every one of them are a great beauty but this woman, Isabelle caught my eyes."

He said pointing at the girl beside the Empress, a beautiful girl with dimples on her cheek, rosy and lively, and has quite the beautiful smile, untainted if Arial had to say, innocence in her feature.

"Of course."

Arial nodded, judging the girl that Kyle so favorably spoken. Arial did saw her and made a judgment of her in his mind

'She is beautiful and she seems to have great restrain, not trying to endear herself to you like the other girls we see tonight'

He then continues 

'They would swoon at every gesture you make; they would laugh at every joke you tell them. I know you. Your gesture does not justify swooning and your joke are not in par with the court jester. They all flatter you and fawn towards you. They show no propriety whatsoever. The fact that girl does not immediately rush towards you and fawn on you is good. Propriety. That is quite a good quality to have. I would not like it if you are entangled with a girl that would only look at only your position.' Said Arial, looking at the woman called Isabelle.

"Indeed. She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld!' Kyle exclaimed, a shine in his eyes. And Arial nearly said

Are you blind! Can't you see an angel behind her? That beautiful empress and the disciple of the Eastern Devil.

He recognizes that face everywhere. They only met twice but for some reason Arial never forget her face. 

Arial has forgotten many faces. He had to. There were too many that haunts his dreams. The voices of screaming and the yell…oh…the yelling…. he could not stand it. 

There are times where he would awake at night, wiping the sweat of his forehead, still hearing the yells and the curses. 

At first…he remembers it. The faces of those he killed. The man and woman. All those innocent's souls. 

Such killing leaves a mark and indelible stain on the soul. Vengeance has its price. Taking an innocent soul…has its price.

Nightmares haunt Arial like an avenging angel, disturbing him in the darkest night. 

But eventually after all these years, Arial found a way to live with it. So many faces…. until Arial could no longer keep track.

His enemies…dead. His rival…. vanquished. His obstacles…. obliterated. His loved ones…leaves him. 

The path to his current hegemony among all the great powers in the Human Continent was not easy. 

There are secret alliances, secret betrayal and many others during the year he was campaigning all over the Human Continent.

There were times that it appeared that the tide of battle turns against him and each time, he manages to turn it back to his favor.

He killed a lot of people. Souls were reaped under his merciless steels. And he remembers some. But there is also countless other soul that he has forgotten.

Kyle then said

'And there is the Empress. She is beautiful as the rumors painted her to be, my friend. Lucky you. The Empress Dowager is very much in favor of her.'

Kyle words bring him back to the ball and he nodded.

But Arial is Arial. 

Even though he felt that, that unexplainable pull, he is stubborn. 

This is a trick of mind he said.

After all these years, Arial believe that he still doesn't deserve that happiness. He is a great hero, a great ruler, yet as a husband, as a father, he is failing miserably. 

He could fight a dragon to save a maiden, jump down mountains to save even strangers, fearless in front of even the most dangerous beast because nothing could hurt him, nothing could make him bleed, and nothing could terrify him.

But when it means putting his heart on the line…. the brave hero, the brave king, is nowhere to be found. 

The matters of the heart are messy and complicated. And Arial of all people is the most unsuitable for love. 

His destiny is far greater. 

He doesn't know it of course. 

None of those chosen by destiny ever does. 

He looks at the Empress, catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said to Kyle, his tone of voice could chill hearts.

'You better return to your partner, friend and enjoy her fine company, for you are wasting your time with me.'

But then the Empress boldly walk from the door stepping steps by steps to Arial and the crowds that was dancing, all the nobles that is speaking in conversations all stopped their movements, waiting to see the meeting between two great rulers of the most powerful force in the Human Continent, anticipating.

Each and every one of them has their own expectation. 

If the betrothal proceeds smoothly then peace will be guaranteed and truly the Human Continent will be united.

The union between the two rulers would bring forth an era of peace and prosperity all over the Human Continent, unprecedented since the time after Levitia Subjugation

She approaches him with a lively face and a playful disposition and asks him.

'May I have a dance, Lord Arial?'

She said but Arial is not intending to play the hospitable host. But this does not deter the Empress.

After all, she did not come this far to give up. Like the Emperor, Rhyssa Renasi is a stubborn woman and she have her own eccentricities.

'Or do you prefer Your Imperial Majesty? But that would make this conversation awkward.'

'Why?' Arial cold said, his eyes piercing and threatening. 

He couldn't help it. The technique he learns is cold in nature, such threatening aura released accidentally.

'That is my title. My rightful title. Why would you not use my proper titles? Do you wish to challenge me perhaps?'

The crowds waited in bated breath as the ruler of these two great forces went into a heated conversation.

Rhyssa looks at Arial and her eyes are calm, her composure dignified.

'You are an Emperor. I'm an Empress. We both claim the entire continent our land. The title we have is claim by our words, that we would unite back the continent, a dream of unification'

Smiling she continues

'We both try to unify this fragmented continent in our own ways. We both rule a vast amount of land, millions of men under our disposal, one word and the world moves with us' she chuckles a bit but the hearts of the people in the hall all felt constricted.

They did not forget that the two people speaking is the Emperor of Eden and the Empress of Renasia, both who subjugated states and vanquisher of kingdoms

Both of the are unprecedented people born in this new era, born with the ability to lead people

They were both unique and a force unto itself