Age of Heroes

Arial is a cunning Emperor and also a genius in not only political maneuvering but also in economic policies.

Arial himself knows that this is not because he is born a genius or a polymath like Silas. If he was this smart, how would he only become a foot soldier in his other life.

It is what he had experience when he was dying in that library that had changed him

Sometimes, when he sleeps, it is not only the nightmare and the screams that came. Sometimes, when these nightmares did not come, he would dream of some worlds. 

These worlds are different from his world. During this journey in his dreams, he would get knowledge he did not know of.

But when he woke up, he could not remember what the dream is about. He would try hard to remember it but no matter how hard he tries; he could not recall it.

But when some problem came, like lightning had struck his head, there would be an answer

How he reached that answer? Even he doesn't know. So, he could not be said a genus. It was like, the dreams give him inspiration.

He of course had asked this question to Amara. Amara answer only brought more question.

She said to him, that there is world stacked on top of each other, never meeting one another. 

But when he died and she broke the Laws of Space and Time bring him back, the barrier between worlds was weakened.

As she explained it to him, the world that he lived in is a closed universe. It is not affected by the larger universe. Arial did not understand what Amara meant by all of that.

What he does understand was that when he died, something happened to him. Something connected him to some other world.

He at first thought that was the Heaven that is spoken in the Gospel. But Amara denied it saying that it is not.

It might look like it because of the difference of lifestyle. 

Even though Arial could not remember much from his dream, he remembers the feeling. 

He felt that the world he had saw in a dream he could not remember, the feeling was that the living being there live in peace and life was convenience. 

Whatever the case with the dream, it was a world where everything seems to be more advanced.

That is how he had all of these ideas. 

Then he shakes his head. 

His mind had been wandering now. There is this monotonous work that made him keep thinking about all of things today

After a while his mind is back of thinking about his work

Arial thought of a few people that he would like to entrust with the economy. 

'I need to release some of those nobles. I just hope that they could be negotiated with' Right now Arial really wanted one of them to submit to him willfully.

He did not like to rule these people with fear. While he could do that, it would not be beneficial.

He did not come here to be feared after all.

To become a symbol of hope, making them fear him and look at him like some kind of tyrant, that is not something he should do. 

As he was lost in his thought, he heard a knock. His face looks up.

And he smiles

Outside the room, there is no guards. 

Arial had already dismissed them. 

Arial himself is a martial art grandmaster and his internal energy is enough to deter even the most powerful combatant in the army

Unless he is fighting a divine beast, or someone blessed with great strength, Arial would not even be afraid

He knew who is coming

'Get in. the door is not locked' the door was pushed slowly and someone enter the room. Arial smiles become wider

'You're late'

'Forgive me, my lord' The one in front of Arial right now is dressed very suspiciously. If he was outside the castle and spotted by the patrol guard, he might even be suspected as enemy spies.

That is how suspicious he looks right now. He wears dark black robe that cover his body and there is a hood over his head

In the night it is hard to look and identify such a person. 

And even if you manage to come close to this person, you would then found out that this person even closes the lower part of his face with black cloth.

This person is determined for anyone not to see his face. Still, it is remarkable that he could arrive here without alerting the guards.

'There is no worry, Knight Master. Though, I must admit I thought you would probably run away. I understand how my summon could be interpreted differently from my own intention' Arial said. 

The person himself did not reply. It is hard to see what expression he would show but Arial had the sense to think he might be smiling under that hood.

The door is pushed as it closed itself. Arial gesture for him to sit in the chair in front of the table.

Arial had been waiting for this moment for quite some time since the moment this person told him certain secrets

'I did not think you would still call me Knight Master' that man said as he sits down. Arial only chuckles and then said

'A teacher for a day, a teacher for a lifetime. I have learned greatly during my time in the Knight Academy'

Then he paused for a second before saying 

'And regardless of your affiliation with some mysterious organization, I respect you for what you have done for me. Unless proven otherwise, I would like to keep continue respecting you. I hope such thing did not happen by the end of our conversation'

The person only nodded. As he sat on the chair, Arial got up from his chair and pour him some drink.

It is red wine. The person did not immediately drink as he slowly removes his hood to the back of his head and removing the cloth covering his mouth.

It reveals the familiar old man that Arial had known during his childhood. 

He seems older as the passing of times seems to affect him. 

There is wrinkle here and there on his face and his hand but there is still this trace of power around him. 

Like always even his gray hair did not take away his intimidating appearance. Arial could almost feel that this old man is still as strict as before 

Arial look at the black robe which probably hides the muscly body of this old man. In his youth, he had never challenged the Knight Master.

But he heard stories of how powerful his swordsmanship is. 

Not swift. But powerful. It is a pity that he never had the chance to challenge the Knight Master.

But to challenge him now would be an insult. Even if Arial had win now, he would not feel accomplished. It would look like the young bullying the old

Regardless of all that this old man still retains that wise appearance and even when he is sitting his form is strong and stable. 

On his index finger is a ring. 

The ring has an intricate carving of a seven pointed star. 

As the old man removed his robe and put it behind him, Arial could see a badge around his chest.

An arrow surrounded by vines of roses. This person is someone Arial had crossed paths in the past.

He just never thought that he would meet him again, especially not in this land.

The man is none other than Knight Master Orval. He once used to be the Knight Master of the Order of Alan.

And now, he is here. And for some reason he has been helping Giovanni and Santiago when they first came here.

Arial could not trust him completely as there is too many question about this former Knight Master of the knight Academy

Arial lean back on his chair and look at this old man. He did not pour himself a drink. After all, it is useless for him.

But even Orval did not touch the cup, preferring to sit on his chair calmly. 

Arial is thinking right now and assessing Orval. In the past, he had called this man his Knight Master. However, time had passed.

And he is no longer just a simple knight. He is the Emperor of Eden. It is an utmost honor that Arial still treats Orval as his Knight Master.

Orval did not know what Arial is thinking right now so he replies to the polite words of Arial with humility

'I do not deserve such honor. To be respected by the Emperor of Eden, I am beyond honored' Arial shakes his head and said

'I have never expected for you to come here. To live here'

Orval only smiles and said

'I was originally from here, my lord'

'Oh, I did not know that. How come this did not come up before when we were talking in the war tent?'

Smiling Orval answers

'My lord is too preoccupied in joy having a map'

'Ah, I was a little bit impolite'

'No, I understand'

Arial then tap his finger onto the table. Then he stopped. His eyes then look straight at Orval eyes. That eyes like always seems to contain endless wisdom.

He sighed and then said

'You probably know why I called you here' Orval nodded and then said

'My lord requires explanation.'

Arial nodded

'If not for the fact that Giovanni and Santiago vouch for you, I might have thought you as a spy. There is Mikael letters on you. But…Ragora, Knight Orders, stories of secret brotherhood, forgive me, if I do not believe it fully.'

Orval nodded. And then he smiles

'This would not take long'

Arial raised his eyebrows.

'A story of one thousand years …could it be short?' Hearing this Orval only chuckles and reply to him in the best way possible, without appearing like he is trying to hide something from Arial

'I believe you are more interested in the maps of the Three kingdoms than the story of an ancient secret brotherhood. And the story of the brotherhood is simple. So does its objective'

'an ancient brotherhood that was established a long time ago, after the Fall. Could such organization story be a short one?' Arial ask 

Orval chuckles before saying

'The history of the brotherhood might be a long one, but it is also a simple one'

'Enlighten me' Arial said and Orval almost laugh of how appropriate that wording is. 

Then he began telling the simple history of his organization

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