"What happened?" Eric stood up from his bed. He was in a small, white room.
"I would never have believed that you will go through the acceptance before I will. I'm always the last." Ador complained, while leaning against the wall.
"What?" Eric asked in confusion.
"Acceptance, Caden. You should feel your newfound strength soon. How do you feel?" Ador asked enthusiastically.
"Like after my own death." Eric replied. "Haha... You don't look very excited." Ador replied.
"Would you if you were suddenly almost executed?"
"But..." Ador said, and a soldier burst into the room.
"The Imperator demands the presence of both of you. Come with me."
Ador and Eric followed the soldier out of the building until they reached the Imperial Palace.
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"How did the mutiny turn out?" Eric asked. "You really ask? It was crushed, all their leaders fell in the imperial palace. In an attack we were well prepared for." Ador smiled as they entered the palace. They continued down the corridor until they finally passed through the gate of which's opening they were recently preventing. Ahead of them was a corridor, at the end of which stood a silver throne on the low staircase, where Imperator Naross himself was sitting. They walked up to the gilded red carpet. Imperator Naross certainly didn't look accordingly to his age, he looked much younger, as if he was under thirty.
"Oh, these must be our brave heroes!" The Imperator laughed. Ador and Eric knelt down.
"Rise. There is no reason to bow, I should bow to you. Because of your devotion and courage to risk your own lives, this Empire still exists. I know what was going on outside the gate." The Imperator said.
"That was platitude, my lord. No honest man would hesitate to lay down his life for the Empire." Ador replied.
"It's a pity general Samir can't hear it... I'd never have thought he would betray me..." The Imperator sighed.
"Father! Are you organizing the expedition already?" A girl burst into the room, armed with a sword.
"Denia, how many times do I have to tell you? You will not go there." The Imperator replied vigorously.
"And these two will? Look at them! I could defeat them both in battle!" The girl screamed.
"Hmm... When I'm thinking about it... Ador!" "Yes, my lord?"
"We have to let Eric rest for a while. But for you, I have the last task, the final test, and you will take part in an expedition to the Old Empire. Defeat my daughter in a duel." The Imperator said.
Ador stared uncomprehendingly for a moment, but then he was forced to draw his sword and defend against the girl's attack.
"All the Saints, Denia… If you want to measure up with men, you have to follow the rules and follow the codex. The duel is started somehow, you can't just jump on an unexpecting opponent!" The Imperator shouted.
"Ahh... I'm sorry..." The girl stood before Ador, they both bowed, drew their swords, and began to fight. Neither of them spared each other at all, apparently Ador had no intention of losing his life's opportunity because of the feelings of a girl. The girl fought very well, but Ador took advantage of her unwanted stumble, and with a strong lower blow with his sword he threw the sword out of her hand and cut her in doing so.
"Well, good work, Ador." The Imperator applauded.
"It was just a coincidence!" The girl shouted.
"Shut up! You got your chance." The Imperator exclaimed. The girl left the room with screaming.
"Please excuse her behavior. Ador, I'm afraid I have to give you one more task. Really last." The Imperator said.
"Anything, my lord." Ador replied.
"You have to take Caden with you on your quest."
"Caden Snead?" Ador exclaimed in astonishment.
"Who?" Eric didn't understand.
"Yes, that Caden. He will also take part in the expedition. He will be your guide." The Imperator replied.
"But he'll betray us as soon as we get there..." Ador objected.
"He won't betray you. I know what I'm doing, Ador. I've been planning this since our arrival on these islands." The Imperator Naross replied.
"Of course, sir. Forgive me." Ador bowed. "Good. Now go, we can no longer delay."
"It will be so, my lord." Ador replied, and he and Eric left the palace.
"I can't believe we'll get there in the end, and by the way, who is this Caden Snead?" Eric asked.
"He's the worst and strongest monster in the human body." Ador said with disgust. "Then why should we take him on an expedition?" Eric asked.
"I don't know, but we can't doubt the will of our Imperator." Ador replied.
"And where are we going now?"
"For a visit, to his cage." Ador smiled. They both mounted horses prepared in front of the palace, and set out from the Capitol. "We're here." Ador stopped in the middle of the pasture.
"There's nothing here." Eric replied.
"Hmm... You're not that observant. Over there!" Ador pointed to a kind of crack in the hill. They both entered, and after a while they found the bars behind which the guard stood.
"Password!" The guard called and raised his rifle.
"You have no password here, you idiot. Let us in. It's me, Ador, the Imperator himself sends me to bring him Caden Snead." Ador called.
"And do you have any proof of that?" The guard asked.
"No, but if you keep me from doing my job, I'll kill you." Ador replied.
"Um... All right..." The guard opened the door.
"This doesn't look like the maximum security." Eric laughed.
"No one is that crazy to free this monster... Except for our Imperator... but he knows what he's doing, hopefully." Ador chuckled. They both walked down a long corridor to a steel gate protected by two guards.
"We're going on behalf of the Imperator for Caden Snead." Ador said. The two guards looked at each other.
"Enter at your own risk." They both stepped back and opened the door.
"What does that mean?" Eric asked.
"That if something goes wrong, they'll kill us." Ador smiled. A drawbridge dropped in front of them. They walked on a small stone island, held only by a narrow column. There was a deep chasm around the island, with a strange complex above it. A man stood in the middle of the island, his limbs were held by massive chains fastened to the walls. There was a stone collar on his neck, and a scarf was covering his mouth. "What's on his neck?" Eric asked.
"This is a collar of pure amaganite, a rock that weakens mages, except for him. He is a dark mage." Ador explained.
"Then why is it on his neck?" Eric asked. "Besides, it is also extremely heavy rock. And he can lift things with his mind, he can kill you with your own sword." Ador said as they stood right in front of him.
"Caden Snead, the plague of the Old Empire, a traitor of the mankind. I have dreamed of this all my life." Ador said, reaching for the handle of his sword.
"Unfortunately, it's not exactly what I had imagined." Ador sighed, when he was removing scarf from Caden's mouth. "Haha... So you're not here to kill me? Pity..." Caden laughed.
"That really is… Well, let's go. Release his handcuffs." Ador commanded.
"I? And how should I do that?" Eric asked. "We must maintain balance, we may have to break those chains. You know, this is a reverse volcano. If the balance is lost here, this isle will fall into the abyss, and if Caden manages to tear the chains somehow, they will spill hot oil on him from above." Ador explained.
"Great… And what do we do about it? Isn't there some way to free him?" Eric asked. "This whole thing was built to kill anyone who would try so." Ador replied.
"You won't break these chains with your sword..." Eric said, looking at Caden's shackles.
"And can't we just cut him into pieces and take him with us?" Eric continued.
"That probably won't work..." Ador objected. "Do you want some help?" The guard called out, and threw two-handed axe to Eric.
"All right, carefully..." Ador said, while he was struggling to maintain balance on the island. They managed to cut the chains around Caden's hands. Eric then reached out and hit the narrower grip of one of the chains attached to the massive shackle around Caden's waist.
"Well... Just once again!" Ador exclaimed. Eric struck again, the chain cracked, and the whole stone island leaned to Eric's right side. Everyone leaned to the left.
"Damn, we should have started with the back chain." Ador said.
"Wow... I suppose so." Eric agreed, while he was carefully approaching the chain that held Caden's backbone. He broke the chain, and the island began to move.
"Stay there! Stay on the right side and hand me the axe!" Ador shouted.
"After we cut it, we have to cross the bridge, all three, all right?"
"Well... Alright." Caden replied. Ador broke the chain, and the three of them grabbed each other's hands and ran across the bridge.
"Great, we can go." Ador said, and the three came out of the tunnel.
"Halt!" The man in shining armor shouted, and he and several others prevented them from going further.
"Who the are you?" Ador asked.
"I'm general Milael Stormborn, the leader of the mage watch."
"What? The wardens still exist?" Eric wondered.
"Yes, not so high in numbers anymore, but we are still able to defeat you." One of the soldiers replied.
"Perhaps it won't be necessary..." Eric smiled.
"I don't know why or how you managed to free him, but here your journey ends!" General Milael called.
"This is probably a misunderstanding. Imperator Naross himself sent us here. Ador explained.
"Strange... Why didn't anyone tell us?" General Milael asked.
"It's secret, but if you want to see, you can come to Capitol with us." Ador suggested. "Well, let's go. You've already destroyed his prison." General Milael replied. And the group headed towards Capitol.
"If he has as much power as said, why haven't killed us yet?" Eric asked.
"That's the collar that has his neck." Ador replied.
"But you said this amaganite doesn't work on him." Eric replied.
"Not that way. Amaganite is extremely heavy, so Caden uses his power all the time to stay on his feet." Ador explained.
"Haha... This mage could kill us even through that, if he wanted to." General Milael laughed.
"And why didn't he?" Eric asked.
"Only he and the Imperator knows." General Milael replied with a smile. They finally reached Capitol, and the Imperial Palace.
"The Imperator is already expecting you... But who is this?" The imperial guard looked at General Milael and his group.
"It's alright, that's our escort." Ador replied, and they all proceeded to the throne room. The guards closed the gate behind them. "So you made it! Milael, I totally forgot that you were watching over him. Hopefully there was no trouble caused by that." The Imperator Naross smiled.
"No, my lord. General Milael performs his duties properly and in accordance with the Codex." Ador replied.
"Glad to hear it. General Milael has long sought to brush up the reputation and glory of the wardens of magic. I am glad that such a capable man has taken on such a task." The Imperator said.
"I'm just doing my job, my lord." General Milael bowed.
"You do your job regardless of the consequences. It takes courage. There will be a lot of work for your wardens soon, general. You should prepare for it." The Imperator Naross said.
"Indeed, my lord." General Milael bowed and left with his group.
"Hmm... Caden Snead, we haven't seen each other for a long time, have we?" The Imperator Naross smiled, stepped forward to Caden, and melted away the massive iron hinge that linked the collar around his neck with his hand.
"Sir?" Ador slowly drew his sword.
"Relax, Ador. That's all right." The Imperator said as the collar fell to the ground.
"So, how do you feel?" The Imperator asked. "As if I had been hanging on a noose for eighty years, and now it was cut." Caden replied.
"Well, gentlemen, enjoy your last day in a land dominated by the mankind. The expedition begins tomorrow." The Imperator Naross said.
"Tomorrow?" Eric was stunned.
"Haha... You don't want to give up already, right?" Ador laughed.
"Of course not. I just need to say goodbye to my friends..." Eric replied.
"You can do that right now, until tomorrow you're free. You can go." The Imperator Naross said.
"What about Caden?" Ador asked.
"Don't worry about that, we'll discuss something together and he will join the expedition." The Imperator Naross smiled. Both Ador and Eric bowed and left the palace.
"So tomorrow morning here in front of the Imperial Palace, Eric. See you." Ador laughed, and left. Eric headed for the pub. Tern and Carn were sitting at their table drinking.
"Hey! Isn't it a secret mission guy?" Tern called.
"Oh, forgive me, Tern. If you insist on retribution, go ahead and beat me." Eric stepped forward. Tern stood up, examined Eric for a moment, and then hugged him. "It's okay, but you have to explain it to me." Tern said. Eric settled down to tell them about his adventures.
"So, you got there after all. I'm proud of you." Tern said.
"For how long will you be there?" Carn asked.
"I do not know. It depends on the situation there, we have to do a reconnaissance, and then come back here." Eric replied.
"Then you have to sleep well. We'll escort you home." Tern suggested.
"That would be nice." Eric laughed. Tern and Carn led Eric to his house and said goodbye. Eric changed his clothing and went to bed.
"Hello, Eric." Eric jumped out of bed.
"Ador? Are you here?"
"Haha, you insulted me enough. I am not a recruit for a while already." The voice continued.
"Who the are you?" Eric exclaimed.
"Oh, I'm rude. General Samir Forn, at your service. But I think you already know me." "Is this a joke?" Eric asked.
"I wish it was, Eric. Can you feel the power? You know, nothing's free. And this power also carries a curse. But I honestly assumed you knew that. Apparently, you were really pushed into it." A voice spoke. "So you're going to kill me now?" Eric asked. "Hahaha… No, even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I have no power over you. I'm just a voice." "So you'll be in my head forever now?"
"It looks like it. How could Dornius do that to me? I deserved a dignified death!" Samir said.
"I also disagreed... I never wanted this. I just wanted to match my father..." Eric replied.
"Your father is a member of the Crows? So you're..."
"Yes I am..." Eric replied with disgust. "Strange... I thought it works differently for the blooded ones." Samir thought.
"I'm really tired. You're lucky enough to be one of the first people to see the Old Empire after so many years." Eric said, and went back to sleep.
"So my death has secured you a place on that expedition?" Samir asked.
"It wasn't that simple, try to find it in my head while you're there." Eric replied and fell asleep. The next morning, Eric went to the Imperial Palace. Crowds of people gathered along the way to the Imperial Palace. Eric struggled to go through them and join the group with Ador and Caden, who was already standing under the stairs of the palace.
"Finally, I really thought you gave up." Ador laughed. Shortly thereafter, a powerful bell sounded. A group of guards in dark armour came out of the palace, with strange helmets that covered their faces.
"Who is it?" Eric asked.
"Haha, that's the Imperator's personal guard. Angels of Death." Ador replied. Finally, Imperator Naross himself came out of the palace. The crowd was filled with excited screams.
"Residents of the Imperium! A group of heroes is standing before you today! Heroes who will voluntarily embark on a dangerous expedition to help us regain our rightful land. Our Old Empire!" The Imperator Naross said.
"Glory! Glory to the Empire!" Was spreading across the Capitol. The group mounted the horses and trotted to the Capitol's port. All the way the enthusiastic crowd was throwing dark blue leaves at them. Finally, they reached the ship and boarded it. The Imperator himself looked down at them from the wall. The group lined up aboard the ship.
"My name is Goran Helder. I have an honor of being the commander of this expedition. Now I will read all the names of the expedition members. Report by shouting "Here!" The man standing in front of the lined group told them.
"Ador Deraen!"
"Here!"
"Caden Snead...?"
"Here!"
"The Imperator help us..." Goran exclaimed.
"Erik Beador."
"Here!"
"Holf Kiren."
"Here!"
"Leran Aenor."
"Here!"
"Torn Weram."
"Here!" "
Great, everyone is here." Goran said.
"Is that really the whole expedition?" Eric asked.
"The less, the better, Mr. Beador. This is a reconnaissance mission, not an assault." Goran replied.
"Does any of you know anything about seafaring?" Goran continued.
"Me, sir." Holf replied.
"Great. You'll take control of the ship. Give us orders." Goran said.
"For a long-planned expedition, it's not so well-planned." Ador laughed.
"Everything works so far, Mr. Deraen. Don't mock our Imperator's plan." Goran shouted. "That's not what I meant... I'm sorry." Ador replied humbly. Holf grabbed the helm and began shouting orders. The journey to the shores of the Old Empire has finally begun.
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