B4 Chapter 464: Ancient History, Finale

Kaius stared at the plain steel table that just moments before had held the image of the long-dead Duke Unterstern. The Castellan sat still and silent, like its life had fled in the same breath that his ancestor had vanished.

He had no eyes for the creature, consumed by what he had learnt.

A lost compound. An unknown mountain. A forgotten oath. And two questionable, potentially long-dead allies. The revelation at once sparked his heart to a pounding fervour as a deep-seated hunger and need to finally grasp some sort of connection to his past overtook him. At the same time, he had a bitter taste on his tongue. Four impossibilities, but it was a call to action all the same. And what possibilities it could reward him with. An ancestral home and knowledge that had long been lost. Knowledge that would be valuable to far more than just him. There were many who would love to know how the Empire ended, and it seemed like it was a story that was intertwined with his family.

Their path seemed set on Greenseed. There they would be able to learn more.

Hopefully the Castellan would be able to give them some hints. Perhaps even the holdings of Unterstern would be a good place to start. As would the Stoneholds and Elven Conclaves. Both peoples were long-lived, with strong and stable societies.

There was a chance that the Houses of Herzog and Dynia still yet lived. Of course, he was wary of stepping into the quagmire of a high mana society, especially in the current years. Even if man had once been their peer, now both the dwarves and the elves far exceeded them in power. Men were rare in their lands. He had no doubt, much like his ancestor had suggested, he and his team would need strength to protect themselves. None the least because visiting the Conclaves would be sure to create an uproar with Porkchop at his side.

Even if the journey was long and the mysteries many, it would be worth it. This was one half of his quest.

Pursuing Wilting Rose and the tracker Morton would lead him to his family’s enemies and the closure he so craved. But this? This was his birthright, his history and connection to the past, something he had always lacked. It was just as important as the recent tragedy.

He just wished that the unknowns weren’t so large and many.

“Are you okay?” Porkchop asked.

Kaius tilted his head to the side. “Yes and no. I’m ecstatic to have learned so much already. And the wealth that waits for us is unfathomable. Even the Honours my ancestors might have reached as high as the fifth tier. The value of that is incalculable. Plus, this Locrua they mentioned offers some explanation for what happened — my Dynasty must have fled across the ocean.”

He paused, frowning for a moment as a grim thought settled into his mind.

“If my family has managed to persist for so many millennia, escaped the devastation of the Shattering — that they may or may not have had a hand in — those other families that fled with them might have too. There has to be a reason my ancestor was so worried of betrayal. Perhaps one of them was behind whatever calamity befell my house and forced Father to flee back to Vaastivar.”

Kaius ran his hands through his hair, sighing heavily. “Without their names, it’s hard to know or look into them more. This cache would likely have them, but I don’t see the path to how we reach it.”

“That is understandable,” Kenva said, giving him a commiserating look. “Holdings, allies, and a single mountain… Those we can find with enough careful searching. References would likely survive in folklore, at least in some sense or another — my people have some oral histories dating back to the dark ages. But an oath and a formation? That’s harder.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Ianmus replied, shaking his head. “The formation, yes, that will be a challenge, but the Castellan itself said that your ancestors had hidden it in key infrastructure to grant them control. With enough strength and time, you might be able to rediscover it. As for the oath — well, many oaths are not exactly private things. For a political entity at the level of a Duke, especially so. Maybe these ancient allies might still know. Powerful houses of dwarves and elves have a better chance than most others, considering their long lives. Especially if they were insulated and forewarned like the ancient Duke suggested.”

Kaius gave his friend a single slow nod, encouragement quelling some of his frustration. It was true. Regardless, such a quest would be the work of years. Their best leads were ancient and powerful families in high mana societies that it would be foolish to approach while weak.

“What about our newest metal friend, Kaius, is he broken?” Porkchop said, leaning forward to sniff at the Castellan. “He smells the same.”

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“I’m not sure,” Kaius said. It was hard to tell, really. Sure, it was silent and still, but he could still see magic blazing within the creature’s body, and the field that had surrounded them and protected them from the ambient arcane energy was still strong.

The Castellan twitched a moment later, fire returning to its sculpted eyes.

“Apologies, my lord. Your line of questioning seemed to have triggered a hidden directive. Would you be able to provide a blank notebook? I have a standing order to provide you notes on how to inscribe the Sovereign Star.”