Volume 9 Chapter 45 The Saint And The Stars Of Lord
The big reveal was that Julius Roderest, the guy everyone thought was just a sidekick in Lyla's memories, turned out to be Iris all along.
Now, if you just heard that out of the blue, you'd probably be like, "What in the world are they talking about?" But once you see Iris standing right there, it all clicks, and you can't help but nod along.
There are so many things I want to ask, but let's get one thing straight first.
"You mean to tell me you've been a girl this whole time...?"
Finding out that the big bad boss from the hero days had reincarnated as a pretty girl was a bit of a shocker, to say the least.
Julius let out a laugh that sounded like bells jingling.
"Is that how you see it? Well, don't worry about it. To me, gender and the body aren't all that important. What really matters to us magicians is the soul."
And just as he brushed his hair back, in the blink of an eye, he was back to the same old Julius we all knew.
Over there it's easier to talk and it's helpful.
Julius looked down at the cityscape spreading outside the window. The wind entered the room, causing his hair to sway.
"As I mentioned earlier, I was born in ancient times. It was an era when people built cities, established nations, and forged civilizations. And simultaneously, it was an era when magic was born."
"Did modern magic originate from there?"
"No, it's a bit different. As you know, modern magic is inferior compared to its origins. Because most of the original magicians were unable to pass down their techniques, many were killed due to persecution."
"Killed...?"
It's hard to imagine that people of that era could kill magicians, especially with modern scientific weapons.
Moreover, the original magicians must have been much more powerful than modern ones.
In that case, the power dynamics should be reversed.
Julius looked a bit lonely as he smiled.
"It's like the power balance between humans and demons. Many who become great magicians are ultimate individualists, and egotists who have their own worldview. No matter how strong they are, if they're just individuals, they'll eventually get squished by the collective."
"That may be true, but it won’t be that one-sided, right?"
"True, if the enemy was just a human."
Julius said, pointing at the sky.
Before I knew it, the sky had turned dark, becoming night. Spread out there was a starry sky like you wouldn't see in today's city.
"Ancient Earth wasn't as lacking in Aether as it is now, not like Asteris. People created something to deal with powerful individual magicians."
"Something?"
"God."
Julius answered bluntly.
The starry sky twinkles beautifully.
"People created gods, using their power as miracles without recognizing it as magic. They were truly the army of god. Can you believe it? There were many chosen ones, like heroes or demon kings."
"Were magicians persecuted by other magicians?"
"They were not aware that they were using magic themselves. Any supernatural power is considered to be divine, the power of righteousness. Even today, in some places, much of magic is believed to be a miracle of the gods."
Upon hearing those words, I suddenly remembered the person who brought Sharla to me. I remember he said he belonged to the Christian Crusaders. At that time, I didn't pay much attention, but was it an extension of the culture that treats magic as miracles, inherited from ancient times?
"And that's how many magicians became hunted."
As Julius spoke, the night sky shifted its form. Stars seemed to move with purpose, painting a picture of desperation and pursuit.
They were chased by many, those few who were hunted and slain.
The stars moved.
Arrows rained down, spears pierced, swords slashed.
To think beyond that glowing veil lay a river of blood, vivid and raw, it pained the heart.
"Of course, the magicians resisted, but the army of the god were relentless. It was the collective faith that formed the bedrock of their strength. Its blessings were immense, insurmountable for any individual."
Magic, it's the stirring of emotions, the power of thought, you could say.
Few things rival the intensity of faith.
"Magicians were destined to decrease in number and disappear."
Amidst the overwhelming violence, people sought refuge, gathering in one place.
From within, two stars shone brightly.
Gold and red stars.
"At that moment, two mighty magicians emerged, wielding powers capable of twisting the fate of all around them."
The starlight painted the figures of a man and a woman facing each other in intense confrontation.
Even without seeing their faces, their identities were unmistakable.
"Saint Lyla and Lord Glenn Roderest. With their arrival, the tides of battle shifted."
Against overwhelming odds, a small force defeat the might of a vast army.
Fire and water, lightning and earth, clashed against swords and spears, destroying the enemy soldiers. Suddenly, all attacks stopped, stopped by invisible powers.
"Under Saint Lyla's protection, people were shielded from all malice, their lives secured. And Lord Glenn Roderest's magic effortlessly shattered the invincible armies of the gods."
On the night sky's screen, magicians were winning battles.
They chased down their enemies who had no choice but to run and hurt many people.
It was a sight that was hard to watch.
Julius watched this scene with a faint smile, almost as if he was making fun of himself.
"The battle reached a stalemate. No matter how strong Glenn Roderest was, there were limits to facing such overwhelming numbers. So, he sought something else. A new land where they could start anew."
"That land... was Asteris?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Julius nodded slowly.
The scene shifted as the night sky revealed a woman offering prayers and a colossal vessel, unlike any ship I had ever seen. It was too large to be called a boat, yet it lacked the sails of a typical ship.
"What's that...?"
"That's the 'Ark,' a magic creation crafted over many years by Saint Lyla. It represents a journey into unknown realms, made possible by her arcane magic."
"Wait, did she really create magic to cross into another world all by herself?"
"Yeah, that's right. Her imagination and magic were free to roam wherever."
Seriously, are you for real? I can't even wrap my head around it.
Especially since I'm the one who crossed from Earth to Asteris, it just makes it even more mind-blowing.
I mean, just the concept of another world is, like, impossible for regular humans to grasp. Even if the idea of other worlds existed, there are not many people who believe in it from the bottom of their hearts.
It's like back in ancient times, someone realizing the vastness of the universe, building a rocket, and landing on a whole other planet.
What Lyla did was something like that.
She isn't human. She's like a one-person NASA.
"In a way, it's something only a true magician at the core could pull off. Because she's not held back by common sense or fixed ideas, the realm of mystery just keeps expanding infinitely."
"But there's a limits, right?"
"Well, I was so surprised too! Out of nowhere, she says, 'Big discovery, there's another world nearby!' I swear, I thought my heart was gonna jump out of my mouth!"
"It sounds like something out of an old-school comedy, doesn't it?"
If it were me, I'd try smacking her head to see if that would fix it. But, in reality, instead of getting smacked, you'd just get weird looks, like you're some kind of crazy kid. It really gets to me, so I wish she'd stop.
Julius laughed.
"Saint Lyla completed the 'Ark,' and the magicians set off for a paradise in another world. And where they ended up was 'Asteris,' a world with way more Aether than Earth."
I can't help but think about Glenn Roderest and Iris saying goodbye.
That must've been right before they journeyed to Asteris.
And what I really need to find out is what happened next.
Because, based on the story up to this point, there's no way a 'God-Demon War' could happen.
In fact, there were no humans or demons at all.
The only beings here were the humans who had found their way from Earth to this paradise.
The stars began to twirl and spin, as if tracing the passage of time, looping around and around until it made one dizzy.
And in that dizzying dance, it became apparent that the stars had divided into two camps.
"Now, what I'm about to tell you is just my speculation. I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I believe it's close to the truth."
Julius said his tone shifting noticeably from before.
"It was something I had understood back when I was on Earth. Most of the people who fled to the city were magicians, but their powers varied."
On one side of the divided camps, the left side, a strong, radiant light began to emerge.
"So the more powerful the magician, the stronger they are. The reason why they were able to function as a group was because they had Saint Lyla and Lord Glenn, and because they had a common enemy."
Stars and stars emit light and connect lines like lightning bolts or sparks flying.
"But eventually, things fell apart big time, and magicians from across the world split ways. Some chose to live within society, while others stuck to their own path. And in that moment, Lyla and Glenn’s fate got tangled up in the conflict too."
My head hurts. I'm supposed to be breathing, but it feels like there's not enough oxygen.
Ugh.
Seriously, what a messed-up story.
"There are the human folks living as humans, and then there are the demon magicians living as, well, demon magicians. These two species, that's how they came to be."
"..."
Yeah, it’s been bugging me for ages, no doubt about it.
People and demons were sworn enemies, despite their striking resemblance.
Demons, with their strong magic powers, had distinctive looks, though not entirely monstrous.
They could even talk to each other using the same language.
It was just how things were.
After all, they had the same roots.
"Saint Lyla could control time, while Lord Glenn could control his body perfectly. They didn't age, and the two factions kept growing. But then, a big problem arose."
I understood what Julius meant right away.
"The Aether's running out?"
"Exactly. Aether is the energy that fills the natural world. As long as life exists, it circulates and replenishes nature. But its maximum amount doesn't change. The lives of humans and demons who use magic have consumed more than that maximum amount."
"That's why."
"The God-Demon War began."
From two factions, constellations of women and men emerged.
Saint Lyla and Lord Glenn Roderest.
They faced each other.
This shouldn't have come to pass.
Was there no one to stop it?
The people's enthusiasm became a mighty surge, sweeping them into battle.
Stars shimmered, collided, exploded.
All that remained afterward were fragments of stars, unable to form even sparse constellations.
"In the first God-Demon War, both Lyla and Glenn lost their lives, and they became gods to humanity. They were made into gods to sustain the colossal magic of the God-Demon War, as its essential components."
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)