Aurora Scroll

“So, you’re not as young as you looked. I expected as much.”

After Croix and Boram climbed the stairs, Alfred said to the one standing beside him, the masked Avel. They both held their ground against the ten knights in black armor, though their attacks had stopped for the moment.

“...There are circumstances that might make that statement true under certain light.”

Thus Viers replied. He was also baffled by the rejection he got from the barrier. The rules were clear: the Archion Volcano can only be entered with the permission of the royal blood and only those under the age of twenty may pass.

Undoubtedly, Viers’ body was only less than twenty years old. However…

Did it somehow detect I’m a reincarnator with a mind older than my body, or was all the soul-empowerment I’ve done fudged the age gauge that this barrier thingy uses to measure someone’s age? …Dang it!

His plans of gathering natural resources and seeking benefits in the main core area were ruined. Croix’s objective was not his objective, while he was waiting for the prince forging his Intio, Viers could explore the special ground barred from most people.

As for the mighty voice, was that the… Well, that is a thought for another time.

Whatever the reason, the fact remained that only Croix and Boram entered the volcano. Meanwhile, he faced a squad of thugs under the command of a Young Master-type.

The conflict was momentarily paused but it had not ended. The air remained tense. A knight slid his foot forward slightly and the rest made other small gestures for the imminent continuation. Alfred had his full attention on his fellow Level 4, Harper, which left Viers with the other ten Level 3 knights.

On the surface, the outlook seemed grim because the numbers were so skewed to one side but Viers himself didn't think so. What he was thinking was how this whole thing could have been prevented if the damn heart of gold of a prince stopped helping the minor NPCs with their sob stories!

They could’ve arrived here many days earlier, before Marvin and his entourage came, and may have left before they met each other.

But he was not the lord who called the shots, he was the vassal who was expected to follow the lord’s order. Viers hated his underling position already.

“There are only two of them, attack!” Harper roared.

Here they come! Viers gathered lightning on his palms.

“Halt!”

The order, surprisingly, came from the 40th prince with an almost physical perfection.

“My Prince?”

“No need to bother with them, lads. My dearest little brother saw fit to do your work himself. Why, he’s a dead man walking. Forging Intio at the mountain? Where failure means death? Ha!” Marvin said with a mocking expression.

“Perhaps Prince Croix only entered the mountain to escape a momentary crisis and would leave from another place without becoming a Pathseeker?” The young woman beside Marvin asked.

“Nay, he isn't the type to do that. Clearly he’s here for that purpose. What an idiot.”

“I will not allow slander to my lord, even from you, Prince Marvin,” Alfred angrily frowned.

“You think he’d succeed, aye? He wagered his life because of an obscure legend. The sign of a desperate man at the end of his rope, not content with their lot in life. Sure the legend has its uses but the truly great has no need to depend on things like that.”

“So you didn't forge your Intio here because you didn't think you’d succeed,” Viers’ analysis of Marvin’s words cut through the air like a sharp razor blade.

“I’m the golden child of the gods. I’ve no need to wager my life on some suspicious legend,” Mavin replied haughtily. “Greatness is my destiny. I’ve only met success in every turn I took and gained the best rewards. Thus it was and so it shall. You may be awed by my magnificence, ahahaha!”

A cocksure villain with a delusion of grandeur, Viers thought. Certainly not the first of his kind. Seeing the knights cheering to the blond prince, perhaps the people around this boy shouldered some of the blame.

Viers was wise enough to realize life was not that easy.

“You don't always achieve success. Even if you deny it, somewhere in your heart you know my words are true.”

“Haha—ha… Who are you, by the way, to talk to me like an equal?”

Since the prince was in the middle of guffawing, Viers used Victa so the words uttered in low intensity would be heard by the recipient. When he did, there was a slight tick on his eyebrows, which told Viers that he’d hit the mark. Then the prince began to look at the masked Viers with a hint of hostility. He wasn't before, probably thinking so below him in status.

“Cheap clothing,” Marvin observed Viers. “Speaking to your betters without manners, while wearing a mask no less, you’re a lowborn. Besides, there’s the matter of attacking me earlier. Attacking a royal is an offense punishable by de-”

Viers turned and walked away, flamboyantly using his robe for effect. Marvin, who never had anyone walk away while he was speaking, did not expect such treatment.

“You dare to turn your back on me!?” Marvin said with a rising rage.

“I’ve got better things to do. See ya, pampered chump.”

“Ihh!”

Marvin extended his fist at Viers from far away. One of his rings began to glow and the ground around Viers caved in, as if an invisible hammer fell down.

But Viers wasn't there, not even his shadow remained. He was vigilant and his speed was something that he emphasized in his training.

“What are you all standing there for? After him, useless fools!”

“A-at once!”

The knights of the Black Shield Knightly Order followed the trace of Viers’ movement Arte with fervorous steps. They knew what would happen if the prince was unhappy.

“...Talking whatever he wants… Let’s see you talk after I remove your tongue…”

Solany was watching Marvin who seethed in anger from the side, then she turned her gaze at the direction of Viers’ escape, beside the two Level 4s, only she picked up Viers’ true direction. What the knights followed was a fake trail.

Minutes after minutes passed and Marvin’s red emotion only grew. He was like the very volcano behind him.

“My Prince. We… lost him.”

One of the knights got a kick to the face, a few of his teeth flew out.

“Find him, or next time, you’ll eat my mace! All of you!”

Like frightened spiders the knights scattered, searching for someone so elusive that gave the Silver Legion a massive headache. After he gave his order, Marvin walked to his magical golden yacht with steps that conveyed his bad mood.

Harper and Alfred, seemingly forgotten, gave the other one last glance before disengaging.

***

On an altitude far above them, in a bubble of magical obfuscation, Knight Captain Malika of the Thunder Wing Knightly Order watched the encounter between the two princes and their followers on her gryphon.

“Taunting a prince, and not just any prince. Marvin Topaz Latias, the prince that the Lucan Duchy put their money into... He’s either very brave or very stupid.”

***

“Aaah! Aah! Ah!!”

A beautiful half-elf with a collar on her neck was moaning.

“Shit, shit, shit!”

On his chambers in the yacht, Marvin vented his frustrations on the harem slaves he carried everywhere.

Solany entered the room full of traces of the master’s rage and lust.

“Solany… What do you want?” Marvin said curtly while naked without a hint of shame.

“If he angered you so, shouldn't you chase after him yourself?”

“If those knights, your father’s underlings, are too inept, then I might still do so. This ire… I haven't felt it for a long time. To hunt a quarry that has angered me so… when I have him in my grasp, the satisfaction should be immense. What info you got on him?”

“His mental defense is robust. Even you can tell he’s a vigilant one.”

“So you weren't able to get into his head?”

“Of course I did,” Solany replied. “To prevent detection I only touched the surface. His name is Avel, but this is a false name, recently sworn to Prince Croix. He’s an adventurer from the Free People Coalition where he got embroiled in some trouble and then came to Latias.”

“Now that's my mind Pathseeker girl. Tell me more.”

“Before that, are we to do nothing? Your younger brother is on the mountain and the only one that can chase him is us,” Solany inquired.

“A thousand we sent, only one success. Common sense dictates Croix will be dead even if he does nothing, but Igurd shall finish the job in case of a miracle.”

“Igurd…”

“An anomaly, but Croix won't have the luxury. Unlike the old days, Old Archion now hates royals; we know this so Croix’s Pathseeker ascension will fail.”

***

“You’ve made yourself hard to find.”

“Hmm. It is in my nature.”

While Viers was gathering special ashes that he found, Alfred came. Although he was unable to ascend the main volcano, the surrounding mountain range was still a place with rich mana, which made all sorts of magical materials emerge. Viers took every valuables that he could find.

Not far from them, from a lava river, a catfish-like monster emerged for a second before diving back down.

The lava flats were vast and even if those knights came close, Viers had raised an illusion barrier. Alfred managed to find him because he had a tracker on Viers. The party of four all had one, in case they separated. Viers’ suggestion, because it was a common trope.

“Provoking Prince Marvin was a foolish move.”

“He’s already an enemy, or did you forget he wants to kill Croix? There’s no need for courtesy when the other person is so clearly a mortal adversary with half a brain.”

Viers didn't forget about his flying carpet, his only flying transport that was now burned. He intended to collect reparations from Marvin, willing or not, plus interest.

“...It’s as if there’s no worries in you. Do you realize what this means? Prince Marvin and the Lucan Duchy? Before that, there’s no guarantee the Young Lord will survive the Pathseeker awakening!”

“If the young prince dies then he’s a man with only that amount of worth. Relax a bit, will you? Our part is done. It’s up to them now.”

Now the two had to play hide-and-seek until Croix and Boram finished. Viers wasn't overly wary of his chasers; he was more concerned about searching for the best Power Spot most suitable for Clarissa.