Book 17 Chapter 18
The Old Rulers,
Ancient Madness Summoning the Sea Wind (1)
“Thank you for coming despite being very busy with matters on the Great Demon Front, Priestess.”
The woman whom this yellow-robed witch referred to as 'Priestess' is not the Priestess of the Fire Dragon that we know.
A jet-black, unified robe…!
In the Dragonkin Republic, there are two priestesses who reach the pinnacle of theocracy, and this elderly woman is the priestess who was active on the Adrion continent with the appellation 'Priestess of Projection (射影)'… she is Lubriane.
“I am happy to come, hearing there is a place that needs this old woman who is now so aged she only awaits her dying day.”
“Haha, why say such things? To me, you still seem quite spry.”
“So, what is the matter? The letter didn't even mention what it was about, only asked me to come as soon as possible.”
This is the green city <Karsico>.
It is one of the Republic's renowned Seven Great Cities (七大都市), a central location in the Tersh Archipelago, which acts as a stepping stone between the two continents.
Even though summer was in full swing, the fresh scent of tangerines and lemons always lingered here.
“It will be quicker for you to see it directly rather than for me to explain it in words. We need to go quite deep, so I ask for your understanding in advance.”
The yellow witch had protected the theocracy since ancient times.
The star on the witch's emblem on her chest was a pentagram! That is, she was a Great Witch, the leader of the witches residing in <Karsico>.
The two witches of the 'Black Rose Society' guarding Lubriane also wore pentagram emblems on their chests, showcasing their status as Great Witches.
“A submarine passage leading deep into the sea… Could you wield this much magic? When I die, the next priestess will undoubtedly be you.”
Lubriane said, mixing in expressions of admiration.
The stairs connecting from <Karsico>'s pier to the seabed were providing a breathable area for human activity due to a thick layer of air.
The yellow witch jested.
“It would have been good if I could use this much magic. But no. This is a passage created and left by the Azure True Dragon. We were carrying out his orders.”
“Orders?”
“It was to explore this area because the Water Dragon foresaw a future where a great calamity would strike from the sea, and he wanted us to prepare for it in advance.”
As they traveled on brooms, the witches' speed was quite fast, and before long, they arrived at the end of the stairs.
Lubriane's eyes trembled.
The witches of the Black Rose Society under her command were no different. It was an ancient mystery, a rule of evil, a product of corruption!
“This is…!”
In the middle of the seabed, a giant stone statue (石像) stood.
Ah, a delusion of madness!
It was a grotesque blend of a deep-sea demon and human forms. Who on earth could have wrought such madness! Moreover, a bizarre crown was placed on its head.
“What in the world is this?”
The Great Witches of the Black Rose Society were appalled.
“Ten thousand years must have passed, yet not a single trace of wear and tear is etched upon it!”
“Yes. Not only that, even small creatures like moss or seaweed seem to fear this monument, daring not to touch the stone slab.”
On the pedestal of the stone statue, an inscription was carved in a strange tongue (怪語), making humans feel an primal fear towards the old rulers.
Ba 'O' Ba
Du ra Kurgnashi d Aspetio
The yellow witch pointed at the inscription (碑銘) and spoke.
“With my knowledge, I couldn't understand what this meant, but surely you, Priestess, who have mastered not only the language of the <Ones Who Came> but also the languages of the ancient kingdoms, can read it?”
Lubriane's eyesight had grown blurry over time, suffering from astigmatism and nearsightedness, so she proceeded towards the monument supported by the Great Witches.
“Yes, I can read it.”
As Lubriane touched the inscription and then nodded, the yellow witch swallowed hard.
“What is written?”
For a moment, silence followed.
Then Lubriane suddenly asked.
“Where is the Azure True Dragon who ordered this search now?”
“As you know, the Naga clan has invaded the Southern Sea (南海) and begun to cut off traffic between the two continents. He said he was going to stop them. Originally, we should have reported this to the White Dragon Legion first, but the World Tree is too far, so we called for you, Priestess, first.”
“I see. In that case, you are the highest-ranking person in charge and the most skilled here right now.”
Why was she asking such a question now? The witch, who had been tilting her head, suddenly felt something hot surge up to her chin.
It was her own internal bleeding!
What on earth had happened? Wasn't there a massive hole pierced through her abdomen, which had been perfectly fine just moments before!
“Th-this is… could it be… the Priestess's specialty… spell projection…?”
Lubriane had the appellation 'Projection (射影)' precisely because of her mysterious method of using magic.
That was spell projection!
Projection (射影) means transferring a three-dimensional figure to another plane. That is, Lubriane could directly project her power to any place she wished.
This was psychokinetic magic!
The sudden psychokinetic force projected into her abdomen, even though her opponent was a priestess, pierced through her without giving her, a Great Witch, any time to react.
“But, why…?”
The witch fell to the floor and spoke. The blood that gushed out instantly formed a crimson pool beneath her.
“You asked what that inscription meant. As a reward for guiding me here, I will tell you that much before you die.”
As Lubriane waved her hand in the air and chanted a short incantation, psychokinesis brought the crown that had been placed on the stone statue before her.
“On the day the defiled celestial course is reset towards outer space, this Ba'O'Ba awakens again. That is what it says.”
“Ba'O'Ba…?”
“Under the <Forgotten Kings>, there were formidable beings. They were called the Old Nobles.”
The Five Originals (五本位) of the Spider Lord.
The Triple Sages (三中賢) of the Lord of Time.
The Four Exterminators (四滅君) of the Lizard Lord.
The Six Defeated Lords (六敗卿) of the Insect Lord.
The Eight Evil Seas (八凶海) of the Lord of the Deep.
“They were divine beings that even the <Ones Who Came> or the Eldia Warriors couldn't even face. It was said that merely looking at them would cause one's body to burst and die.”
“…?”
“But they weren't the only ones with noble titles. The Old Nobles were truly like the heads (首班) of the kingdom, and there were also nobles positioned beneath them.”
“…?”
“In our language, there are no words to distinguish and explain them, so we call them both nobles, but the Old Nobles are called 'Asarakalt,' and the nobles beneath them are called 'Tegrakalt'.”
The former means 'noble' or 'ruler', and the latter means 'administrator' or 'servant'.
“The Tegrakalt were beings who served the Asarakalt. In short, although they were nobles, they lacked divinity, so their power was as different as heaven and earth compared to the Old Nobles… but from the perspective of humans like us, they were vessels worthy of rulers.”
“…!”
“There was no need for the kings or Asarakalt themselves to step forward to corrupt humans who refused to accept the light brought by the <Ones Who Came> into 'Naga.' The power of these Tegrakalt was sufficient.”
Lubriane suddenly gave a cynical smile, one that seemed to mock the times, a smile only a woman who had lived for a long time could form.
“When I was young and still youthful, I despised the demonkin. But as I grew old, a sudden yearning blossomed within me. How happy I would have been if I, too, could have enjoyed the power of agelessness (不老) that the blood relatives and Naga received…”
“Are you… insane…?”
“Rather than going to heaven in this old and weary body to enjoy eternal life, I believe it's better to live eternal life on this earth in a youthful body. What do you think? Ah, you aren't old, so you wouldn't know. Be grateful to me for granting you death before you grew old and ugly.”
As Lubriane placed the crown upon her head… the darkness of the deep sea residing within the crown, that is, the abyss (深淵), began to violently rampage and consumed her body.
‘Ah, no…’
In her final death rattle, the witch trembled with despair and self-loathing, thinking of the terror and madness that would soon befall this land.
‘What have I… done…’