Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

When he was young, his father always said to him that he is divine. And his mother would whisper to his ears that he is mortal.

There is deep meaning to it that he did not understand until he grows older and reach the top of the world. 

After he become Emperor, he asks his mother what her words use to mean. 

His mother told him that it is the ancient tradition of the ancient Enochian Empire.

The phrase is to remind people that they are not free from making mistakes.

That is the essence of the phrase. 

When Arial become Emperor, there is less and less words of objection. At first, he thought it is because that thing had become easier or that his plans is all working

He thought the silence of his subordinate is agreement. 

It turns out that as he grows stronger and more powerful, people become more fearful of speaking the truth.

How many people in the court that would dare to speak about the death of the Emperor so straightforwardly as they would always say that he is blessed to have a long life.

Other than Silas and Oliver, there is not many 

Once they said such a thing, they might have to fear that people would look at them with wary eyes for fear that this official have schemes and plots against the Imperial family.

However, the Twelve Great generals had such privilege. 

Such freedom given to them had help Arial in avoiding making stupid decision in the battlefield. 

Leander is too loyal and everything he does in the eyes of Leander it is always right. But there were some Great generals that would argue with him like Alberth. 

That man method is quiet ingenious and even at the risk of death, he still wanted to argue with him. But it is also thanks to that, that Arial at that time managed to avoid senseless death.

Arial only sighed.

Santiago realize that the mood behind him had changes a bit since he had mentioned the Emperor death. 

But since he already said it, he would not back down

He continues 

'My lord death would cause great changes to the Empire. The Empire just has stabilized itself. If my lord dies here at an unknown land, the matter of the successor of the Empire would probably turns into a great civil war. Warlords would rise. The Empire would split apart.'

Then he leans to Arial and whispers in his ears

'And There is still ten of the great generals in the Empire. Each one of them could become a powerful force. I doubt that they would be loyal if my lord is no longer there.'

Then he quickly stands back in his original position bow toward him and said with a loud voice

'Your Imperial Highness. Please reconsider'

Arial laughed and said

'No one seems to worry about it when I was conquering the four corners of the land'

Santiago waited for a second before saying 

'At that time, no one expected the Empire to truly win. It wasn't until the last opposition that we all see the conclusion of the war, my lord. And at that time, my lord position was not the same as it is today.  At that time, if we lose the war, we lose the Empire. Today, if we lose my lord, we lose the Empire.'

Then he added

'If my lord dies here, there is no reason for any of us Edenian to stay here.' All around, the area become silent. There is only the sound of the breathing of the soldiers and the neighing of the warhorses 

Everyone seems to wait for the Emperor words. Nobody knows what the Emperor would choose to do. 

'Santiago' Arial finally speaks and Santiago raise his head.

'My lord'

'Do you forget that I have never been defeated in one on one battle?' 

'I did not forget it'

'Then why are you still insisting?'

'Because right now the position is different. And there is too much at stake for me not to worry. Even if there is the slightest possibility that my lord could fall here today, I have to care about it.'

Sighing Santiago added

'I will not use the common people as a threat to force my lord to retreat like those officials. I just wanted my lord to know what my lord means to the Empire' 

'Maybe someday, when the Empire is stabilized, and there is no external power that could threaten us in the Human Continent and the internal problem had been pacified, then maybe it would not have mattered if my lord went adventuring and roams the land. 

'But even now, just the news of my lord absence in the Capital had causes such chaos and ruckus in the territory of the Empire. This humble servant merely wants my lord to understand truly what is at stake here. Do not chase both games. You might lose both'

There is silence between them for a few second.

The other soldiers near them pretend that they did not hear anything and they did not see anything. 

Arial then shakes his head and said

You don't have to worry about this' he then added

'I know what I am doing. And I appreciate your concern. But I have made my decision'

Santiago nodded and bow his head again

'Then, it will be as you desire, my lord' he said as he retreated backwards. Arial only have a bitter smile as he looks back toward the open gate and walk closer and closer toward the exit of the gate

Santiago could only sigh while Giovanni simply jump back onto his horse. 

He looks at Santiago and he just nodded. That was Santiago last plead. Since the Emperor had given him definitive order, he decided to accept the order.

He had done all he could to try to discourage the Emperor from fighting the duel. 

Giovanni did not come and try to persuade the Emperor because he knows quite well that when the Emperor makes a move, it is rarely a thoughtless move.

While at times, he could be emotional and headstrong, it is undeniable that the Emperor is a top notch warrior that could easily break an entire line of defense by his lonesome.

Giovanni then regroup back with his soldiers. He looks at his soldiers and quickly arrange them. 

'headstrong as always' he thought to himself. He quickly regroups with his soldier and he is ready to charge toward that old man if the battle went awry.

Regardless whether the Emperor wanted to be honorable and follow the code of a Knight when accepting the challenge of that old man, all he knows that his job is to protect the Emperor. 

If he even saw some signs that the Emperor is about to lose he would charge regardless of the hit on his reputation

Santiago on the other hand walk toward the stairs leading to the outer city wall. 

As for his soldiers, they are on standby

He greeted the Commanders of the Wall as he stands and look down toward that old man in the distance

And not before long, he could see the Emperor walking out from the area of the outer city gate 

He walks slowly and calmly toward that old man in the distance. 

Arial is taking deep breath and making sure that his entire body is in full alert. 

Since he had decided to accept the duel, he had been prepared for an ambush and even a sneak attack from an arrow. 

Since the area in front of him is flat lands, it is easy to see if there is an archer hiding.

And the only area that is hard to see is the area of the forest. But the distance between the forest and the bridge is very long.

But like his soldiers, he too knew that the people of the Thirteen Tribe had ungodly strength and it is not wise to think that there is no one that could not shoot him even from such a distance

So, he is quite alert. 

But to anyone looking at him right now, he must have look very calm as he walks on the trail leading toward that bridge

On his side is a sword. 

He did not bring his glaive. 

He walks calmly to that area. 

Arial had long not met a person who could fight him evenly in one on one fight. 

When he heard someone had challenge him into a duel with the price being Maroth itself, to him, this is nothing but a present 

He was given the information about the old man as he rides to here. The man is called Varnikar, one of the High Lords of the Vernium kingdom.

He is known to have a godly strength. Arial movement is watched intently by the soldiers waiting on the gate and those who looks at him from the wall.

And the old man also notices him 

'White hair with blue eyes. Is that Arial Vermont?' Varnikar did not come here without preparation.