The Thousand Year Dynasty
Anthology 14
At the Bar where Luna worked, there were currently ten people sitting around two round tables that were deliberately lined up facing the long table where Luna was. The clock tower in the town square was at half-two in the morning.
The ten people were Loujze, Deuxter, Huebert, Go, Shuri, Axel, Sigurd, Ende, Seigfried and Luna. The four Fire Star members came along because Shuri had deliberately given this to his comrades.
The two tables were surrounded by four people. One by the Fire Star members, and another by a trio of hunters and Goes. While Luna was sitting on a chair at the long table facing towards the two tables earlier.
Seigfried was busy carrying things in and out of the back room.
"So tell me what really happened?" deuxter asked as soon as Luna was sitting comfortably in front of them.
"Actually, the two boys did not lock themselves in the cave" Luna said after sipping a drink from her glass. "They disappeared," he added later.
"Disappeared?" asked almost everyone in the room, looking confused did not understand the meaning of Luna's words.
"Sorry, but what do you mean by disappearing?" ask Axel then.
"Lost, invisible, undiscoverable" said Luna, answering by moving her hand to make it look more dramatic.
"really?" Loujze looked confused and in disbelief.
"We tried to find it, but it did not produce results" said Luna trying to convince others. "I mean, me and Caspian. And also secretly so as not to cause a stir. But we couldn't find them anywhere" he continued.
Everyone put on a doubtful face to hear the story of Luna.
"Have you been looking for him everywhere in the region?" This time Huebert asked.
"I believe we did. We've been looking for him everywhere in the region. We even asked for some Yllgarian to do a secret sweep of Sekai Forest" replied Luna. "We have also widened the search area to outside the Central area. Be it to the south or to the north. And until now we have not found it," he added.
"Did they go back to their world?" chirp Loujze.
"How exactly are they going until they can be lost?" Axel asked. "Are they not always surrounded by people?" said again.
"really. Mr. Couran, Miss Lily, Miss Rafa, even Primaval, and Miss Yvvone are always around them, aren't they?" Shuri added Axel's words.
It seems that the others nodded in response to Axel and Shuri's sensible speech.
"Mr Couran and Miss Lily were with the two of them, moments before they disappeared. And according to Mr. Couran they just disappeared, "Luna told me again. "I don't know the exact details either. But they both think that's how it happened. And I can't possibly think that Mr. Couran and Miss Lily are lying, right?" continue then.
"Is that some kind of transfer magic or summoning magic?" Ende tried to give a guess from his observation.
"No, there were no signs of the movement of the Soul Stream around them when it happened. Otherwise Miss Lily will definitely feel it soon," explained Luna later. "It was also confirmed by Miss Yvvone who was quite knowledgeable about Space Time magic. According to him there is no trace of the use of magic transfer or the use of stone Arcane. And even the mystic weapon barrier that Mr. Val had installed around the Cave was undamaged. Which means there is no use of mystical weapons in the place" he continued later.
"So it's very likely that they have managed to find a way to return to their world" Loujze said, drawing conclusions from what he heard.
"Maybe it was knowing that they had returned to their world that made Mr. Couran and Ms. Rafa behave that way" Shuri added.
"But it's open like those who leave without saying goodbye. I know they don't know manners, but they can't possibly leave the people closest to them without a word at all" Deuxter replied to Shuri's remarks.
"Don't they say goodbye to them?" shuri said with another guess. "It could be because that's what caused Miss Lily to be as calm as she is today. Maybe they didn't say anything to us, in addition to not wanting to cause an uproar that could attract the attention of other kingdoms at a time like now, also because we weren't too close to the two of them," he continued then which looked quite enthusiastic.
"I doubt that," Luna replied while shaking her head slowly.
"Then how did the Queen respond to this?" Axel asked again.
"The Queen did not respond well enough. Plus a lot of things are going on in the Elbrasta area lately, which clearly affects His mind," Luna told me with a face that looked a little sad.
"I'm sure it must have been hard for him" Deuxter said later.
"Will the Queen be all right?" Shuri asked worriedly.
"We can only pray for the best for him" replied Luna who looked half resigned.
"What does it mean that we will fall back into battle?" Shuri asked again, this time a look of fear began to appear in his eyes.
While Luna was only able to shake her head slowly. This was followed by silence in the room.
"If you're done, go home. I was already sleepy," Seigfried suddenly spoke from behind the Bartender's desk which shocked the others.
Everyone did not feel annoyed by Seigfried's disrespectful remarks. They realized that there was no point in them still remaining silent in the Bar. Which even bothers others.
Seeming one by one, the people stood up with a listless look and looked restless.
"There's nothing we can do to thank you for trying so hard to protect the land they've inherited from us" Seigfried grumbled again as he walked across the room. Who then began to flip the chairs and put them on the table. "It's also if we feel we have to thank them," he added again still with an indifferent attitude towards others.
Everyone began to look smiling at Seigfried's words. They realize that's what they have to do now. Instead think about why and how Aksa and Nata left them.
After that four members of the Star of Fire, Go, and a trio of hunters were able to go home. While Luna is still staying to help Seigfried clean the Bar.
"You're always acting pretty cool, Sieg. You know that?" said Luna who then helped Seigfried turn and put a chair on the table.
"Make what? The coolest looks don't make us full" replied Seigfried, who sounded like he was muttering.
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Morning in the North City. Cornelius and Constantine were going around conducting periodic surveillance and territorial checks.
The northern region now looks more crowded than ever. Especially the Northern City and the Northern Gate.
Now there is a special place that is tasked to record people who enter and exit, called the Licensing Hall. It was at the North Gate just before North Lake , a lake formed from a ravine that had now been filled with water. Between the two walls the fort was deliberately built right in the cliff fissure which became the only entrance to the territory of the Kingdom of Rhodes from the northern mainland.
Not only distinguished by the letters given when entering the gate, from where the merchants and visitors of the city separated the entrance. Everyone with a horse carriage and quite a lot of luggage would pass through the bridge of the ravine lake earlier, to head to the lower land of the Northern City. It is now called the Lower City. Those who do not carry horse carriages and only individuals can use a small Gondola built from the North Gate region directly to the plateau of the North City which is now called the Upper City.
"Are those nobles still trying to get inside on the grounds of wanting to meet Queen Daisy?" cornelius asked one of the three officers in the Licensing Hall.
"Yes, Sir. Not even a few who threaten to use their noble position" replied Morra man who was seen wearing a special uniform of government workers. Which is in the form of a long-sleeved shirt with a dark green suit, in line with the color of his pants.
"Don't worry, they're just bluffing. If indeed they have the power they will not even face you," replied Cornelius giving support to his men.
"We understand, Sir. We will continue to perform our duties, to anyone in accordance with the applicable rules," the official replied firmly.
"good. All right then, continue with your duties. Good afternoon." said Cornelius as he walked towards the place where Constantine was waiting at the inner side gate.
"Good day, sir." The servants and guards present at the place retaliated simultaneously.
"Maybe we need to hire a Narva to make the Nobles not look down on our employees" Constantine said as Cornelius approached.
"I don't think it's necessary. They must be only lower class nobles. No need to be ignored" replied Cornelius. "What about the record section?" the question then went to Constantine as they started walking towards the direction their Iron Train was on.
"There's nothing strange in the record section. Everything is safe" Constantine replied as they arrived next to the Iron Train.
"Good," said Cornelius after touching his body in the back seat next to Constantine.
And without waiting for orders from Cornelius, a man who was sitting in the steering chair of the Iron Train, immediately started the engine and drove over the North Lake bridge towards Lower Town.
The Lower City now looks far from seedy and dirty. After the arrival of an artist from Estrinx who worked under Cornelius, who tried to carve the cliff walls with beautiful pictures.
The carriage and horse care area, as well as the temporary storage warehouse still existed in the Lower City. It's just that now all the Garisun and the armory in moved on the west side of Upper City. Which was then replaced by a small area containing lodging and restaurants, which stretched from the eastern cliff wall, until before the waterfall on the western cliff wall.
After a quick check at the horse-drawn carriage daycare and storage warehouse, the Iron Car carrying Cornelius and Constantine boarded the elevator pulley which was now made larger and sturdier, in order to be able to lift objects as heavy as a Combat Train. They're heading to the Upper City.
While the Upper City contains everything that is common in a city.
While the trading area is located to the north of the city square. Not far from the elevator pulley.
Then the government area is located south of the town square, not far from the Steam Train Station.
And to the west of the town square, it is filled with Garisun, an arsenal, and a special settlement of warriors and witches.
Cornelius and Constantine continued on their way south. To the Cornelius residence built before the territory was made into a government territory.
And just like the other cities of the Rhodesian kingdom, every square of the city always had a clock tower. Which is because of its uniqueness, to attract a lot of attention from outsiders and then make the concept of time calculation using units of numbers become increasingly popular outside the region.
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A middle-aged Narva man was standing in front of the entrance of the Cornelius residence. And soon approached as the Iron Car of Cornelius entered the gate of the fence.
"Mr Caspian was waiting in the living room, sir," the middle-aged man said after Cornelius and Constantine stepped off the Iron Train.
"Thank you, Gar. Come on, Constantine" said Cornelius, who then entered his residence.
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"Our problems have not diminished at all since the foundation of this kingdom" said Cornelius as he and Constantine sat in the central room of his residence, with Caspian.
"really. The south is still struggling to establish itself, even now Mr. Grevier is doing something that is making things worse in the Elbrasta region." Constantine seems to add to that.
"Nationalists also began to use this opportunity to run their own interests" Cornelius added. "If this continues to be possible the kingdom of Elbrasta will be divided," he continued.
"True, what I fear now is the outbreak of another war on the northern mainland. Though we still have not recovered properly from the previous war," said Caspian who looks worried.
"Then how do we deal when the war happens again?" This time Constantine asked. Looks very worried.
"Obviously we need to have a strong army soon. Otherwise, we won't have much choice and opportunity as the war approaches" replied Caspian, still with an uncomfortable face.
"But we can't do anything. We cannot have conscription in this place, Her Majesty the Queen will certainly not agree" Cornelius said in response to Caspian's remarks.
"Then what should we do?" Constantine looks a little panicked.
"If we only have a small army, then we must rely on powerful weaponry. As we've always done." Caspian explained. "Or we can build a defensive wall inside this region and defend by closing ourselves as before" he added.
"But that means we have to relinquish territory in the Southern Mainland?" cornelius said that sounded like telling and asking.
"really. And that choice would be a very difficult choice for Her Majesty the Queen," Caspian replied with a small nod.
"Yes, obviously it will be a very difficult decision for Her Majesty the Queen." Cornelius agreed with Caspian.
"When all these problems will soon be resolved if Mr. Nata intervenes himself" said Constantine later.
"True, all these problems should be quickly resolved if they intervene. But what I wonder is, why in times like now do they cut off such a relationship?" said Cornelius who seemed not to understand the decision made by Aksa and Nata. "And we shouldn't have followed their strange will. We should still ask the two of them to help solve all of this," he continued, who seemed more clueless with people who wanted to follow the strange decision of Aksa and Nata. "It's an important matter, can't we force our way into the room inside that cave?"
Caspian was silent for a while, then replied hesitantly, "Can't."
"can't? That makes sense. Do we have to go up against Miss Lily all to get into that room?" cornelius asked who looked increasingly clueless with the answer from Caspian.
"There are more difficult problems we have to do than have to fight Miss Lily" Caspian replied with increasing hesitation.
"And what is it? What's harder than fighting a White Lightning war legend?" Cornelius was seen increasingly agitated to hear answers from Caspian.
"Sorry, Mr. Cornelius. But I can't say it" Caspian said later as he lowered his gaze toward the table before him.
"You're keeping something from me?" asked Cornelius who looked surprised that there was something secret from him behind all this. "You're keeping something from me?" Cornelius repeated his question which this time sounded emotionally restraining.
Caspian was silent.
Cornelius then took a deep breath. "Alright, I won't force it. I consider Her Majesty the Queen who ordered you to keep it a secret. I understand," he said, still trying to catch his breath. "Did you know about this?" tanyanya.
"He knows." Caspian answered quickly.
"Well then, after this I'll ask him" Cornelius said later.
"Without realizing that we are indeed dependent on those two people" said Constantine, who tried to change the topic of increasingly awkward conversations.
"I think because basically all the plans for the formation of this region came from the two of them, so it's clear that we really need those two people" said Cornelius in response to Constantine's remarks.
"Actually Mr. Nata has already prepared a series of plans for our military power" Caspian replied trying to explain. "But the situation changed quickly, and now the two of them are out of contact" he added.
"Meaning that it's like this, it's up to us now" said Constantine who looks a little desperate.
"Right, we should try as hard as we can to at least survive. Until things go back to how they were" Caspian said later, trying to encourage Constantine.
"You mean Mr Aksa and Mr Nata?" ask Constantine to make sure.
"right." Caspian answered quickly.
"Then what about the search plan for the soldiers from the north? Is it going well?" Now it was Cornelius' turn to try to change the subject from Aksa and Nata.
"Unfortunately with the situation going on, the search for soldiers in the northern region did not go well." Caspian replied excitedly.
"If we don't have a lot of troops, don't we just make more Combat Trains to cover our shortcomings?" said Constantine who tried to give input.
"The problem is, we do not have much material to continue making the Combat Train," said Cornelius chimed.
"You mean Dracz metal?" ask Constantine to make sure. "Didn't we have a special agreement with the kingdom of Estrinx on this? Our relationship is also in good shape with them" he continued, who is still trying to make sure.
"What you're talking about is true, Mr. Constantine. But unfortunately, the speed at which they mine the metal is not fast enough to meet the amount we need for the metal" Caspian replied, trying to explain to Constantine.
"The Estrinx side is not able to prepare the Dracz metal in the amount we need to make the Combat Train, in the near future" Cornelius added.
"Then, what about hiring a mercenary union to increase our army?" ask Constantine again who at once tried to give input.
"It's not very impactful" Caspian replied quickly. "Besides most of the mercenary union group having no loyalty, hiring them to fight would waste half of our overall expenditure on the military" he explained later.
"With the cost of spending that much, it is more productive when we use it to make weapons. Or perhaps it would be much more fruitful if we used it to bribe nobles to betray" Cornelius added by giving an original example.
"Talking about treason, what about the plan to sabotage before they attack or something like that?" ask Constantine again still trying to give input.
"That's not an option. Because even for the spy network we also do not have many members," Caspian replied still with a lackluster face.
"But from what I've heard, the southerners have started to spy on them, shouldn't we be able to fight them?" Cornelius asked to be sure.
"Although the network that I and Luna have built now is strong enough, but we can only provide as much information as possible," Caspian replied unhappily. There is no hope in every answer.
"Are you kidding me? We're really in big trouble if we stay like this" said Cornelius, who seemed to be unwilling to believe what he heard.
"Because all this time we've been doing everything based on Mr. Nata's plan, so now all we need is time. It's good to start re-creating new plans, as well as to build our troops and weapons little by little." Caspian replied trying to be positive.
"I don't think we'll get enough time, because I'm sure there'll soon be another war coming for us. And we have to be ready for that" Cornelius replied.
"Let's wish the gods the best" Constantine added.
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