The Two Empresses
Heirloom

"A long time no see, Bishop Made. I want to ask you a favor," said Marchioness Geliza with a faint smile.

"Please tell me what the Marchioness wants, I will do even if I have to risk my life" Bishop Made said cheerfully. The curious Saciel aligned his height so that Bishop Made would not look up too high.

"A little boy like you can be a bishop? Incredible," Saciel murmured. Bishop Made was offended and immediately pinched Saciel's cheek as hard as possible. "Ouch!"

"What do you call a kid, huh? I'm older than you, so don't call me a child" Bishop Made said.

"How old are you?" saciel asked as she stroked her red cheeks.

"80 years" said the bishop. Saciel and Phillip gaped at it, watching every part of the Bishop closely, making it uncomfortable. "Big, stay away. You're disgusting."

"For the sake of humanity what are you?" ask Saciel.

"...i am the human race" said the Bishop.

"...eh what? My butterflies aren't broken, are they?" chirps Phillip was shocked to death. The demi-humans were silent with the face of the plate, as if they were tired of the reaction.

"How can a human have a baby face like that?" asked Saciel in surprise. The bishop grinned with satisfaction at hearing that.

"Well, I'm a messenger of the gods, obviously I'm younger" he replied. Saciel fell silent, inwardly swearing at the arrogance of Bishop Made.

"Then how can humans be here? I think they're all in the Respher" Phillip said.

"Well, not really. Some of the areas in Ceshier are inhabited by humans and we are treated very humanely compared to Respher. You know most witches and elves are racist against the inferior" Bishop Made said casually.

"I agree with you, Grandpa," Saciel said.

"Who are you calling 'grandfather', rancid boy?" pasal Bishops Made fierce. Before a prolonged fight, Marchioness Geliza immediately lifted her fan and made everything quiet.

"Bishop, can you accompany them to the southeast? The witch lady wanted to take back the family's heirloom," asked Marchioness Geliza softly. Bishop Made frowned hearing that.

"What did you take that thing for?"

"...i want to take over the throne" Saciel said. Bishop Made was stunned and laughed out loud to the surprise of everyone.

"Hahaha, my stomach. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. You want to take over the throne? Who are you?" asked Bishop Made in his laughter.

"Only a girl wants to save her sister" Saciel replied coldly. "I don't want the throne either, but I can't let anyone take my sister hostage."

"You know the risks of being a ruler, don't you? Not necessarily the people love you."

"As long as I can protect the people even if they hate me, I don't care" he said. Bishop Made fell silent, then sighed and stared fixedly at Saciel.

"Your journey is very difficult. Obstacles keep on overshadowing you, but you're still able to stand. All right, I'll take you there. Looks like you're tough enough for that" Bishop Made said. "Since the place is not far away, we can walk or swim."

"Be careful" said Marchioness Geliza sincerely. They immediately went towards the southeast, where the place was a stark contrast to Mizuki City. An empty but arid region, not even a single coral reef. The place was more suitable as a cemetery because many bones of fish and other creatures were stuck in the sand. There is nothing but sand and bones.

"You sure this is the place?" ask Phillip doubtfully.

"True, don't be afraid of me tricking you" Bishop Made replied as he stomped his feet. Slowly a small cave mouth emerged from behind the sand.

"Wow, cool," praised Saciel. "Can I do it too?"

"Uh, it's stuffy, '" complained Kezia.

"Hold on, little lady. We're almost there" Bishop Made said calmly. They walked until they reached a large cave with a medium-sized crate lying on a stone table. "You have the key, don't you?"

"Eh? Ah," Saciel chanted as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a key she got in Lumos. "Is this what you mean?"

"There's another key? Very amusing. Well go there, we will wait here," Bishop Made said.

"Eh? I can't come with nee?" ask Kezia.

"No. The magic is too strong, I doubt that even if you are strong you will still get hurt. Yes, Tu-an Pu-tri," whispered Bishop Made with a gentle smile. Kezia fell silent and gave a deathly glance, making the bishop retreat slowly. Saciel immediately advanced, but the next second his body was already full of scratches.

"Saciel!" call Phillip and Max together.

"Why did you call him?" ask Max.

"Is there a problem if I call him?" reply Phillip ketus. Saciel paid no heed to them, still continuing to lash through the protective magic even though his body started to be torn apart bit by bit.

"Ugh, this magic. I must..agh! Take that damned thing," Saciel said. After he got closer to the chest, Saciel immediately entered the key and turned it around until a 'click' sound was heard and opened it quickly. A ring bearing the emblem of the family with the jewel of the Eye of Oorun adorned the surroundings of the emblem lying on top of a strip of black velvet cloth.

"This..the ring?" saciel muttered as he grabbed it, but stopped when he felt the electricity hurt him. "Protectors again?"

"Why is it so long?" lamented Nero.

"The magic of his patron is still active, so he cannot take the relic" Bishop Made replied. "While he's strong, I doubt he'll hold on."

"Nee," call Kezia down. Saciel was silent for a long time, and in his hand was a small hammer of electricity.

"Ah? Since when did he make it?" chirps Nero. Phillip pale to see the hammer.

"That's.my electric hammer," he murmured. "Don't tell me he wants to destroy the shield with that dangerous thing" Phillip said

"...what? Dangerous? Everyone stand behind me!" bishop Made said as he pulled out a stick and stomped on the rocks, just as Saciel swung the hammer over the shield. A huge lightning bolt struck the surroundings, even hitting the protector that Bishop Made made. The protector protecting the ring did not react at all, upsetting Saciel and lashing out a punch again.

"Oi, crazy boy! It's just that you destroyed it!" sahut Bishop Made. Saciel gasped and dropped his hammer, his body already at the threshold.

"Nee! Nee!" call Kezia. He intended to lash out, but Nero held him back and shook his head. "But nee..."

"Don't Kezia, his body is like that" said Nero. "We don't know how dangerous that protector is."

"Mr Kousuke Arakawa was the strongest in his lifetime. No one has ever beaten him" Phillip said.

"No, nee could die! Take nee home!" jeremy Kezia.

"Kezia, just shut up for a second" said Max. His eyes were still fixed on the weakened Saciel, yet he did nothing. He knew, if he advanced it would be the same as adding a burden to the girl.

"...magic grandfather...cancellation...ah?" Saciel's murmur. He stood up and he poured his blood on the protector. Slowly the shield cracked and was annihilated into a grain of light that flew in the wind. "Heh, you sadistic fuck. Lucky I still remember that lousy magic." Carefully remove the ring and check it again.

"Nee! Nee!" call him while running and jump into his arms. Saciel immediately caught up and hugged him tightly. "Huuu! I thought nee would get hurt again."

"Ahaha, not really. Phillip, prepare. We're going home right now" Saciel said calmly.