Rebirth of the 8th-Circle Mage

Chapter 150 - Ignition (1)

“This is it for today.”

Thud.

Under the scorching sun, Herarion completed the training that Hector had told him to do every day. The training was intense.

In order to improve his muscle strength, he had to wear clothing attached with numerous sandbags. He also had to wield a training sword that weighed many times more than an ordinary sword, straining his arms.

Herarion removed his sweat-soaked training clothes, now even heavier from his sweat, and tossed the training sword, which he was sick of, onto the floor.

He stretched out on the floor and enjoyed the breeze that cooled him off.

“Good work today, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, Selene!”

Selene Khan, the queen of Shahatra, handed Herarion a cold wet towel and some ice water.

Gulp gulp.

“Ahh!”

After training, ice water tasted sweeter than even the best wine.

Herarion smiled after chugging down the water and said to Selene, “I feel much better, all thanks to you.”

“No problem, haha.”

Selene and Herarion had known each other since they were very young. The two already had feelings for each other long before their arranged marriage, and they were soulmates.

Herarion was a romantic. Unlike the other kings, who kept numerous concubines, he only had eyes for Selene and had never taken a single concubine. Thus, Selene was among the few on whom Herarion didn’t use the Eye of La.

“Today is that day, right?”

“Yes. Today is the day I have to pray to Janus.”

“You trained so hard today, you must be exhausted. Will you be able to pray today?”

“Don’t worry. The training may look hard, but I’m getting stronger every day.”

“Hmm, I’m still worried. Even though Sir Hector is a great swordsman, he’s been overworking Your Majesty every day…”

Selene was genuinely concerned about Herarion. She cared not for his strength nor wealth and power. All she desired was for Herarion to be happy.

Herarion looked at her with loving eyes and said, “Selene, I’m so happy that I can spend the rest of my life with a woman like you.”

“You’re making me blush, Your Majesty…”

They were a very loving married couple.

The two made love for a while, then started dinner, but the moment Herarion held up his spoon to eat…

“Argh!”

“Your Majesty! Are you okay?”

“I-I’m okay… I guess I overworked myself during the day.”

“Your Majesty trains like this every day. I’m really worried for your health.”

“It’s okay, don’t worry. My master told me that all of this will be worth it and later become useful…”

“This won’t do. I will join you while you pray tonight. I’ve always felt uneasy that you pray alone, so please let me help you, Your Majesty.”

“I can’t let you do that, Selene.”

“But, you’re unwell, Your Majesty…”

“That’s enough, Selene. We already decided that we won’t talk about this anymore. I’m okay so don’t worry.”

Praying to Janus was one of the sacred rituals allowed only to the Khan of Shahatra. Therefore, Herarion drew a firm line regarding this, even to Viram or Selene.

However, Selene’s obsession with Janus seemed to have intensified a little over the past few days. Of course, it wasn’t by much; no matter how much she obsessed over it, it only looked cute to Herarion.

Every time this happened, Herarion refused help from Selene even though he knew she had good intentions. He was aware that Selene was just trying to keep him company since he was tired from all the training. Thus, he never suspected that she might be up to something behind his back.

“Boo hoo…!”

Selene pouted when Herarion refused once again.

“What’s wrong, Selene?”

She was miffed, but even that looked cute to a romantic like him.

Herarion put down his spoon to comfort Selene.

“I’m actually a little upset,” said Selene in a sullen tone.

“About what?”

“You let Sir Henry and Sir Hector inside the temple multiple times, but why can’t I go in?”

“That’s because…!”

“I know that this is tradition, so I understand, but I can’t help feeling a little upset…”

There was actually no hard rule that no one other than Khan could enter the temple. However, because Janus’ power was extremely dangerous, he prohibited anyone from entering to prevent any mishaps.

Herarion started thinking about the matter seriously.

‘Well, no matter how dangerous Janus’ power is, I’ll be there with her, so I doubt anything will happen.’

Furthermore, the prayer offered to Janus was rather simple. The ritual consisted of reflecting on Janus’ power of death or giving fresh offerings.

After some thought, Herarion finally came to a decision.

“Alright. Could you help me with my prayer just for today then?”

“Really?”

“Yes, but only for today.”

“Of course. I’m satisfied with the fact that I can help you, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you. No one else cares about as much as you do, Selene.”

Herarion became the first Khan in the history of Shahatra to allow a woman inside Janus’ temple.

* * *

“W-Waled! W-what the hell…!”

As soon as Alfred saw Waled, he let out a horrible shriek that was closer to a scream.

His son had been perfectly fine just the day before, but now his arm had been severed.

Alfred's hands trembled as he reached out to stroke his son's left sleeve, which fluttered in the air.

It felt empty. It was not a dream.

The thin veins around Alfred’s eyes burst at last as he shouted at Eisen in anger.

“Eisen…! You have to tell me what happened and don’t leave out a single detail…!”

Eisen smirked and said, “...Don’t be absurd.”

“What?”

“It’s said that people get angry at others for their own mistakes. Alfred, I think you've misunderstood. I’m not here to apologize.”

“...What?”

“On the contrary, I came here to demand an apology. You’re damned eldest son recklessly entered the house of my precious vassal, summoned his high-level spirit, and behaved violently.”

“What? He summoned Cillion? Waled, is this true?”

“T-there was actually a reason for that…”

“What reason?”

Just as Waled tried making an excuse, Eisen angrily interrupted him and continued.

“Alfred, I don’t give a damn about what your son is like or what you think of me. But!”

Bang!

A powerful stomp powered by Aura created a spiderweb-like crack on the ground underneath Eisen’s foot.

“Unless your head is just there for decoration, why don’t you follow basic manners?”

“W-what did you say?”

“If…”

Eisen took a step toward the bewildered Alfred. He said in a cold tone.

“If you harm anything else that belongs to me, I will make you disappear without a trace. Know that.”

It was a geniune warning.

Still unaware of the full situation, Alfred flushed.

“I’ll charge you for the damage to my vassal's house that your son caused. If you have any objections, feel free to tell me. I'm even willing to accept a duel if necessary.”

Eisen turned toward Henry and said, “Let’s go, Henry! This should be enough of a warning!”

“Yes, Marquis.”

“E-Eisen! What the…!”

The two had come to the Etherwether’s mansion to make a fuss only to leave so abruptly.

Alfred called out Eisen's name, but Eisen snorted once more and left the mansion in a carriage.

“Ughhhhh!”

His eldest son had become a one-armed moron overnight, and he had been humiliated by the person he hated the most without knowing the reason. Alfred naturally shouted in anger.

“Waled!”

Thud!

Alfred angrily stomped the floor as hard as he could and small cracks that looked like spiderwebs appeared, just like the ones Eisen had made.

“Explain everything to me, from top to bottom, in detail! Just what the hell happened!”

His breathing was rough.

It seemed like war would break out between Eisen and Alfred at any moment.

* * *

After dinner, Herarion changed into formal clothing and took Selena to Janus’ temple. It was the first time since the history of Shahatra that this happened.

“Whoa…!”

Before entering Janus’ temple, Herarion had taught Selene how to behave inside. However, it was only natural for her to take a good look at the temple, since she was the first queen to go inside.

Before performing the ceremony, Herarion told Selene to be careful.

“...I’m telling you again, when the ceremony starts–”

“Never speak, never look back, and never tell anyone what I see or hear inside the temple, right?”

“That’s right.”

She was young, but she was indeed a very intelligent person.

Herarion walked up to the sacrifice that he was planning to offer to Janus.

- Oink oink

The sacrifice for the ceremony was none other than a healthy boar, long a symbol of abundance and vitality.

Herarion used Janus' power against the animal.

“Sks r kRma qkato akrkadmf gkse k. R kRmadms qkato akrkadmf gksms s ork quffne k...”

Shhh…

As soon as he cast the spell, the energy of death began to emanate from his fingers. It was one of Janus’ main powers, Deprivation of Death.

The energy of death soon took over the boar, and with Janus’ blessing, the boar started to squirm in pain as its eyes rolled back.

- Oink!

The boar let out a piercing scream as the excruciating pain became unbearable. No matter how much it screamed, however, the spell had deprived it of the right to die. It would be forced to live forever, suffering in a body that would not find peace in death.

“Selene.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The ceremony had begun.

Selene closed her eyes, covered her ears, and turned her back toward the altar, just as Herarion had taught her.”

Herarion picked up the screaming boar, placed it on the altar, and started to cast a spell to summon Janus.

Just then, Selene's eyes opened.

Just like Arthus’ eyes, they glowed red.