Eleanor of the Shadow Palace

XIX

Ed and I were currently at the Dukedom of Altares, the duchy that belonged to the Aljur Family. Anastasia and Hugo were visiting their maternal grandparents and dragged me and Ed with them. The duchy was filled with luscious forests and mountains, perfect for hunting and practicing magic. What I thought to be some free and relaxed two-week vacation turned into a grueling training regime by the previous Duke Aljur.

The previous head of the ducal house, Kastiel Teneria Aljur, who was one of the only three archmages of the Jifalria Continent (the continent where the Primavera Empire belongs), took interest in my talent and skills in magic and proposed to train me.

“I trained Hilda and made her one of the best. She may not be at the level of an archmage yet but she is close. You will flourish under my care.” so he said, but so far his training consisted of meditation and body strengthening for the past four days ever since we arrived.

Quite similar to that of the empress’.

-They are definitely a father-daughter pair.

The mountains and forests of the dukedom was the playground of Aljur Mages, and for the past two days, my brother and I had been scouting and hunting in it.

-This world has monsters and demons after all, a common setting of a fantasy world.

“Let’s cross the gorge we came across yesterday.” Ed suddenly piped up while we were walking.

I stopped on my tracks and looked skeptically at Ed.

“We were told not to go near it again. The other side is already a ‘No Man’s Land’, remember?” I told him.

The day before, we stumbled upon a gorge on the northern territory of the dukedom. The previous duke, who insisted I call him Grandmaster, pointed out that the gorge was the border of their family’s territory. The other side was the f*******n Forest, which was said to be littered with monsters that got demonized. On the other side of the forest was the capital of the previous dynasty that fell over five hundred years ago.

“I’m not interested about the abandoned city E, I’m more interested about the f*******n Forest. I want to try hunting demonized monsters!”

I couldn’t help but shake my head.

-Although, the abandoned capital of the previous dynasty seems to be really interesting.

According to the history books, the previous dynasty, whose name and history were lost in the early years of the Primavera Empire (although in my opinion I think they may have been deliberately erased apart from a few information), was a flourishing nation with the most advanced ways and society. It was said that they had advanced weaponry, strong knights and powerful mages. Not to mention their country and rulers were blessed by the dragon god; Niocenthul. Therefore, it was believed that the country was protected by dragons.

However, the rulers of the previous dynasty were greedy and ruled the entire continent with iron fists. Five hundred years ago, a group of nobles banded together and toppled the nation, taking over their riches and territories, and even slayed dragons as a sport. One of those nobles was the founder of the Primavera Empire; Klaus Bentaria Primavera.

The rest was history.

Anyway…

Nobody knew how it happened or why it happened, but five years after the fall of the previous dynasty, the remaining dragons vanished and the city that was once the capital of the previous dynasty could no longer be entered.

According to those that tried to enter the city and its surrounding areas, the mana of that place became so thick that an average person getting exposed to it would die in five minutes. Mages and knights who could use mana in the form of auras and magic, could last maybe up to twenty minutes but nobody survived due to long exposure. Well apart from one; Benedict Faslio Kalthuras, the first master and founder of the first magic tower; the Azure Magic Tower who ventured to that place about three hundred years prior. He never told anyone what he witnessed or took while he was there but he became one of the most powerful mages that existed after his experience.

Many tried to venture the abandoned capital after that, but nobody really succeeded; either they died or they gave up. For the last hundred years the entire abandoned city was surrounded by the f*******n Forest like some sort of wall. With the monster-infested forest as the first hurdle, nobody really dared enter it anymore.

-But it seems really tempting. Is it just me or is the direction where the city is supposed to be located calling out to me?

“I know that face.” I suddenly heard Ed which pulled me out of my thoughts. “That is a bad idea.”

“I haven’t even said anything yet.”

“We’ve been together for a long time E, even before this lifetime, even longer then. I can already tell what you’re thinking with your facial expression.” he gave me a grim look. “We are not going to the abandoned city.”

I only gave him a smile.

Two days later, the two of us were packed and we told Anastasia, Hugo, Grandmaster and the current Duke Aljur, that me and Ed would be having a camping trip in the mountain ridge to improve our bodies and hunting skills.

Of course, that was not a total lie. In fact, only the location was a lie. Also we were not able to convince them that we did not need any guards during ot hunting trip, so we were towing six people with us.

“We are so gonna die.” I heard Ed mumble as we entered the sea of trees.

“Well if we do, let’s hope we never get to be reincarnated or transmigrated with the memories of our previous lives intact.”

“You can be horrible sometimes.” he grumbled.

“Please, birds of a feather flock together.” I reasoned.

“I can’t believe I’m stuck as your twin brother.”

“Deal with it.”

Percy (who was sporting a small smirk) and the rest of our guards were only silent during our banter. They were used to it anyway.

And so the eight of us entered without even looking back.

***

Ed and I stood at the edge of the gorge, behind us were Percy and the others who were setting up camp. On the other side, the f*******n Forest was looming at us, looking even more threatening than before.

“Are we really going in there?” Ed asked. “Once we cross the gorge, there’s no going back.”

“We’re not backing out on this one.” I answered.

“Remember, we’re only fifteen at the moment.”

“Please, I took over a g**g when I was thirteen and became a feared g**g boss at fifteen. Not to mention I raised you for ten years and we became business partners for ten more. Things are going to be fine.”

“Earth did not have swords and magic Ellie.”

“But we did have science and technology. Just trust me on this one.” I told him. “I swear I’ll exit and drag you with me if I think we can’t handle being inside the abandoned city. Besides, even if we won’t get a chance to see a glimpse of the city, much less give ourselves a tour of the place, we still get to fight monsters in the f*******n Forest.”

“I… I guess.” Ed replied, nodding his head but he looked rather doubtful.