Path of Shadows: Ceres Aurum

LOYALTY

Elisa watches the horizon under the wall of Rivenwood while Professor Elena stands beside her in silence. They both just enjoy the whispers of the wind.

- Are you feeling better? - Elena asks in a sad voice.

- A little... You know, I made a promise to a friend... that we would go to Ceres Aurum together. Now... I feel like there's no point in it anymore.

- Elisa... As an older woman, would you like some advice?

- Yes... Please.

- Study, train and get stronger. And go to Ceres Aurum, but also live your life as if each day were better than the last.

- Why?

- Don't let the pain pull you down. - Elena says smiling. - I'm forty years old, you know. I've lived through many adventures. Until one day... My brother decided to take our group to the Dark Tower.

- Dark Tower?

- When Ceres Aurum was created. Gaius built the Dark Tower, a huge tower as a challenge to the most powerful Adventurers. Inside there are treasures of immeasurable value. Equipment of divine levels created by Gaius, jewels never before seen by the races and even a dress worn by Empress Elisandra in the past. Things that anyone would dream of owning. There are a hundred floors, each one more difficult than the last.

- Have you and your group tried? - Elisa asks curiously.

- Yes, we tried... We got as far as floor forty. That's when a very powerful magical beast appeared... A Lich.

- A lich?

- Yes. Every ten floors, a Legendary Class creature will appear as a sort of boss. Our group was decimated... My brother sacrificed himself so that I could escape. I'll never forget his words as he died in my arms outside the Tower... Live your life as if each day were more important than the last.

- I... I'm sorry...

- It's all right. I killed a Lich after all... But there hasn't been a day since then that I haven't missed my brother, he'd be fifty today! Although he would be very grumpy! Haha!

- Professor... Thank you for your words. - Elisa says smiling.

- Thank you, sometimes it's good to get something off your chest, you know? - Elena says smiling.

- I have a question now. - Elisa says, turning to the woman.

- Tell me.

- Has anyone reached the hundredth floor yet? - Elisa asks with a nervous look on her face.

- Unfortunately not. But on the ninety-ninth floor... - Elena says and takes a deep breath. - A Red Dragon is the boss. The group that reached it gave up before facing the dragon. As a reward for their courage, Ceres Aurum allowed them to stay there for a few years.

- Wait a minute! Are you talking about Lord Pierre?

- That's right! - Elena says laughing. - Pierre and his group managed to get through all the floors. They said that a golden door was guarded by the Red Dragon, which indicates that he was the last obstacle to the treasure.

- So... Whoever manages to kill the dragon...

- can have the treasure of the tower! - Elena exclaims, smiling. - Although that's just a theory.

- Why? - Elisa asks confused.

- Gaius never said that the treasure was a reward.

- So... The groups that tried...

- They're invaders. - Elena says, making a silly face.

- I don't think having Gaius as an enemy is a very good advantage. - Elisa says with a silly smile.

The two look at each other for a moment and start laughing together.

- Good. Return to the Academy before nightfall, will you?

- Of course! I will!

- WHO'S COMING? - One of the guards at the gate shouts.

Everyone turns their attention to the road and spots a person on horseback approaching the walls.

A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a leather cloak with a hood, reveals herself and everyone is surprised.

- That's... - Elena says shocked.

- MOTHER!!! - Elisa screams in despair.

- Duchess Miranda? - One of the guards says in surprise.

Elisa climbs down the stairs from the wall and runs out of Rivenwood to her mother. The woman gets off her horse and runs towards her daughter. They hug each other tightly.

- My daughter! Thank God! - Miranda cries out.

- Mother! I thought... I thought... - Elisa says crying.

- No, my child... I'm here. I survived for you.

Everyone is happy to see the duchess in good condition. Elena, who is standing on the wall, raises her head to heaven and thanks God.

However... Everyone's happiness is short-lived. A great crash occurs on the road.

- Look at that. As the saying goes... A bad vase doesn't break easily. - A man's voice echoes like thunder around the place.

Miranda's horse is startled and runs towards Rivenwood. Miranda instinctively stands in front of her daughter and covers her with her body.

- Duchess Miranda... - The voice reveals itself again as soon as the dust settles. - I've been looking for you.

- Who... Who are you?

- Oh, forgive me. My name is Maximus, and I am the murderer of your husband and father. - He says walking towards Miranda. - You know, it took me a long time to get here.

- Didn't you already get what you wanted? Larion has been destroyed! - Miranda shouts nervously.

- Larion? Oh, don't you know? The Yasus Kingdom... At this very moment...

In the great Kingdom of Yasus, King Yasus is struck by a powerful blow from Tempus' mace and his head is torn to pieces and his blood paints the stairs at the entrance to the castle.

- It's being overpowered! - Maximus shouts in excitement.

- Impossible... In just three days!? - Miranda exclaims in bewilderment.

- Yes. It took a while. - Maximus says, crossing his arms. - Anyway. The Emperor requested your presence.

- What? Why? - Elisa shouts nervously.

- Silence. - Maximus says as he releases his enormous pressure.

A gigantic purple eye appears above Rivenwood and all the Knights, Teachers and Residents fall to their knees, only the children, babies and teenagers don't feel this overwhelming sensation.

- Wait! I'll go. But please, stop it!

In an instant, all of Maximus' pressure disappears and everyone is able to move freely again.

Maximus looks at Miranda and says:

- Well then, come along. - Maximus says, holding out his hand to the duchess. - You can meet your daughter later.

- Daughter... - Miranda says with a sad look on her face. - Seeing you well is enough for me...

- Mother... Are you coming back?

- I... I promise, I'll come back.

- I'll be waiting. - Elisa says with a sad smile.

Miranda goes to Maximus and, reluctantly, she takes the General's hand and he raises his left hand. Maximus snaps his fingers and a purple pillar swallows him and Miranda, and the pillar then disappears with them both.

- Mother... - Elisa mumbles nervously.

In a throne room, a purple glow occurs in front of the throne, which is highlighted by some steps and above it is the exposed skull of an enormous Dragon Emperor, the most powerful breed of dragon.

The glow disappears to reveal Miranda and Maximus and the General lets go of the Duchess's hand.

- Where are we? - Miranda asks nervously.

- Miss Miranda... - A male voice as powerful as a dragon's roar makes the woman instinctively kneel down in the direction the voice was coming from. - It's been a long time.

The voice came from the throne and Miranda kept her head down as she sweated nervously.

- A voice capable of bringing everyone to their knees... - Miranda thinks nervously. - That voice is his... The King-Emperor... Gaius!

Miranda raises her head and sees Gaius staring at her with his eyes as black as night and she shivers from head to toe.

- Gaius... It's been ten years.

- That's great. That saves me time... Now, let's discuss... - He says, rising from his throne and extending his hand towards Miranda. - About your loyalty?