"One could truthfully say that the story is fabricated with delusions and falsehoods. The 'truth' has been bent so many times over the millennium. And after all these years, the 'truth' doesn't have even a trace left in the 'history'. One can certainly confirm that the broken pieces of truth were still utilized to harmonize the 'story'. The given prophecy is, however, the purest truth remaining from the harshest reality from the past that the world couldn't accept." The Raven revealed those words to the people.
"Dear young one, the world currently is on the verge of losing its ground to the delusion and the harsh reality. One must show their gratitude to their new friend by choosing the path that doesn't lead to momentary peace at heart but the path that brightens the world's awareness of reality from their delusions. One surmise that young one will truly be the first to assemble the eleven rulers of this land. Let the path be cloudy with uncertainty or be littered with uphill battles, may the blessing of the 'Raven' be with you to the end of time."
Ae-rin glowed with a bluish hue, and she could feel the overwhelming yet somewhat familiar comforting power surging through her body. 'Where have I felt this before?' Ae-rin thought to herself.
For the audience, everything was going way too fast to comprehend.
"Young one, the weight of the power rewarded is no small feat, nor is the duty that comes with it. As the enlightened one, may the resolve that has granted this power and all the others to come in the future never falter or to get corrupted, the past might rewrite its song in a different tune."
"I understand. I'll take care of this responsibility well. That's a promise. I can't make sense of all of this completely right away, but I will keep searching for answers."
"If there are more questions to answer, ask away, dear friend."
Ae-rin had thought this through already.
"According to my friends here, the 'Rulers' never showed themselves to their people, including you, but guided them nonetheless. So, how is the other 'Rulers'?"
"One believes one's friend desires to know one's way of looking at the other authorities of this land?"
"Yes, even though the guidance is there, the lords had been physically absent; the misunderstanding in between phases of the portrayed 'reality' is bound to happen. And that might have led to the vast difference between the story being told and the actual series of events that happened in the past. So, to what I believe, the state of a nation doesn't completely portray their lord's power, authority, values, standards or even the morals of what they associate themselves with."
Undoubtedly, the Raven found that little child astonishingly perceptive.
"Young one, one must praise such a bright mind. Indeed, an absent ruler can't guide their nation with complete authority or ground the people to face vivid reality. Though that is indeed a reason for such scattered moral values in every nation, the Rulers were to comply with the words of the divine left behind till the ominous day to return to this land. Yes, the chosen one is still to be tested fairly, not only to prove eligible to accept the powers of the Rulers but also for the world to witness their 'truest priest', the only vessel chosen by the Primordial, the 'Omnipotent'. Though the words might sound too whimsical, however, the 'truth' is way closer to it than young one's present reality shows itself to be."
"As the answer to the asked question, 'Tigre', the Ruler of the land named after the giant blue oak they had resided to receive healing after the celestial war, 'Baekho-jeoguk'."
'Oh, lord, lore in the parallel universe hits different…'
"'Tigre' associates with 'Power' in its truest form. The 'wise' seeks 'peace' over anything."
'Power and peace… I have to think about it with a clear head for this.'
"'Falcon', the Ruler of the land of vast snowy mountains in this world. The sole ruler of 'Authority' since before the war. The 'observant' seeks 'fairness' the most."
'Again, … Authority and fairness?'
"'Neko' rules over the land of large greenery in the east of this world. The Ruler of 'Adaptability', the 'watchful' seeks 'Expansion'."
"'Owl', the ruler of the land of books and novels. The 'omniscient' Ruler of 'Knowledge' seeks 'enjoyment' in 'prospectives'."
"'Mammoth', the ruler of the land surrounded by the Iron walls signifying their 'Protection'. The 'grounded' seeks 'perseverance'."
"'Ursus', the ruler of the land of the delicacy. The Ruler of 'Festivity', the 'delighted' seeks 'acceptance'."
"'Leviathan' is the Ruler of the sea. The 'compassionate' seeks 'clarity'."
"'Inari' is the Ruler of the Golden land of Rice. The Ruler of "Prosperity", the 'diligent' seeks 'Reflection' in stillness."
"'Larinae' is the Ruler of the Sand. The Ruler of 'Loyalty', the 'resourceful' seeks 'Hope'."
"'Mustela' is the Ruler of the extensive rocky hills in the south of this world. The Ruler of "Reliance", the 'stealth' seeks 'companionship'."
"And lastly, I, "Raven', the Ruler of the land of convergence. The Ruler of "Unconscious", the 'Clairvoyant' seek….
' The Future '."
Ae-rin shivered at the word. A heavy feeling was weighing on her chest.
'Those words …. The things aren't as simple as they seem… What is this feeling in my chest? … I am having a bad feeling about this…'
She knew one side of her brain was telling her to stop the question there, but there were still too many answers yet to get.
"How can I manifest the last divine cosmic sorcery into this world?"
"Young one, the divine cosmic sorceries are arts that only chosen by the divinity would ever know, not even the Rulers are aware of 'How'. Although the Ruler of 'Knowledge' would gladly answer about the whereabouts of Young One's other fated companion, the spirit of the day."
'Really? Then we should go- no. Let's not rush one factor over the other just yet.'
"I see. This is my last question. What was the book back in the Fountain Falls?"
The Raven looked with confusion in their eyes.
"One must beg pardon, but may One ask the details about the said book?"
"It was at the same place where I met Tae-ya. The massive blue magic circle appeared, and it came out of the circle, harshly flipped through the pages and vanished back into the circle again. Everyone with me there said they couldn't comprehend what was written on it. But I could, somehow."
The Raven looked curious.
"Does Young One remember any details written inside the book?"
"Yes. I do a- um…"
Ae-rin couldn't remember a single thing that was written on it.
She swore she could make out the details back then.
'Oh no. Did I mess up?'
"As One suspects, the book perhaps was imbued with the divine magic. It might only be backed up in Young One's memories at the divine time the author chose. However, be cautious; if the details in the book were to be of forbidden knowledge or any hurdle to come that could be life-threatening, Young One's safety is the utmost priority."
As if in one consciousness, the whole nation of Goguryeo-sun recited, "Yes m'lord, just as you wish, we swear on our lives to protect the 'Divine priestess'."
If the crowd in the arena shouting 'huh?'s and 'what do you mean?'s is supposed to be overwhelming, then just imagine the whole population screaming in chorus. Guess that's understandable for people who never heard their lord's voice for the entirety of their lives, had given them the very first words to protect their new young friend, and they knew how far they would go for her safety-
"Hold on. I'll be fine! Don't go vouching your life like that! Who am I even going to assess the situation for if every person just throws their life away in the face of any random adversary for me! I have to learn to fight too, no?!"
Ae-rin took a deep breath before continuing.
"I just happen to get another chance to make different choices in life, but I am not living forever. So, anyone giving up their own for mine isn't right. The only thing that differs me from everyone else is the purpose I have to fulfil. Other than that, I am just a normal person like everyone else. If everyone struggles every day and has survived so far through these hardships, I am no one to add responsibility for them to sacrifice their life to. If someone really wants to help me, teach me how to fight and ways to defend myself. If I learn to keep myself safe, there wouldn't be any need for sacrifices." Ae-rin said half of it in a matter-of-fact tone and the other half in a light-hearted joking way.
But everyone went eerily quiet. Ae-rin frantically looked around.
'Did I offend them?'
Until she heard sniffling. Yes, people were moved by how much their "Divine Prestress" cared for them and was so reliable.
The people in the arena were either crying happy tears, looking at the young girl with admiration or shouting praises at her. Do-hoon stepped up to use his powers of emotion manipulation so that the trial grounds didn't drown away in their own people's tears.
"Look at them; they already believe in you completely that you'll succeed in your goal. Don't let us down, 'Divine Prestress'." Do-hoon said cheerily, which made Ae-rin's sweat drop.
Even though the responsibility would have been too much for her alone, she knew she wasn't alone; she had her friends with her. Just by looking at the crew, who had either a look of admiration or pride, she could tell she might not be engaging in something impossible.
Other than that, can we talk about how awesome and handy Do-hoon's emotion manipulation is.
'Yes'
0__0
'0__0'