Level Up Legacy

The Yozian Armies responded to the calls of their princess, who was the one to sign the treaty with Diana Eistar, Lord of Runera. Jasmine looked at the woman giving her speech to rally their people with a hint of envy, which her close general noticed.

"The emperor says that he trusts you to make the right decision," said Yosef in an attempt to relieve his lord. "This is the best method to equip our armies with artifacts."

"I wonder why we strive for strength, Yosef," muttered Princess Jasmine to the general. "That woman is trying to find the man she loves, and that man is trying to protect this city. I wonder why am I the only person that pursues strength for the sake of it?"

"A reason gives us the strength to go forward," pondered Yosef before answering. "In the sense, those who do not rely on reasons are the strongest."

"I know you are saying that because you care about me," smiled the princess. Yosef was silent, feeling like his lord had changed. "My father once told me: you will travel farthest if you travel alone, but the goal you reach is not worth reaching."

Yosef closed his eyes, remembering his old friend. It has been almost twenty years since he left. The words he said always moved people through their kindness and wisdom. Then, Yosef remembered the last time he saw him.

"I love this empire and this life, but I am destined to leave," he said as his eyes took in the scenery. Yosef stood beside him, not knowing whether he should tell the emperor. "I traveled through space and time, all to protect my home, but I only felt at home with you."

"We can change, Seref," Yosef saw a chance to convince him. "The Yozia Empire can be a home for you. There is no need to suffer as you wait."

"The sinner seeks the punishment, dear Yosef. I have sinned far too much to deserve happiness. I did everything because I had to, but meeting you and Elina was not a part of the plan. It felt liberating, but I cannot dare to keep it. I need to go."

"What have you sinned, and where do you need to go?" asked Yosef with confusion. "Your leaving will break her heart."

"I know, but she is not the only one I hurt. I need to receive the punishment for putting him through all of that. I need to suffer."

Yosef opened his eyes as the crowd cheered from below. The princess in front of him, who was nothing but a child when he left, was now a woman capable of making her own choices.

"I believe that you have half-siblings," admitted Yosef, and he could see her eyes open wider as she slowly turned. "I saw it once when we were in the army. Your father kept a small painting of a family, and the children looked like him."

"You are saying that... he returned to them?" asked Jasmine without rage or tears. There was only a question, but it weighed on Yosef's heart as if the sky had fallen.

"That is also untrue," the general shook his head. "Your father left because he was dying. There was not a lot of time left for him, and he wanted to meet someone for one last time."

"Who did he want to meet?"

"I believe... his son, who he had drunkenly hinted to have burdened with great responsibility. It was the only time I saw him feel guilty, and it stuck in my memory."

"I have... a brother, who my father also harmed," muttered Jasmine with realization. "I have a family left still."

"There are two of them, but I don't know if they are truly his sons, Jasmine. Seref was a man with a mysterious past, but I never took him for someone to abandon his kids."

"That bastard did it to me," she gritted her teeth. "A duty to fulfill? What greater duty does he have than to be with his family?"

"I don't know, but since you feel that way, then you have a reason to be stronger," said Yosef as he kneeled. "Please use The Imperial Insignia to see the memories I want to share."

Jasmine was confused before she placed her hand on his forehead, and the Imperial Insignia appeared on her arm. This was the only ability that her family had other than their colossal strength. Her body shook as her eyes saw the image of a family of four.

***

"Where am I?" asked Amon as he looked around. His body was floating among the stars, feeling as light as a feather. This place was warm and without the confusion that he once had.

"You have died, Amon," a voice answered his question. Amon turned toward the source to find a magnificent golden being that made him look like an ant. "I have some questions."

"This voice..." frowned Amon as he tried to remember it. "Who are you?"

"I am the Seika of Living Beings," the giant creature grinned. "And I want to know how you died."

"You are here, Seika," sighed Amon. "I wonder what cursed fate we have for you to disappear now. I was a fool for believing that my sister should not be revived."

"I was foolish too because I thought that I revived your sister," answered the Seika. Amon felt his soul waver as he didn't answer. "I created a shadow creature out of her essence and treated her as a human. However, it was only a creature from her essence, and I understand now."

"You are not making sense, Seika," said Amon in peace. "My sister died long ago with my own hands. I took the life away from her after she became a ruthless killing machine to protect her comrades."

"I want to hear that story, Amon, but we don't have the time," smiled the Seika. "It seems your king will not resign to fate. I fear that he is preparing for something that would defy the heavens."

"That cannot be..."

"Your king has joined the forces of Lorius for the sole purpose of bringing her back to life, even as a monster. I am sorry, Amon. I should have stopped him when you asked me. I had no choice because Solomon will save me in another timeline."

"I hate this cruel world," laughed Amon. "I hate the absurdity of everything, Seika. I hate you for telling me this and for choosing yourself over me! I curse you, Seika! I curse you for thinking that your life is worth more than ours!"

The Seika was silent as he did not answer. Amon did not feel rage, only resentment toward the world and the Seika. It was not fair that they had to suffer because of this.

"I did not kill her, Amon. You did. That is the real reason that you don't want to revive her. You knew that both of you would have to deal with the guilt of killing the people you care about the most."

Amon did not answer because he knew that was the truth. It was another reason why he did not want to bring her back. Ruki will never be happy after knowing what she did to their comrades.

"Forgive me, Amon, for choosing myself. However, I will take revenge for your sister and punish the culprit."

"Revenge against me?"

"You are not the person who made her turn insane with power, Amon," the Seika then lifted his hand to point toward the far east, where Amon could see the palace. "It was Lorius."

***

The gears of war were turning, and everything was in place. Solomon stared at the circle drawn with a black substance, wondering how things reached this point.

"You will see her again, Solomon," assured him the Ancient One, who turned to smile at him. "I will bring her back to this life using my magic. When that happens, the two of you can be together."

"I thought that... we need Saint Ai to accomplish that process," frowned Solomon as he did not find the saint anywhere. "Are we not fighting the Seika because of this?"

"Saint Ai is merely a payment for the service I am about to give you," smiled Lorius. Solomon knew this man was evil, but he knew that he was not lying. "Those matters are nothing compared to seeing the person you love, Solomon."

"You are right," nodded Solomon as he stared below. "I wanted to follow the prophecy that man left me with, but it seems he was The Emperor of Yozia once before he disappeared. So I waited for the one-armed slave all of my life because he told me that he would bring me salvation.

"There is no salvation in this world other than power, Solomon," the Ancient One spread his arms. "The strong can take whatever he desires! That is the only true way to salvation!"

Solomon stared at the ancient one, knowing that he had sold his soul to this man in exchange for this.. The only reason he decided to join him is his conversation with his guests from Yozia.

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