Chapter 232

TL: TangSanFan

ED/PR: Tanthus

To the One Who Survived (7)

The Imperial Library, of course, was the largest in the empire.

Magical tomes could be found in the eastern mage tower library, textbooks in the central library of the Sylvania Academy, and holy scriptures in the Faith Library of Seonghwangdo.

While libraries specialized for various topics existed, none could match the Clorel Imperial Library in the breadth covering all fields.

It was the reason why imperial scholars didn't need to venture outside the palace and why the Grand Sage Sylvania continued her research at the Lily Palace. This library was also a symbol of the Clorel Imperial Family's values on knowledge.

The massive size of the library took up an entire wing of the Rose Palace; it seemed as if an entire castle had been built inside the palace.

There were hundreds of bookshelves of typical size. Tall bookshelves encircled the round hall, requiring ladders to reach the top, and the number of reading desks and organization shelves within was too great to count easily.

Dozens of librarians worked there, and even they were so overwhelmed by the workload that they had requested additional staff... it was reasonable to say that mountains of books had been amassed.

The library had been like a second home to Princess Persica since she was young.

A treasure trove of knowledge constructed on the grandest scale in the empire. Reading at least three or four books a day, she hammered into her head a broad cultural literacy across history, culture, religion, economy, geography, magic... regardless of the field.

Princess Persica was now more familiar with the library's layout than the royal librarians themselves. There was no longer a place within it that she didn't know.

- BANG!

It was a time nearing dawn, beyond the night. The interior of the library had already been swallowed by darkness.

Princess Persica cut across the library, relying on the light of the candelabra.

It was neither the time for approved entry, nor was it permitted to bring in flames, due to the risk of fire.

However, she blatantly ignored all such rules... Persica moved between the bookshelves, propelled by the magic of her ring.

The captain of her royal guards, Dailux, was guarding the entrance to the library under the princess's orders.

He had been instructed to prevent anyone from entering and to deflect inquiries should anyone come seeking the princess.

Though he found the orders distasteful, Dailux dutifully stood guard at the entrance.

With such a reliable gatekeeper positioned, she need not worry for more.

Guided by the ring of Lindon, Persica had arrived at a section far within the depths of the vast library.

It was a shelf for books of ambiguous classification or those whose contents were difficult to discern. Naturally attracting fewer people, it was situated in one of the quietest corners of the library.

As she pushed through the forest-like procession of books and reached the innermost bookshelf, Lindon's ring began to emit light.

"..."

Persica swallowed nervously.

Her hand, gripping the candelabra, seemed to quiver ever so slightly. Her heart was pounding.

As she watched, standing still with the ring in her hand, a radiant light flowed out from the bookshelf in the corner.

- Thump, thump, thump...!

It felt like the light was being sucked into a single point. A momentary illusion swirled around her.

Accompanied by a slight vibration, magic converged towards that corner shelf, and by the time her eyes blinked open again, the bookshelf had vanished.

The bookshelf had been an illusion all along.

Behind where the bookshelf had been was a staircase leading down into the earth. Persica's heart started pounding.

The secret laboratory of the legendary grand sage Sylvania.

An ultra-secret space designed to be inaccessible without the prince's ring.

And, the very thing that drove the esteemed Prince Lindon mad.

Fear began to grip Persica.

Was it truly right to descend these stairs now that she knew of the lab's existence? Maybe it would be wiser to return and report to the Emperor of Clorel upon his return...

As the thought crossed her mind, she shook her head violently to dismiss such needless worries.

Whatever might lie beneath the laboratory, it was clear it would have an enormous impact on the empire.

She had the opportunity to access it first. A chance given only to Persica in this vast world.

Fear crept in as she thought of Lindon's condition, but running away out of fear, showing her back and fleeing, was unacceptable.

After all, it was a few centuries-old laboratory. She was not descending into danger but into a historical site.

Princess Persica slowly made her way down the stairs.

As she followed the stairs that stretched deep into the darkness, it was almost miraculous. How could such an underground space have been constructed without anyone noticing?

Could Grand Sage Sylvania easily have managed such a feat?

With these musings, when she finally reached the bottom of the underground space, a sizable wooden door was revealed.

She tentatively pulled on the doorknob, and it seemed she could enter.

Persica swallowed dryly once more before slowly pushing the door open.

- Whoosh!

Startled, Princess Persica nearly clenched her eyes shut.

As the door opened in response, light began to swirl inside the laboratory.

Goods crafted by the grand sage herself still functioned after such a long time, faithfully performing their intended roles.

A magical fire ran along the outer walls, illuminating the interior of the laboratory.

"This... This is..."

The spectacle was not as grand as anticipated.

It was cozier than expected. The lined space along the wooden walls was wide yet narrow.

It was about the size of a personal research space typically found within the royal academy. On various research tables, there were stacks of documents, books, and what appeared to be research diaries authored by Sylvania himself.

On a blackboard standing to one side, it seemed multiple theories and their verification processes had been densely laid out.

And... in the center of the laboratory, there was a crystal orb, carefully preserved.

Persica did not relax as she approached cautiously.

Every one of Sylvania's research records was considered a treasure of humanity, subject to study and analysis down to every character.

That such records had piled up in such a way... to any scholar, this sight would be more euphoric than even a pile of gold and silver.

Persica, having interest in scholarship, fully understood how astonishing this laboratory was.

Damaging even the slightest part could lead to a significant loss for humanity. Therefore, with utmost care, she crossed the room toward the centrally kept crystal orb.

The identity of this crystal orb... Persica knew it well. Among scholars, it was commonly called a 'recording orb.'

It was a medium to save a system of knowledge for easy recollection later, but due to its poor recording efficiency, high cost, and difficult use, it wasn't widely adopted.

While someone as prominent as Sylvania could have used it for record-keeping, it would be difficult to encompass her vast knowledge, so paper and quill were preferable.

Indeed, most of Sylvania's research records were left in the form of documents or books.

However, the fact that certain research results were preserved in a recording orb meant...

'This must be the heart of Sylvania's lifelong research.'

Central aspects alone could have been meticulously compiled and stored within it.

No seeker of knowledge could ignore such an artifact.

Perhaps this object was what drove Lindon mad. Despite the rising thought, Persica could not retreat.

Slowly, she placed her hand upon the crystal orb.

Within it were records of the future, which Sylvania had observed through celestial magic.

The direction the world took branched indefinitely at several junctions.

Branching, converging, and expanding without end, the future was far too complex for any individual to observe. The innumerable branching paths were incomprehensible to chart in their entirety.

This was the theory established by Sylvania.

Yet, theory and reality do not always coincide.

The grand sage, reaching the pinnacle of celestial magic and harnessing the power to twist the fabric of creation, first confirmed something.

Before being banished to Arken Island, the last discovery she made in this royal palace was...

- 'The Cliff Point'

Even considering all possible directions and accounting for all future flows without omission, there is a point where future flows simply do not continue.

Like a massive cliff at the end of a road. Leaving only the precipice leading into endless darkness...

It was the point where the world would end.

Sylvania, having completed the records, lifted her hands from the crystal orb── she was smiling.

Beside her, witnessing Sylvania's research achievements, the then-prince of Lienpel was shaking with terror in his pupils.

In the face of an overwhelming scale of fear, one's sanity fails to sustain, and trials impossible to resist make the very notion of giving up beyond control.

It was akin to a proclamation of the world. Perhaps it was the will of God.

They declared confidently: This is the end of your world. This far, and no further.

The reason is unknown. The method is inscrutable. Suddenly, one day, all future flows that should have continued abruptly end and vanish. Like a film blackout, it simply ends. Even the method is beyond observation.

Yet Sylvania was not drawn into madness by the terror.

Rather, as if declaring to a higher power or the universe - whatever that inconceivable something was - she recited:

Yet I will─ survive.

In the harshest lands where not a morsel of food could be found, in the stench of blood pervading the heart of the battlefield, in the all-encompassing darkness of the underground, in the vast ocean where not a soul could lend aid.

Humanity has always persevered and survived.

Somehow, someone found the answer, flailing to the very end to continue living.

- 'How fascinating!'

Between a remarkable person and a lunatic, the difference is but a thin paper.

Proving this yet again, even in the face of that immense terror, Sylvania boldly smiled.

The eyes of the grand sage, deemed a once-in-history genius, glistened as they gazed to the heavens.

* * *

The Crestol Festival, held every four years.

It was the busiest of times on Arken Island, where Sylvania resided, drawing more people than any other occasion.

Furthermore, it was the last day of the festival. The grand closing ceremony was underway.

As if symbolizing Sylvania's golden era, multitudes gathered on Arken Island, laughing, drinking, and chatting.

Viewed from the sky, amidst the deep night, only Arken Island seemed to radiate light.

It was especially illuminated for the last day of the festival.

The Mekses Bridge, stretching from the continent, was adorned with various elegant decorations.

Merchants convening on the bridge, which had served as Sylvania's main entrance for decades, were seated drinking.

Following the vendors lined along the bridge into Arken Island, one could see Sylvania's grand entrance adorned with festival decorations.

A simple procedure awaited at the entrance gate leading to the plaza. It was linked directly with the living quarters.

The plaza was sizable as well. Among the crowds were visitors and vendors from the residential area, all eating, drinking, and conversing, their lights blazing bright for the festival.

Among the visitors who came for the festival, those with little connection to Sylvania or of no particular distinction mostly stayed here.

They reveled in the atmosphere. Amidst the crowd, several bets were placed and games played, and some boasted of their modest magical talents with great fanfare. The plaza at the entrance was bustling, filled with people eating, drinking, and chatting, their voices reaching every nook and cranny of the living quarters. If one followed the main road extending from the entrance plaza, a marble path leading to the faculty building used by students and staff unfolded.

Continuing along, one would find a pathway that diverges towards Ophelius Hall, which wasn't too far by the standards of the living quarters. Maids at Ophelius Hall hurriedly prepared food under the direction of Head Maid Belle Mayar, assisting students enjoying the festival. In the rose garden in front of Ophelius Hall, an orchestra played music, while students who had not gone to the student plaza gathered modestly and engaged in convivial conversations. Viewed from afar, the scene at Ophelius Hall seemed more aristocratic and dignified than the bustling entrance plaza.

At the imperial residence, Emperor Clorel and Princess Pheonia were engaged in brief conversation, choosing not to attend the closing ceremony at the student plaza. Their presence meant they should not miss the important event, but they deliberately avoided making the atmosphere too solemn. The emperor wished everyone to enjoy the festival, so he chose to stay at the residence. When the next day dawned, he intended to discuss matters with Princess Pheonia before departing Acken Island by carriage.

On the other hand, Princess Sella set off toward the student plaza in her carriage, seeing it as her last opportunity to persuade Ed Rothtaylor. The festive mood filled her path, with the streets teeming with visitors and residents drinking and singing merrily.

Above the Sylvania Academy, fireworks continued to burst in the sky, showering light as if from the daytime sun, enshrouding the world in a gentle, warm embrace. Yenika Faelover sat in a corner of the student plaza with her parents, laughing at the drunken antics of Kadan and Silla.

Despite some hard feelings and diminished enthusiasm, Yenika couldn't help but crack a smile at the festival's heat. She seemed content enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, looking up at the colorful fireworks blooming like flowers.

Lortell Keheln led her company employees through the living quarters, keen to maximize their sales on the last day. Amid the bustle of reports being read, she walked towards the firm, sighing as she longingly looked at the illuminated student plaza, momentarily wishing to savor her youth before startling herself with such thoughts. After all, she too had once been a student in Sylvania.

Lucy Maryril sat on the rooftop of the Triss building, gazing absentmindedly at the stars obscured by bright fireworks. Although she adored the tranquility of night, the festive din wasn't unpleasant. Still, a slight grumble about the obscured night sky escaped her as she idly kicked at the air before sprawling across the railing, the crisp night air pleasing her nostrils.

Zix Effelstein, leading Elka by the hand, arrived at the student plaza where most performances had concluded. Though a bit regretful, he found joy in witnessing the last moments of the festival, sharing the romantic evening and the spectacle of fireworks with Elka.

In a corner of the student plaza, Clevius Nortondale leaned against the exterior wall of Obel Hall, gazing at the central stage alone with an expression of solitude until Elvira suddenly appeared, tugging at his ear and ushering him towards the audience seats near the main stage, despite his protests of discomfort.

Tanya, standing on the central stage of the student plaza following her final student council president's speech, looked up to the sky, where the fireworks blossomed spectacularly. The starry heavens seemed distant, prompting Tanya to take a deep breath of the night air and close her eyes, allowing herself to be immersed in the moment shared by everyone fixated on the brilliant pyrotechnics.

Various characters, each in their respective places, gazed up at the soft glow of fireworks. It was a time of peace and contentment, a respite from the world's woes. Dubbed the magic of the festival, this was a time when the splendor of peace blossomed most vividly, with everyone absorbed in laughter, conversation, food, and drink.

Even Ed Rothtaylor, sitting in the student plaza, looked towards the sky, profoundly aware of the value of peace. With his eyes shut tight, he surrendered to the festival's warmth.

The peace was so profound, almost imperceptible unless soughtafter—it was just like that.

A sudden burst of water shot up like a monumental pillar, startling onlookers who barely comprehended what they witnessed.

Next, as if rain, the soaring waters came crashing down, revealing a colossal, reptilian-like foot. The scene unfolded right beside Mekses Bridge, Acken Island's sole overland connection to the mainland, tantamount to the island's gateway.

Though a dock existed, it wasn't meant for large sailing vessels, as the island's population didn't demand such scale. As a result, the bridge served as a crucial trade artery.

The monstrous foot, emerging from the sea, appeared reptilian but was encased in huge scales. Bathed in firework's faint glow against the night, its sinister appearance starkly contrasted its surroundings.

Nearby merchants screamed in horror at this alien appendage's emergence. Before anyone could comprehend the gravity of the situation:

With a thunderous crash, the venerable Mekses Bridge, a long-standing fixture of Acken Island's history, collapsed as if it were a mere toy.

Fleeing the library, Princess Persica, coated in cold sweat and visibly struggling to maintain composure, was swiftly supported by Captain Dailux of the Knights. She urgently commanded the assembly of all available troops, regardless of affiliation—all those sworn to the crown must rally.

Recalling her encounter with a man at the Cledric Monastery, Princess Persica's thoughts turned to Ed Rothtaylor's warning: Should the need arise, summon the island's soldiers. Whether it was sheer coincidence or some predestined event, the immediate concern was not the cause but the timing's uncanny perfection. Ed Rothtaylor must have known something, possibly even linked to the future trends observed by Sylvania.

As Persica dictated mobilization, captain Dailux expressed concern over her presumptive command in the absence of the reigning monarch, the consequences of which could include her abdication. Undeterred, Persica insisted, accepting all responsibility.

Simultaneously, a massive explosion, seemingly blending with the firework sounds, echoed across the island, followed by a minor tremor at the imperial quarters where Emperor Clorel and Princess Pheonia braced themselves against the unexpected quake.

While contemplating calling a servant to assess any damage, Clorel was interrupted by Princess Pheonia's escort knight, Claire, bursting into the room. The urgency in Clair's demeanor preempted any reprimand.

The news he relayed was grim: the only overland route off Acken Island, the Mekses Bridge, had collapsed, with its lower trade paths also claimed by the devastation. The island, currently teeming with an abundance of people, faced a crisis with no easy exodus. It was clear something catastrophic was unfolding on Acken Island.