Chapitre 3: The Divination That Will Change the Whole World and the Mystery of Fate
"The reward I desire is a year-long sabbatical, during which I won't be obliged to undertake any mandatory palace missions," Roel calmly asserted.
Just kidding, he hasn't had any free time at all due to the ongoing border wars for the past two months.
Every day, he found himself confronting relentless waves of Demon Emperor attacks, a relentless ordeal that had pushed him to the brink of both madness and exhaustion.
In reality, he was not a wizard bound to the imperial court and lacked the formal authority to undertake missions dictated by the palace.
Furthermore, the palace boasted 7 Arcana-level mages and 20 level-10 mages, constituting an incredibly formidable lineup.
This potent force served as the bedrock of the Arcana Empire.
Despite such strength within the palace, this old emperor inexplicably tasked him with missions frequently, leading him to question whether there were hidden motives at play.
Meanwhile, upon hearing his request, Emperor Julius raised his eyebrows slightly and cast a discerning gaze in his direction.
"Take a year's sabbatical?" His tone turned cold, carrying a distinct disapproval of her request.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor. I desire a sabbatical and wish to refrain from undertaking mandatory palace missions during that period. I have several delayed matters to attend to." Despite Julius' displeasure and the anger evident in his tone, Roel, undeterred, pressed on, boldly declaring his determination not to let this opportunity slip away.
He had a multitude of tasks to attend to, all delayed due to the frustrating interference of this emperor.
Moreover, he desired to spend his youth savoring the wonders of this fantasy world, either with those closest to him or with his younger sister, who eagerly awaited his return home.
Julius did not immediately acquiesce to his request, appearing to be in profound contemplation.
From appearances alone, he seemed to strongly disagree, his displeasure quite evident.
However, contrary to his facial expression, Julius took a slow breath and nodded in agreement.
"I understand. Very well, I agree to your request. Moreover, I will relieve you of any mandatory tasks assigned by both the palace and myself." His words prompted Roel to widen his eyes in surprise.
His approval, which he initially expected to undergo extensive debate, ended up being granted so effortlessly?
If magic didn't exist in this world, he might have questioned whether his ears were infested with insects, leading to a mishearing.
However, before he could dwell on his surprise any further, Julius proceeded with his words.
"By the way, before that, would you be interested in hearing a story from me, Roel Lionis?" The sudden shift in atmosphere caught him off guard, prompting him to raise his head and observe Julius' expression, which appeared entirely different this time.
There was an absence of the usual arrogance, pride, or various traits he typically displayed; instead, an abnormal calmness enveloped him.
Without hesitation, he took a breath and regained his composure.
"Of course, Your Majesty the Emperor. Please go ahead and tell me," Roel replied calmly and politely.
He allowed this old emperor to express whatever he wanted, recognizing that the most crucial aspect was that he had secured his freedom from mandatory palace tasks!
"Young mage Roel Lionis, do you believe in the concept of fate?" His words promptly shattered Roel's reverie.
Puzzling over the question for a moment, he then nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor, I believe in the concept of fate," Roel answered without hesitation and with unwavering confidence.
Fate—a word laden with profound significance and a mysterious meaning.
Whether in his previous world or even in this world of Artaria, where magic, dragons, and various other mythical entities existed, fate remained a mystery, not fully understood.
However, deep within him, he steadfastly believed in the reality of fate, even speculating that his arrival in this world might be intricately linked to this concept of fate.
Of course, this was merely his own assumption, and the actual truth remained entirely unknown to him.
"So, since you believe in the concept of fate, do you comprehend the immense power and terror that it holds, young mage Roel?" Julius asked, his tone suddenly growing weighty, causing instant discomfort in Roel.
For some inexplicable reason, his survival instinct involuntarily stirred, albeit faintly.
"Yes, I understand, Your Majesty the Emperor." Roel suppressed his anxiety, maintaining his one-legged kneeling position.
Julius nodded slightly, resting against the throne's backrest with a cold gaze fixed on him, unnoticed by Roel.
"When I ascended the throne, one of the seven Arcana mages in the palace, dedicated to studying the concept of fate, forewarned me. He said that in the future, during my prime and when the world is in the midst of chaos, there will emerge an extraordinarily talented young man destined to overthrow my rule."
"That young man will rise as the most illustrious figure in the world, his mere presence exerting pressure over all races. The chaos, destruction, and division that plague the entire world will find resolution through his actions." The explanation and every word uttered caused Roel's heart to race, as if he could vividly envision the scenario Julius was describing unfolding before him.
"Nevertheless, upon hearing that, I experienced both elation at the greatness of that young man and an inability to accept that the power, glory, and everything I possessed would be usurped by him." He continued, clenching both hands into fists, as if unwilling to embrace the implications of this prophecy.
His facial expression underwent a drastic transformation, displaying a mix of emotions—hatred, envy, and malice—all at once.
Honestly, Roel was disgusted by this trait of refusing to accept defeat and maintaining a self-righteous stance.
Should it be solely because his strength was inferior to that of this infuriating emperor, he would be the first to challenge and defeat this old man.
Undoubtedly, the powerful and dominating Arcadia Empire on the continent had stripped him of his sense of empowerment.
Yet, as Julius unfolded his story, Roel could vividly envision the formidable power of the young man, possessing the potential to subdue all races worldwide and even dismantle the mighty Arcadia Empire.
While lost in his musings, Julius' sudden question snapped him back to reality.
"Young Mage Roel Lionis, considering my story, you can comprehend the intricate and impending threats surrounding me."
Roel nodded, acknowledging the truth in the statement.
It was undeniable that if someone already knew the details of his future demise, there was a certainty that they would intervene to prevent it.
Humans were beings who dreaded their own demise and annihilation, a sentiment likely driving Julius to the brink of madness.
Nevertheless, Roel quickly regained his composure, experiencing a sudden perplexity about why Julius was sharing this story with him.
Unable to resist, he raised his head and asked curiously.
"By the way, Your Majesty, why are you telling me this story?"
Upon hearing the question, Julius responded with a sarcastic smile and refrained from providing an immediate response.
Instead, he slowly stood up from his throne chair, eliciting a surprise from Roel.
Abruptly, Julius opened his palm, and a radiant, gold-colored magic staff materialized in his hand.
His countenance transformed instantly into one of anger and hatred as he pointed his staff at him, declaring, "Because, according to the divination, the young man fated to overthrow my authority is—none other than you, Roel Lionis!"
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone