บท 12: A Declaration of War
Aria Arendale had hundreds of feelings go through her at the same time.
Pride. Confusion. Happiness. Wariness. A mixture of positive and negative feelings.
She has seen hundreds of things in her life. Creatures that were born capable of transcending heavens, geniuses grasping sacred arts with a flip of a palm, inanimate objects gaining life, but regardless of how powerful or how easily they could gain power, this was a first. All of the above either were surrounded and/or consumed treasures, trained ever since they came out of their mother's womb, or were outright treasures themselves.
But her son had never touched a weapon before! Neither had he trained nor had faced any situation that would cause such a thing! He had been kept safe inside their walls almost his entire life and either Aria Arendale herself or Ira would stealthily watch Regalus and all he ever did was draw weird circles and look at the sky. The closest thing he had regarding combat is watching some of the military drills soldiers went through every morning.
However, looking at him right now was like looking at a veteran warrior. Each of his moves was applied to its utmost effectivity and each impact was predetermined. He replaced nearly, if not all, of his weaknesses with sheer skill and technique. It is something that genius couldn't replace, something only time could give.
At this time a vague, mystical, and even taboo topic arose in Aria Arendale's mind, the topic of reincarnation. It is a mostly unknown topic, but those that do know also know how to keep their mouths shut. To Reincarnate means to take down one's own karmic cycle, defeat the Guardian of Souls and incarnate one's own soul into a new body and new life while keeping their memories. The price to do any of these feats is simply unimaginable. And linking it to a certain event that happened during his birth...
As she thought of this, Aria Arendale could not deny the slight fear in her heart. Numerous thoughts ran through her head.
'What if my son isn't happy? What if he feels estranged from us? What if he's using us? What if... he doesn't love us?' the thoughts horrified her and she couldn't help but look warily look at her son.
At this moment, her son stood, wobbling in place, and holding on to his staff. His entire body ached in exhaustion, his ears were dull and ringing. He was suffering from the backlash of adrenaline. Yet, he had a look of joy in his face, like a child with a new toy to play with. Except this toy was cultivation!
He had a look of newfound determination and curiosity. Aria Arendale's and her son's eyes met. Regalus saw Aria Arendale's expression change from dumbfounded to proud then to wariness. When he saw his mother's pride and care in him, he smiled brightly, glad to have the luck to be reborn with such loving parents.
Aria Arendale saw this, her son smiling brightly at her, and immediately discarded all her previous thoughts and immediately flew down.
"Reincarnation? Impossible. And even if it were so, that smile isn't something that can be faked. Don't worry. No matter what happens, you'll always be my son."
The thought was as gone as the wind.
Aria Arendale hugged her son, letting her Qi flow to him. Bit by bit, his injuries calmed down and dissipated. When she was through healing him, she found him passed out from the exhaustion.
His black hair was ruffled, his delicate face covered in dust. Aria Arendale couldn't help but chuckle a bit at her son's cute face compared to his prideful demeanor as he fought. She admonished herself for doubting that he is her son. Aria Arendale lifted her son to her back and carried him.
She looked back and the dumbfounded Ira and smiled with pride.
"You still have much to learn. Come, today's session is over."
"M-My lady! You said that he had never before picked up a weapon nor practice any sort of combat arts before today!"
"I did not lie," this sentence stopped Ira Ignus. She truly believed that after that session, they must have gone and broken their tradition. But if that wasn't so, then how could he beat her, one who has been titled 'Everlasting Genius!'
"Let's go!" Aria Arendale shouted, breaking Ira Ignus's stupor. The two immediately jumped off from the mountain peak. They jumped from tree to tree, from branch to branch. What took Regalus and any other normal human an hour or two to climb, they did in less than 5 minutes!
----
Regalus opened his eyes. He felt his body healed, without any injuries. Despite being healed, his muscles ached from overuse and a stiffness over his body from exhaustion. Regalus's body was covered in bandages, containing some type of herbal medicine, leaving a soothing feeling, slowly revitalizing his tired muscles.
Regalus took a whiff of the solution and sighed, "Green Sun Grass, Bloodvein Stalk, Immature Fiery Yang Flower buds. A grounded solution of which could provide healing overtime and relieve bodily stress. Isn't this a bit too much."
During his reincarnation, Regalus had spent a very large amount of time reading. To the point where the total hours spent may even amount to a year. Though there were some similarities of species of plants and animals between the world of Aether and this continent of Adia, the difference between them simply couldn't be fathomed. Adia is a world a thousand times much larger than Aether, the same went for the species within. An example of this would be the fact that Adia have around a hundred different types of sentient creatures while Aether only had around 20 or so.
Regalus stood up straight and stretched a bit. His muscles were fine if he didn't move but ached if he did. He figured a walk could shake off the pain and stiffness he feels.
----
He walked through the sunlit halls of his house. It was unusually empty and quiet, giving him a disturbed feeling. Often there'd be maids and other servants running around with papers or doing chores. Today seemed to be an exemption.
*Bang*
All the sudden, Regalus heard the sound of ceramic breaking. At first, he didn't pay too much attention, but after realizing it came from the direction towards his parent's room, he immediately rushed towards it. He his parent's room slightly open, with a strong, nearly sickening, scent of medicine wafting out. The guards that were usually assigned here were gone, Regalus was a bit outraged but focused towards the more important matter. As he was about to burst in to see what it was about, a shout sounded out from the room.
"Stop! Just stop pushing yourself, you know you can't handle much anymore!" Regalus heard his mother's voice.
Regalus didn't know why but his instincts told him to immediately hide the best he could, pressing against the walls near the opened door. His heart immediately slowed down, his breathing calm and quiet, and his senses became focused as he listened intently.
He couldn't see them, he wouldn't dare to even in their distracted state. He knew his parents were far from ordinary, so the only thing he could do for now is hope for luck and rely on his hearing.
"Forget about me, I'm fine! More importantly, how's my son? I heard he got injured..." Regalus clearly heard his father's voice, yet it wasn't the same as what he had always heard. When his father spoke, it was smooth, clear, and a bit deep, but this... it sounded sickly and rasp.
"He's fine, only exhausted. You, however, are a different story, go back and get some rest!!" Aria Arendale said.
"Hahaha!" Regalus heard his father's all too familiar laugh, although raspy, followed by coughs, "How was my son, Ira? He has my blood running through him after all."
"It was certainly a surprise, master. But you should rest as the madam wishes," Regalus was surprise to hear Ira's voice. Though she didn't speak often, he was sure it was hers. Her voice had a hint of despair and sadness he thought impossible for that cold maid.
"Heh, even you're bossing me around," a coughing fit was heard and loud thump afterwards.
"Lay down properly. Ira, help me replace his bandages."
Though Regalus couldn't see, he could hear the ripping of bandages, water splashing, etc..
*Woosh*
A cold breeze suddenly emanated from the room. The temperature dropped to the point where even frost formed, the decoration plants immediately shriveled and had there been any staff around, they most certainly would have ran away in fright. That was because Regalus had sensed an all too familiar aura. An aura of death.
Regalus felt throbbing pain in his head. Memories that he had long stashed and buried away made themselves apparent once more. He saw some of his worst memories; entire cities burning with blood-red fire, mountains of corpses of people, innocent people from all races sold and traded like commodities, nobles rampaging without care for those under their responsibility, corruption spreading like wildfire. War. Death. Famine. Humans being... humans.
Regalus panicked, he could feel himself losing calmness as he faced an unexpected attack. The thing about these memories was that they had an enticing quality in it to do some of the deeds himself. While the some did try to entice him, he was more horrified at himself as it brought up some of his own horrible doings.
"AAGH!"
As despair resounded within Regalus, he heard a shout from his father, breaking his stupor. Regalus forced himself to clear his mind immediately and focused on the matter at hand again. If it had been a normal person, they would have driven themselves into despair.
Regalus could hear his mother's soft crying as she bandaged his father. The aura of death got replaced with a sweet, medicinal scent before disappearing completely. Regalus doesn't know what medicine it was before it disappeared completely. But even from the scent alone, Regalus could tell it was a top-notch medicine, and that coming from him is enough praise needed. But he could also tell from the same scent that the aura of death was definitely chewing on it and even such a medicine could only be considered a temporary measure.
Regalus's fists clenched in agitation. A dominating look flashed from his eyes, 'Whoever the hell dares harm this Great One's father will answer to I!'
"Why... You didn't have to block that tribulation from me, I would have been fine by myself! I'm cultivation was stronger than yours! I c-could've helped you, but you r-rushed into the clouds before I could!" Aria Arendale cried.
"It's the job of the husband to ensure his wife's and child's safety. When our son was born, a Ninth Heaven Eternal Tribulation was triggered, it would have been either me, or you and our son. I naturally can't let that happen! It was only the heaven's mercy that I still live!" Lent Arendale's raspy voice said.
Regalus didn't hear much of anything else as only a single question went through is head, ''When our son was born'? I-Is my father suffering because of me?!'
Lent Arendale didn't spend too much time with him but he undoubtedly loved and even spoiled Regalus. All the time, Regalus thought it was due to his duties as a king and looked up to him because of it but all this time it was because of... him.
At this time, he couldn't help but peek inside the room. He had been in his parent's room before but it was different this times. All kinds of incenses and pots of medicinal liquids, treasured water, and all sorts of things were spread out. His mother was facing the other way, holding bandages, ointments, and several other things. Then he saw his father...
His stomach was deformed, as if somebody had cut through it. Black lines branched out from his large wound there, like some kind of cursed tree was growing there. Just looking at it felt as if something was eating away his vitality. The worst thing was that this tree was pulsing.
Regalus couldn't help but think of the other times he'd seen his father. He would be smiling and laughing continuously, running and jumping with him. Where as now, he looks like he's in pain just by breathing.
Regalus's fists and lips bled from being clenched so tightly. Though he still remained calm, his eyes was enraged! The last time this same look was upon his eyes, human civilization in its entirety went back thousands of years and the world trembled beneath him!
At this moment, Ira Ignus, who had been on the other side of Aria Arendale, spotted shuffling at the door. At that moment, both Regalus and Ira locked eyes into each other.
"Shit! Hinc inde est, quod spatium non habebit offensionem. [Teleport]!" Regalus immediately said quietly, A small blue circle appeared bellow him before it disappeared as fast as it came. However, Regalus disappeared along with it.
"Young Master!" Ira Ignus shouted out. Of all the people in the kingdom, it was him that must NOT be here at any cost!
Aria Arendale hurried and spread her qi into the surroundings, using a technique known as Spiritual Perception. But she found no one. She looked angrily at Ira Ignus.
"I'm s-sorry madam, I was mistaken."
Thankfully to her, Aria Arendale was to busy to be angry right now.
----
*Bang*
Fell from five feet above his bed before slamming his already exhausted body further. His muscles spasmed and he immediately coughed up blood. He felt his vitality burn and disappear. He used a spell without having a Mana Core, something all mages had. Instead, he used the connate mana inside his body, mana naturally present in every living creature, magical or not. However, using this precious mana can and probably have harmed his entire future as a mage in this body, but he paid no heed to this fact. He was still shocked and above all, angry, at his father's circumstances.
"If I heard correctly, it was the Ninth Heaven's Eternal Tribulation... The Ninth Heaven..."
Even if Regalus doesn't know much about cultivation nor what a tribulation is, he had still read some books about the world. The heavens was also part of his reading, alas he only read some myths. But within all those books, it was said that there were nine heavens that existed through the beginning of time, above the mortal world and is said to be where immortals live.
"By the time I die, there shall only be eight heavens left, this I swear!"
----
Above the castle, a small spark of lightning flashed across the sky before disappearing into the clouds.
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง 
Regalus
Regalus Big chapter here with decent development I hope.
Got a tiny bit stuck here since I had a lot of story lines that could branch out from here, wrote around 4 different drafts of possible scenarios. Picked my favorite among them, which is what you're reading.
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