Sword, Magic and Academic Society

"You really are awesome, Dearest Sister!!!"

Natalia-san latched herself on my sister's arm and cooed in admiration. 

Ultimately, I couldn't make the gate budge even a millimetre no matter what. I further questioned my sister about the mechanics, but the only thing that got through me was it was an intuitive sorta thing, while the rest of the jargon slipped past my head like sliding on a butter-coated slide. 

See, who wouldn't be jealous of having such talents, right? Haa. 

Begrudgingly giving up, I followed the crowd and entered inside the tower with slumped steps. 

The first thing I noticed was a huge monolith erected at the centre of the first floor of the tower. The monolith appeared to be made of some mysterious material I couldn't figure out, and scribbled on it was some text in some unknown language. 

Freya-san stood before that monolith and then glanced at us two siblings. 

"You're to not disclose a word about what you would see ahead of it. It's not a warning, but advice to avoid putting your safety in jeopardy. Do you swear on it?"

Needless to say, my sister and I promptly nodded.

"I, Allen (Roselia) Rovenne, swear upon my name that no second person would hear anything about the tower from me."

Freya-san nodded approvingly, and began with the monologue. 

"This monolith is known as Rea Stone in our Dosperior family. The scribbling you see is the Sacred Text once utilised during the holy rituals in antiquity era at Levandra Sovereignty, a major power once used to reside in the continent of Little Nero. The Sacred Text contains the history. To be precise, it's the bygone past of our continent."

...Huh, Little Nero Continent...? The only foreign power I had heard about outside of this Rondine Continent, in which Yuglia was situated, was Berentz Archipelago Nation. Though I did hear about Levandra. It was a nation that used to be in this continent in the far past, but it met a sudden demise. Now, what was left behind of the truth was some dubious tales that may or may not hold the answer. 

Freya-san's voice was flat, surpassing any turbulence if there was in her tone, as she led the narration.

"...The Original Five are called the pioneers of the continent. ...And to be the pioneers of one place, one has to start from somewhere. So... from the perspective of the residents of this continent—"

Freya-san's expression was replaced by a steep expression before she continued.

"—We're what they call invaders."

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—The event dated back over 2500 years. 

It's only hearsay, since It’s impossible for me to verify the truth as well, but It appears that in the east of this continent lies another continent by the name of Little Nero. 

The Little Nero continent was a land with far more advanced application of magic and magical engineering than what could be seen in this continent in that era. 

In extremely rare scenarios, Little Nero would see foreign visitors arriving from the western sea—which would be the eastern sea from our direction—though at large, the Rondine Continent continues to weather the passage of time without being spotted by anyone.

A reason could be said that the ship building technology or the sailing technique were unripe for the time to counter the non-stop air current from the opposite direction. And another was the presence of formidable monsters in the foreign sea boundary. 

However technological advancement often only required time. And for Little Nero, that moment arrived 2500 years ago. At long last, they'd invented the ship building and navigation technique to allow long-term sail even while resisting headwind. 

Meanwhile, it also happened that they'd entered an age of temporary transformation—the cycle of mana polarity reverse—that resolved their other obstacle. 

It's said once every ten thousand years or so, polarity of mana would briefly reverse, lasting for a few years to several decades. The compass in that season would act in completely reverse order. 

In the timeline where the dark of night sky would be covered by a veil of ephemeral glow, there would appear some one-of-a-kind unusual monsters, which would quell the movements of aquatic monsters. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

With the golden opportunity before their eyes, the influential strata of Levandra set their eyes on the voyage to discover the elusive continent. 

The hierarchy of Levandra was classified in five stratas, with the clergymen serving their gods at the apex, while the bottom barrel being pushed to the slaves, receiving a treatment like dirt. 

Those of higher rank incited the lower classes, creating a new occupation called "adventurers," a job that could be undertaken regardless of one's social standing, and sent them out to sea.

Cajoled by the sweet whispers of the riches, the barrel-bottom wagered their everything on this one chance to subvert their adventure. It's said that innumerable lives had been lost in the depth of the sea. 

And as the search continues to repeat itself, at long last, one of the inquisitive fella from the upper strata of, having turned adventurer, achieved the dearest wish of Levandra. 

He became the crown champion to return alive after discovering the elusive continent, and taken after his name, the continent was thus named Rondine. 

After analyzing the information brought by Rondine, the top echelon sent out a large fleet, including capable mercenaries and investigators, to seize the rights to this continent.

However… it was believed that most of them never made it.

The period of mana polarity had come to an end in the meantime it took them to discover the uncharted land, and seemingly as a reaction to earlier tranquilness they're forced to adapt, what followed was erratic and violent behaviors of the sea monsters. 

The Dosperior family had been a part of the priestly lineage—the most influential cliche, whom even Levandra hadn't had more than a few. 

One of the fleet was spearheaded by Archbishop Scandi, however it met its demise by the violence of monsters, and with barely few followers still alive, he somehow drifted to the eastern shore. 

Just as they'd been rotting away, they're discovered by the native tribe—Rea tribe, who had provided them with ample care to bring them back to their feet. 

Scandi, never forgetting his gratitude to the Ria people, formed a friendship with their chief and, as a priest, quietly continued to pass on his knowledge through generations.

But on the other hand—there had been more than just the Dosperior group that had washed ashore in the uncharted land, having caught up in the changes of mana polarity.

Some, like Rondine, may have arrived as adventurers, losing their way back and settling there. And in contrast to the native—it didn't matter which strata of Levandra they belonged to, they might as well be slaves—the people of Levandra had far outstripped them both in the mana capacity and the quality of spells. 

And thus, some of the survivors appointed themselves as the king of respective land, and relying their lifelong knowledge, they gradually expanded their sphere of influence. 

It is only speculation, but those who had been oppressed in the lower castes likely treated the natives the harshest as they built their nations.

After a passage of silent assassination by natives to the destruction brought by the fellow pioneers' conflict, many had lost lives, but the cliches continued to solidify as the time passed, and eventually four distinct pillars rose among the pioneers. Including the fifth pillar that was Ria tribe—they'd managed to stood at the forefront like other four by the virtue of their friendship with Dosperior family—the respective countrie's might as nation saw a dramatic rise. 

The five pillars were none other than the Original Five—was the thought of the current Dosperior family. 

According to the histories proclaimed by each house, many of them speak of being sent as messengers of the gods at some point.

It is unclear whether the truth was lost over time, deliberately withheld, or whether they are still secretly passed down. We have no way of proving that other houses are indeed the descendants of the pioneers from Little Nero.

Denying one's history was no different than attacking their roots, their identity, so we had no sort of opinion over this matter. And you should follow the same path. It would only take a mere spark to burn the present that we know. 

To return to the subject, the Ria tribe, under the protection of the Dosperior family, was gradually making strides, especially around the Dosperior region. However, Dosperior didn't take the front, except standing on their ground to support Ria tribe's chief in his endeavor. 

Meanwhile, the rest of the power showed no sign of halting their ambition, and eventually the land began to see bloodshed, with a majority of them belonging to the natives. 

It's said that the most grieved over the tragic history was the 'God's Eye' Aeolus-sama. At the beginning, Aelous-sama had only entered in the war as a mere soldier of the Rea tribe, it's just... he had the habit to overdo things apparently. 

According to the traces of history left behind by children of Aeolus-sama, the predecessor of Dosperior family, while it wasn't his intention, he had ended up making himself the eye of the storm with his rampage, and trapped himself in a situation where the throne could only have him. 

Aeolus-sama rejected the notion vehemently at first, since he wouldn't allow anyone of the pioneer faction, even if it's himself, to lord  over the people that had triggered the tragedy first. Alas, after his unintentional display of strength had been made, no one would accept someone else as replacement. 

For the safety and to prevent further discord, the Dosperior family took the governance of the nation in their hand for until the moment it could stand on its own. 

This tower was built during the same era. 

The records in the monolith was the testament from Aeolus-sama, to remind his descendants to not forget the benevolence Archbishop Scadi had received, that to forget they're pioneers and keep their devotion for their god, and to uphold their pride which make them the Dosperior. 

Earlier I had explained that the clergyman had made up to be the pinnacle of hierarchy in Levandra, on the same topic, the governing body there was No.2 in hierarchy in fact. However as it stood, the grandchild of Aeolus-sama easily relinquished the right to throne. 

It might sound odd, but maybe it was just a bloodline thing that Dosperiors had never thought of their interest for the throne. We simply live by the customs determined by our ancestors. 

Well, a long era has transpired since then. The world has seen the seasons of changes, and so does the Dosperior family. The Dosperior as of today might not be a true reflection of traditions from the past, however we still held to the core values. 

Then again, it's not as if others were knowledgeable about history when there was gag order.  Moreso because the original vision dictates that the one in care of god needed no worldly attachment, and all people were the same. Of course, the truth that Dosperior was at the position one above all was kept secret, else it was another matter that would put the kingdom into jeopardy.

Then, after another long time, the nation that Aeolus-sama had protected as its emperor found itself in fragmented shape. And forgetting the fear carved into them by Aeolus-sama, the rest of Original Five rose up once again and attempted an extermination of Dosperior, trampling the secret agreement they'd once taken. 

Though this part of a history was something that anyone in Yuglia more or less had in grasp. I believe you should be aware of it as well. 

Many allied factions stood up to stand with us, including the Ria family too, but no amount of glasses could stop a stone when it crashed on them. However, while Dosperior was presumed that it would meet it that day, the god hadn't forsaken us.

What later ensued was a spectacle akin to 'an elephant squashing ants beneath its feet', as the enemies had described. 

The Dosperior family was single-handedly brought from the verge of destruction by our esteemed «Witch of Iron Fist». 

With fist like iron, and speed akin to the descent of lightning, she quelled the entire rebel force and delivered her judgment to the fools. 

Later, the civil war between the Original Five was described as "an ant, an elephant, and the massacre."

◆◆◆

At the end of narration, Freya-san took a pause. 

I raised my hand.

"...Yes, what is it, Allen?"