A New Dawn 38 Ma'aka, the Underlord

"Arrogant brat, how many people were blessed by the gods?" Leodagan was caught by surprise and took a little time to answer.

"Twelve beings, only twelve blessings were given on this world, to our knowledge." He couldn't help but say that last sentence. The so-called blessings were quite visible and even people farther than a few kilometers could see the change of atmosphere and light present during the blessing. In that way, even the orcs and the trolls told the other races about it, but it was not impossible for other monsters or foreign races to receive one. It was just that no one told them about it.

"So, we have twelve blessings and therefore twelve Heroes, does everyone with their small little brain can understand this?" The old woman Ella Romba looked coldly at everyone and some children couldn't help themselves but nod at her interrogation. They were heavily pressured by her intimidating presence. However, she changed right away and still answered Leilade.

"However, there is someone called the 13th Hero for a simple reason. He was a criminal, a murderer, an arsonist, there wasn't a single crime he hadn't commit. One day, after a battle that managed to slay one of the seven dark gods, an artifact of immense power fell in front of him. Blinded by greed and lust for power, he took the artifact and wore it on his right hand. The black gauntlet fused with his body and his madness was released. What no one could have thought would be that the resilience and mental fortitude of that lowly scum was so important that he suppressed the artifact. After that, he helped greatly the true Heroes and was even named the 13th Hero. Like you can guess, that nice tale gave birth to the idea of the 13th Legion. However, for that man, he was still a criminal in the end. After the calamity, he was hunted down and killed, as he deserved."

To the children, it was a brutal story. They hadn't thought that someone who would help the Heroes, fight against the Dark Gods and survive will then be hunted and killed like a dog. However, Leilade noticed that the old lady was visibly pissed at the end like something was not as simple as being hunted and killed. Either that man was not really captured at all, or they never got the artifact of great power she was talking about. "How many things are similar to that description?"

(So, something shaped as a gauntlet, giving immense power, increasing the mental instability of the bearer but not in an uncontrollable frenzy. Quite a lot correspond to that description, it is just the measure of the power granted that differs. If it is as that senile elder says, it was just enough for that man to help the Heroes, not fight at an equal stand with the dark gods. Some Akûls like to wear power fists instead of swords or axes. It could be something like that. But by now, there is a possibility that we are not the first at being teleported on this planet.)

"Yes, that Age of Monsters looked like an experiment from the Ancient, but the Dark Gods are clearly alien forces barging in without a proper plan. Splitting forces like that, getting apparently picked off one by one. Also, there are some gods watching this world and they are potentially already watching us. That will be a bit more problematic, especially if they start giving blessings left and right."

Like everyone in the Demonic Army, Leilade served the Demon Gods. They could be considered as Great Gods compared to most of the leeches that suck the energy from a planet. The reason for their greater strength is the nourishment they received after all these years. Whenever someone with their mark dies or kill something, they can collect its soul. Of course, they won't be as stupid as feeding on their precious believers and most of the time, Leilade had no problem saving someone like Agnil the master dwarf. But if the dead is just a lowly grunt or cannon fodder, then the Demonic Gods will immediately gather its energy.

Every god is doing it and the more they collect, the bigger they can reward their believers. It is a virtuous circle, but the problem is the faith or the thing that makes people believing in them. Most of the gods are just opportunistic pricks that find a religion without a true god behind it and pass as him. That's the case on a normal planet and those beings completely made of energies are a great source of mana when they are captured. Normally, she should have made Leilade happy since she would have eaten a portion of that god, but this time, it was cumbersome.

Twelve blessings at the same time and that was enough to kill the seven Dark Gods. Either multiple gods work with each other, a behavior in total contradiction with their purpose of stealing everyone soul or one god was really powerful. At least, capable of threatening her and her group. At the same time, she could fool mortals and hide her true appearance but her crude illusion could be dispelled by any god if he wished it. She so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear anything after that. Only after a very long period where she tried to see if a god was messing with her did she raised her head and see that the course was nearly finished.

(Short story, they think they are the good guys and there are some clear differences between what was told and the final result. Especially the end of the Kingdom of Pankow, there is something fishy there. After that, apparently, an elder lich woke up in the desert of the Synnada Empire, proclaiming to claim this land for its master. The lich was called Ptolekh, his master should be Ma'aka, the Underlord. However, this lord should be one of the dark gods but I have no recollection of someone like that in the Demonic Army. Even Ptolekh is foreign for me but he caused a massive disturbance in the huge Empire, so big that the Republic of Avenio was born because of it. After that, it was some useless talk about writing and reading for commoners.)

Following the report of the Viscount, she tried to remember the two names she got. Ma'aka and Ptolekh didn't ring any bell to her either but it was expected. She knew they were foreigners like her, but not necessarily from the same nation. "As for the dates?"

(Thousands of years for the Age of Darkness and less than four hundreds of years for the Birth of the Lick King. Yes, the one responsible for that name was clearly too enthusiastic.)

Leilade shook her head at this name. She wasn't the best at naming things, but that name was still weird. However, the rest of the class was fine with that, not that it really mattered. Since it was a part of the lesson that was so interesting that even some nobles were sleeping, she decided to do that same. She wondered what will be the notification for the end of class.

"[Cold Wind]."

She got it. A violent squall was spreading in the large room, entering even the tight clothes of the boys. That instantly woke up everyone that was lazing on their desks and even caught by surprises the three in front and the princess. The old woman grinned at the sight of the screaming and sobbing girls and some of the frailest boys. It was a wonder how such a sadistic magician managed to be allowed to teach the new students. Or maybe it was exactly that reason.

"SHUT UP MAGGOTS!" Once again, another back and forth between the teacher making everything to make the children scream and cry and right after that, her loud shout to silence them. Besides some late to understand that got a very special treatment, everyone quickly bit their mouths, not daring to make another sound.

"Apparently, the huge honor of explaining the rest of day was given to me. That old bastard Moo can be considered as an excellent teacher but don't be a fool. Later, you will understand. Just heed my warning and everything will be fine. Anyway, it is still early in the morning, so you will have your probable favorite class. Magic. Where you will be able to cast a pitiful flame not even capable of warming your hand. For the best of you. As for the afternoon, nothing yet. In the latter days, you will have more things to do, but now, just enjoy your last days of freedom. As for the morons and illiterates, I advise you to start patching your lack of brain now. Now, be gone."

Her acid tone prompted the kids to not rush outside and they only walk quickly toward the only exit. No one wanted to be detained any longer and only after getting a few meters away did they sigh happily and looked at their cards. Leilade was the last to leave but the first to arrive since it was quite far away. The numerous corridors and stairs coupled with the messy sense of orientation managed to lost half of the class in a few minutes. The huge problem was the tri-dimensional arrows on the card. In the end, she arrived on the second floor and at the very end of the corridor, alone. It took a few seconds for the three descendant of the magus to leave the stairs and march toward her.

After that, they waited a minute or so, in an awkward silence. They had no instructions this time, so they had no idea if they could enter right away or had to wait for everyone. Also, Jorien was a bit embarrassed by their behavior under the tree and after that, the petty trap that they created for the silent girl, even if it clearly backfired on them. Unlike Leodagan, the two siblings didn't have a lot of prejudges about the commoners, besides their complete lack of etiquette and knowledge. So, Jorien tried to make peace with Leilade.

"Hum, sorry about what we said." As she apologized, only two cold blue eyes stared at her. She couldn't help but feel that she was looking at a monster that was capable of eating her alive without any problem. She froze on the spot and only because Leodagan exclaimed about the incoming Ronald and Istuienn did she managed to wake up. She quickly diverted her gaze away from Leilade and saw the slightly worried face of her brother. Only after noticing her cold sweats dripping from her forehead did she swipe them off. During the entire time where the rest of the children arrived, she didn't look at Leilade once.

Chapter end