62 Welcome to the Dark Eden (1/2)
With 36 Unlocked Roots, solid arcane knowledge and uncommon abilities, it didn't take Kilian more than a few minutes to master the First Circle Spells. In fact, thanks to the Desolate Knives' memories, he could also practice Second and Third Circle Occult Spells. However, having spent most of his free time crafting and powering Inyoka, he could not work on those.
Across the next three days, Kilian focused on studying Soul Transference, Occultism, and Eromancy. Alas, if Fehl Magic possessed one weakness, it was its lack of Arcanum. A chaotic maelstrom of infinite possibilities, codifying Fehl Magic in one Arcanum was simply impossible.
Moreover, fehls had no need for Arcana. For that reason, Arcana such as humanity's Occultism, or Urag's Eromancy became the closest derivatives of a Fehl Arcanum. And while knowledge had no direct effect on magical power, all Arcana possessed four levels of mastery: novice, adept, expert, master.
Though a novice in both Occultism and Eromancy, in Technomancy and Transmutation, Kilian had already reached bypassed the adept level and reached the expert threshold.
But the more he dwelled in Occultism, the more he realized that just like Fehl Magic, with enough willpower, Dra Control and experience, magi could rise above Dark Magic's side effects, and unleash its true potential. Kilian thus set on a road never traveled and chose to create his very own Arcane Discipline: Abyssal Technomancy!
In the meantime, the three days put his previous assumptions to the test. Against all odds, Grand Duke Rupert shocked the world by repelling a 3,000 men strong regiment of the empire's Golden Army at the border of his grand duchy.
Known as the emperor's supreme army, the Golden Army's weakest soldiers all were High Templars. Better, crafted in a technology monopolized by the von Skoll emperors, their golden power armors allowed the soldiers' battle prowesses to rise to Quasi-Archons!
For thousands of years, the Golden Army served as the Arcadian Emperors' imperial guards and invincible weapons, with the gleam of their armors alone being more than enough to put high-ranking nobles on their knees.
And while the Golden Army numbered over 100,000 elite troops, this victory broke its invincibility myth, and pushed many noble houses to believe that the von Skoll...were defeatable! Galvanized by the belief, and encouraged by Rupert's startling energy weapons and war machines, many high-ranking nobles raised the flag of rebellion, and pledged their support to the grand duke!
Driven by a network of teleportation circles, an army of three million elite troops led by the various rebel leaders gathered within Ruhkfort to lay waste on the empire! But while many expected the von Skolls' response, the Prince of Koln, Erland von Skoll, divorced his wife—wedded a commoner—and announced his rejection of his imperial ancestry!
In a bid to provide more humane living conditions to commoners—and satisfy his long-suppressed love—Erland rebelled against his own house, and led a 500,000 man strong elite force to join the insurgents!
Confusion swept the imperial family.
State officials failed to react!
And if that wasn't enough, the imperial princes refused to unite. Ayden's two elder brothers openly challenged his regency, dividing the elder council and the loyal branch princes. Worse, the Grand Orders stood on the sideline, not taking active parts in the conflict.
Certain of their victory, Rupert's troops left Ruhkfort, and plundered their way across the Arcadian Empire, leaving behind them pyramids of fire and gore. When the news reached him, Kilian gave an unsettling analysis:
”As we expected, the Technocracy is backing Rupert's vendetta. However, if they truly wished to fight a decisive battle with the imperial family, they would never do it through a mere Rupert. No, this is a diversion.
The von Skolls are playing the lambs to eat the wolf, unware that its eyes look far beyond them. And if we are to trust my Revelation, the Imperial Academy is the true battlefield.”