Chapter 301 - History Lesson II (2/2)

And yet, he must have developed this strong drive because his whole life, he had been told a history that did not exist.

A history that told him that everything good came from the duchess and that at any moment, that good could slip away if he did not fight for the Light and the duchess and whatever else it was that the people of this country were taught to uphold.

Mercer, on the other hand, just nodded through much of the conversation. Although the two brothers were very similar in their goals to protect, where those beliefs came from were very different.

Mercer did not give a single care about history or anything that needed him to sit down and read a text. No, he fought because he simply wanted to protect those immediately around him and to seek glory and valor while his brother fought for love of country and the ideals it stood for.

Many would have said that Mercer's d.e.s.i.r.es were shallower, less noble than his brother's, and yet, was it not better than being a slave to higher ideals built upon lies?

”Soleil itself was merely but one of the seven kingdoms, ruled by varying bloodlines til' the Beaumonts secured power,” continued Asala. ”The south has never known anything resembling unity until the Era of the Second Light when Hadrien Lightborn, possessing of the long-lost divine blood of the sun, brought the kingdoms to heel.”

”Seven?” said Mason, his mind glancing upon another disparity in his head. ”But it is my understanding that there have only ever been six kingdoms.”

”Doth thee not wonder why there art so few beastkin among the south?” said Asala. ”And yet, there art many in the far ranges of Duvin, far enough from Soleil that it hath never truly been populated til' now?”

”This land has always been for mankind,” said Mason. ”Helius himself blessed this land for man's sake, and that is why the beastmen are north or south, in the farthest ranges of Duvin.”

Asala flitted out her tongue in disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. ”Nay, not divine intervention. The reason is Hadrien Lightborn. Or, as his name doth be known in the north, Hadrien the Conqueror. With divine armor and endless greed, he crushed the six kingdoms known to thee now and brought them in.

The seventh was a kingdom of beastmen. Lizans and Blackfur Lupi. Once tribes of raiders in the central forests of the south, they consolidated under a rule of twin monarchs til' Hadrien slaughtered them all, believing first and foremost in the purity of a Light that shone only upon humans – this sentiment thou sees even now

Now no more Lizans walk this world, and the few blackfur Lupi that lived scattered far south to the wilderness or the north to the realm of the Republic.

For these sins and more, Hadrien Lightborn was struck down by the heavens themselves, his divine armor destroyed and the Lightborn bloodline lost once more.

It is then the Beaumonts, managing to survive Hadrien's purges, took power back oncemore.”