Chapter 195 Hmm . . . A Little History . . . ?

Chapter 195: Hmm . . . a little history . . . ?

Balaur was in his dragon form, curled on his paws while his back was facing me.

It would have been easier if I could fly on his back towards Castle Rock. But I was also afraid that I would attract unwanted attention that way.

At least on the back of Minion 0, no one would find it odd.

I wonder what I should do to increase my [Relationship Level] with it.

Maybe if I find this Dragon Island, he will at least talk to me.

<Having Dragons as one of your race would surely add a powerful force to your unit>

Let's think about it later. Gnomes and Dwarves were my priority right now. And if I could recruit Aasimar and Firbolg, then the better.

<Host might have a hard time getting an Aasimar into your ranks. Those half-angels were few and rarely showed themselves. And if they did, they quickly disappear, and you won't be able to see them again>

<As for those Firbolg . . . Host might have to search days for them in the forest, and you wouldn't even be able to spot one. They don't take kindly to strangers, and they're rare>

Hmm . . . maybe it would be easier if I just did some sort of quest related to them?

Come to think of it . . . I didn't know about this world. My knowledge was limited, so it was hard for me to move around.

If I didn't know the history, then I wouldn't know which side to take and which weakness to take advantage of. I thought to myself.

Maybe there's something on Blue River Town that I could take it on my side without actually destroying it. But I need some information first.

I still have three days left on Minion 0's back. Was there anything better productive to do in those days than knowing the history of this land?

System, do you have something that would tell me a little bit about this land?

<New Item in the Evil System Shop!>

Checking the [Evil System Shop], I found a huge ass book in black that said, 'The Evil History of this Lands.'

". . ." System.

<Yes, Host?>

Is this legit?

<The System Shop only sold original and authentic items!>

I sighed and paid 10 000 Evil points to acquire it.

I only hope that I didn't waste those points. I only have a few left because I just upgraded everyone's equipment before I left.

As I conjure up an image of the dark, ominous book that contains the land's history, I see a hefty, leather-bound tome with jagged, ancient-looking edges that seem to have been scorched and weathered by time. The book's cover was a deep shade of black, with faded golden lettering etched into the surface, hinting at the book's age and importance.

As I opened the book, the thick pages creaked under my fingers, feeling rough and brittle to the touch. The writing on the pages seemed to be etched in deep, dark ink that appeared to glow slightly in the dim light.

That's good. I didn't have to strain my eyes when I read it at night.

The illustrations, if any, were eerie and foreboding, often depicting war, famine, or other disastrous events that have plagued the land throughout its history.

No less from an evil book.

The book emitted a musty, ancient smell, and as I read through its contents, the words seemed to take on a life of their own, conjuring up vivid images of a world long gone, of kingdoms that have risen and fallen, of battles fought and lives lost.

<The book's pages contain secrets and mysteries that have been lost to time, and its ominous appearance only added to the weight of its knowledge. It was clear that the book was not for the faint of heart, as it contained both the beauty and the horror of the land's past, and those who dared to delve into its pages risked uncovering truths that they may not be ready to face!>

". . ." That's overly dramatic. I thought and began to read the words etched on its pages.

[Nordlands has a rich past spanning thousands of years, influenced by cataclysmic events that involve multiple planes of existence.]

These multiple planes must pertain to our world, then. I mused to myself.

[Since the dawn of time and prehistory, all the way up to its current state as a monarchy, the land and its rulership have changed many times. Several key events have shaped its past, namely the descent of the Dark God and its dark angels during the fall, the rise of Zephora of the Order of Light and a cruel theocracy, and the establishment of the Kingdom of Rustin by King  Razmyr, the first archmage of the land. These events have all left a deep mark on the history of the realm, and the legacies of these dark times can still be felt in the fabric of society]

I went straight ahead and read the history of the Kingdom of Rustin.

[The Kingdom of Rustin is known as a thriving realm. Times of plenty and an open-minded philosophy have resulted in a level of tolerance for begins of all types rarely encountered in other settings. The Kingdom is rich, its armies strict and well-equipped, and the rule of law is paramount under a popular king.

But even in these tranquil times, the Kingdom of Rustin is a realm filled with adventure and dangers that lurk behind the veil of peace, reaching into other planes and deep into its history.]

There was a detailed summary of the major events that happened in the past, and I was curious about how everything unfolded to become the present.

ǁ THE AGE OF THE DARK ANGELS ǁ

(Year -1000)

In the beginning, the gods created the world, the immortals, and the morals, then agreed to let their creation play out without their direct intervention. For eons, the mortals lived in prehistoric tribal societies, waging deadly battles against monsters and other humanoids and fighting for the survival of their various species. Few legends remain from this time, as most traces of these precursor civilizations had vanished long ago.

The first legend that is corroborated by written records recounted the Age of the Dark Angels, whose reign was terrifying, brutal, and long-lasting, and one that brought some level of civilization, magic, and cultural advancement.

All the gods of Nordlands encompass varying interpretations of their dogmas and portfolios, but the god of Light and Darkness embodied the most substantial polarity.

Its positive aspect, the Shining Light, wished to see the world's mortals flourished with hope and opportunity, and it fought eternally with its other side, the Darkness Within. This darker aspect wanted power over the other gods, to rule and torment mortals, not believing them worthy of the gift of life given by the other gods.

The continuous struggle between them resulted in the rebellion of the Darkness Within. It broke away from its other half and channeled its will into a solar of immense power, the Dark God, who led an army of angels that descended upon the mortal realms.

Engraving and runes left from this time recall the 'Mountain fall,' when the Dark God and its dark angelic army crashed into the land from their plane of existence, encased in boulders the size of mountains that formed the mountains known by this name.

The Dark God landing is said to have created the tallest mountain at the very center of Rustin, now called the Monastery of the Oder of Light.

Then, as its first act of defiance from the gods, the Dark God magically pulled the moon in front of the sun, shrouding everything in an unending solar eclipse and allowing the Dark God to draw enormous power from the darkness.

The dark angels set out to dominate all mortal, enslaving and torturing them for thousands of years. They aimed to cut off all the other gods from their followers, so they banned every religion and murdered everyone who wouldn't comply.

They built a society based on fear, pain, and hopelessness. The shape-changing dark angels almost always found out if someone was plotting against them, could see through all lies, and ruthlessly crushed any seed of rebellion.

Those select mortals who devoted themselves to the evil angels were rewarded with wealth, knowledge, magic, and in some cases, even unnaturally long lives and half-celestial heirs.]

Haa . . . so this must be the Aasimars.

Now everything was beginning to piece together.

[The rest served as slaves and toys for the powerful outsiders. The Dark God conquered and ruled the lands by blood, fire, and steel.

After a millennia, Zephora, the first real foe of the Dark God, was born into a family of mortals who served the Dark God, working in the library of Skins. The legendary library housed copies of all the books from around the world, kept in seclusion from everyone not initiated to the library, each book bound in the skin of its writer or their family members.

She read for years, devouring the endless knowledge she found in the legendary library. Soon she started to manifest clerical powers from the Shining Light and used the magical knowledge she learned to keep her faith secret.]