Chapter 311 : The play (3)

Chapter 311 : The play (3)

"That's the story of Fiore, the first human emperor and the one who established the Fiore Empire," Alex replied to Freya.

"You seem confident about your guess," Freya remarked.

"That's because I am," Alex nodded with certainty. "After all, I know this history intimately."

In his youth, Alex had been notoriously lazy, shirking responsibilities in most aspects of his life. Whether it was his martial arts training or lessons in noble etiquette, he avoided them at every opportunity. No one dared to force him otherwise, as his father—the patriarch of the Eswald family—had always instructed the household to let Alex do as he pleased.

However, there was one area in which his father never allowed any leniency, and that was history. By his father's decree, Alex had to thoroughly understand the origins of their family and its long, illustrious lineage.

Given how deeply intertwined their family's history was with the founding of the empire, it was inevitable that Alex would be forced to learn not just about the creation of the Eswald family but also about the first emperor and the imperial lineage as a whole.

As the curtains rose once more, revealing the stage for the second act, Alex's guess was proven correct.

The man whose village and family had been slaughtered by orcs—Fiore—had begun his bloody arc of vengeance. He made no distinction between the orcs who had attacked his village and others of their kind. Every orc he encountered was killed on sight.

The more orcs he killed, the stronger he seemed to become, evolving into what the orcs had once been to the humans: a relentless hunter.

He single-handedly obliterated entire villages and strongholds of orcs, his efficiency in killing increasing with each encounter. It was as though his thirst for revenge was directly fueling his power.

At that time, people were unaware of the concept of leveling up or gaining strength through absorbing mana. In fact, only a handful of individuals could consciously manipulate mana. For most, it was an unconscious force, and they primarily relied on their innate physical attributes. While the entire continent of Imperion was engulfed in chaos, with every race fighting to assert dominance over the others, humans simply wanted to be left in peace, knowing full well they were no match for the other races.

Alas, that peace was denied them. It became common to witness horrors similar to what had happened in Fiore's village unfold in countless other human settlements.

The obvious repercussions was that along his way to avenge his family and massacre the orcs, many people joined Fiore in his quest. Some, like him, harbored a deep hatred for the orcs, while others carried similar feelings toward other races, such as ogres, goblins, and even elves.

When this name was revealed, a wave of surprised gasps swept through the theater. The audience was visibly stunned to learn that the powerful human who had kept the elves and Virax at bay was none other than Osmond Eswald. His name was widely known because he was the ancestor of the current Eswald ducal family.

Freya instinctively glanced at Alex to gauge his reaction to hearing his ancestor's name, but what she saw unsettled her.

Alex's expression was somber, his silver eyes fixed on the actors playing Fiore and his subordinates with a cold intensity Freya had never seen before.

Why does he seem angry? she wondered. She wanted to ask him, but before she could, the "camera" focus shifted, signaling a transition to another scene in the play.

In the new scene that unfolded before their eyes, several weeks seemed to have passed. The background shifted from Fiore's bustling settlement to a secluded area deep within a forest. The tall pine trees stretched skyward, their dense canopies filtering the sunlight.

In this scene, Fiore stood before one of the towering pine trees, his long hair flowing as if caught by a phantom wind. An undeniable aura of regal majesty surrounded him, exuding both power and authority. His sharp gaze was locked on a particular branch high above, where another man, seemingly in his forties, leaned nonchalantly against the tree trunk.

The man had long, messy deep blue hair that cascaded over his shoulders, a slightly tanned complexion that hinted at a life spent in the wild, and a casual demeanor. His eyes remained shut, and a relaxed smile played on his lips, giving him an air of mystery.

"Are you Osmond Eswald?" Fiore inquired, his voice calm and composed. There was no trace of arrogance or superiority in his tone. Instead, his words carried a quiet strength and authority that demanded respect without needing to ask for it.

"I might be," the man replied lazily, his tone as relaxed as his posture. Without opening his eyes, he continued, "Who's asking, and why are you here?" His voice carried an easygoing yet sharp undertone, as if he were simultaneously unconcerned and highly perceptive.

"My name is Fiore, and I'm—"

"Oh, you're the human playing king outside these lands?" Osmond interrupted smoothly, cutting Fiore off mid-sentence. A smirk formed on his lips as he finally opened his eyes, revealing deep blue irises that shimmered with an almost otherworldly light. "To what do I owe the honor of your Majesty's visit?" Osmond inquired, glancing at Fiore.

When Osmond's piercing, ocean-deep eyes locked onto them, both Fiore and his subordinates felt an overwhelming weight settle over them. It was as if they were staring into the endless abyss of a bottomless ocean, their very existence laid bare. The pressure they already felt intensified tenfold, making it difficult for some to even breathe.

"Be direct," Osmond said sharply, his gaze narrowing. "What do you want from me? I don't have patience for people who waste my time beating around the bush."