Chapter 373 - The Final Villain (1) (unedited)
A vast land that was under the sea for a few decades was now in full view once more. From where we are right now, I can see the vast land that was once my mother"s country, the country of Atlantia.
"Is… Is this real?" I still cannot believe even though I can see it with my own two eyes.
"It is real, my love." Regaleon answered to my question.
Me and Regaleon might not have been born in this country, but we knew people that would be more than happy to know that Atlantia has risen from the depths of the sea.
"My mother would be happy with this news." I said with a huge smile on my face. "Dimitri and the others as well, I am sure they will be thrilled to know that the land of their birth has risen once again. Oh, how do you think they are?" I looked at the direction where my father"s country Alvannia was.
The huge tremors that was made with the rising of the Atlantian land would have made catastrophic destructions such as a tidal wave.
"Do not worry." Virgil, the azure dragon replied. "I can feel two of the sacred beast by the sh.o.r.es. They made sure that a catastrophe was prevented to the people in your land."
Thinking of the sacred beast, I thought about Snow who was left in Duke Destia"s estate. Then that leaves another sacred beast that I do not know off.
"I would also like to thank you, Gladiolus." I looked at Gladiolus who had just helped us. "I am happy that you are not our enemy any longer."
"I just did what I thought was right." Gladiolus replied. "I have always thought that mother"s plans were right, but now I finally opened my eyes to the truth. I should have done this sooner, to follow my own path."
"That is good to hear." I smiled.
"I am now the guardian of your son, and I plan to do my part well." Gladiolus smiled back at me. "Alicia, I would like to apologize to you, for everything that I have done. I could say that it was all because of my mother"s plan, but I was also at fault. My love for you had turned into obsession, and thus made me more susceptible with my mother"s schemes. I am truly sorry. I do not expect you to forgive me instantly, but at least give me a chance to repent and make up for it." He knelt down and bow his head before me.
I have seen Gladiolus many times before, but I felt that this was the first time I have seen his true self. It is true that he had made many bad things to me and my loved ones, and I was no saint to just give my forgiveness that easily.
"Then I will expect you to repent for your sins and to work hard for my forgiveness." I replied. "And I expect you to be a good guardian to my children." Gladiolus looked up in disbelief. He was not expecting to be given another chance to repent but my words brought a smile on his face.
"I will work hard for your forgiveness, Alicia." Gladiolus said. "I will be sure to keep my promise."
"Ahem…" Regaleon coughed to get our attention. "I hope you remember your promise to me, Gladiolus."
"Huh, what promise?" I asked looking at my husband in curiosity.
"Do not worry Alicia. It is a promise from one man to another." Gladiolus replied. "And do not worry King Regaleon, I will keep my word. That is, if your wife does not call for me herself."
"You…" Regaleon looked irritated with Gladiolus words and I was at a loss as to what they were talking about. I want to ask further but the twins that were cradled in my arms started to cry.
"Oh my, I think they are hungry." Anatalia said. "I think you need to b.r.e.a.s.t feed them."
The word b.r.e.a.s.t feed made all of us except Anatalia blush.
"Virgil, can you find a suitable place to land first." Gladiolus instructed.
"As you wish, master." Virgil replied.
In no time we landed at the just risen land. Regaleon came down from Virgil first and offered a hand for me to go down. Anatalia was carrying the female twin while I was carrying the male. I took Regaleon"s hand and walked at the ground that was still wet.
"The land here is all sand." I murmured.
"There are still mountain ranges further down south." Anatalia pointed out. "Do not worry, not long this land could come back to life. Of course with some help."
We saw a huge rock not far and decided to sit down there. Regaleon helped me down and I looked at Anatalia for help on how to start b.r.e.a.s.t feeding the twins.
"Place both of them carefully in your lap. Be sure that you are comfortable with your position." Anatalia said while helping me. "Now put them on each of your b.r.e.a.s.t and latch them carefully. You need to help them at first, but after a while these two little ones will know what to do."
I do as what Anatalia said. He also helped me to latch both of them unto my b.r.e.a.s.t and after that they started sucking. Regaleon put his coat over me to keep me warm.
"Do not strain yourself." Regaleon said. "If you feel uncomfortable, you can s.h.i.+ft your position. I will help you."
"Thank you." I smiled at him. I felt peaceful, seeing my children and my husband here with me now.
Gladiolus and Virgil was at distance from us keeping watch. After b.r.e.a.s.t feeding, we decided to go back to Duke Destia"s estate and get some rest.
"I will tell you everything once we get back." Regaleon told me. "But long story short, we have defeated Patricia. Her army has surrendered."
"Then does that mean this war is over?" I asked with a hopeful expression.
"Yes, it is." Regaleon said with a smile and kissed me on my forehead. "We can now live in peace with our children. What names do you want to give them?" He asked while starting to caress our children"s cheeks.
"I am not quite sure yet." I said honestly. "I did not have time to think. As you know I was put to sleep just after I knew I was pregnant."
"Then let"s think about it once we get back to Grandcrest." Regaleon said. "Once we get back, I will prepare a huge festival that will last a month for the birth of our children."
"That sounds good." I smiled with Regaleon"s idea.
We were talking happily when there was some commotion from where Gladiolus was.
"Stay here, I will take a look." Regaleon said while pulling out his sword.
"Be careful." I said with a worried tone.
But before Regaleon got up, there was an explosion. Gladiolus came flying towards our direction. He hit the ground hard and groaned in pain. Smoke was blocking our sight to see in front of us.
"Gladiolus!" I shouted his name in worry.
"T-there is an enemy…*cough*" Gladiolus coughed up blood. "H-High Priest Hector." He said with difficulty.
"So, the chosen one is here." I heard the voice of High Priest Hector.
When the smoke cleared a man with a youthful face emerged. His upper body was n.a.k.e.d, and I can see magic stones embedded into his body. I tried to resist vomiting, because just by looking at the magic stones I cannot fathom how he was able to embed them unto his body. It was horrifying to think.
"Is that… the high priest?" I asked in disbelief.
I have seen the high priest numerous of times when I was kept as a hostage in Jennovia. He was an old man in his seventies. But the man in front of us looked like he was in his twenties.
"How could he have achieved that?" I thought to myself.
"Be careful… he is not the same old high priest." Gladiolus stood up and wiped the blood on his lips. "I cannot believe he was able to absorb the magical power that had bursted out on the chosen ones birth."
"You truly are smart, Crown Prince Gladiolus." High Priest Hector smirked. "All my life, I did my research on the forbidden magic the Atlantians used in the last war. I was searching for a way to attain a body that will never age. I knew that I can harness such power using magic stones after seeing how your mother"s pendant stored some of the Almighty Ones magic. I have experimented on numerous subjects, some old and some who were young and still full of youth."
"You… monster!" Gladiolus roared. "Those reports of missing people, young and old. It was you! Even some of my Atlantian comrades who gone missing without a trace!"
"Yes, that was all me. And your mother gave me permission, with the condition that I will not get caught of course, and I will still help with her plans." Hector replied. "Experimenting with Atlantians gave me a breakthrough in my research. Their body withstood better with my experiments."
"M—Mother gave her consent?" Gladiolus asked in disbelief. He might have flew away from his mother"s clutches, but Patricia is still his mother. He could not believe that his own mother turned a blind eye with this evil.
"Like other experiments, I failed and failed and lost my test subjects until I was able to successfully solve the problem. It was the quality of the magic stones." Hector said with an evil grin. "I could not find magic stones as good quality like your mother"s pendant, but I solved that with the quant.i.ty. As you can see, those A+ quality magic stones did the work. I was able to bath in the pillar of light and absorb all that excess magic that bursted out. What more if I can tap in to the source itself. An immortal life is not difficult to achieve." Hector"s eyes looked evilly at my children.
"I will not let you!" I embraced my twins closely to me. As if they can feel the evil aura, the twins started to cry.
"I will not let you go near my children and wife." Regaleon said with fury.
"You will go no further." Gladiolus said.
"Be careful against him." Virgil who was now in snake form slithered out of Gladiolus" sleeves and coiled unto his neck. "He has a portion of the Almighty Ones magic power inside those magic stones embedded into his body. He is not someone you can beat easily."
"King Regaleon, how is you magic powers fairing?" Gladiolus asked.
"Some of my magic is starting to return, but I am still not in full capacity." Regaleon replied.
"Dammit, I am also not in full capacity. But at least I have more magic powers left than you." Gladiolus replied. "There is no choice then, I will take the lead and support me from the back."
"Understood." Regaleon replied in a heart beat. "Alicia, stay here and watch the twins."
"I can also fight." I want to help both of them.
"You are still weak with childbirth, Alicia." Anatalia said. "And it would be better if you are here, guarding your children."
I do not want to acknowledge it but Anatalia was right. My body was still recuperating from giving birth and the vitality that Regaleon had restored was just a portion.
"I understand." I nodded. "Please be careful… both of you." I told them. They nodded and then walked towards our new opponent.