KHXFF Wiegenlied of Green Chpt:1 Sec:1 Scene: 1

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 The icy air.

Lucifenia has a cool climate all year round. Even though I was born in a country where it hardly ever snows, I think the weather here is a bit hot.

At the Hall of Mirrors in the Lucifenian Palace, I saw the person waiting for me at the back of the door, staring at the painting portrayed on the ceiling.

That was Nikolay Tolle’s creation of the “Three Heroes”. At the center of the painting, the king holds his sword up high, and the three warriors knelt by his side. Apart from that, the painting also depicts the king wielding a shield with the princess at his side. Aerith loved this painting of him.

The person waiting for me didn’t seem to be aware of my arrival. She opened the door and got in as fast as the wind, as her dark hair blew over her.

I silently took out a dagger from behind her. She’s usually more vigilant than anyone else, but it seems that she wasn’t aware of my presence. What happened to her? Has she lost her mind over the painting? Or is she recalling the tragedy that happened in it?

I was almost at her back. I raised the dagger on my right hand, towards her and…… Rinoa barbed it down at her back.

"Hey!"

"Ah."

A sharp pain immediately struck my wrist.

The dagger that used to be firmly on my hand, flew to the air. As I heard it falling behind me, Rinoa quickly kicked my right hand. Oh, that’s remarkable.

"Rinoa, that was brilliant, but that kicking habit is really bad."

I told her jokingly; I saw Rinoa’s sullen stare at me.

"What are you trying to do, Lighting?"

"Nothing~! Since Aerith is already dead, it’s almost time for me to leave Lucifenia! So before that, I need to kill all the people who know me."

"Toy knives can’t kill people."

Rinoa picked up the wooden dagger that fell on the ground. She gently touched the blade with a finger; a razor-like thing retracted on the handle.

"Sophisticated toys."

"Thanks for the praise. I was supposed to use that on you."

"But I avoided it before you did so, didn’t I?"

Rinoa smiled and shrugged, like I felt helpless.

"I’m not joking that I want to investigate, I’m accustomed to do so…… But you leaving this country? What do you mean?"

"Can’t you see the meaning? Ever since the death of King Cloud and Princess Aerith few days ago, according to the contract, I have no reason and obligation to stay on this country."

I got acquainted with this generation’s king Cloud 20 years ago. As I was still new; Cloud, as well as his lover, Aerith; concluded a contract( This world praised it as the “Sanosun Bridge Oath”, but it’s really just an employment relationship) to become one of Cloud’s subordinates.

From that day, I had been dedicated to expand the territory with a blood-stained blade. As a result, Lucifenia was incomparable to what it was before. But King Cloud died because of an incurable disease—— the Geostigma disease. In this way, the monarch became Queen Aerith. The Queen didn’t focus on territorial expansion, but was committed to enhancement and development of national power. Despite the dwindling number of wars, my work didn’t change easily.

Now, even if you say Lucifenia was the Evillious region’s most fertile country, it’s not the same as it was before. “I want to make a country where kids laugh all day long”, this was Aerith’s motto.

However, a few days ago, Aerith, like her husband’s life was taken away by the same Geostigma disease.

War, accidents, diseases…… Many of my peers were killed. The only ones who lived were: Eraqus the Commander of the Guards, me, and Rinoa. Nowadays, the prosperity of Lucifenia, was exchanged with numerous sacrifices.

Ever since I met Rinoa, she was a young child back then, she had long been a good fighter.

You could say that one of Rinoa’s instruments of death is one pair of bleak eyes.

Even so, she has always been an elegant lady, with a role of a maid in the palace, making perfect achievements.

"Lightning, you’re the same as always."

"Oh, if you mean a priveleged mage with a warehouse full of magic, then yes."

"Yup. When I met you, you were already a female adult, I didn’t expect you to be still like that after over 20 years. Your beauty. Maybe this is what you call magic, or for some other reasons……"

"Do you want to know?"

"Not interested."

"Oh Rinoa, you always say such cold things~"

"Stop talking like a little girl…… Seriously, you’re still the same, no matter if it’s appearance or character."

"Or am I?"

"As I was saying Lightning,…… please don’t leave Lucifenia this early, I hope you’ll come help this country."

"20 years, that should be enough for it."

"Although the Belzenianempire is no longer a threat, the friction between Asmodin and Elphegort is still unsettled. Moreover, Princess Namine is still 13 years old and her nature is quite clear…… This country needs your magic."

Magic.

The ones who use magic in this country, I’m the only one. Anyway, this magic thing has long been supposed to be an extinct skill. I believe only a few people know its existence. Even though the place I was born in was known as the “Magic Kingdom”, there are only few now.

Understanding this, I spoke up.

"Can’t you just find another Mage?"

"That’s impossible. You know best."

"Well, I have an idea."

I pretended to think, but in fact, I already have an answer.

"You do know that I could train an excellent Mage for this country."

Yes, Lucifenia needs a new Mage, someone like me.

"You mean an apprentice? But I don’t know how long an apprentice takes to be mastered."

"Why are you worried? As long as there’s magic talent, it will only take 2 or 3 years."

"There’s a person with magic talent…… that you’ve heard about?"

"So you’re saying, as long as I have successors, I don’t matter anymore, right?"

Rinoa had surprised eyes as if to say “That’s not what I meant!”

Suddenly, Rinoa gazed at her back. Evidently, someone had entered the room. I turned around and saw behind us, a blonde-haired girl standing.

"I’m sorry to interrupt the conversation of you two. Rinoa-san, Eraqus-san has been looking for you. It seems that he wants you to take a look at the new palace servant boy."

"……Ah, I see, I’ll come with you. Lightning, let’s discuss the things you just said in another day."

Rinoa sighed helplessly and left the room together with Larxene.

That girl was named Larxene Futapie, the daughter of Rinoa. They don’t show their mother-daughter relationship in front of others. I don’t know if it’s how Rinoa educates her or it’s her own cautious temperament.

The teenager that Eraqus brought is the twin brother of the princess. This is Eraqus’s personal way to reunite the two dismantled siblings.

(I really like to see what he looks like, but I’d better go out now.)

I gently stretched my legs and paced. As I was just leaving the Hall of Mirrors, I heard the voice of the Prime Minister Xemnas ringing in my ears.