Chapter 729: The Era of the First Villain of Britannia

Professor Millicent Kane swiped across the screen of her Zphone Tablet again.

The holographic display above the Glass Screen Board changed to the next slide.

Several lines of writing appeared, arranged beneath the title of the lesson.

The students shifted their attention towards it, while a few who had been looking through their notes returned to the front.

Professor Millicent waited until the class settled before continuing.

"The date of this Era goes back to the sixth century. Known to be the starting of the Second Era of Britannia, following the First Era, which we finished studying in our last class—the Founding Era."

She explained calmly, highlighting the words on the holographic screen so everyone could see them clearly.

Her teaching cane rested lightly against the floor.

She then raised it and pointed towards another section of the slide, highlighting a particular name.

"This Era’s main villain was the Second ever recorded Blood Alchemist, as well as the brother of the King of that Era, Derlis Aethelmont."

She pointed her cane at the highlighted words.

A few students shifted in their seats.

The name Aethelmont was familiar to them.

It belonged to the Royal Family, and the fact that someone from that family had once been remembered as the main villain of an entire Era was enough to draw their attention.

Not to mention the name of that person was the same as the Duke House of Derlis

Some wanted to gasp, but most held themselves back.

They knew the lesson had only just begun, and Professor Millicent had yet to explain how such a thing came to pass.

"Now, in this history, Britannia was in the Sub-Era of different Alchemy Paths being created here and there. I’m sure many of you already know that those paths were said to have been cut down later by the Duke families of that Era."

She lowered her hand and walked forward a few steps.

"Some articles claim it was because the Duke families and the Royal Family wanted to establish order around Alchemy power. Others describe it as a political execution meant to increase their families’ authority and power."

She paused briefly.

"That isn’t technically the story."

The professor turned towards her assistant and signaled to him. He was already holding the Zphone Tablet, and after receiving her gesture, he swiped across its screen.

The holographic display changed.

A new slide appeared, showing a few lines of historical information.

"In the year 600, Derlis Aethelmont was already a rising Alchemist. He was also a contender for the position of Royal Heir."

Professor Millicent looked across the classroom as she continued.

"He was quite popular, especially among the Scholars. He was a rising young researcher in the Path of Alchemy and Alchemy Circle Conversion within the Kingdom. In fact, he was considered one of the best."

Her gaze briefly settled on Ezra.

Ezra looked back at her plainly.

His fingers continued typing across his Zphone Tablet as he recorded the points she was explaining on the notebook app.

However, his attention was no longer limited to the lecture.

His mind had already begun working through the history.

This was the exact glorious past Professor Nine Declan had spoken about when he first met him.

The professor’s words had brought back that conversation.

The mention of the Second Blood Alchemist, the different Alchemy Paths, and the period when those paths were being established all connected to something he had heard before.

So, that means this was the Era when the Forbidden Alchemy rule was created.

Ezra continued typing while listening to the lesson.

He didn’t raise his hand or interrupt the professor.

There was still more to the history, and he wanted to hear the full explanation before drawing any further conclusions.

"Many Scholars, especially the people from the Scholar Tower, supported him. While his younger brother, Prince Von Aethelmont, was also a big name."

Professor Millicent moved her teaching cane towards the next section of the slide.

"The two were quite balanced in their struggle for the Royal Heir position. However, once the year 615 arrived..."

She paused.

Her assistant swiped the Zphone Tablet again.

The holographic display changed to a historical drawing.

It showed hundreds of people hanging upside down.

Their bodies were suspended above a large Alchemy Circle, and blood could be seen dripping from their heads into its formation.

The circle occupied much of the drawing, its lines and symbols spreading across the ground.

At its center stood Derlis.

Beside him lay something that resembled a human creature.

Its body was positioned within the formation, with the blood flowing towards it.

The drawing was not moving.

It was only a painted representation of an event from the past.

Yet the sight was enough to make several students uncomfortable.

"What the hell..."

Veda Ashenlocke muttered, her brows drawing together almost immediately.

Nickolas looked at the image with a clear expression of disgust.

His eyes remained on the suspended bodies for a moment before he shifted his gaze towards the center of the drawing.

It wasn’t only him.

Across the classroom, several students had gone quiet.

Some stared at the image, while others looked away after only a brief glance.

A few had their mouths slightly open, as though they had expected the history to take a different turn.

The picture was only a drawing, but it showed the horrific event that had taken place during that Era.

"This was done by a person of Royalty."

Princess Stella Aethelmont covered her mouth looking horrified by the image.

"Ugh!"

Cherry’s expression changed.

She raised a hand towards her mouth, looking as though she might vomit.

Maxwell reacted quickly.

He moved closer and blocked her view with his body before rubbing her back.

"It’s alright."

He kept his voice low, allowing her a moment to recover.

Cherry didn’t answer immediately.

She lowered her head, trying to settle her stomach while Maxwell continued rubbing her back.

"How could someone get this many people to commit such an act?!"

Maxwell looked towards the professor.

His voice came out louder than he had intended, drawing the attention of a few students nearby.

"It’s through Blood Alchemy."

Willow Derlis answered calmly.

Unlike many of her fellow students, she continued looking at the image without showing much of a reaction.

Maxwell turned towards her.

"The true abilities of Blood Alchemy don’t just revolve around controlling blood or creating weapons with it."

Desmond Derlis spoke with his hands resting behind his head.

His posture remained relaxed, as though he were discussing an ordinary subject rather than the massacre displayed before them.

"It’s the ability to utilize another person’s blood to stimulate their decisions and even control their movements."

He spoke calmly.

Several students blinked.

Their attention shifted between Desmond and the holographic drawing.

The explanation gave them another way to look at the event.

Those hundreds of people hanging above the Alchemy Circle had not necessarily been gathered there willingly.

The thought made the image even more disturbing.

"Mr. Desmond Derlis is right."

Professor Millicent nodded in agreement.

She didn’t remove the drawing immediately.

Instead, she allowed the students a little more time to examine it before continuing with the history.

"Prince Derlis was an important spokesperson in the Kingdom. However, certain events took place around him and changed him. It all happened while he was losing the struggle for power against his younger brother, Prince Von Aethelmont, who had surpassed him in Alchemist rank."

Her voice remained calm, but her expression had grown more serious.

"Derlis knew he couldn’t continue watching this happen. So, he turned towards two already established Alchemy Paths, which brought two people into his search for greater power."

She signaled to her assistant.

He swiped the tablet, and the holographic display changed again.

"The Creator of Bio Alchemy, a Rogue Alchemist who was already wanted for the killings of thousands of ordinary citizens of the Kingdom through his experiments, and another person whose identity remains unknown till now."

The assistant lowered the tablet slightly after the slide appeared.

The professor looked towards the class.

The first name had already drawn a few reactions.

Some students looked at one another, while others returned their attention to the screen.

A Rogue Alchemist responsible for the deaths of thousands of ordinary citizens was already a terrible figure on his own.

And according to the history, Derlis had brought such a person into his search for power.

The identity of the second person, however, remained unknown.

Professor Millicent continued before the students could become too distracted by the names.

"The whole of Britannia was plunged into chaos when Derlis began kidnapping both Alchemists and Non-Alchemists with the group he had gathered. Together, they created the Cult of Derlis and plundered the Kingdom for twenty-six years straight within the 6th century."

She paused long enough for the students to take in the number.

Twenty-six years.

It was a long period of time.

Long enough for an entire generation to grow up during the conflict.

"By then, Prince Von Aethelmont had already become King after Derlis killed their father, the King of that Era."

A few students exchanged glances.

The struggle for the Royal Heir position had already ended in the death of their father.

Now, the younger brother had taken the throne, while the elder had gathered a group of Alchemists and begun a long period of violence across Britannia.

Professor Millicent did not linger on their reactions.

"The number of Rogue Alchemists increased greatly during this period. Killings and disappearances became widespread. Derlis was now fighting King Von Aethelmont for control of the throne, but his true research was the real goal hidden within the civil war that erupted."

Her voice carried more weight as she reached the next part.

The assistant stood beside the display, waiting for her signal.

Professor Millicent turned slightly towards him, and he swiped the screen of the Zphone Tablet.

The slide moved to the final one.

"At the end of the civil war, known as the Blood Liberation, the place shown in the earlier drawing was where King Von Aethelmont, the Royal Alchemists, and the top Alchemists of that Era found Derlis."

She pointed towards the historical drawing displayed on the screen again.

"They killed him before he could finally complete his Alchemy ritual."

Her teaching cane moved towards the highlighted words.

"The creation of a Homunculus."

She said it calmly.

Ezra’s eyes faintly flickered as he read the word on the holographic screen.

For a brief moment, his hands stopped typing.

Homunculus.

The word stood out among the other information on the slide.

He continued looking at it, his expression remaining plain.

Around him, the other students also focused on the words, though their reactions differed.

Some looked curious.

Others appeared confused, while a few seemed to understand that the ritual was connected to the creature shown in the earlier drawing.

The professor allowed them a moment before continuing.

"This Era gave birth..."

She raised her teaching cane and began listing the historical events.

"... to the Second Civil War, known as the Blood Liberation, which took the lives of hundreds of thousands of Britannians. It also marked the birth and establishment of Forbidden Alchemy Paths, the establishment of the Duke Titles, the cutting down of Alchemy Paths, and the first sighting of a Kalian."

She listed each event with a serious tone.

The holographic display remained behind her, showing the final slide as the students looked between the information and their notes.

A few pens moved quickly across notebooks as they tried to record everything.

Others had already finished writing and were reading through what they had written, checking the names and events.

Ezra also continued taking notes.

The history had given him several things to consider, particularly the mention of the Forbidden Alchemy rule and the creation of the Homunculus.

He kept his thoughts to himself, however, and returned his attention to the professor.

Professor Millicent lowered her teaching cane.

The lesson had only covered the beginning of the Era, but its consequences had shaped several important parts of Britannia’s history.

And for the students sitting in the classroom, the name Derlis Aethelmont was no longer simply the name of an ancient Royal Family member.

He was the Second Blood Alchemist.

The first villain of Britannia’s second Era.