Chapter 209 - Five Swords ( Part 1)

It had been five days since the awakening of the Forbidden Battlefield.

It had been five days since the sky tore open and a beam of light pierced the heavens.

It had been five days since the world heard the sound of five Divine Swords coming together for the first time in a thousand years.

The message spread like wildfire throughout the continent—in whispers within taverns, rumors in marketplaces, and through riders sent to every kingdom and empire. The Markless Maiden had collected five legendary swords. The legacy of the Sword King had a successor. The balance of power which had existed for hundreds of years was starting to tilt.

But in quieter moments, in gaps between legends and prophecies, the world carried on as it should.

And Jennie was tired.

The gates of Seraiya opened under a bright afternoon sky.

The sun burned in the heavens, its light bathing the ancient city in warmth and life. Birds chirped from trees that lined the main road, and the sweet smell of flowers permeated in the air. It was the type of day which made one forget about wars, demons, and the evils lurking in the borders.

The royal guards stood in formation, their armored bodies reflecting in the afternoon sunlight. They were the image of military discipline, their faces and postures perfectly composed.

The city was peaceful.

For precisely three seconds.

When one of the guards pointed at the road, their voices quivered with surprise.

"Wait."

Another guard squinted, shielding their eyes from the light.

"Isn't that Commander Lucas?"

"Yes."

"And isn't that Roxy?"

"Yes."

"And the giant white wolf?"

"It must be Snow."

The first guard smiled, relief evident in his face.

"That means they are back!"

His smile quickly faded.

"...Wait."

"What's wrong?"

The first guard raised his hand and pointed to the middle of the group. He trembled with fear.

"What is that?"

Everyone looked.

Jennie was following behind Commander Lucas.

Her silver-white hair swayed slightly with the wind, shining brightly like the moon in the afternoon light. Her expression was serene—like that of a traveler returning after many months away.

She looked like any other young girl.

Except for the swords.

One sword was strapped on her hip—Excalibur, the Sword of Kings, its gold hilt radiating power and might.

One sword floated behind her—Leviathan, the Blade of Oceans, its surface glowing in deep blue, like the waters of a never-ending ocean.

Another sword was wrapped up in fabric—Tempest, the Blade of Storms, its occasional crackle of silver lightning escaping its coverings.

Yet another sword vanished into the darkness of her cloak—Eclipse, the Blade of Shadows, whose presence could barely be perceived but could not be missed.

Lastly, there was a sword on her shoulders—Gram, the Blade of Wrath, with a crimson-black surface that pulsed faintly with sinister energy.

The guards gaped.

One of them dropped his spear.

CLANG!

Jennie stopped. She glanced at the dropped weapon and then at the guards, her expression mildly surprised.

"...We're home."

Roxy looked at the guards and tilted her head to the side, her ears twitching.

"Why are they staring?"

Snow yawned. Nine white tails flickered behind him. The aura of his divine power was much more faint than before but it was still clearly visible.

"Because your friend is carrying enough legendary weapons to start a war."

Jennie looked at him. Her face was calm.

"I am not starting a war."

Snow shrugged.

"That's what people who carry five Divine Swords always say."

Lucas sighed. It looked like the Commander of the Royal Knights was extremely tired – probably more tired than in his whole life.

"Please don't start."

They went to the capital city.

After several minutes, the rumors began to spread.

"Raven is back!"

"She got something from the Forbidden Battlefield!"

"How many monsters did she defeat?"

"I heard she killed a hundred!"

"I heard she killed a thousand!"

"I heard she defeated a Divine Beast!"

Snow twitched his ears and looked very satisfied with himself.

"Technically, I am a Divine Beast."

Jennie looked at him. Her face was tired.

"Please don't encourage them."

Snow smiled like an innocent child.

"I wasn't."

"You definitely were."

The Royal Palace

The doors to the throne room opened. They saw a huge hall filled with white marble pillars and ancient paintings on the ceiling.

Royal officials stood near the walls. Some of them turned to look at the group entering the hall. The advisors whispered behind raised hands. The scribes prepared to write. The guards stood at attention.

Firstly, Lucas entered the hall. His voice resonated in the hall.

"Your Majesty, we're back."

The royal officials turned toward him.

Then Roxy entered. Her flaming hair and nervous ears attracted their attention.

Then Snow followed. His nine tails opened like a fan and the ancient wisdom sparkled in his eyes.

Finally, Jennie entered.

Silence. No one said anything. The entire room stared at Jennie.

Jennie blinked. She looked around at the shocked officials, their open mouths and shaking hands.

"...Hello?"

A very old royal official slowly got up. His voice trembled in shock.

"Your Highness..."

Lucas frowned.

"She's not the princess."

The advisor pointed at Jennie. His finger shook.

"No, but... I mean..."

His finger pointed at the swords.

"...what are those?"

Jennie looked at herself. Then at the five Divine Swords around her. Then at the advisor.

"These?"

"YES!"

Jennie looked really confused.

"They're swords."

The advisor almost fell. Several other officials helped him.

Lucas pressed his fingers to his forehead. He felt a headache coming – a type of headache that only Jennie could cause.

"Raven."

"Yes?"

"Explain."

"Explain what?"

"The five Divine Swords."

Silence. Even the scribes ceased to write.

Jennie looked at the swords. Then at Lucas. Then at Roxy. Then at Snow.

Roxy immediately looked away, becoming suddenly interested in a pillar.

Snow became very interested in the ceiling.

Jennie narrowed her eyes.

"You two aren't helping."

Lucas crossed his arms. His face was the face of a person who had to think hard five days in order to understand impossible things.

"I've been thinking about it since we left the battlefield."

"About what?"

"How you managed to get five Divine Swords."

Jennie paused. She looked at the swords.

"...I didn't get them."

Lucas looked at her.

"That's your explanation?"

"They chose me."

"That's even worse."

Roxy raised her hand.

"I can explain."

Jennie immediately turned toward her.

"No."

"But I was there."

"Exactly."

Roxy looked offended.

"I am an eyewitness."

"You are a terrible eyewitness."

"I am an archmage!"

"That doesn't make you a good storyteller."

Snow lifted one paw.

"I can explain."

All the people in the room turned to him.

Jennie looked terrified.

"No."

Snow put down his paw.

"Okay."

Lucas sighed. He looked at Jennie.

"Start from the beginning."

Jennie nodded. She took a breath.

"The first sword was Excalibur."

Everybody knew that. Lucas nodded.

"Continue."

"Then Leviathan."

"Where?"

"Under the Sunken Temple."

The officials exchanged looks.

"Continue."

"Then Tempest."

"Where?"

"Another ancient temple."

Lucas twitched his eyebrow.

"Another?"

"Yes."

"And then?"

"Eclipse."

"Kingdom of Nocturne."

Lucas nodded slowly.

"Fine."

"And then..."

Jennie looked at Gram. The crimson black sword pulsed faintly, as if it listened.

"...Gram."

Lucas waited.

Jennie waited.

Lucas stared.

Jennie stared at him.

"Where?"

"The Forbidden Battlefield."

Lucas closed his eyes.

"Of course."

Roxy suddenly interrupted.

"Actually, Gram tried to kill her."

Silence in the room.

Lucas opened his eyes.

Roxy continued. Her voice sounded with the excitement of a person telling a story.

"It attacked her."

"Yes."

"It tried to kill Raven ?"

"Yes."

Snow nodded.

"It was very dramatic."

Lucas looked at Jennie.

"You forgot to mention that."

Jennie shrugged.

"It wasn't important."

Lucas stared at her.

"Not important?"

"Well..."

Jennie thought about it.

"It tried to destroy an underground fortress."

Roxy raised her finger.

"And almost bury us all."

Snow raised another paw.

"And I had to transform into my true Divine Wolf form."

Silence in the room grew.

Lucas slowly turned to Snow.

"You did what?"

Snow smiled innocently.

"Nothing."

Lucas looked at Roxy.

"You saw his true form?"

Roxy nodded.

"Nine tails."

"Nine?"

"Ice wings too."

Lucas stared at Snow.

Snow innocently licked his paw.

"Don't make it sound so impressive."

Lucas looked back at Jennie.

"So..."

He pointed at the five swords.

"We all went to the Forbidden Battlefield..."

Jennie nodded.

"Yes."

"We fought dead."

"Yes."

"Survived magic storms."

"Yes."

"Found Gram."

"Yes."

"Fought it."

"Yes."

"Purified it."

Jennie shook her head.

"No."

Lucas blinked.

"You didn't?"

"Gram chose me."

Lucas stared at her for several seconds.

Then he looked at the five swords.

Excalibur. Leviathan. Tempest. Eclipse. Gram.

Five Divine Swords.

Five legendary weapons which kingdoms searched for hundreds of years.

And somehow... that girl had them.

Lucas slowly covered his face.

"I don't even know what to say anymore."

Roxy smiled.

"I know."

Lucas looked at her.

"What?"

Roxy pointed at Jennie.

"She's collecting swords."

Jennie immediately objected.

"I am not!"

Snow nodded with seriousness.

"She is."

"I am not!"

"You have already five."

"They chose me!"

"That's what a sword collector would say."

Jennie glared at him.

"Snow."

"Yes?"

"Go outside."

Snow rose to his feet.

"Gladly."

The royal officials approached cautiously. Their steps were slow and reluctant – the steps of people approaching something holy and frightening at once.

One old scholar stared at Excalibur. His voice was little more than a whisper.

"The Sword of Kings..."

The second one examined Leviathan.

"The Blade of Oceans..."

The third one – Tempest.

"The Blade of Storms..."

The fourth one saw the dark aura around Eclipse.

"The Blade of Shadows..."

And finally, everybody looked at Gram.

The crimson black sword stood absolutely motionless. It pulsed with a faint dangerous shine – the shine of restrained rage.

The scholar swallowed.

"And that..."

Jennie answered.

"Gram."

"The Blade of Wrath."

Jennie nodded.

The scholar seemed to be about to cry.

"Five."

"Yes."

"Five Divine Swords."

"Yes."

"In one person's possession."

Jennie scratched her cheek.

"Is that bad?"

The whole room cried out:

"YES!"

Jennie flinched.

Roxy put hands on her ears.

Snow laughed.

Lucas sighed.

And then something strange happened.

All five swords began to glow.

Excalibur glowed with golden light – warm and firm, the light of kings and heroes.

Leviathan radiated a wave of blue energy – calm and deep, the power of oceans and tides.

Tempest flashed with lightning – wild and powerful, the force of storms and thunder.

Eclipse radiated darkness – cold and silent, the mystery of shadows and secrets.

Gram radiated crimson aura – hot and raging, the fire of rage and passion.

All five energies rose to the sky.

The whole throne room quivered. The dust began falling from the ceiling. The officials stepped back in horror.

The royal knights immediately grasped their swords.

Jennie looked around.

"Wait."

All five swords hung in the air behind her.

For some time, they formed a perfect circle.

Golden light. Blue waves. Silver lightning. Black shadows. Crimson flames.

The royal court gaped in wonder.

Even Lucas couldn't utter a word.

Roxy whispered.

"That's..."

Snow narrowed his eyes.

"Beautiful."

All five swords slowly came back to Jennie's sides.

Silence.

Jennie looked at them.

"...They do that sometimes."

Lucas slowly turned to her.

"Sometimes?"

Jennie nodded.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Usually when something dangerous is nearby."

Lucas instantly looked around.

"Is something dangerous here?"

Jennie considered it.

"No."

All five swords stopped glowing.

Lucas sighed in relief.

But then Snow said:

"Or perhaps they are hungry."

Jennie glared at him.

"Swords don't eat."

Snow looked at Gram.

Gram's crimson aura flickered.

Snow smiled.

"That one looks hungry."

Jennie sighed.

Finally, the atmosphere started to ease up.

Everyone had finally stopped frowning. The tension slowly melted away to give way to something more pleasant, something warm.

They had managed to survive the forbidden battlefield.

They had successfully recovered another Divine Sword.

They had returned home safely.

Jennie surveyed the throne room. The columns. The paintings. The golden light.

For a moment, she felt peace.

Home.

Then footsteps were heard along the halls.

Everyone turned.

One of the royal guards arrived and gave a bow.

"Your Majesty is approaching."

Jennie stood up straight. Her heart started beating fast.

Roxy smiled.

Lucas stood proper.

Snow sat down.

Then the doors opened.

A familiar person came in.

Her silver hair that glistened like moonlight. Her royal robes that seemed to flow like water. Her eyes that possessed warmth, wisdom, and something else—an emotion that made Jennie's heart ache.

Aurelia accompanied her, a glowing sphere of golden light that exuded divinity.

Queen Lilia KingHeart came to the throne room.

Jennie locked eyes with her.

For a moment, everything else vanished. The other people present faded into the background. Everything else disappeared until there were only the two of them—souls that found each other after a thousand years.

Lilia smiled.

"Welcome home, Raven."

Jennie smiled. Her voice was gentle.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Lilia's gaze went to the five swords.

She stopped.

Her expression changed into a complex mix of awe, concern, and perhaps even fear.

Then she turned back at Jennie.

"I see you've been busy."

Jennie scratched her cheek.

"...A little."

Roxy whispered.

"She means extremely busy."

Snow whispered back.

"She means sword collecting."

Jennie turned around.

"I can hear you."

Lilia chuckled softly. It sounded like bells. It sounded like sunshine. It sounded like home.

Then she laid a hand on Aurelia.

The Divine Sword of Light glowed.

Jennie's heart beat fast. There was something stirring inside. Something ancient and familiar.

She did not know what it was.

But she knew one thing...

The next moment would be troublesome.

And judging by Roxy's expression...

It will be very troublesome indeed.

Lilia stepped forward, Aurelia shining bright beside her.

"Jennie."

"Yes?"

"I have something for you."

Jennie blinked.

"...Something for me?"

Lilia smiled.

"Yes."

Behind her, Aurelia shone bright. A golden light poured from her, illuminating every corner of the throne room, banishing the shadows within.

Jennie's eyes widened.

The five Divine Swords responded.

Excalibur flamed. Leviathan surged. Tempest crackled. Eclipse darkened. Gram burned.

The whole throne room shook.

And Lucas immediately whispered.

"Oh no."

Snow smiled.

"This will be entertaining."

Roxy covered her mouth.

"Jennie is going to get another sword."

Jennie looked alarmed.

"Wait..."

Lilia's smile grew. Her eyes danced with mischief.

"Congratulations, Raven."

Then she pointed at Aurelia.

"You are now the owner of the Divine Sword of Light."

Jennie looked.

The whole room looked.

The five swords looked.

Then everybody screamed.

"SIX?!"

Jennie looked at Aurelia.

Aurelia looked at Jennie.

The Divine Sword of Light glowed warmly.