Level Up Legacy

The three carried solemn expressions as they sat around the table. However, Layla was still sneaking food into her mouth, even with her brows furrowing in confusion. Seeing her antics, Grandma Mo chuckled for the first time.

“You are truly carefree, girl,” said Grandma Mo with a smile before turning toward Ai. “I have no idea how your statue saved me, but it doesn’t make the feat any grand. For that, I am grateful.”

“Don’t be, Grandma,” said Ai while shaking both hands. “I did all of that because I believed in the purpose that the Seika gave me. But, well, I doubt he would forgive me if he knew about the religion.”

“He will since the epiphanies left us no choice,” said Grandma Mo as she poured Ai another gravy. “How was it for the people of Alka?”

“It caused mayhem, and the memories appeared after a great light enveloped the world. Memories crashed into them like a rageful wave, leaving them confused and disoriented. Then, the nobles began spreading rumors about the Seika being Lorius, who tried to take over our minds.”

“Lorius?”

“It means Calamity in the Alvan Language. The world knew who the Seika was from their memories, and it toppled the balance. Commanders left their posts to create the city of Runera, and many people tried to seek out the Seika and find him.”

“Thus, you created the religion, knowing he wouldn’t be here.”

“My memories were full, even to the tiniest emotions I felt. I was one of the few that understood the situation, and I had to act quickly to make the Seika not hated but loved. Thus, I started the religion alongside several others.”

“Were there others who admired Arthur Silvera?” asked Layla as she placed down another bowl. “He is like a magnet of interest, gathering it as soon as he enters the stage.”

“The Seika was best known for his unbelievable feats, like reviving me from the dead,” said Ai as she placed her hand over her heart. “In doing so, he gave me a part of himself, which the enemies tried to use for themselves. Finally, however, we won in the end.”

“It seems he had quite the battle, but it was far from the end,” said Grandma Mo with an interested smile. “Seika is a fine name.”

“I think so too,” said Ai with a smile before it disappeared. “There were those who wanted the people to love the Seika and those who wanted to recreate his heritage. Unfortunately, I left Alka before seeing how that ended.”

“What is his heritage?”

“A city called Runera,” said Ai, making the two women stare at each other. Ai caught the recognition in their eyes and was surprised enough to ask, “Do you know of it?”

“Runera is one of the strongest entities in the world today, and to think the Seika created it…” said Grandma Mo with a stranded gaze. “These revelations are too much for my young heart.”

The two women laughed at the word ‘young’ but stopped when Grandma Mo shot them a glare. However, she then laughed herself, feeling like some weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“The people will be safe in his hands, it seems. Even if we fight countless wars, the Seika would be there to end them.”

“He is the best human being I have ever met, so much that I wonder if he is one,” said Ai while interlocking her hands. “I have seen people drunk with power, but not him. Even if he grows stronger every second, he remains kind.”

“Let us hope that he remains true to that,” said Grandma Mo as she rose to clear the plates. The two women helped her before the three sat on the inn’s counter. Although the war was soon to break, the two women seemed at ease.

The executions started at dawn, so the three had several hours to prepare. However, in the end, they did no such thing. Instead, Grandma Mo told them about her stories and the people she met throughout her travels.

Both women were fascinated by the sheer adventurous soul of her life. She saw small kingdoms rise and fall, and queens kill their husbands for the throne. Grandma Mo talked about the time she met the enormous wolf the world had seen in a dungeon, who spared her after she answered his questions.

Every story that left her lips made the two young women eager to go out and live those adventures for themselves. Grandma Mo seemed to reminisce about those days but held no regrets about their end.

“What about Grandpa?” asked Layla with a sad expression. “Did you leave him here?”

“He was the hostage of the emperor, and he wrote for me every day. Zonas was a lot stronger than I was when Morgan died. He moved on, but I never did.”

“What were you seeking on those adventures?” asked Ai, a question that sparked her interest. Most people thought she traveled on whims, but Grandma Mo always hid the reason behind her real ambitions.

“I wanted to find the strength to take revenge for my hubby,” said Grandma Mo with a weak smile. “I was furious at him, but I knew he would never leave me if he weren’t bound by something. Thus, after I left the prison, I sought power to free him. I failed, so I sought power to take revenge.”

“Revenge…” muttered Layla with a sad face. “Everyone is consumed by it. Lyle has never recovered from it, yet he is off somewhere doing things I don’t understand.”

“You will understand everything in due time, child,” said Grandma Mo as she held her hand. “Go and talk to him because nothing will be done through guessing. He will tell you the truth if he trusts you enough.”

“I might do that,” said Layla with a smile. “I have always been running after them, after all. So it doesn’t matter if I do it again.”

It was then that sunlight shone through the window. It was dim and soft, but it was light. Dawn arrived, and the three women turned toward the slightly creaked window. Light has never felt so ominous.

A horn was blown throughout the city, shaking their souls. It reverberated through every corner of the inn, making the wood tiles shake. The three women somberly stared at the window before making their way toward the door.

The horn blew three times, and it was a thing that this city had never heard before. As the three left the inn, they looked in the direction of the palace, where the horn was being blown. The sight sent shivers down their spines.

“Is this… the light prison?” asked Layla with a pale face. “How can it be?”

Above the palace’s highest tower was another tower upside down. As if someone cloned the giant building and flipped it upside down, the prison and the castle were mirrors of each other. Grandma Mo stared at the scene with a frown.

“The emperor is revealing this palace for the first time, but why? He could have brought out the prisoners without anyone seeing it. Is this the end?”

“Grandma Mo, we need to go,” said Ai as she grabbed her arm. “The rebels won’t let the executions proceed, so a war is bound to happen. We need to get the citizens to the shelter.”

“I… understand,” said Grandma Mo with shaking hands, which she tried to calm down. “I’m just worried about Zonas. He is the only person I have left.”

“That’s not true, Grandma. You have me and Lyle, who would never let harm befall grandfather. So after we take the citizens to safety, we can go toward the execution platform.”

Grandma Mo nodded and stared at the light prison for one final second before rushing with Ai and Layla. She didn’t want to lose her family again, but she knew there was nothing for her to do in the upcoming fight.

As the three rushed toward the lower districts, knights flooded the streets. First, they all marched uniformly, with armor covering their bodies and spears high above their heads. Then, as they appeared out of nowhere, they forced citizens out of their homes.

“Gather in the Dawn Square for the executions! No one is allowed to miss attendance!” shouted the knights’ captain as soldiers stormed into houses and took the citizens out.

“Enforcing attendance?” muttered Ai with confusion. “What is the empire planning?”

“His name is Joseph the Strategic so that we can assume the worst,” said Grandma Mo with unease as knights walked toward them. Then, seeing the three women standing in the middle of the road, they pointed their spears at them.

“No objection is allowed! March toward the upper districts!” shouted the knights as they stomped the ground. “Those who resist will be killed!”

“Those who resist will be killed!”

“March toward the Dawn Square!”

Grandma Mo pulled Layla back, seeing that she was about to attack the knights. It was too bizarre for them to rush into a fight, so she complied with the knights. She wanted to see what the emperor was planning.