The throne hall exuded an atmosphere of stern severity, a palpable tension filling the grand chamber. It had been a week since the Hero of Darkness had been summoned, and the air was thick with anticipation and unease.
Hero of Darkness—yes, that was the name they all called him.
The title arose from the dark aura that had enveloped him upon his awakening in this world. His jet-black hair and the dark, intricate tattoos running the length of his arms only enhanced this menacing persona. The fact that he always dressed in black did nothing to alleviate the impression.
Moreover, he had awakened with the most ominous of magics: dark magic. This was not just any magic but an extremely rare and ancient art, a lost magic that had not been seen since the era of the first Heroes of the Light Empire.
Why reach so far back in history?
Because the last known wielder of such potent dark magic was none other than the Demon King himself. The memory of that day was still fresh in the minds of everyone in the hall—the day he was summoned.
He had appeared, lying wasted on the cold, stone floor. By the Princess’s command, he was treated by the best healers in the kingdom, but he did not wake up immediately.
It took six long months for him to awaken, and when he finally did, it was with a disturbing confidence. Surely, he was from another world?
He seemed unperturbed by the summoning, and their appearance did not frighten him in the least. This left them unsure whether to feel relieved or more fearful.
The Summoning of Heroes was a technique utilized by other Empires and Kingdoms, but Tenebria had been entirely unaware of it. They had no knowledge of how it worked.
The idea had only arisen because of the Princess, who had dreamed of a Goddess. In her dream, the Goddess had provided all the details and means to perform the summoning.
The news had been a divine gift to them.
A God had finally taken their side?
Until now, no Gods had dared to align themselves with Tenebria, as doing so could mean antagonizing all the other Gods. Tenebria had been isolated, their people suffering for the sins committed by a King who had lost all reason.
But the fact that a Goddess reached out to the Demon Princess gave them a glimmer of hope, and the Princess was not about to let such an opportunity slip through her fingers.
She proceeded with the summoning, and the man who appeared, as she discovered six months later, was unique to say the least.
He feared nothing.
None of them could instill fear in him.
Since his awakening a week ago, he had not smiled once.
A dark and chilling expression perpetually marred his face.
He spent all his time training to regain his strength and body mass, a task made easy by the myriad of potent items provided by the kingdom’s best healers. The Princess had promised him all the assistance he needed to grow stronger, and indeed, he was becoming more powerful at an astounding rate.
The extent of his strength was unknown, but his rapid improvement was evident to all.
No one knew anything about his past or his origins, and he showed no inclination to reveal anything.
The only piece of information he had given them was his name.
Samael.
The first time he spoke it, chills ran down their spines.
Samael was the other name of the strongest and most ruthless Demon God, who had attempted rebellion against Heaven thousands of years ago. He had been killed in that great battle, yet he remained a powerful symbol for the Demons, who were perpetually at war with the world.
Whether this was his true name, no one knew, and they did not dare to press him further. His demeanor made it clear he was not one to answer idle questions.
“Can we really trust him, Princess?” An old man broke the silence, his voice carrying the weight of his years. He was garbed in a white robe, his old grey hair tied back. His weary yet sharp red eyes scrutinized the Princess. The horns on his forehead, though not sharp, signified his rank. Leaning on his cane, he addressed the young Princess, who was seated on the throne that belonged to the King.
As the General of the Kingdom’s affairs, Cadell had the privilege of questioning the Princess directly, especially since he had raised her from childhood.
The woman seated on the throne was the eldest Princess of the Kingdom of Tenebria, Azariah Tenebria, the Heir of the Kingdom. The Kingdom’s semblance of functionality was solely due to her presence and actions. She was the glue holding the Kingdom together, but even she knew that this fragile state could not last indefinitely.
Azariah bit her lower lip slightly. She wanted to say they had no choice but to trust the Hero of Darkness, but such an admission would sound weak and unbefitting of a ruler in front of her nobles. They were all looking at her expectantly, seeking reassurance.
In the end, she had to bend the truth. “The Goddess herself appeared and promised us a sublime future with the Hero we summoned. I hold no doubts about her. Despite his strangeness, his goal to eradicate the Divine Knights is genuine. Our priority today is to fend off all the Heroes, not only those summoned by the Empire of Light but also others. They have all antagonized us for various reasons.
It’s our duty to fend them off and prove that Tenebria will never fall.”
At her strong words, the nobles sighed in relief, whispering positively among themselves. As the meeting concluded, they left one after another until only four people remained in the hall.
The old general, Cadell.
The Princess Azariah.
The maid and Commander Lucia, who stood beside Azariah.
And a tall man who exuded great strength. He had long black hair tied in a ponytail and prominent horns. His eyes were serious as he looked at his Princess.
“I do not trust him, Your Highness,” Kratos said, his voice low and intense.
Azariah exhaled. “I know, Kratos. But until now, he has done nothing suspicious.”
“How long will that last? We can’t be sure. I ask again to shackle him appropriately so he can’t betray us, Princess,” Kratos insisted.
Shackling him seemed the best way to prevent Samael from betraying them.
But all of them feared his response.
He was already cold and dark, and they did not even want to imagine how he would react if they shackled him.
“No,” Azariah shook her head. “We can’t do that to the Hero given to us by the Goddess.”
In the end, Kratos reluctantly nodded.
CLANK!
Suddenly, the doors swung open.
Before Kratos could glare at the disturbance, a knight knelt down, his face pale.
“I… It’s the Princess Ameriah! She has left her room again to see the Hero of Darkness!”
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