Paradise Lost PT.2

The soft patter of rain on the roof greeted me as the carriage swayed, offering a rare moment of calm in my otherwise agitated state.

Despite the bumpy pavement the carriage rode upon, no jolts were felt inside. Though the cause remained unexplained, I chalked it up to some enchantment - perhaps a hidden spell or artifact acting as a suspension system, something I couldn't quite grasp.

Interestingly, when mana stones were discovered around the same time divine users began to appear, people without an affinity for divinity could still experiment with and, to a limited extent, harness the power contained within it.

Though the power of mana stones couldn't compare to actual magic, this discovery, combined with the world's equivalent of an industrial revolution, created a world so mesmerizing and expansive that it entrapped many minds. Especially the rivalry and sometimes clash between traditional magic society and the scientific community of technology.

Which probably explains the large automatons and the blue shields I saw earlier today.

As I recalled the relics of a forgotten era, I marveled at the thought of these machines in the flesh. Though outdated by modern standards, they still held undeniable power - a testament to an age of unimaginable conflict.

Thinking back to the Great War of Redemption, I could only lament the sheer number of lives lost and the pure destruction it caused. The War of Redemption, nearly a millennium ago, had shaped this world in ways few could imagine. It was recorded that humanity, once a deeply religious society, had abandoned the gods they once worshiped and replaced them with false idols and vain delusions.

Humanity advanced rapidly in terms of technology, living standards improved, inequality was nearly eradicated, and injustice became a foreign concept. Yet slowly, in the wake of their success, humanity became more debauched and morally degenerate.

In this weakened and deranged state, humanity was invaded by eldritch entities born from the Veil, driven by an insatiable desire to destroy and consume. At first, there was little organized resistance; humanity hadn't faced a true foe in centuries, and society was utterly unprepared for such an invasion. In the wake of this onslaught, genocide, systematic rape, and destruction wiped out nearly half the human population within the first decade of the war. These entities gained many names, Nightlurkers, Wraiths, Voidspawn—but one thing stood in common: they all matched the description of an eternal religious enemy, Demons.

Humanity seemed on the brink of annihilation. Resistance was sparse, and the genocide so extensive that even now, humanity has yet to fully recover.

That's when he appeared.

The Eternal Emperor, Baldwin of Nazareth.

He came to humanity in its most desperate hour with a message of redemption: if humanity repented and never turned its back on God again, they would be forgiven and redeemed in His eyes.

Naturally, they accepted.

With this, divine energy was born, and humanity no longer found itself at a disadvantage. They fought on equal ground with their enemies, and thus, the longest war in humanity's history raged on for 100 years.

In the 100th year, after Baldwin had sealed the reality of the Veil from our world, a great empire was created, expanding the mortal realm, with Baldwin as its head.

Then, Baldwin disappeared.

And here we are, more than 1,000 years later.

With a contemplative gaze, I continued to look out the window, watching the rain-streaked city glisten under the night sky. Admiring the beauty of the Inner Rim, I appreciated the artistic inspirations put into the architecture of the city, despite its violent history.

I too had a violent history. This place had changed me more than I let on even to myself. I found myself numb to suffering, when back on Earth, I would've been sickened.

At least, I think so. I don't remember much from back than.

Thinking back to the Emperors story, I grinned slightly.

I'd love to see the nuns' faces if they knew the true story.

In reality, though the story offered a great fairy tale of redemption and reinforced the Church's unchallenged power over the masses, it had been greatly altered and, in some parts, completely fabricated.

I wonder how His Majesty Baldwin would react to his almost deity-like worship. I'm not sure he'd react too positively. Than again, how can I be so confident my information is right? There's still too many gaps...

Rubbing my temple, I push that thought aside and continue to admire the beauty of the city as we made our way to our destination. There was no reason to distract myself when the scenery was so captivating.

After all, everyone would know the truth eventually, whether they liked it or not.

The world has changed a great deal. Back in Baldwin's era, humans still fought with swords and bows. Then, the prosperity he brought introduced the Industrial Revolution to humanity, and now we find ourselves deep in it - child labor and welfare states existing in the same homogeneous era.

If you were to compare it to Earth, it would be similar to Queen Victoria's era, or maybe even the early 20th century in some respects. Though it's only similar in some ways, the combination of industrialization, science, and magical advancements created an incredibly unique narrative, one that the writers of Paradise Lost have taken full advantage of.

But this has also allowed the writers to manipulate the world to their liking, and in many aspects, their thinking is deranged. This will no doubt come back to haunt me in the future.

But that's the extent of my knowledge. Every time I remember something, I write it down in hopes of piecing together the narrative these deranged writers created. And the more I remember, the more terrified I become of what's to come.

Feeling a cold shiver, I shake off the feeling and focus on my objectives.

I know something will happen at this event - I just don't know exactly what.

"You seem deep in thought. Are you perhaps apprehensive?"

I tore my gaze away from the glistening streetlights and saw Arthur looking at me inquisitively, seemingly bored from whatever he was reading.

"They say that for a noble, this day is the most important of their life, so I wouldn't blame you if you were somewhat scared. The Emperor knows I was."

He offered me a calm smile, which contrasted with his handsome face.

"But you've already awakened by yourself, so all that's left is to connect with one of your ancestors, and voilà! You'll be one of us. Exciting, no?"

That sounds like the last thing from exciting. What ancestor could I possibly make a contract with? Would my ancestor be Otto Von Bismarck or Genghis Khan? I really don't know what to expect.

Just let me live in peace, you traditionalist bastards.

"Who knows. I'd assume it's quite annoying, actually. But I prefer that to execution."

Arthur seemed highly amused by my statement, despite its implications.

"Haha, you're not wrong. Those old men can be annoying, especially the ones versed in court politics. But you'll adapt, you'll have to."

Than, with a side eye, Arthur gave a small smart ass grin in my direction.

"And who knows? Maybe some noble daughters might fancy you. You're at a marriageable age, after all."

Shivering at the thought, I could only remember the few experiences I've had with noblewomen, and they were far from positive. Especially due to the influence of divinity on their mentality. They are much more intense than one would expect. But the men aren't too different either.

"I'll get married when I'm not busy. So at least not for another half-decade."

I say, ducking the question.

"I fear you may have no choice. You may not see it, but your charisma with women is quite impressive, even compared to someone like me."

Rolling my eyes, I gave him a skeptical look.

"Coming from you, it's hollow praise. You're already 26. If you've survived this long, I doubt I don't have the same capabilities."

Arthur narrowed his gaze, offering a rebuttal while staring out the window in contemplation.

"To woo a woman, you'll realize, is much more than looks, Damian. The book's cover may allure, but it's the contents that keep them reading. I merely show them nothing, so I bore them. But you? You're not capable of that, so I'm afraid you might not have a choice. Call it a premonition."

The rain tapping on the roof seemed to intensify.

"Anyway, we're here. Prepare yourself."

A medieval castle, adorned with bright lights, greeted my eyes gently. Hundreds of similar carriages were parked at the front.

It was a beautiful sight, to say the least, and a nice distraction.