Kingdom’s Bloodline

his brows.
”Remember, I was just drained, and in the battlefield, all you did was— ”

”We all know that ’s a lie! ” Ramon laughed in exasperation.
”I do not know what you did, but most of the organs in your body had already collapsed that day.
No matter how strong your body is, it would have been useless… Even the strongest steeds cannot pull carriages with no wheels.
I was the one who did everything I could to stimulate your life ’s potential… ”

*Snap!*

Thales broke the tree branch in his hand with force.

”Well, it is a good thing that my body is strong.
On the contrary, you better lower your voice, as you do not need to talk to check your patient ’s body, ” Thales said coldly, ”If you do not want your pathetic little secret to be found out by others… ’Doctor ’ Ramon. ”

He placed an emphasis on the word ”doctor ”.

Ramon looked around and said with an unsettled expression, ”Speaking of… Fine, at least find me a messenger raven… ”

Thales snorted through his nose.

”No worries, doctor. ” Thales drew upon the memories that appeared in his mind during the past few days, such as those block-shaped words, which looked like pictures.
”The people from the gangs will not dare to provoke well-trained troops.
You do not have to worry about Blood Bottle Gang.

”In the end, gangs are just gangs. ”

”Ha! Your Highness, do you really think so? ” Ramon turned his head and flashed a taunting smile.

Although Thales was expressionless, his heart sank.

’Actually, Ramon ’s words are not without reason.

’Those two gangs are perhaps not so simple.

’Especially Blood Bottle Gang, which is supported by Asda and Giza—those two lunatics… The gang is supported by the calamities.

’It ’s so strange.

’Even though Blood Bottle Gang often does dirty jobs on behalf of nobles who are in a position of power, the threat of Mystics cannot be ignored, can it?

’Why would Constellation allow such a gang to entrench Eternal Star City? Are they confident enough in the legendary anti-mystic equipment in their hands, and think that they can control the Mystics?

’How is that possible…? ’ Thales remembered Giza and chuckled to himself in self-deprecation.

’Although Asda behaved like he did not care about Blood Bottle Gang ’s fate at all, why would someone as powerful as him meddle in the territorial scrabble between gangs, which does not concern him? Isn ’t Red Street Market only a Red Light District?

’And Black Street Brotherhood… They actually dared to shelter people from the Charleton Family, the ”regicide family ”, in the capital city.
They can even firmly control Blood Bottle Gang, and the latter is even backed by both the Mystics as well as powerful nobles.

Thales could not help but recall his five years in the Brotherhood.
’Those two gangs have too many questionable points regarding them.

’And one of them is in front of me. ’

Thales looked at the strange doctor with his big nose.
The latter was staring at him amid the light of the fire.

’Ramon himself is a doctor who harbors secrets.
He goes back and forth between the two kingdoms, and is at the center of the conflict between Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood… ’

Thales flashed a smile.

”A prince is not someone who can simply agree to other people ’s request. ” The second prince of Constellation looked at Ramon with interest.
”Since you have a request, let us make a deal.
You can give me something valuable as an exchange. ”

Ramon was stunned.

”For instance, the origins of those powers of yours.
I think that it is very interesting. ” Thales pretended that he did not care and stretched his body.
”As an exchange, I will do my best to negotiate with them… At least, you will be able to use a messenger crow to contact your friends in the Brotherhood.
There may be other benefits too… ”

Ramon looked at Thales in a daze.

’He still cares about that?

’A prince?

’Wait, if… ’

After quite a while, Ramon spoke with much difficulty.

”You are Constellation ’s Prince and you have shady relations with Morat Hansen. ” Ramon gritted his teeth, deliberating his words and the tone of his voice.
”I am not as stupid as to tell you my secret.

”Besides… have you not learnt the ability to read minds from the Black Prophet? ” Ramon snorted coldly.

”Oh, enough of that.
I do not feel like digging through your brain for secrets anymore. ” Thales shook his head.
”That ability hurts the head a lot… your head, that is. ”

Ramon stared at Thales.
There was a strange look in his eyes.
”Although you are only a child, you do not look like you care very much about my health. ”

Thales did not say anything.
He only stared back at Ramon quietly.

Thales said, enunciating each word, ”I do have some guesses.
I have seen the divine Arts, and I know how the process is like.
However, you do not seem like you have communicated with the gods…

”That power that you use to cure diseases and save people…

”It is magic, am I right? ”

Ramon was expressionless.
He did not admit or deny it.

Thales knew the answer.

’Magic. ’

Thales exhaled softly.

This was a term he had never heard since he came into this world until that night at Red Street Market, which changed his destiny.

”A long time ago, there was only magic and no mystic energy. ”

This was Asda ’s words.

”So, you do not even know the connection between mystic energy and magic. ”

This was Giza ’s words.

It was true that Eckstedtians did not allow anyone in the diplomat group to leave.
However, Thales was no matter what, the Prince of Constellation.
If he insisted, it would not be impossible to make Lampard relent and allow the irrelevant Ramon to leave.

However, Thales did not do that.

Because Ramon could possibly have something that he wanted.

Thales needed to exhaust all means to figure out everything related to himself.

Such as his mystic abilities… and magic, which was closely related to it.

Ramon giggled until Thales began to furrow his eyebrows impatiently.

The strange doctor stopped laughing and asked slowly, ”You are not that close to the Black Prophet, and you are not his student, are you? Or else it would be impossible for you not to know all of this. ”

An idea appeared in Thales ’ head.

He figured out the crux of the problem.

Thales looked at the soldiers of Eckstedt around him.
He then glanced at the bored Aida sitting at the entrance of the tent, before shifting his gaze to Putray as well as Wya, who were a distance away.
He asked faintly, ”So, is magic a secret that unsettles even the Black Prophet? ”

Ramon did not say anything.
He only fixed his eyes on Thales.

Thales suddenly laughed.

The second prince said, ”I am a prince, and he is my father ’s vassal.
He sometimes agrees to my requests.
That is all… he does not tell me too many things. ”

”This is truly very interesting. ” Ramon widened his eyes.
His expression was strange and passionate, as though he had just met Thales for the first time.
”The new Prince of Constellation is actually interested in such things… This is truly very fascinating. ”

Thales furrowed his brows.

’What does he mean?

’Is this something I shouldn ’t know? ’

”In return, I will need to use your messenger crow to send a message to a secret location… But let me ask you one more time, do you really want to know? ”

Ramon widened his eyes and clicked his tongue.
”Morat will not be happy. ”

Thales clenched his fist softly.

”I am Constellation ’s future supreme king. ” When he said the word ”king ”, Thales felt his own voice trembling slightly.

”Do you think that I care if he is happy? ”

”Very good, very good.
To explain magic to the Prince of Constellation, a descendant of the Empire… ” Ramon flashed a strange smile.
He shook his head, shut his eyes and said, ”This is not a bad deal, and I can have plenty of enjoyment from it. ”

Thales narrowed his eyes.

The prince asked slowly, ”Then, shall we begin? ”

Ramon opened his eyes swiftly.

”How are your history lessons, Your Highness? ” Ramon asked slowly.

”I am talking about how humans fought against the ancient orcs and utterly defeated them in the Holiness Exorcism Campaign, along with how they made peace with the ancient elves as well as the ancient dwarves in the Battle of Survival, then eventually making a name for themselves in the world ’s history. ”

Thales ’ face turned red.

From the time he was brought to Mindis Hall, he actually did not have much time to read up on history.

Thales said slowly, ”Not very well, but I know that in the process of fighting against the orcs, humans awakened their superpowers, which is known today as the Power of Eradication.
The first batch of knights— ”

However, Ramon cut him off.

”So your lack of knowledge is not just limited to magic. ” Brimming with energy and vitality, the strange doctor looked at Thales.
”You do not even know about the history of wizards and the magic towers, do you? ”

Thales furrowed his brow.

Ramon laughed mischievously.
”So just like most people in the world, you live in this big web of confusing and unsettling fears that is also made of self-deceiving lies? Take the Kingdom of Gods and the Seven Layers of Hell for instance. ”

’Lies? Fear? ’

”Those history books all mention these things, right? That the knights and the Powers of Eradication brought about the rise of humankind, and that the longswords of warriors and the neighs of battle steeds freed us from the oppression as well as the threat of the ancient orcs? ” Ramon asked meaningfully.

Thales recalled the knowledge he learned from Gilbert in Mindis Hall.

However, before Thales could reply, Ramon firmly uttered a word with a hateful expression.

”Lies! Disgraceful lies.
Downright lies. ”

Thales was stunned.

’Lies? ’

Ramon spoke with an excited expression, ”Knights, superpowers or Powers of Eradication did not allow humans to defeat the orcs, wizards did. ”

With a passionate expression, Ramon extended his hands and clenched his fists softly in the air.

”It was magic. ”

Thales furrowed his brows a little.

The second prince asked in great doubt, ”Do you mean to say that the superpowers, the Northland Military Sword Style, the knights—all of them are fake? That they actually did not stand a chance against the orcs? And that the only things that brought about victory in the frontlines of battlefields are wizards and the magic they use?

”Their magic… is an even stronger power than the Power of Eradication? ” While pondering over this, Thales asked the second part of his question slowly.

”Ha, comparing magic with the Power of Eradication.
You are just like those ignorant people one thousand years ago. ” It appeared that Ramon was not really used to being cut off.
He snorted in disdain.
”Open that narrow mind of yours, Your Highness!

”Magic is not a power.
It is not on the same level as the Power of Eradication. ” Ramon shook his head.
His eyes were filled with longing and respect.

”It is something higher, deeper and mightier. ”

”Not a power? ” Thales put on a puzzled expression.
”Then what on earth is magic? A curse? An energy? Knowledge? A factor? An element? A mentality? An extraordinary psionic ability? A destructive force? ”

Ramon looked at Thales in silence.
His gaze was filled with a combination of contradicting and strange emotions such as respect, idolization, arrogance, modesty, and enchantment.

Thales had never seen such a gaze from anyone in this world before.

’No… ’ Thales suddenly came to a realization.
Perhaps, he had seen it before.

In that dim chess room.

That figure in a blue shirt.

”Magic… ” Ramon raised his hands and slowly extended them, like a devotee who was praying to the gods.
He was so excited that he was shivering.

”Magic is a meaning, an attitude, a belief, and a principle of life. ” The strange doctor gazed at the sky, as though it held the place that he belonged to, along with his dreams.

”Wizards are the practitioners of this principle.

”They believe that everything in this world is meaningful.
Everything can be analyzed and should be recognized.
In the process of this perception, humans can become more perfect, mightier, improve themselves and become closer to the truth.

”From the regular patterns of the sun ’s movements and the mystery of the origins of life; to human attitudes and principles, and the progress as well as development of history, everything is in the domain of magic… Magic is the sum of all acquisition of knowledge, discoveries and truths.
The advancement of magic will bring us a more glorious future. ”

Thales furrowed his brows deeply, trying his best to understand Ramon ’s words, which sounded rather insane.

”For this, they once entered the tent of the Ancient Chauvinistic Tribe and designed the first political system in history—the Ancient Chauvinistic Country.

”They once stood beside Takmukh, the deceased King of the North and warned him about our relationship with the orcs.

”They once stood behind the Iron Blood King, and with their knowledge as well as experience, they designed and supervised the completion of ’Mankind ’s Final Defensive Line ’.

”They once relentlessly improvised their weapons and skills amid sacrifices and defeat.
They summed up the experiences and skills of every knight by themselves, perfecting the first set of standardized ’Northland Military Sword Style ’ in history.

”They once noticed the potential within the human body too.
They researched day and night for those powers to be born and developed, naming them ’superpowers ’.

”They once spared no effort to charge forward in battlefields filled with blood and fire.
They tried their best to develop lethal skills while they improved their healing techniques as well.

”They once studied iron and steel intensively; forging stirrups and saddles, as well as establishing the first cavalier unit.
This allowed the knights to possess speed and an offensive force comparable to the orcs ’ for the first time in history.

”Of course, they also developed their own powers.
They unearthed the truth behind materials, interrogated the truth behind consciousness, stirred up natural energy for their own usage and converted the world ’s resources so that they could be of service to humans.
The power in my hands is only a small and insignificant part of it.

”They once launched an attack together with the knights on the layers of ice in Glacier Quiquer.
After countless assaults, with no regard for the sacrifices made, they utterly eradicated the myth that it was impossible to defeat the orc ’s large heavy infantry formation.
It made the Holiness Exorcism Campaign the most magnificent and glorious scene in human history.

”They once even questioned the existence of the gods and challenged the emperor ’s authority.

”At one time, the Three Great Magic Towers were the wisest and most advanced existence in the world.
They were detached and independent from the world.
Even the supreme emperor and the head priest of Bright God Church, who were extremely influential, had to show their respect to the three towers.

”There was a time where the existence of wizards made many people believe that in this world, power and status were not the only things worth chasing after.
There was also truth. ”

Ramon inhaled deeply and slowly put down his hands.
The corners of his eyes were already glistening with tears at this point.

He clenched his fists, trembling as he said in a choked voice, ”These are wizards.
This is magic.
The most important, magnificent and precious chapter in the rise of human history.
Yet, they have been forgotten by everyone. ”

Ramon lowered his head and said desolately, ”And now, no one remembers magic and knows about wizards anymore.

”There are only people like me, who are unfortunate and fortunate at the same time.
While struggling with our feeble existences… we burn the embers of what remains of magic through books and scrolls written about them. ”

Thales stared absentmindedly at Ramon.

He did not even realize that the tree branch in his hand was burning.

He could not believe everything that he just heard.

He could only widen his eyes and drop his jaw.

’Magic? Wizards? ’

This was different from any version of magic he had heard of in his past life.
It did not consist of sizzling fireballs, muttering curses to control elements, using one ’s self as a trove of unlimited mental power, conducting ceremonies to communicate with another existence, and the learning of psionic abilities or powers that were formidable for the sake of being formidable.

Magic was a meaning.

A belief.

A principle.

Thales was completely taken aback.
At this moment, Asda ’s words kept playing in his mind.

”Wizards pursued the truths of the world.
They used all kinds of ingenious methods and wisdom to take advantage of the natural resources and energies in the world, to create an even more beautiful world. ”

’Is that so? ’