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5. The Beginning of the Empire

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“Well then, shall we take attendance?”

The Founding Day of the Basium Empire was the most important day among annual events. Even more than Thanksgiving.

The reason was due to the legend about the first Emperor.

In an era when there were more monsters than humans.

One day, the first Emperor received a divine revelation. The deity gave the first Emperor the power to protect his family and loved ones, saying:

[Establish a nation, protect this land.]

Following the divine will, the first Emperor drove the monsters far away and founded the Basium Empire. And to nurture talent, the first Emperor built the Academy even before the Imperial Palace.

‘Truly a wise person.’

While heroic strength could lead to public sentiment in the early days, the qualities of a ruler became more important afterward.

“That’s why our great first Emperor paid much attention to the establishment of our Academy. And as everyone knows, the first Emperor was a transcendent being mentioned in legends.”

Transcendent.

A being far superior to the awakened, is often only produced within the imperial family. It was the imperial law that when a transcendent was born, they would become the next Emperor.

That’s how powerful a transcendent was, but…

“However, the abilities of transcendents were kept secret. But there was one common trait among the emperors who were transcendents, including the first Emperor. Does anyone know?”

One of the students listening to the dean’s smooth lecture raised their hand and said,

“I heard they loved animals.”

“Ho ho, that’s close, but I’d like to offer a slightly different opinion.”

The dean moved the magic tool he was holding to his other hand and cleared his throat softly.

“Ahem, this is a historical fact that I discovered, which hasn’t been known for long.”

After subtly boasting, the dean continued.

“All emperors known as transcendents communicated with animals. It’s a bit different from saying they loved them, right?”

This was an unknown fact. It wasn’t even included in “The Origins of the Basium Empire,” a history book exclusive to nobles.

The book only stated, ‘A transcendent covers the sky and splits the earth.’

They had only known that it was an ability incomparable to awakened ones, like an omnipotent god, but Aer became increasingly curious as she learned new information from the dean’s lecture.

“And do you know that even transcendents have a counterpart?”

At the dean’s following words, the students let out small exclamations and focused on the story.

“Like healers are counterparts to awakened ones, purifiers exist for transcendents. It’s a completely different concept from healers. Healers heal, but purifiers purify. Haha. You should have laughed at this point…”

The students belatedly burst into laughter at the dean’s joke. Satisfied with this, the dean nodded and continued.

“They treat from the root. You can think of it as purifying the inner self that can’t be distinguished by the n*ked eye, not just visible wounds.”

Aer couldn’t exactly understand the difference between purification and healing. What was different that made them the counterpart of transcendents?

Also, what were the abilities of transcendents? Communicating with animals?

Aer concentrated on the dean’s words while taking notes diligently. She was curious since awakened ones and healers had also appeared since the time of the first Emperor.

“However, among all the transcendents in history, only one emperor met a purifier. It was the first Emperor, whom you all know well.”

The dean explained in detail about the founding of the empire. Watching his skill inappropriately mixing in his own thesis, one could understand why he became the dean.

“From today until tomorrow, I’m specially allowing you to go out. I hope you enjoy the festival and night market in Latina and strengthen friendships with your fellow students. Well then, let’s meet at next year’s Founding Day, shall we?”

The dean who finished speaking neatly concluded with a greeting only given on Founding Day.

“Even if we met in winter, as if we met in summer! Hot and blue!”

“Even if we met in winter, as if we met in summer! Hot and blue! Please lecture for us next year too, Dean!”

At the resounding shouts, the dean smiled, his wrinkled face brightening. This greeting, only shouted on Founding Day, was what the first Emperor said to his comrades when in crisis.

It meant to overcome hardships passionately as if it were summer in our hearts, even if it’s cold like winter now.

After class ended, Aer stood up abruptly. She was thinking of asking Louis to go out together.

The eve of Founding Day had many things worth seeing. Although she had never been there herself, she knew from hearing the chatter of the mansion employees after they returned.

“Um, Louis…”

However, no sooner had she opened her mouth than Kai interrupted.

“Aer! Want to go see the festival together?”

“….”

“As you know, I’ve been staying in the Floss Kingdom all this time. So I don’t know much about the empire’s festivals. Hm? Let’s go together, Aer.”

She couldn’t understand Kai’s behavior. As she thought before, she had no particular connection with him.

So why is he acting so friendly?

“I already have plans with Louis. I’m sorry, but…”

Aer was trying to reject Kai’s invitation while subtly requesting an appointment with Louis, but her mouth closed again at Kai’s interrupting words.

“Really? Then the three of us can go together. Oh, are you Louis?”

Louis, who had been watching with sunken eyes from the side, said to Kai.

Louis, who had been watching with downcast eyes, spoke to Kai.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m Kai. Nice to meet you.”

Louis stared at Kai’s suddenly outstretched hand for a moment before shaking it.

He found Kai unpleasant, but the reason he didn’t push him away was that unlike the people he had seen so far, there wasn’t much difference between Kai’s inner thoughts and outward appearance.

Louis quietly observed Kai, who kept inwardly exclaiming how nice it would be to go to the festival with Aer.

Aer bit her lip tightly with a frustrated expression. It was her habit when something displeased her.

“But Louis, your hands are small. I’ve been quite big since childhood, so it’s interesting.”

Kai openly fiddled with Louis’s hand. Louis pulled his hand away abruptly, not hiding his displeasure. His overall slow growth was his complex.

Kai looked at Louis, who had quickly withdrawn his hand, for a moment and then let out an exclamation.

“You’ve got quite a grip, huh? It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone slip out of my hand so easily.”

“……”

“……”

Even though both Aer and Louis didn’t respond, Kai kept talking by himself.

“I think you’re the first besides my brother. Amazing. Oh, right. Aer, how’s Diego doing?”

Aer was momentarily flustered at hearing her older brother’s name after so long. Because no one ever asked her about him.

“…Well. I suppose he’s doing fine?”

Her brother had left the family early on. Rather than saying he left completely, it would be more accurate to say he didn’t stay at the mansion.

She only knew that after graduating from the academy, he had set out to hunt monsters.

She only knew that he was an outstanding awakened one, having inherited their father’s water ability entirely.

When she had encountered him a few times at the mansion as a child, she had tried to approach him, but Diego rejected her like her mother and father.

After hearing Diego say ‘You don’t need to come out to greet me every time’ with an annoyed look, Aer stopped going out to greet her brother.

Since they hadn’t had any sibling-like conversations since then, how would she know how he was doing?

“…Oh, I see?”

Kai, who had been as tactless as if he’d eaten tact for breakfast, responded cautiously.

Aer’s good mood had sunk. Looking at Kai, the troublemaker, with furrowed brows, she asked.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t because I have prior plans. Why don’t you go with the classmates waiting behind you?”

“…Huh?”

At Aer’s words, Kai turned around. Then, a female student who had been waiting spoke up as if she’d been waiting for this moment.

“Kai! Come to the festival with me!”

“No! Come with me, Kai!”

Amidst the commotion, Aer tried to leave the lecture hall holding Louis’s hand.

As they were trying to pass through the crowded place where all the students had gathered, she bumped into someone.

“Ugh.”

“Aer.”

Louis belatedly tried to move in front of her, but the person she had bumped into reacted first.

“Are you alright?”

Aer raised her head, which had been lowered while holding her nose, at the familiar voice.

‘Why are they all so tall that they keep smashing my nose?’

Ian, who was politely asking as if concerned because there were many people around, felt detestable to her. Aer answered roughly while covering her nose and mouth.

“I’m fine.”

At that moment, Louis came from behind and blocked in front of Aer. Louis glanced up at Ian right in front of him.

He disliked both Kai from earlier and Ian. The height that he had to look up to, the large hands that completely covered his…

“Aer, let’s go.”

It was an action he wouldn’t normally take, but this time he couldn’t bear it. Louis held Aer’s hand tightly and headed out of the lecture hall.

The two walked out of the crowded space and sought a less busy area. Aer felt unnecessarily embarrassed as they were still holding hands.

She felt good that Louis seemed to have opened his heart, but strangely, a part of her chest felt ticklish.

Unlike her feelings, Louis was a bit gloomy. Although holding her hand felt warm and nice, it wasn’t much different from his own hand.

Stopping his steps, Louis gazed at Aer and, confirming that she was about the same height as him, started walking again.

Louis, who had never cared about appearances before, felt a subtle sense of inferiority.

He thought about how he wanted to grow much taller than them soon, so he could tuck Aer into his arms.