Bridging Worlds: Book 1 Celestoria's Time

-Celestoria-

Moving to the grand hall throne room, King Terrence expressed gratitude to his subjects for their victory, giving special recognition to his loyal generals who had fought bravely for the kingdom. He also acknowledged Rosche and her friends, particularly addressing Rosche with appreciation. “I wish to thank you, Lady Rosche, for the wisdom and knowledge you’ve shared. I am committed to continuing my father’s legacy, and you have proven to be an exceptional advisor.”

Seizing the moment, Rosche brought up Hargan, testing whether her friends and the king remembered him. “But isn’t Hargan your advisor, your sire?” she inquired.

This prompted the king, Kiryo, and the others to focus on her.

Eowyn, however, was puzzled, asking, “What are you talking about, Rosche? Who is Hargan?” Despite Rosche’s attempt to jog their memories by mentioning their encounter with Hargan after the journey to the Eldertree Enclave, they only recalled meeting Prince Terrence instead.

Recognizing that Hargan’s existence had vanished due to her alterations to the timeline, Rosche felt the weight of the consequences of using the forbidden spell.

Sensing her distress, Geran stepped in, offering an explanation: “Forgive me, Your Majesty. My sister might have a lot on her mind.”

King Terrence reassured everyone, saying, “It’s alright, I understand.”

Lost in her contemplation, Rosche thought, “I suppose this is the consequence of using the forbidden spell; Hargan never existed for them, and I am the sole bearer of his memory.”

Returning to the present, she snapped back to attention when the queen appeared.

“As promised, I will bestow upon you the Searing Nova Flail,” declared the queen.

Rosche, caught off guard, was momentarily speechless, and her reactions were slow.

“Rosche,” Geran called out, snapping her back to attention.

“W-what?” she stammered.

“Accept the queen’s reward,” urged Geran.

Without further hesitation, Rosche automatically received the Searing Nova Flail.

“That artifact is a treasure of Celestoria, and I willingly bestow it upon you as a sign of our trust and gratitude for assisting us in rectifying the problems within our kingdom,” the queen explained.

In response, Rosche and her companions bowed in acknowledgment of the royal family’s presence. With a sense of peace and victory, they left the Kingdom of Celestoria behind.

The scene shifted as the group mounted their horses, embarking on their journey to their next destination. Along the way, Rosche endeavored to grasp the changes in this altered reality. Learning that she had assumed the role of temporary advisor to King Terrence shortly before the battle, she continued to inquire about other transformations.

Curiosity led her to question the status of the Darkbanes tribe, asking, “And what about the Darkbanes tribe?”

Geran explained, “They’re still around however, the king has decided to prioritize resolving internal conflicts before seeking vengeance for his uncle and he has made it clear that when the time comes, he intends to settle the score and avenge his uncle alone.”

Davhil added, “What’s irritating is that Vernit’s tribe is growing, and the Council of 12 hasn’t intervened.”

Taking note of these details, Rosche whispered to herself, “So, the Vernit we’ve known all along is actually Elysum, even in this timeline, and none of them are aware of it. Given this revelation, I believe we’ll cross paths with them eventually. When that day comes, I’ll clear the real Vernit’s name and avenge Rojan.”

Rosche’s curiosity continued to drive her inquiries. Seeking clarification on how she had acquired the Searing Nova Flail, she questioned, “By the way, how did I manage to convince the queen to give me this flail?”

Geran provided a reminder, stating, “You made a bet with the queen. If you could persuade the prince to accept the throne and become king, the queen promised you the flail.”

Still taken aback, Rosche questioned, “I did?”

Geran went on to explain, “Yes, despite the prince’s reservations due to his father’s fate, you guided him to embrace the path of kingship.”

Davhil, finding amusement in the situation, chimed in, “I’m quite impressed that you not only asked for such a reward but also managed to obtain a relic after besting Kiryo in combat.” He chuckled as he reminisced about the past events.

“What relic?” Rosche asked in confusion.

Kiryo responded, “It’s in your pocket. Well, it’s the reward you received during our fight.”

As Rosche reached into her pocket, she discovered that the “relic” was her pendant, recalling the moment when she had traded it with a vendor as payment for a stolen horse.

Holding the pendant, Rosche asserted, “This belongs to me.”

Davhil, perplexed, questioned, “W-what?”

“Geran, didn’t I tell you about this pendant and how our parents gave it to me?” Rosche questioned Geran.

Geran, still confused, responded, “What are you talking about, Rosche? Our parents couldn’t have kept something as important as that.”

Rosche ceased her inquiries, realizing that even the story behind the pendant had undergone a transformation.

Lost in her thoughts, a sound of approaching hooves interrupted the moment. Rosche and her friends turned towards the source of the sound, discovering that Eamon was approaching.

Rosche recalled that Eamon had left, foreseeing that something would still happen despite the changes she made.

Eamon greeted them, “Are you ready?” he added.

Confused, Rosche asked, “For what?”

Eowyn explained, “We’re going to Tempora, Rosche.”

Although still puzzled, Rosche attempted to comprehend the current situation, and they continued their journey to the Kingdom of Tempora.