Chapter 87: marguel
Upon the death of her husband, Zeri amassed a force known as the Shadows of the Crux. This group, living as a literal shadow of the sacred Crux, stands in opposition to its Teachings and beliefs. Though clandestine, they have spread like scurrying rats to other nations, a secret that has become their strength.
Marguel, the son of a former priest believed to have betrayed Cypriox, is the successor to this cursed organization. The Shadows live by the envoy and laws of their order. From a young age, Marguel was brought into their rituals and gatherings. His unique way of thinking set him apart, and his potential was quickly recognized. He gets what he wants, but he shows no emotion and gives no mercy to those who betray the Shadow of Crux. When he began to lead the organization, he showed no compassion for those who planned to leave or betray the group.
Marguel’s father, Covinnther, a priest of great intellect, created a formula that the sacred leaders of Cypriox and its people believed to be a destructive device. The priest’s betrayal of his duties and the birth of Marguel marked a turning point. Covinnther’s ideas and inventions were not welcomed by the government and leaders of Cypriox, as they were seen as a corruption of the sacred religious system of the Crux. But in the face of criticism and opposition, Marguel’s father stood by his ideology of science for the advancement of humanity, even though they claimed his ideas were destructive to their religion.
The death of the priest marked the beginning of the Shadow of Crux. To strengthen the organization, Marguel’s mother, Zeri, secretly took command. She was later called the queen of the Shadow of Crux. In their way of life, they were strict and meticulous in how they shared their teachings, revealing them to only a select few to avoid suspicion from the leaders of the sacrament. Marguel inherited his father’s wisdom. He created a ritual that would grant anyone who underwent it the understanding to see the ugly face of the Cypriox religion. But because his mother, Zeri, instilled in him the unfortunate fate of his father, Covinnther, Marguel grew up filled with anger and vengeance, and the organization’s methods became violent. Only Marguel has the ability to master this ritual and understand his father’s formulas and scientific research on nature.
They also incite people not to follow the Teachings of Cypriox and even use priests for their goals. But because caught priests are accused of being spies, the organization finds it hard to carry out their plans. With the new system of the Cypriox religion spreading, their ambition to disrupt and destroy its supporting pillars became more intense, aiming to ultimately weaken and defeat it. Yet, they can easily infiltrate in secret because they are connected to three churches, making it easy for them to manipulate the people within the churches and even change the beliefs of the priests by whispering knowledge of the face hidden behind the mask of Cypriox. Many were convinced and followed, a sign of success for the Sect of the Shadow of Crux.
"You’ve grown careless! That’s why a spy managed to infiltrate us! You lack vigilance!!" Marguel roared at his companions during the ritual.
"The witness is here, leader."
"Tell me why a spy was able to get inside?"
"Leader, forgive me, but before I could even fight back, he used an unusual move on me."
"The witness couldn’t determine which country or place the spy came from, but because the man he described is skilled in attacking, we cannot say he is from Cypriox," said the man who brought the witness.
"Could he be from Elanthro or Dreamithrio?" Marguel pondered aloud.
"If he is indeed from Elanthro, it will be difficult for us to find him. However, we have already informed our brethren residing in the country of Elanthro."
"Find that man! I sense that he is the one from the prophecy of Dreamithrio," Marguel commanded. "He might be the one who will destroy our forces and power."
"Are you saying the prophecy of the old man from Dreamithrio is coming true?"
"That’s my assumption," Marguel said. "For the spirit of the ritual spoke of the chosen King of the Crux."
"The King of the Crux!?" exclaimed Wodren, another leader of the rituals.
"If the spirit spoke of the Crux, then he is surely the person mentioned in the prophecy," Wodren continued.
"I fear that the time has come for the power of the Triangulum to be shattered." This was the first time Marguel felt fear, for he could distinctly feel what the spirit had said about the man who desecrated their ritual.
"If that is to happen, we should rejoice," Wodren said.
"Rejoice!!?" Marguel scoffed. "Are you out of your mind?"
"Marguel, calm down!" a woman’s voice interjected.
"My Queen," Wodren greeted her.
"Wodren is right, my son."
"Only the Triangle should prevail over all," Marguel retorted.
"Yes, I understand, but we cannot assume we will triumph without the help of the most powerful of all the constellars—the Draco." Marguel’s mother, Queen Zeri, was the one who spoke. After her husband’s death, she led the brotherhood and the Triangle Sect.
"Listen, Marguel... If the chosen one of the Crux has arrived... then the chosen one of the Draco will also come," Wodren explained.
"According to the prophecy, the Draco will become the king of the entire world, and he will rule over all people. The Triangle will be his servant for his reign and his worship. You must understand that the Triangle was created to serve and worship the Draco."
"Why should the Triangle rely on the Draco... when throughout history, he has never appeared to lead the Triangle?"
"Because the time has not yet been appointed," Zeri answered.
"Believe in the Draco, Marguel, for he is the one who will give you victory against Cypriox," Wodren said.
Marguel remained silent, but his fury toward the Crux was immense. He could not comprehend how a spy could have entered. He pictured him with a broad chest, tall, with a moderate build and smooth skin. He sensed that this was no ordinary person, but a man of great wealth.
Marguel ordered his men to scatter throughout Barbarian City to search for the man. They were to ask if any foreigner had recently arrived or was currently residing there. He told them to bring any man who fit the description to him so he could identify him. His men did as they were told, bringing many people to him, but none of them matched the man he had seen.
Marguel decided to visit Dreamithrio to seek help from the old soothsayer, a renowned expert. However, the soothsayer chose to live in a quiet place, unknown to most. Because of this, the people of Dreamithrio had no news or sightings of her, even though she was in her own country. But due to Marguel’s extensive connections, even people who were thought to be dead could be found in their secret locations.
"Tomorrow, I will journey to Dreamithrio," he told his mother.
"The talk of the Shadow is getting heated in that place. Aren’t you afraid the man you saw might be there?" Zeri asked.
"He is not who I will be looking for there, but he is the reason I must go to that place."
"Why are you so obsessed with this person? Maybe he’s just someone who had second thoughts about joining our organization and, out of fear, fought back against the spirit of the ritual."
"I will find out when I get to Dreamithrio, Mother," he replied. "Now, I must go."
The Nation of Dreamithrio
The nation of Dreamithrio is a prosperous country with many soldiers and a wealth of equipment. Being a center of commerce, they have established product exchanges with places like Elanthro, as well as the northern lands of Englondrax, Durasca, and even Moonatoria. However, their focus remains on the country of Elanthro, as its skill in creating much-desired equipment is unmatched by other nations. Although this country is now taking on a new face due to continuous progress, the new generation has forgotten about the rituals, traditions, and magic of prophecy. Nevertheless, valor and bravery remain the country’s trademark, thanks to the unique legend of the Pegasus. Many profound beliefs have served as a bridge to the recognition of their nation.
They say that the Pegasus descended from the heavens to save humanity during a great flood caused by the invasion of the Hydra, which nearly submerged the entire land of Dreamithrio. Because the people of that time were so steeped in the ways of magic, many monsters such as the centaur appeared. These detested creatures brought terror to all, and even neighboring countries feared them as they brought about their own miracles. But the help of the Pegasus was unwavering; they served as mounts for the warriors in the air and on the sea. The twelve warriors said to belong to the 12 Chosen Zodiacs suppressed the savagery of the Centaurs.
One master of that era created a device that could summon the Pegasus at any time. It was made of pure energy and magic, and thus could not be easily replicated. Today, only one family holds the summoner, but it is kept secret and buried in oblivion for the greater good. They still possess a map for a quest that is no ordinary journey, leading to where the last guardian hid it. This map is the sole remaining treasure of a family kept in strict secrecy.
Many have tried to acquire the map, but the guardian family has performed their duty well. A Martial Arts group has also sought to obtain the map for additional power and strength. According to the legend, whoever can summon the Pegasus can also summon the twelve Zodiacs, who will grant a person extraordinary power.
The group searching for the map has approached the old soothsayer, but they have had a hard time finding her. On that same day, Marguel arrived with his followers