Chapter 193: Timelines

Ishiki spent the next two days in continuous studies. Getting the documents translated… cross-referencing information against what he’d learned from the Secondary Ring High Priest’s diary.

Contradictions revealed themselves and slowly the shape of Aethelburg’s true history began resolving like an image coming into focus.

But Ishiki felt that this was still not the truth. Because the more he learned, the less sense any of it made.

He sat at his table now, surrounded by papers covered in his own handwriting—notes, theories and timelines that refused to align properly. The Crimson Moon hung visible through his window, sinister and indifferent to human confusion.

Ishiki had been reading a new document, one they’d found tucked inside a journal at the very bottom of the pile that looked like a newspaper or something similar.

Year 517 of Divine Protection

’—GLORIOUS VICTORY IN THE SOUTHERN CAMPAIGNS—’

The Empire celebrates yet another triumph as our forces, led by the Demigod of Charity, secure decisive victory against the Southern Kingdom. Lord Mandecium himself blessed the campaign, His divine wisdom guiding strategy that proved insurmountable to mortal resistance.

The Demigod of Charity has now claimed victory in Seven separate wars without a single defeat. Military scholars suggest his tactical genius are unrivaled and have named him the Hero of Ages, while theologians debate whether such perfection in warfare stems from divine heritage or personal merit.

Regardless of source, the result remains clear: under the guidance of Mandecium and His second son, the Empire expands. Now We have all the five Kingdoms bow to us!’

Ishiki read it and frowned. He did understand a few things… the first was that the Southern Kingdom they were talking about was the Crimson Canopy.

But there was one thing he couldn’t understand. If the Demigod of Charity was such a big figure than why was he hated and forgotten latter, without leaving behind anything at that.

He read another article and then noted down something.

After reading the translation of the blood soaked book again and noting down things again he studied what he had found and frowned.

’The book is from the year 348, and is clearly written before the original Emperor was killed by his adopted son. And Mandecium had not yet become a god.’

’Then this article is from Year 517 and in this Mandecium is clearly mentioned as the God. So, it was between the year 348 and 517 when those things happened.’

Then he remembered the diary he had read in the cathedral of the Secondary ring and he found a major flaw in his thinking. He has been thinking in a completely different timeline.

But his assumptions were wrong… completely, utterly wrong.

His mind raced… but he didn’t let that show on his face. ’The high priest said that he didn’t remember the exact year so he started from the year 1126. Which was the last year he remembered and not the current year. So, the diary was not 600 year old… but more than 3000 year old!! ’

The dragon said that it was imprisoned 3000 years ago. And according to these information’s… Ishiki could conjure that he was sealed in the years between 348 and 517.

’So according to this… the year 1126 was almost 2400 years ago. ’ Ishiki concluded. ’And the Angel had not yet killed the Fake Emperor and Mandecium. That even occurred between the years 1126 and the current date.’

He paced now, unable to sit still as implications multiplied.

After thinking this for a long time… Ishiki finally sat down and wrote all of his question on a piece of paper.

1st – Initially I thought that the Year of Divine protection meant the years after Mandecium became a god. But that is not correct… the people used that to denote years long before ’He’ even existed.

2nd – What happened to the second son of Mandecium, who was the Demigod of Charity and the Hero of Aethelburg.

3rd – Why is not the Angel mentioned even a single time in the older times and why did it suddenly killed the God, the Emperor and became a subject of worship.

After writing these down Ishiki summoned [Eternal Longing] and captured an image of the paper before burning it with his Jian. Leaving no trace behind.

’So we are not 600 years after everything happened…’ Ishiki thought. ’But 1800 years later.’

’Did Kenji lie to me? There exists nothing like the magical journal he was referring to? Actually where even is he at this time? ’

He didn’t know about him anymore. But he knew about his questions and he needed more information to answer them.

And he knew where to look.

“The Cathedral,” he said to the empty room. “There has to be more there. Documents we didn’t find and there is still a chambers I didn’t explore.”

But there was evident danger in that place he was sure of it. After sitting idly for some time Ishiki sighed and decided that he was not going to take Nina and would go explore it alone.

He extinguished the candles and left his house under the Crimson Moon’s, bloody illumination.

The Cathedral ruins waited where they had always been, opposite the Castle like monuments to divine failure. The Angel statue still stood and pointed to the heavens.

Ishiki approached cautiously, Ghost Blade expanded to maximum range. The ruins gave no indication of habitation or threat, but he’d learned not to trust appearances.

He quickly made his way to the Chamber of the High Priest and started finding more documents and maybe some hidden diary.

After he had spent some time there he sat on the floor with frustration etched on his face. It was then that suddenly a voice called from behind him.

“Can you read these?”

Ishiki’s whole body shuddered as he jumped to his legs and raised the Jian, as he turned around.

A figure emerged out of thin air… tall, long pink hair adorning a charming and emotionless face. The figure moved slowly and then sat on one of the luxurious chairs behind the large table.

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