330 - The Name of the Gods
Nathan Evenhart:
"The higher being identified himself as Siegfried Hraesvelgr VII," said King Charles. "Nathan Evenhart. Tell me exactly how you knew the name Siegfried. This is a secret held only by my family. My son is a witness—you spoke that name to the strange man who came to see you in the tower. Answer me, Nathan Evenhart. Under the penalty of treason against the three kingdoms, tell me how you knew the name Siegfried Hraesvelgr!"
I was completely caught off guard. All the monarchs were staring at me, and judging by the looks on their faces, they didn't need Queen Garnora to tell them my heart had skipped a beat when I heard that name. How was I supposed to explain how I knew that man? I didn't even know what he truly was.
"You don't have to ask the question like that," said King Haiten, turning to King Charles. "We're all equally curious."
"That sounded a bit accusatory toward my nephew," came a voice, and I turned to see my aunt stepping away from her section. "I thought the interrogation was over."
"It might've come off a bit harsh," admitted King Charles. "But I couldn't ask that question earlier, not before everyone knew the full story."
At that moment, every single person in the room had their eyes fixed on me—nobles, military officers, elves, demi-humans, even the guards posted at the edges of the hall. I could feel all those gazes pressing down on me like a weight.
"I understand, Your Majesty," said my aunt calmly. "I just want to point out that aggressive questioning should not be directed at a victim. And if we're going to talk about someone under suspicion of treason, then why not consider Sebastian Blake or Elara Asalon? They were both very close to William Halldam."
"I-I-I'm not sure why you brought me up," said Sebastian Blake quickly, visibly nervous. "But for the record, I've done everything I can to cooperate. I gave up all my honors, surrendered my Asalon horse, and I've been temporarily removed from everything involving the royal family. This is the first time I've seen them in days."
"While we stand here talking, there are still people out there who were planning to kill our children," said King Bartholomew bluntly. "I don't care about these old legends. Nathan Evenhart, did you know this man called Siegfried? The only reason I even care about that question is because, somehow, that man made the demons stop their attack... and leave."
Agnes Asalon:
I had been restless these past few days. Too much was happening, and I could feel everything slowly unraveling. But what had shaken me the most, what had stolen my sleep, wasn't the academy attack or the troubling news from the border.
It was a simple conversation with Duncan.
When he mentioned the name Siegfried, I froze. That was the moment my world began to collapse.
That name dragged back a memory I could never forget. My family—the Asalon bloodline—was chosen by the divine to rule. Among everyone on this continent, we were selected. It's in our veins. We are the Emperors. The legacy of the Founding Emperor runs through us, and I am one of the chosen to lead.
That's why I always dreamed of reuniting the three kingdoms, to restore what rightfully belongs to the Asalon line. Perhaps these recent incidents were a punishment—a sign that we've failed to reclaim our rightful place at the top. This continent needs a leader. It needs an Emperor.
And we are the only ones capable of fulfilling that role.
But when I learned that Nathan Evenhart knew the name Siegfried, it shook me to my core. That name, known only to us monarchs, a name tied to a being we'd tried countless times to reach—he knew it. And worse, Nathan didn't just know the name.
He had seen him. Spoken with him.
The boy from the noble house, with a familiar destined to become a beast of immense power, and now this... he had made contact with a divine being. It all felt like a cruel repetition of the Founding Emperor's tale.
I had to act. The idea of being replaced gnawed at me.
For generations, contact with the divine had been rare and always indirect—channeled through a sacred relic passed down to the Founding Emperor and his daughters, who divided the empire into three realms. Only the royal bloodlines knew of this artifact. Despite all our efforts, this generation received nothing but silence.
And now... it seemed Nathan had broken that silence.
"I met this man called Siegfried..." he said.
I felt my heartbeat quicken. I kept my usual composed smile, but inside, I was trembling. Everyone in that room felt it—unease, tension, fear.
"He was at the Dukes' event, that banquet," Nathan continued, pausing briefly. "He was there like any ordinary guest. And I spoke to him."
I looked at my husband.
"What did you say to him?" asked Charles.
"I asked him why he kept staring at Princess Melina..."
"What?!" I blurted out before I could stop myself.
He was staring at my daughter?
"He was watching Princess Melina... with a certain interest. But he was also watching Prince Duncan at the same time," Nathan continued. "When I tried to approach him, he told me he was just a royal guard in disguise."
Watching both of my children? So he was there because of them?
The monarchs seemed to fall into deep thought.
"Go on," said Charles. "Did he say anything else about my children?"
"No. That was it. At the time, I assumed he was an Inquisitor from my own kingdom, assigned to protect them. I didn't give it much thought. The next time I saw him was during the incident at the tower. My familiar had been seriously wounded by the demon, and that man—Siegfried—he saved us. He forced the demon to retreat, healed my familiar, and vanished. I don't know how he got there… but if it weren't for him, I don't believe any of the royal heirs would be alive today. And neither would I."
We exchanged glances. I nodded. That much, at least, I couldn't deny. There was no way my children could have survived an encounter with a demon like that. I wouldn't have wanted them to even try.
"I don't know why he helped us, or how he knew my name... but I have a theory," he added.
"A theory?" Bartholomew leaned forward. "Explain."
Nathan took a second to gather his thoughts.
"I think this Siegfried showed up to protect Prince Duncan and Princess Melina. After stopping the demon, he mentioned that the creature had gone too far, that it had interfered too much. I believe that healing my familiar and saving our lives... that was his way of fixing what the creature had done."
I exhaled quietly. That made sense. That had to be it.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
So... our bloodline is still chosen. Still the one meant to rule as the rightful Imperials...
"But… you're right," Nathan said at last. "I have been hiding something. I just… didn't know how to say it."
"Hiding what, exactly?" Queen Garnora asked, her voice sharp.
"I saw the Demon Herald without his mask… and that's what made me hesitate to speak."
He looked visibly uneasy. I could tell he was afraid of what he was about to say.
Director Victoria stepped beside him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay, Nathan. I understand it might be frightening. We're here to help. And if they seem a bit harsh... well, I can't blame them. It's been a tense few days. They're all doing their best to handle the fear of an enemy that could've taken one of their children at any moment."
Nathan lowered his gaze, gathering his courage.
"Morvat's physical features… his skin was gray, his hair was pitch black, like obsidian. But what stood out the most… were his ears. They were pointed."
He paused.
"He called himself an elf. Specifically… a Dark Elf. That's why I didn't want to say anything earlier."
Nathan Evenhart
"That was… a bit intense," Edmund muttered as he sank into one of the chairs.
We had finally been dismissed and brought to a different hall—one lined with elegant tables and a modest banquet laid out for the noble elite. Only high-ranking nobles were allowed here. Not even Kinue or Sebastian were permitted to join us; they were taken to another lounge along with the other nobles of lesser rank. The monarchs, the dukes, and the key political figures were still engaged in a private discussion after everything that had just unfolded.
I had dodged that question… successfully.
I already had a response prepared, just in case anyone asked how I knew Siegfried. I had to lie to my family once before—when Chloe and Kinue asked about him. I hated doing it, but at the time, I was more focused on Cylla. She was hurt, and I couldn't bear to get into a long explanation. I just wanted to see her okay.
The one thing I hadn't expected in today's meeting was the revelation that Siegfried—the man I spoke to—had already been involved with the royal family… over two thousand years ago.
An immortal being... just like Cylla?
"Well played, Icarus," said Athena beside me, her voice laced with amused admiration. "Shift the focus off yourself, throw the royal family into the spotlight, stroke their egos a bit… and top it off with a surprise reveal. Honestly, I'm impressed. That was some masterful manipulation."
I chose to ignore the goddess and made my way to one of the tables.
"What do you think they're going to decide?" my cousin asked, worry clouding her expression.
I let out a quiet sigh.
"They're trying to control how news of the academy attack gets out," I said. "They want to downplay it… make it sound like something minor. But at the same time, they know people need to be warned that something serious might be coming. That's why they're working with the highest authorities. Whatever they decide behind those doors… it's going to become the official version. The story the entire continent will believe."
I stared at the wine glass in front of me, my fingers trailing around the rim as I watched my reflection shimmer in its surface. My thoughts wandered, imagining what must be happening behind closed doors right now.
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Edmund asked suddenly. "Back when we asked how you knew that strange man. You kept dodging the question."
"I didn't feel like talking about it," I said quietly. "The professor had just died, and I felt guilty. Besides, you're the one keeping secrets. You knew something about those portals."
"I swear I didn't," Edmund said quickly. "I knew my family kept military secrets because of how close we are to the royal family, but I didn't know it had anything to do with… Anomalies. My father probably would've told me when I officially took over as duke."
My gaze drifted to another table, where members of the Asalon family were chatting with the royal heirs. Off to the side, I spotted Princess Elara approaching Princess Rose. I'd heard that something traumatic had happened to her.
"Rose," Elara said softly as she sat beside her, "Are you alright? You've been keeping to yourself lately."
"I'm... okay, as much as I can be," Rose replied, her voice low. "I just... I never thought someone I considered a friend—someone I'd known for four years—would try to kill me. And after that... I had to choose students to... to suffer."
I turned my head at the sound of footsteps approaching. It was Queen Siofna, accompanied by Syvis and Saint Tiffania.
"May I sit with you?" the queen asked.
"O-of course," Edmund stammered, clearly nervous.
They joined us at the table, and the queen's expression softened as she looked at us.
"I'm sorry that such dark times have come during your generation," she said gently.
"It's not your fault," my cousin replied.
Edmund Valemont:
I decided to leave the others at the table. Even though I'd spent years interacting with nobles from the palace and members of the Asalon royal family, seeing the queen of the Elven Kingdom up close still made me nervous. Even though I studied with Syvis, sitting so near to the ruler of her realm left me more than a little on edge.
It's rare for the royal families of the four kingdoms to gather like this. And among them, the Elven Kingdom is by far the most secretive. The Demi-Human Realm at least allows expeditions and cultural exchanges… but the elven lands? Hidden, isolated, wrapped in mystery.
The part of me that loves military history was excited. This was a moment that would go down in the books. But the reason this meeting was even happening—what had made it necessary—was far from a good thing.
As I opened the door to step out for some air, a guard stopped me.
"Lord Valemont, the monarchs have requested that all high-ranking nobles remain in the protected areas."
"I just wanted a bit of fresh air... things are tense everywhere," I replied.
"We understand, sir, but you may be summoned back into the meeting room at any moment."
I nodded and was about to return when I saw someone in the corridor—someone I had desperately wanted to see.
"Thyra!" I called, walking quickly toward her.
She had been distant ever since the incident. And I had been forced to lie about most of what I'd heard that woman—Lady Sindra—say to her. I was the only witness to that conversation.
After the tower, I'd completely lost contact with both her and Viktor.
"I'm just going to speak with a friend," I said to the guards, brushing past them as I approached her. Thyra kept walking, ignoring me completely.
I waited until we were further down the hallway, then drew closer.
"Thyra, we need to talk about what happened. You haven't told anyone what that woman said to you. What's this about your mother being murdered? And that your real name isn't even… Thyra, is it true?"
She suddenly spun around and slammed me against the wall.
"Shut up! Thyra is Thyra!" she shouted, her hand tightening around my neck.
I froze.
Damn… she's strong!
She lifted me by the throat like I weighed nothing. I heard guards running toward us.
"Thyra has her own problems to deal with!" she snarled. "If you're really Thyra's friend… then leave Thyra alone!"
I quickly gestured to the guards that everything was fine.
"I just wanted to help you…" I said, wincing as she released me. I reached up, massaging my neck to ease the pain.
"Thyra doesn't want to see anyone! Thyra… is alone, and will always be alone!" she yelled, storming off down the hall.
I exhaled slowly.
"Is everything alright, Lord Edmund?" one of the guards asked.
"Let's just say… not every attempt at wooing a woman goes well," I said with a forced chuckle, playing it off.
I turned and headed back to the waiting room.
There were still too many things I didn't understand about the people around me. I needed answers—like how Viktor knew that Lady Sindra, and what exactly had happened to him. The fact that the kingdom was keeping both of them away from the other nobles… it didn't sit well with me.
Nathan Evenhart:
We had just arrived home. A soldier opened the carriage door, and we stepped out.
We'd been dismissed for the night. The monarchs were continuing their private meetings, and we were told to wait for news from the expeditionary soldiers who had entered the dungeon below the tower. They were still combing through the entire area.
"I'm going to rest," said my aunt. "I haven't been sleeping well these past nights. I won't be joining you for dinner."
"Mom... can I talk to you for a bit?" Chloe asked.
My aunt nodded. As we stepped inside, the maids greeted us warmly.
"Nathan," Kinue called softly, pulling me aside. "Can I... sleep beside you tonight?"
Before I could even answer, she wrapped her arms around me.
"I've been so scared these last few days," she said, holding me tightly.
"Of course, Kinue," I replied, gently running my hand through her hair.
Everyone was dealing with their own inner turmoil after everything that had happened. I understood them. It hadn't been easy for me either. But the difference was, I already knew demons existed. I'd been mentally prepared for something like this. The others hadn't. Each person had their own way of processing it, and this would be a turning point—for my family and for everyone. How would this continent react, once it became public knowledge that such a terrifying enemy was out there, lurking somewhere?
I didn't know. Humans are emotionally complex, and it's in times like these that each person will be tested.
"Ah, you're back!" said Martha as she walked up to greet us.
"I'll be heading to bed. Don't bother with dinner," said my aunt as she climbed the stairs.
"Understood. I'll have the maids prepare your bath," Martha replied.
After letting go of Kinue, she and Chloe headed upstairs toward their rooms.
But I needed to check on Cylla.
I handed my coat to a maid and hurried up the stairs, greeting a few staff members on the way. My room was at the far end of the mansion's third floor. I ran, heart racing, needing to see my best friend—my companion. Even during that tense meeting, my thoughts had been entirely on her.
I opened the door to my room.
"Cylla…" I whispered, moving quietly toward the bed.
"You should keep your voice down. We don't want to disturb her sleep," came a voice from the corner.
I froze.
There was someone sitting in a chair beside the bed.
"Siegfried?" I asked, stunned.
"Hello, Nathan Evenhart," he said calmly. "We need to talk."