Technomancer: Genesis - 96 The Heavenly Lightning Empire

Kaizer and his daughter entered inside the opening to Hestia’s surprise it was as bright as day inside. She looked at the ceiling and there were rods that emitted light. She had never seen it before, she just assumed that they were weird looking magic crystals.

Kaizer looked at his daughter’s expression. “Those things you are looking at run on magic that we don’t yet understand.”

Hestia just nodded. She was absorbed on looking at the white light emitting from the rod. She began to observe her surroundings as they further entered into a room. There were rows upon rows of shelves lined up neatly. Kaizer picked up a book on a shelf, that had only had a few books in it.And he took another from the shelf beside it.

Both of the books had similar emblems in front. However, the other book seemed to use different symbols, while the book Kaiser took from the shelf with fewer books used the writing alphabet she was familiar with. In the front cover, there was an insignia that looked like a cross and yet in its shape and forms it seemed that it was infused with lightning such that it was a seamless whole.

Hestia was intrigued, she observed the two books intently. Her father opened the books as he uttered.

“He who conquers lightning shall rule everything. He who tames heaven shall rule the skies and his knowledge shall go forth and around the earth as the water covers the seas,” that is the opening quote from this book.” Our house believes that this is a reference to the lightning trial before you can enter this house of knowledge. All those who have entered this sacred ground have long believed it to be true. This is the source of power for the Regaledeus house,”

‘Although I think it carries a deeper meaning. The elders are watching though and I am not too sure of what they don’t like me to find out,’ Kaizer thought.

“We believe that there are others like this spread all over the continent, however, we know that only certain nobles of a magical capacity can enter, we believe that our house is the first to get into these Bibliothecas”

“Hestia do you know why I took two books?” Kaizer looked at his beloved daughter, with tender eyes.

Hestia shook her head.

“The first book I took from the shelf is an original book written by historians of the Imperium Fulmen Caelesti. In our tongue, it means the Heavenly Lightning Empire. It discusses in length their achievements. They were the ultimate builders, they roamed the skies riding on beasts of metal, controlled the elements. Their knowledge could easily propagate through the entirety of the planet in the blink of an eye, they could send messages and throw their voices to other continents. They were knowledgeable in all magic and yet they disappeared without a trace.”

Hestia’s eyes were full of bewilderment,” What happened? If their race was as you have told me, papa, why did they disappear?”

“I am not too sure myself. So, I can’t answer you,”

‘I do have my speculations though,’ Kaizer thought to himself.

“The other book that I have, is a very rough translation of their history.You can read it while you’re here but it is not the point of our trip here. So far, we have only translated a few books, our knowledge of their language is minimal although, there are a few similar words we use. It took decades to even translate the book you have right now, and even then, it is not a complete translation. What I said earlier is roughly what we understood about them. ”

Hestia gazed at the book and opened it, the first page of the book had the same content as the cover. In their alphabet. It seemed that it was an acronym I P C F. The bottom part read what the letters meant. “Imperator et Populusqe, autem Caelesti Fulmen.”

“We are here, Hestia my princess, to teach you a special chant which the Caelesti Fulmenus created. It is peculiar because it is not for casting spells, rather it is a technique to change your magic aura. After a year of using this incantation, you can easily use other spells than fire, to which our clan has a proclivity to.”

Hestia immediately stood up.

“You must enter this chamber first.”

“Repeat after me,” Kaizer told his daughter as he chanted.

“Sed tu bonus fac benigne, Ne perenni cremer igne. Et necesse est ut moriatur vivet. Me oriri ex favilla de fulgoribus, quae portentis. Iracundiae renovata natura ignis aquae aeris terrae. Ibune me cum patribus meis in robore.”

Hestia repeated the chant.

“This chant must be coupled with a visualization technique. Imagine fire, water, earth and air engulfing your body, as they are vibrating through you. Visualize death and rebirth as you chant.”

The emperor pulled a lever and opened a door. It was made of metal. Hestia looked at it and it contained an emblem which she found odd since it was not the emblem of the Caelesti Fulmen, rather the emblem looked like a yellow square and in it, there was a black circle in the centre, from which three black conical triangle-like shapes extended evenly spaced with each other. These were not connected to the circle rather just barely touched it. It seemed that this was a sign of warning.

Hestia entered the chamber. “My darling,” Kaizer voice quavered,” You will experience great pain once you do this, I’d just like you to know.” He could not bear the thought of his little three-year-old daughter suffer, but still, this was tradition and nothing could stop the fate of the talented.

“Papa is always here for you, little one. So, when the pain is too much just remember that papa will protect you.”

“No papa, I will become strong so that I will protect you someday. You can’t be the most powerful man forever!” Hestia blurted out as she grabbed and hugged him.

This made Kaizer smile, that was why he was so enamoured by his little daughter, her pure words, honesty and innocence were a breath of fresh air from his daily politics.

He hugged his daughter before she went inside the chamber.

Kaizer closed the door. Upon closing the door there were yellow and red lights that rotated, there was a cacophonous sound that reverberated, an annoying horn symbolizing danger.

“The first time is always the most painful,” Kaizer thought,” Be brave and strong little one if you die papa will never forgive himself.” His right eye swelled up and shed a tear.

Hestia looked at the chamber and sat down and chanted exactly what she was taught. Soon she felt the vibrations around her, like ants crawling up and down her skin, it wasn’t really painful it was annoying. Upon reciting the third time she could feel the ants crawling in her insides. She could hear a sound inside the chamber, it seemed so unearthly. It felt like a distant instrument in the future vibrating and vibrating inside even her head. This time it was really bothering her.

All of these feelings swirled around her, upon reaching her fifth chant, she couldn’t help but scream the chant, as she kept on. She felt her body was about to explode. In the height of her excruciating pain . . .

Hestia woke up she was surrounded by the knights and her actrix was frowning.

“Hestia, are you all right?” Ezra asked.

“I’m fine, it’s just .. uhm..” She couldn’t make too many excuses nobles rarely fell ill.

“Let’s end this trip, shall we?” Erela’s voice resounded through the room. Her authoritative tone made Rycharde’s hair stand on end.

“NO!” Hestia shouted.

“We continue the tour. I want to see what Ezra has in store!” Hestia met Erela’s words with her own, this was the first time she talked back to the actrix.

At first, it looked like she was not going to concede, for a split second her face contorted and gnarled however it went back to normal, and she replied,” Very well, however, if this happens again, I shall personally drag you back to your lodgings.”

Hestia nodded curtly.

“Let’s continue the trip. Ezra, what else do you have to show me?” Hestia smiled at Ezra.

“Very well, let’s go to the next lab,” Ezra replied smiling as he led the way to the exit.