Volume 1 - Epilogue

In Abund city, the capital of the Prospei kingdom, noble men and women assembled in the royal meeting room.

A rumor has been making its rounds lately making everyone restless. Some of the nobles saw the opportunity they have been longing for.

The king and queen of Prospei entered the royal meeting room. The nobles bow their heads.

“Raise your heads my subjects.” Said the king.

As they raised their heads, everyone was surprised. Someone they didn't expect decided to make an appearance in this meeting. It was Princess Aurore, also known as the Frosted Arm Princess. Her right arm was partially covered with ice due to an excess amount of El-ergy.

She was also accompanied by her personal Elemental Knight, who was a half-darkling woman. Some of the nobles were displeased by her presence. The half-darkling woman could feel the mean stares thrown at her but she ignored them like always does.

Once the royal family sat down at their assigned seats, the meeting started.

“Let us start this urgent meeting, shall we?” Said the king with a gentle tone. “I'm sure you are all aware of what I'm going to address today. I won't beat around the bush. We found it.”

Everyone in the room started talking between themselves. Now that rumor has been confirmed, they were eager to make plans.

“My king, what will be the next step, shall I presumed we will get our Hunters ready for a raid?” Asked one of the nobles.

“Well, normally we would but this is more complicated than we thought.”

Everyone was confused. Waiting any longer would put the kingdom in danger.

“My king, we are aware of the dangers but this is our duty as humans to slay the beast” Said another noble. ”Also this our opportunity to have our first Numbered Slayer in the history of Prospei!”

"I understand, my good sir.” Answered the king. “The complexity comes from the location of the beast.”

“Where is it, my king?”

“Right in the middle. Between our borders and Revoltwing.”

This was the worst scenario. All kingdoms on LoM made an agreement, officially known as the Mankind's Protection, that they would not trespass each other's territory to hunt one of the ultimate apexes of LoM, the Fantasm Beasts. The reason such agreement has been made is to avoid wars between kingdoms in this era where mankind was at risk of extinction

In mankind's history, among the twelve Fantasm Beasts, two of them have been slain. They were slain by Fantasm Hunters from the Revoltwing kingdom. When a hunter achieved such a feat, he gained the title of a Numbered Slayer. Meaning they both respectively had for title the First Slayer and Second Slayer. All kingdoms on LoM and all its Hunters were in a rat race to gain those limited titles. After all there were only ten of them left.

“Can't our Hunters just influence the beast movement to go inside our territory?” Asked one noble.

“It's too risky! What if they fail and it moves in the south? We would create a war” Intervened another noble.

All the nobles were exchanging their ideas on how they should approach the raid. They were desperate. All that matters to them is to hunt the beast to finally have their own Slayer.

In the meantime, the princess was thinking about the situation and an idea came to her mind.

“Father, can I propose an idea?” Asked the princess,

“Go on, Aurore.” Answered the king.

All eyes were on her.

“I'm aware that this might not be the ideal solution and it might even lower the chance to get our very first Numbered Slayer, but I think we should make an alliance with the Revoltwing kingdom for this raid.”

All the nobles gasped and murmured between them. This was a foolish idea.

The Prospei kingdom and Revoltwing kingdom were at each other's throats for a long period of time. If it wasn't for the Mankind's Protection agreement, they would be at war until one of them disappears from the map of LoM.

“Princess, with all due respect, making an alliance with those violent barbarians is impossible.” Said one noble lady.

“I understand we are not on friendly terms with them but imagine this. During the raid the beast starts moving towards a nearby town or city from their kingdom and destroys it. Meanwhile our Hunters are in the middle of attacking it, this would start a war even if it was an action taken for the greater good of humanity. If we make an alliance with them, we could avoid this war and not only that, both kingdoms will be able to minimize the damage on both sides.”

Princess Aurore's thinking was quite on the nose. So far everything she said was logical and no one in the room could argue with her.

“I agree.” Said the king.

“R-really, my king?” Asked the noble lady.

“Yes, my daughter is right. Let's think of it like a competition. Send a messenger to the royal family of the Revoltwing kingdom so we can start the conversation about the raid as soon as possible. This urgent meeting is over.”

The nobles were leaving the royal meeting room. Some of them were displeased and others were already thinking of strategies.

“This was an interesting proposal, Aurore.” Said the queen with a gentle voice. “You will make a fine queen for Prospei one day.”

“Thank you, Mother. I was just stating what father would eventually propose. Am I right?”

“Yes. I wanted to see what our people would propose and what mindset they have. I'm afraid things were not like the time of my grandfather's generation.”

“They want their first Numbered Slayer after all.” Said the queen.

“Talking about Numbered Slayer, there is something I must ask both of you.”

The king could feel what she was about to ask but out of respect he let her talk.

“If the raid for the Fantasm Beast is confirmed, I want to be part of it. Of course, Gaelle will accompany me.”

“Out of the question.” Said the king bluntly.

“Father! Please! You know I've been practicing using our neighbor's gift for years now and I'm getting better at it! I want to become a Numbered Slayer so I can be a proper queen for the kingdom!”

“A queen doesn't need that! Only your intelligence matters and I think I told you to stop using that staff. Look at your arm! You're going to lose it!”

“That's not what grandmother would have done.”

“ My mother lived in a different time period. She didn't have a choice to be on the battlefield. She rebuilt this kingdom so her descendants can live in security. End of the conversation!”

The king left the meeting room with the queen by his side. Frustrated, she froze the seat assigned to the king.

“URGH! I swear he's annoying! Gaelle! Please, there must be a way!”

“I'm sorry princess but-”

“Princess?”

“I mean Aurore, your dad is right. You shouldn't risk your life. We have capable hunters in Prospei that can handle it.”

“You don't understand Gaelle! I want to become a Slayer! Have an impact on Prospei like my grandma! Being free! Is it too much to ask!”

Gaelle was used to Princess Aurore's tantrum. Sometimes she wonders where she takes it from. She has the elegance of her mother but stubborn like her father. A part of her wish to see the full potential of the princess as an Elemantalist as well but her job was to keep her safe.

“I didn't want to this but he gives me no choice”

“What do you mean?”

“I'm running away”

“WHAT?!”

“Of course you will come with me. I'm confident in my abilities but I don't have real battle experience so your guidance will suffice. Especially from the strongest Elemental Knight of Prospei.”

“Princess you-”

“Hmm?”

“Aurore you can't do that! The king and queen will be worried! If something happens to you they are going to take my head!”

“Don't worry! Nothing bad will happen! If I'm lucky enough I might even find my future husband!”

“Aurore!”

Gaelle begged for her princess to reconsider but with her stubbornness, they set out for new horizons and prepared for the first Fantasm Beast raid in years.