The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 264 - two: Epilogue

Chapter 264: Chapter two: Epilogue

Clang.

Edward halted when his shovel hit something hard. The sound was loud and clear. It grabbed the attention of all the small groups shoveling around in the dirt.

Ericka, who teamed up with him, helped him remove the layer of dust stuck to the broken piece. Edward marveled at her ability to shine in the dark, while covered in dust. The sound of people approaching urged him to continue with his task.

By the time the Divine Lord reached them, they had unearthed the broken monolith. The smoldering golden light attracted everyone like moths to a flame.

You do have your uses.

Edward bowed his head as he retreated a few steps. He knew his place. Even when giving him praise, He didn’t look at him. He seldom did. The average man knew he didn’t warrant the Divine Lord’s time or attention.

We need to make haste. I can sense the rays of the sun about to push this darkness away.

"I thought you guys wished for a new dawn. Or do you call yourselves Dawnbringers just for the sake of it?"

Edward peeped at the second prince as Rayos sneered at the Divine Lord. It seemed that the prince knew his family’s plans had failed. He lost his father and who knows what more. Yet Rayos seemed to have kept himself calm. So far.

Although Rayos’ remarks upset a few, no one moved. Edward knew everyone awaited their orders. Only a few, like Elron, dared to act on their own.

The Dark veils some things in it. Useful when you want to mislead the Strings of Fate.

"Fate? You said that girl is Fate or something like that." Rayos gulped at those words but asked before he realized it.

Strings of Fate. Not Fate. There is a difference. You see, the one who controls the most Strings is called Fate.

Rayos wished to ask more but the Divine Lord signaled the Knights behind Rayos. Before he knew it, he was dragged to the broken monolith.

"What is the meaning of this? What do you plan on doing?"

Rayos screamed. He was pushed onto his knees as he screamed in shock. His earlier calm attitude disappeared in a blink.

Edward listened and watched all, remaining in the back. It seemed to him that the second prince put a brave front but as soon as he was brought to the monolith, he realized he would be in danger.

I am doing nothing more than your father tried to do. Only, I will do it the right way.

He wished to change Fate. What good would do that? As long as the Strings remain with someone else they could make you do what they wish of you.

The Divine Lord stepped in front of Rayos, who struggled with all his might. Elron and the Stellar Shield kept him in place. He took a dagger and pierced his chest. Rayos screamed but the Divine Lord ignored his pleas and cries. He cut deep and pulled Rayos’ heart out.

At the same time, the sky lit once again. The small group watched with shock as the outline of a small chest appeared, hidden in the incoming light.

It seems your Chief of Court has kept his end of the deal.

The Divine Lord took the chest. He pulled it open and dropped the content on the dusty ground.

"What is this?"

Solos asked. It seemed he already suspected something. Most did. It wasn’t hard after seeing their Lord pull a heart out.

The hearts of the male line of the Asterios. A crucial part.

"Why? And how did you get all these?" Solos asked, his worries quite visible on his face. He seemed to realize something. With a start, he turned toward the Divine Lord. "Will you take mine too?"

Yes.But you will remain alive. Do you have faith in me?

Solos stared at the Divine Lord. His thoughts remained a mystery, but in the end, he bowed.

"Make it quick, please."

With a nod from the Divine Lord, Elron, and the Templar grabbed him. With a swift cut, they opened him up.

This should be enough.

The Divine Lord opened the Grimoire and chanted some words. Edward heard the sound but his mind buzzed as he tried to concentrate on the words itself. Worse, each time he tried to listen and understand, his ears rang and his head hurt. It was as if something sharp was being nailed in his brain through his ears.

As He chanted the words, He threw the bloodied hearts onto the smoldering monolith. The smoldering glowed brighter and brighter. Suddenly, the sky filled with thin Strings.

The Strings came from all over the place. But when they reached the monolith, they detached from the sky and fluttered to the now-ablaze monolith. Edward and the others noticed even their Strings react in a similar way.

When He reached the final heart, His chants turned louder. The people around Him fell to the ground, holding their heads and groaning out loud. Some screamed. The Refined Knights fared a bit better if only a little bit.

When He threw the last heart into the golden flame, a thick String appeared around the Divine Lord. The String’s thickness surpassed the monolith’s. Even a single glance at it made people’s eyes.

The Divine Lord held a bone dagger in His hand and pierced His chest with it. Without a single change in His expression or pausing the chants, He yanked His heart out. He held the heart in the golden flame.

The flame flared and greedily fused with the heart. With the flame, all the Strings around and the broken pieces of the monolith melted and fused in the heart. His heart started to glow and transform.

With a final burst, the heart devoured everything.

You can all look now.

Everyone lifted their head and peeked at the Divine Lord. The light around dimmed. The heart in His hand had transformed into a heart of gold. With a smile, the Divine Lord put it back in His chest. The thick String broke free from the Sky and wrapped around His heart. The wound on His chest healed and disappeared as if it never had been there.

Everything turned dark again.

At last. In this life, my Fate and the Fate of those around me, belong to me.

He walked to the lifeless body of Solos and pointed a finger at him. A String appeared that coiled in his empty chest. Soon, the wound closed and Solos gasped.

"W–What is happening...," he seemed confused at first but after a second his eyes widened. He stared at the Divine Lord in shock. Seeing him smile at him, he woke from his stunned state and prostrated.

"My Lord, thank you. I have felt your strength. My Faith did waver this time but it will never again. Please allow me to serve you."

The others, even Elron and Ella, fell on their knees. The ability to grant life was said to have been something even Heaven didn’t have. Only the Gods could. Didn’t that mean that their Lord truly was a God?

"My Faith lies with You. Allow me to be Your shield, My Lord." The Stellar Shield kissed the hand of his master and pleaded with tears in his eyes.

"I did as my heart desired. This time it desires to follow Your will, My Lord." Elron spoke with such solemness that even the others smiled. They believed only God could make this willful guy obedient.

The Divine Lord made a round. He listened to their pleas to serve and be of use. He never replied. Only listened. Until he reached Ella.

You seem happy yet have questions, isn’t it my dear?

Ella blushed. She had been seen through. But then again, how could one hide things from God?

"I have seen Your powers, Your plans, and Your wisdom. Yet, why let the one who is Chosen to be Heaven leave with those Templars? And why let that kid or anyone else leave?"

You still hide things. You aren’t worried about Heaven or the black-haired kid. You wished to obliterate that silver-haired kid. I let him go so you could beat him on your own. You don’t dare take risks. But you should.

And as far as those go. I am not strong enough to devour Heaven nor is she at the level to obliterate me. Not yet. This is the start of our battle. A battle between Fate and the one who controls his own Fate. The black-haired kid has little meaning in this battle. He is but a Fateless One.