noveldrama
Chapter 152 Crimson the Ancient
Chapter 152 Crimson the Ancient
In the midst of the vast desert, Crimson the Ancient stood face to face with a snake of colossal proportions. The titanic body of the serpent writhed in chaotic movements, defying the tranquility of the arid landscape that surrounded them. For a few moments, both beings remained motionless, observing each other with an intensity that resonated in the tense-filled air.
Finally, it was Crimson the Ancient who broke the silence with their melodious and serene voice. "I do not like this place," they declared calmly, their tone resonating in the confines of the desert. Their scarlet eyes swept over the desolate landscape, scrutinizing every corner for any hint of hidden danger.
The serpent, known as Serpent of Damnation, responded with a deep, guttural voice. "What do you want, Crimson?" it growled, its tone filled with disdain and distrust. Its own eyes, cold and shining, were fixed on its adversary.
Crimson's gaze momentarily shifted to the ground, where it seemed to detect something of interest. Their eyes penetrated the earth, searching for something only they could see. What they found there remained hidden from the view of others, a secret shared only between them and the sands of the desert stretching to the infinite horizon.
A small smile played on Crimson's lips as they addressed the Serpent of Damnation calmly. "It's very simple," they began calmly, "I want my share of the deal." The Serpent of Damnation nodded solemnly, its gaze lowering to the ground where a large quantity of red liquid lay.
But before Crimson could speak again, the Serpent of Damnation interrupted with a disturbing revelation: "They are moving. So far, only two of the sins have awakened." Its words resonated in the air.
"We all have the same goal," the Serpent of Damnation continued gravely. "The empire's academy." With these words, the serpent sank back into the earth, disappearing into the depths of the desert like a fleeting shadow.
A smile spread across Crimson's lips, and in that moment, their eyes became even more intensely red, glowing with an inner fire. They raised their right hand in a majestic gesture, and the ground beneath their feet began to tremble with supernatural force.
From the depths of the earth emerged a red blood-like liquid, which surged forth with titanic force, shining with a light that defied the darkness of the desert.
That blood was no ordinary blood; it was the very essence of a dragon. A laugh escaped from Crimson's lips as they contemplated the majesty of that blood. The blood in the sky began to take the form of a glowing sphere rising towards Crimson's body. They knew that the sins were pulling the strings in the shadows, but they and the other Ancients were determined not to allow it.
Each had their own interests after all; everyone wanted to get out of this damned cage.
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"Attention, aspirants!" echoed the powerful and authoritative voice from the top of the grand podium. All those present in the square turned towards the man who was at the center of attention. With a shiny badge on his chest, it was evident that he was a professor at the academy, a figure respected and revered by all who aspired to join its ranks.
The man continued, his tone grave and solemn filling the air with a sense of importance. "The Imperial House recognizes talent and merit above all," he proclaimed firmly. "Even those of plebeian blood have the chance to be considered for admission to the academy, as long as they demonstrate outstanding performance that sets them apart from the other aspirants."
Being selected as a professor at the academy was an honor reserved only for the geniuses among geniuses. Whether they were expert wizards in the arcane arts or accomplished swordsmen in the art of the sword, they had to prove their worth in all fields, both practical and theoretical.
The responsibility of guiding and educating young minds rested on the shoulders of those chosen as teachers, and it was a duty they took very seriously and with pride.
In the bustling courtyard of the academy, the young aspirants watched with bright eyes as the professor delivered his speech. Each and every one of them wore simple clothes, far from any ostentation, and some carried with them only a few gold coins or a low-quality sword. Although they came from the plebeian class, they had proven their worth by passing the entrance tests to the academy.
In the imperial academy, talent was the most valuable currency. Although many of the young people lacked the economic resources to pay for their studies, the empire offered them the necessary support. It was like having a scholarship at a university, where merit and potential were the only barriers to success.
The professor continued his speech, emphasizing the equality that reigned in the academic halls. "There is no place for discrimination here," he declared firmly. "Everyone is equal, whether noble or plebeian. They are on the same level and must be treated with mutual respect. If anyone suffers from harassment or intimidation, they must report it to their assigned teacher immediately."
The professor's gaze turned cold when mentioning the issue of harassment. The imperial academy did not tolerate any kind of abusive behavior, and the consequences could be severe. Even expulsion could be the punishment for those who violated the rules of conduct. For nobles, being expelled from the academy was an insurmountable shame, staining the honor and reputation of their houses forever.
Sighs of relief echoed in the courtyard as the students absorbed the professor's words with gratitude. Among the 10,000 plebeians present, each had their own dreams and aspirations for their future career at the imperial academy.
Some leaned towards disciplines like engineering, economics, and other academic areas, while others, a minority of around 3000 students, sought to specialize in the art of magic or swordsmanship.
From these two main classes, branched out a multitude of specialized disciplines. From cultist hunters to alchemists, through magic researchers, creators of magical artifacts, experts in the collection of magical plants, and collectors of creature bodies, the options were practically endless.
These opportunities had existed since the dawn of the academy, and over time, they had expanded and diversified to meet the changing needs of the world.
Despite their humble origins, the plebeians fervently supported the empire and the academy, recognizing the unparalleled opportunities it offered them. Many prominent leaders in high-ranking positions had emerged from plebeian ranks, demonstrating that the empire did not care where you came from, but the talent and dedication you showed when applying your skills for the benefit of society.
In the imperial academy, strength and intellect were the only criteria that mattered, and the plebeians were willing to prove their worth time and time again in their quest for excellence and recognition.
Among all these young people stood out one with black hair and gray eyes that shone as he smiled inwardly, Ezequiel, the protagonist of the story.
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End of Volume 1 - First Steps.
Hello everyone!
First of all, thank you for reading my story and getting to this point.
Personally, I liked the first volume. I left some loose ends, we still need to know about the other creatures of Ancient rank, also known as the 7 biblical plagues. And also about the other cults.
For now, we only have two sins awakened, the first is Lust, but we don't know about the second yet.
About the MC, what I want to achieve is character growth with him and with all the other characters, such as Elsa's.
Regarding romantic relationships and everything related to that, I'll leave it in the background. For me, the most important thing is to advance the plot of the story, obviously there will be romance and others, but all in due time, and about the other wives of the MC, they still need to appear, so far we only have Lysandra.
There's a new image of Anthony, it will be the definitive one. And definitely don't forget about the gifts or golden tickets!
The plot of Volume 2 will mostly take place in the academy.
THANK YOU!