《Wilberforce》Chapter 73: The Old Empire
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Now sitting in a large room, Armad stared at the intricate design of the stone walls, which seemed to have been drawn with bare hands, whereas Babara's mouth was still open and he was looking at Armad like he was seeing death.
Armad grew tired of it and decided to intervene. "What is it?"
"Eh?" Babara stuttered a little. "Do you know why these people bow down to you?"
Armad shook his head. "No, I don't."
Babara just smiled and sorrowfully put his hands on his head. "The Bend you just used isn't just any Bend... Ever since the creation of the seven worlds, there has never been anyone with the ability to turn their body into an elemental form except one of your ancestors, Eyrion Wilberforce. Everyone in the first world knew about the Sikai. Now it doesn't matter if you are a Wilberforce or not. Most followers of the old Wilberforce empire will bow down to you. I can assure you these people wouldn't have let us off so easily even if you are a Wilberforce."
Babara felt as if Armad didn't understand the situation yet, so he explained again. "Look, Armad, if my body turns to lightning, it means that no attack can hurt me since there is no more flesh in my body. If I'm hit, I can just turn the place into lightning and negate the damage. No creature can harm me. It was with the same Bend that King Eyrion ruled the world. Oh my lord Armad Wilberforce, surely your cause is blessed. You..."
Armad realized Babara wouldn't stop talking about it unless he stopped him. "Yes, I understand, Babara, and of course the Bend is glorious. But I need to control my eyes first to save my mother. We have to start training right away."
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Babara nodded. "You're right. I was carried away by the Bend of the late King. Let me call the leader of the men to find out more about them and to ask if they have a training ground we can use."
Babara went outside and soon came back with a young man who was no more than twenty years old.
The young man fell to the ground and greeted Armad with so much respect that it was awkward. "My name is Lamrud Wilberforce," he said. "A son of Indimi-Kiki Wilberforce. I was born in this prison, my King, but my parents were dedicated to the army of King Eyrion. Ever since the coup, our parents have been imprisoned here. It has already been over a thousand years now."
Babara stopped him with a frown. "I know about you and how Ururu illegally incarcerated you after the war. Back when we first came to the lower worlds, everyone was hiding their real names because they could be caught and accused of being too loyal to the old empire. But even the foot soldiers of Eyrion's army should have enough longevity to last them a long time. I don't think all of your parents who were first imprisoned here are dead."
Lamrud nodded. "Yes, minister Babara, you are right and if King Armad does not mind I would like to show him something in our village."
Babara looked at Armad for his approval before finally agreeing to follow Lamrud into the 'village'. Though it didn't look like a village at all. There were just huge rocks that had been dug into houses. The few people there hid in their stone holes for fear that Armad would destroy them for the crime they had committed against him earlier.
Lamrud took them to a strange door behind the rocks. It was fifty feet tall and about ten feet wide. The door itself led to no house or room and there was nothing behind it but space. But when you looked inside it from the front, you would see stairs going up in the air. Around the stairs were seals and inscriptions of runes Armad hadn't seen before. Beyond the stairs was nothing but endless darkness and an abyss. And when you looked inside the door from the back you would see nothing but white. It was surreal.
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Armad studied the stairs for a while before he turned to Lamrud for an explanation.
"My King," Lamrud said. "Inside this door is the old Wilberforce kingdom, or at least what's left of it. Our parents believed that the secret to getting out of this prison and reviving the old empire is behind this door. All our parents and grandparents are inside looking for a way out. We will not leave this place until our parents come back. Lord D'rru Wilberforce believed that there are special Bends hidden inside with which we can use to get out of here and strengthen our magic. What does my King think?"
Armad sighed softly. "I understand but I'm just looking for a training ground if you have it."
Lamrud narrowed his eyes. "A training ground? King Wilberforce also needs training..." He was silent as if waiting for an answer but Armad said nothing, so he continued, "Yes, there is a training ground. But if King Armad wants to, he can enter this door and reach the ancient empire of our ancestors to get Bends and seals. D'rru once told me when I was a boy that there are great djinns behind this door that are waiting to be enslaved. My King can get a lot more inside and the only drawback is the different time flow between here and inside. Every day inside is about a decade here. That shouldn't be a problem for my King, of course."
Armad sighed with a shake of his head. "Don't worry about it," he said. "I don't have to go in. Just show me to the training ground."
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