Seven griffins flew together in the direction of Osnines.

True Prince Spence Erebium, a young, handsome, and scholarly legendary magician, flew together with a gothic-dressed beautiful girl with blindfolded eyes, protectively sitting behind her and shielding her with a wind shield spell so she wouldn't accidentally fall or bite her tongue.

"Dear young aunt, I hear my imperial grandmother made a fortune-telling, saying that you might have a great opportunity in Osnines. I truly hope that it is true." The scholarly prince said, fixing his magical glasses with one hand.

"A-Ah..." True Princess Viola, beautiful and unresponsive as a mastercraft porcelain doll, dully uttered, drool slightly leaking from the corner of her tempting black lips.

Her hair was long, smooth, and black as charcoal, yet without luster, as if made of graphite, and her lips were just as dark and gloomy as if touched by death. In contrast, her skin was as pale as snow, as if her black hair and lips were ink on white canvas, accentuated by her black gothic dress.

Seeing her like this, Spence carefully took out a handkerchief to wipe her drool, feeling pained.

A mere five years ago, she was a bright and cheerful girl full of hope, yet on her birthday, that cursed day, she awakened her bloodline.

To this day, Spence vividly remembers the screams of horror and heartbreak she spoke to him and everyone else present as the light in her tearful golden eyes was fading into the abyss.

"Spence! Not you too! So many worms!"

Spence didn't know what she saw, but he still felt a chill every time he recalled it. He knew she saw his death, and it was a gruesome one, at that. And the most chilling part was that he didn't know what she saw. He truly hoped that what she saw was the maggots gnawing at his already-dead corpse decades or centuries later, but knew he would be alive during that event, since the imperial family favored cremation.

She predicted the death of one of the knights two years ago, clawed and eaten by a feline monster. She also predicted the death of a magician who blew up in an experiment-gone-wrong. Without fail, everyone she said would die in a specific way either perished in that way, or almost died and somehow survived due to knowing the princess's prophecy. Those who didn't experience either were just not there yet.

And that meant he would likely die from being eaten by worms in the original trajectory of things. He was afraid to know what she saw, especially since several others shared his fate, including herself.

Either from the visions or from her power going out of control, the bright and talented princess became a broken shell. To protect her, they had to put an enchanted blindfold on her eyes and feed her Tier 6 natural treasures daily to keep her mind healthy. If not, she would experience a hysterical episode. At other times, she is just an unresponsive doll, sometimes muttering cryptic things, usually disasters that are about to happen, such as an earthquake, a forest fire, thunderstorms, floods, mass murder, assassinations, etc.

Sometimes, she gave enough information to save people or prepare for future disasters.

However, the price was so heavy that she couldn't take care of herself anymore, requiring servants to feed, bathe, dress, and even wipe her rear. She was now a life-sized, exquisite doll. However, those in the know knew that she was far from defenseless as her appearance suggested. Anyone who wished to harm her, in whatever way, had already suffered a fate worse than death, their screams forever haunting the halls of the palace.

"Hah..." Spence let out a lonely sigh.

"My prince! The barbarian capital of Osnines, Bildsfell, is in sight!" A legendary warrior accompanying him, riding on another griffin, reported.

Another legendary warrior rode on the back of another griffin, and four epic handmaidens/guards rode on the other four griffins.

"Good," Spence replied and looked forward, seeing a mountain with a city etched to its side.

But then, he and the legendary warriors noticed something on the mountain top.

"What... is that?"

"Is that what I think it is?!"

The two legendary warriors exclaimed in surprise and shock, seeing the purple-gold land with special trees and plants, protected by a natural hedge of thorns inside a crater. They even noticed an actual treant settling down under the guidance of four beautiful quadruplets. Through his eyes, Spence deduced that they were four Tier 4 spirits!

"A divine garden... and such a rich one, at that. Not inferior to the one in the imperial palace. At least 10 crystals were invested, if not 20 or more. But how did he find so many...? Does he have a knack for finding them? And how did he recruit four Tier 4 nature spirits?" Spence muttered, narrowing his eyes while adjusting his glasses.

However, he didn't covet it. Rather, he didn't dare to. Aside from antagonizing several human heroes, stealing Atrivia's Love or her divine gardens was a major taboo with heavy consequences, such as receiving a curse that would not only render the crystals useless, but also make all plants they try growing wilt and rot, be targeted by powerful wild monsters in the wilderness, or making one impotent. After all, love is to be given, not stolen.

That was also why the imperial family offered a high reward for each crystal, since they couldn't forcefully seize it. Some even made it their mission to find crystals using their bloodline gifts, since a single crystal was enough to set them up for life as wealthy men.

In human powers, it is even said that one could measure the prosperity of a force through the size and quality of its Divine Garden. And the one before them was top-notch.

"I originally thought he would be a poor upstart. But he is wealthier than I? He might even disdain the gifts I brought." Spence had a self-deprecating smile.

He then looked at his younger aunt, whom he treated as a little sister.

"It seems like the imperial grandmother's gamble was correct. Perhaps you can be cured here."

"A-Ah..." Viola uttered in a daze. No one knew if she even registered her older nephew's words.

And then, Spence shifted his gaze to another place, seeing a group riding on pegasi approaching from the other direction, eyes locking with the prince of the enemy major power.

"High Prince Auti... As expected."

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"True Prince Spence, hah? Seems like we can safely avoid a conflict." High Prince Auti muttered, riding a horned black pegasus.

Like True Prince Spence, Auti was a gloomy-looking shaman and spiritualist who preferred diplomacy over violence, unlike his more warlike siblings. That was also why they sent him and not the others. 

"That is expected. They might accidentally push three heroes to our side and even anger the gods if they play their cards wrong." High Princess Nyx said, riding on a white pegasus.

Her hair was white as snow, her eyes were ocean blue, and she wore a white silk dress on her milky skin, accentuating her proportionate curves. Wherever she looked, it was as if she was seeing something else, appearing aloof.

Beside them were six individuals as retinue, two legendary warriors and four epic handmaidens riding on pegasi.

This number was not a coincidence, as it was the agreed-upon number both superpowers had agreed upon beforehand. Otherwise, one side might take the opportunity to kill the talents of the other, which would be against the interests of both parties.

"But regardless, to think they have a Divine Garden of this scale... as expected of the ancestor's inheritor?" Auti muttered, looking at the divine garden.

"I deduced it belongs to the Hero of Qhiion, dear brother. The new Hero Candidate of the Earth Mother is merely using it... And her selection was likely caused by Qhiion's Hero." Nyx corrected him.

"True... He likely has some special bloodline that helps him find opportunities. You did mention that he is fateless. Perhaps he has a fate-based bloodline that can divinate fortunate things?" Auti made a wild guess.

"Perhaps. But does that concern us?" Nyx asked back.

"It doesn't... But he should be worth recruiting, and I don't doubt Spence would also try to do so. Not that I expect him to agree. At that time, I can only leave you here." Auti sighed and said.

"I already chose to do this, brother." Nyx shook her head.

"That you did..." Auti nodded, knowing of his adopted sister's peculiarity, and looked to the blindfolded raven-haired woman protected by Spence like a chick. "And I suppose they would leave that ominous princess as well. Did they also see something?"

Nyx's clear blue eyes looked at the girl with an ominous aura and muttered to herself, "I am afraid my fate is already tied to hers... for better or worse."

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Meanwhile-

In the palace of Bildsfell-

Rilden, now dressed like a barbarian high noble, greeted guests who arrived from afar along with the girls.

One was City Lord Varkas, accompanied by several people. Among them was Ven, who finished his paladin training. Another was Masahr, a young alchemist whom Rilden previously sponsored. Taking the opportunity, Ven and Mashar traveled with the City Lord to meet Rilden.

"Hah... So we can now talk thanks to that... squirrel?" Varkas spoke with Wolfgang while drinking wine, glancing at Ozi, who spoke with Mashar.

"He is the great squirrel sage... and yes." Wolfgang nodded.

"Right..." Varkas warily said before looking at Wolfgang's eyepatch. "No hard feelings about the eye, yeah?"

"It was my fault for attacking in the first place. I should be glad to be spared. And now, we will be family. Let bygones be bygones." Wolfgang grinned and toasted.

"Water under the bridge." Varkas clinked cups with him.

 

In another location-

Mashar, the young alchemist, was discussing his research with Ozi.

"So, you made a formula to create paper?" Ozi curiously asked, looking at a surprisingly white and smooth sheet of paper.

"Yes! I call it the paper production magic. It combines a specialized magic circle and a cheap formula, with the main ingredient being plant pulp, to create mass-produced paper! It would replace vellum and papyrus in time." Mashar enthusiastically said.

"Well, depending on the production amount, and if monopolized, it is a significant source of revenue..." Ozi muttered, his tail twitching, knowing how significant the paper market was.

"Right?! I am sure the lord would be pleased!" Mashar happily said.

 

Meanwhile, Ven spoke with Skap.

"So, you are also the lord's sworn warrior? And you are already Tier 4?" Ven, the 18-year-old 2nd Tier paladin, curiously asked the 13-year-old Skap, who was two tiers above him despite being five years younger.

"It is all thanks to the lord. I am merely lucky to have such a great benefactor." Skap shook his head without arrogance, wisdom in his eyes.

In his opinion, everything he had now was due to Rilden's careful nurturing.

"Then let us serve our lord well." Ven didn't overthink it and genuinely smiled.

It was good to have such a reliable partner.

"Likewise. Please take care of me, big brother." Skap seriously nodded, not looking down on Ven.

In his opinion, Ven was higher on the hierarchy as Rilden's first follower, so he was naturally his senior.

"Hahaha! Likewise, little brother!" Ven laughed, pleased at this new little brother.

 

At a table-

Madam Riveria, Madam Gudfrey, and Madam Tonya casually chatted.

"So you are Madam Riveria! I heard you are Lord Varkas's concubine?" Madam Tonya asked.

"Yes. I am Varky's legal concubine. I came in place of Elarose's late mother." Madam Riveria smiled and said.

"We are glad to have you here, Madam Riveria. Oh, and congratulations." Madam Gudfrey warmly said.

"Hm? Why are you congratulating me? We are all equally blessed today." Madam Riveria blinked in confusion.

"Well, you are pregnant, lucky girl!" Madam Gudfrey, a High Priestess of Atrivia, smiled and said.

"Hah...?" Madam Riveria blinked her eyes in confusion.

"Oh! Congratulations, sister!" Madam Tonya chipped in.

"I'm pregnant...?" Madam Riveria thought in disbelief.

 

While everyone chatted, Rilden and the three girls welcomed the new guests, and soon, the guests of honor arrived.