Free Web NovelChapter 3: The sixth Cradle
Six continents.
Nine great powers of the world.
One of them, ruling the southern continent of spring and prosperity, is the Topaz empire, the Masters of the Whitegold.
In a world where the bond with the magical beasts means authority, the Topaz has ruled as a guardian protector of <World Turtle>, the [Divine Beast] that oversees the metals, nature, and earth.
Topaz, the supreme empire of the south, has divided its authority among the three dukedoms and six margraves of the land, granting them enough power to stand on par with the various smaller kingdoms that exist alongside the empire.
’The three dukedoms have a history just as rich as the empire, as they used to be an unmatched power themselves before merging with the empire.’
The margraves, however, have a much bigger role as someone who guards the borders of the empire.
’They are called the ’guardian protectors’ of the empire, possess powers far greater than the other noble families, and above that, these families possess beasts that one cannot find easily even in the outside world.’
We, the Sungrades, are the margraves of the East, the family that faces the [Demon Forest] directly.
The land of the Sungrades is vast. About one eighteenth of the empire’s territory, one of the largest, is governed by the Sungrade family of the east.
’We face one of the [Forbidden Lands] of the eastern continent directly, guarding against the forest that every now and then produces beasts corrupted by the demonic powers, powers that no one in this world wishes to face.’
The forest of the demons is so vast that aside from our family, which has resided here for hundreds of years, very few from the empire have ever set foot in these foreign lands.
And, the only thing that allows us to pioneer these deadly lands... is the powerful beasts that we nurture ourselves in a facility that can be called a castle of its own.
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[The Sungrade Margravestate]
- Consisting of three fortress cities, various villages, one port town, and six [Cradels], the Sungrade is the ruler of the eastern parts of the Topaz empire.
- Nicknamed as the [Commanders of Salamander], the Sungrades are one of the few families in the world who have maintained a close relationship with the Spiritual beasts, <Salamanders>.
- Being the Fable-grade beasts and masters of Flames, the Salamanders are the descendants of dragons, the Most Noble existence of Nature.
- They are so rare that bonding with them is seen as a symbol of qualification among the members of this family. However, it is not as simple as one may think.
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"Are you sure about this... master?"
A giant dome area protected by magical items that cuts off the world inside the dome from the outside world.
This place is the sixth cradle, the sanctuary where the Sungrade margraves nurture and protect the countless creatures that would one day become the partners of the family members.
"We have to do this, Lexie. For our future in this family and this world... we have to go there."
In my past life, the Cradles all around the world were the only places that excited me as much as the wild.
My love for the countless magical beasts around the world compelled me to see every place that housed these special creatures of nature.
’Aside from the cradles of Sungrade, there was no cradle I had not visited throughout my previous life.’
But it had always been different while staying in this household.
The disease that prevented me from bonding with the beasts also made my love for them impossible to blossom in this restricted place.
It was only after I left this house that I could express my love for beasts and the magical creatures.
’However, if I want to live this life differently and see the fall of this place with my own eyes, I have to become strong enough to protect myself and... strong enough to protect the people that once gave everything they had for my sake.’
I could not do anything in the past, but things are different now.
"Chirp... Chirp!"
"You’re awfully excited, huh? Please don’t cause any trouble when we are inside, ok?"
"Chirp~!"
The creature that I had somehow bonded with might be the only being I would ever bond with in this life. But even that was enough.
After all, the main aim of the [School of Synchronicity] that I founded in my past life was to spread the effects of the bond connection we have with one being to the others.
I don’t have to have many powerful bonded beasts. Few... in fact, one powerful beast is more than enough at this point in time.
"Alright then."
The main family estate was situated in the first fortress city where we were right now. The cradle, however, was located right outside of the city, protected by the barriers that guarded the treasurehouse of the family.
"Halt. Please show your permit."
Only those allowed by the family could enter the Cradles. Also, the Cradles that one could enter with a general permit were limited to the sixth and the fifth cradle.
The only ones who could enter the fourth cradle and above, even within the family, were people who were acknowledged for their abilities and skills.
’And considering how each cradle was bigger than the next and contained more important beasts than the other, the first and second cradles were as important as the royal treasuries.’
Still, not even the family head could enter the first cradle as they wished since it was an autonomous territory even within the Sungrade: The Sun Sanctuary.
But that was alright. We don’t have to think that far ahead just yet.
What matters right now is the qualification test that will take place in a few days. And to pass that test, what I’ll need is not a legendary beast, but a simple partner that can help me prove my worth.
’As much as I want to see the demise of this family, I cannot miss this opportunity.’
There’s just too much I can get from this place.
So, until I have everything I can squeeze out from these damned bastards, I will use them.
I will use them, and I will get stronger.
"Here’s the permit."
"Hmmm... alright."
The dome looked like a greenhouse from the outside, but the environment inside should be much different.
The gates that lead to the inside are not ordinary either.
The technologically advanced entrance system makes you go through a protocol.
’Once the permit has been confirmed, you must wait till the cradle clears out as only one party is allowed inside at a time.’
Following that, as you enter through the gates, you pass through a corridor that cleans you with a special disinfectant atomiser.
After that, you are given a special device that tracks your movements and registers whether you’re entering with a bonded beast or not.
’They don’t collect specific information about your beast because of the privacy policies of the family, but if you possess a tamed beast, your entry is registered as a Tamer.’
If you find a beast you connect with and manage to bond with them, regardless of what kind of beast that is, your information is sent to the family.
’Additionally, there are various other procedures, but they are just formalities.’
The cradles are exactly as their name suggests: the places where the beasts are raised.
The sixth cradle has younger beasts, while the fifth one has the older ones from the same bloodlines.
There are guides that take you around the cradle and guards that are stationed inside the cradle at all times.
The technological advancements have brought various devices that make the management and sustenance of a Cradle easier, but the margraves of the east are still quite traditionalists.
"Welcome to the sixth Cradle. May you find a companion in the playground of the children."
As we entered the Cradle, the guards that stood alongside their bonded beasts, golems that had a humanoid form as big as a monument, bowed to us.
We were disguised so they did not know either of our identities, but they knew if someone had the qualification to enter the cradle, they were not ordinary people.
’Alas, it is a known fact within the family that the same kind of respect would never be shown to the ’broken child’ and the ’son of the whore’ that leeches off of the family.’
They never wanted me around.
But they will have to endure the sight of me for a little while longer...
