Silver Lining Yesterday - Chapter 29
The revolution was a success.
It was a decisive battle fought without the most powerful forces, Jean Rohrbach and Ernest Garland.
Against the kingdom’s forces, who were desperately resisting, the leadership, including Gregory Lipton and Gemma Heidegger, fought valiantly.
At last, the impenetrable walls fell, and the capital, Orsant, was captured.
The revolutionary army, moving with unstoppable momentum, dragged the pot-bellied king from his throne and purged the corrupt nobles.
In an instant, the throne of Alderon, now a desolate land, fell into the hands of the revolutionaries. However, the legendary wizard, Jean Rohrbach, who would have divided the power equally without dissent, was absent.
With the common enemy of the rotten monarchy gone, the revolutionary army began to fracture.
From the beginning, they had come together under Jean Rohrbach’s legendary name, despite their different backgrounds, classes, and upbringings.
When the mythical magic, once a figure of worship and fear, disappeared, the once unified forces split into two major factions.
Those who had directly fought in the battle rallied around Gemma Heidegger, who had always led from the front with her sword.
Those who had managed logistics and technical tasks during the revolution turned to Miranda Valentine, who had provided the ideological foundation of the revolution.
As internal conflict grew, Miranda Valentine reassured her uneasy comrades.
“Don’t worry. Gemma and I have been friends since we were in Riholm. We won’t turn on each other, not even with swords in hand.”
Born as the heir of a noble family, yet forsaking her lineage for the sake of justice, Gemma was the best swordswoman in Alderon, having slain her own mother, the undefeated General Cornelia.
But despite the praise, Gemma Heidegger betrayed Miranda’s trust.
By Gemma’s side, as she leveled her sword at Miranda, stood Gregory Lipton, who had united the remaining conservative factions.
“Gemma, how could you do this…!”
Forced out of the capital, Miranda sought to rebuild the Blue Party, which had once been the foundation of the revolution, to continue her political activities.
However, Gemma Heidegger, who had relentlessly pursued her, caught up with her. Helplessly, Miranda was dragged to the guillotine, disappearing just like the pot-bellied king.
The most outraged by the news was President Amelroi, who had taught them in Riholm.
“How can I just stand by while my students kill each other?!”
Originally, President Amelroi had openly suspected Gregory Lipton in connection with the mysterious disappearances of Jean Rohrbach and Ernest Garland.
This led to a negative atmosphere towards Lipton in the academic circles of Riholm, where Amelroi had considerable influence. This was an unfavorable turn of events for Lipton, who had hoped to join forces with Gemma Heidegger and rise to power.
Ever vigilant of the situation in Riholm, Lipton received reports that the surviving members of the Blue Party had taken refuge there.
After careful consideration, Lipton made a decisive choice that would shape Alderon’s future.
It was the invasion of Riholm.
The ‘City of a Thousand Years,’ Riholm, was the revered seat of knowledge and the sacred land of magic, acknowledged by the church.
Due to the strong trust of both the academic and religious communities, no one dared to challenge Riholm. The city itself, a sacred floating metropolis, was also one of the last remaining symbols of mythical magic.
It was something that could not be touched, and should not be looked down upon.
But Lipton was the first to cross that line.
With newly constructed military airships and dragon-riders commanding fierce dragons, the skies over Riholm were completely darkened.
Even the conservative media that had supported Lipton and the surviving nobles denounced his shocking decision. It was an unprecedented situation where an inviolable territory, designated by continental law, was threatened by swords and guns.
Unable to bear it, President Amelroi entered the enemy’s camp, unarmed.
“Arrogant fool, I have something to say to you.”
No one had dared block the path of the sage who had protected Riholm for a thousand years. Lipton accepted the President’s request for a meeting and entered a private room with him.
It is unknown what was discussed during the brief 30-minute conversation that day.
Afterward, Lipton, who held military power, drastically reduced his media activity and never spoke of that day in private.
However, what was certain was that the conversation had enraged President Amelroi like never before.
The dragon of the East, long revered as a sage for nearly a thousand years, had revealed its true form.
Now the enormous body, sharp, blade-like scales, and claws said to pierce the stars, were all that remained, becoming a legend.
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