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Chapter 105: Thirty Years Later - Coronation Ceremony
Thirty years after the end of the Mythical Era War.
"Long, long ago, the different races fought endlessly with the gods for their clans, which let the demon race take advantage and launch a continent-wide disaster. Then a hero stepped forward."
In a human city, an elder told the story of the first Great Sage to a group of wide-eyed children gathered around his worn wooden chair.
"By the way, what did the Great Sage look like?" a child interrupted, bouncing with curiosity.
The elder stroked his gray beard. "They say the Great Sage Kurtz left no statues behind. His Majesty Norn once hired the finest craftsmen to carve his likeness, but none could make a statue that truly captured him."
"But I heard from others that the Great Sage was also called the Saint. So what was his name exactly?" a little girl asked, tilting her head.
"The Saint, the Sage, and the God-Slayer are all titles for the same man - Kurtz. His Majesty Norn, whom we crown today, was Kurtz's closest companion. His Majesty himself gave the title of Saint."
At that moment, in the city's grand central plaza, a coronation ceremony was taking place.
This was the first human nation, witnessing the ascension ceremony of Saint King Norn.
Norn had established this human city several years ago, but had delayed his official coronation. Yet the humans living here had long called him 'The King', recognising his authority.
The central square overflowed with people from every corner of the continent. Though this human kingdom only had the territory of a single city and a population of ten thousand, representatives from many races had travelled far to offer congratulations.
During these peaceful years, Saint King Norn's name had spread throughout the continent, and traces of his wisdom could be found in every human settlement.
"The Saint King travelled with his legendary friend, teaching the sacred wisdom of magic to every human community."
This was the opening line of the historical records of El' , the first human nation.
Red banners snapped in the morning breeze, sunlight streamed golden across white stone steps, and beside the platform stood the ceremony's protagonist, a figure who had grown from adventurer to king.
On the viewing platform, dignitaries from different races had gathered. Even the renowned Dwarf King and Elf King had made the journey to witness this moment.
The Dwarf King wore ceremonial robes of deep blue set with precious gems, and his magnificent beard had been braided with golden threads. His ancestral battle-axe rested at his feet, a sign of respect and peace.
Beside him sat a younger dwarf whose presence brought Norn unexpected joy.
This was Somo, his former adventure companion, now officially the next Dwarf King. Perhaps soon, Norn would attend his coronation ceremony in return.
What truly shocked Norn was the sight of Somo's newly grown beard, a full, respectable growth that marked his maturation. The thick brown hair framed his jaw in neat waves, transforming his boyish face into something dignified.
'Did Kurtz bless Somo with magic to grow proper facial hair before he disappeared?' The thought brought a rare smile to Norn's lips.
On the platform's opposite side, the Elf King sat with several Elder advisors, occasionally talking in hushed tones. His golden eyes frequently swept across the square with barely hidden hope, searching for a familiar figure that would never appear.
This expectation was doomed to disappointment.
As the sun reached its peak, a magical salute cannon thundered across the plaza, officially beginning the ceremony.
The square fell silent, thousands of eyes focusing on Norn as he stood on the high platform.
He was no longer the somewhat naive adventurer of three decades past. Silver-white hair crowned his head, and his face bore the dignified lines of leadership earned through years of sacrifice; time had marked him as surely as battle once had.
He wore robes created by the finest dwarf tailors, deep crimson silk embroidered with golden threads that caught the sunlight. Under the collective gaze of the assembled crowd, he began climbing the marble steps.
When he finally stood before the ancient throne, the elf presiding over the ceremony raised his voice, magically amplified to reach every corner of the plaza, and began reciting the coronation oath.
The Elf King had personally brought this ceremonial master from his own court, recognising that humans hadn't yet developed such traditions.
Even after today's ceremony, the elf would remain in El Kingdom until humans had established their own governmental customs.
Norn's voice rang clear and strong as he repeated each sacred word of the ancient oath, his commitment carrying to every person present.
As the final word echoed across the plaza, the oath's magic activated, and a golden crown appeared in the air, made not of metal, but of pure light and hope.
The crown descended slowly, settling perfectly on Norn's brow, sealing his transformation from adventurer to king.
Everyone present felt tears spring to their eyes. The human race, in this world, finally had its own sovereign nation.
The plaza erupted in cheers that seemed to shake the earth itself.
"Long live the Saint King!"
"Long live the El Kingdom!"
The waves of sound rolled across the city endlessly, and even the stoic Dwarf King and Elf King found themselves caught up in the celebration, applauding with genuine warmth.
In the Mythical Era, they would never have allowed a new kingdom to emerge in their territories. But the Mythical Era had ended, and this land was ready for a new age of cooperation.
Moreover, this was something they had already blessed with formal agreements.
Norn turned to face the crowd below, his subjects, his people, his responsibility. Though few in number, each human here represented hope for their entire race.
He raised his right hand, and gradually the cheers quieted. Meeting countless expectant gazes, he began to speak.
"My people, we gather here today not just for my coronation, but for our shared home, for the hope we protect together, the El Kingdom!"
Five years ago, Norn had established this city with fewer than a thousand human residents. While it claimed to be a human nation, it had initially relied heavily on other races for support.
Now, after years of patient growth, more humans had heard tales of the city's prosperity and journeyed here to join their people, allowing the population to exceed ten thousand, a true city by any measure.
His gaze swept across the viewing platform once more, acknowledging the Dwarf King and Elf King with subtle nods, before finally settling on Somo with deep affection.
Their eyes met across the distance, and in that moment, both felt the weight of all they had shared and lost.
The original salvation team had long since disbanded, each member following their own destiny. Even on this important occasion, only Somo had come to witness his triumph.
But Norn held no resentment about the absences.
Whether it was the vanished Kurtz, or Olivia who had chosen exile in the now-gone lands Divine Kingdom, or Serie who continued advancing as a Saint along the endless path of magical discovery, each had their own calling to follow.
There was even their former friend, who now worked from the shadows, whose identity Norn would not speak aloud.
As their gazes met, Norn understood Somo's unspoken thoughts perfectly. All the complex emotions of their shared past were contained in that brief exchange of glances.
Norn nodded slightly, then continued his address with renewed conviction.
"We will not forget! The threat of the demon race has not been eliminated, and we will remember everything they did to this world thirty years ago. I established this human nation not just to protect our people, but to stand guard against the demon race, and to fight for lasting peace across all lands!
Although the God-Slayer of legend is not here among us, I will uphold his sacred will and ensure that El's Light shines eternal!"
The God-Slaying hero Kurtz, also revered as the Great Sage and the Saint, carried countless honours. Though he had vanished without a trace, both humans and other races continued to hold his memory sacred.
The crowd shouted his name with voices hoarse from emotion, and the entire plaza was consumed by an even more intense wave of celebration.
[End of Chapter]