The Truth

[If you are reading this, you will come to know the truth about Helvetia. You will hate the truth, even though the truth will ultimately set you free.]

[Years before the event, the event which cursed our land, a building was destroyed in a large spell wave. This was soon blamed on a cult - though at the time, no such cult existed.]

[The cult was secretly constructed by our queen; the details were as intricate as the craftsmanship in this chamber.]

[Truthfully, there was no cult. It was all a lie.]

“Wow…” Jay passed Anya the tablets he read, and continued reading the others.

[The cult was made to protect the prince.]

[The source of the explosion was due to the prince after all. The prince, seeking power, began his own forbidden mana-craft research before ultimately using it for political means: terrorism. He hated his father who gave himself longevity with magic.]

[For the prince, the idea of ruling started like a pleasant dream. Over time, it turned to a longing, then a passion, and eventually bitter frustration. Anger followed, and year after year, decade after decade, step by step, he changed.]

[A small stream can cleave mountains when given enough time, and the prince was much less than a mountain. A similar method was used to make our citizens trusting and unwary.]

[The prince would never ascend the throne as long as our king lived, and it seemed Helotian would live forever - but perhaps turmoil would get him ousted?]

[After the prince’s incidents got worse, the need for the construction of the elaborate fake cult only grew bigger.]

[The forbidden magic was growing stronger than he could have ever imagined, and it only fuelled his desire for more. Our prince began testing it on surrounding nations and this only increased the need for the growth of the cult, causing it to eventually become an international network.]

[Our queen, of course, loves her son and took measures to protect him: she continued to make up the cult propaganda, eventually causing the military to chase the cult around the countryside - ironically, she saved them from the event.]

[The military had departed to chase the elaborate cult, yet the cult were able to easily escape the military as they were secretly fed information by the queen.]

[The prince uncaringly proceeded with his experiments. The sacrifices he made so far would count for nothing if he stopped now, so he continued in his madness. He quickly lost control as his forbidden magic grew, and we all know what happened next. The event: Helvetias destruction]

[The queen, the prince, and the esteemed noble were spared from the calamity through the highborn rings. Still, they chose to turn to stone to avoid suspicion, while others chose it for revenge: the revenge pact.]

[Even after turning to stone, the prince was still seeking power. He made himself an enemy of Helvetia and gathered his own troops, promising them immortality for service and rallying them in hidden parts of the country.]

[Despite there being nothing left, he still wished to rule over a cursed wasteland. It seems that he merely wanted power for the sake of it. He didn’t care how many would suffer along the way.]

[The queen, still wanting to protect her son even after the disaster, made a move to destroy the military. Eventually, she ripped their soul seals out after declaring the cult to be destroyed, freeing them from the pact and allowing them to die. After all these years, it will be a sweet release.]

[The queen declared that the prince had slain the cult and the revenge pact was complete. Now we could all be free.]

[It was not mercy to her loyal troops, but this was done to stop them from capturing the prince if this truth was ever revealed. Still, there were fates worse than death, and the anger of Helvetia burned brightly in the hearts of every single soldier. Helvetia was united in this respect as they constructed the pyramids.]

[Over the years, she began to change the black pyramid to white, a sign of peace and newness. A declaration of change - a signal, beckoning her son's return.

[Eventually, she longed for what helvetia once had: all the flora and fauna, plants and animals, which now surround the throne only as carvings.]

[Time passed, and the prince had not been seen for hundreds of years. Eventually, the queen decided she should move on. After so much time, she realised this immortality they gained was nothing but a trap.]

[In the end, in her final days, she found herself agreeing with the prince: only a God should rule eternally.]

[We, her loyal servants, are tasked to protect the message inscribed on her throne, the lie meant to make peace - but if the king, the prince, or whoever reads it are not satisfied, they will hopefully find our tablets; the truth.]

[We chose to bury these under her throne, as we believe the king or prince would be hesitant to disturb the remains of her stone shell.]

“Shit. All to protect the prince? A whole empire destroyed on the whims of one selfish child…” Jay shook his head, clenching his jaw in anger and frustration.

“The queen should have disciplined her son in the very beginning, perhaps it wouldn’t have come to this - instead she covered up his behaviour which only let it grow.”

“Such a waste… so many lives were affected.” Jay pursed his lips.

“Still, I guess it’s only a dungeon.”

Jay decided that if he ever found the prince, perhaps he wouldn’t kill him - it seems that living as a cold statue forever and slowly losing your mind was a more fitting punishment.

Free, enjoy :)