Ancient Imperial Calendar, Year 1813
It had been a week since Ricardo had learned the truth about the past of the Kislavein Dynasty from his father, Orsman.
In response to a call for aid from the Eastern Lands, Orsman had departed on the second eastern campaign, taking 75% of the Kislavein armies with him.
In his absence, he left the governance of the Western Lands to his son, Ricardo.
Until Ricardo returned from the Kerbel campaign, the management of affairs would temporarily fall to his mother, Seliarnevre.
Together with Ricardo, 3,500 others who had graduated from the Blood Academy were prepared for the expedition into the Kerbel Forest.
Before taking command of the army waiting in front of the palace, Ricardo had a long conversation with his mother.
"Are you ready, Ricardo?" said Seliarnevre with a worried expression.
"I'm ready, mother," said Ricardo with confidence.
"Mother, there's something I want to ask you," Ricardo said.
"Of course, my son," replied Seliarnevre.
"Father told me something about a forgotten tradition in our dynasty."
"What did he say?" asked Seliarnevre, her voice filled with curiosity and excitement.
"He said that in the Kislavein Dynasty, males were once given names ending in 'do'. But this tradition was forgotten over the past five or six generations. In fact, he said he values you greatly because you chose to give me a name ending in 'do' to keep that tradition alive."
"What? There was such a tradition? This is the first time I'm hearing about it, Ricardo."
Seliarnevre was surprised — she had just learned about a tradition she had never heard of before, but Ricardo was even more surprised than she was.
"Wait a minute... you mean you didn't know about it either, mother?"
"No, like I said, this is the first time I've heard of it."
"Then why did you give me this name, mother?" Ricardo asked.
"It was my grandfather's name."
"But mother, wasn't your grandfather's name Arlous?"
"No, not my paternal grandfather — my maternal grandfather, Ricardo.
He was the one who taught me magic, and he showed me more love than my own father ever did.
So I wanted to show my gratitude by giving his name to my son."
Seliarnevre's explanation struck Ricardo as both tragic and comical.
His father Orsman had believed that Seliarnevre was upholding a long-forgotten tradition, while in reality, she didn't even know such a tradition existed — it had all been nothing more than a huge coincidence.
Ricardo couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Pffft hahaha! I haven't laughed like that in ages—seriously, I feel like all my stress just melted away, Mom!"
Ricardo stood up from the table. Just as he was about to leave the room, Seliarnevre called out after him.
"Ricardo, could you come here for a moment?"
"What is it, Mom?"
"I wanted to ask you something about Marilin. You went to the graduation ball with Arnheid instead of her. Why did you do that?"
"Mom, I've had this conversation enough times with my friends already. That's enough. I never saw Marilin that way. Please, just accept it already."
Ricardo left the room. As he walked through the palace corridors, everyone who saw him knelt and greeted him with respect.
When he stepped outside through the grand gates of the palace, the 3,500 soldiers waiting for him immediately dropped to one knee and bowed their heads the moment they saw him.
"HONOR TO THE HEIR OF THE DYNASTY!"
The crowd greeted Ricardo in unison.
Ricardo raised his hand, signaling his soldiers to lift their heads, and began to speak in a firm, commanding voice.
"COMRADES! TODAY, IN THE JOURNEY THAT BEGAN FOUR YEARS AGO, WE FACE OUR FIRST GREAT TRIAL! BY ORDER OF OUR DYNASTIC LORD, ORSMAN IV OF KISLAVEIN, NOT A SINGLE LIVING BEING SHALL REMAIN BREATHING IN THE KERBEL FOREST!"
Ricardo drew his sword — and with him, all his soldiers unsheathed theirs in perfect unison.
"FOR OUR LORD! FOR KISLAVEIN!" Ricardo shouted with all his might. The army roared back, repeating his words as one.
Ricardo marched at the very front, leading his troops with unwavering resolve.
By evening, the vanguard of the conquest led by Ricardo had reached the edge of the Kerbel Forest.
Everyone took a moment to gaze at the surrounding greenery and listened, perhaps for the last time, to the peaceful songs of the birds that filled the air with serenity — for they knew that this might be the final march for many among them.
Ricardo took a deep breath. There wasn't the slightest trace of hesitation on his face — yet deep inside, a faint sliver of worry stirred. He was about to step into a world unlike anything he had ever seen in his previous life.
He raised his sword and pointed it toward the forest.
"ADVANCE!" Ricardo shouted.
At that very moment, the entire army surged forward — and thus began the Kerbel Forest Campaign.