Gaia and the Sword Emperor
Gaia. Lucius Altrius III, one of the early emperors of the Romania Empire and known as the Sword Emperor, the Emperor of Swords. Among the countless emperors in Romania Empire history, he possesses the most tales and is undoubtedly a profoundly unique figure.
Born the son of Lucius Altrius II—who elevated the kingdom to an empire and stabilized it—the Sword Emperor was a crown prince endowed with powerful legitimacy and exceptional talent. Everyone believed without doubt that he would lead the glorious empire forward. That is, until his father died young, and the throne that should have been his passed to his uncle. No matter how outstanding the crown prince's qualities, the Sword Emperor was still just a teenager in his mid-teens at the time.
There were those dissatisfied with a mere child ascending the throne. Their leader was none other than the brother of the previous emperor. Known to later generations as the throne usurper, he used his silver tongue to block the Sword Emperor's coronation and even attempted to poison his meals.
The one who saved the Sword Emperor from such threats was his younger sister, the Dragon Maiden Vivian.
With Vivian's help, the Sword Emperor escaped the castle and fled to a forest known as the Impassable Woods. Legends say that during the era when gods ruled the earth, this forest—called the Deep Forest—was home to a sage. Some unofficial histories even claim this sage was the same Deep Forest Sage who aided Lyclean.
That sage had once lent knowledge to the Knight King and earned his trust as a result. The Knight King had shared this story with the Sword Emperor when he was still young. With his sister's aid, the Sword Emperor fled the castle in a frenzy, plunging into the Impassable Woods and encountering the sage who dwelled there.
Raised under the sage's tutelage, the two siblings journeyed for several years before toppling the usurper and reclaiming the throne. Thus, Lucius Altrius III took back what had been stolen from him.
Another tale about Sword Emperor Lucius Altrius III concerns the demonic sword he received from his master: the blade that must never be drawn, Dainsleif. Known by another name as the Sword of Unforgetting. It grants the drawer their heart's desire—or so it seems on the surface—but never their true wish. Only its first owner, the Sword Emperor, knew the reason behind such ominous titles.
The reason he earned the title Emperor of Swords lay not only in that demonic sword from his master but also in his unmatched prowess as a swordsman of his era. The famous anecdote of him defeating the entire Imperial Knights—the strongest order of the time—and the Epona Knights armed only with a single wooden sword speaks volumes of his strength. Remarkably, both knight orders were fully equipped with armor and steel blades, yet they fell to the Sword Emperor, who wielded nothing but that wooden bokken.
His overwhelming power stemmed from the swordsmanship imparted by his master, combined with techniques for channeling mana to reinforce the body. Regrettably, he never passed these methods on to others. This led to rumors that "the Sword Emperor was actually a natural-born mage who simply used body-enhancement spells."
Yet another story about the Sword Emperor is that he remained a bachelor until his death, never taking an empress. The reason this man, who had ascended the throne, chose a life of solitude remains unknown, spawning countless rumors without solid proof. The most popular tale claims he lost his beloved during the battle against the usurper.
He showed no interest whatsoever in other women, but witnesses noted that he occasionally wore a ring on the ring finger of his left hand—clear evidence of a lover who had reached that intimate stage. Some busybodies even spun absurd tales like "he was actually in love with his sister?"
The Dragon Maiden Vivi dispelled all such suspicions by declaring, "I swear on the name of the Life Goddess herself—how could I possibly like that idiot?" She followed it up with, "That fool will never love anyone else in his lifetime," which only fueled the rumors that he had lost his true love.
The Sword Emperor, who ruled the Romania Empire for so long, eventually passed the throne to his nephew. Afterward, he built a small house in one corner of the garden and lived there quietly.
"So, what is it you want to talk about?"
The emperor. Lucius Altrius III. The man called Arthur by his master and sister spoke in a sharp, irritated tone.
This eccentric emperor, who handled all state affairs before retreating to the small house in the garden behind the palace, treated everyone harshly except his sister—including his retainers.
"The famine that blanketed this land has vanished, and the people now praise Your Majesty from every corner. Yet there lingers unease. If Your Majesty were to take an empress and secure the line of succession, we could alleviate the people's worries—"
The retainer mid-sentence suddenly felt an immense pressure bearing down on him and hastily prostrated himself. It wasn't physical force but an intangible aura crushing his spirit—the so-called killing intent that swordsmen spoke of.
"Withdraw."
"B-But..."
"I won't say it twice."
The retainer felt his breathing grow labored. It was as if razor-sharp blades coiled around his entire body, ready to slice him apart at the slightest mistake. Even without a sword in hand, the emperor could end him in an instant.
"Really now. I get where you're coming from, but tone it down a bit."
The killing intent dissipated as the emperor's younger sister entered through the open door.
"Now, if you value your life, get out. And don't dirty the floor."
The emperor's sister, Vivian, flicked her wrist lightly. The prostrated retainer floated up slightly and was gently propelled toward the door, which swung open on its own to eject him.
"Insolent fool."
"What? You need to do something about that prickly temper. How does Master put up with that face?"
"......"
The emperor glared silently at Vivian for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
"So. What is it?"
"Stories about Master. I dug up everything I could."
"Master?"
His eyes changed at those words.
"Yeah. Master. The name Gaia itself was a hint she gave us."
"A hint..."
With that, Vivian pulled a book from her bosom and tossed it to the emperor.
"I summarized it all in there. Read it when you have time."
"Hm. Any other business?"
"Nope. Just delivering the book. What, you think I'd nag you about heirs like the other retainers?"
"......"
The emperor said nothing.
"As if I'd say that. Not to a lunatic who fell for a rock golem of a master."
"Watch your words, little sister."
"But it's true, right?"
The emperor had no retort.
"Anyway, I'm off. As for heirs... well, it'll work out somehow. Adopt one from the imperial collaterals, or I marry someone decent, have a kid, and make 'em crown prince. Something like that."
"You, marry? You're the Dragon Maiden."
"They said it's fine to give that up. Sure, it's a shame... but I've done my part."
Vivian spoke lightly, but the emperor knew the immense sacrifice it entailed.
"...Thank you."
"Best would be if you took a concubine and had a kid, but that's not happening. So I'll handle it. Gotta have a face to show Master."
With those words, Vivian left the audience chamber with light steps. The emperor watched her retreating figure. She was a sister far too good for him.
The emperor—no, Arthur—returned to the small house nestled in one corner of the garden. Inside the crude stone dwelling stood simple furnishings and a statue of a woman.
"I'm home, Master."
After murmuring to the empty air, Arthur sat beside the statue and gazed at it. The statue depicted a beauty so lifelike it felt unfamiliar. On her left ring finger gleamed a stone ring adorned with emerald—identical in design to the one he carried.
"Master, Vivi brought a book with stories about you."
Arthur pulled the book from his bosom and opened it. It detailed Gaia, the goddess titled Mother of All Earth.
The Earth Mother. Thinking back, it made sense. Who else would sculpt a small rocky hill for a disciple's training? Who else would divert a river for the sake of practice? Who else could erect a stone rampart in an instant? Who else could banish a nationwide famine in a single moment?
No one but the gods who once ruled this land. No one but a god.
"So that's how it was."
Even after the gods abandoned the earth, the Earth Mother had remained. Disguised as the Deep Forest Sage, she lived on for humanity's sake. Even after her faithful dwindled away. Even as the fate of a god bereft of faith loomed.
As Arthur read on, his eyes caught on one passage.
'The Mother of Earth, Gaia, is often equated with the Life Goddess.'
He couldn't simply skim past that. It resolved a lingering doubt as well.
Why had his master known so much about the Dragon Maiden? How had she awakened his poison-afflicted sister as one? Living in the Deep Forest, how had she summoned priests from the Life Church outside? How had his sister—who loved their master as much as he did—overcome her grief so swiftly?
All the answers lay with the Life Goddess. His master. Gaia. The Mother of All Earth. She lingered within the Life Goddess. Surely, she did.
