Immortal Kingdoms

Separating the group from the region known as the Star Territory was a tropical rainforest, one of the longest canyons to be discovered in the human domain, and an expansive clearance inhabited by ferocious, magical beasts.

The region was dubbed Star Territory mainly due to the fact that the five towns are spread out in an inverted pentagram formation akin to a star. While the fleet of wagons was advancing, three of them to be exact with Leonardo and company occupying the wagon in the middle, Leonardo broached the subject of the royal crest of House Grace to Juvia.

As an elf, she must have a talent for art, and thus Leonardo gave her a general outline of what he desired to be the emblem crest of his house.

He described it as a white feminine angel cradling a crimson star in her embrace, shielding it from an encroaching ubiquitous darkness with a divine radiance from her folded wings.

As for the wings, he requested for a total of twelve wings in six pairs, folding over the angel's figure much like an omnidirectional sphere. As such, the angel must adopt a fetus position. This concludes the overall concept and design of the royal crest, she would make sure to print it out in varying classes of metal, including but not limited to gold and silver.

Leonardo wanted a symbolic emblem that reflected his past, present, and future.

The darkness, obviously, represented the despair and helplessness he carried in his heart. As for the divine light, it could be inferred from the dull gray sky Leonardo had to cope with for over almost three decades of his life.

Although it wasn't much of a gentle experience, the membrane separating the Exiled Paradise from the universe as a whole inspired Leonardo to envision this light that was as divine as it was desolate.

The crimson star was the easiest piece in the symbolic puzzle as it iconised the start of Leonardo's conquest in Arcadia, and by extension, the grand world at large. Crimson represented the mark of House Hestia, more precisely, that young and petite silhouette who gave him this opportunity he so desperately clutched and protected, lest it all one day goes away.

The final art of the emblem was the angel. Although he felt it was cliche, and borderline cheesy, he hoped to look at this being as though it was his own mother.

That's the least he could do as a filial son.

Of course, he wouldn't go out of his way and explain what represented what in his royal emblem, he would simply leave everyone to their own devices.

"Are you guys comfortable there?" A faint thud echoed inside the wagon as Miko jumped on the wooden roof, his voice vibrating through the planks constructing the closed carriage.

"Is there something wrong?" Leonardo questioned in a calm yet inquisitive voice.

"Nothing, at least not yet! If my sources are viable, the journey might prove quite the hassle with a bounty on you guys, especially one handed down by the royal family of House Regalia!"

"Apparently, they've issued a regional bounty for a young man, white haired and always dressed in white, accompanied by two white haired women, one of them an elf, and two children."

"Well, I don't know about you folks, but you pretty much match that description to me! I guess they're not entertaining the idea of throwing their saints and soldiers to the slaughter, hence they're using a borrowed knife to get the job done." Miko sighed, leaning back on the wagon's roof while chewing down the tip of his dagger. However, the reinforced steel bent and twisted like a straw stick.

"Should we be worried?" Leonardo asked with a faint smile. Although Miko couldn't see that smile, he could distinguish the ridicule in the young man's tone.

"Not at all! I'm honestly here with another proposal!" Miko spoke up.

"I'm listening." Responded Leonardo.

​ "If we make it into the borders of the Sylvia Kingdom without a hitch… Erm, I mean, without any of your experts having to make a move, how about you incorporate Grim and Reaper into your personal force? Royal Guards maybe...?"

Leonardo was a bit surprised, mainly because he was hesitant about broaching the subject of recruiting these people himself. Thus, he confirmed it by asking with a hint of doubt in his voice, "My Royal Guards?"

"What? That's too much to ask? It doesn't have to be that high of a position, normal guards would do as well…" Miko hastily responded, thinking that he might have asked too much off the bat.

"Why do you want to join the banner of my house?" Leonardo asked curiously. I mean sure, he was severely lacking in subordinates if he wanted to defend his territory and expand with military efforts.

Slaves can be counted as working force, but their combat experience is severely lacking. He had plans to carry out a cleansing and shrink down the ten thousand slaves to perhaps one thousand, split them into five regiments, and station each regiment into one of the five mansions.

As for Miko, Misaka, and their twelve brothers and sisters in arms, Leonardo already inspected their physiques and he could groom them into saints.

The downside being that their potential is limited to the first cycle only, perhaps the siblings could push their luck to the second cycle, but that's the extent of their natural endowment.

One might ask why wouldn't Leonardo dual cultivate with Misaka and improve her physique and talent much like he did with Pandora and Juvia.

In reality, Pandora and Juvia could be listed as unorthodox or peculiar cases as the former's blood essence and the latter's soul seed have been baptised, nourished, and implanted with Leonardo's will and martial intent, allowing them to artificially and forcefully improve their natural endowment.

Leonardo wasn't so extravagant to continually split portions of his will just to groom some subordinates, especially when he's not lacking in the strength department anymore. In fact, he was forced by the circumstances back then, unless he desired for Juvia and Pandora to be stuck as mortals, he had no choice but to return their respective soul seed and blood essence. Thus, the two women could be flagged as lucky, nothing more and nothing less.

Regardless, having an extra fourteen saints, even if they were the most common bottom of the barrel type of saints, would serve just as fine to solidify the foundations of his territory.

Regardless, the young man was nonetheless curious about Miko's motives, even if just as nothing more than superficial formalities or a standard protocol.

Miko visibly relaxed, returning to lay down as he munched away at the steel dagger while musing over his next few words. He wanted to leave a good impression on his future to be boss, so he thought long and hard as the wind carried his long green hair haphazardly.

"Me and my brothers are bored, I guess…" Miko started in a low voice, but everyone could hear him, including the two children, even with the loud rumbling of the wagon's wheels.

"Each and every one of us came from a humble background. A convicted family or a noble house that fell from grace; the stories vary really. However, one thing we have in common is the lack of a place to settle down."

"I mean, who wants to take in a group of refugees with tabs of piled up debts and blood feuds? The crimes of our forefathers brought hell and rain of ash on our families, and you can say we are the last remnants after trials of blood and fire."

"We got bored and tired of this lifestyle, but with our stained history, finding a new start is quite difficult, ya know?"

Crack!

Miko clenched his teeth on the steel dagger, crushing it to bits. The sound was grating to the ears, one could hear the frustration buzzing from the grounded teeth that locked off the cold weapon.

"Everyone was scared out of their wits that goresome dawn when news about the ravine of demise spread like wildfire. I pulled on every connection and favours I had to get to the bottom of this. What everyone else saw as a catastrophe, me and my elder sister saw as an opportunity!"

"No matter how big of a shithole our forefathers got themselves into, it wasn't as brazen as offending two ruling powers and a vassal kingdom! Now that shit is fucked up man!" Miko yelled with a fervour zeal in his dark green eyes, gone was the frustration and in its place was a drive to see the world engulfed in chaos.

"Those pretentious, sanctimonious bastards had it coming sooner or later! However, if another catastrophe like that was to ever befall these lands, me and my brothers want to be in the heart of it all venting our frustrations!"

"So, Prince Leonardo, are you willing to give us that opportunity?!"

Miko dangled over the wagon's side, his long hair long messed up, but he peered through the window at the smiling face of the young businessman.

Leonardo could see the bubbling excitement in the young man's eyes, a motivation not the least bit affected by his skinny build or dirted countenance.

Leonardo couldn't help but laugh softly , shaking his head as he did so, his flat smile morphing into the shadow of a sinister grin.

Miko could've swore that the young man's eyes flashed crimson for an instant before his face resumed that calm flat smile after he kneaded his forehead.

"Alright," Leonardo responded through the gaps of his fingers, "I'll grant you that opportunity."

In the foremost wagon, Misaka was playing with a set of throwing daggers when she heard the entire conversation. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face as she said, "Well boys, you heard em'!"

"Sharpen your weapons!"

The men didn't respond, bit dense killing intent began to undulate from their bodies.

Misaka didn't know just what obstinate fools would dare approach them, but may god have mercy on their souls for they'd dearly need it.

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