I created my own system

Despite the blood season ending and the blue snow seizing to exist. The harsh weather of winter was still faliing endlessly.

"Young master are you nervous?"

"What do you mean?"

"Its because you are shaking, are you alright? Do you want me to pick up the herbal tea that the young miss made for you"

Liam sincerely offered but Eros just shook his head.

"There is no need for that I dont need it the tea either, and besides this shaking"

He glance at his trembling hands before strongly clenching them.

"Its not about being nervou" a confident smile then escape from his along hs firm and resolute voice.

"Its excitement"

The cold harsh wind seeped deeper into Eros' armor as he stepped off the airship. Snowflakes swirled in chaotic breeze, they dance like spirits ready to spread their dangerous wings. The young duke look at his surrounding all he could see is a city filled with snow, one that received less damage than the other territories.

A controlled anger came to his heart as the images of the broken cities and town came to him. They came in vivid manner making all the pain to return.

"Be calm" he patted his chest as if trying to convince himself to letgo of his hatred. "Now is not the time, I need to investigate first before making a move. That is my duty, and I shall fulfil it"

Besides Eros they are some mages from the association, the tower and the imperial palace. Aside from that around him, are the investigators, mages mobilize by the arcduke.

"Good day young lord of the Lionheart, I am Yukan, I shall be assisting you in this investigation"

"Good day as well sir Yukan but it seems that the grand duke isn't here, does that mean that this place isn't much of importance?"

Yukan couldn't help but laugh, it seems that he underestimates the young man in front of him.

Eros wanted to add more but decided not to, whatever this place meant whether its significant or not he will find that out later.

"For now I shall follow what the higher ups had decided, lead the way sir Yukan"

The officer in front of him couldn't help but smile liking how Eros answer, "It seems I was wrong about you young lion, please follow me"

They headed out and as they enter the kingdom of Lumen, the kingdom where one of the five World tree resides.

Eros close his eyes trying to sense the legendary tree even when its pretty far from him. Quietly as the temperature even more drop, he began to pray.

"Oh, tree of life and death please guide me, just how you guide those mages that whole heartedly believes in you"

The young lion wishes to give justice to you all the innocents he had seen being slaughtered, he wishes to end the madness he saw. He never wanted to witness such scene ever again.

The sky above the wall was a shifting gray, mirroring the unrest inside him.

There were doubts in his hearts, one that keep clawing its ways to his mind. Making him confuse and conflicted.

"Keep your eyes and mind open, Eros, you can do this. You made a promise in front of thier graves. You must fulfill it" he repeatedly said, it was a chant that keeping him motivated.

That day the entire group went into scanning the entire kingdom , they didn't let anyone know about their arrival they just swept every corner trying to find the thing that will lead them to the truth.

Tow days went by and a heavy snowstorm came crashing into the investigation.

"Is this place?"

Yukan ask as he use his ki to block the relentless wave of snow and wind.

"Yes sir, I think we found the place"

Right at the border of the Lumen, they found it. Hidden inside a mountain. Underneath the frosen stream, lies the underground laboratory they been seeking to find.

They entered and saw a place full of laboratory apparatus.

"What this is like the file I received from Apollo"

Eros muttered, apparently the day he arrived at Lumen Apollo responded to his message and gave him information about Dominos. According to him, he can use the information as a reference. Since both incidents are connected and similar to each other.

"I remember seeing this to the laboratory the tower raided before" Yukan said silently agreeing to Eros' words. Indeed what lies ahead are large cylinder glass tubes containing grosteque forms of beasts. At first glance there seem to be conducting experiment for mutation but it seems like the entire place were a cheap copy of the works of a certain mage.

"Something is off" the young Lionheart couldnt help but voice out is opinion, as he felt the situation a bit suspicious. According to the reports, what they are encountering is a different organizations than the Revolutionary Church. So how come they are so similar to each other?

"There is no way that there are still remaining remidants since the four cardinal dukes already vanguish them. Dont tell me they weren't completely eradicated?" Confusion filled him but still he choose to analyze the situation than to jump to conclusions. He step forward before the glass tubes. Behind him, his men and the other officers scrambled to stabilize the chamber.

Eros studied the specimens inside the tubes, and for a moment he felt no connection from the evil broodmothers he had seen before.

"Its really off" the file that he receives from Apollo made him doubt the laboratory he is seeing now. It felt like its trying to divert his attention from something important. He moved even closer, he was about to reach out when Liam grab him, away from the specimens.

"Wait young master look!" The loyal aid was filledd of dread, as the pile of flesh inside the murky liquid move, and slowly it began to draw bubbles. The breathing inside the tubes grew louder, harsher.

This cause them to draw their sealing artifacts and tools, ready to suppress whatever the thing inside the glass will do.

But then amidst the tension a new presence entered the chamber.

Click.

Boots echoed sharply on the icy floor.

A tall woman in imperial gray uniform stepped forward, her hair braided in silver coils, a brooch on her cloak shaped like a crimson phoenix, a mark of the organization she belongs. With a wave of her hand, the surging power within he tues seize from moving. As if hey hold no life to begin with.

"Young master of the Lionheart duchy," she said coolly. "You've found it, then."

Eros narrowed his eyes. "And you are?"

"Lady Viena Rische, another representative of the Archduke's Central Intelligence."

She handed him a sealed scroll. It bore imperial wax and the grand duke's insignia.

"The Emperor has ordered coordinated action. Just like what you discover here, it seems that the Kingdom of Lumen may have been using the remaining laboratories left by the traitor Nero."

"So it was really Lumen?" Eros said, confused. "But why would they—"

Viena interrupted, cold and efficient. "That will be you job to find out, aren't you here to investigate? Find the reason behind this, are they moving to reliatate from the council incident, or are they aiming for something else? Try to uncover it, young Lionheart"

After saying that she left without saying anymore making everyone dumbfounded.

"What just happened?" Liam muttered confused at the sudden turn of events.

Eros looked at the tube again. The creature inside was now curled in pain, mana veins glowing erratically.

He whispered to himself, "…but that doesn't make sense."

---

Elsewhere – Castle Ailen, Throne Room

King Lorenzo sat in his high seat, one hand supporting his chin. His personal advisor stood beside him, wrapping a scroll in a tight ribbon.

Sample from My Virtual Library Empire—read more on M&VLEMPY&R.

"Send the letter to the imperial council anonymously. Make it seem like Lumen is colluding with merchants to gather weapons of war"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Lorenzo smirked.

"They're drawing close. Let them believe what they want. Let them chase ghosts in Lumen. It will buy us time."

The door closed behind the courier.

He stood and walked toward a secret chamber. In a drak area, a mirror appeared before him. His reflection flickered just for a moment, a broodmother's face shimmered behind his own before vanishing.

"Time is all I need. Once the sixth weapon awakens, not even the the cardinalscan stop it."

---

Seventh day of Ianuarius

In the bloody field of snow, a young man covered in wounds stood among the injured people.

He walk slowly, approaching a certain silhouette. It was Viena, on her hand was a bloody sword. She was as Eros struggle to walk.

Her gaze was sharp, putting pressure to the weakened body of the young man.

"You have two options, Lord Eros. Share this discovery with the world…

Eros felt torn. His fists clenched.

This is a lie…

But it was a convenient lie. And one that protected Emilia.

"I need to see her," he finally said. "Emilia. I need to know if she had any part in this."

His voice was in pain but even so he continue to plea