Gun of Ashes

The term ”Nation-Builder” is both familiar and unknown. Lorenzo learned about them from Oscar; the core controllers of Nordro are these so-called Nation-Builders.

”You mean... are you one of the Nation-Builders?”

Lorenzo asked in disbelief. He never thought the Queen would be one of them, and more so, he didn’t expect things concerning Oscar Wilde. Clearly, that bastard hid a lot from Lorenzo.

But thinking about it, Oscar is just a third-rate novelist, a lunatic. It’s hard for Lorenzo to associate him with any earth-shattering schemes, and Oscar has shown no anomalies during their time together.

”What are Nation-Builders?”

Arthur asked, still unsure about all these things.

”A group. But to go into detail, we must start with the original Alchemy Group.

In the history of Alchemy, the original group was the Rosicrucian Order. They expanded gradually, transforming into the strong Golden Dawn. But unknown events led to a split in the Golden Dawn; some remained at the World’s End, building a library to preserve once-forbidden knowledge. You should be aware by now that these people are the Secret Keepers.”

The Queen narrated the past slowly, while Lorenzo and Arthur listened intently to the history not recorded in books, passed down only through memory.

Lorenzo had questioned more than once: if humans fought against demons for endless time, then before definite historical records, what stance did humans take to combat demons in that unknown era?

Just like the era hypothesis proposed by Lorenzo de’ Medici.

It’s hard to determine if a traced-back era existed. Lorenzo de’ Medici once suspected that the so-called demons emerged in that era, leading to the Dark Era where humans were slaughtered by demons. Then came the Silver Era, where the initial Saints traveled north to obtain the Revelation and Gospel, founding the Evangelical Church and establishing the Demon Hunting Order.

This was an era when humans could combat demons; it’s the era Lorenzo currently lives in, and the rest is a future era, the Golden Era to eradicate demons.

”Mr. Holmes, you look like you’ve thought of something. Would you like to share? We have plenty of time today.”

The Queen smiled at Lorenzo.

Without hesitation, Lorenzo voiced his thoughts.

”I am pondering the division of eras. Knowing of the Secret Keepers and the forbidden knowledge they hold, I’m wondering if the Revelation and Gospel are related to the Secret Keepers.”

Though lacking concrete evidence, Lorenzo vaguely felt he was right; all paths seemed to converge in one direction.

”Did the initial Saints acquire knowledge from the Secret Keepers? If this assumption stands, the existence of the Secret Keepers can roughly be placed before the Silver Era. Before them, when they were still Golden Dawn or further, Rosicrucian Order, were they part of an even more remote era... an uncertain traced-back era?”

Facing Lorenzo’s words, the Queen shook her head with a smile.

”I’m sorry, I don’t know. The Victoria family has been trapped here for over a century. The furthest I’ve walked is Reindona Port. As Queen, I’ve never traveled through this country.

Regarding what you said, it’s the same; I only know what has been passed down in my family.”

”Ingwig calendar year 932.”

Arthur spoke suddenly, feeling puzzled after hearing Lorenzo’s words. In the grand scale of time, humans seem fragile.

”On this Ingwig land, from recorded history, merely 932 years have passed. That’s just us; other nations older than us possess even longer histories, all beginning with the emergence of demon hunters, marking the Silver Era.”

Arthur looked at Lorenzo.

”Are you familiar with the history of the Evangelical Church? Beginning from the birth of demon hunters.”

”No specific time. Roughly around a thousand years? Similar to Ingwig’s history,” Lorenzo knew what Arthur wanted, ”Meaning the Silver Era has just started around a thousand years ago? There might be some error, possibly a few hundred years...”

In the early days of demon hunters, there was also recorded history’s fiercest war period between humans and demons; war blurred the times, most history faded in the flames.

”Then, your group, originating from a distant era, perhaps Nation-Builders could complete the history before the Silver Era.”

Lorenzo looked at the Queen again, and she retained her smile, then shook her head.

”I’m sorry.”

She apologized once more.

”You might be disappointed... at least the Victoria family isn’t aware of history before the Silver Era; even if once known, it’s likely forgotten in time, for humans are fragile.”

The Queen recounted the past of the Victoria family.

”Remember what I told you? Though the Victoria family was once part of an Alchemy Group, perhaps enjoying endless brilliance, the erosion of time withers even the most flourishing honor; let alone cursed knowledge.