Chapter 80: Continent, Nations.
Jaden ignored the siblings and focused on the changes within the system.
’System.’
A blue screen appeared before him.
————[System]————
Host: Jaden Cross
Job: The Shutter Summoner
Level: 15
Experience: 12/200
Mark: [Shadow], [Sun]*, [Moon]*, [Nature]*, [Storm]*, [War]*
Grimoire: Platinum (Bound – 5/7)
▪︎ Bronze - Sun [+]
▪︎ Bronze - War [+]
▪︎ Silver - Nature [+]
▪︎ Silver - Storm [+]
▪︎ Gold - Moon
Skills:
• [Capture] – Seal targets into pictures using Slots (Film).
• [Picturebook] – Codex of Summons, Spells, and Arts.
• [Summon] – Manifest sealed creatures temporarily.
• [Binding Codex] – Synchronise growth with bound Grimoires.
• [Site Tethering] – Save seven locations to teleport to.
Available Features:
• [Profile] – Status overview.
• [Epiphany Zone] – Training & comprehension mind space.
• [Picturebook] – Codex of Summons, Spells, Arts.
• [Quests] – Track active missions, objectives, and rewards.
Slots: 4
————[System]————
After reading all of it, he checked the picturebook.
————[Picturebook]————
Entries Catalogued: 15
Sections: [Summons] [Spells] [Arts] [Relics] [Others]
[Summons]
• [Mistwraith – (E)], [Galewolf(s) - (F) - (x7)], [Umbralfang – (C)], [Tartarus Giant – (C)]
[Spells]
• [1-star spells], [2-star spells]
[Arts]
• [Iron Body Form ★], [Shattering Fist ★], [Dashing Step ★], [Basic Sword Forms ★], [Falling Petal Sword ★★], [Gale Steps ★★]
[Relics]
• [The lost eye - Rare], [All-severing Moonlight (Replica) - Legendary]
[Others]
• [Bag of Fresh Bread - (x1)], [Canteen of Fresh Water - (x1)], [Lethyros]
————[Picturebook]————
He focused on his new capture, and its information appeared before him.
————[Picturebook]————
Tartarus Giant
Rank: Expert or C rank
Description: Born from the light of the spark, it was destined to serve the storm as one of the prison guards. Yet in defiance, it betrayed the flame. For that treachery, it was thrown into a lone prison.
Abilities: [Sealed]
————[Picturebook]————
Jaden’s surprised face quickly turned into a frown.
’Huh? Sealed? Is that even possible?’
However, before he could dig deeper into those thoughts, Maria called out to him.
"Jaden."
Jaden came out of his reverie and looked at her, waiting for her to continue whatever she wanted to say.
Once she had his attention, she casually kicked aside the bag of human flesh, whimpering under her and asked softly.
"Now that you no longer have your memories, do you still want to continue the academy?" She paused as her lips dropped in a frown, and her eyes turned worried as she continued, "You should have already entered second year because of what had happened... a year ago..." She clenched her fists at the end as she thought of the day when Jamie and others had fallen into that dreamgate.
’It’s great that he is fine... and alive,’ She thought as she glanced at Jamie, who was still tied by the silver rope and had a few bruises and punch marks all over.
She heaved a sigh and recalled the silver blob as she took her seat. Jamie also slowly stood up with a pained expression and looked at Jaden with eyes that said: How could you?
Jaden looked at him and gave a sheepish smile before rubbing his face with his hand as he thought.
’Arcane Knight Academy would be my best option to gather as much information as possible in the least amount of time... and maybe I would probably find something related to this,’ as he finished his thoughts, a blue screen appeared before him.
[Quest 2: Obtain your memories.]
[Reward: Location of the 7th fragment.]
He dismissed the screen and responded while looking at Maria.
"I believe attending the academy would be the best for me."
Maria nodded at him and replied.
"If that’s what you decide, then you first have to know about what’s considered common knowledge... such as the hierarchy, ruling power and the world itself."
’Hmm? I thought she would try to talk me into staying with the Bannisters instead.’
Maria easily gleaned his thoughts but chose to ignore them. She lifted her hand, and a silver blob floated on her palm.
The blob expanded and took the shape of what appeared to be a map. It had seven arrows floating above it, each pointing to a specific location within the map.
They pointed at the centre, east, west, north, south, southeast, and northwest.. The arrow at the centre was a bit bigger than the others.
Maria waved her hand, and the arrows disappeared.
"Let’s begin with common geography. All of the one billion humans live on a single continent," she stated as the map moved in front of Jaden.
Jaden looked at the map with a raised eyebrow. The continent resembled a few continents from his past world that had been stuck together.
"But, most of the continent is still filled with nightmares and star beasts. We humans have established one capital, four great nations and two holy lands."
As she spoke, arrows appeared above the silver map. First, it appeared in the centre, then at the four cardinal directions and lastly at the southeast and northwest.
She pointed at the centre, and its arrow became bigger as she stated.
"At the centre of the continent is the capital, Fatherion. Ruled by the sole sovereign of all humanity, the Immortal Emperor of bright light."
Her hand shifted to the south as she continued.
"In the south is one of the four great nations or dukedoms, Solaria. Ruled by the sun duke, the Blazing Human Beast."
Her hand pointed at the other locations as she continued.
"In the east is the second great nation, Cyclot. Ruled by the storm duke, the Chaotic Thundering Spear. In the north is the third great nation, Serensa. Ruled by the moon duke, the Calm Illusion Sword. In the west is the final..." she paused for a moment as a bitter look appeared on her face. Jaden’s eyebrow arched, and a frown appeared on his lips, but he didn’t say anything.
Jamie was the one to continue her words.
"In the west is the final great nation, Ambitus. Ruled by the war marquise, the Bloodied Trident."
Jaden looked at him with confusion and muttered.
"A marquise? Not a duke?"
Jamie leaned back in his chair and looked at Maria with a heavy look, to which Maria nodded and answered.
"The war duke had led a coup to seize the throne of the emperor; however, the coup failed, and he died by the emperor’s hands... the family of the duke was demoted to the rank of marquis as punishment for the duke’s crimes."