《Records of Millinggarde: The First Suppression》 PROLOGUE ¡° This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡° ¡° CHAPTER ONE ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°
CHAPTER TWO Governor¡¯s Hall was a monument to Aether¡¯s philosophy¡ªimmaculate, imposing, devoid of excess. Towering walls of polished black stone stretched upward, seamless and smooth, as if carved from a single piece of the earth itself. Voluran sconces flickered with a soft, sterile light, illuminating the cavernous chamber with an ethereal blue hue. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡° No one had ever seen them move. They spoke, they commanded, and Aether obeyed. ¡° ¡° ¡° CHAPTER THREE Aether¡¯s vision of supremacy. parlor was gilded in soft gold tones, a deceptive warmth that masked the rigid coldness beneath. The furniture was immaculate, untouched, arranged in a manner that suggested they were for display rather than comfort. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡° ¡°
Interlude: The Forgotten Grave of Grieg¡¯s Lair

CHAPTER FOUR The Figsty pulsed with life. ¡° ¡° Koeper moved first. ¡° Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° CHAPTER FIVE The day began with a hush. ¡° ¡° The people gathered around a flickering, outdated screen, its edges rusted, its mana supply barely holding. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. The broadcast played in the lavish sitting rooms of Aether¡¯s elite. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°
CHAPTER SIX wooden doors of Adelpha¡¯s royal chamber stood firm, crafted from ancient oak that had witnessed the rule of countless kings before Alden. The room beyond was dimly lit, lined with towering bookshelves and tapestries woven with the golden crest of the stag. Unlike the cold, imposing structures of Aether, Adelpha¡¯s palace bore the weight of history¡ªnot with sterile perfection, but with the quiet wisdom of a nation that had endured. ¡° ¡° ¡° Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° CHAPTER SEVEN Prin Keli had never cared much for celebrations. ¡° Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. CHAPTER EIGHT The classroom at Rozzlax Academy was a study in contrasts. The walls, lined with polished steel and mana-infused glyphs, gleamed under the sterile light of Voluran sconces. The air was thick with the hum of magic, the faint crackle of energy emanating from the students¡¯ Voluran staffs, and the quiet murmur of hushed conversations. The room was a microcosm of Aether itself¡ªorderly, efficient, and cold. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The tension in the hallway was palpable as Ivan and Fent walked side by side, the echoes of their footsteps reverberating off the polished steel walls. The confrontation in the classroom had left a mark, not just on Lorcan and Ivan, but on the entire academy. Whispers followed them as they moved through the corridors, students casting furtive glances in their direction. The divide between the elitist Aethans and those of Millinggardan descent had always been present, but now it was out in the open, raw and unignorable. ¡° ¡° As the two combatants faced off, the crowd fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Lorcan¡¯s smirk widened, his confidence unshaken. Ivan, on the other hand, remained calm, his gaze steady and his movements deliberate. The duel was about to begin, and with it, the clash of two very similar yet different worlds CHAPTER NINE The duel between Ivan and Lorcan had been postponed, much to the disappointment of the gathered crowd. Headmaster Varleon had intervened at the last moment, his sharp voice cutting through the tension like a blade. ¡°This academy is not a gladiatorial arena,¡± he had said, his tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°If you wish to settle your differences, you will do so through proper channels.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡° ¡°
INTERLUDE ¡° ¡° A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° CHAPTER TEN ¡° Lorcan pressed his advantage, launching a barrage of wind slashes. Each attack was designed to chip away at Ivan¡¯s magic, to weaken him over time. Ivan deflected the strikes with his ice blades, but he could feel the drain with each impact. The wind magic was insidious, sapping his energy even as it failed to land a direct hit. ¡° ¡° If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡° The crowd erupted into applause as Ivan stepped back, his ice blades dissolving into mist. He extended a hand to Lorcan, helping him to his feet. Lorcan hesitated, then took it, his grip firm. ¡° ¡° Ivan knew he couldn¡¯t keep playing defense. Lorcan¡¯s wind magic was too efficient, too relentless. He needed to close the distance, to force Lorcan into a position where his speed and precision could shine. ¡° The crowd erupted into applause as Ivan stepped back, his ice blades dissolving into mist. He extended a hand to Lorcan, helping him to his feet. Lorcan hesitated, then took it, his grip firm. ¡° CHAPTER ELEVEN ¡° ¡° ¡° This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡° ¡° ¡° CHAPTER TWELVE ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Ivan lingered in the hallway outside the study, his mind still reeling from the conversation. The mention of a mole within the resistance had sent a chill down his spine, but it was Skarlett¡¯s presence that left the deepest impression. Her calm authority, the way she carried herself¡ªit was as if the air around her crackled with energy, dense and unyielding. He had always known she was powerful, but standing so close to her, he could feel the sheer magnitude of her mana. It was overwhelming, like standing too close to a roaring fire. ¡° ¡° CHAPTER THIRTEEN ¡° ¡° ¡° Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡° Later that night, Skyla gathered her inner circle in a small, dimly lit room at the back of an abandoned warehouse. The space was cramped, the air thick with the scent of oil and rust, but it was secure. The walls were lined with maps and diagrams, each one detailing a different aspect of Aether¡¯s infrastructure. Skyla stood at the head of the table, her arms crossed and her expression grim. ¡° ¡° CHAPTER FOURTEEN Deep beneath the iron-plated streets of Aether¡¯s capital, in the bowels of the city¡¯s most secure prison, the air was thick with the stench of blood and despair. The walls of the underground facility were lined with damp stone, the only light coming from flickering mana sconces that cast long, jagged shadows across the floor. This was the Dark Gallows, a place where Aether¡¯s enemies were broken, their spirits crushed under the weight of pain and fear. ¡° The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡° CHAPTER FIFTEEN ¡° Agatha¡¯s lips twitched, the barest hint of a smile. ¡°Perceptive as always. Shall we?¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Prin¡¯s smile returned, though it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Millinggarde¡¯s phildron reserves are vast and untapped. By integrating them into Aether¡¯s network, we¡¯ve secured a future for both nations.¡± As the meeting drew to a close, Agatha gestured to the poison guns carried by her guards. ¡°You¡¯ll notice our weapons are designed to incapacitate, not kill. Adelpha believes in minimizing harm, even in conflict. It¡¯s a philosophy we¡¯ve found effective.¡± Agatha nodded, her expression polite but distant. ¡°Of course. We look forward to continued dialogue.¡± ¡° CHAPTER SIXTEEN ¡° The room erupted into murmurs, the tension palpable. Skyla¡¯s gaze swept over the group, her expression unreadable. ¡°This is our chance,¡± she said, her voice firm. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to mess it up.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° The room fell silent, the weight of her words settling over them. Skyla¡¯s gaze swept over the group, her expression unreadable. ¡°We can¡¯t back down. Not now. But we need to be smarter. We need to be ready.¡± ¡° Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The room erupted into murmurs, the tension palpable. Skyla¡¯s gaze swept over the group, her expression unreadable. ¡°This is our chance,¡± she said, her voice firm. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to mess it up.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° Prin¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to be smarter. This isn¡¯t over.¡± ¡° ¡° CHAPTER SEVENTEEN ¡° ¡° Across the city, in the cold, sterile halls of the Rozzlyn estate, Ivan sat alone in his chambers, his mind racing. The duel with Lorcan had left him physically drained, but it was the emotional toll that weighed heaviest. He stared at his hands, still trembling from the fight, and thought of Fent¡¯s words: ¡°You don¡¯t belong in that room.¡± ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡° ¡° ¡° The door creaked open, and the figure stepped inside, their hood falling back to reveal a face that sent a ripple of shock through the room. It was Mara, one of Skyla¡¯s most trusted operatives¡ªa woman who had been with the resistance since its earliest days. Her expression was grim, her eyes shadowed with guilt and fear. Across the city, Ivan sat alone in his chambers, his mind racing. Fent¡¯s words echoed in his head: ¡°Choose a side, Ivan. Before it¡¯s too late.¡± He stared at his hands, still trembling from the duel, and thought of Skarlett¡¯s warning: ¡°The world isn¡¯t kind to those who hesitate.¡± ¡° ¡° Back in the warehouse, Skyla stood before her inner circle, her expression grim. The mutilated hand and Prin¡¯s warning were still fresh in their minds, but Skyla¡¯s resolve was unshaken. ¡° ¡° CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ¡° The Erasmus estate was a stark contrast to the Rozzlyn mansion. Where the Rozzlyn home was cold and lifeless, the Erasmus residence was warm and inviting. The walls were adorned with rich tapestries and paintings, the floors covered in plush rugs that muffled their footsteps. The air was thick with the scent of incense and aged wood, a comforting aroma that made Ivan feel oddly at ease. ¡° The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡° CHAPTER NINETEEN ¡° ¡° This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡° CHAPTER TWENTY ¡° ¡° Skarlett had always been skilled with a blade. Her father had taught her the basics, and she had spent countless hours practicing in the yard behind their home. But now, she threw herself into her training with a single-minded determination. She would become a soldier, just like her father. But she would do it her way. Caera Abetha was a man of fire. Not just in his magic, which burned with an intensity that could melt steel, but in his spirit. He was a soldier, a patriot, and a father who believed in the ideals of Aether with every fiber of his being. To him, Aether was more than a nation¡ªit was a promise. A promise of order, of progress, of a future where no child would have to suffer as he had. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡° The mission was supposed to be routine¡ªa skirmish on the northern border, a show of force to deter a band of raiders. But something had gone wrong. The raiders had been better armed, better organized than anyone had anticipated. Caera and his unit had been ambushed, outnumbered and outmatched. ¡° Skarlett¡¯s journey to mastering her magic began at the Aetherian Academy of Magic, a prestigious institution where the nation¡¯s brightest young minds were trained in the arcane arts. It was here that she discovered her affinity for water magic, a stark contrast to her father¡¯s fiery prowess. It was during a practical magic class that Skarlett met Elara Vey, a fiery-haired girl with a sharp tongue and a sharper mind. Elara was a prodigy in fire magic, her spells precise and powerful. She had been watching Skarlett from afar, intrigued by the northern girl who seemed so out of place yet so determined. ¡° The academy was not just a place of learning¡ªit was a place of trials. Students were constantly tested, their skills pushed to the limit. For Skarlett, the hardest trial was the Elemental Convergence, a test that required students to combine their magic with that of another element. ¡° Now, as she stood in the rain, her Toledo blade in hand, Skarlett reflected on the path that had brought her here. She was no longer the girl who had lost her father. She was Skarlett Abetha, the Blade of Aether, a warrior forged in fire and water. And though the weight of her choices sometimes threatened to crush her, she knew one thing for certain: And if that light ever faded, she would be the one to reignite it.