HSR Lore and Notes

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====== Castrum Kremnos: Age of Firearms ======
> Sender: Cyrene
> Recipient: ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

//*This page of the sory comes from the 8,128th Eternal Recurrence, a wondrous exchange of lives. Imagine if the blonde crown prince of Kremnos had become a Sage of the Grove, while the frail heretical scholar had taken part in the Kremnos Festival...*//

...

"Mother, I have arrived at the Grove of Epiphany. All is well, please do not worry." The blonde youth wrote a letter home after meticulously arranging his new living quarters.

"My fellow companions at the Grove have been very kind to me. However, there's one thing that puzzles me: People often say, 'There are no words in Castrum Kremnos's dictionary.' What's that all about? Also, there's a school in the Grove called Helkolithism that focuses on physical training, seeking to discover the Self through muscle conditioning. I'm quite drawn to it."

"My child, do you remember how my name comes from Gorgo, the first founder of our city? Legend has it that someone erected a monument in their name while they were still alive. When Gorgo discovered it, they personally erased all text from the stone. The Kremnoans revere ancient customs, and since then, only blank stones could tell of great deeds. There's another theory: No descendant believed their achievements could surpass that founder, so none dared inscribe their own deeds. Over generations, this somehow evolved into Kremnoans being perceived as martial powerhouses who look down on the written word. That's also why I sent you to study at the Grove. I hope you will return to bring the winds of cultural revolution to Kremnos. As for which school to choose, Mother supports your decision."

His mother wrote back a long, flowing letter. The young man was lost in thought until a cold voice interrupted —

"Wrong! Only now do I understand. Having no words in their dictionary is the Kremnoan's true foresight. Rigid text only holds back human progress."

"Anaksa! What are you...?" The blonde youth recognized his classmate, a loner whom none of his companions had ever gotten his name right.

"Call me Anaxagoras!" The green-haired youth sneered with displeasure.

The young man tugged at his eye patch, his uncovered eye brimming with equal parts mockery, indignation, and arrogance, plus a hint of unfathomable depth. "The truth is already in my grasp. Watch as I turn this decrepit world upside down!"

The blonde youth unconsciously sized up those hands that held "Truth." By Kremnoan standards, with such feeble strength, one couldn't preach any "Truth" to anyone. After all, Truth only exists within punching distance.

"Mother, I have been pursuing my advancement under the Helkolithist school. Something interesting happened recently. The Grove expelled a student who allegedly attempted to resurrect the dead through alchemy, violating the ban. I find it rather regrettable. P.S. I've attached a preliminary draft of the dictionary with this letter."

Mother's reply came late. "My child, your father has recently restarted the Kremnos Festival, but he still hasn't found a 'King's Aegis' champion that satisfies him. I don't understand his intentions, but I can smell the fog of war in the air... I received the dictionary and it brings me joy. You know, I've never wanted you to become a puppet of 'Strife'..."

A long time passed...

"Mother, the Council of Sages will nominate me as the Helkolithist Sage. I heard that my father, Eurypon the King, is gathering warriors to ignite the Chrysos War, raising arms against former allies, and will soon attack the Grove of Epiphany. I am deeply ashamed of this. The Council of Sages has decided to send a letter of peace negotiations. If if can survive the flames of war and reach my father's hands, I implore him to reconsider his military actions..."

There was no response to the letter.

When the Kremnos army finally arrived at the gates, Mydeimos, the Helkolithist Sage, led his fellow scholars to defend against the enemy. At last, he saw with his own eyes the new "King's Aegis" leading the army — a man with green hair and an eye patch. Though dressed as a Kremnos warrior, Mydeimos recognized him instantly: his former classmate Anaxagoras!

"How?" The blonde man was filled wit confusion. "Was he the one who won the Kremnos Festival? With such a frail physique... Has Kremnos really fallen this far?"

"Hahaha hahaha—" As if hearing his thoughts, the green-haired man twirled his gun while letting out a maniacal laugh.

"Alchemy has brought Castrum Kremnos into the age of firearms! Now, let's show these old-fogeys what the King's One-Turn-Kill School is made of!"

...