29. The Heir of Benhar and the Secret Pendant
Starting November 2023, The Korea Daily is excited to publish the fantasy novel series “Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years” on our website. This new captivating series follows a trio of young adventurers on their quest to uncover the mysteries of ancient civilizations, including the Maya and Inca. In an exciting development, Netflix is currently adapting the novel’s storyline into a film.
The ‘Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years’ is the latest novel authored by Jeeyoon Ha, who created the “Pangaea series.” Ha’s debut novel, “The Pangaea: Finding Xibalba,” was selected by the Korea Creative Content Agency in 2022 as part of their initiative to support the global export of fantasy literature.
Readers can eagerly anticipate the online publication of two installments each month, with new chapters appearing bi-weekly, offering a regular escape into this magical realm. *Mark Oh translated the Korean novel into English.
Leon Benhar was born into the illustrious Benhar family, one of the three great noble houses of the ancient Aurelian Empire. His father, Sebastian Benhar, was the Grand Duke of the empire, wielding power second only to the Emperor himself. Not only did he exert immense influence over all imperial policies, but he was also the Emperor’s closest confidant, personally selecting and overseeing the Imperial Guard responsible for the Emperor’s protection.
Leon’s mother passed away shortly after giving birth to him. Afterward, Sebastian entered into his second marriage with Ellarian, the daughter of the Chief Justice, Marcus Lucius. With his marriage to Ellarian, Sebastian ascended to the very pinnacle of power, solidifying the Benhar family’s position as the most formidable house in the empire.
At the time of Leon’s birth, the empire’s most esteemed prophetess, Cassandra, foretold that he would one day become the leader of a future kingdom. However, she added that he would also encounter great perils destined for a mighty leader. Upon hearing this prophecy, Sebastian devoted himself to raising Leon to be exceptional. Growing up in the imperial capital of Arcadia, Leon received the finest education and underwent rigorous martial training to ensure he could protect himself.
From a young age, Leon wore a peculiar pendant around his neck—a keepsake from his late mother. It was a small, golden bell that shimmered brilliantly. In the center of the bell was engraved a six-pointed star, and at its heart gleamed a mysterious star sapphire. Encircling the star were two rings: the first made of pure mithril, and the second inscribed with hieroglyphs—flame to the east, water droplet to the west, leaf to the south, and wind to the north.
Below the rings was the family motto inscribed in hieroglyphs: [Lux et Sapientia]—’Light and Wisdom’, the creed of the Velia family. The pendant was the emblem of the Velia house.
Leon had no idea that the pendant he wore was actually a powerful magical artifact, ‘Aurilis’. Each time the bell chimed, a mysterious light would swirl forth from Aurilis.
Leon knew only his mother’s family name and crest; he did not know her face or even her given name. In the Benhar household, everything about his mother and her family was shrouded in secrecy, and no one would tell him anything.
Eager to learn about his mother and her lineage, Leon scoured countless books in the imperial library but found nothing. It was as if they had vanished—a person erased, a family obliterated—their entire history wiped from existence.
The more Leon sought answers, the more fiercely his father, Sebastian, opposed him, often reacting with terrifying anger. This only fueled the suspicion, jealousy, and envy in the eyes of his stepmother, Ellarian, who began to secretly delve into the mysteries surrounding Leon’s mother and her family.
One warm afternoon in the spring when Leon was eight years old, he was playing near a small pond in the rear garden of the Benhar estate with his half-brother, Moe—the son of Sebastian and Ellarian.
That day, Leon yearned more than ever to know about the mother whose face he had never seen. He fiddled with the pendant, Aurilis, hanging around his neck. Just then, a servant with a piercing at the corner of his lip approached him. (In the empire, slaves who served as servants wore lip piercings.)
The servant enticed Leon by saying that across the pond stood a cottage his late mother loved to visit, filled with many of her belongings. Filled with anticipation, Leon followed the servant across the pond’s bridge. Suddenly, the servant turned and pushed Leon into the water.
Just before Leon hit the water, Aurilis spun and emitted a brilliant light. A protective barrier formed around him, suspending him in midair, just above the pond’s surface. Slowly, he was moved back onto the bridge. The servant, terrified out of his wits, fled in haste.
Moments after the incident, the Benhar family’s guards rushed to Leon’s side. They scoured the mansion and apprehended the servant. In a fleeting moment, the servant glanced at Moe and then locked eyes with Ellarian, who had been watching the scene unfold from the garden. The servant tore off his lip piercing and swallowed it, dying on the spot.
This event became a turning point in Leon’s life. He realized that his mother’s heirloom had saved his life and that forbidden magic had been at work. From that day forward, he encased the pendant in a black case. The fact that his bloodline was connected to magic frightened him, and he believed no one should ever find out. It was a perilous time in the empire to be a sorcerer; all magicians had disappeared, and it was known that not a single sorcerer remained in the realm.
[To be continued…]
