~~Cutscene: Emperor's New Dilemma~~
Meanwhile, in Castle Vaden, the seat of Arvadian royalty...
Trio of young men in courier's blue shirts stepped into the ornate throne room of Arvadian Emperors and knelt in front of a man in exquisite fiery red robe, with the Imperial Belt glittering with gemstones and platinum upon his vast waist. The one in the middle looked up, onto Emperor Lafach's face.
"Emperor! Prince Asmal have escaped the Glade! Captain Noah believes he might've went northwards, toward either Dorians or Scordati, or the lands of his uncle, Lord Sair. 17th Wyvern Wing went after him." The messenger to his right looked up and spoke next.
"Emperor! Prince Titon have escaped the Glade as well. The situation is unclear, but it seems that he stopped by village of Argan. Captain Trakia engaged him, but, she lost... she managed to escape and return to the castle in shame. Captain Dobrva took her into custody." The third and last of the messengers looked upon the glorious visage of the new Emperor.
"Emperor! I bring newest list of casualties! Seventeen castle guards total have been killed in the initial chaos. 22nd and 19th Wyvern Wings have been decimated. The Glade Men suffered more than twenty casualties in the fight with Prince Asmal. Captain Iawan and Lieutenants Dumt, Mirhan and Melkare have been slain in the skirmishes with the Princes. No word from Lieutenant Dusel, and we still haven't found the 6th Cavalry Unit nor Lieutenant Sidon..."Emperor Lafach lifted his hand, silencing the last messenger.
"I have heard enough, thank you. First order of business is to recover corpses of the fallen soldiers for burial. Secondly, ensure that Iawan, Dumt, Mirhan and Melkare will be promoted post-humously and their bereaved families compensated with Imperial gold. Thirdly... have Captain Dobvra bring Captain Trakia to me."The three couriers replied with curt "Sir!" and stormed from the throne room. A short, cloaked and hooded man stepped away from the windows and looked at Emperor Lafach. The Emperor looked at the hooded figure for a moment, before the door was opened and a tall, broad-shouldered blonde woman - clearly a Dorian - in Imperial Armor moved inside, dragging Captain Trakia by the shoulder.
"Captain Dobvra, you may leave." The blonde woman saluted and promptly left.
"Captain Trakia."
"E-Emperor..." "You have failed me. You have failed all of the Empire. From what I gathered by reading your report, not only you allowed two of lesser officers perish, you fled the battlefield and wasted a particularily good chance at slaying Prince Titon." "Emperor! P-Please let me explain! It wasn't that simple, these mercenaries, it was ambush, and Dumt has been-" "SILENCE!" The thunderous voice echoed in the tall hall.
"Under the old law you would be risking execution, but I will be different than the warlords of the past. Be grateful, because I'm merely demoting you to a lowest-rank of wyvern rider." "I-" "Be quiet! For the next six months, you will serve as a common soldier. Hopefully if you re-learn some basics, you will not be such a failure next time. I have spoken. Begone!" Barely holding her tears back, Captain Trakia bowed her head, then turned and hurriedly left the throne room.
The hooded man let out a chuckle and then stepped toward Emperor Lafach.
"Such generosity, your Highness. However, Captain Trakia is from an old, traditional family. She might actually choose suicide over the shame of demotion." "Hmph! Tradition and glorification of military is what have kept this country away from the path of progress and enlightment. If Trakia is so weak that she can't handle a demotion, then she might ingest poison even tonight. I don't care." "..." "I have to thank you, Spymaster. If you didn't side with me, I probably would be the one fleeing the capital by now." "Oh, but I'm doing this for the same reasons as you, your Highness. I, too, wish to see-" Emperor Lafach scoffed.
"Cut the bullshit, Yakim. You? Worried about the welfare of the Empire, its citizens? Good joke. All you want is to see Titon and Asmal devoured by the wyverns to avenge your father's death." "Well then, if my motives are out of the bag, how about my thoughts? I don't think you will live through this, Lafach. Your 'reformation' of the Empire will fail. Do try though, I will surely be amused by the results." Emperor Lafach grimaced, then turned toward the windows, crossing arms behind his back.
After a moment of silent thinking, he turned back to the Spymaster.
"With each passing moment, the siblings will get further and further away from my grasp and quite possibly step off the main roads and bypass the settlements to avoid being seen. Send out your spies, trackers and assasins. I will have the weapons of murder granted to your henchmen." "Mm, may I be allowed to go... hunting... myself? I kinda wish to catch the slippery one, Titon. Asmal is a dumb warrior, but Titon... he is sneaky. He could be a thrilling challenge." The Emperor nodded at Yakim, who bowed in gratitude.
"You may go now."A minute later, Emperor Lafach was alone in the throne room. He turned toward the throne with a sigh.
The common people will see me as a tyrant, lawbreaker, rebel... but historians and scholars of the future will see me as reformist and bringer of enlightment into this backwater land. I, Lafach will succeed!~Loading Chapter 3, please wait~
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