I stood, paralysed by the shock of the myriad deaths displayed before me. I was immersed; witnessing the gruesome prophecy being foretold, a Ragnarok of blood and destruction.

These stunned faces and horrified expressions made for a picturesque recollection of the Renaissance.

Medusa had waltzed her way into our gaze.

Only my father could maintain a sliver of calm. The wizards, whose mental strength far surpassed that of any human here, were his only rivals. They were mental bastions, looming behind our fragile psyches. Pillars of our ideals and philosophies.

They were at the top of the ladder for a reason.

...

The scenes went on for a while. Eventually, only a barren planet could be seen, void of any colourful life. It was a hellscape of crimson and grey, with demons and undead roaming about in endless battle. Devils hid their deeds in the shadows, tormenting whatever remained of humanity, driving them into a corner yet never truly killing them off.

This was the torture of an entire intelligent species, worse than any genocide thought possible.

Then, the scenes ended.

And the audience was allowed half an hour of silent relief.

...

Valerius closed his eyes, hiding the turbulence within his gaze. As an emperor, it was imperative that he did not display any weakness. Any moment of panic. He had a duty to his empire. A duty to the world.

Thus, he broke the depressing silence that blanketed his subjects.

"Has the evil that the Gods have foreseen settled within your minds?"

His voice resonated throughout the throne room, amplifying his influence, his charisma. However, he did not find his own tone adequate. He had much to improve on. Much to unlock.

Nevertheless, he continued to lead despite his own mediocrity.

"Our Heroes will be the light that will guide this world. The sword which cuts through all evil. This is why they are more than our guests.

"They are our hope."

He paused as he eyed his own subjects. These people had placed their loyalties elsewhere. The empire was fragmented, held together only by a common goal of wealth and life.

'My reign is filled with gaps,'

Inwardly, Valerius sighed. Eventually, his gaze fell upon those that he summoned from an unknown world. A trace of relief flashed in his eyes.

'Perhaps these four are different... Trustworthy.'

"My demands are great," He spoke once more, "Thus, I beseech you all to make a decision only after you tour the Capital. You can decide whether we are worthy of saving, for you will soon realise the power you four can hold."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

For a moment, Valerius paused. This time, his gaze drifted across the faces of each of his children. Thoughts swirled in his mind and he came to a decision in the spur of the moment.

"Astraeu," He called out.

"Yes, your Imperial Highness?" A confused gaze met his own.

"You will be responsible for showing them around, along with your elder sister, Livia."

"...Yes, your Imperial Highness. I will execute the task to the best of my ability."

Valerius nodded.

"Your Imperial Highness! Would it not be rude to leave... him... with our honoured Heroes? We know that the Fourth Prince is your son, but his ill fate might rub off on our Heroes. Would it not be more appropriate to keep their fates clean of any impure and foul luck?"

One of his subjects spoke. A deep frown was engraved upon this one's face. Valerius looked at him.

"Brother Caelum, I know what my decision entails. If our Heroes were so easy to pull down, would that not make them vulnerable to the curses of evil? I trust in the might and wisdom of the Gods. Astraeu is very familiar with the Capital's streets. He is the most appropriate guide."

"Father!" Another voice pierced the air.

Cassian had stepped forward.

"Er— Your Imperial Highness, I would like to volunteer myself if it is familiarity with the capital that you are looking for. I know my way around the best taverns! We can show our Heroes the beauty of our city, and our world. Please entrust this task to me. I can also ensure their safety and their lives! Astraeu most certainly lacks such qualifications."

"Cassian, my son..." Valerius sighed. "My task for you lies elsewhere. Step down."

"B-but—!!"

Valerius' aura suddenly exploded. The suffocating presence he exuded forced Cassian and Caelum down. The two could say nothing in the face of the power of absolute authority.

"My decision regarding our Heroes will entertain no contest. Any who oppose me will answer to my blade. Any who slay me will answer to the Gods above."

His voiced boomed in the hearts of each person in the throne room.

...

Kneeling beneath the duress of my father's pressure should be an experience every person in the world should undergo. Each time, I would learn something from the experience. Whether it was the reality of my own weakness, or the sheer weight of a leader's every word. All of these things would fill my mind like the wailing voices of the dead.

Despite the murmuring voices however, I had a task to complete.

My fellow Earthlings were standing in front of me, seemingly distracted by empty air.

Wait...

My thoughts encountered an absolute zero.

What were they staring at?

Could it be...

"Ahem,"

The pain that coursed through my nerves was sharp, and yet I still chose to clear my throat. Their attention snapped towards me like a bear trap. Instant and sharp. I couldn't help but frown.

"What are you all thinking about?"

The prospect of what entity was lingering just within their vision had already slithered its way to the surface of my mind. With everything that was happening, did they perhaps have a system?

Such a question was an incessant cry in the ocean of my thoughts, seeking answers. A question with a wish of fulfilment thus sprouted from my lips.

"Are you all looking at something?"

However, I wanted to leave them with a way out, should they refuse to admit the truth.

"It is not good to walk around distracted." I looked up at them with the gaze of an innocent twelve-year-old.

"You'll bump into things."

However, their response was direct surprising me with their naïve straightforwardness.

"Hm?" Eve tilted her head.

"It's a screen. Do you not have the same?" said Havesch.

"...Screen?"

I had to feign ignorance at this moment, watching as Eve and Havesch locked eyes. They seemed to exchange a lot of information between themselves in an instant.

"It's nothing," Eve smiled, "Let's talk about your world instead, Fourth Prince Astraeu."

I tried my best to feign my suspicions, though I wasn't sure how well I did so. Instead, I reverted to my usual self.

"My world? It's probably not as grand as where you four are from. Although it's big... so big that we have yet to explore the entire continent, that's all we have. We move according to the wishes of the Gods above. This is how we thrive, and in it we find our pride."

I led the four Heroes to my carriage, beckoning them to accompany me inside the coach.

"This is why the palace is built at the highest point in the capital." I said, "It's the closest place to heaven."