EPISODE 32: Little Greats
-Edryan Queendom, Year 7291. Season: New Beginning.
The Great Families are a gathering of six different noble houses of Edryan who’ve supported our Queen Titiana to take her place upon the Iron-Blooded Throne. The youth of these families were the first to recognize the rise of a young Titiana Edryani and followed her on her journey in extinguishing the fires of unrest throughout the queendom and claiming the throne of Edryan underneath her banner. It was through these six families that the three dukedoms who choked Edryan from within alongside several other houses were destroyed. With only a few escaping complete destructions. Yet from these events, the power and absolute might of the Great Families were established. Although Edryan has no dukedoms currently, these houses are the closest to hold such sway and might over the queendom. The Oni and Drumian train some of the best warriors of the queendom. The Musa and Romus excel in all things magic. The Consus grow 15% of the queendom’s crops. While the Gamal are the priest of the nation. If anyone was to ask exactly: What are the Six Great Families? There is your answer.
Here at IAW, we’ve received the chance to interview the number one student underneath our dear Crown Prince, Lorde Drumian!
-Excerpt from Imperius Academy Weekly. Written by Karla, Rank 15 and Jed Relius Rank 249
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Lorde Drumian slowly sipped red wine as he waited for the other council members to arrive. As always, he was the first to enter and the last to leave. That was just the Drumian way. The wind blew the fragrance of lilies and roses into his nose and his thoughts drifted towards a curly-haired girl who smelled of the same.
“Are you ever not early?” a voice suddenly asked. Pulling Lorde Drumian from his thoughts as he stared at the silky-smooth black-haired girl with golden streaks running throughout.
“Yet you always arrive exactly on time,” Lorde responded. His green eyes flashed as they met the Gamal’s.
Madria took her seat and helped herself to the box of LSG sweets in the middle of the table. Her eyes lit in satisfaction as the sweet honey pastry hit her taste buds. Lorde gave off a small chuckle and turned his attention to the next pair to make their way in.
Helios gave him a nod of acknowledgment while he pulled the chair out for his older sister to sit. The [Imperius Ward Trainee] sat down and joined Madria in enjoying the LSG pastries. Before Selene’s brother took his seat.
Viviana Consus was the next to arrive. A large tome floated on her left as she walked. The book was a magical item she always carried with her. It was a hard leather-covered tome tinted green by the number of leaves and fauna coming from it. A transformation from her class, Lorde summarized.
As the five-minute mark of their meeting time passed the final two figures made their way in. They were late but that didn’t halt the large grin from overtaking Lorde’s face as he saw his best friend’s hair on fire. Ade Oni hurried to pat down the flames before he took the open seat on Lorde’s left. Amaya Musa was the same with Madria.
“It looks like we’re all here….
Who is in favor of starting the monthly meeting of the Little Greats?”
“Aye,” came from Lorde’s left.
“Acknowledge,” Viviana spoke aloud.
“Begin,” Helios stated. Folding his arms as Selene gave an acknowledging wave.
“Let us begin,” Madria said with a chin full of sticky crumbs that she quickly brushed off.
“Finally! I’ve been waiting all month for this meeting,” Amaya said excitedly.
“It feels like forever since we’ve last been together. The courses and knowledge provided here are something. Lawruthian holds a different viewpoint from anything I’ve seen.”
“He’s truly showing the vast wealth and resources of the royal family. My Consus family has yet to find a way to properly keep bees without the use of a tamer class.”
Viviana Consus held an intriguing light in her eyes as she gently grabbed one of the many LSG treats before taking a bite. A smile of contentment appeared as the sweet pastry hit her taste buds.
“How have your classes been going,” Lorde asked the group.
“My teacher for Magical Studies and Exploration is such a bore! He does everything ‘by the book’,” Amaya said the end in a mocking tone. “He even deducted 400 Imperius Points from me. The guy is afraid to combine spells and magical ingredients into something new. Instead, he wants us to focus on the basics and…”
For a while, the group sat around and discussed their schedules and life at Imperius Academy. Chatting amongst one another and catching up in general. It was rare for them to see one another as their paths differed and their schedules kept them busy. Yet the group called the Little Greats was something that formed long ago. Their first unofficial meeting took place when they were three. Since then, the group met often. Their parents rarely have to encourage them. Of the seven available chairs, one was left open. From time-to-time members would glance at that seat before continuing.
Selene Romus let out a heavy sigh as the conversations came to a lull. Her gaze rested on the empty eighth seat as she spoke. “He is moving on ahead again. We must work harder; it is no longer enough to just attend this academy. I propose we do as our parents did.”
The table grew quiet as Selene spoke. The young woman decided to get to the topic of their meeting discussion.
“Not long ago the official coronation was announced. As this happened, the school has been preparing for some giant expedition they’ve refused to tell us about. Mother hasn’t told us any specifics but both the second and third years will be gone from the campus most of the remaining school year. If not all of it.
These Imperius classes are good, and it’s been confirmed by my mother that they can lead to our great family’s class lines… yet it is not enough. The Crown Prince is estimated to have started with over or around 300 attribute points…,” Selene paused and nodded to Amaya. It was clear the young woman had provided the information.
Ade Oni sucked in a hiss of air as Selene spoke. While Madria turned and glared at Amaya.
“Amaya,” she said slowly.
“Amaya’s only guessed based on the interaction with the Crown Prince. She has done nothing to betray his trust and it was at my request,” Selene said. Steadily meeting Madria’s challenging gaze.
“Does the expectation not weigh upon you? You have a seventh attribute to worry about. Do you believe through hard work you can rise to the level of our dear Crown Prince?” Selene questioned Madria, her silver eyes intensely staring into the light gold irises that differed from her twins.
Madria stayed silent but Selene continued.
“Do you?
DO
YOU?”
“That’s enough sister,” Helios spoke. Placing a hand on his twin’s shoulder. Sensing the increase in agitation from Madria and the spark of divine magic. Before speaking next as the golden-haired young man picked up from her earlier pause.”
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“The 300 is a low estimation. We believe it's somewhere between 400-500. After reaching the first-class advancement, that would put him at the level of an average knight or a well-off adventurer. The Crown Prince only has a few levels underneath his belt yet he’s already as strong as the average one-class level 25 knight.”
“Do you understand what that means for us,” Selene picked up from her brothers’ words. The twins seemingly finish each other’s thoughts.
“Our families have grown large and wealthy as never before in choosing to support Her Majesty to the throne. It is only a matter of time before she abdicates the throne to His Highness the Crown Prince and leaves to search for demi-godhood. Our parents will leave with her.
The greatest source of protection for our families will be gone.”
Selene held a hand up pausing Amaya from speaking before her brother continued her thought.
“Of course, we all have hidden strengths and cards and I’m sure our parents have made ample preparations for when they leave us. We are not children anymore,” the voice of his sister joined him as they spoke in unison. Both looked at different sides of the table as they spoke.
“The Crown Prince’s power is consolidated, and none would dare challenge him. Yet us…?
We are the fish on the chopping board. Many enemies and grievances were made, and they will be rectified.”
“That’s enough,” Lorde said pausing the twins before they could continue. “I believe we all understand the future that is at stake.”
Lorde stood up and peered at the rest of the Little Greats. “We are lacking attribute points and power. That is understood more than anything else. Originally, I had no intention for this meeting to go this way, yet Selene insisted on this discussion today.
We lack Power…
But our Mind remains strong.
We recognize the wrongs of our Self…
For our Intent will correct it.
The Vitality of our Great Families remains strong…
As the Endurance of our bloodlines stays mighty.
One Path.”
“One Way.”
The response came from every single member of the table. The Promised Seven and the words Queen Titiana originally spoke when their parents joined her.
Silence kept the company of the Little Greats. As Selene aired out their biggest grievance. While Lorde mediated to bring them back to a cohesive group. It was Viviana Consus who broke the silence next.
“Why don’t we ask the Crown Prince himself?”
Seven pairs of eyes locked onto her. From glacier green to hues of gold, magenta, and silver, each looked at her own forest green eyes in puzzlement.
Viviana turned to look at Madria and Amaya. “You too are the closest with the Crown Prince. Although we’ve all had dealings with him throughout the year none of us have managed to form a solid friendship with him besides Amaya and Madria,” she paused here as she gestured to them before continuing.
“I believe we’ve all grown to have some hidden notion or view of the Crown Prince,” Viviana looked towards Ade Oni as she said this. “Or perhaps we compare ourselves to him too much,” she next looked at Lorde and Selene.
“Why don’t we ask the Crown Prince himself?”
Viviana repeated once again. “Madria and Amaya know him best. Why not have them be the bridge to help the rest of us understand our Prince? Perhaps we will not be the Promised Seven like our parents, but a mutual understanding will benefit all parties.”
“The title and sway of the Great Families will disappear,” Amaya protested.
“So,” Viviana questioned before she continued.
“Has anyone of the six asked you to continue on the role of the ‘Great Families’? Especially when the one who would hold the greatest power and sway within this group isn’t even a part of it. Our parents are first and foremost followers of Queen Titiana. That is a bond built through trials and tribulations. We do not share that similar bond.”
“We’re playing chess,” Madria softly whispered.
A whisper that the enhanced bodies of the Little Greats heard loud and clear. Leaving all but one with confusion on their face.
“What does chess have to do with any of this,” Ade Oni was the first to ask. A hard edge to his tone. It was clear the conversations were agitating the young man.
Amaya opened her mouth to speak before closing it and waiting for Madria to speak.
“Amaya, do you remember our first real conversation with Lawruthian?”
The magenta hair girl nodded. Her expression resigned as the conversation from last year played its way through her thoughts. Before becoming grim as the memories from the second time Lawruthian mentioned it came into mind.
“The Old Powers…,” Amaya said slowly. Her mind swirled fast as she began to put pieces together.
“That includes us…,” Madria whispered her mind coming to the same realization.
“Spit it out!” Ade Oni said his agitation erupting from the young woman’s mumblings.
While the rest of the group looked on in bewilderment as the girls gathered their thoughts. It was Madria who spoke first.
“The Crown Prince has always been calculating against the Old Powers.”
“What does the Old Powers have to do with anything? It was only our grandfathers and their parent’s generations and those before them. This is a new Edryan, and our Great Families are the leaders of it,” Ade Oni stated. Calming down as the conversation was moving forward. “The Old Powers?” He scoffed as he spoke. “They are no more.”
“All families including the Great Families were in some form a part of the Old Powers. Or at least have benefited from that era.
The final thing Crown Prince Lawruthian said to Amaya and me when we had our first real sit-down conversation has always profoundly remained with me. As most of you can realize Lawruthian has been gathering the queendom's talents under the banner of Imperius Academy and College. Together,” Madria nodded toward Amaya. “We partially deduced the plans Lawruthian had for the talents and a bit more. It was here that we realized the Crown Prince was attempting to finish putting the Old Powers to rest. Adel, Jarrah, Ursisus, and the others were savagely beaten by Queen Titiana and our Great Families while all the three duke houses were destroyed.
If we truly look at the history of the Old Power every house benefited from them. No matter Adel, Gamal, Oni, Drumian, Relius, or Edryani. This factor choked the queendom and led to the rising of our queen through the civil war that shook Edryan lands.”
“A civil war that has happened multiple times from the mouth of Lawruthian himself,” Amaya chirped in. receiving a nod from Madria before she continued.
“Lawruthian has thoroughly studied the history of the queendom. In his studies, he’s formed one common problem that plagues Edryan.”
“And that is,” Lorde asks. Sitting straighter than what the group previously thought possible.
“Houses,” Madria whispered.
“Lawruthian has always been targeting Houses and that includes our own. Do you know why he does not choose to befriend us or interact with any of the Great Families outside of Amaya and me befriending him?
Great Families is just a pseudonym for what we really are and that is…,” Madria stated.
The Great Houses of Edryan,” Amaya finished.
“To him, every single House is the enemy. Or at least an obstacle he must remove. All his actions show that…, I just didn’t think he meant us truly. I believed it a bluff but…,” she hesitatingly spoke. Shaking her head as she continued.
That’s what he meant by ‘Now we’re playing chess,’” Madria paused here her eyes widening even further.
“Or perhaps you didn’t believe because you are infatuated with him,” Ade Oni scoffed. While his jab remained ignored by the deeply thinking Madria.
“Amaya, how do you play chess?” Madria suddenly asked. It was not that the young woman hadn’t played the game herself. Many times, in fact, but never once against a certain figure.
Amaya looked at her strangely, as did the rest of the group, but she responded anyway. “It depends on the board but two or more armies face against one another and battle until the king piece is captured.”
“What did Lawruthian say to us after stating that we’re playing chess.”
Amaya paused recalling the exact words before she spoke. “He said: ‘I’m targeting all the Houses including mine.’”
“He’s crazy!” Ade Oni burst out.
“He’s targeting all the Houses? If he is including his own…” Viviana said slowly.
“Then that means us as well.” Selene Romus finished.
A grim silence overtook the gathering.
“Well… at least we know why he doesn’t interact with us all that much now,” Helios stated a light of excitement in his golden irises.
“He wants to destroy the structure of the Houses,” Lorde said calmly but shock radiated through his voice.
“And I will help him,” A firm voice said. The light of faith and conviction in her eyes.
The group looked at Madria before ignoring her as she began praying before talking amongst one another. Only Amaya was the one to make sure her friend was comfortable as she began praying intensely. Her faith in Goddess Madris was already the strongest of their generation.
“What does this mean for us,” Ade Oni asked. Blue flames licked at the top of his head. These flames were not like a fire burning and raging but cool and calm yet extremely hot to the touch.
“What can we do,” Viviana countered. “Do you have plans on rebelling against the royal family?”
“Do not joke, Viviana, never about such topics as…,” Helios warned.
“Eyes and ears are everywhere,” Selene finished as she held up her tattoo-like wristband.
“The Holy Son of Edryan is on an unstoppable rise to power of unknown heights. The people and a majority of the nobles follow as well. We are the Six Great Families. No matter what Crown Prince Lawruthian decides we will support him,” Lorde simply stated.
“Our families and their histories should just go down as just that… history,” Ade Oni questioned harshly.
“No,” Lorde began. “We can just ask His Highness,” he began. Presenting a smile to the confusion of the rest of the group.