EPISODE 164: FORGING A NEW AGE 4

— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR 7291. SEASON: COLOR FADING.

CLANG!

They stood, calculating looks on their faces as they judged one another. Many eyes gazed at the young girl who stood below the seats of the Edryanis, ready to retake the seat of a house thought destroyed. There were two more seats underneath them, but they remained empty and none stood next to them.

Hall of Heroes.

It was a circular hall with many depictions throughout it. [Heroes] of the Edryanis, [Heroes] of the magi, [Heroes] who protected this nation and kept the monsters at bay. White-gold marble columns spiraled to the ceiling like a blacksmith’s twisted iron. Water gently flowed up the columns and into the ceiling, as light from above shone down through it. These lights danced on a pond below, where multicolored koi swam without a care. Yet none present—not the Great Houses, not the Edryanis, and not those who received the privilege to watch truly paid the impressive and styled hall any heed.

Simra swallowed… heavily. She did not belong here. In fact, she should have been fighting in the Challenger’s Ring, fighting to claim the top spot among the copper-level knights. Those plans were canceled, not that she had much choice when her Titled was revealed. Such an action was all the confirmation needed to know she was an Enlar. There were no stringent checks, bloodline tests, or anything else. Just a display of her title, the feeling it gave those around her, and the shinning light was all that was needed—for how could they need more when this Titled was directly chosen by their Goddess?

They watched her, no more than a polite glance in some cases. In others, there were hard stares and snorts. Even if she dressed like them—her attire was one of red and similar to blood to create a stark compliment to her blue eyes— she was not one of them. That’s what their stares told her.

She smirked, she didn’t want to be like these people. Her eyes traveled around the room, recognizing some names and portraits she’d cram to learn in the span of a night. They only paused at the visage of one of her best friends. Karla’s face was cool, calm, and collected. A thing that reassured Simra. She’d never understand how Karla could always keep her composure even in the harshest situations.

“ Be Seated. ”

She didn’t recognize herself sitting until she was staring over the central pond at another of the heads of a Great House. Monolid eyes with black irises gazed into hers before dismissing her. That was Lady Koi, whose territory resided close to the Marah Bamboo Forest. Simra dismissed her back while waiting for the voice of the Queen to speak again. Instead, the one to speak next was the [Chosen of Madris].

“Welcome my Great Houses, who have withstood the test of time and kept Edryan safe,” he began, pausing to allow his words to settle in. “You all understand our purpose here. You all understand today we have gathered as the Council of Nobles to decide on a new direction for our Great Edryan—regardless of the outcome.”

There wasn’t much movement or acknowledgment of the Chosen’s words. Those below the Edryanis listen. The oldest was nearly two hundred, while the youngest was just a measly sixteen , nearly seventeen once the Final Ending arrived. They were the leaders of their respective houses—[Lords] and [Ladies] who ruled and protected a piece of Edryan for a minimum of a thousand years at the lowest.

Drumian, Consus, Gamal, Romus, Oni, Musa, Adel, Cahoon, Jarrah, Ursisus, Indrian, Kain, Nepos, Coal, Dioni, Lorde, Khan, Ca’Ronna, Carter, Zeno, Liaon, Koi, Lance, Yelwho, Usaap, Ohhao, Fuschia, Al’Lan, Drrow, Ode, and finally rejoining them was the Enlar.

Ruling above was the Edryani.

The [Chosen] continued. “Our agenda for today is simple, we will begin by initially overviewing what the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy is. Next, we will allow any discussion on the new system to take place between the houses, and finally… we will vote.”

Simra’s eyes widened. She’d been updated on what was going to happen since yesterday… but everything was still so fast and new to her. Yet, she couldn’t believe how simple everything seemed to be. A simple discussion and then a vote…? And these people would decide the fate of Edryan…? Was it all so simple?

“My mother, our Queen, will pose as an arbitrator—ensuring the subject remains tied to the task. You may pose any questions now before we begin.”

The moment the [Chosen] finished speaking, a voice instantly spoke. It was cold and grating to Simra’s ears. “Should such an important meeting have a little girl who has yet to understand the importance of it or what it means to have her Titled.”

Hundreds of pairs of eyes turned to the speaker, who calmly remained seated. Tendra Lorde dismissively gazed at her before his attention focused on those seated above. What he said wasn’t a question, no, it was a simple statement that was on the minds of many present. Those eyes all turned to Simra, who struggled not to squirm under the pressure of so many gazes.

Goddess Above, how did Lawruthian handle this…? How did anyone ?

“ Yes , her importance to this meeting and our Edryan cannot be denied. Her Titled is directly granted by the Goddess, known only to members of the Enlar House. Although the house was…,” he paused, searching for a term. They all knew the history of the Enlar House and what the [Iron-Blooded Queen] did to it. “ …temporarily dissolved, it has become reinstated as of yesterday and thus holds the right to this vote.”

It was a lame excuse, they all knew it, but none would dare question it further. That cold and grating voice laughed. “ Temporarily dissolved?”

“Reinstated yesterday…? What a convenience that a house can strike out against Edryan, strike against her good people, her citizens, her… magi —and, only through the efforts of our Queen and newly risen Demigoddess did their reign of terror come to an end.”

The hall was deadly quiet. Prince Tendra Lorde’s dark eyes gazed at the high throne the [Chosen of Madris] sat upon. Simra immediately decided she didn’t like him—even if he was handsome. Tendra’s words brought a clear shift in the room. There was a deadly stillness as no one spoke, Tendra’s words a silent echo through the Hall of Heroes.

Who would dare speak to the [Chosen] in such a manner?

…

…

…

Tendra would —the silence created by his words broken by his words. “What of the spilled magi blood as our Queen strove to keep Edryan together? Some of that blood belongs to the members here—and that blood on the hands of the Enlar House can never be reinstated.”

The [Chosen of Madris] continued his silence, and Tendra’s confidence grew. The emergence of a member of the Enlar House was unexpected, but Tendra rapidly adapted his plans during the night. With the hundreds of newly back magi coming together under the Lorde House banner, he’d rapidly been able to receive the pros and cons of the Enlar’s return. Just as he was about to add another blow, a voice spoke.

“ I… am the one who reinstated the Enlar House—just as I was the one who disbanded them. ”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The Queen’s words were simple and offered no explanation, yet Tendra’s mouth immediately clamped closed. He nodded, accepting the Queen’s words at face value. What he was doing was playing a dangerous game. Yet, Tendra never felt so alive. His gaze slightly slid to a young woman sitting a few seats away. What happened yesterday and this morning kept Tendra’s confidence high.

She signaled him—the Old Powers came up with simple body gestures for communication. None would dare to use magic to connect their minds, fearing detection by the Demigoddess of Spell-Crafting.

’Calm Tendra, do not be so aggressive so soon.’

“Are there any other questions,” the [Chosen] asked. He waited patiently, allowing nearly thirty seconds of silence to pass before he once again spoke.

“Since there are none, then I will begin the explanation of the Classed-Based Constitutional Monarchy. I will overview its benefits and how such a system would initially be put in place. Additionally, I will explain the Forever Bound Clause and what exactly it means for the magi,” the [Chosen of Madris] said. His voice was neutral, indifferent , and he seemed to remain unaffected by Tendra Lorde’s provocative words.

“Let us start from the beginning. The Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy, or CBCM, is a system of governance based on the individual. It is a more open system that allows anyone who holds an interest in our country’s prosperity to rise and take a more active part in ensuring the legacy of the magi and our Goddess Madris continues. There are ten tiers in this system, with those tiers being Tier Zero through Tier Nine—each holds different power and purposes within the country,” the [Chosen] said while waving his hands.

This action caused a group of servants who’d been waiting at the side to enter and bring a stack of documents to each of the [Lords] and [Ladies]. Many weren’t surprised by the contents of the documents, as the [Chosen] paused in his speech to let them skim over them. Once a few minutes passed, he simply rippled his Intent to draw the attention of those present once again.

“The Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy is a tier-based system that is split into many branches. There are five branches in total—Monarchy, Overseer, Justiciary, Bellum, and finally the Templum. Together, these branches form a check and balance system that will ensure Great Edryan moves toward a positive direction.”

Tendra and many others shifted at the words of the [Chosen]. This was the first time hearing the true names of these branches, and the information they held lacked details about the latter three. No matter, the Old Power was prepared.

“The Monarchy is a representation of the Edryani and our divine right to rule this nation. Its main function is to ensure there is little abuse of power in the four other branches of government. This is done through the establishment of the Central Imperius Authority, which you can read more about in the documents. The Overseer branch, elected by the people, serves as the voice of Edryan’s citizens, managing resource allocation, and ensuring the smooth operation of the government. They are the embodiment of the people's will. They are led by the [Prime Overseer], who is the effective leader of our country alongside their ministry.

The Justiciary’s responsibility is to ensure the laws of Edryan are interpreted correctly and followed—not through physical might, but through the power the [Judge] class holds…”

As he spoke, the [Chosen of Madris] gazed around. He watched the calculating looks on the faces of the Great Houses as they came to learn the full complications of the system he devised. It was a system of checks and balances. Where each branch held power and could stabilize another faction from having too much power. Outside the Monarchy, the four could have direct intervention in some format to the other branches. And, if a noble house or group wanted to have control, they would need people in semi-high positions in all four branches. A feat that would prove nearly impossible to be done.

“The Bellum is the consolidation of Edryan’s military forces. Generals, chosen by the [Overseers] and anointed by the Templum and Justiciary, ensure Edryan’s borders remain protected and lead our forces in times of war. Finally, the Templum is a proper integration of church representation within the country. No longer can their position remain vague, and no longer can they only involve themselves when they decide to. Its primary responsibility is to ensure all laws enacted are aligned with the Nine Principles and that no Mandate is misinterpreted or represented throughout all levels of our nation.”

The [Chosen] paused his speech. He could see the reactions of all Houses shifted. Many had known of the five branches, but not many understood the full responsibilities of each. The information they’d been able to grab was limited in such a short time. Now, after the Chosen’s short speech, they’d been able to form a more in-depth understanding of what and how the CBCM would work should it come to pass.

“In your hands are documents that go in-depth into each of the five branches. These documents explain everything from certain government positions to how they can be elected or chosen. They explain the ten Tiers, their benefits, and detractors. Should you rise in tiers, you are granted additional resources and benefits, but you are also expected to provide more aid in making this nation prosperous. You may continue to peruse the documents as I begin my explanation of the early stages of this new form of government.”

He paused here and held his palm upward and slightly out. At the same moment, a glass filled with chilled wine appeared in his hand. Many could barely see the figure that placed it. Simra reviewed the documents, and a lot of the jargon within them partially went over her head. Her education at Imperius Academy and Edryan in general taught her a lot, but this was high-level politics she wasn’t used to. She didn’t belong here, at least not yet, but that choice was removed from her hands the moment she announced herself as [Light of the End].

While he spoke, there were many mixed emotions carefully displayed by the leaders of the Great Houses or their elective representatives. Greed was in the eyes of Lord Ode as he gazed at the responsibilities of the [Prime Overseer] and the power its position would hold. This position was in direct control of resource allocation on a high level. That meant the natural ores, minerals, magic crystals, and more would be under its direct control. Anything the other branches would need would have to be submitted to the Overseer branch. That gave them a lot of soft and hard power, regardless of the branch’s low military power. The Bellum would have to play nice to get proper resources and funding.

Lady Koi was quite the opposite. Her gaze remained focused on the section regarding the Justiciary. This would be an entirely new form of power within Edryan. [Judges] and their powers, a class truly represented by Princess Carina, were able to wield certain levels of Authority from the Prime System. Princess Carina was able to say such things as ‘No weapons can be wielded in this space’ and through her class and its powers, weapons would become useless.

“I’ve devised a three-year plan that will ensure a swift, but measured change in the way Edryan operates. The first step is to elect a temporary [Prime Overseer] from a representative put forward by our Council of Nobles. This [Prime Overseer] will serve as a transitional figure, guiding the early stages of reform and ensuring stability as we shift from the old system to the new. Their primary responsibility will be to establish the foundational structure of the Overseer branch, organizing the first round of elections for [Regional Overseers] within the next six months. This process is expected to last the season of Central, as all [Overseer] positions will be filled.”

The Chosen leaned forward as he spoke, his voice, once indifferent, now held some emotion. There was passion in his speech. “Once the [District Overseers] are elected, we will move to the second phase of the plan, which involves the formation of the Justiciary, Bellum, and Templum branches. Within the first year, we will appoint [Judges] to the Justiciary from candidates nominated by both the Monarchy and the Templum. It is their responsibility to work with all branches to draft an official constitution to guide our nation. Concurrently, the Bellum branch will begin the consolidation of our military forces. Generals will be selected through a joint process involving the Overseers, the Templum, and the Justiciary, ensuring that our military leadership is both capable and able to secure our territory.

The third and final year of the plan will focus on integrating the Templum fully into our governance structure and solidifying the roles of the Monarchy and other branches. During this year, we will also conduct the first official election for the position of [Prime Overseer], now with the participation of all [Regional Overseers] and the broader populace. This election will mark the full transition to the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy, with each branch of government functioning independently yet interdependently, ensuring a balanced and just rule over Edryan.

The Monarchy will closely monitor the situation as these three years pass. It is their responsibility to ensure the implementation of these changes and necessary adjustments proceed smoothly as our Great Edryan undergoes this transition.”

Demigoddess Camilla Romus was unsurprised by the words of the

[Chosen]. She, alongside the former [Seven Heroes], received plenty of time to overview the CBCM and what changes it’d bring. Instead, her gaze was much more interested in the parties they were unsure of in the upcoming vote. The Drrow, Fuschia, and Al’Lan, just to name a few.

The [Chosen of Madris] didn’t stop speaking, instead, he went right into his next segment. His voice returned to its indifferent sound. “The Forever Bound Clause is a bloodline… insurance .”

The [Chosen of Madris] stood from his seat. He stepped forward, his body simply floating in the air as he walked above the Great Houses.

“Great Edryan will change. It has already begun its change,” he said strongly. His pointed gaze landed on the former [Seven Heroes] as he next spoke.

“There are those who are obtaining the power to stand on their own in this world. And, it is only a matter of time before more join them. If that is the case, how do these individuals fit in our society? Will some of them stay and support the cause of our Goddess…? Or will they leave believing they hold the strength to strike out on their own? I cannot answer these questions. What I can say is what the Goddess will offer those who choose to take steps that differ from the one she’s laid out for Great Edryan. The Forever Bound Clause is a bloodline insurance meant only for the current Great Houses of Edryan. So long as you send a few members to the Monarchy branch every generation, their lives, and bloodlines will be preserved no matter the number of eons to pass.”

His last piece of information came out short, but it was enough for the Great Houses of Edryan to understand. His pacing halted right above Tendra Lorde’s chair. Quietly, he stood there, his actions not unrecognized by the Great Houses present. This was Her [Chosen] and representative upon the Mortal Plane.

“Now, the floor is open for discussion.”

CLANG!