I wait in anticipation at the palace entrance hall, while I wear my officer’s uniform.

The room is majestic, with its white and grey marble flooring, and brilliant paintings decorating the walls. The roof itself is the most impressive part: a mural of the Empire’s history, depicting when our people left Ladie’s Island to explore the mainland, though the Dragon War, and our actions in the present.

This piece is a statement to all who enter the palace. It tells them that we are the rightful rulers and defenders of this world, as were granted by the divine.

I tap my foot, anxious about what they will put before me. The finest food that anyone could wish for, opportunities to see the world, perhaps even to look at their archives about the history of our nation and the Forgotten Era. All great things that I could previously only dream of having, but the roles I might have to take, the choices I might have to make, frighten me. It won’t be easy being a Commander or future Foreign Inspector. I think I would like it best if I don’t stay here for long. Well, I’ll leave after I enjoy the luxuries of the palace.

The lapis blue doors to the main palace open and a man with a highly decorated ceremonial uniform steps forward.

He looks to be combat fit, but he’s old, with short dark hair and regular pointed ears of any Cinari. He looks like any other officer with a lot of experience, but on closer inspection, his identity becomes clear. This man is Commander Rommel Earl, the man who led the Scarlet Campaign seventy years ago.

He once led a single force against an army of Death Riders of Jalthon, legendary cavalry soldiers in the realms of man. And with their defeat almost cause a total collapse of the Dragonna Empire.

He walks up to me and offers his hand. ‘Good morning, Officer.’

His offer stuns me, a legendary officer offering his hand to me.

‘Are you going to shake it or are you going to stare at me?’ He ask, with a friendly teasing tone.

I get up from my seat, snapping myself out of my stupor as I shake his hand.

‘It is nice to meet you, Commander Earl. I’m Commander Regali.’

‘Please, just call me Rommel,’ he chuckles. ‘Besides, I heard all about you, you’re one of the youngest to pass the course.’

‘I sure am, completed my training quicker than anyone there.’

‘That’s good, so what made you join the army in the first place, Regali?’

‘Oh. I wanted to become a Foreign Inspector.’

He smiles. ‘That is good to hear. We do need more eyes for our Empress to keep the peace.’ He picks up my bag and passes it to me.

‘Come on; let me show you to your room.’

‘You? Aren’t there servants that to do that?’ I blurt out.

Rommel waves his hand for me to follow him. ‘There are, but I wanted to talk to the youngest Commander in the palace. It is remarkable that you pass the course that quickly, and I am eager to get to a read on you.’

‘Well, it wasn’t that difficult. People just don’t pay attention during classes,’ I boast.

‘That so? Well, tell me what makes it so easy.’

We chat about my experience during the officers’ course, my trials and tribulations. Like how I our maneuvered an experienced Commander during a military exercise.

Rommel seems overall impressed with my knowledge and skills, even sharing his own experiences of officers’ training, about a hundred years ago.

We compare the training methods; discussing their effectiveness, and what might be needed to be implemented for future officers. It is great to talk to a legend with lots of experience, who is willing to share his knowledge freely with a newly appointed officer.

Walking through the palace is an experience that might forever leave me in awe. The palace’s walls are covered in art from other countries and empires, with gold trim tastefully placed at every corner. All depicting battles, wars, or other historical events.

The time it must have taken to build the palace, how many artists have laid their hands on every wall and canvas, is incredible to think of. And all of it elegantly shows off our Empire’s outstanding achievements.

Finally, Rommel and I arrived to the private quarters section, on the other side of the palace. Every wooden door is elaborately carved with spirals and ancient runes, with a number on the center of each door. We continue down the hall to door number four.

‘Here we are, your very own private room.’ He gestures me to open the door.

I take a deep breath as I enter the room with my eyes shut, giving myself a childish surprise. I open my eyes, revealing a massive room with a king-sized bed, an antique glass chandelier, and a large table with a cushioned chair to compliment it. There is even a private bathroom with a bath. My very own toilet and bathtub! A luxury only the wealthy can afford.

This is the best thing I could ever have in my life.

‘You like it? You could stay here forever and never need to step foot on any battlefield. Living like a king, some might say.’

‘This is just average. The best place is to serve my Empire where she needs me the most,’ I lie to him, puffing my chest to look tough and proud.

He chuckles. ‘It is good to hear that young vigour. And while you’re here, enjoy yourself, explore the gardens even. It is a great privilege to be here by the Empress’ side.’

‘Of course. I’ll make sure to do that. I’m just excited to be in a place like this.’

‘I can tell. Now if you need anything, the servants will help you. If you want to talk to me in private, I am around the war room most of the time. Any questions before I get going?’

‘No, I should be fine,’ I reply.

‘That is good, enjoy your stay, Commander.’ He gives a two-fingered salute while he leaves my room.

I place my luggage on my bed to lie down next to it. The softness of the mattress feels like clouds from the heavens finally landed on Earth. I am blessed by the Gods themselves to be here.

I hop up to look out the window to see the city view. I am so far from home, but so close at the same time.

I make my way to the rear of the palace. The garden is large and beautiful. Flowers of all shapes and colours border the footpath, and foreign trees are scattered around, adding to the scenery that amplifies the palaces beauty. The garden is broken up into sections that represent where these plants came from.

At every corner of the garden there are empty spaces, used by the guards to spar and train. At the very centre is a tree with bright pink leaves that sparkle when the sun touches it. It is the last of its kind.

I remember stories told to me when I was a kid, about the Gods gifting us the tree. To show us that the tree is the very scar of the Collapse and how we can move on from it.

Next to the tree is a plaque which reads “May the past never haunt us”.

In one corner I see an old man wearing plate armour, waving a great sword around with precise and swift movements. He is a human. It disgusts me that a human would be in our Empire’s palace. Those barbarians should stay in their backwards nation states.

From his armour and technique. I can tell he isn’t a common foot soldier. He must be a diplomat from one of the human the realms.

After recent events with the Dodads, it would make sense that they come to us for assistance, though I don’t see why they should be scared of bugs at this time.

Still, he doesn’t pose any threat, and his problems should not be a difficult to deal with.

‘Commander Regali.’

I turn around to see a familiar face. Hannah Black. She looks different from the NCO course. She was a handful, but a good companion. We helped each other out. She got me fit, while I tutored her with military theory. After the course we went our separate ways.

’You are one cheeky bastard, Volas.’

‘What? Don’t you enjoy seeing me again?’ I reply sarcastically.

‘Oh please! Seeing you here ruined the view.’

We both laugh as we give each other a hug.

‘How did you get here? I thought you would be sent to Makaria?’ I ask.

‘Well I would have, but I got an offer to stay at the palace to train the guards.’

‘You? I am surprised there are still guards left from your training methods.’

‘Maybe I might have to train you if you are going to open that mouth of yours.’ She grins.

I laugh at her empty threat.

For most of her life, she lived in the slums, barely scraping by and almost never attending school. But when she did, oh boy, she was ruthless to anyone who tried to give her crap. Except for me; I was her only friend.

She would always stand up for me, keeping bullies away and such. In exchange, I’ll help her with her homework and catch her up on school work so she doesn’t fail. I’ve always looked up to her as a good friend. She has my back after all, although I’ve never sure why.

Being in the army suits her well. She made the other recruits’ time during training hell even more than the actual trainers. Somehow even they forgot she was a recruit sometimes.

‘So, Volas, what do you think about the palace?’

‘It is beautiful. The garden is the best part about it so far, although the sight of its beauty is soiled by that human over there.’ I point at the human with the great sword.

Hannah sighs and places her hand on my shoulder.

‘That man is a diplomat from Van Dimers Land.’

‘And?’ I reply in frustration.

‘His name is Sir Handcock Yirven. He came here to talk to the Empress about issues in his kingdom.’

‘What are those issues?’

‘Well, if you are dying to know, Volas, ask him.’

How disgusting! Being asked to go to a human and talk about his problems. Best that I just ignore him, couldn’t be a big issue at all.

‘I’m good. Human problems are below us.’ I say with confidence.

Hannah frowns. ‘They are our allies Volas, it is foolish to ignore their needs.’

‘They can solve their problems if they put effort into it, human problems should not be our concern.’ I reply sarcastically.

She shrugs as she heads off. ‘Well, I’ve got stuff to do. It’s good to see you again. See you soon, Volas.’

I smile as I wave her off. I look back at the human to see he is still training with his great sword. Out of curiosity, I watch him, examining his skills and techniques. His fighting style is unique, but I doubt it would be superior to the Cinaris styles of combat.

But I soon get bored, so I get up and leave the gardens to continue my exploration of the Palace.

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I head to the east wing of the palace to explore. The halls are filled with magnificent marble statues of heroes, Generals, and significant leaders. I will stop myself just to admire the details and the effort that is used to create them. The total immortalization of our history and the figures who made our nation what it is.

‘If you work hard enough, you could have one made in your honour.’ I turn to face an old man, hunched over, carrying a few stacks of books and scrolls.

‘Would you like a hand, sir?’ I ask him.

‘Of course I do, since you are so kind to offer.’

He hands me all of his books without a second thought.

‘Now follow me. I don’t want to waste any more time,’ he waves his frail hands as he walks down the halls.

The man is painfully slow. If not for the fact that I have to be polite to him. I would push him to hurry things up.

‘So young man. What is your name?’ The man asks.

‘Commander Re-‘

‘Not your rank, your name,’ he interrupts.

‘Volas, Volas Regali.’

The old man smiles. ‘That is what I want to hear, a name and not this formality. I am Benston Gram, the palace scribe and historian.’

‘Historian? Why would a historian be here?’

‘I am here to remind people about the traditions, and to educated them on history that they don’t know or understand.’ He laughs to himself. ‘If you ask any silly questions, I might make you deaf from what I can spew out.’

I nod as I walk in silence thinking. Maybe he knows a few things that I don’t. I can’t simply ignore this opportunity.

‘Do you know anything about the Forgotten Era?’

The man stops and looks at me. ‘Do you have a bloody a death wish?’

‘No, I am just interested in the Era,’ I reply nervously.

‘Well, then,’ he says reluctantly. ‘The world of the past ended because magic disappeared. How and why it disappeared is a mystery. With what little we have found of that time period, we have some hints of how they lived. We suspect they were further away from the Gods and that every race spoke the same language. Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.’

‘Nothing else? That is textbook knowledge at this point.’

‘That is the problem. No one knows and no one really cares anymore. Many historians have given up trying to figure out the past and what it was like. That era is shrouded in mystery, with nothing but a few remnants of broken tech and ancient pottery. You will have a better chance imagining what the past was like than actually have any evidence of it existing.’

I sigh in disappointment. ‘Oh. So not even a historian like yourself has anything else to share about the period? Did you give up as well?’

‘You are a snarky young man.’ He looks around the hall to check that no one is listening in. ‘Between the two us, let’s say there a breakthrough just around the corner.’

‘Care to explain?’ My curiosity gets the best of me as I smile from ear to ear.

If he knows anything new about that period, by the Gods, I will be blessed to be the first to hear it.

‘I believe these documents might give us answers about the Arch Angel the humans have. It might turn out that it isn’t a weapon at all!’

That can’t be possible! The Arch Angel is the bargaining chip that made the Dodads stay in the Ishtu deserts. A bomb that predates the Forgotten Era, a device that could be the reason the world fell. And it might not be a weapon?

‘So what is it?’ I ask him.

‘That is why I’ve got these documents! Luckily, I’ve still got a lot of years in me to figure that mystery out.’

I roll my eyes, disappointed he didn’t have an answer to a very important question.

‘Well, that is if you still have years in you.‘

‘I am a hundred and fifty years old. I know enough to say that you are wrong about a lot of things. What are you, nineteen?’

‘Twenty-five,’ I reply.

I shouldn’t go too far, this man deserves my respect if he is researching the distant past.

‘Sorry Benston, for a subject I spent years studying. New information about it always excites me.’

‘I bet it does. Keep that mindset up and you might take my job.’

We arrive at a door with a scroll painted in the centre. Benston unlocks it the room, it is round, with curved bookshelves along walls, so tall they reach the roof. Numbers and letters divide the rows upon rows of books and scrolls. So much knowledge, so much is here in this very room.

And this isn’t the only room like this! There are around twenty of them in this palace. I can barely imagine what places like the strongholds that house sensitive documents will look like. If this room can hold hundreds, if not thousands of books, the strongholds must hold millions.

Benston takes the books and scrolls off me and places them on the table. He immediately starts flipping through the first pages of one of the books.

‘Is there anything else you need, Benston?’ I ask.

‘Oh no lad, thank you for helping me out. I will go through all of this and note down my findings. How about you go to the city and have some fun at the pub?’

‘I don’t think I am allowed to leave my post.’

‘Don’t speak nonsense, you are just here to stay. Plus, you’re young and you should experience life to its fullest.’

‘Thank you. If you need anything, just call out for me.’ I reply.

‘I definitely will, young man. Perhaps I can make you my assistant if the army doesn’t work out for you.’

I chuckle as I say my farewells. Maybe I should go to the pub, there isn’t much to do here after all.

I spend the rest of my night at the pub, drinking ale, wine, and other beverages, enjoying my time with other Commanders who frequent the establishment. It’s a surprise to see them. Never thought they would leave the palace to drink.

But all fun things must come to an end. I stumble out of the pub, my mind poisoned with the pints of intoxicating beverages the kind bartender gave me. With a price, that is.

I wave at the pub as my other hand flimsily sways side to side.

The night sky with its beautiful stars watches over me, as the city’s lanterns light the cobblestone path to the palace.

The city is asleep, but its heart beats with beauty. Stray cats and dogs populate the streets, taking scraps left behind from those who came before them.

Every step I take becomes heavier, while my body sways. It is hard to keep upright. I trip over on the curve and I try to clumsily steady myself. But, I am too dizzy to stand. So I sit, catching my breath while I slump my head down in embarrassment.

‘You alright, young man?’

I look up to see the old human that trained in the courtyard this morning. Handcock, I think that is his name.

My face turns red from anger as the presence of a disgusting human resides in front of me.

‘What do you want? Don’t you have your kingdoms to protect from those bugs?’ I slur my words at the human.

He looks at me with a blank stare.

‘You’ve taken a bit too much grog under the tap. Come on, let’s take you home.’ He reaches down to help me up.

‘Perhaps you should go back home.’

I knock his hand out of the way, as I hoist myself, I fall over as my head spins and turns. Making me go off balance. I try again, placing my hand on the wall to hold myself up, but only to fall over in front of the disgusting human.

Handcock shakes his head.

‘You really think you can walk yourself alone like this? You can barely keep yourself upright!’ He remarks.

I ignore him as I struggle to get back up. I take a few steps, only to slip in a puddle and fall onto my back.

Handcock looks at me, his facial expression not showing any signs of amusement or disappointment.

‘You Cinari are stubborn as a bulls nuts.’ He reaches his hand out to me again. ‘You can take it. There is no shame in it.’

I better hope not. Humans offering help always comes at a cost. However, staying here like this isn’t going to do any good. Besides, humans only demand the basics, so the cost of his help is affordable.

He yanks me upright as I take his hand; he wraps my arm around his shoulder so we can begin our walk back to the palace.

Doing all this while keeping silent, not making a remark or changing his expression.

‘Why are you helping me, human?’ I demand.

He must have a motive behind it. Why would his kind help someone in my position?

‘You’re off your tits. Leaving an officer on the streets like that could be an abrupt end to your career. Leaving you out there and ignoring you would be ungentlemanly of me. We all have to work together during troubling times and under the tap.’ He replies.

‘Troubling times? You humans have the Cinaris Empire to help you and you have the Arch Angel. My Empire has more troubles to deal with than your kingdoms can ever imagine. By the Gods, you can’t equip your armies with plate armour!’ I mock, chuckling at his notion that his species realms deal with any struggle. They have military support handed to them on a silver platter. We defended them against the Dodads and made sure those bugs will never invade them.

‘Your people are interesting.’

‘My people!’ I shout at his insult. ‘We are the reason this world hasn’t shat itself a world war.’

‘You’re ignorant to believe in that. You may have halted wars in the past, but your Empire have caused problems for everyone as well. No country really believes your military can deal with threats without the Dragon Fleet or the Praetorian Guard.’ He replies.

I push him away from me. How dare he insult my empire and her glories military!

‘You inconsiderate piece of shit. We’ve beaten your knights in the Scarlet Campaign seventy years ago and still have veterans from that war. We won because your army couldn’t stand up to us on their own!’

Handcock shakes his head; his expressionless demeanour swiftly turns to anger.

‘The palace is a few minutes’ walk from here.’ He points down the street as he walks away in the opposite direction. ‘Your Empire didn’t win by military means, Commander. You won because you used our Death Riders. Diplomacy won your campaign, not battle.’ He disappears into the darkness.

I spit on the ground where he once stood as I stagger back to the palace. Anger rushes through me at how that old man spoke against my Empire’s achievements. All he said is a lie, a lie to trick me. To make me question my loyalty.

I won’t let that bastard make me question my allegiance ever again, unless he wants his tongue cut out.