Not all civilizations were made equal.
From where a civilization is born and how a ruler cultivates it determined whether it would stand to the test of time. Natural resources and nature also played a vital role in nurturing them.
But even the most successful of civilizations were not immune to suddenly disappearing.
The Dark Ages between 50 PA to 200 PA saw civilizations disappear at the snap of a finger by god-like beings. Those monsters no longer existed, and enough time had passed where those truths had become so muddled that they were considered legends.
Mary D’ Grace, ‘The Lady Mary’, knew exactly what those mysterious beings were.
“The Corrupted are the reason why civilizations fall. Kingdoms that lack a Gift will look to a Corrupted to supplement their weakness. No one in their right mind would attempt to invade a civilization with a Corrupted under their wing. That Dozen Winged Bird must have broken free from its shackles.”
The woman who had been speaking in a sultry, eloquent tone was the 5th Princess of the Larin Empire – Mary D’ Grace. Joining her in the upper floor of a Cruiser Train were eight of her most loyal Dukes and Dutchesses of her Empire’s territories. They sat around on lavish furnishings that were bolted into the ground.
Sitting among them was also an old man who served her as her advisor, and the jewel of the Larin Empire – The Bleeding Petal – a warrior with the Adventurer Rank of Radiant. Eleven people were present in total in the upper floor of the Cruiser, with another hundred Red Guards in the lower floors.
Emvita had a track that ran across the borders of the entire Region. This was why they were able to reach the Nex Megalopolis so quickly. 59 Cruisers moved in a single file line, hauling through the tracks and ploughing through whatever was unfortunate enough to cross the tracks.
“Speaking of which, has anyone seen the wreckage of that train? We should have passed the site days ago.” Her advisor, which was a woman dressed in a regal suit and a long, puffy skirt asked.
“The one belonging to the Ateliers? No one has. If they did, then I doubt they’d openly admit to it. Corrupted belonging to the Ateliers is also highly sought after.” One of the Dukes spoke, glancing around the room.
But his eyes did not dare to land on Mary. Nor did the others aside from her Advisor. Mary’s red and purple eyes pierced into their souls as she scanned the floor. She reached down to one of the frills of her royal dress and deeply inhaled.
“My sweet Yanarin. Cologne.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Appearances was everything to her; from the way her long hair was curled with the exact number of curls per bundle, the number of eyelashes per eye, and the length of her nails. Her obsession with perfectionism was displayed on how even the grunt workers of the Larin Empire had to abide to strict dress and scent codes, less they wish to suddenly disappear one day.
The iron scent faded with a few sprays of a pink bottle.
Once satisfied, the blonde-haired Princess leaned further into her golden seat. Mary D’ Grace was a 26-year-old woman who oversaw the nine Dukedoms and Dutchies of the Larin Empire. She had been groomed for her role from the age of 5 by her 130-year-old Advisor – Yanarin; who remained as youthful as the day Mary first met her.
“I can’t help but wonder if this Amalgam appreciates beauty. How devastating would it be if the ruler of the Nexus and the ‘Head’ is a lowly monster. I can’t think of anything worse than an Orc or an Aquatid, aside from perhaps a child born from the seed of Goblin. Did we manage to find anything about the Head?”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Nothing.” The Bleeding Petal spoke with a deep, masculine voice as he peered through one of the thick portholes. “The Guilds of Emvita are still disconnected so there isn’t much they know. Besides, most of the old Guild Receptionists have been replaced with our own.”
“Ahh, that’s right.” Mary hummed. “They didn’t have our interests in mind, so they became field workers~ At the very least, they’re our field workers.”
Of the civilizations that populated Emvita, the Larin Empire was among the few that held considerable political power. They were major exporters of food and resources in a Region that was notoriously difficult to cultivate crops.
The main reason for this was far too many to list, but the major ones that stood out were Atelier waste, Corrupted, monsters and the Demons that reigned across Emvita.
“It was either that, or they were to be sold into slavery. The Golden Index would not be able to tell what happened to their Guild or personnel.” Yanarin cleaned her glasses as she moved around the room, picking up various scattered silverware and cups.
Mary clapped her hands together with delight.
“It’s a good thing then that they’re still working in our territory. Peasants and field workers are prone to being snatched in the middle of the night or in broad daylight by hungry monsters~ If they really wanted to leave, then it can’t be helped. And if they’re really lucky, then they’ll just become little seedbeds. Ahhhh~ It’s frustrating how Nexus and Atelier personnel can keep their skin so smooth… The Blessed have it so good too. To be youthful forever like Bathory the Scarlet Fall~”
Bathory the Scarlet Fall was the name of one of three known Honored Ones. She was known for bathing in the blood of young women in order to remain youthful. There was a time when it became a trend for Princesses and Queens to bathe in the blood of beautiful slaves.
“Wouldn’t it have been better to sell them off as slaves?” A Dutchess wondered.
“Forget the thought. I quite liked that Guild Receptionist. Her face was attractive. Working her on the fields means that her skin can decay faster. Her hands will grow callused. She’s also accumulated several diseases too, alongside her Receptionist friends.”
“We exposed them to untreated water. They say the Nexus has grown close to its Ateliers. Therefore, they will have to send a Healer over to tend to their disease.” Yanarin coldly stated. “The issue however is if they send another Star our way.”
“Stars… Those unruly things. Do they expect us to obey them because they’re strong? You saw how that Star refused to approach our palace grounds. They’re still susceptible to the Corrupted.”
Mary remembered her encounter with the Star of the Nexus just weeks prior. The memory left a bitter taste in her mouth as she began chewing on her thumb in ire.
“That’s right. We’re not heading to Atlas because of an order. We’re here to make a statement. Yanarin. Have you ever seen a Star fight?”
“Of the 130 years I’ve lived, I have never seen one take action.”
“Then why do we regard them higher than the Moons? Stars of the Nexus are but messengers. They are missionaries of the Amalgam. Aaaah. How much longer until we reach the Nex Megalopolis?”
“Three hours.” Yanarin stated.
Stars were seldomly seen engaging in combat. They were historically seen as indomitable beings, but Mary was convinced that the Stars of the Nexus were akin to the Harolds and the Missionaries of Act X. Their power came from the authority they represented rather than from their own strength.
However, Mary trembled lightly. She was a woman who had seen the worst of human and monster nature, and yet the mere presence of the Star that had visited them caused her to become visibly shaken.
This was because it was not the Star’s presence that instilled irrevocable fear into her.
Rather, it was the words they had delivered.
“The weight of your sins will catch up with you. The Amalgam will guarantee it.”
“My lovely Yanarin… spruce me up.”
“Why so suddenly?”
If it were anyone else who had questioned her, then she would have plunged her thumbs into their eye sockets. Yanarin was like a second mother to her. As a result, she treated her with an appropriate amount of respect. Within reason of course, as Mary was the one with superior position.
“Appearances are everything. The Amalgam knows nothing about us. We have to give her the best impression of the Larin Empire as possible. If she has a generous heart, then we can gush over our exports. If you’re asked a question regarding our Empire, then you must respond with how we specialize in generosity.”
Mary swirled a glass of red liquid around. She gazed into the glass, seeing the reflection of everyone in the room…
… aside from hers.
“The Amalgam will understand our need for the Healers. If not, then we will make her understand. Who is to say that she doesn’t have the Healers for the same reason? Perfect skin. Perfect constitution. Beautiful faces. And…”
She took a sip from the glass and savored its metallic taste.
“… exemplary blood quality. Is there anything to fear when the Stars are not as they seem, and when the Moons are preoccupied with the Corrupted?”