“Strength lies not in power. But in knowledge.
Power is a false concept, meant to disparage the mind.
Knowledge is the true weapon.
War is waged naught by sheer strength, but by clever technology.
A long lasting Empire, is one which has the most brilliant of minds and individuals in it's councils; not one with mindless brutes begging for bloodshed.”
-Viktoria von Celeste
IMPERATOR OF DECAYING RENOWN
The waters of the world were turbulent, oscillating from wild abandon of a young colt to the mute serenity of a monk; a mirror of the state of the larger Galaxy. Each whiplash, a reminder of the chaos that engulfs the Empire. Each roar of mad thunder, a reminder of treacherous rebellions. Each droplet of rain, a reminder of the souls perishing, every minute, to the inferno of war.
The Goddess had been displeased; so their Dominion over reality was shattered. The Goddess was slighted; so their understanding of peace was taken. The Goddess was abandoned; so their worlds burned. The Goddess was forgotten; so their souls were damned eternal.
The Jade Throne remains empty. The Holy World of Lilith, engulfed in flames of eternal war. Their Goddess's Palace crumbles into foregone era's of history; many have forgotten Her mercy, Her love, Her devotion. Truly, an era of darkness and decay.
The War of Decay, has enraptured the entirety of the Imperial Dominion. Few escaped from the ensuing flames of chaos and perpetual death; Solitude Prime was one such world.
Laying in the far vestiges of the outer galactic rim, Solitude Prime remained suspended in it's endless serenity and joyful prayers. It's people worshiping an empty throne, a dying religion; it brought immense pleasure.
Much gratification was to be gained from these holistic sights! And, he made sure to take in, as much as one could. When treachery burnt away at the last seams of order and security– the calm divinity of Solitude Prime was a fair compensation to a devout soul.
For such a boon, the Goddess had his eternal gratitude. Truly a benevolent mother!
“Hmm. A curious visitor approaches. Tell me, Son of Scarlot; Tell me, why hast thou paid a visit to me, hmm?”
Snapping away from the turbulent thoughts of righteous vengeance against treachery; Bormann spoke, with a certain thirst coloring his voice, “I come here, naught for a mere visitation. I come here, regretfully, with mournful news,”
“Hmm. Curious, infinitely curious. Pray tell, Bormann, Son of Scarlot, what this mournful news is; the curiosity tears away at me,”
“Empress Viktoria is dead.” He relayed, lip trembling with emotion; had self control lapsed, Bormann would've cried tears of blood– alas, inspite of crushing grief, he had to power through. The Goddess's will had to be carried out.
Twisting it's neck, the entity replied, “Were it news to mine ears; tears of crushing sorrow would have flown like a free river from mine eyes. But, as it stands, such a gravitational news doth do make it's arrival, even on a backwater like this. Mine ears have borne witness, and mine mind curses them for it,”
“So do mine, and now, I curse mine tongue; for, in relaying the news of Her death, brings within me too much sorrow to stomach. I fear, one more and I shall collapse,”
It nodded, straightening it's posture, “Verily, sorrow is meant to be expressed. Our Holy Mother is dead. Sorrow is rightful. Sorrow is acceptable. Sorrow is our early tribute to her phoenix reign,”
Bormann shook his head, “But- but, that is it. Isn't it? I cannot drown in sorrow, tis hardly the time. Traitors and heretics and their disgusting ilk run amok in our Holy pastures! I cannot allow this; not now, not ever.”
“Even if, it means to forgo thine sorrow for our Holy Mother?”
“For her phoenix regime, even my life is forfeit,”
“Hmm. Inspiring. Very inspiring. Your nature is that of a true loyalist, Bormann; for her phoenix regime, even mine life is forfeit,”
“A bridge, then? Connecting our existences?”
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The entity nodded, deeply pleased, “Indeed. Indeed. A bridge to connect our distances. A bridge to align our souls for Her prophesied return!”
Bormann saluted- hand placed upon his heart-, “For Her eternal reign over the stars and the moon!”
“For Her eternal reign over all life,” The entity completed.
Suddenly, the entity brought it's visage closer to Bormann, gazing intently into his eyes– searching for something. “There is something that troubles you. Hmm. Something, unrelated to Our Holy Mother's death. Something more profound than Her eternal reign,”
“Nein!” He denied vehemently; silver eyes gaining a vengeful hardness to them, deeply affronted at the mere suggestion.
“You may deny the truth, Bormann. But denial, does not prevent truthful revelations from coming out. Truth is an intelligent being, it knows what many do not– it understands, what many refuse to– it reveals, all that one cowers from. Truth is powerful, Bormann. Truth is Her will,”
Bormann sighed. It was right. Her will was to embrace truth and reality, over all else; “The question of an inheritor irks me. There are none in this universe, that could ever hope to replace our Goddess; all seem unworthy before Her, all seem insufficient before Her.”
The being nodded, “Understandable concerns. Hmm. An inheritor is required, yes, it is; a council will not do, tis far too volatile. A council is unreliable. Hmmm. A Regent is fickle; untrustworthy to ensure Her return. Hmm. Yes, yes, I believe that mineself has the answer,”
“Welll? Out with it!”
“We need only look for an inheritor,”
“Isn't that, what I- or, rather, We are already.. trying?”
“Not essentially, no. Mineself means a true inheritor; an individual of Her brood and blood,”
Bormann scoffed, unsure whether to be amused or affronted, “And, pray tell, wherever shall we find these ‘Trueborn’ Inheritors?”
The entity laughed, a grating sound- akin to stones being ground against one another-, and replied, “Mineself has a lead. A girl, roughly teenage in her years and Concordian born,”
Bormann raised a brow, “A highborn?”
The entity shook it's head, “Thank the Goddess, no. The girl is lowborn, she serves as a lady’s maid to a Libertian Lady,”
“A heretic,” The sneer on Bormann’s countenance brought a tiny smile on the entity’s face.
“Thine dedication to Her word and will, brings a smile to mine face and soul. Heretic, her employer may be, but, our inheritor is not. She is a devout. The perfect candidate,”
“Eh. Well, ain't that convenient?” Bormann shrugged at his own question, before asking, “And, where does she trace her blood from?”
“Empress Gwendolyn,”
Bormann recoiled, visibly, at the name. A disgraceful ancestry, “You.. you want a.. whoreblood on the Throne?!”
The entity chuckled, it's neck twisting oddly and replied, “Whoreblood. Such a distasteful word. Nevertheless, an Inheritor, she remains. Unless, of course, you have another candidate?”
Clicking his tongue, he replied, “Unfortunately, nein. I do not,” A lie. He had a few candidates in mind, but, all or nearly all of them were of far too diluted blood; either that or their stature in society was undesirable. Furthermore, some had claims which were far too flimsy.
“However, I do have a question,”
“Hmm? You do, do you?” The entity nodded in self agreement, “Very well, mine ears shall bear witness,”
“We talk of inheritors; dismiss and analyze them in the same breath, yet, not even once, have you suggested yourself. I find it, infinitely, curious,”
“You believe mineself to be vain?”
“I dare not. But, my question is valid; even you could agree to it,”
“Hmm. And I do agree, however, I shall pose the same question to you. Why haven't thou taken the throne?” A beat, and a twist of it's neck, the entity continued, “Thineself can certainly claim it– the army, or whatever remains of it, is yours to command. Marshall prowess has claimed the throne before, and mineself is certain that it could be done again. Then, then.. why not? Why shan't you take the throne? Hmm?”
Bormann had to concede; the question was entirely valid. He was an eligible commandant to pull off an assumption of the Throne. But, that wouldn't be quite right, would it? Of course not. Tis would be against Her Divine Will; and he'd dare not cross the Holy Mother!
His answer formed, Bormann shook his head, “I cannot; not that I'm ineligible for it but that Her Reich cannot be sullied by our unworthy blood upon it's Holy Throne. Were it something else.. something akin to a minor barony, unrelated to Her will, I shall have made a play. But, as it stands… I cannot and will not,”
The entity smiled, the grin stretching across it's face, “Very well, Bormann; thine dedication is nonpareil as always. Blessed be your soul!” With a muttered prayer, the conversation continued, “By deduction and elimination, this girl is our only hope. You understand, yes, hmm? The importance of her, hmm?”
“Of course, I do. Infact, as soon as this visitation is over, by your leave, I will leave to collect her at once!”
The grin grew wider- how in the Goddess's name was that even possible?!-, “Perfect. All proceeds as Her will; leave at once, Bormann, do not tarry, not even if thine life is in danger. A moment wasted is a moment given to our archenemies. The sooner the inheritor is with us; the sooner, Her will shall be carried out.” With a reverent pause, it added in holy submission, “Heil Viktoria!”
Bormann saluted in utter reverence, “Heil Viktoria!”
And, with the salute, he was off on his way to herald Her phoenix reign.
Her will would bring righteous deliverance over them all. Her will shall repair this broken reality. Her will shall shield them from sin. Her will shall free them of suffering.