Entering my deep consciousness is one of the most power draining abilities I could use. This meant upon waking up I struggled to grasp my surroundings, in particular I couldn’t detect who stood at my door. Reason would assume Alec stands there or any of the other Royal Wind Guards.

The door zips open and as I guessed Alec stands with complete posture and the quartz like armor they possess.

"Thebes is dead. Dead in Hall. Rumors spread about the emperor's weakness." They said in our secret language only we can even hear. This is a concerning report, must have something to do with the commotion I heard when I left. The rumors I do not know what that could mean though, very interesting.

My head begins to hurt as my ear begins to feel wet, putting my finger on it I see blood. Before I could comprehend anything Alec had rushed over and started taking my vitals. They then hologrammed them into my face showing how my brain's stress levels were beyond comprehension and causing strain.

“Wipe it” I say to Alec, nothing presented to me was cause for any alarm. I am almost a living God, my vitals are bound to be different. Alec holding a cloth begins to clean my ear of all the blood, slowly dabbing it softly. Even with the bulking armor these trained guards have pristine precision.

Once Alec stepped away I ordered at them “Control scene, I arrive shortly.” The doors close behind them as I am left alone with this still agonizing headache.

Thebes is dead, the deed must be done then. The windows of my room open upon my psychic command. All I see is Thebes, instead of lights weaved like webs shining across the surface, it is instead a broken cluster of rocks revolving around an even smaller core. The cries from the surface have completely ended with all the inhabitable air faded due to the precision strikes of important zones that would purposefully end all life on the moon without direct shots. If I search close enough I can see human made debris of housing and farms, the worst are the bodies, almost 6 billion people's corpses floating. Some are fully intact while others are split into untold amounts of pieces. For the greater good, I think as the windows shut, disconnecting me from the situation.

Now it's time for me to address the business Alec brought to my attention. I prepare my clothing as I head out the room ready to make my way back to the hall. Guards away to join my entourage with the exemption of Alec.

As we walk the echoes of Alec’s report ring in my head as I try to piece together what might have happened. With my ability to sense I am restricted in my analysis of the situation.

Reaching the great doors I struggle to open them mentally and am forced to request the guards open it manually.

Walking into the great hall I am using all my strength just holding myself up. It is much less crowded than before, the echoes are louder and reciprocating longer. The end of the hall there are two divided groups, on the left a giant crowd full of bruises and cuts, but it's nothing as compared to the right side. Blood covers the lowest level stand with some 20 bodies covering the area with wounds and slices all over. Some knives lay next to them or around them with all of them covered in blood. Those that are alive are pushed into a crowd being watched over by Alec themself. Amongst them is the religious procession from Thebes, some now followed by a bloody robe instead of a golden one. The center window above my throne is also covered in blood, but not from the inside? A single hand is scraping along it solitary, this must be the initiator of all this chaos.

Closer to my throne I continue to walk straight even as blood intersects onto my ruby path. The steps and throne itself are clear of blood and filled now with royal guards. Ascending the throne I now have a grand view of this treacherous crime scene.

As I finally sat down I quickly let out a secret command to the Royal Guard, “Follow lead, situation will solve.” The royal guards responded merely with acknowledgment all while keeping everyone else in the dark.

“Who wishes to inform me of the mess that occurred here?” I sat commanding my voice to carry through the hall with the echo bouncing back on the people under me. On the previous left and now my right a little squeal is released like a pinched balloon. Slowly I move my eyes to meet the sound and see a sobbing young man. Instinctually the guards sort through the crowd grabbing him and shoving him in front of me on his knees. He is a kid who probably just earned his nobility through inheritance, the first time also being in my direct presence I assume. If my head recovers I could confirm this information but my visions show me nothing until I rest. My gaze alone forces the young boy to start raining sweat. He keeps his eyes down while his mouth shutters, trying to speak but no words escape.

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“Speak boy!” I command with my voice again carrying and echoing back. This pushes the boy from his knees to now his hands and knees with his eyes raining tears and drool dripping out of his mouth. A guard walks over and picks him up back to his knees and forcing his eyes onto me. Instantly words begin to spill out of his mouth like the missile barrage that hit Thebes.

“Speak boy!" He lets out a stuttered cry as he shakes to his feet "You left, then a pile of blood smashed against the window. Someone shouted tyrant behind me and then a brawl broke out as nobles near me began to fight. That all I know your holiness!”

"What happened here?" I ask with a booming voice that shutters the hall. The man on the floor is now trembling with tears now falling down. His fear as prevented him from talking as he trembles so I ask "Speak boy!" He lets out a stuttered cry as he shakes to his feet

“You left, then a pile of blood smashed against the window. Someone shouted tyrant behind me and then a brawl broke out as nobles near me began to fight. I couldn’t see the other side but they had screams. That's all I know your holiness!"

My head is now clearing up, I can’t see much but I can see how much fear has filled this boy and believe what he tells me is honest. Looking to the crowd for signs, a prouder loyal noble I recognise intercedes, “The traitors never stood a chance!” followed by the cheers of the crowds.

"Well then, once the traitors are found they shall be punished and the patriots that protected the sanctity of this empire will be rewarded!" The cheer is louder than before but I can notice a distinctive lack of voices, I can’t confirm but these might be the so called traitors. While the cheers occur I command Alec to those whose voices I failed to hear. After I finish communicating the Wind Guard sorts through the crowd pulling out the individuals I mentioned. The cheers got louder and more rowdy as the nobles pushed, shoved and spit on those being dragged out of the room. After the prisoners are escorted out the rest of the crowd are given the right to leave out of the hall as they cheer and shout out the room, as soon as the door closes the sound of cheers stops returning silence.

Without the full strength of my powers I don’t receive the visions of paradise so now I am trying to make choices without an effect. It's difficult especially now that I shall next have to deal with the Thebian’s, and the green eyed priestess.

With only a handful of people remaining in the room I focus my attention on the left of the room where blood covers the area. As my mind tumbles with ideas and thoughts trying to summon the strength for guidance the old priestess steps fourth.

"Before you ask your holiness I have your answers." She says kneeling to the floor. Suddenly fear starts to grip me, a fear that makes me feel mortal once more.

"Please enlighten me, priestess." I said.

"When the brawl as before occurred some shoving began when one of the nobles began to harass Governor Heral, something to do with breeding traitors. In response he pulled out a blade and began to cut into the aggravators along with other associates. They then disappeared into the crowd during the chaos and ran out with everyone else." The priestess says while kneeling with impeccable poise.

I can’t read her or anyone else and I don’t know what action might damage the future, all I can do is offer a non-response.

"Thank you priestess, I appreciate your candor." I responded hoping it was the right decision. She gives a bow and starts to turn away. All the fear attacking me suddenly subsides.

"Before you leave, priestess, what is your name?" I ask, forcing her to correct her turn back to me with her bare feet screeching against the blood.

"I am High Priestess Vera of Thebes to your holy order." She suddenly turns back to her group while pulling her ear as they clear the hall.

I turn to the window as time quickly passes with servants cleaning and records being taken. My head was feeling a little better but I still needed to rest so after everyone except my guards had left I traveled back to my quarters ready to enter a relaxing meditation that should knock me out for almost a week. It feels like the best sleep, especially when I lay down properly, my ears then suddenly spill out with blood, is this why Vera pulled her ear?