"Your Holiness, you really need to address this." Caroline says with increasing frustration. "Governor Heral just tried to have you killed, and you have not even made a single move against him in the past three days. Its worse then him being in open rebellion."

With her new position as Commander of the Wind Guard, Caroline has been imbued with a rapidly growing sense of confidence. She is now open with her opinions instead of trying to work with the system to make slight changes.

"With Lila gone, your Holiness, the admiralty is in disarray. Appoint a Grand Commander of the Navy and send them to destroy Heral." Merl adds with his calculated robotic voice.

"I have made a list of 12 candidates that tick all the boxes for the role." Tya says, sliding over her dashboard.

Gazing my eyes over to Farly. He merely sits, twiddling his thumbs.

Vera, on the other hand, doesn't move at all. Her face is locked on the empty chair across from her, and prickles of hair hang on her head. She seems to have forgotten to shave as per her order requirements. Issues among the commoners seem to have broken her.

All my courtiers are sitting at this table attempting to advise, but Farly is the only one with the right idea. That's because he can sense that I already know what I will do. There is no way they can convince me of anything. Thousands of Admirals stand at complete attention in perfect formation in the hanger below this room. They each have been waiting hours as the conversation of revenge against Heral and promotion has raged. Each admiral struggles to maintain posture under the constant stress of waiting.

"I have decided. Let's go address the admirals," I said while floating up from the chair. Farly instantly jumped out of his chair while the others stumbled, shocked and confused. Vera didn't move.

I move to the lookout room, which grants full access to the hangar with all the admirals. They are all wearing black shirts and pants with red lines. They are all accomplished leaders of ship formations.

The lookout folds out slowly, creating a speaking platform with all courtiers, excluding Vera, by my side.

"Admirals, thank you for being patient. We have come to a conclusion regarding who will be the next Grand Commander." A silent relief fills the floor as the admirals relieve their tension upon my words. "The admiral who brings me Heral's head shall receive the role. Achieve this by any means nessisary." The room stands silent; I can sense my courtiers' desire to grab me and scream but can't due to fear.

A tense staredown continues as the admirals hold positions only broken when one begins to move, slowly inching to the door. Opening it and then slipping past to get to their ship. Others break rank, dashing towards the door to get to their ships. The commotion becomes violent as admirals attack each other to get to their ships faster. Caroline shouts at soldiers to break it up as they run over, separating the admirals.

I float towards the meeting room before leaving the courtiers on the out folded lookout speaking platform. Looking into the room, the first thing I notice is that Vera is gone. Eventually, Tya, Farly, Caroline, and Merl burst into the room. Tya and Merl simply give me a nod and leave the room to resume their duties. Caroline strolls while rubbing her head in complete shock. Farly, on the other hand, was talking over his intercom.

"Aurel, the bottom level is experiencing a worker's strike. Thousands of people are now refusing to work and protesting in the alleyways." Farly said, putting down the intercom.

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"Emperor! Are you serious? How are we going to contain that now? You just gave permission for our armies to leave this ship and kill one man. Not just a single fleet group but the entire armed forces. How do you expect us to control this ship without soldiers? The Royal Wind Guard are only 500-strong." Caroline says, slamming her hand against the desk, punching a hole right through the corner.

"Caroline, don't forget yourself. Our emperor is wise and all-knowing," Farly responds smugly.

"You might have been, but your recent actions have started to make me question your leadership. Ever since you destroyed Thebes, you have not been the same. If you do not plan to solve this issue, I will call back my old legion to reinforce us." Says Caroline while pacing up and down.

"Caroline, I am going to handle it. Do not speak out of line again, or I will not be able to promise you will keep this position," I said sternly. Caroline then walked out of the room, breathing heavily.

"She's got a point, you know? You know I will trust you indefinitely, but you have been acting weird." With Farly's casual reassurance, I am able to release myself from my new imperial persona. My shoulders and legs drop into a chair like water in a flower pot.

"Please tell me you have a greater plan here, and this isn't the start of your crazy downfall?"

"No, things have just been changing rapidly. It's hard. I have to be evil to do good."

"Look, Aurel, technically, you are my only parent. Since you crafted me in a lab with your blood and psychic energy, You can talk to me about this and share your burdens a little."

"I suppose you are right," I say as we giggle together. "Look, as you know, I can see the future. I use this power to perfectly direct humanity towards a utopian life."

"By being a tyrant?"

"I know, the future is a weird concept. I can see what actions will lead to specific outcomes, but I cannot see how."

"So do you plan out everything you do?"

"No, because my plan is so grand, it doesn't have issues with most things I do. It's just the stuff that affects the sway of all humanity."

"I mean that kind of makes sense. So what caused the sudden change?"

"Caroline had it, Thebes. It turns out Vera has strong psychic energy, and it will help create a utopia."

"I thought I had weird emotional spills with her? Is that what happened during the Solar Arrival Ritual?"

"Yes, her anger and delight consumed me. I have been training to resist it."

"That explains why she is not on the court, but what's up with Caroline? When a Wind Guard Commander dies, you appoint within the Wing Guard, but she is a random choice.

"The visions told me."

"The visions told you?" Farly says while leaning up from his chair.

"Yup!" I respond as we both begin to laugh hysterically, almost losing our breath.

"Did you know that in the past thousand years of being around, this is probably the first time we have chatted like this? You know, with complete and utter honesty. We talk mentally and all occasionally, but that is mostly about all this work and stuff. All I am saying is that I am just sad it took us this long to speak properly without all the senses. As my creator, you really are the only one who knows what's going on for me mentally and can relate."

"You are completely right, I am sorry. You just have to understand, my upbringing was similar to yours. I was lab grown with psychic energy by a cult who wanted to use me as a messiah. Honestly the only difference between us is that your psychic energy is more diluted then mine since its just a chunk of me. I just don't know how to actually be with people is all."

"Me neither..." Farly said, followed by only the sound of air leaking through the vents. With everything I know that will happen, there is only one thing I can do to make this right. I stand up, and Farly knows precisely what I want due to our mental connection. We walk up to each other and embrace, holding each other tightly as tears slip from our eyes. I wish I could tell them everything. I wish I could say to them how they are going to have to die before all of this is over.