The Palace
The next day, at the Small City's Central Building's top floor. Like a mini-tower, a building protruded from an excessively ample terrace. However, this terrace's mini-tower had another little terrace with streaming features whenever necessary.
It was morning, close to 8 AM, when many were already working, warming up, beginning their studies, cultivation, meditation, and the Empire's daily livelihood commenced. An hour ago, there was a notice about a change in the Empire concerning its future. The Empire's people rose to action and wandered the Small City's streets as the Cities from the surrounding isles had several digital screens with perfect definition broadcasting the mini-tower's terrace.
“Look!” - “Something’s big gonna happen!” - “Right?!” - “It must be due to the assigned supervisor!” - “True! Those other Regions didn’t hesitate to send what belongs to the Empire as soon as he came!” - “No wonder! I thought my husband was happy because we’re welcoming our 7th child this decade!” - “Bwahahahah! My Big Brother works in the enterprise Her Majesty created. He will tell me everything when he returns! Who wants gossip? Who wants a story?”
“Still, times are changing. We should maybe start forming a real army?” - “Isn’t it enough to have the numbers to defend our home?” - “It’s not like that. We must be prepared!” - “Sigh, the youth.” - “Sigh, the unsuspecting old farts.” - “...” - “Wut? Am I wrong?” - “It is not time yet.” - “But… am I wrong?” - “...” - “...” - “...”
Now that it was 8:01 am, some royal yards, wearing silvery gold armor, walked into the camera angle. The image was clear enough to encompass a hundred meters in width, and as the royal guards appeared, a red colored royalty carpet unfolded itself in the middle. The royal guards formed 2 lines with 8 meters in between. They each held a pale golden harpoon polearm with their extra blade pointing in the same direction as the primary blade.
Once every royal guard took their stand and looked terribly disciplined, their lives changed to become the Empire’s Empress's safety and her family in case she had any. There was respect and pity from the Empire’s people when they looked at them. The Imperial Guards were the leading major force of the Blauw Empire, and being one was an irremediable honor, even if most had patrolling missions for years without end currently.
However, it was different for the royal guards. In one sense, they were more honorable and selfless, throwing their life away to keep their leader safe. But from another point of view, they were no longer the Empire’s strength. It was quite a thought-provoking role in the entirety of this Empire. From the entrance, 3 figures finally showed themselves as they walked towards the small terrace.
Of those 3, the 2 tallest were at the sides, while the only small one was at the center. Behind the tall pair, several dozen figures walked behind them, following with the utmost respect and awe to the people they were following. They might have thought it was unnecessary and too much show before starting, but once they began their walk, they felt something else… These were all the Blauw Empire’s upper echelons and higher-ups.
Imperial Attendants were in charge of large numbers of the same, and Princes and Princesses who were once Imperial Attendants. Imperial Guards, Imperial Elders, Imperial Teachers, and the Imperial Persecutors of the Blauw Empire all walked behind Heian Ciemnosc and Empress Shuna. They were constantly looking at the little thing walking between these two behemoths. With how old they were, after being chosen by their Empress for their task and status, how could they not be clever enough to suspect what was happening?
However, not everyone had the same ideas. Some thought the little girl was someone… while others even believed this to be a union ceremony with some lies to embolden the Empire. However, the latter wasn’t needed since this wasn’t an ‘ordinary’ empire like a civilian. All their thought, however, were put aside to concentrate on showing their allegiance and servitude to the Empire. And even more so, to their leader.
Step, step, step, step, step, step, step, step… “Woah, that’s everyone! Isn’t it?!!” - “But, if they are here, what if some people take this chance to attack us?!” - “You dumb idiot! The Wrath Nihility Academy is here in person. Who would ever dare attack the Academy now?” - “Ahh~, true!” - “Tsk!”
Meanwhile, the Empire’s people debated numerous things while the small terrace was filled by the royal guards, the Empire’s critical roles, and the assigned supervisor. Once they were positioned where they belonged, and Heian Ciemnosc, Empress Shuna, and the little girl were at the center, and in front of everyone else, the people went silent.
Step, step… Empress Shuna walked a couple inches forward extra and looked down at the tens of millions surrounding the Central Building. Feeling her eyes on them, like the sunlight in winter or unbreakable snow at the beach, the people exclaimed at the top of their lungs. “EMPRESS!!” - “WAAAH! LONG LIVE THE EMPRESS!” - “FOR THE EMPRESS” - “For the Empire!” - “FOR THE EMPIRE!!”
“... The assigned supervisor has traveled dozens of Regions to his assigned area,” the Empress spoke. The entire Empire went silent despite the fact that not only Heian Ciemnosc could hear the cheers from the surrounding Cities despite the tens of thousands of kilometers in between them and the Small City. Then, she added, and the Empire became loud again. “The Wrath Nihility Academy’s support has arrived… to our Empire!!”
“WAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!” The people below, those in the other Cities, outside them, watching from the digital screens with perfect definition on the walls, and at the borders of the Far East Region into the sea all watched. Some smiled, some cheered along… But every single one of them… felt like crying. As if the world was finally looking at them after being trapped in the same small room for eternity. Was this their turn to shine?
“I have a piece of news that concerns the future of this Empire, from now on… and until the day…” The Empress spoke again as the rest heard in silence. They looked at her face, eyes, her divinity like a Goddess without being one, expecting her words like the creed to believe and hear the beat of their very own hearts. Empress Shuna continued after a short pause, looking at everyone below, “... We march into new, endless heights!”
“...” Needless to say, another round of immeasurably loud cheers followed her words. Heian Ciemnosc watched slightly behind her as her golden robes seemed to fit her now more than yesterday. What’s more, the sun against her brown skin perfectly contrasted, dizzying his darkest eyes for instances on occasion. Empress Shuna then looked behind at Heian Ciemnosc for a second. Her strongly determined eyes bathed him slightly before she pushed her daughter so she could be seen directly by the camera.
“From today onwards, I announce that the Blauw Empire has a royal princess, my daughter… Blauw Ishikyy.” Empress Shuna’s words came like a silent train crossing under their chins, stuck at everyone’s throats and widening their eyes to what this could mean… There was succession now. In the future, whatever might happen, there can be solutions for anything. This time, the Empire’s people took 10 seconds before they started… chanting.
“Long live the Azure Dragon Bloodline…” - “Long live the Blauw Empire!” - “Long live Empress Shuna!!” - “Long live royal princess, Blauw Ishikyy!!!” - “LONG LIVE THE BLAUW EMPIRE!!!”
“...~” Heian Ciemnosc looked as a grin inevitably formed around the right corners of his pale red lips. Suddenly, he felt his left sleeve tugged at. Heian Ciemnosc looked down to see the monstrosity pulling his dark coat, whose aquamarine, azure eyes looked up at him excitedly. She moved her lips to speak, with Heian Ciemnosc timely placing a Spirit Sense barrier so it wouldn’t be heard by others, and even more so the camera. “Will you be my daddy?”
“... I don’t think so, of course not.” Heian Ciemnosc took a little time to respond and saw the little girl’s eyes ponder right after. He nudged her to keep looking ahead and to wave at her subjects as the ceremony was still undergoing. But suddenly, she felt her right shoulder pressed on as Heian Ciemnosc’s whispering words reached her right ear. His voice was creepy, somewhat hoarse, with a strange falsetto, and perverted. “But you can call me daddy.”
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Little Blauw Ishikyy: y( ꒪◊꒪ )y
“Hehehehe…” After her face turned extremely scared and cute at once, she giggled at Heian Ciemnosc’s nonsense and smiled even more contentedly at the crowd of her subjects below. Her sudden change in facial expression weirded out some, but seeing her become so jovial right after calmed them down. What’s more, this gained Heian Ciemnosc some attention back. Just as they were wondering if Heian Ciemnosc was beside them for another reason other than advertising…
“Furthermore, I am honored to inform my Empire…” Empress Shuna’s words rang again, so her people fell silent, too. However, this time, her words carried ambiguity. The civilians, citizens, and cultivators listened with their ears opening bigger. Then, the Empress dropped the melodic bomb from her lips. “... That Sir Heian Ciemnosc, the Academy’s assigned supervisor, has become my daughter’s Imperial Teacher! She will be the little black monster’s first apprentice and student!”
“WOOOUUUU!!!” - “WOAHAAAA!” - “HURRA! HURRA! HURRAAAAYY!”
Although it wasn’t the same as a disciple, much less a personal disciple, that their royal princess had become such a growing figure’s apprentice and pupil gave the Blauw Empire everything its people needed. Those feeling hunger felt their bellies filled. Whoever was feeling alone, lonely, or unloved turned to fiercely look at their Empress’s indifferent, cold face… wanting to fight for what she represented in this Blackotia Kingdom… and who knew… what else it could be in a future?
“Expect changes, my subjects,” Empress Shauna spoke without shame. Her words fell down and spread for tens of thousands of kilometers, covering every City island surrounding the Small City. Her eyebrows lowered ever-so slightly, and her strongly determined eyes basked on whoever looked at them with blazing resolution. The Empress finished her words and hence the ceremony with them. “This is our Blauw Empire’s surging new Era!”
“For the Blauw Empire~~!!!!...” The cheers resounding from every island City emerged again. Thunderous waves splashed everywhere in between as their commotion affected even nature itself. Suddenly, dark clouds approached, and what started as a couple dozen became thousands, swiftly turning into ginormous dark clouds hovering above the entire Far East Region and farther into the ocean.
KA-CHAAAAAH!! CRRRRRR- ZZZZZZZZZZZ- CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!... Ka- cha~! Ka- cha! Ka- cha~~! Ka- chaaa! Ka- cha~! Ka- cha~! Ka- cha~!... PITTER PATTER…~~!!
A storm fell upon the entire Far East Region out of the blue, but it was heavily more concentrated in the Blauw Empire’s territory. Waves with heights over hundreds of meters threatened to reach the walls’ level, but the latter were far too tall for the former. And what’s more, even the highest waves couldn’t at least ripple the Imperial Guards atop the walls. The thunderbolts lashing downwards from the gigantic cloud encompassing an entire Region numbered the hundreds.
Each bolt was in the thousands of meters long, streaking shortly across the sky, while an occasional hundred thousandth kilometer bolt would instantly appear before quickly dissipating. It was terrific, and it could turn any expert sailor civilian into mush from just seeing this, giving them heart attacks or brain melts. However, while every other organization in the Far East Region feared a natural Disaster, the Blauw Empire welcomed it.
Heian Ciemnosc looked up as water flooded his face immediately. This wasn’t his doings or any living being’s doing, much less an Artifact or Relic. This was just… nature.
“It is over. Would you like to go to your new residence?” The ceremony had ended. Empress Shuna directed her words and face towards Heian Ciemnosc as the rain soaked her golden robes. Strangely enough, as they became wet, they turned blue… After looking at her attire for a little longer, Heian Ciemnosc snapped out of his daze and contested her. “I would. Where is it?”
Empress Shuna patted Little Ish’s head, stopping her from crazily and joyously jumping on the spot. She lifted her eyes to stare at Heian Ciemnosc and calmly uttered, “In my palace.”
. . .
Later that night, with thunder still rumbling. The whole Blauw Empire’s celebration had just started.
Although the storm had dwindled, the ginormous dark clouds remained in the sky, not moving an inch towards any angle. An occasional hundredth thousand kilometer long bolt still streaked across the sky and bombarded the Far East Region with its sound, but the rain became peaceful although heavy still, and the people below it at the Empire had calmed down.
But the celebrations would continue, just as the Empress said, for over a year. However, the civilians wouldn’t be able to keep going after a few days if they did so cultivator/citizen style. Thus, during the night, it would be mainly peaceful. On the other hand, there were many benefits to every person, family, group, gang, and small business of the Empire for the whole year. And that, added to the celebration, would bring about a tremendous rise in their livelihoods.
The Blauw Empire had just started stepping faster, longer, and higher than ever before, even after Empress Shuna’s crazy achievements of surpassing the First Emperor. The top organizations received word and became aware of what was happening as it was occurring in the land they had just departed from. They were restless and somewhat confused but definitely felt the threat of the ever-growing Empire.
However, they couldn’t do anything. It was done, and time was gone. They couldn’t see this coming before. And if the Blauw Empire wanted it, they wouldn’t see it coming next time, too. Nevertheless, this told them something: to prepare! They weren’t wary before, thinking the Empire was looking for a daddy’s thigh to latch onto. The banquet they attended was without fruits, and they couldn’t see through the young assigned supervisor, but that didn’t mean the Blauw Empire had it all.
Although the top 7 organizations weren’t even a million years old, they could still grow. They had a chance! But now that the Blauw Empire is not trying to hide their sudden proactive move, the top 7 organizations felt threatened and knew they had to become even more silent, inactive… and scheming. Slowly, as the day passed, and nearly every top organization cursed the climate, plans were devised for the short future…
The Blauw Empire was in joy. Every City island was at ease and at work, and their fishers were safe. The merchants waited the next day to start their big business, and the trading companies readied their products. In a couple of days, the enterprises' fleets would arrive to initiate a brand-new surging income ever in the Azure Dragon Bloodline, not only the Blauw Empire.
If this was looked from an outsider’s perspective, it would seem as if the Blauw Empire focused on merchandise over anything else and that the only reason they would have a force would be to protect their trades and business. But while the island Cities and the Small City island were seen up and down by the few boats and some ships in the water, illuminated through the foggy distance, a pair of eminent figures within the Empire were having a serious chat.
While the islands created the Blauw Empire as it is known, the Palace was its individual territory. It was almost a circular island with a tremendously tall tower built on top. This Blauw Empire couldn’t even use a Small City as its individual territory. While the Wrath Nihility Academy had 4 Large Cities around its particular territory, the Blauw Empire couldn’t afford to take the only Small City in its territory as its core.
If that happened, it would limit and dwindle the resources the Empire gained, and it would be even worse after Empress Shuna’s enterprises proved successful. In the past, the House of the Azure Dragon’s Descendants had the Small City as its individual territory, but the Blauw Empire was about growing first… worry later. Although only in a sense.
The island the Palace was built on was the largest of all other islands in the Blauw Empire’s territory. It was the size of half a Small City and perfectly positioned for defense, preservation, and offensive tactics and strategy. In-between the in-land and northwest to the Small City, the Palace was the tallest structure in the entire Empire and what everyone would look at whenever they felt like it, not hiding from view. In fact, it appeared to want to be seen…
“... Now that my daughter has made her appearance, they will begin acting under the table. Sir, I meant to ask you this before, but… Are you sure you would like to side with me?”
In a grand, luxurious hall, where a table occupied only 10% of the space, the people within it were like ants walking through a mansion. Empress Shuna stood beside Heian Ciemnosc in shorter, less majestic, and flamboyant golden garments. The fabric of her attire was thin, but it revealed nothing, and Heian Ciemnosc didn’t want to have his eyes broken or his groin. They were only 2 feet apart from each other. Heian Ciemnosc stood to the left of the Empress as she slightly leaned her upper body, treating this matter very seriously.
“It’s not a problem,” Heian Ciemnosc narrowed his darkest eyes to almost slits as he answered. The Empress heard it and understood, but she wasn’t convinced. Not retreating from her position, she insisted. “Those 7 fellows will start planning from now on. If you’re really taking sides with me for the upcoming, predictable possibilities, they will not let go of any chance to show might.”
“I’m sure the Wrath Nihility Academy won’t send their forces if a kid asks for them. They aren’t stupid enough to try assassinating you, only me and my daughter. But they will find a way to undeniably force you to touch them. This will be enough to rally those Regions around us, including where my enterprises have formed!” Empress Shuna wasn’t whispering, but her voice was so light and low that it was just as comforting as a caring whisper.
“I know your worries. Oh, but what’s the problem with their only ways to follow? Isn’t that what you’ve been waiting for?” Heian Ciemnosc slowly and slightly turned his body to face Empress Shuna. His words left her slightly tensing and releasing a frown on her beautiful, marvelous face. Heian Ciemnosc inclined towards her, by not too much, and faced her predominantly with the right side of his face before adding. “What we want? To start winning wars?”
“!!!”
…