The emperor sat on top of a tower and looked down at the capital city of his empire. What he saw below him was what he felt from every region in his territory. Chaos, instability, destruction, and death. So much death.
It is said that the throne could not be left empty for one day. The emperor now knew how true those words were. The moment he announced he would enter seclusion to heal, he could sense instability appearing in his empire.
Nobody new how wounded he was. The only thing he said was his injuries were a bit serious. He wasn’t near death’s door, and he physically showed himself to many people. It didn’t matter. Logic and reason were not capable of stopping people from lusting after the throne.
“Who could have known my rule was so fragile.” The emperor wore a smile filled with self-ridicule. “I mistakenly thought that I was better than all of the other rulers. I had built the greatest empire and my empire would only become more prosperous. How foolish. How arrogant.”
“I didn’t manage to become a ruler until late in the game. How many trials did I go through? How many hardships did I face? I even started from the beginning more than once.”
“I thought that I was superior to others. I became stronger after enduring and overcoming the obstacles on my path. I also became arrogant. And it was my arrogance that blinded me from seeing the truth.”
During this time, he spent ‘healing’ the emperor reviewed all of his successes and failures. What he did right as an emperor and what he did wrong. The result of his review was the chaos below him.
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Such chaos would cause other rulers to have day and nights full of worry. If the chaos wasn’t resolved their territory would be destroyed and their rule would end. The emperor did not have these worries. For the most part he was able to look down on the chaos beneath him with indifference.
Looking down the emperor focused his gaze on the circular amulet in his hand. It was an item he obtained after he challenge a dangerous dungeon. The being that gave him the medallion told him it was capable of preforming a fate changing miracle. It could transfer a portion of his memories to his past self.
Most people would be thrilled about the opportunity and initially the emperor was no exception. However, the emperor began to hesitate when he truly understood the effects of the amulet. Using the amulet meant the death of his current self.
Although death was scary the emperor could accept it. He could accept the loss of all of his followers, treasures and accomplishments as well. However, what he couldn’t accept the loss of was his family. The loss of his children.
In the end, the emperor refused the miracle he was offered because he couldn’t risk his children not being born. The being that gave him the amulet was confused by the emperor’s refusal. As far as it could tell the emperor didn’t have any descendants.
Confusion. Sorrow. Anger. These were three of the many emotions the emperor felt after he understood he was betrayed in the worst way possible. Channeling those negative emotions, the emperor did his best to forge the strongest possible foundation for his past self. Infusing as much of his memories and guidance the amulet allowed, so his past self didn’t repeat his mistakes.
“Do better than me.” The emperor whispered. After one final look at his chaotic empire, the emperor closed his eyes and crushed the amulet. Hopefully, the fate of his past self would be better.