A few days had now passed since Nashakra’s rite of passage, she had been exploring the palace and its surroundings in person no longer needing to watch everything through her far sight.

The first thing she had wanted to finally see was the treasury. She also wandered through the gardens a lot spending much time there with her mother. One did not know how important something was till they lost it so she always made sure to make time available for her parents. Even if sometimes it was a real bother she knew better after all.

Servants and Guards were following in her wake ensuring her safety. In the mornings Nashakra would deal with a lot of paperwork that had to be done because some of her parent's duties had been given to her. It was finally time that she learned how to govern a nation. She had been given a big study room exactly for that purpose.

Quills, bottles of ink, and a lot of parchment there were several seals to use for stamping the many documents for approval, disapproval, secret, urgent, and who sent it, with a few more.

The ministers were always ready to offer her advice, she had also been approached by some of her older siblings and the king's mistresses, and they too wanted to offer their advice.

Nashakra always listened to what they said but was unwilling to be manipulated by them so she always maintain a firm stance. It would have been far more difficult had she been a real twelve-year-old girl but she had been an adult in her last life.

It also helped that they decided to be her enemies so she had no moral or ethical quandary about reading their minds. She could not read someone's memories without touching them but the surface thoughts were already enough.

They were always polite and respectful in their behavior, especially the princes and princesses. The mistresses made many comments and snide remarks many children would most likely not understand, always trying to insult her to make themselves feel superior.

It was disgusting to watch and she always ended these meetings as early as possible.

Not everything was bad, however. Kathil, the fifth princess was six years old and often she was unsupervised. Her mother concentrated too much on her first child so she wandered the palace unsupervised.

They had encountered each other in the gardens once and Kathil had been lonely, no one had been spending time with her and even if she could have spent time with her half brothers who were of roughly the same age their mothers would have never allowed it. They were competitors, not friends.

Kathil had been fascinated by Nashakra and since they were half-sisters tried to visit her and play, eat sweets and drink tea. She was still very shy and cried easily so Nashakra had taken a liking to her.

So now she made sure to always have something prepared, a part of her also wanted to look out for her and ensure she was not being corrupted by her mother's poison or became a victim of it which was far more likely. Asund would not have any problems using her children as tools to get what she wanted.

Like every time the last few days, it knocked on the door, a guard informing her that Princess Kathil had arrived.

Nashakra put away the Quill she had been using and welcomed her, the shy girl with back-long black hair slipping inside through the door. She was always wearing the same thing.

Nashakra had created some card games from her former life for these daily occasions.

Kathil would eat snacks until Nashakra was done with work, then they would play cards, some of the guards and servants joining in to make it more fun. They always had a great time and it was a new experience for everyone. Helmear was very taken with Kathil she was often seen sitting on his lap while he told her stories just as he told Nashakra when she was younger. The girl's eyes always seemed to pop out of their sockets and glittered with amusement.

The atmosphere was very easygoing and not something the guards or servants had ever experienced they also liked the games.

Kathil had the best times of her life ever her mother always neglected her favoring her older sister now she finally had someone who cared for her. She hoped these times would go on forever.

Nashakra had gotten a small doll for Kathil today, the little girl was overjoyed and even cried a little. Her mother did not care enough for her to get her any toys, she was not interested in how Kathil spent her time or that she was too young to wander around the palace.

Kathil had been very grateful to finally have some toys and someone to play with.

Normally she would not have been allowed to walk around until she was twelve years of age.

Nashakra felt pity for the girl. She could not just watch and do nothing. There were many situations where she just had to watch injustice happen left and right while no one cared and she was not powerful enough to do anything. But now she had that power and she would make use of it.

Many children in her old world suffered the same and even far worse things. So she was happy to finally do something for those people which is one of the reasons why she wanted her father to build orphanages and pay for them with taxes.

She did what she could to brighten the girl's days they would not last forever she would grow up eventually and then be married off, as a princess she would most likely be sent to another city-state to marry royalty or some high noble.

Which reminded her of the many reforms that still needed to happen. The disabled, the old, sick, and injured also needed to be cared for and she needed to find an effective way to do so, she was unable to convince the King to spend the treasury’s money on these things.

He could understand the use of orphanages but this was beyond him.

Nashakra and Kathil were also exploring the palace together, she was a sweet girl who had finally found her first friend and was slowly coming out of her shell.

Nashakra wondered what Asund would think when she finally found out about this. She would have to keep an eye on Kathil before anything went wrong.

They were still playing cards while Kathil was stuffing her face with pastries and fruits her cheeks bloated like a balloon.

She was happy and thanked them often.

—

Ormald was a noble, his daughter Asund had managed to marry the faraway and rich king of Triakith. They had made plans to take the throne for one of her children but their plans had gone awry when a true heir had been born. They had gone to great lengths and risks to ensure the queen could not get pregnant by poisoning her. It was far easier than killing her and it worked.

No one had ever even thought that the queen had been poisoned. They had also tried to get rid of the first prince but Princess Arwyth was too vigilant. With Cuthfre dead, and no true heir his granddaughter Eseth would have been next in line to the Throne.

Now there was another obstacle but he had just the right thing.

He had come in possession of a very strange book that could not have been made by any humans. In the beginning, even he had been terrified of it.

The Book was now on his otherwise empty desk. It was proof that the Gods existed. He did not know which God had created this book but if he had to guess it was the Lord of the Underworld, The God of Death. Who else could have created such a thing?

It took him years to claw even the smallest bits of knowledge from it and many slaves had been sacrificed to do so.

The eye on the cover of the book was looking around sometimes focusing on him, it was eery but he had become used to it.

He had finally learned something useful from his interactions. Ormald did not want to use it but he no longer had much of a choice. The true heir of Triakith had survived until her rite of passage they had not tried to kill her hoping someone else would and succeeded but now they could no longer wait.

Eseth was already sixteen years old soon she would be married off to someone, King Elrest wanted to remove any possible obstacles for his daughter so he had begun talks with a high noble Zeapphia, Orhtmaehrt was the prospected husband, he was seventeen years old and his father was an advisor to the king who had become rich with the mining of gold and the minting of coins with the Crown of Zeapphia’s endorsement.

King Elrest looked out for his children even if he did not want them to take the throne it would be a good match but Ormald had different ideas and plans.

He had prepared everything in the secret basement of his home more slaves had been purchased and tonight during the full moon he was going to summon the servant of a god and he would use its power to get rid of the obstacles that prevent his granddaughter's rise to power.

No mortal could stand against the divine.

He had long fought with himself whether he should do this. A part of him thought it was blasphemy, that the gods should not be used in mortal quarrels but his greed had won in the end.

He had prepared many gifts for the Servant of the God of Death, he would have to make humble and polite requests he could not demand that a gods servant do his bidding.

There were three chests full of coin, gold, jewelry, and gems he knew not what else he could gift a god but he was willing to give his soul and become a servant if that is what it took to allow his family to rise to a more prominent position.

Ormald took the book from his desk and carried it to the hidden basement almost reverently. The possession of a god must not be damaged. Hopefully, his wish would come true, he had arranged for as many different slaves as he could. There were the old, adults in their prime, children, and even some newborn babies, he knew not what the god and his servants liked so he procured a great variety of souls. His god would surely be pleased.

He moved past the slaves, they had been washed and sedated, sickly sacrifices would not do for the divine.

He began to open one cell after the other, moving all sixteen slaves onto the gigantic summoning formation that had been chiseled into the ground.

Four elderly, two women and two men, four adults in their prime, two women and two men, four children roughly twelve years of age, two girls and two boys, and at last four babies, again two girls and two boys.

Truthfully they were not really slaves, just people he had ordered to be abducted but with that, they became his slaves did they not?

Then he used the dagger that was sheated in the backside of the Divine Book to cut their throats and allowed the blood to fill out the summoning formation. Ormald had no pity for them, the strong ate the weak it was their misfortune to be born as commoners and their sacrifices would not be in vain.

He would build a greater world, no an empire spanning the continent and then he would conquer the entire world. There were other lands beyond theirs he was certain of it.

While the blood flowed from their now dead bodies he took his position in front of the circle, opening the book to read the incantation to summon the divine servant.

He was eager, thrilled, and full of anticipation. He could hardly wait to look upon the divine as one of the few mortals who had the luck to do so, perhaps the only human in centuries.

He now had an almost fanatical look on his face as he began the chant.

“Nu yakho khaan ashtisalend yeios khonngratulations, yakhuvyuk phuun'had jhuthst yeat ae leummon'lin crumant djuu'haest fhegelelleh nahegaendom usefhennat'hast mrechdebo yrep fhaullcraesth. Yakho khaan pm mehd pnex keshco'hrd tut nheve u chedakaxie wegehnd. Cheros ah e fhaussyos haeall'hast en wheffw djjigftos. Shyraehh ae honlbedii konssyn hyretut donebo riyubbonos!” Ormald nearly screamed his voice filling the basement as the blood in the circle begann to glow slightly.

Once he was done a dark mist rose from the formation and took the shape of his gods’ servant.

Ormald was elated, it had worked. IT WORKED! This was the final proof that the divine was real and that they had blessed him with their favor he was almost frothing at the mouth.

The divine being took the form of a cat. A cat the size of a horse it was pitch black with golden eyes looking regal and majestic, staring at him as if the world was its playground.

Its fur was well cared for, he had never seen a more beautiful cat. It truly was divine.

He adored it, he wished to serve its every need, this Divine Servant was his King. He realized the very moment he looked upon it that he was but a humble servant. He saw the truth. Cats were Gods and he had to offer himself.

He prostrated on the ground, awaiting his gods orders so that he may serve, as he should.

And suddenly the divine being moved onto him, pressing him into its body, he entered it like it was water, a slimy liquid, he screamed in ecstasy and pleasure until his very last moments as the cat slowly dissolved him.

Just as his consciousness finally faded away his last thoughts were of paradise and bliss, he was truly happy and content.

The Divine Cat then began to consume the other bodies every few bodies it consumed its body produced a small blob that formed into another cat just much smaller, like a newborn kitten.

Once all the bodies were consumed there were six cats in the basement and soon the world would understand their grandeur.

Some months now had passed since Nashakras rite of passage and her peaceful life continued just as usual, Kathil still visited and Nashakra was focusing more and more on her work. Under the watchful eye of her advisors and guards, as well as Helmear she read every document diligently, stamped them, or edited them while writing some of these documents herself. While also reading the many reports that came in.

There was still a shortage of people everywhere in Triakith and the surrounding towns and villages. Too many jobs needed to be done, the payment of the employed people had risen considerably some earning double or triple what they were before and they were very happy with it.

The employers on the other hand were not happy because prices remained the same or were even falling because of the increased trade so they had fewer profits. Many complaints were coming in every day and while it was mostly always the same Nashakra still made a point of reading them.

She also used her allowance to buy up slaves and give them their freedom, they then would work for her on some of her new starting businesses.

Nashakra had begun to produce chess boards and their pieces and teach it to her servants and guards as well as poker cards. The games had already spread like wildfire among the nobility and many of the common people had taken a liking to these games.

Nashakra was raking in money like there was no tomorrow. Some merchants were already trading some of these games away to other cities, it would not be long before they would produce their own.

Most of the reports were just the usual, Bandits here, pirates there. A war ending far away and another beginning somewhere else soon after. Who married whom, and a new prince or princess was born. A King or Queen had died, a failed assassination somewhere else.

There had been reports from Pheetron about many people going missing during the night, apparently, the entire city was locked down people were allowed to enter but not leave it resources were brought into the city by having those who delivered them leave them outside the city while the guards brought them in.

They lost hundreds of people during the nights which prompted a fearful exodus from the city so Pheetron’s King ordered all gates closed and made the investigation his highest priority.

Just what was going on there, Nashakra was a little confused it sounded quite bad and such things never happened in the history of her old world. So since she had special powers it was not to far-fetched to think that there were also some supernatural threats. Maybe one had shown up now? This was a quite worrying matter.

She decided to write a letter and request more reports and information as well as inform her father and then continued with her work.

Corrupt guards that had been accepting bribes and been rooted out. A summary of the court's cases and verdicts was also always delivered to her.

She always read through them while drinking tea.

While through the economic boom crime rate had fallen strongly it did not go away entirely. There were still murders for many different reasons, greed, envy, a cheating husband, or a cheating wife.

A simple spat that escalated. Rape, thievery, blackmail, robberies, and incidents with drunks were the norm the guards could not be everywhere at all times and they were not strongly educated. Anyone could become a guard get some instruction and then they were already working.

They were also readily accepting bribes or turning a blind eye to a crime. It was something that had to be remedied once she became Queen.

Once Nashakra was done after another exhausting day she would go to her training room to train her powers.

Exploring her mind and the mindscape while doing some experiments. Creating Fire and Lightning from her psionic energy and letting it flow through her body using it to enhance herself. She had trained for years to do all those things, these abilities had been very weak in the beginning now they were a lot stronger and better controlled.

She was stronger and faster and her senses were much sharper. She could see, hear and smell better, tastes and touch were more intensive, and she could also use the energy to protect herself and form an aura around her skin even form it into a shield in front of her.

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Her perception had also increased greatly and she was far more aware of her surroundings. How the air moved, the beating of a heart, the flow of blood, all these changes felt great.

Nashakra had made many dents into the walls with the force of her psychokinesis alone. Nashakra had gotten a dozen blades fashioned for her use with psychokinesis. They had no handle they were pointy on both ends and had a sharp edge all around, they were short only fifteen centimeters long.

Nashakra was levitating them around, shooting them at target dummies spinning them in circles while they floated around her. She could now use them for attacking and defending and was getting more dexterous by the day.

If she was ever attacked she could now easily defend herself, she may not win against an army but in the right conditions, she could probably slay hundreds of normal people.

Psions even weak ones were really scary she thought but was very happy and excited with her discoveries and progress.

Nashakra had also attempted to build a powerful shield around her mind, she needed to protect herself from outside influences of other psions or even passive things that affected the mind. But she was not sure how it would work out she had nothing to test it with after all.

One of her goals was also to make her energy more solid and form tools or weapons with it maybe even make real and permanent things that could not be distinguished from real matter.

Another one was to teleport but she also had no luck with that one yet.

Such things, however, would most likely be far in the future she was lacking a lot of knowledge, skill, and experience, it would definitely not be easy to make so she trained for several hours every day and made it a habit to now carry her blades with her everywhere.

It puzzled some of the servants, they could not be wielded, and throwing them was dangerous they had no handle. But they could hardly say anything, some believed it to be a simple fancy that would go away soon enough.

Nashakra felt strong and confident and was relaxed most of the time. Many things however still remained on her mind. She had been an avid reader of fantasy and science fiction so she was well aware of the things she should in theory be capable of doing which only motivated her more.

She could not waste a single moment of this new life and its opportunities so she got up early and went to bed late every day.

Her wardrobe had grown immensely royalty needed a lot of different clothes for the many events they attended. And her schedule was tightly packed every day.

—

The Group of Bandits had disguised themselves as merchants and were making their way towards Triakith. They had safely passed the great wall, it towered between two Mountain ranges and used them as support the walls were several meters thick and almost fifty meters high.

It was mind-boggling what they had built and it astonished everyone who saw it anew whenever they traveled through.

Just recently they had built another wall behind the first with a second fortress, it was even more fortified than the first.

The Bandits were silently watching their surroundings remaining vigilant for any possible trap. Their leader would not tolerate mistakes and he was known for his ruthlessness. Their group had been on the road for many hours their wagon was full of weapons and they had bribed the guards and were thus not troubled on their way in yet they were still very anxious and a little scared. They were coming here to kill someone high up.

They were not yet aware of who the target was, but never would they have suspected that they would try to kill both Suns of Triakith. They did not have that much spine and would have run away. So the Leader had kept it secret.

The Leader had received much information from the mistress, the rooms of his targets, their schedule, the positions of the guards, every important piece of information was known to him this would be like a walk in the gardens he was very confident.

Once they reached the city they rented a place to stay and made plans.

They were seventeen people and would split into two groups, they would leave the city to the north, and swim underwater, breathing with a hollowed-out piece of wood and surface once they were beneath the palace.

Then they would get rid of the guards and climb the palace’s terraces one after another until they reached the chambers of their targets. They had prepared everything they needed and scouted a little from afar to see if their plan would work and they were still certain it would succeed.

----------------------------------------

Ilhard was the Great Leader of the Bandits, and today was a good day, they would kill the king and his heir then Mistress Asund’s daughter would ascend the throne and he would become a member of Triakith’s high nobility. He dreamt of his mansion, an entire harem, and the endless wealth he would have.

He would become an advisor to the new queen and have an influence on the city’s policies. He would enrich himself and his followers and bleed it dry. He already was thinking about how to seize the throne for himself but first, he had work do to.

Deep in the night with a sky full of clouds that were perfect for the coup they planned they prepared themselves to swim through the river.

Luckily the city did not have any walls and the river was flowing directly through the belly of the royal palace, it was a massive oversight of security, but the bandits would not complain it would allow them to avoid many of the guards.

They had left the city during the day and moved north, camping beside the river in the jungle. Altes the fool had almost been killed by a snake that dropped onto him while one of them was already dead he had been stung by a scorpion and they killed him off, there was no way to save him and he would be dead weight otherwise so their numbers dropped to sixteen.

Ilhard was angry this was not how it was supposed to go. Everything should have been a smooth journey but he pressed on.

They had hollowed out some bamboo which would allow them to breathe underwater, they had sacks filled with stone to weigh themselves down and in the darkness, it was unlikely anyone would see them.

Armed with bows and swords while leaving most of their clothes behind they would only be a hindrance in the water and the sacks with the stones could be easily removed from their bodies.

They entered the water and walked near the shore so the river's flow would not rip them away. In pairs of two, it took them over two hours to traverse the distance but they had done it, the shadow of the palace was looming above them. It had been a massive exertion of their strength but it had worked out in the end.

The Guards all carried torches and were quite easy to spot. It was also a risk because they would watch each other and if some torches suddenly went out? There would be people sent to investigate.

—

Nashakra had been sleeping soundly in her bed in her room when she had suddenly been awoken by sounds outside her room on the terrace. She was not entirely awake but her paranoia from her previous life kicked in.

“GUARDS! INTRUDERS!” she screamed as loudly as she could, even if she was wrong it would serve as a good exercise and she could always apologize later. Better to make a mistake than to regret doing nothing.

“Shit, hurry up.” said a male voice from outside.

Just as eight people burst through the wooden coverings that served to seal her balcony during the night the double doors of her room also burst open and the guards that were posted before her door streamed in there were only two of them but Helmear had his room right beside hers and he also rushed in right behind them.

“Quickly kill her.”

Shouts could be heard across the entire palace, everything was waking up gates were closed guards streamed into the palace like a river looking for intruders while converging on the rooms of the Royals.

“INTRUDERS! THERE ARE INTRUDERS!” echoes could be heard everywhere.

Helmear stormed at the Intruders with the guards at his back and simply cut them down. Strangely they had suddenly stopped moving and their lives were harvested like wheat.

Nashakra had forced her will upon their minds and forced them to stand still. Their weak wills were no match for a psion. She was angry that someone had tried to kill her and forgot to take prisoners, one of them had even been killed by her his mind could not withstand the force she exerted upon it and shattered like glass. He was left a sabering fool maybe she could get some information from him later.

For now, he was still alive.

“Helmear, to Father quick,” Nashakra said, shocked and adrenaline rushing through her body. They may not be here to only attack her there could be more.

Helmear was puzzled as to why his opponents suddenly did not show any resistance but he cut them down nonetheless.

Nashakra had used her far sight to look into her parent's room when she could no longer sense any minds in it.

Helmear and the guards quickly opened the door that connected Nashakras room to her parent's room. Guards were inside looking for Intruders and taking up positions.

They looked quite ill and shocked. Several dead bodies were in the room. The King and the Queen were dead together with the six guards that rushed in from the hall. They had been slaughtered. Everyone was looking shocked and down. Nashakra stood in the doorway, tears streaming done her face.

There were also five bodies of the intruders, yet the fight had been a short one. The guards did not know what to say and several of the intruders had escaped.

She was shocked, angry, and sad. Many memories of the times she spent with her new parents flashed through her mind. She had been betrayed far too many times in her previous life and tried to keep her distance so as not to get hurt when she was betrayed again, yet she could not help but form new bonds. Even if they were not as deep as the very first ones she had formed when she still was more naive and had less life experience.

It still hurt, it hurt immensely. Her heart was beating faster and faster blood and psionic power was rushing through her body. Rage was coursing through her veins.

She would never hear her caring mother's voice again. Never see her growing old. They would never play again. Her father would not see her growing up anymore. The fun times they shared. The excitement when they spent exploring her psionic powers. Her father had often watched from the side just as interested in them as she was.

“FIND THEM!. Bring them to me! ALIVE!” she ordered raw hatred clearly visible on her face and with thunder in her voice. Red psionic energy was crackling around her. It gave goosebumps to everyone who watched. The Little Sun suddenly had a presence that pressed onto them. They did not know what was happening and suddenly did not wish to stay to find out. Her command pressed onto their mind. They could not resist, they wanted to obey.

Everyone suddenly sprang into action to pursue the Intruders with Helmear in the lead, she had given him a look that told him exactly what would happen if he did not return with results.

Nashakra gave one last look at her parent's dead bodies, there was nothing she could do.

She left the hunt for the murderers to the Guards and returned to her room where some of the Guards had remained her servants had arrived now.

“Help me dress,” she told them and they went to her wardrobe to collect an outfit and help her into it, they did her hair and put the jewelry on her hair had been braided revealing her face.

They remained silent no one wanted to draw her ire. The one who stood before them now was no longer the Little Sun. Now she was the Great Sun the Ruler of Triakith.

And the Sun's rays would burn anyone who came too close, she was on a warpath and there would be hell to pay.

Nashakra looked at one of the servants.

“Bring me my Father's Crown.”

The servant bowed and went to the adjacent room, returning with the Crown and setting it onto Nashakras head.

“We will go to the Throne room, bring all my father's Mistresses and their children there as well. With force if necessary I do not want anyone to be missing. And summon the rest of the members of the court.” she said to one of the guards at the door who quickly went to fulfill her orders.

“Yes your Majesty.” he bowed and left.

Nashakra, her servants, and guards quickly left her room, two dozen soldiers were now accompanying her. They moved swiftly through the hallways encountering more soldiers and servants who moved out of their way while bowing.

While they moved Nashakra had time to think, and the more she did the angrier she got. Those accompanying her slowly became more and more uncomfortable, a weight was pressing onto them that they could not explain. The new Great Sun suddenly had a presence that left them awed and speechless but also afraid and humbled.

Once they entered the Throne room the guards took position by the doors, beside the throne, and on the sides. Nashakra paused shortly before the throne, admiring it. Now it was hers. Still, with anger and hatred coursing through her, she took her seat on it. She looked like a Queen, a Ruler, regal and majestic.

Nashakras presence was slowly permeating the great chamber it stifled the atmosphere. The people were almost suffocating. The air felt really heavy.

She waited for the people she had summoned to arrive. They slowly trickled into the throne room, nobles staying at the palace, guests from afar, envoys and foreign dignitaries, servants, and members of the courts, administrators, ministers, princesses, princes, and mistresses.

Some did not have the time to prepare themselves looking disheveled and not very dressed. Others clearly had tried to resist the guards and had to be brought with force. Demanding to know what was going on. The mistresses were protesting the loudest demanding to see the king to know why they were treated in such a way.

They had shut up once they were in the throne room. Shocked to see Nashakra on the Kings seat and suffocated by the weight that started to press on them and the weird feelings they got still the situation did not stop these entitled fools. They flew into a rage once more.

“What are you doing there, you are not the Ruler yet, that is your father's seat!”

“Get off the throne before the King sees you!” they were protesting and shouting wildly gesturing around them.

“The Kingdom is now mine. The King is Dead.” Nashakra said slowly and surely not raising her voice and punctuating every word anger still clearly on her face her voice resonated with power. It left the audience stunned, they did not realize how serious the situation had been but shock and comprehension clearly set in and they were afraid. Afraid of what would happen.

The Power of Nashakras voice pressed against their minds almost suffocating them and the weight of her presence increased even more. It was like a divine being stood in front of them, many had been humbled.

“And we are here to find out who amongst the members of this court is responsible.” Nashakra continued in the same voice.

These were outrageous accusations and many of those present would have moved to protest immediately yet they were still made speechless by the power that was pressing onto them. They were visibly cowed unable to comprehend just what was really going on.

“And how will you do that? Torture us? And besides that, you are too young a more mature child of the king should take the Throne until you are older.” Arwyth said trying to somehow gain control of the situation. Some of the people in the room agreed with her which only boosted her confidence.

“Silence,” Nashakra said looking every bit the regal Queen she was supposed to be infusing her voice with even more of her psionic power. The mouths of everyone just snapped shut, they were suddenly unable to speak and a wave of fear was going through the chamber.

“And just who allowed you to remain standing? Do you believe yourself my equals?” she said her gaze wandering over all those present.

“Kneel!” she commanded once more and everyone kneeled on the ground. They were shocked, their bodies were not obeying them but her, they could not speak, they could not move only to realize in silence that they had underestimated the little sun.

To possess these powers, she must have been blessed by the gods and they did not realize it.

The mistress's gazes were the ones most helpless they could not comprehend just what went wrong their bodies not obeying them.

They too had realized that the little sun was more than she had seemed to be, if she had special powers granted by the gods how could the assassination of the king have occurred? So she clearly was not that powerful, yet it could not be denied that she could do things no mortal was capable of.

“I can read your minds, look at your memories, and when I do I will know exactly who is responsible for what, the innocent have nothing to fear,” Nashakra said and assured those who had committed no crime that they would remain unharmed.

It was a preposterous claim to be able to read minds and memories, but if she really could do it? Now many of them were growing even more anxious clearly having things they wanted to hide.

Only a few appeared to be relaxing they knew they had done no wrongs and hoped they were spared.

Nashakra began with Arwyth, looked at her memories, and came to a decision.

“Arwyth, you and your children are exiled from Triakith, you will be escorted beyond the great wall, should you return for any reason you and all those who accompany you will be executed on the spot.” Nashakra voiced her verdict.

“Guards, take her away,” she commanded and got to Asund next.

Arwyth could do nothing but stare still unable to control her body as the guards removed her.

Everyone was still kneeling on the ground unable to move or speak looking like animals that were led to a butcher.

As Nashakra was looking through Asund’s memories she got even angrier despite that being a nigh impossibility. The woman was a menace, she killed her servants, abused and neglected her children, and had no regard for the lives of others. How someone like that could ever claim to be noble, it was truly disgusting to watch all these things.

She and her father had poisoned her mother and made her unable to bear children yet Nashakra was born. Their plot to take the Throne and now their murder of the King the attempted murder of Nashakra. She knew everything now.

“So, it was you, Asund conspired with her Father Ormald, poisoning the Queen attempting to make her unable to bear children and succeeding in it. You have murdered dozens of servants, killing one whenever you were displeased burying their bodies in the palace gardens during the night.

And you ordered the murder of the King and my own.” Nashakra voiced her accusation which by this time were proven facts.

Asund grew pale, she almost died because of the fear she was feeling, everything had been going so smoothly that she could not understand how it went wrong at the last moment.

Nashakra could barely contain herself from ripping Asund apart then and there.

“Princess Kathil will remain in the Palace, you and your other children will be executed shortly. Guards, take them to the side, I do not want them to leave my sight.”

Nashakra continued with the judgments until sunrise and then the rest of the day until nightfall, there were a lot of people to go through and many would be executed beside Asund, they would have to kill over sixty people for breaking the laws.

Over two hundred would be exiled and that was only within the palace, many other punishments had also been announced and it would leave them understaffed for a while but they could fill these positions again. This time with more trustworthy people.

Word of the conspiracy, the king's death, and the exiles and executions as well as the Queens Divine blessings were spreading throughout the city. Many of the people had started worshipping the new Queen, hailing her as a savior who would bring Justice and Prosperity in the name of the Gods.

Stories were shared, rumors were started and they grew only more exaggerated with every time they were told. In the mornings she was reading minds and in the evening she was moving mountains and creating worlds.

The people were excited they hoped for an end to the corruption and the beginning of a new age. The Age of the Gods some had started to call it.

During the judgments Helmear had returned with the assassins who had fled the palace, they had brought the leader alive just as Nashakra had ordered them to the other two had been killed during the fighting.

They did not want to surrender at first but when the leader was by himself and it became clear to him that he could not escape he surrendered hoping for an opportunity to escape later.

Such an opportunity however never came. He would be tortured to death by Nashakra the next night. She taught him the meaning of pain and despair. He had begged the entire time until he was no longer capable of doing so. His screams had echoed from the room out into the hallways the guards who waited outside had been terrified beyond belief.

Their new Ruler was not to be messed with. They promised themselves to never cross her. Helmear also looked sickly, he had seen and done a lot of things in his long life and the wars he had fought but even for him it was a little bit too much and the one responsible was a young soon-to-be thirteen-year-old girl. Admittedly a very special one but still a young girl.

That Nashakra was still emitting her psychic presence was not in their favor they were feeling it even outside the room. An invisible weight that pressed onto their bodies.

More and more of the leaders in charge of the city and great wall, as well as towns and villages, were brought before Nashakra in the coming days, the trials were still ongoing and much corruption had already been uprooted no one doubted anymore that their new Sun had been sent by the gods.

Some small and crude temples had already been built in her honor and the Priesthood wanted to build a grand temple. Nashakra saw no reason to refuse and allowed them to do so, it would serve her purpose.

Many of the citizens who were suffering or had been mistreated were coming out and voicing their accusations. In response to this and the other events, the Ministry of Justice had been renamed the Ministry of Divine Justice and opened an office in front of the palace staffed by trustworthy priests and people who supported the new Sun-Queen.

A big sign had been placed outside and anyone could come there around the clock to report any sort of crime that would be investigated by the Queen herself. Nashakra had decreed that she would root out any and all corruption, schemes, and crimes.

She would rebuild the Nation into one where the State was trustworthy beyond the shadow of a doubt. The nobility would have been displeased if at this point it was practically non-existent. Nashakra had uprooted them completely and then abolished it declaring all people Equal before the Sun. No one had protested her decrees.

The people were elated and chanting her name many spent their nights more peacefully now no longer tossing and turning, they knew that better days were coming.

The Gods had heard their Prayers and sent them a messenger, a Queen who would right the wrongs of mortal hands. Soon the news of the momentous events that happened in Triakith would reach Zeapphia, together with many of the exiles.

But for now, Triakith was in an uproar, many laws had been repealed and new ones had been made. Apart from all people being equal and the abolishment of the nobility a stele had been erected in front of the palace with a codex that would display the will of the gods. All slaves had been granted their freedom and slavery had been outlawed.

However, not all was great, there were those who voiced their fears of someone who could read minds and even force their will upon them with no way to resist. The stories of those who were present in the throne room when the new Queen demonstrated her powers were just as fear-inducing as they were awing the people.

The Divine commandments would take precedence before any of the laws.

The Ten Commandments of the Sun were what they would be called in the years to come. And lead all people to peace and prosperity.

Nashakra had also issued various reforms one of them announcing the Founding of the Eternal Empire of the Sun with Triakith as its Capital City.

She was working with fervor because now was the time to make as many changes as possible. Support for her was at an all-time high. In a few weeks, the newly founded empire would surpass everything it had been before.

—

Arwyth and the other exiles had left the great wall behind them shortly ago, she was angry and shocked at the same time. She still could not believe what was happening. The King was dead, Triakith had a new ruler and she had been exiled together with her children.

In a sense she was unlucky and lucky at the same time, it could have been far worse. Normally a new ruler would execute all threats to their authority. Being exiled was still better than being dead.

Her father would not welcome them. She was thinking hard about what would happen in the future and what she could do. Could she somehow seize the throne? Raise an army? Would she have to beg her father for a roof over her head? They had been sent out with only the clothes on their backs, not allowed to take anything from their rooms.

“This is your fault mother.” her son Grancis accused her his feet hurt from all the walking, he had never needed to exert his body to such a degree. He was angry that he lost his future he wanted to really hurt his sister who sent them away. And it was his mother's fault.

“Shut up! It is not your place to find fault with me, I am your mother and you need to obey me!.” she replied exasperated. Why could her children not understand that she wanted the best for them? Yes her plans did not work out as they should but it was only a temporary setback.

“You may be our mother, but should you not raise us to become independent and not dependent on you?” Cutfhre interjected, he too had become fed up with everything. Whenever he made suggestions to his mother she belittled them. Saying he should leave these things to the adults who knew better. Now to just what had that led?

“How dare you speak that way with me?” Arwyth whirled around and slapped her oldest son across the face. Cuthfre cried out and held his cheek which was slowly reddening. Anfleth was cowering behind some of the servants who were used to her antics and violent tendencies.

They did not interfere having learned that when Arwyth was raging around it was better to just appease her. She was the wife of a King and still is the Daugther of the King of Zeapphia. Yet it got worse and worse.

“Stop it mother, do you still not see where your behavior has brought you? Is it not about time you finally realize that you are not always right? When are you going to change if not now?” Grancis was reprimanding her. He was very educated and spent much time in the library reading the history and the profound wisdom of the many philosophers.

The greatest Philosopher of the City States of the Sun was Gyles of Pheetron, he lived over three hundred years ago yet his works still persisted and were found in every library.

“You will not speak to me in that way or I will have you whipped.” Arwyth threatened again trying to intimidate her children once more.

Suddenly screams and shouts were heard. They were confused at first.

“We are under attack,” Grancis said suddenly realizing that it could be nothing else. Anfleth was crying now and was very afraid the only bandits she ever heard about were in stories and she never liked what they did to the people.

They had not yet come to grips with reality when Arwyth started running away, she fled leaving everyone behind. Their group of exiles did not have any weapons so they could not fight even if they wanted to.

Arwyth wanted to save herself, she could always have more children later. Many of the servants also bolted away. They no longer had any reason to stay with their masters and mistresses their lives were more important.

Cuthfre, Grancis, and Anfleth were left behind, Cuthfre took Anfleth into his arms he would carry her and they ran away too within a crowd that dispersed in all directions.

Once they were save they decided to strike out and make their own fortune. Free from the controlling claws of their mother and her family.

Over the coming years, they would make their way to the far side of the continent to a city yet unknown to them. The many misfortunes of their lives only bind the three of them more together. Luck would favor them.

Arwyth was really unlucky, it seemed like the gods had conspired against her now she was hunted by three bandits, they had singled her out because of her very wealthy-looking clothes. And of course, she was very beautiful and they wanted to spend some quality time with her.

When they finally caught up with her they forced her onto the ground and tied her up. Then brought her back to their base together with many other women and their meager loot.

Arwyth with her personality would not survive this encounter with the bandits no matter what she offered them or how she begged. Once they were done with her they threw her body into a ravine. No one would ever know what really happened to her.