bookpower 895. Empires and Kingdoms Approach
895. Empires and Kingdoms Approach
895. Empires and Kingdoms Approach
Not all civilizations were made equal.
From where a civilization is born and how a ruler cultivates it determined whether it would stand to the test of time. Natural resources and nature also played a vital role in nurturing them.
But even the most successful of civilizations were not immune to suddenly disappearing.
The Dark Ages between 50 PA to 200 PA saw civilizations disappear at the snap of a finger by god-like beings. Those monsters no longer existed, and enough time had passed where those truths had become so muddled that they were considered legends.
Mary D’ Grace, ‘The Lady Mary’, knew exactly what those mysterious beings were.
“The Corrupted are the reason why civilizations fall. Kingdoms that lack a Gift will look to a Corrupted to supplement their weakness. No one in their right mind would attempt to invade a civilization with a Corrupted under their wing. That Dozen Winged Bird must have broken free from its shackles.”
The woman who had been speaking in a sultry, eloquent tone was the 5th Princess of the Larin Empire – Mary D’ Grace. Joining her in the upper floor of a Cruiser Train were eight of her most loyal Dukes and Dutchesses of her Empire’s territories. They sat around on lavish furnishings that were bolted into the ground.
Sitting among them was also an old man who served her as her advisor, and the jewel of the Larin Empire – The Bleeding Petal – a warrior with the Adventurer Rank of Radiant. Eleven people were present in total in the upper floor of the Cruiser, with another hundred Red Guards in the lower floors.
Emvita had a track that ran across the borders of the entire Region. This was why they were able to reach the Nex Megalopolis so quickly. 59 Cruisers moved in a single file line, hauling through the tracks and ploughing through whatever was unfortunate enough to cross the tracks.
“Speaking of which, has anyone seen the wreckage of that train? We should have passed the site days ago.” Her advisor, which was a woman dressed in a regal suit and a long, puffy skirt asked.
“The one belonging to the Ateliers? No one has. If they did, then I doubt they’d openly admit to it. Corrupted belonging to the Ateliers is also highly sought after.” One of the Dukes spoke, glancing around the room.
But his eyes did not dare to land on Mary. Nor did the others aside from her Advisor. Mary’s red and purple eyes pierced into their souls as she scanned the floor. She reached down to one of the frills of her royal dress and deeply inhaled.
“My sweet Yanarin. Cologne.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Appearances was everything to her; from the way her long hair was curled with the exact number of curls per bundle, the number of eyelashes per eye, and the length of her nails. Her obsession with perfectionism was displayed on how even the grunt workers of the Larin Empire had to abide to strict dress and scent codes, less they wish to suddenly disappear one day.
The iron scent faded with a few sprays of a pink bottle.
“Then why do we regard them higher than the Moons? Stars of the Nexus are but messengers. They are missionaries of the Amalgam. Aaaah. How much longer until we reach the Nex Megalopolis?”
“Three hours.” Yanarin stated.
Stars were seldomly seen engaging in combat. They were historically seen as indomitable beings, but Mary was convinced that the Stars of the Nexus were akin to the Harolds and the Missionaries of Act X. Their power came from the authority they represented rather than from their own strength.
However, Mary trembled lightly. She was a woman who had seen the worst of human and monster nature, and yet the mere presence of the Star that had visited them caused her to become visibly shaken.
This was because it was not the Star’s presence that instilled irrevocable fear into her.
Rather, it was the words they had delivered.
“The weight of your sins will catch up with you. The Amalgam will guarantee it.”
“My lovely Yanarin... spruce me up.”
“Why so suddenly?”
If it were anyone else who had questioned her, then she would have plunged her thumbs into their eye sockets. Yanarin was like a second mother to her. As a result, she treated her with an appropriate amount of respect. Within reason of course, as Mary was the one with superior position.
“Appearances are everything. The Amalgam knows nothing about us. We have to give her the best impression of the Larin Empire as possible. If she has a generous heart, then we can gush over our exports. If you’re asked a question regarding our Empire, then you must respond with how we specialize in generosity.”
Mary swirled a glass of red liquid around. She gazed into the glass, seeing the reflection of everyone in the room...
... aside from hers.
“The Amalgam will understand our need for the Healers. If not, then we will make her understand. Who is to say that she doesn’t have the Healers for the same reason? Perfect skin. Perfect constitution. Beautiful faces. And...”
She took a sip from the glass and savored its metallic taste.
“... exemplary blood quality. Is there anything to fear when the Stars are not as they seem, and when the Moons are preoccupied with the Corrupted?”