Chapter 23.4: The Journey Towards the Capital City of Aethelgard - The Crown Jewel of the Empire
Personal System Calendar: Year 0009, Days 15-20, Month VIII: The Imperium
Imperial Calendar: Year 6854, 8th month, 15th to 20th Day
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Simply Magnificent
As they passed through the final portal and emerged on the other side, the expedition found themselves standing at the edge of something beyond their comprehension. Before their eyes stretched a landscape that defied simple description, a vista that incorporated human ingenuity and natural beauty in perfect harmony.
The entirety of the space was full of splendor, as if offering a glimpse of heaven made manifest on earth. The capital region was so vast it continued as far as the eye could see, and even at the horizon's edge, there remained evidence of human architecture blending seamlessly with the natural world's organic curves and formations.
Everywhere they looked screamed of absolute power and wealth. The scale was so overwhelming that August struggled to process it. In his village, even the wealthiest families lived modestly by necessity. Here, even those of the lowest social standing possessed luxuries that would mark them as nobles in the outside world.
Yet despite this wealth, manual laborers were not discriminated against. They were valued and appreciated by those who employed them, treated with dignity regardless of their station. The entire Empire, or at least this heartland region, seemed to float on a vast ocean of prosperity. The Emperor could truthfully claim to swim in wealth, and he could drown in it if he chose.
But according to everything August had heard, Emperor Janus took no pleasure in such treasures. To him, they were merely things of assigned value by human agreement. He wielded far more than material wealth: authority, power, economic dominance, and something approaching godhood itself. Yet he did not partake in the ostentatious displays common among rulers of lesser kingdoms.
The Emperor wanted his people to feel true freedom, not the false pretense that other kings offered while keeping their subjects subjugated. He was both feared and adored, feared by those who opposed him and loved by those under his protection. He embodied what most gods claimed to be, though often as mere pretext. He was not without faults, possessing many both significant and minor. But his vision and determination had created something unprecedented.
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Built on Blood and a Vision of a Better Tomorrow
Behind all the splendor and glory visible in this magnificent capital lay a darker truth. The Empire had been literally built on the blood of those who opposed Janus and those who followed him. Generations of families had contributed, whether sons or daughters, fathers or mothers, stretching back through their great-grandfathers to ancestors beyond memory.
For millennia, the Emperor had forged his rule, destroying those who stood before him and his vision. He sought a united empire, a united continent governed by ideals and virtues, genuinely good virtues aimed at elevating humanity and every living being in the Empire rather than exploiting it. But to arrive at this point, the foundation upon which the Empire rested was both magnificent and tragic.
There was an old saying, attributed to the Emperor himself in his youth: "To create something beautiful, one must first destroy what came before."
How did an abandoned child, thrown literally from the heavens down to the world below, learn to aspire to kindness when all he had known from his divine past was full of hatred and due to divine rules being broken by a mortal man and a god (by his father and mother). The answer lay with those who adopted him and molded him into the man he became: mortal parents who adopted him. They are from a wandering tribe called Arko who showed him love, and a dragon who taught him the truth of his past.
He had been raised in the Great Caldera of Arkanus, the massive volcanic crater where he had been abandoned as an infant. There he spent his childhood and early adulthood, learning from those who took him in despite knowing what he was.
This formative experience was reflected in Emperor Janus Cornwall's actions later in life. When he discovered the people of Elms and learned their history, he found connections to his own paternal lineage. The Elmisians were descended from the old Arkanians, the last true bloodline of the ancient empire that had once ruled the entire continent.
He learned how they had been enslaved after the Great Schism that destroyed the old Empire and created the Great Caldera where he had been raised. He came to understand how opportunistic kingdoms had taken advantage of that catastrophic collapse, enslaving the survivors and claiming their lands.
His hatred for those who profited from tragedy was absolute. This was why he had sought to destroy the Fresco League of Kingdoms in their entirety, showing no mercy to those who perpetuated systems of exploitation and slavery.
What Emperor Janus had built was something no human could achieve through ideals alone. He understood this truth from the elders of the People of Elms who had educated him in the realities of power and governance. Hence why he had chosen the only alternative he believed viable for this type of people who no longer listened to reason: a blood bath for all who opposed his vision of freedom for Elmisians, Arkanians, and eventually all who lived under Imperial rule.
The path to this paradise had been paved with the bodies of those who refused to abandon their cruelty.
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The Imperial Capital
Back in the present moment, August and his companions could not believe what they were witnessing. The capital was a kingdom within a kingdom within a kingdom, layer upon layer of sophisticated organization and breathtaking architecture.
The roads were extraordinarily wide, capable of accommodating massive amounts of traffic. And they needed to be, as August could see they were filled from left to right with enormous wagons carrying goods, people, and materials. The organization was meticulous, with different types of traffic occupying designated lanes.
Most remarkably, running down the center of the major thoroughfares were wagons unlike anything they had seen before. These vehicles were massive, connected in long chains, and they ran on special tracks built into the road surface. They moved with remarkable speed and smoothness, clearly propelled by some form of magical enhancement rather than animal power.
The buildings were not as impossibly tall as August had half-expected, having heard tales of structures that scraped the sky. Instead, they were kept to a reasonable seven to ten stories in height, at least those facing the main roads and thoroughfares. These structures resembled each other in their general design, maintaining aesthetic unity while allowing for small individual variations by their owners.
Behind these uniform frontages, the buildings became more diverse and unique. They possessed internal courtyards where residents cultivated living gardens, growing flowers and even food crops that they tended communally. The design created semi-private spaces within the dense urban environment, allowing nature to persist even in the heart of civilization.
The main roads and arteries were carefully planned, optimized to ensure maximum traffic flow. Deliveries did not occur on the major thoroughfares, which would have created bottlenecks and disruptions. Instead, businesses had back alleys intended specifically for receiving goods. This separation ensured that commerce continued flowing smoothly, avoiding the economic losses that resulted from missed deliveries or traffic congestion.
The city planners had clearly studied these issues extensively and implemented solutions with remarkable foresight. Every aspect of the capital's design served multiple purposes, balancing beauty with functionality, tradition with innovation.
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The Journey to the Palace
But the expedition had no time to stop and properly explore these wonders. Their Dragonguard escorts maintained their pace, intent on reaching their destination without any further delay. They were headed to the Imperial Palace itself, where Emperor Janus resided and from which he governed his vast territories.
Even at this distance, they could see the palace dominating the skyline. The structure was incomprehensibly massive and the walls behind their backs stretched two hundred meters tall with a width of fifty meters. It covered the innermost tiered city sanctum of Aethelgard, an area spanning one million square kilometers.
The scale was difficult to process. A single building, wrapped around or built within a massive elm tree or more accurately a complex of interconnected buildings, covering that much territory? It seemed impossible, yet there it stood as undeniable proof of what mortal determination and magical enhancement could achieve.
The palace complex housed not merely the Emperor's residence but the entire administrative apparatus of the Empire. Within those walls stood the Golden Crystal Spire of Eternity, the Regalia Imperion, the Crownhold of Aethelgard containing the breathtaking Golden Crystalline Throne from which the Emperor ruled.
But it was far more than ceremonial spaces. The complex contained the most prestigious academic institutions, educating citizens in every field of knowledge. Military headquarters maintained detailed maps of every corner of the known world, constantly updated by scouts and intelligence operatives. Heavily guarded treasuries held wealth accumulated from across the Empire's vast territories. Economic institutions regulated trade on a continental scale, setting standards and resolving disputes. Every facility required to administer territories spanning millions of square kilometers existed within those walls.
To reach the palace from their current position at the city's edge would require traveling to the very center. Fortunately, the magical wagon trains they had observed could accomplish this journey with remarkable speed.
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A Meeting with the Grand Advisor
Before they could proceed to the transport station, a figure appeared to greet them. The man was elderly, his beard long and white, his robes elegant but not ostentatious. Yet the power radiating from him was overwhelming, a presence that made the air itself feel heavier.
This was the Grand Advisor to the Emperor and an Elder Solomon Brand Elmsvale of the House of Elms, the Emperor's most trusted counselor and one of the most powerful individuals in the entire Empire. The authority this man wielded, both literally in terms of magical power and figuratively in terms of political influence, was beyond August's ability to measure.
It meant, August realized with growing unease, that this old wizard was probably the most terrifying being they had ever encountered. Even Master Ben Flameswrath, powerful as he was, would pale in comparison to whatever capabilities Elder Solomon possessed.
"Master, it is good to see you again," Master Ben said casually, as if greeting an old friend rather than one of the most powerful beings in the known world.
The shock this produced in August and his companions was profound. Could Master Ben address this legendary figure so informally? What was their relationship?
"Ah, Ben, my student," Elder Solomon replied with genuine warmth. "It seems you have found something that truly interests you. And I must agree, the younglings before me are quite exquisite and extraordinary."
Student. Master Ben was Grand Advisor Solomon's student. The revelation recontextualized everything August knew about his village's resident wizard. Ben was not merely powerful in his own right but had been under the tutelage of one of history's greatest magic users.
August found himself instinctively analyzing Elder Solomon, attempting to gauge the old wizard's capabilities against his own. It was an unconscious habit formed through countless battles, his mind automatically seeking to understand potential threats or allies.
If he could compare honestly, Elder Solomon was more terrifying than the Shadow Demon Dragon he had faced or even the deity that had attempted to manifest through a mortal vessel. August calculated that he would die a thousand times before possibly landing a single effective strike. The power differential was simply too vast.
But August did not realize his analytical process was not as subtle as he believed. Elder Solomon, with centuries of experience reading people and their intentions, immediately recognized what August was doing. It made him chuckle quietly, amused that a youngster would be so bold as to measure himself against someone so far beyond his current capabilities.
"An interesting young man you have here, Ben," Elder Solomon said, addressing his former student while his eyes remained fixed on August. "Already trying to measure me against his own abilities. Tell me, August Finn, if my presumption is correct, how did you fare in your estimation?"
He was asking whether August had won in his imagined confrontation.
Perplexed that he had been detected so easily, August felt deeply ashamed of his rudeness. To mentally spar with the Grand Advisor, one of the Emperor's closest counselors, without permission or invitation, was profoundly disrespectful. His friends looked at him with expressions ranging from shock to resigned acceptance, as if this was exactly the kind of thing August would do.
"Forgive me, Master Solomon, for my rudeness," August said immediately, bowing his head in genuine contrition. "I was so arrogant that I forgot my place in the world. I am prepared to accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate."
But what followed was not anger or censure. Instead, Elder Solomon chuckled, the sound rich with amusement rather than mockery.
"Do not worry about it, child. Your mental exercise did not hurt me in any way. But you are the first to be so bold since Ben here and the Emperor himself when he was younger. That alone makes you interesting. Now please, enlighten me. How did you fare against me in your imagination?"
The question put August in an awkward position. Honesty might seem like false modesty, but anything less than complete truthfulness would be immediately detected by someone of Elder Solomon's observant eyes.
"Yes, sir," August replied, meeting the Grand Advisor's eyes directly. "I lost a thousand times and won not a single engagement. The power differential was too vast for any strategy I could conceive to overcome."
The answer made Elder Solomon smile with genuine appreciation. Honesty, especially honest self-assessment, was a rare quality. Many young warriors would have claimed at least some victories in their imagination, unwilling to admit complete defeat even in a hypothetical scenario.
"The Emperor will be pleased," Elder Solomon said, nodding his approval. "I hope you maintain that kind of humble self-awareness, young man. Arrogance has destroyed more promising individuals than any external enemy ever could."
Master Ben looked at his former student, then at August, and allowed himself a small smile. August had passed a test he had not known he was taking, demonstrating both the boldness to measure himself against greatness and the wisdom to acknowledge his current limitations.
Elder Solomon gestured toward the waiting transport station. "Come. We should not keep the Emperor waiting any longer. He has been quite curious about you, August Finn, ever since the reports began arriving about the frontier village that somehow survived what should have been overwhelming threats."
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The Magical Wagon Train
They moved toward the transport station, a massive structure built to accommodate the constant flow of passengers traveling throughout the capital. The magical wagon trains were engineering marvels, combining mechanical ingenuity with enchantment to create vehicles capable of transporting hundreds of passengers at remarkable speeds.
The wagon assigned to their use was clearly designated for official Imperial business rather than public transport. It was more luxurious, with comfortable seating and windows enhanced to provide clear views of the passing cityscape without allowing outside observers to see within.
As they boarded and the wagon began moving, August found himself pressed against the window, trying to absorb as much as possible of the incredible city flowing past. His friends were similarly overwhelmed, pointing out details to each other and speculating about what various structures might be.
Elder Solomon watched their reactions with benevolent amusement. He had seen this same wonder countless times before, whenever visitors from distant regions first experienced the capital. It never grew old, seeing people realize the full scale of what the Empire had achieved.
"Tell me, August," the Grand Advisor said, drawing his attention away from the window. "What do you think of our city?"
August considered the question carefully before responding. "It is magnificent beyond anything I imagined possible. But I find myself wondering about the cost. Not merely in coin, though that must be staggering, but in terms of what was sacrificed to create this."
The answer was more thoughtful than Elder Solomon had expected. Most visitors offered simple praise or expressions of awe. August was already thinking about deeper implications.
"A perceptive observation," Elder Solomon said. "Yes, the cost was substantial. Cities like this are not built in a generation or even several. They represent the accumulated efforts of millennia, the vision of countless individuals working toward a common goal. They also represent the suffering of those who opposed that vision and were destroyed for their resistance."
He paused, ensuring August was following his meaning. "The Emperor does not pretend otherwise. He acknowledges the blood spilled, the lives ended, the cultures suppressed or eliminated. He believes the result justifies those costs, that the freedom and prosperity enjoyed by billions under Imperial rule validates the cruelty required to establish that rule. But he does not pretend the cruelty did not exist."
August nodded slowly, processing this admission. Many rulers claimed divine right or manifest destiny, refusing to acknowledge the darker aspects of their rise to power. That Emperor Janus apparently confronted those truths directly spoke to a different kind of character.
The wagon train continued its journey toward the palace, carrying them through the heart of human achievement toward a meeting that would shape the future in ways none of them yet understood.
Ahead, the Imperial Palace grew larger and more imposing with each passing moment, until it filled their entire field of vision, no longer able to scan it from the ground to its top most portion. They were approaching the center of power, the throne room where an Emperor with the blood of gods and the will of mortals waited to meet a young man from a frontier village who had somehow drawn his personal attention.
Whatever came next, August knew his life would never be the same.