Chapter 25: An Invitation
Personal System Calendar: Year 0009, Days 21-25 Month VIII: The Imperium
Imperial Calendar: Year 6854, 8th month, 21st to 25th Day
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Recognition
The days had passed with remarkable speed, each one filled with discovery and learning. The expedition members had absorbed more knowledge in this brief period than they might have gained in years back at the village. Now their time in the capital was drawing to a close, but not before one final significant event.
The agreement between the Village of Maya and the Empire of Elms-Arkanus had been formalized. The document had been drafted by Grand Advisor Solomon himself, reviewed by Imperial legal scholars, and was now ready for official signing. A small ceremony had been arranged in the throne room to mark this historic occasion.
The throne room, which had seemed so imposing during August's first visit, now felt slightly less intimidating. Perhaps it was familiarity, or perhaps it was the knowledge that Emperor Janus, despite his overwhelming power, had proven himself to be reasonable and even somewhat kind in his dealings with them.
The document itself was a masterwork of legal precision and diplomatic language. It had been inscribed on treated vellum that would resist decay for centuries, using ink infused with preservative enchantments. The text was written in both the formal Imperial language and the common tongue, ensuring no ambiguity could arise from translation issues.
Grand Advisor Solomon read the key provisions aloud before the signing:
"Let it be known to all nations and peoples that the Village of Maya, located within the Great Forest of Lonelywood in the central subcontinent of Arkanus, is hereby recognized as a separate and independent entity, subject to neither kingdom nor Imperial direct governance."
He paused to let this sink in before continuing. "The Empire of Elms-Arkanus shall serve as protectorate to the Village of Maya until such time as a formal nation-state is established, should the village's leadership choose to pursue such recognition."
This provision was significant. It meant the village existed in a unique legal status, independent but under Imperial protection. Other kingdoms could not claim jurisdiction over it, but neither was it formally part of the Empire itself.
"In exchange for this protection," Solomon continued, "the Village of Maya agrees to the following conditions: First, that upon request, the village shall provide aid to the Empire as circumstances and capabilities allow. Second, that Imperial forces may be garrisoned within village territory if military necessity requires such deployment. Third, that trade relations between the village and Empire shall be conducted in terms of fair and equivalent exchange, with neither party exploiting the other."
He looked up from the document. "Finally, the village's leadership shall provide reports to the Grand Advisor's office once every two years, detailing significant developments, population changes, and any matters that might affect Imperial interests or the village's security."
The terms were generous by any standard. The Empire was offering protection and formal recognition while demanding relatively little in return, at least as to what the public could see. The reporting requirement was minimal, the trade terms were fair rather than exploitative, and the request for potential aid was phrased as conditional rather than mandatory.
Emperor Janus rose from his throne and descended the steps, something he had not done during the first ceremony. He approached the table where the document lay and signed it with a flourish, using a pen that glowed faintly with magical authentication. His signature was simple despite his many titles: "Janus Cornwall I, Emperor."
August stepped forward next, suddenly very aware of the historical significance of this moment. He was a young man from a frontier village, barely two decades old, and he was signing a treaty with the most powerful nation in the known world. His hand trembled slightly as he took the pen.
He signed carefully: "August Finn, Representative of Maya Village."
As the ink dried, Grand Advisor Solomon applied multiple seals to the document: the Imperial seal, his own seal as Grand Advisor, and a special enchantment that would alert relevant parties if the document was ever tampered with or forged.
"It is done," Solomon announced formally. "Let the records show that on this day, the 21st of the eighth month in the year 6854 of the Imperial Calendar, the Village of Maya and the Empire of Elms-Arkanus entered into formal alliance."
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An Unexpected Meal
After the ceremony concluded, Grand Advisor Solomon approached the expedition members with an invitation that caught them entirely off guard.
"His Imperial Majesty requests your presence at a private dinner this evening," Solomon said. "It will be an informal meal, not a state function. You may dress comfortably."
The implications were staggering. The Emperor rarely dined with anyone outside his most trusted advisors and senior officials. For him to invite a group of frontier villagers to share a meal was unprecedented.
That evening, they gathered in a private dining room that was modest by palace standards but still far more luxurious than anything they had experienced. The table was set for approximately fifteen people, with the Emperor's place at the head and Grand Advisor Solomon's to his right.
When Emperor Janus entered, everyone rose instinctively, but he waved them back to their seats with a casual gesture. "Please, be at ease and enjoy yourselves. This is not a formal occasion. We simply have much to discuss, and I find conversation flows more easily over good food."
The meal itself was extraordinary. Multiple courses arrived in sequence, each one showcasing the culinary expertise available in the Imperial kitchens. But what was most remarkable was not the food but the atmosphere. Emperor Janus proved to be an engaging conversationalist, asking questions and listening with genuine interest to the responses.
As they ate, Grand Advisor Solomon raised a topic that had clearly been planned in advance. "Tell me, have you had masters or received formal education in your village? I am curious about how you have developed your skills."
The question was directed generally, but everyone in Talon One immediately looked at August, silently nominating him as their representative. The gesture brought a slight chuckle from Master Ben, who understood the irony. Before he had arrived in the village, August had indeed been their teacher in combat and many other practical matters. But even Master Ben recognized that August's teachings, valuable as they were, could only take them so far.
August's instruction had been primarily focused on a hybrid hunting style that had been adapted for combat. It worked well against beasts and the occasional bandit, but they were increasingly facing threats that required more sophisticated techniques. None of them had significant experience fighting trained human soldiers, and that gap in their education was becoming a liability.
Erik, recognizing that August was being put on the spot again, decided to answer. "We only have each other, sir. Mostly, August has been our leader and teacher, with Master Ben serving as our formal instructor in magic and other subjects requiring knowledge we cannot easily acquire in the village. Miss Theressa has taught us what she can about healing and herbalism, but our education has been largely informal."
The answer was honest and highlighted both the group's strengths and limitations. They had learned through necessity and experience, developing practical skills but lacking the theoretical foundation that formal education provided.
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The Offer for a Formal Education in the Academy
Grand Advisor Solomon exchanged a glance with Emperor Janus before continuing. "Then I have a proposal for you. Would you young people be interested in attending the Imperial Academy here in the capital?"
The silence that followed was profound. This was an offer that most people would never receive even if they begged for it. Admission to the Imperial Academy was notoriously difficult, requiring either exceptional talent, significant political connections, or both. The Academy educated the Empire's elite, producing the generals, administrators, mages, and scholars who would shape the empire's future.
And this opportunity was being served to them on a platter.
August felt multiple emotions simultaneously: excitement at the prospect of formal training, anxiety about leaving the village vulnerable, and concern about whether they truly deserved such an opportunity. His companions appeared similarly conflicted, their faces showing a mixture of hope and uncertainty.
Grand Advisor Solomon, reading the room accurately, continued before anyone could respond. "I understand this is unexpected, and I know your village remains under potential threat. Your presence there is still needed. So we will leave the offer open-ended. There is no specific timeframe required for your response. When you decide the time is right, simply send a message. The Academy will have places reserved for you."
The generosity of the offer was remarkable. Not only were they being offered admission, but the Empire was willing to hold those places indefinitely, waiting until the village's security situation allowed them to accept.
"Take your time to consider," EmperorJanus added. "Discuss it among yourselves and with your village leadership. This is not a decision to be made lightly or quickly."
The topic shifted away from the Academy offer, allowing them to process what they had just heard. But the seed had been planted, and August knew this would dominate their discussions during the journey home.
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Questions and Insights
With the formal business concluded, the meal became more relaxed. Emperor Janus began asking questions, though he was careful to avoid anything too personal or invasive. Even in his extraordinarily long life, he understood the importance of respecting boundaries.
He asked about their daily lives in the village, what challenges they faced, how they had organized their community, what they found most rewarding about frontier life. His questions were thoughtful and demonstrated genuine interest rather than mere polite curiosity.
The expedition members found themselves opening up more than they had expected. There was something about the Emperor's manner, despite his overwhelming power and ancient age, that put them at ease. Perhaps it was that he treated them as people worth listening to rather than subjects required to provide entertainment.
"I find speaking with young people refreshing," Emperor Janus admitted at one point. "Most adults who seek an audience with me want something: titles, land grants, favorable trade agreements, political advantages. Their conversations are calculated performances designed to extract maximum benefit from our interaction."
He gestured toward the group with his cup. "But you children, even though you have already been forced into making decisions that adults should handle, you remain children at your core. You speak honestly rather than strategically. It is a quality I find increasingly rare and increasingly valuable."
From Emperor Janus's perspective, shaped by millennia of life, even Master Ben was relatively young. He had learned to view everyone in informal settings as children, not condescendingly but with the understanding that came from having lived far longer than anyone else in existence.
As the conversation continued, the Emperor began offering specific observations about each person's fighting style and capabilities. He had watched them during training sessions, reviewed reports from his intelligence operatives, and formed detailed assessments.
When he reached August, his commentary became particularly focused. "Child, I must point out several weaknesses I observed during our sparring match. Your techniques are effective but lack refinement. You have developed a functional all-around combat style through experience and instinct, but you are missing the theoretical foundation that would elevate your capabilities significantly."
August listened carefully, recognizing the truth in the Emperor's words. He had taught himself through trial and error, learning what worked through survival rather than structured instruction.
"I would like to recommend a specific teacher for you," Emperor Janus continued. "His name is Miles Daemon. He is, or was during his active years, the most renowned all-around combatant in the Empire. Perhaps the most skilled such fighter in recorded history."
The name meant nothing to August, but Master Ben reacted with surprise. "Miles Daemon? I thought he had retired from taking students decades ago."
"He did," Emperor Janus confirmed. "He became a journeyman, traveling wherever his whims take him, accepting no formal obligations or responsibilities. But I believe I can persuade him to make an exception. He owes me certain favors that he has been reluctant to repay. Training you would settle those debts nicely."
He turned his attention fully to August. "Miles is the only person who has truly mastered all-around combat to the point of forgetting even his own foundational understanding. He simply moves and fights without conscious thought, his body executing techniques that took decades to perfect. He has written many of the current instructional texts on versatile combat styles. If you wish, I will send him a letter of recommendation that he will find difficult to refuse."
The offer was extraordinary. Personal instruction from a legendary master, facilitated by the Emperor himself. August felt simultaneously honored and slightly overwhelmed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," August replied carefully. "I would be deeply grateful for such an opportunity. However, I must be honest: I do not have the luxury of leaving the village entirely at present. My responsibilities there cannot be simply abandoned."
He expected this to be an obstacle, but Emperor Janus seemed unconcerned. "Do not worry about such practical matters. If Master Miles finds my letter intriguing, and I am confident he will, he will come to you personally. He is a wanderer by nature. Traveling to your remote village will seem like an adventure rather than an inconvenience to him."
This opened up interesting possibilities. If Miles Daemon came to the village, he could potentially teach not just August but others as well. The entire community might benefit from his presence.
"As for the rest of you," Emperor Janus addressed the group generally, "the Academy offer stands. You have potential that deserves proper cultivation. When your village's situation allows it, take advantage of the opportunity. The education you receive there will benefit not just yourselves but everyone you return home to teach."
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Contemplating the Future
The meal eventually concluded, and the expedition members returned to their quarters with minds spinning from everything they had discussed. The Academy offer, the potential tutoring from Miles Daemon, the signed treaty, all of it represented opportunities they had never imagined possible.
That night, they gathered in the common room of their suite to discuss what they had learned. The conversation lasted well into the early morning hours as they considered implications and possibilities.
"The Academy would be incredible," Isabel said. "Real training from masters of their crafts, not just making things up as we go."
"But the village needs us," Adam countered. "We can't all leave at once. The defensive capabilities would be severely reduced."
"We don't have to all go at the same time," Angeline suggested. "Maybe we could rotate? A few people attend for a term, then return and others take their place?"
August listened to the discussion, contributing occasionally but mostly letting others work through their thoughts. His own mind was occupied with the Miles Daemon offer. An all-around combat master would be an invaluable resource, not just for himself but potentially for the entire village security force.
Master Ben, who had been quiet throughout the discussion, finally spoke up. "You are all thinking about this correctly. These opportunities are too valuable to refuse, but timing and implementation require careful planning. When we return home, we should present all of this to the full village council. These decisions affect everyone, not just Talon One."
The wisdom of this suggestion was immediately apparent. They were being offered personal opportunities, but accepting them would have community-wide implications. Proper discussion and planning would be essential.
As the night grew late and people began drifting off to sleep, August stood at the window looking out over the capital city. Lights twinkled across the vast urban landscape, each one representing lives being lived, dreams being pursued, futures being shaped.
His village was small and remote, barely a speck compared to this magnificent city. But it was home, and it represented something important: a place where people could build lives free from the exploitation and cruelty that had characterized much of history.
The opportunities they were being offered could help make that vision more sustainable. Better training meant better defense. Stronger defense meant greater security. Greater security meant people could focus on building their lives rather than merely surviving.
He would discuss everything with the council when they returned. For now, he allowed himself to feel hopeful about the future in a way that had seemed impossible just weeks ago.
Behind him, his friends slept peacefully, dreaming perhaps of the Academy or of home. Tomorrow they would begin preparations for the journey back to their village, carrying with them knowledge, alliances, and possibilities that would reshape their community's future.
The capital had given them far more than they had dared hope for. Now it was time to return home and determine how best to use these gifts.