The Exhaustion.

The Seven dragon empire had seen great change in a simple ten years. The people had nearly all been stripped of poverty and ill and allowed homes, medicine and occupations. The tax rate was controlled and many people didn't suffer and those who did could always carve their own destiny in the military or in the various occupations opened. Furthermore there was an abundant amount of foreigners from other nations who brought, introduced and developed their own culture.

The military was very powerful and was strictly controlled, titles were given to commendable generals or soldiers. The army felt great happiness, before performing well in the military was a now reward situation and perhaps even disastrous. Many famous general of the seven tipped country were killed as they were far too influential, they never received titles except for posthumous titles. Yet currently the military was a deeply firm and challenging environment that any young man would wish to enter and show their steel. Furthermore the military felt great comfort in knowing their lives weren't being used randomly with no reason. Every war fought was a war that they could win or a war they as people must fight. For example during the ten year period a horrible deviant cult was born in the central parts of the continent, but other countries couldn't do anything as they were scared of offending the martial society present there. Yet Im Tae personally led the military to kill the cult. This brought great respect and admiration towards the king from the Seven dragon empire, the other three countires and even the martial society.

The diplomacy between the countries was extremely good aswell, with numerous treaties and shows of goodwill having happened. Furthermore trade, commerce and other such businesses boomed and found great joy with the easing of tensions between countries.

Even the extremely divided royal court had unified all so that the seven dragon empire could rise. King Im Tae, Premier Sun and various other officals worked very hard and efficiently. The officals had never been so gracious towards the populace. During a famine the high officials shared their food reserves and earned the admiration of the populace.

The reason why? Under a perfectly planned and regimented order similar to a dictatorship under King Im Tae's rule.

Criminals were killed, those who sought to being about chaos and rumination to the empire were slaughtered, yet similarly opinions and explanations were properly heard and understood.

Im Tae studied various texts as he grew up, he learnt that tyrants held the greatest power and control, but the most weak rule. One needed firmness strictness and force, but also consideration order and peace. To simply be good was foolish, but to simply force was even more foolish.

Im Tae consistently cut rebellions groups and extremist's. Yes they had reasons, families etc. One could even call these people humans who sought to produce their ideas, yet Im Tae cut them down without a change in his expression as anyone who touched his throne was his enemy, anyone who dared question his world and doctrine was his enemy.

That didn't mean Im Tae didn't take any persons opinion or thought into consideration it just meant in extreme situations for example if a conservative group tried to change the world view he wouldn't allow it, yet in items of criminals and leniency he truly took them into consideration and properly responded.

No citizen minded his behavior, the time's he acted harsly seemed to make sense and the time's he responded to the people he would properly summarize the reasoning behind his choice.

Yet King Im Tae wasn't someone totally unique. Within humanities winding and long reach and grasp, countless heros and great sages had been born. From the most primeval of ancestors to the the most powerful warlord numerous powerful beings had taken up a successful reign in which there was no divide or chaos. Yet no matter which hero or great sage this reign was short lasted. Many people knew this, thus fear had seemingly engulfed the populace. No one believed fairy tales, but many believed horror stories.

Today winter had engulfed the empire, but paper lanterns were hung outside and the cold winds were suffocated by the warms fires around the city. The citizens all wore thick leather and fur coats, normally a sight limited to only the rich had spread out to the common folk.

Numerous children danced and played and celebrated Yuletide. Various beasts like oxs, chickens and other eaten animals were sacrificed to the heavens. All sorts of game were hung around. This festival was done to mostly pray to gods, kneel towards one's ancestor's or to thank the heavens for the food and also pardon their sins.

Yet many felt Yuletide was a very scary time as many astrologers have claimed the Wild hunt would come and war, famine or some horrible act from books of revelation and time. Yet Yuletide had been born into the Seven tipped country and couldn't be done away with.

Inside the royal palace in a secluded courtyard a bare chested man held a spear and seemed to dance with it.

With a red nose and piercing roars he shot the spear from his right armpit with his left side curving back.

The muscles on his body flexed violently as he exploded his strength.

The spear caused a whistle sound and seemed to fly through the air and cut like the sharpest blade.

Huffing and puffing, eventually coughing from inhaling the chilling cold air the man dropped the spear and fell down.

An man filled with a sense of age and wisdom walked with a white coat with a red dragon lined with gold embroidered on it.

The man's hand's were smooth like jade and seemed to only have touched the finest silk since birth.

He covered the bare chested man with the coat and said, "Your majesty it isn't good to train in this cold. You should return inside I have asked the maids to prepare you a warm bath."

The bare chested man said, "Gu what do you think of my spear play?"

Yu Gu who seemed to have matured greatly said, "As if a coiling dragon climbing to the heavens."

The bare chested man then said, "Also haven't I said to call me Tae when we are alone. Ai, always with your sense of duty. You will never get a lover with your bare attitude. Your lucky I stick with you."

Gu laughed and said, "As you wish your highness Im Tae."

Im Tae bit his lip and clicked his tongue in exhaustion.

Im Tae said, "Hey Gu do you know how you can tell whether a man is a dragon among men?"

Gu asked calmly similar to when they were children without a care in the world, "How?"

Im Tae said, "The eyes. There's a deepness, a sharpness and a firmness in the eyes of a dragon like man. The eyes seem to be as large as the endless sky, as deep as the bottomless sea and a captivated as the heavens. They seem to pierce the soul and shatter any wrong thoughts."

Gu slightly shocked, "How does one get those eyes?"

Im Tae said, "Some are born with it and some receive it throughout their lives."

Gu asked, "Has your majesty seen one?"

Im Tae nodded with a smile and laughed, "Yes. Me."

Gu sighed and laughed, yet when Im Tae turned around and stared deeply at Gu, Gu seemed to shake as if in fear or awe.

Im Tae's eyes seemed to like a fierce beasts, the eyelashes were as sharp as fangs and rose with endless magnificence and grace. The pupils were a deep green as if an endless void that could capture the stars and devour the heavens.

Gu stumbled back in shock and awe and said, "Fearsome..."

That was all Gu could mutter, fearsome. Gu had followed Im Tae to the east, the west and the South and had been head deep in horror unknown to man and born from the deepest and coldest hell. Yet he had never been stunned and shocked like this. Gu truly felt as if he was staring into the eyes of a massive and fearsome, heaven rending earth shattering dragon god.

Im Tae smiled and said, "I've recently been very busy and then I went to the mirror and saw these eyes. They are like my eye's normally, but now theres a pressure and aura in them. Perhaps it was from the war or new found maturity. Unlike when I was a child I no longer believe in people with no reason, I don't believe in good or evil. I have changed fundamentally and perhaps this is the result."

Gu said, "Perhaps. Yet is the cost worth it?"

Gu looked worried as he saw his friend explicitly expressing his change. Perhaps Gu never worried or cared about the changes and scars Im Tae had received since he always saw the prideful and taller than life king, but now his blind eyes were shown the truth.

Im Tae said quickly with determination, "Yes."

The wind blew and Gu seemed to not recognize the back he was facing. Those broad shoulders seemed to not quiver at even the greatest evil.

A maid rushed in and bowed deeply, "Your majesty. The royal physician has confirmed it the Queen is pregnant!"

Im Tae didn't show a change in expression, but there was visible joy.

Im Tae said, "All right you may go back."

The maid bowed again and left.

Gu said, "The Queen has gotten pregnant again. I hope this time there isn't a complication. Your majesty should we go visit the ancestors or the temples?"

Im Tae said, "No need."

Im Tae sighed he wore his coat and moaned, "In my ten years of rule. The Queen has become pregnant twice. This pregnancy and the prior one. My first child was a miscarriage, and ever since I have felt ambiguous about how I should or would react to another child."

The air seemed to become stagnant and vile, Im Tae seemed to shake slightly and silently.

Gu said, "Your majesty."

Im Tae said, "Im just tired, exhausted, unhappy. Really all I want to do is just sleep in. Have you heard a large majority of the public although they consider me a good king say the crown prince deserves the throne. During times of crisis they would be okay with even a pig as long as they could eat, but during times like this they like to play the part of a judge and try and set things right. I'm honestly furious about that term "right" why am I not the right king? Ungrateful Bastards honestly. I wish I could just throw them in hole and let them starve, then we would be able to see how their so called right works!"

Gu didn't respond.

Im Tae breathed out deeply and picked up his spear and receded back into his quarters.

Im Tae asked, "Has the Queen dowager made any recent moves?"

Gu replied, "The Queen dowager hasn't been able to properly eat or sleep and is said by her personal physician to have severe despression, since you deposed her to the north eastern butterfly palace."

Im Tae said, "Hm. My brother?"

Gu said, "The crown prince recently got into a dispute at a courtesan house. He strangled a courtesan and beat two men to near death. He has also become affiliated with the ravenous cult a sub sect of the Demonic uprising martial house one of the nine main Martial dynasties."

Im Tae nodded, "Seems like he will try soon enough for the throne."

Im Tae continued, "I don't know how much heavens bares him so go send someone to assassinate the Queen Dowager. Anger or sorrow will fill my brother and make him act rashly and foolishly."

Gu bowed and left.

Im Tae looked at the floating moon in between the milky white clouds.

Im Tae said, "If it's only my brother I won't lose, but if he has an advisor theres a good chance I'll lose the throne and die. The wind blows ominously and the wild hunt will begin. As stated in the doctrine of sages for a bastard to take the throne the winds will shift and the heavens shall stir."

Im Tae was silent for a long time till he spat out menacingly, "How annoying."