Revenge can burn bright

In the meantime, the emperor had returned to Nicea, the capital of the Heian empire. He had called his children to the capital, for one last meeting.

Along with them was Gadaric, who was privileged enough to be present with them all.

Prince Segeric was the first one in the room. Soon after Samanilde entered.

"How is our brother doing?" Segeric asked.

Samanilde chuckled.

"That idiot is now in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Finally, he gets kicked down a peg," Samanilde said smiling.

"You shouldn't be happy for other people's misfortune."

A young man and a same-aged girl came with similarly styled clothes on.

"Wulftrude and Wulfila. Haven't seen you two in a while. How did the conquest of the Sardes federation go?" Segeric asked.

"Went well. Unlike the conquests of the nations of Elva and the city-states of Etna, we didn't leave a trail of ash and blood," Wulfila, the girl of the two said.

"Always the odd ones out of the family. It's because of such tactics it took you so long to subjugate those island people," Samanilde said provokingly.

"And I heard that you were humbled by king Rufus Fairfax. He made you run with your army after you deliberately did what Berig told you not to do," Wulftrude said.

"DO NOT SAY THAT NAME EVER!"

Berig was being pushed by two soldiers while he was in his wheelchair. He was missing both one leg and one hand. Half of his face was burnt and one of his eyes was turned completely black. Tubes ran into his body, giving him painkillers nonstop.

The doors then opened letting them all in. Inside was Gadaric waiting for them all and at the center was emperor Ala.

The children entered the study hall where the emperor waited. The children in purple all went on one of their knees, except Berig, who couldn't.

"Rise, my children," the emperor said.

The children waited for the emperor to tell the reason why they were summoned.

"Ready your armies. We will march to the final battle after winter. Soon the climactic battle will take place, and the Phokas family will rise to heights unseen in this world.

Before that, we still have to show our gratitude to our people. A triumph will be held in Nicea like the founding kings did hundreds of years ago."

The children waited that their father would tell them something more, but no. The emperor then commanded everyone to leave him be.

"Everyone leave now, except you, Segeric," the emperor then stated.

When everyone had left, the emperor then stared at Gadaric.

"You as well, Gadaric."

Gadaric looked confused. He had always been permitted to stay by the emperor's side. He still did as he was told.

~~

"Well, this is a surprise father. You even commanded your shadow to leave. Must be important," Segeric said in a humorous tone.

"I will always trust family more. Especially now since we are so close to achieving what I want."

"So, tell me. What task is so important that you need to ask me so directly?"

"Do not get too excited by this task. You are to sail to the solo green moon and meet queen Satifa. My spies have told me that king Rufus is there to secure an alliance with the Saracens. You are to negotiate with the queen to give the king to us. Do not demand their surrender or vassalage. We do not want to antagonize them...yet. Be back before the festival and triumph"

"What am I then to do if the queen refuses to release them?" Segeric asked.

"Kill the king, even if it goes against the queen."

"Is the king of the Fairfax kingdom worth the risk of possibly antagonizing the queen of the desert?"

"Yes...." the emperor replied, irritated with his son questioning his judgment.

~~

Back in the hallways of the imperial palace, Berig was rolling in his wheelchair all alone. He felt humiliated that his younger brother was asked to stay behind and not him. He felt like he was not anymore the strongest...and he wasn't.

"Oh my....what has happened to you, young prince."

"Kilir...."

Kilir, the dokkaebi diplomat was gliding on his silver plate, accompanied by two Iraklions.

Berig didn't care much and kept on rolling with his wheelchair away.

"So, are you really going to just accept your fate and never walk again," Kiril yelled to the prince, with the Iraklions stopping the prince from rolling any further.

"I would let me go, if I was you," Berig said and was ready to melt away the Iraklions, with the dokkaebis still inside them.

"Do you really think you should be making threats in your current condition," Kilir said while releasing also a strong divine aura.

Berig was in no shape to try and intimidate the dokkaebi.

"But do put weight on the word....current condition. It doesn't have to be permanent."

Berig then looked confused.

"We dokkaebi have for a long time been forging soul armaments to the Araknes people. I think you have heard of them as relentless raiders and looters who steal the very blood of beings. They have been so kind to supply us with slaves, so that they can receive soul armaments. They are so crazy about them, even though they corrupt one soul, but they do not care,"

"What the hell are you saying," Berig said while being frustrated.

"I am saying that the emperor himself has paid for you to receive a soul armament."

"What is even a soul armament?"

"A new leg and an arm in your case."