Chapter XXXI: Taming the Wild.

As Lazarus' personal scribe, I accompanied him on his travels as he sought to further centralize his control over the Holy Roman Empire. We traveled in disguise, with a small retinue of bodyguards who kept a watchful eye out for any signs of trouble.

The journey was fraught with danger, as we passed through regions controlled by rival lords and encountered bandits and rebels who saw us as easy targets. But Lazarus was a master of disguise, and he was able to blend in with the common people, speaking their language and adopting their customs to avoid detection.

Despite the danger, I found the journey to be fascinating. We passed through landscapes both beautiful and treacherous, met people from all walks of life, and learned much about the regions we visited. Lazarus was a generous and kind-hearted ruler, and he made sure to share his wealth with those who needed it most. In one particularly memorable encounter, we stopped at a tavern to rest after a long day of travel.

Inside, we found a group of locals who eyed us warily at first. But Lazarus quickly put them at ease with his warm smile and friendly manner. He bought drinks for everyone in the tavern and engaged in conversation with them, showing a genuine interest in their lives and concerns.

As we sat and talked, Lazarus began to share stories from his past. He spoke of his childhood in the palace, of the struggles he faced as a young man trying to find his place in the world. Despite his status as an emperor, he had always been fascinated by the lives of ordinary people, and he had made it his mission to serve them to the best of his ability.

Listening to Lazarus' stories, I felt honored to be in his company. He was a truly remarkable man, and I knew that under his leadership, the Holy Roman Empire would thrive. And as we continued on our journey, I made sure to document every detail of our travels so that future generations would know of Lazarus' great deeds and accomplishments.

As we made our way back to the palace in Aachen, I couldn't help but notice something strange about Lazarus. It had been years since I first started traveling with him as his personal scribe, and yet he still looked exactly the same as he did when we first set out on our journey. It was as if time had stopped for him.

At first, I thought it might just be my imagination, but as the years passed, I became more and more convinced that there was something different about Lazarus. He never seemed to age, never showed any signs of wear or fatigue, even as we traveled across the vast expanse of the Holy Roman Empire.

It was a mystery that I couldn't explain, and it troubled me greatly. I knew that there were rumors about Lazarus, whispers of dark magic and arcane rituals that had given him immortality. But I had always dismissed them as fanciful tales, the product of overactive imaginations and superstition.

Now, however, I began to wonder if there might be some truth to the rumors. I watched Lazarus closely, looking for any sign that he might be using some kind of magic to stay young and vital. But no matter how hard I looked, I could find no evidence to support my suspicions.

As we arrived back at the palace, I decided to confront Lazarus about my concerns. I approached him cautiously, not wanting to offend him or suggest that he was doing anything untoward.

"Lazarus," I said, "I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but I've noticed something strange about you. You never seem to age. It's almost as if time doesn't touch you."

Lazarus smiled at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ah, Marcus," he said. "You are always so observant. Yes, it's true. I have found a way to cheat death, to keep myself young and vital for all time."

I was shocked. I had never expected Lazarus to admit to such a thing, and yet here he was, speaking openly about his immortality.

"How did you do it?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Lazarus chuckled. "It's a long story, Marcus, one that I will share with you someday. But for now, let us celebrate our safe return home. We have much to be grateful for."

And with that, he led me into the palace, where we enjoyed a feast of food and wine, surrounded by the people who loved and admired Lazarus for his wisdom, kindness, and unyielding commitment to the Holy Roman Empire. As the night wore on and the celebrations continued, I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets Lazarus might be keeping from me, and what other wonders he might have in store for the future.