Chapter 15 Past and Present (Lore Dump)

A/N

Warning! Lore Dump Alert! This chapter will focus on historical concepts and current scenarios from Third Person perspective.

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It has been four months since the Harvest Festival, and now another nationwide festival is about to commence.

The National Founding Festival, which occurs every 50 years, is just a few days away. During this time, the entire nation celebrates the founding of the Great Eldorion Empire.

The first Founding Festival took place during the reign of Emperor Cardinal, who established the Eldorion Empire amidst the chaos that befell this region after the fall of the Hyperion Empire.

This festival marked the beginning of the Eldorion Empire, an event that completely changed the history of the Western Part of the Heavenly Mountain Ranges. There is also another significance to this day.

A few years before the second Founding Festival, and just ten years after the death of Emperor Cardinal, the neighboring Astorian Empire invaded through the HimmelSud Pass at the southern end of the Heavenly Mountain Ranges. Their justification was their refusal to recognize Edward I's crowning as Emperor, instead offering their full support to his older brother and Cardinal's eldest son, George Van Dracon.

At that time, George had been demoted to the rank of Marquis and granted a fief near the HimmelSud Pass. This demotion was a consequence of a disastrous diplomatic blunder that nearly brought the Eldorion Empire to the brink of war with the Southern Alliance nations. His arrogance and cruelty led him to publicly humiliate the diplomats of three southern countries—who were, in fact, the crown princes of those nations—when they had visited the capital, Eldora, to sign a non-aggression pact and an extremely significant trade deal.

His actions left an indelible scar, as the insulted crown princes carried deep hatred for the Eldorion Empire, eventually leading to destructive wars between the Triple Alliance and the Empire.

At the time, Emperor Cardinal was furious and immediately stripped George of his power, demoting him to a remote fief. This decision worsened the already strained relations within the Dracon family. However, what truly ignited the rivalry was the Cardinal's choice to name Edward—his youngest son with Empress Eldora—as his heir.

In their childhood, George frequently bullied Edward, but during their teenage years, Edward gained formidable recognition among his peers and the nobility as an efficient swordsman. His reputation solidified further when he awakened his magic, albeit later than expected, becoming a formidable Magic Swordsman. Meanwhile, George, possessing only average talent in swordsmanship and aura manipulation, harbored deep jealousy towards his younger brother. Over the years, he made numerous attempts to poison Edward or assassinate his close friends.

The brothers' animosity reached new heights after the Cardinal decided to demote George. Upon Edward I's ascension to the throne, George sought to undermine him by attempting to become the head of a noble faction opposing the Emperor within the court. However, due to his lack of charisma and influence, he failed to win the nobility's support. Desperate, he resorted to secretly sabotaging Edward's military reforms and developmental projects meant for the commoners.

All his efforts failed. With no other option left, he openly declared his claim to the throne as the legitimate eldest son of Emperor Cardinal. Discontented vassals, who had been distanced from Edward, rallied around him, proclaiming him the rightful emperor.

What George and his supporters did not realize was that this was all part of Edward's plan. He had intentionally allowed the opposition to fester so that he could eliminate all dissenting factions in one decisive stroke. However, what he did not anticipate was interference from outside forces.

The Triple Alliance remained neutral, as the three southern kings—who had once been humiliated by George—hesitated to support his claim. However, another superpower in the East saw an opportunity to expand its influence in the West. The Astorian Empire swiftly decided to back George, sending a massive invasion force of approximately 175,000 soldiers in three divisions, crossing through the Laksha Pass in the north and the HimmelSud Pass in the south.

On the western side of the HimmelSud Pass, the Astorian forces established a puppet dukedom for better control of the area. This entity would later become the Grand Duchy of Großpforta (meaning "Great Pass"). With their base secured, they launched a devastating invasion into Eldorion territory, pillaging and plundering as they advanced.

Caught off guard, Edward could only form a defensive line to halt the enemy's advance while he devised a counteroffensive strategy. Utilizing the home-field advantage and the unity of his subjects, he amassed a formidable force of 150,000 soldiers. With brilliant strategic prowess and high morale, his forces repelled the invaders, ultimately capturing George.

Despite the devastation his elder brother had caused, Edward did not sentence him to death. This was because, before Emperor Cardinal passed away, he had made Edward swear an oath never to kill his brother.

Cardinal could not bear the thought of his beloved wife's sons slaughtering each other.

Reluctantly, Edward honored this oath and ensured George's survival. However, now that his brother had committed treason and allied with foreign invaders, Edward was left with no choice but to pass judgment upon him.

During the trial, instead of executing him, Edward did something unprecedented—he ordered George's imprisonment in an undisclosed location, declaring, "He lives only because of the Imperial Blood in his veins."

This decision reinforced the superiority of the Imperial Dracon bloodline while eliminating a dangerous rival. To solidify his rule, Edward executed all nobles and their families who had supported George's rebellion. Additionally, he declared war on the Aquila Kingdom, which had backed George's false claim, swiftly conquering it before it could ally with the Triple Alliance.

Coincidentally, the day Edward successfully repelled the invaders and triumphantly returned to Eldora was the second Founding Day. This added even greater significance to the National Founding Festival, turning it into a symbol of the empire's resilience and triumph. Meanwhile, for the Astorian Empire, it remained a bitter reminder of their crushing defeat.

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As the important day approached, anticipation and excitement filled the entire nation. Both factions contributed to the decorations and celebrations, especially in their respective fiefs.

Although the border near the Nadur Empire remained unstable, Duke Raul entrusted its defense to his loyal vassal, Count Leopold von Ironcrest. The Ironcrest family, renowned for their military prowess, constructed an extensive network of defensive fortifications to counter Nadur's incursions.

Meanwhile, the situation in Aquila Duchy deteriorated. The Sea Empress had grown bolder since capturing Duke Aquila's eldest son, Wilhelm Van Aquila. This forced Duke Aquila into a humiliating truce, where he paid a vast sum of silver in exchange for his son's release. However, after receiving the payment, the Sea Empress betrayed him—recapturing Wilhelm and seizing the escort Duke Aquila had sent for him.

Humiliated and enraged, Duke Aquila launched a full-scale naval campaign against the Sea Empress, mobilizing his entire fleet to hunt down her pirate bases. However, she responded with guerrilla tactics, dispersing her resources across various islands and ambushing isolated ships, inflicting heavy losses on the Aquila fleet.

The Sea Empress's reputation among commoners soared, attracting defectors who sought revenge against the oppressive nobility. Many joined her ranks or formed their pirate fleets, exacerbating the crisis. Meanwhile, remnants of the old Aquila Kingdom, still harboring resentment against Duke Aquila for stripping them of power, subtly resisted his calls for aid, further weakening his position.

The only stable stronghold in the south was the Margraviate of Arigon, a formidable military power bordering the Alpada Kingdom, a member of the Triple Alliance. The Margrave of Arigon, a shrewd leader, harbored a personal grudge against Duke Aquila for attempting to cede his territory in a past truce. When Duke Aquila subtly requested his support, the Margrave agreed but on his terms—sending his grandson, Nox de Arigon, with an army of 2,500 knights and archers, accompanied by a fleet of 30 warships.

Meanwhile, within the capital, Eldora, preparations for the festival continued. A historic city built upon three hills, its strategic location and legendary origins made it the perfect imperial seat. While commoners busied themselves with festivities, the political arena was in turmoil.

The Regency Faction was in disarray, as their leader faced an unstable fiefdom. Unexpectedly, Arthur's biological mother, Alicia Von Dracon, approached the nobles from her father's faction, seeking to manipulate the situation for her gain. However, Arthur had anticipated her moves, turning the factional war into a three-way struggle—one that would ultimately exhaust all sides, leaving him free to shape his empire's destiny.

At the Founding Festival, Arthur's hesitation would end. The new era was about to begin, heralding the rise of an Emperor who would forge the golden age of Eldorion.

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Spoiler: A few historical characters mentioned may play a role in the future.