The Grand Elder’s Games

The Grand Elder, the true puppet master behind much of the empire's bureaucracy, played a dangerous and delicate game, one that only a mind as sharp as his could sustain. Unlike Emperor Gazen, who ruled through brute force, fear, and technological dominance, the Grand Elder preferred subtler methods. He understood power not as something to be brandished like a sword, but as a web of influence, spun slowly and methodically, entangling those who didn't even realize they were caught in it.

From the shadows, the Grand Elder ensured the empire's continued function. He manipulated laws, arranged alliances, and maintained the delicate balance that kept the empire from splintering under its own weight. Gazen's rule, though outwardly formidable, was more fragile than it appeared, and the Grand Elder knew this better than anyone. The emperor's reliance on military might and scientists like Ling Yi had its limits. The empire, vast and diverse, could not be sustained by violence alone—it needed control from within.

The Grand Elder's eyes were always on the horizon, watching for the inevitable cracks in the empire's foundation. Freedom's Light was one such crack, a rebellion that, while still small, was growing. Naolin's ideals had begun to spread, and though Gazen viewed the movement as little more than a nuisance to be crushed, the Grand Elder saw something far more dangerous. It wasn't just the rebellion's potential to disrupt the empire's hold on the outer territories that concerned him—it was the way it inspired people to question their loyalty.