His Majesty the Emperor.

The capital of the Imperium, Arcanthos, stood as a symbol of unmatched power.

Its towering spires and vast avenues spread out like the veins of a colossal beast, the lifeblood of a civilization that had reigned supreme for centuries. From the soaring domes of the Senate to the bustling marketplaces where traders from every corner of the world came to offer their wares, Arcanthos is the heartbeat of the empire. And at the very heart of it the Imperial Palace, a fortress that loomed over the city like a sentinel.

It is a monument to the history of the Imperium, a history carved in stone, steel, and the blood of its enemies. Its towering black walls are said to be impenetrable, reinforced with the strongest metals and magic known to man. 

Within those walls, behind countless layers of protection, sat the Emperor.

The throne room is the largest and most magnificent chamber in the palace. Pillars of marble stretched to the high ceiling. At the far end of the room, the thorne, upon it sat the Emperor himself, his gaze cold and impenetrable.

He is an imposing figure, draped in robes of deep black, trimmed with silver. His eyes, sharp and calculating, seem to see through the very souls of those who knelt before him. His crown, forged from the purest gold, rested heavily on his brow, a reminder of the weight of his rule. His posture was relaxed, almost nonchalant, but beneath that calm exterior was a man whose authority could not be questioned.

At that moment, two of the empire's highest ranking generals knelt before him. The first, General Valerius, was an imposing man of middle age, his armor adorned with countless medals and ribbons, each one a testament to his decades of service. His face was stern, his jaw set as if carved from stone. At his side, his sword rested, the hilt encrusted with jewels, each one representing a battle won in the name of the Emperor. The second, General Corvinus, was younger, more brash. 

"My Emperor," Valerius began, his voice steady but filled with a weight of concern. "The situation on the western border grows more precarious by the day. The Republic has grown bold. Their soldiers patrol within striking distance of our defenses. Tensions have reached their peak."

The Emperor said nothing at first, his cold gaze fixed on the two men before him. He seemed to weigh the words carefully, as if calculating every possible outcome in his mind. His fingers drummed lightly on the arm of his throne, a soft, rhythmic tapping that filled the silence of the room.

"You fear the Republic?" The Emperor asked, his voice a low rumble that echoed through the chamber.

Valerius kept his gaze on the floor. "I fear nothing, my lord. But I see the storm brewing. One false move, one misstep, and war will be upon us."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the Emperor's lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile. "War has always been upon us, General. It is the way of the world. The Republic has always tested the limits of our patience. But they are fools if they believe they can challenge the might of the Imperium."

Valerius nodded, his brow furrowed. "Of course, my Emperor. But there are whispers among the ranks. They see the Republic's provocations, and they wonder why we do not strike back."

The Emperor's gaze darkened. "And throw the empire into another war? The people tire of bloodshed, General Valerius. There is a balance to be maintained, a balance that I alone control."

It was then that General Corvinus, who had remained silent until now, spoke up, his voice edged with the boldness that had earned him his rank. "A balance, my lord? Forgive me, but the soldiers question more than just our restraint with the Republic. They question your decision to appoint a mere boy to the rank of Imperial General."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed, his attention shifting to Corvinus. "You speak of Vallen Casuss."

Corvinus inclined his head. "Yes, my Emperor. A young man with little battlefield experience, handed a rank that veterans like Valerius and myself couldn't earn through decades of service."

The tension in the room thickened as the Emperor's expression hardened. His hand, which had been resting idly on the arm of his throne, clenched into a fist. The soft tapping had stopped.

"You dare question my judgment, General Corvinus?" The Emperor's voice was dangerously quiet, but it carried the weight of a thousand armies.

Corvinus bowed his head. "I only wish to understand, my Emperor. We all serve the Imperium, and it is my duty to voice the concerns of the soldiers. They ask why a boy like Vallen Casuss is to lead them into battle."

The Emperor's gaze darkened as General Corvinus finished speaking. For a moment, the room was silent, the air heavy with tension. The Emperor leaned forward on his throne, his cold eyes locking onto the general.

"Do you call him a boy?" The Emperor's voice was low, filled with quiet menace.

Corvinus lowered his head slightly but remained silent.

"That boy personally beheaded 130 of his own soldiers," the Emperor continued, his tone sharpening, "after he discovered they had committed unspeakable atrocities against women."

The Emperor rose from his seat, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the kneeling generals. Each step echoing in the vast throne room.

"And if that wasn't enough," He said, now standing directly in front of Corvinus, " he brought the head of the second legion's general, Hein Söhe, before me, dragging his blood across the entire throne room."

Corvinus dared to glance up, but the Emperor's cold gaze pinned him in place.

"The reason?" The Emperor's voice grew colder. "Hein was corrupt and treated his soldiers like dogs while he lived in luxury. And when I questioned the guards why they allowed him to bring Hein's head before me, do you know what they said?"

Corvinus swallowed, unsure whether to respond.

"They said, 'We saw a demon beside him."

The Emperor paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "I won't even mention how many noble families that 'boy' has erased from the face of the earth forever."

The room fell into a deep, uneasy silence as the Emperor returned to his throne, his presence suffocating.

 "The Republic will be dealt with when I order it. And as for Vallen Casuss let it be known to all that his promotion is my will, and my will alone. Any who dare question it will face death.Both of you leave."

The two generals, Corvinus and Valerius, bowed deeply, their bodies still tense with the weight of the Emperor's word. Just as they turned to leave, the great doors of the throne room creaked open. A soft, cheerful voice echoed through the chamber.

"Am I interrupting something, Father?"

A young woman entered. She moved with an effortless grace, her smile bright and warm an anomaly in the cold, intimidating presence of the throne room. Her name was Seraphina, the Emperor's daughter.

She wore a flowing dress, her golden hair, flowing down her back.. Her lively green eyes scanned the room, quickly noticing the rigid stances of the generals and the lingering tension.

The Emperor's stern face softened slightly as his gaze fell upon her, though his tone remained formal. "Seraphina, you choose an unusual time to visit."

Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she stopped before the throne. "I didn't mean to intrude on something important, but you always seem so busy lately, father. I thought I'd try my luck." She glanced at the two generals as they were leaving.

The Emperor gave a faint smile, the kind that appeared only when his daughter was near. "Nothing important, they question Vallen Casuss' promotion."

Seraphina's eyes widened the moment her father mentioned Vallen Casuss. Any trace of her previous calm vanished, replaced by a burst of excitement that she could hardly contain. She stepped closer to her father, her face lighting up.

"Vallen?" she repeated eagerly, her voice higher now, full of energy. "You were talking about Vallen?"

"Yes, Seraphina. The generals—"

But Seraphina was already off, her mind racing, her words tumbling out as if she hadn't heard him.

"He's brilliant, Father. He always knew exactly what to do. I mean, how could they even question him? It's absurd! He's already done more than any of those old men ever will."

Her excitement was palpable, her hands moving as she spoke, unable to stay still. The Emperor leaned back in his throne, watching his daughter with an unreadable expression. Her enthusiasm for Vallen was nothing new, it was the same energy she'd had for him for years, ever since they'd met.

"Seraphina," the Emperor began, but she was too wrapped up in her thoughts to notice.

"I just don't understand them, Father! How could they not see it? He's the one who stopped the Republic's advance in the east! 

Her smile was wide, her cheeks flushed with the memory, and the Emperor's face softened for a moment. Seraphina had always been full of life. She had loved Vallen Casuss from the moment they'd met, though the young man had not returned that love in the way she had hoped.

"Seraphina." the Emperor said again, this time more firmly.

She stopped, her smile faltering for just a second, and met her father's gaze. "Yes, father?"

The Emperor leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing just a touch. "You remember what happened. He refused your hand."

For the briefest moment, the excitement in Seraphina's face flickered. The memory of that rejection, of Vallen's firm, quiet refusal to marry her, resurfaced.

She shook her head quickly, waving her hand as if to brush off the thought. "That was years ago, Father. It doesn't matter now."

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, "Doesn't matter?"

"It's not about me. This is about Vallen. I know he said no, but that doesn't change who he is."

Despite Vallen's refusal, despite the distance that had grown between them, her love for him hadn't faded. 

Seraphina quickly brightened again, refusing to let her emotions get the better of her. "Besides," she continued, her voice regaining its excitement, "who else could have done what he did in the east? He stopped the Republic's forces like no one else could. And they still doubt him? I mean, come on, Father, they're all blind."

The Emperor sighed, his expression softening as he listened to his daughter's impassioned words. "Seraphina, I know you care for him, but you also know what happened to him."

Her expression suddenly changed and her eyes were filled with tears.

"Don't cry, the emperor's daughter never cries in front of others." Said while looking at the guards and continued "I am going to invite him to the palace."

Seraphina's face changed and filled up with smiles and joy once again.

"Really?" She looked deep into his father's eyes as she leaned forward.

"Yes, but not because of you." He flicked her forehead. "As my general he needs the Imperial Seal." 

Seraphina, thrilled by the news, jumped into her father's lap, beaming with a bright smile. 

Meanwhile, Vallen took a small detour on his way back, heading to his mother. As he walked, the green leaves of the trees and the scent of blooming flowers awakened memories within him. With each step, he felt more and more how much he missed home.

As he arrived in the village, his heart filled with nostalgia. The familiar streets, the old houses all pulled him back into those childhood memories.

When he finally reached his mother's house, he just stood there without knocking on the door. Minutes went by, and just as he turned to head back to the carriage, the door opened. The same creaking sound he remembered from his childhood echoed in his ears, followed by the soft and warm voice of a woman.

"Son?"