Northwest of the northern continent lay the Great West Revlon Empire, the western half of what had once been the Revlon Empire. Vittelvarlay, the massive capital city, was located in the center of the vast domain. Tall buildings of beautifully polished stone, broken up by expansive roads and parks, towered behind the city’s massive wall. The capital had a festive atmosphere, and was filled with people in all manner of dress, walking, shopping, and chatting with each other.
At the capital’s center sat the majestic Dyonburgh royal palace, so massive that it could be considered a small city in its own right. In one corner of the palace was a grand hall, where the people who controlled the Great West Revlon Empire’s fate met. At the end of this intricately decorated hall, Emperor Gaulba Revlon Selziofebs sat on a throne which gave him a commanding view of the room.
Deep wrinkles creased Gaulba’s forehead below his soft, delicately combed white hair, which matched the long beard growing from his chin. His eyes maintained a sharp intensity as he glared at the people below. Atop his head, he wore a gold circlet—the imperial crown—its surface studded with all manner of precious gems. The emperor, dressed in luxurious clothes befitting a man who ruled an entire empire, also wore a rather displeased expression on his face.
As palace steward, Salwis du Ohst—the handsome man at the emperor’s side—was charged with assisting the emperor in his public and private affairs. The report he was currently reading had caused the emperor’s ire.
“Tisheng has been invaded by our enemies to the east, and has likely already fallen. The enemy attacked with a company of monsters and humans. It’s unlikely that the Southern Imperial Army soldiers remaining in the region will be sufficient to handle the threat.”
After Salwis finished reading, the senators assembled in their seats erupted in a chorus of shouts, the noise slowly spreading throughout the chamber.
“What’s this?! Tisheng was left shorthanded, for what? So the Southern Imperial Army could assist Wetrias? We must send Lieutenant General Keeling and the army back south at once!”
“First and foremost, I want to know what this army is all about! I’ve never heard of monsters and humans fighting together! Those bastards in the east must be nothing more than filthy swine!”
“That’s hardly important right now! Tisheng is essentially cut off from the world by the deep forests surrounding the Siana mountain range. I want to know where this attack came from! The routes running along Febient Marsh are barely large enough to accommodate merchants, let alone troops—and in such a short time, at that! How did they conceal their movements?”
“Tisheng was, without a doubt, shorthanded, so a smaller force would easily have overwhelmed them. I’m sure they were defeated before they even knew what was happening.”
As he listened to the senators bicker among themselves, Emperor Gaulba maintained an indignant expression before finally snorting in annoyance.
Salwis turned to the emperor, a look of concern on his face.
“The East hit us hard. But we can’t move our forces from the Southern Imperial Army, since they’re guarding the border with the Delfrent Kingdom. To make matters worse, Tisheng is surrounded by forest on three sides, allowing the enemy to dig in. We don’t even have enough troops stationed in the northwest to mount a rescue operation.”
Emperor Gaulba listened intently, chin resting on his fist. He furrowed his brow and let out a short sigh. “So, the monster invasion near Wetrias was a feint? They actually planned to chip away at our forces to the south, and move on the port of Bulgoh? But where did they even come from? As the senator said, it’s hard to believe they went through Febient Marsh. And we seeded the eastern Rhoden Kingdom border with cultivation rune stones to draw in monsters and close off the route. You don’t think they used the monsters we drew in, do you?”
“It’s a possibility. It’s also possible that the eastern forces made their way through the forests at the base of the Siana mountain range, although we haven’t had a chance to confirm that. However, if that’s the case, then they must have had assistance. We should put the city of Hartbahlk on notice, since it borders the forests to the east.”
The emperor groaned, the wrinkles in his forehead deepening. He turned his gaze back to the senators, still arguing among themselves. As the scene descended rapidly into disorder, he picked up the elegant royal scepter lying at his side and thumped it on the floor twice.
The crisp sound echoed throughout the chamber, immediately putting an end to the senators’ bickering. It plunged the room into a deafening silence, broken only by the rustling of the men’s robes.
Fixing the room with a steely glare, Emperor Gaulba rose from his throne slowly. “We can’t leave the east unchecked, or just give them the port of Bulgoh. We cannot cede any more land to these barbarians. So, we will dispatch Lieutenant General Keeling of the Southern Imperial Army back to Hartbahlk to recapture Tisheng. I want Hartbahlk’s soldiers to begin making preparations in advance of his arrival. We’ll task Lieutenant General Minzaya of the Northern Imperial Army with subduing the monsters in Wetrias and the border town of Februent. He will also hire mercenaries from the Soowin Kingdom to put pressure on Carrish on the other side of the bay. I want you to send orders to the Western Imperial Army to increase the watch on their western borders, and make sure that Asbania doesn’t mobilize. That is all!”
The emperor fixed the room with another glare before thumping his scepter again, eliciting a bow from all the senators. They made their way out with heads hung low, each to carry out their respective orders.
When the five consul members seated in front of the emperor finished recording their minutes, they also hurried out of the chamber.
Gaulba turned his gaze to Salwis. “Tell Lieutenant General Keeling that I want him to capture the monster soldiers. We need to understand their technology, and look into whether it’s something we can use ourselves.”
Salwis raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? I doubt the Hilk will be too pleased with the idea of employing filthy beasts. They’ll almost certainly come straight to me with their complaints.” In spite of the wry grin on his face, the tone of his voice and his dramatically slumped shoulders showed how Salwis felt about having this role thrust onto him.
Gaulba gave a light snort before dropping back onto his throne. “Hmph. Purity…filth…none of that matters if it protects the empire. Besides, all those annoying little priests are after is a bribe. Just throw some money at them and make them go away.”
“As you say, Your Excellency.” Salwis gave a sardonic grin before bowing deeply to the emperor.
No one could see the rage that washed over his contorted face as he bent down low.