New Cetsipon was different, the roads were being rebuilt at a speed that could only be compared to modern construction companies.
The markets and docks were done being built months ago, and yet, the Višpazana was a man who took things literally, and most of the common people knew that immediately when he gifted every brick of the old city to the Caliphate.
Most were unhappy, however, the immense trade that happened quickly offset the negative popular opinion with the sheer wealth from the eastern lands.
From beautiful handcrafted goods to shining jade rocks that shone in both dark and light, Cetsipon was gaining a reputation of being the city of lights.
Višpazana understood another great aspect of any city and that is a place to worship, however no temple or cathedral could ever sit in such a place with the seat of the Višpazana.
As such he made the Sanctuary - no violence or guards are allowed there, and an absolute marvel of architecture. With most religions finding either a suitable place or a figure to worship to.
And in the middle being both a place for warmth and a object of worship is a massive raised dial of fire large enough to place a hundred or so elements in and you still wouldn't have reached the middle.
It was made as both a testament to every religion and a sign of the fire that embodies every human's ambition.
Or at least that's what the Višpazana says.
"Mom, why can't we go and see the inside of the Dial?" A child no older than just seven winters clung to her mothers' hide.
"Because only your father has been chosen this time" her mother said as she kept her daughter close.
Along with the fire came a new responsibility to keep the fire lit and to maintain the Dial, and this child's father was chosen, she didn't understand it, nor did she think she ever will, but watching her father pull up entire trees up to it with his crew gave her a sense of purpose.
And importance.
"Can I help?" The child asked.
"No" her mother only shook her head "you're too young" the mother wanted to say that it was because she was female.
But she looked on as her husbands crew and saw women in there, with cut hair and shown skin.
It was unusual, and she felt embarrassed for them.
Women with rough hands…
Her family came from Rome, it was ransacked, taken by barbarians, her husband left with her and their son.
Dead son her mind told with grief.
It will be a cold day in hell if her daughter would be placed where she will be crushed, Christ be forgiven for her own damnation.
"Višpazana!" That word, that shout, it wasn't that of announcement but of sheer shock.
She whirled her head towards the voice and sure enough was the boy Who Conquered The East walking towards the Dial.
He wore an eastern turban with a purpl-ish top, a whole cloak that extended sharply to his sides and a loose fitting purple outfit, it look regal yet comfortable.
Rather than an outfit for a ruler who dwarfed the Roman Empire at it's height he looked like a kid wearing his sleep gown.
It became quiet almost immediately then not a breath after knees slammed down to the stone floor, it took her but a moment for her to realize that she was on her knees but not her daughter.
She immediately wanted to scream at her daughter for insulting a ruler as such would've had anyone executed.
"Stand" his voice was higher than she thought "I'm here as a worshipper to that of the divine as the rest of you; carry on"
It was only after what he said did she realize that the ever famed Advisor that was always beside the Višpazana was nowhere to be seen.
It was strange, a man who turned away an army with nothing but words, a man who slaughtered their leader before them, a man who reportedly conquered the lands of silk before he even saw his twelfth winter looked so…
Meek.
Not meek as in he look nervous and confused constantly, but in size, he was a kid she realized, a kid who obviously didn't know what he was doing and didn't know what to do next.
It's just no one wanted to tell him, mainly because everything he's done so far is actually good.
The Višpazana walked towards the raised Dial and to her husband, she could only hope that her husbands work was satisfactory and that he wouldn't be executed.
———————
The massive Dial was truly massive, y'know when I asked for it to quote 'be utterly unequivocally gargantuan' I didn't expect it to be the size of the Roman Colosseum, hell, it might've even be bigger!
By god getting up here I can't even see the other side.
Maybe when I'm older and taller.
Now, you might be asking, why in the world build anything as large as this?
And I gotta say it was simply to stick it to people to the future, also to act as an utterly massive warmth needed for some of the monks, priests, and other caretakers for the sanctuary.
As such what has been named 'God's Fire' was built, and as such will be lit on my Coronation to mark both my rule and hopefully every god's eye onto my empire.
I know it's pretentious but I gotta angle it that way or imma be seen as weird by my people.
'Why we gotta build this?'
'Because I said so!' That just won't fly in most cases, as such I gotta say a bunch of gobbilygook just for a faint Dial of fire.
"How much more wood?" I asked the man who was currently chosen as the head of it's construction, he looked nervous, completely so.
"Višpazana… I… it'll take… months to acquire the wood, and even there, on your coronation it… it might rain, making it even harder to lit the fire" he looked nervous, I wasn't going to kill him for being unable to control the weather.
People are starting to understand me more and more the further my city is built.
"It'll be alright, be safe when building" I nodded as I looked at the Dial, it was pitch black built by Chinese workers with the materials coming from nearly every available corner of the world it wasn't as grand as you'd think it's just…
Wide.
Ungodly wide.
"How many tons of wood have you gathered so far?" I asked the man and he paled almost immediately.
"Ah… well… n-nearly twenty seven million tons"
Ah.
'I might've gone overboard' I thought as I stared at the absolute mountain of wood that was resting in the middle of the Dial.
————————
The Višpazana walked away from her husband after exchanging a few words, and every time the Višpazana said another word more and more fear consumed her.
She cannot work, she cannot wield a weapon and become one of the battle maidens that his armies have, all she could do was to join the brothels, use her body and hope that she wouldn't make the men upset.
Yet instead of an execution, her husband seemed to chuckle to himself as The Višpazana scanned the horizon and walked away.
The fear left her immediately as The Višpazana walked away, she expected to see her husband's head rolling on the ground, instead she and her family will live another winter.
She exhaled once again as her daughter came out from behind her hide dress.
"Mommy, what now?" Usually when her daughter saw a ruler it was when they are being expelled from their homes due to being Christians.
Instead her new ruler is walking away from them, being kind instead of vindictive, showing mercy instead of hatred.
It was unique and yet unnerving.
You know what to expect from cruelty, not from kindness.
She swallowed hard as she shook her head "nothing, dear. Let's go back home and make your fathers' favorite"
Her daughter merely nodded, she oughta take the scenic route too, she doesn't wish to get in the way of The Višpazana at all.
—————————
Today is a good day.
By a good day, I mean it is currently the peak of summer in modern day Iraq, and furthermore the humidity is quite literally killing people.
"That's the fifth one this week" I held my forehead as I felt both sweat and annoyance.
I have done a lot of magical bullshit to avoid this by the way - from having regular cold rain, and constant wind blowing into the new city to keep people cool.
But there's still people dying of heatstroke, usually my workers who're building in the heat, not the merchants who're in the shade.
So here I am shaking my head at the sheer foolishness of it, mainly staring down at the report with the fatality and the cause on it.
"Breaks, force the workers to take breaks and water" I commanded as one of the senior workers bowed and left as I shook my head.
Magic can do so much, and I'm not as forgiving as to revive those who died of stupidity.
I shook my head once again as I leaned back, spring passed with next to no issue, markets and docks were long done, and now most common areas were being built. From common homes to common bathhouses to even elaborate aqueducts added to the city's system.
I rubbed my chin, the sanctuary has been finished and now I'm expanding continuously, from planning roads to even planning the budget. You'd think building a city would be easier but I simply don't have the pleasure of capitalism's paperwork to do the work for me.
As such everything requires my go ahead, and the best thing is both merchants and regular people's attempts to sweeten the deal, from offering goats, gold, and even women.
It was strange.
——————
"My Višpazana, the foul Byzantines are clearly insulting us, offering no gift nor any response to your letter of coronation; clearly this an insult and we should answer through force" a rather rich looking merchant somehow either forced himself into my tent and is currently giving me a speech or he bought my guards out.
Now I realize everyone is out to please me and gain power through me, even a few brave and bold people attempted to manipulate me, that was thoroughly enjoyable.
This is a moment where I wonder is this another attempt of manipulation? Now I will be further honest and say I don't care what any other country says or thinks about mine or me.
So when it came to the great second Roman Empire and their so called 'spunned' of my letter that I sent out to neighboring countries it would be seen as an insult.
If I cared.
I shrugged at the merchant "and who're you?" I raised an eyebrow, he was a hairy man, not fat either, chubby would be a more accurate description.
He wore a gold trim with a white and silver embroidery, and a house symbol I simply do not recognize. And as such I didn't care about him.
"I am Kei-lumm Affaridd, and I'm a quite wealthy merchant. Your… greatness, I am here to do business and when I heard the Byzantine's insult… well… I'd thought that your greatness would no doubt require such information of such a great insult"
Ah, manipulation attempt, it wasn't that it was bad, it's simply would've worked on a egotistical teenager who's just rose to power in the greatest empire the world has so far seen.
I scratched my ear "I fail to see why an empire two tiers below my own would matter, it's as if a count insulted a king: who cares?" I rolled my eyes.
"Let them have what them have, let them ignore us, whether they like it or not they still have to trade with us if the wish to have spices from India and China" I spoke.
"…also get out" I shoo'd him away as he gaped a bit.
"Ahem… your greatness… I believe I would be of great use to you" ah… this man…
He fucking using magecraft on me!
That's bold, I like it, but that's not enough "what was your house's name again?" I asked as he smiled.
"Affarid" I nodded as I gestured to a guard to my right to get closer.
"Grab some men and find and kill all Affarid of this man's house" now that got his attention.
"You attempted to use Magecraft on me merchant" how he went fully pale and broke out into a sweat.
"Y-you must be mistaken!" I'm not, I know I'm not.
You see, with my absolute Magic domain I have access to ALL types of magic, even magecraft, hell, I could use D&D magic or even Elder Scrolls magic.
So I know when magic is being used, any type of magic is being used.
Especially on me.
"I'm not wrong merchant, but I'm not cruel, so while your family is being butchered and your magecraft is being wiped out I will offer you a small mercy - you are granted five minutes to pray to any or all gods and if any of them answer and come down, I will spare you, but if none, then your life shall end"
His eyes went wide, as he dropped to his knees and immediately began to pray.
It was interesting, when someone is so welcoming to a god or goddess when their life is in danger, not only that but with the end of The Age of Gods the chances of a god coming down here and saving this man is… none.
'What of Shiva?' My mind was brought back to a purple god who I beat down.
The only reason he was even before me was because I slaughtered all those souls and brought them back and Shiva came down to pick a fight with me.
Or was it I who picked a fight with him?
It was two years ago so I forgot.
I scratched my chin.
I only hope this man's tears won't stain my rug, it's quite nice it is.
A/N: sorry this took so long, I became quite busy!