The hammer of Emperor Llorent struck the Table of Justice, echoing across the Great Wall of the capital. All the nobility became aware of the Supreme Order decreed by the Emperor.
And the one who celebrated the most was the one who fought for the lives of two innocents.
After five days battling against the Empire's Supreme Court, Ethan managed to prove the innocence of Alexander Cosmogeno and Christopher Zivot. The hearing declared them innocent after the appearance of a foreign ship to the north of Romerian, which caused a shift in actions.
The ship was reported by Captain Zongri's tower, but when the empire's maritime authorities arrived, it had already been swallowed by the sea's aggression. Even now, four days later, diving teams have found no traces.
So, they returned to square one.
Before declaring both innocent, the Empire's Supreme Court established new orders and laws concerning the two empires of the continent—Romerian, to the west, and the Great Empire, to the east. On the same day, the Treaty of Reconstruction of the Great Order was agreed upon.
"The empire's messengers are here!" a dozen soldiers shouted before the crowd, which still protested at the gates of the great wall.
In silence, carrying only a well-preserved scroll, a man in white robes with a mask covering his eyes stood at the edge of the staircase, where all could see him. Suddenly, a tetrahedron of energy appeared floating in front of his mouth, its three base points aimed toward different directions.
Then, when the man spoke, his voice exploded across the environment like a microphone without speakers. As he opened the scroll, the sound of paper unfolding carried through the wind.
"The individuals Christopher Zivot, twenty-two years old, and Alexander Cosmogeno, thirty-six years old, have been declared innocent by the Supreme Court of Romerian. However, both have been banished from the Empire's Advanced Research Center and reassigned to the Order of Fulmenbour, where they will be monitored for life by the Union of the Two Empires."
The protesters' expressions were far from pleased. They didn't want to hear about innocents… they wanted to know the guilty.
"On the other hand, private companies that supplied mass industrialization of vehicles and machinery using energy core technology have had their activities limited this morning, as a prolonged investigation has begun and old cases have been reopened."
To facilitate reading, the Empire's Messenger shortened the scroll.
"The Empire of Romerian announces that a new project has been founded for families affected by the Black Cataclysm, aiming at compensation and support in rebuilding their assets, as well as medical treatment and social rehabilitation. The Empire will begin distribution immediately, starting in the most remote affected zones, until reaching the respective capitals of kingdoms and duchies… Finally, to the groups of protesters located in the capitals…"
Everyone fell into absolute silence, listening to the messenger whose voice carried a certain resentment.
"You must withdraw from your posts and return to your residences within one hour after this announcement concludes. Should you resist…" he said, looking over the scroll with arrogance, "you will be arrested and judged under current legislation as vandals. Justice officers are authorized to use brute force in case of resistance."
Closing the scroll abruptly, the empire's messenger turned his back and reentered the wall's gates, while the protesters' morbid silence was swallowed by the chaos in the streets.
In contrast, the silence of the streets was not mirrored in the emperor's chamber.
Even with new culprits being pointed out and old ones cleared, there were matters the Union of the Two Empires needed to address. A deafening noise filled the room as dukes and kings of Romerian argued, alongside high court agents.
And who started the endless debate? Ethan De Lawrence… who regretted it instantly.
"How are we supposed to take measures against something that possibly doesn't exist?!" said Minister Morteiro, an obese, bald man with a beard that filled his face.
"Doesn't exist?! It's literally a foreign ship in our territory! Are you working for us or against us, Minister?!" Ethan shot back, slamming his hands on the table and making it shake.
Everyone fell into mutual silence.
"Foreign?! It could be a group of pirates drifting into the Neptune Frontier!"
"That's even more reason! Pirates are criminals, factions we cannot overlook! Pirates or foreigners, they are enemies until proven otherwise. We are fragile and facing enemies emerging like a spring. We don't have time to measure effort in any situation that appears!"
"Ethan, behave," ordered Llorent, his voice the loudest in the room. "Minister Morteiro, the Duke of Lawrence has a point. Still, measures will be taken in due time."
With the emperor's palm striking the wooden table, everyone sat down immediately. The arguments still echoed in their minds, but they maintained respect for the emperor's order.
Brushing a bit of dust off the table, Emperor Llorent stretched out a scroll written in a language close to English. After a brief silent reading, he spoke again.
"Alright…" he murmured, dismissing a messenger beside him. "Emperor Markus of the Great Empire has announced support for the construction of the new Order of Solomon, which will study the existence of these demons and, alongside the Orders of Myrddin and Fulmenbour, will study the new energy composing these creatures… Costs will be divided at 33.33% between the two empires and the Great Order, as suggested by Lincoln Durham…"
"Unnecessary expenses," said Minister Morteiro, rejecting the decision. "Why a new order when we already have four? The others can take on this function, resulting in lower costs."
"The minister is right," agreed Orobon, king of Hepitius, a small kingdom of Zethian. "Why build new academies and institutions when we can reuse…"
Orobon was interrupted.
"Vagus is responsible for ensuring a new generation of kings and agents…" Ethan replied, eyes closed, nerves burning. "Fulmenbour is busy linking economics with the world of Deviants, while Myrddin has its own interests in the magic system. The Order of Solomon is a way for the empires to legally infiltrate the activities of the Great Order while maintaining partnership with the others. Any doubts about how necessary this construction is?"
"Ethan, lower your tone…" Llorent tried again.
The Duke of Lawrence fell silent.
"What I need from you is patience and intelligence so we can rebuild what we've lost. I order you to unite, to take each other's hands and provide your homes if necessary. Our Empire will support the Southern State—the most affected—with greater rigidity. And!"
Shouting as if protesting against the prejudiced thoughts of the northern kings, Llorent raised a finger above his shoulder.
"I do not want internal conflicts showing during this process. Understood?!"
Everyone in the room remained silent, as if judging what they would do in the future.
A suffocating silence, like being inside a nest of snakes.
It didn't feel like they were obeying the emperor, but rather that they were trapped with one another.
But the Supreme's will was greater.
"Understood?!" he shouted again.
Some trembled, others concluded their future steps.
"Yes, Sir!" they replied—not all at once, but enough for Llorent.
"You are dismissed."
The silence of snakes quickly turned into the scraping of chairs, dragged across the ceramic floor, leaving marks due to the weight of solid wood. Yet the last to stand was Ethan.
While everyone left in groups, whispering among themselves, Ethan remained silent, not even glancing around. When only he and Llorent remained, the Duke cast a vacant look at the emperor before standing.
"How are your children, Et?" Llorent asked—not as emperor, but as an uncle who cared.
"They're well," he said with a smile. "The youngest has some bone fractures, but he'll recover. Other than that, we're all fine…"
"Except you."
Ethan's gaze was lifeless. Like someone who wanted to walk, but couldn't.
With his back turned, hand on the door before leaving, the Duke spoke almost in a whisper.
"It's a curse of the good men in this family. We're the last ones who matter…"
Interlacing his fingers, Llorent let out a muffled laugh as he leaned back on his throne, looking at the glass ceiling forming the constellation of Sirius.
With sunlight illuminating the room of those who mattered, the emperor said:
"I hope your youngest becomes a man from the other side, then…"
"No…" Ethan replied. "I don't hope he becomes one of the blessed…"
Llorent laughed again.
"How ironic… We live in a world where good men are the cursed, and the selfish are the blessed."
Taking a step back into the room, Ethan said:
"That sums up the world we live in quite well."
"Yes… it does," Llorent commented, taking a breath. "What is your youngest's name?"
"Theo," he answered, his tone filled with pride.
"Theo…" Llorent murmured, analyzing the name. "Like what our people once called the ancient gods…"
Glancing sideways at Ethan, who was about to leave, the emperor added one last time:
"Will he be a god to others, or will he make others his gods?"
Already in the hallway, closing the central door with his own hands, Ethan replied:
"I hope he becomes an angel with freedom… not a king like us."