An overseer was waiting for Dallion the moment he left the Suns’ Order building. She was one of the older variety, though not one Dallion had seen before. With an entire district of overseers in the city, it was difficult to keep track.

“Well done, Count Elazni.” The overseer greeted him. “The emperor will see you now.”

“I’m grateful.” Rather convenient that he calls me just when I pass my initiation trial.

A sphere of reality formed around the both of them, then slid through streets and buildings all the way to the imperial palace. It was very much what Dallion had used in the wilderness, though markedly on a smaller scale. Overseers had dominion only within the area they maintained; domain rulers had control between areas as well.

“The garden, I assume?” Dallion asked.

“The emperor will see you in the southern library.”

The library? An interesting choice, though when the emperor was concerned, that could well turn out to be anything. Dallion was just as likely to walk into a grand chamber made of books as into a small room filled with library items. As it turned out, both were true at once. The chamber was a majestic hall, containing hundreds of portraits and statues of past emperors. In addition, it also contained just as many marble columns, each with dozens of sky silver cubes.

“Please wait here,” the overseer said, taking a step back. “The emperor will join you shortly.” And with that she melted into the floor, leaving Dallion alone.

He definitely aims to impress, Dallion thought, looking around.

The emperor doesn’t need to impress, dear boy, Adzorg said. All this is to impress him. Or rather, his ancestors. The libraries were built as gifts from eager nobles and family members.

A library is all it takes to marry into the imperial family? Dallion approached the nearest marble pillar. Seems rather cheap.

A massive set of doors opened at the far end of the hall. Before Dallion could fully turn around and look in that direction, the figure of the emperor was standing a few feet away. His presence was blinding as always, the purple glow only partially dimmed by the clothes of moon platinum thread he was wearing.

Instantly, Dallion bowed down.

“Each of them is a realm in itself,” the emperor said. “Supposedly, they contain more scrolls than a mortal can read in their lifetime. That’s, of course, if that person isn’t awakened.”

“Of course, emperor.” Dallion let out a polite chuckle in confirmation of the ruler’s joke.

“Our father made us go through a few growing up,” the emperor continued. “We expect it’s inevitable. Skills must be learned, knowledge conveyed…” he waved his hand. “You can take a stroll if you’d like. It’s fair to warn you that the library guardians are rather strict.”

“Thank you, emperor. Maybe some other time.”

He’d gone through his own similar experience with Adzorg a while back. By the looks of things, this might have been where the old mage had gotten the idea.

“That’s what we used to tell our father.” The emperor smiled. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work back then. So, I heard you’ve taken your first step. How does it feel to have a domain of your own?”

“It’s… different, sire.” There were a lot of other words Dallion could have used, but this was the safest. Showing too much enthusiasm could trap him into having to repay the kindness, while too little would be considered an insult.

“Different. Haven’t heard that description before, but you’re right. There’s nothing like being a domain ruler. Personally, we found the experience depressing. When we passed the gate, cities we used to admire were suddenly reduced to nothing but common items. Very large items, but items nonetheless.”

“I think I understand what you mean, emperor.”

“Of course you do. You’re an empath. A pity there are so few of us left.” A flicker of sadness slipped through the emperor’s guard—the only emotions Dallion had sensed from him. “But on to other matters. You’ve come to claim your reward, we take it? Even if your settlement has a current population of… one?”

“I’ll be heading to Nerosal for more immediately after our audience, sire.” Dallion was quick to add.

“Ah, Nerosal. The place you were born.”

That was far from the truth, but Dallion had no intention of disagreeing. After all, from a certain point of view, it could be said to be the truth. That’s where he became what he was today. Back in Dherma he was a single digit awakened who knew nothing of the gates and nature of awakened. Dallion could still remember the arguments with Veil and Gloria about whether double digit awakened existed. The day that Dame Vesuvia had entered the village for the hunt had shattered his understanding of the world, that was for sure.

“We could give you the entire city, if you wish,” the emperor said casually. “It’ll save you some time. The place needs to be cleaned up and is wasted in the hands of the Order.”

Chills ran all over Dallion’s skin.

“Thank you, emperor. I think I should avoid shortcuts at this stage.”

There was a moment of silence. It was difficult to tell whether the response had insulted the emperor or not. When the emperor nodded, Dallion let out an internal sigh of relief.

“Yes, that might be better. We don’t want you to become another Lanitol.”

“Lanitol, sire?” Dallion asked before he could stop himself.

“One of the contenders approached our father for assistance during the last civil war. Neither of the pretenders were competent, so our father decided to agree with the request. What did that lead to? Another civil war forty years later. If we hadn’t been betrayed up north, Priscord would have taken the province. She’s shown competence and ambition.”

More ambition than competence, Dallion said to himself. If he hadn’t helped her, there was every chance that the former countess would have lacked the support necessary to proceed with her plans.

“Thank you, emperor.” Dallion hesitated. “There’s one more request that I’d like to make.”

“Oh?” The smile on the emperor’s face indicated he was genuinely amused. “You can always ask. We’ll determine if you’ll receive it.”

“The nymphs have sent water golems into the east.” This was the moment of truth. If there was a point at which the emperor would be angered, it would be now.

“Water golems. Are you certain?”

“I faced one myself, sire. They had made attempts to destroy a settlement of yours and a few belonging to the Order.”

“She’s sneakier than I gave her credit for.” The emperor’s voice was softer than before. “Thank you for pointing that out. We’ll see whether it’s necessary to take matters in our own hands. And your request?”

“I’d like your permission to grow my domain to the size of a county.”

“As becoming of your current title.” The spark of amusement returned to the emperor’s expression. “Of course. We grant you permission to grow as much as you like and take out any Azure forces in the process.”

“Of course, emperor.” Dallion bowed down again.

“We must reflect on the matter you brought to us.” A blink of the eye later, the emperor was back at the distant doors of the hall. His speed was such that Dallion could barely see the afterimage of his movements.

“Sire!” he almost shouted. “What about Adzorg?”

The door closed shut.

Damn it! Dallion thought.

There’s no point in worrying about that, dear boy, Adzorg said from within Dallion’s realm. I’ll be sure to bring up the matter during the next time we see each other.

You’re a bit too calm about this.

It’s not like the conditions of my prison are bad. What you really should be worried about is the emperor’s reaction.

I’d be annoyed too if the enemy is capable of sending spies throughout my domain.

Seems, even now, you have a few things left to learn. The emperor knows everything. Having something of this significance pass through his domain is… more than a bit unnerving.

It isn’t the first time it’s happened.

Actually, it is. The display the nymph empress made to announce her return was terrifying, but it remained just a spell countered within minutes. This is a whole different matter.

The door near Dallion opened. The overseer that had brought him stood there with a blank expression. With a measured bow she indicated that Dallion had overstayed his welcome.

“I know,” Dallion said beneath his breath, making his way to her. Moments later, the bubble formed around them.

One moment he was in the palace and the next he was at the entrance of his own mansion. The thought of what he might find inside quickly made Dallion turn away.

“Thanks for the trip,” he said over his shoulder.

Dallion expected the overseer to disappear into the ground as usual. Instead, she placed her hand on his shoulder.

PERSONAL AWAKENING

Reality shifted. Suddenly Dallion found himself in a land lacking form. Amorphous shapes continued to the horizon, constantly changing color, shape, and size. Only the three Moons visible in the sky remained static, glowing in their brilliance.

SHANDOR is Level 47

BODY 32

MIND 82

REACTION 41

PERCEPTION 43

MAGIC (0)

A blue rectangle glowed brightly in the air, making it clear that this was a personal realm. The name of its owner was just as atypical as the realm itself, bringing Dallion to one possible conclusion.

“I didn’t know copyettes could impersonate overseers,” he said.

“Everything’s possible,” the overseer that had been with him till a moment ago emerged from the ground. “It’s just a matter of difficulty.”

“Things must be pretty serious for you to bring me here. What’s the development?”

“You must reach the inner sanctum of the Suns’ Order,” the copyette replied. “As quickly as possible.”

“Why? Isn’t being a member enough?”

“You’re not a member. You just got your foot in the door. The emperor doesn’t even recognize the members of the common room. You must reach the uncommon room at least to become noticed.”

The Order of the Seven Moons seemed to know a lot about a so-called secret society. Based on the selective way the information was conveyed, Dallion gathered they didn’t have a spy there, or at least not one who was a copyette.

“Why is it so important?”

“The war isn’t going well. The Alliance’s losses are increasing and the eastern borders are scouted by water golems, as you’ve seen.”

“Isn’t that supposed to be a good thing? It weakens the emperor’s grasp and—”

“If he’s weakened too much, he’ll decide to cut his losses and offer a deal. The war’s going on only because it’s more beneficial for the emperor to remain on the offensive. When the Alliance falls, only he and the Azures will remain in the world. It’s almost certain that Tamin will offer a deal and up his guard. Also, there’s no telling how much damage the nymphs do to the Order before they stop.”

“And me joining the secret club will change that?”

“The archbishop thinks it will. Once in the inner sanctum, you’ll have direct access to the emperor at will.”

Excitement rushed through Dallion. Having direct access to the emperor was one step from being seen as his equal, not to mention it would make his work for the Order a lot easier.

“You’ve blown your chance today,” the copyette continued. “If you don’t go to Nerosal, he’ll suspect something is wrong. Don’t be fooled by the way the emperor behaves. He’s a lot more competent that anyone gives him credit for—that’s one of the effects of his domain.”

“I know.”

It had been a while since Dallion had figured out the reason behind the major paradox of the imperial capital. Everyone knew beyond doubt that the emperor was close to omnipotent. At the same time, they were constantly coming up with plots to gain his favor and carve a bit more power for themselves. The majority of even powerful noble families were simultaneously convinced that the emperor was too strong to be taken on head on, while airheaded enough not to see, or care about all the political intrigue that had become part of everyday life.

“If I go right now, I might lose Adzorg.”

“If you don’t prove that you can grow your domain beyond the size of a village, you won’t get him either way. Gain a town, get into the inner sanctum of the Suns’ Order, and we might get our chance.”