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A majestic eagle beat its wings. Its broad wings stirred the air, enabling it to glide slowly down the mountaintop. Its sharp eyes scanned the ground for prey. The thin, cold air of the high altitude constantly swept past, but its dense layer of feathers easily blocked the chill, keeping its body warm. Its talons, sharp as iron hooks, were tucked beneath its belly, ready to snap a victim’s neck at any moment.
Layer upon layer of mist obstructed its vision, but the eagle effortlessly pierced it again and again. The mist condensed into tiny droplets of water that rolled off its oil-coated feathers and fell away. By skillfully controlling its tail feathers and wings, this spirit of the sky could reach any place it wished.
Once more, the eagle pierced a thick bank of clouds. Suddenly, the view opened before it, revealing a towering mountain.
This peak was utterly unique; no other mountain ranges connected to it. It rose like a colossal, ferocious beast crouching on the plain, its jagged spine exposed. Peaks stood densely packed along the ridge like a forest of spears, as though cleaved by blades and axes. Not even the most skilled mountain goats or the nimblest apes could stand on them. The mountain's treacherous, ferocious appearance seemed less like a work of nature and more like perilous, man-made terrain.
Yet a magnificent city was built on such a treacherous mountain. Thick, black stone walls were constructed halfway up the mountainside, and countless spires and bell towers stood proudly along them. The distance between each tower was precisely measured, the result of thousands of calculations. The seams between each stone were so narrow that not even the thinnest blade could be inserted.
Every building was adorned with exquisitely carved, intricate, lavish statues of graceful women, armored warriors, and powerful warhorses. Each statue was sculpted with such lifelike detail that it embellished every corner of the city.
The city’s streets were paved with fine bluestone slabs. A perfect sewer system ran through the entire city. Channels flowing with clear water ran through every street, supplying the entire population’s needs.
It was hard to imagine the staggering amount of manpower and resources required to construct such a marvel.
The eagle cast an indifferent glance over the city. Finding no prey, it flapped its wings and soared across the sky, leaving that marvelous city behind. Only a single light feather remained, drifting and tumbling with the air currents. It flipped and glided until finally landing on a golden, glazed tile.
“Traitor! Traitor! .................”
Those two words erupted from countless throats, uttered by trembling lips in hoarse, desperate shouts.
A dense crowd pressed together, wearing all kinds of clothing some in luxurious silks and others in plain linen. Nobles, merchants, artisans, and commoners all mingled without distinction, united in fury as they shouted those two words. Their raised fists seemed ready to strike. Every face was flushed crimson. A terrifying, intense emotion surged through them like a mighty tidal wave, threatening to sweep away everything in its path.
The tiny feather was lifted by the tremendous roar of the crowd, then wobbled and fell once more this time onto a guard’s helmet. It slid down the smooth steel and rested on his shoulder, lodging between the tightly arranged scales of his armor. There, it fluttered like a small decorative plume in the wind, lending the guard a faint touch of brilliance.
The furious crowd gathered in the square before the palace. They had not yet charged the soldiers’ defensive line, but they continued to roar loudly. In perfect unison, everyone raised their right arms as though brandishing swords and blades in a military formation.
"Tesolus is a shameful traitor! He has brought enormous loss to our nation! Carve his name upon the Pillar of Shame! That disgraceful traitor!"
"He destroyed our elite forces! A thousand armored cavalrymen were annihilated because of his mistakes! He is a criminal!"
“Punish his family!”
The Battle of Kolhenried had already concluded. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the Empire had suffered a catastrophic and unexpected loss. Due to their commander’s erroneous decision, a full thousand armored cavalry had been trapped in the enemy’s encirclement. Their survival was now highly doubtful.
The honorable Consul Arius promptly decided to withdraw the remaining forces, thereby preventing further losses. Now, a meeting was being held in the Imperial Palace.
"You filthy mongrel, foolish worm, base and vulgar maggot! If you dare insult my brother again, I will immediately draw my sword and settle this dispute in the manner of an imperial by cutting off your bloated head! Then I’ll toss it into the manure pit in the backyard so whatever belongs there can return to your brain.”
This was a tall Imperial general, clad from head to toe in fine, densely layered scale armor. A thick mail lining hung down to his knees. His heavy iron boots forcefully trampled the polished marble floor. He had already gripped the hilt of a heavy sword as wide as his palm at his waist, ready at any moment to cleave the fat man arguing with him in two.
The corner of his mouth, marked by a thick scar, twitched slightly. An indescribable fury gathered in his dark eyes. His terrifying presence made everyone around him step back involuntarily, even though they were not his target.
"Natamus, are you trying to shield your brother?! Every general on the battlefield can testify that it was precisely because he disobeyed orders and launched an unauthorized attack that this result occurred. According to Imperial law, he should be sentenced to death, even if he escaped!”
A dreadful roar suddenly erupted from the center. Natamus charged straight at the fat man without hesitation. Several people who tried to block him were brushed aside like chicks. Like a raging beast, he forced everyone to retreat.
"You honorless scoundrel! Do you really think you can deceive everyone?! At that moment, my brother had already broken through the Hols formation! Their archers and crossbowmen were completely annihilated. All you had to do was advance your legion slightly, and victory would have been ours. Yet, in order to harm my brother, you committed such a base and shameful act! Arius, today I will tear your head off! I'll see if it's filled with greasy fat so I can scoop it out properly for you!"
The incredibly strong Natamus reached out, grabbed the fat man by the collar, and lifted him up as easily as if he were dragging a sack of cotton. Although the pressure around his neck made his face turn red, a triumphant smile appeared on the fat man’s face.
"Stop, Natamus! Do you intend to show disrespect to the Emperor?!”
Someone suddenly shouted angrily. Natamus’s face flushed with rage, and his fists clenched so tightly that they creaked. He had already torn Arius’s collar to shreds. In the end, however, he did not break the man’s neck. Instead, he furiously threw him onto the floor with great force.
The violent impact on his internal organs left Arius lying on the ground, unable to rise for a long while. He could only gasp for breath, struggling to catch it.
"Everyone, return to your places. The truth of this matter has not yet been fully investigated, yet you are already rushing to conclusions. Do you not have any respect for me, your Emperor? …………”
A clear, resonant voice suddenly rang in everyone’s ears. The generals and nobles, who had been arguing fiercely, immediately redirected their attention to the high dais above.
There, gold and silver were intricately intertwined and forged into countless thin, feather-shaped metal plates that formed a magnificent two-headed eagle poised to spread its wings and take flight. The eagle’s eyes were inlaid with four enormous gems, two red and two purple. Every detail had been crafted to perfection, and even the patterns on the feathers were distinguishable.
Beneath the towering eagle stood an ornate imperial throne. Leaning on it was a tall, voluptuous figure draped in a purple robe, surveying her subjects with an indifferent gaze. Her eyes were a brilliant golden hue, like molten gold, and contained an indescribable fury that rendered everyone silent as winter cicadas. In awe, they lowered their heads.
Looking at these seemingly loyal subjects, the Emperor's silver-white teeth tightened slightly. Her crimson lips curved into a faint, disdainful arc, but in the blink of an eye, the expression vanished, and she resumed her indifferent demeanor.
"Until the truth has been clearly investigated and confirmed, everyone will remain silent. Arius! Do not think I am unaware of your schemes. What are you trying to accomplish by sending your servants to incite the populace throughout the city? Do you truly believe you can dictate my will?!”
The Emperor’s fury caused the flesh on Arius’s face to tremble. He bowed even lower, more respectfully and humbly.
"Your Majesty, I absolutely have no such intention. I merely believe that every citizen of the Empire has such rights and obligations."
"Until Tesolus returns, you had better refrain from urging the citizens to 'fulfill' such obligations. He will absolutely not die there. When he returns, the whole truth will become clear. Until then...”
The Emperor leaned forward slightly. Her silvery-white hair, smooth as silk, flowed down her shoulders. Word by word, she spoke through clenched teeth:
"Any act of inciting the populace will be regarded as treason!"
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