"Captain, report back to the Imperial Palace. I will stay at the Northern Border for a few more days. My mission is not yet complete," the Prince commanded. The Captain bowed in agreement and led the escort team away.
As the escort team departed, the Prince stood alone in the middle of the vast forest. He leaped to the tallest tree, surveying the area.
"Did you confirm what you said?" the Prince asked, and five Shadow Knights materialized on the surrounding branches.
"Yes, Your Highness. The 6 Masters entered the Magic Tower of the City of Avalon," one Shadow Knight affirmed.
"Did the Tower Master of Avalon betray the Central Capital?" the Prince murmured to himself.
Though the Magic Tower operates independently from the Imperial Court, it adheres to principles that prioritize the advancement of magic and the peace and order of the empire.
"It seems the Magic Tower of Avalon deserves a visit. Send a message to the Froiland Estate—they should be able to handle this much!" the Prince ordered. One Shadow Knight vanished to carry out the command.
"you go hunt some lurking magicians!" the Prince declared, a determined glint in his eyes. The remaining Shadow Knights nodded in silent agreement, and vanished
Davey's body shimmered with golden dust as he channeled his divine prowess from his Divine veins, entering his celestial consciousness.
"I meet the High Heavens' 2nd Ring, The True God Maharis," a Celestial Being said, prostrating in front of Davey.
"How was the Overlaw dominion, Martas, my beloved right hand?" Davey inquired.
"It is well-maintained, Sire," she responded.
"How about the High Heavens? Did they raise any suspicions regarding your identity?" The Prince asked.
"They have not. Besides, no one can except for the First Ring," she assured.
"So no one suspected that you are a substitute," Davey mused.
"Any movement from the four traitors?" he questioned further.
"Despite their efforts, the High Heavens' decision remains firm. Even I voted against the petition of the Divine Primordial Gods, but the four did not explicitly violate the High Heavens' principles. So, there has been no action taken against them," Martas reported.
"Hmm, it seems they have been granting blessings to mortals," Davey noted.
"Yes, I have sensed their activity. Their efforts to amass armies in the mortal realm are quite significant. They seem to be following in the footsteps of the Seven Undertakers before them," Martas exclaimed.
"Their greed for power is commendable, but it may lead to the destruction of mortal realms. If the High Heavens fail to address this, the balance between the gods, peace and order will be disrupted, potentially sparking another Celestial War," the Prince remarked, taking a sip of his tea.
"Continue your work and observe the movements of those gods. It seems there has been no progress in tracking the apprentices of those gods even in the celestial realms. They appear to be cautious," Davey instructed.
"Yes, Sire. Despite our efforts, we have been unable to find any loopholes in their defenses. We are unable to penetrate their domains or gather information within," Martas confirmed.
Davey then deactivated his Celestial Consciousness and returned to reality, the rules of the high heavens is absolute that even the Menace realm respected it, but the gods who reside under its protection seems to be taking advantage of it!
ALISTAIR FROILAND POV
---
"His Lordship, it seems the Magic Tower does not regard you as the lord of this land. Only a few maids received us when we arrived," Cedrick reported. I had just received news regarding the prince's visit and the assassination attempt; those six masters were reportedly from the Magic Tower of Avalon.
"Let us wait a little while," I said, struggling to contain my anger. This poor treatment of the lord of this land was ridiculous, we have ordered the I, the Lord will investigate the Magic toward since the Lesser Lords had file a petition against the magic tower for their recent activity and several assassination attempt
"I'm sorry for the late greeting, Your Lordship!" A young man appeared, wearing a Magic Tower uniform.
"An apprentice is here to accommodate us? AHAHAHAHAHA!" I laughed sarcastically. "It seems the Magic Tower truly thinks too highly of themselves!" I released a murderous aura, extending my hand towards the man in front of me. My aura pressed over him, choking him.
"Cedrick, state the violations that the Magic Tower has committed," I commanded as I slowly choked everyone who entered the room. The door was broken, and the walls were slowly cracking under the pressure of my aura.
Cedrick stepped forward, unrolling a parchment. "According to the Imperial Law and the Establishment of the Magic Tower," he began.
Imperial Law and the Establishment of the Magic Tower
Recognition of Authority:
- All institutions within the Avaleon Empire, including the Magic Tower, must recognize and respect the authority of the regional lords and the Imperial Family.
- Failure to properly greet or accommodate an official representative of the Empire is considered a breach of protocol and a direct insult to the Empire's hierarchy.
Hierarchy and Representation:
- High-ranking officials and representatives must be received by an appropriately ranked member of any institution. Sending an apprentice to greet a lord is a sign of severe disrespect and disregard for the established order.
- Institutions must maintain clear lines of communication and report directly to the regional authorities and the Imperial Court regarding any significant events, including the movement of high-ranking members or the presence of foreign dignitaries.
Investigation and Compliance:
- All institutions, including the Magic Tower, are subject to investigation by the Imperial authorities. They must comply with any investigation and provide necessary information and assistance.
- Any obstruction of an Imperial investigation or attempt to hide information is a grave offense, punishable by severe penalties, including the dissolution of the institution.
Prohibition of Unlawful Acts:
- Members of the Magic Tower are prohibited from engaging in unlawful acts, including assassination attempts, unauthorized use of magic for harmful purposes, and conspiracy against the Empire.
- Violations of this law are considered acts of treason and are punishable by death or imprisonment.
Duty to the Empire:
- The Magic Tower is established to advance magical knowledge and aid in the defense and prosperity of the Avaleon Empire. It is bound by duty to support the Empire's interests and follow its laws and regulations.
- Any deviation from this duty is a breach of the institution's foundational principles and is subject to immediate correction by the Imperial Court.
---
"As stated in the Imperial Law and the Establishment of the Magic Tower, your institution has committed several violations. Your failure to recognize and properly greet the lord of this land, your involvement in unlawful acts, and your obstruction of Imperial investigations are all severe breaches," Cedrick declared firmly.
The young apprentice, gasping for breath, managed to croak out, "Please, Your Lordship, we meant no disrespect. There has been a misunderstanding. Allow me to summon the Tower Master."
I narrowed my eyes, tightening my grip momentarily before releasing it. "You have one chance to rectify this situation. Bring the Tower Master here, now."
The apprentice scrambled out of the room, and I turned to Cedrick. "Prepare for a thorough investigation. We will uncover the depths of their treachery."
"As you command, Your Lordship," Cedrick replied, bowing deeply. The room, still reverberating with the residual energy of my anger, was a testament to the severity of the situation and the unyielding authority of the Empire.
---
The Tower Master stormed into the room, his eyes blazing with indignation. "What kind of behavior is this, My Lord? The Imperial law explicitly declares the Magic Towers independent in their operations. We are not here to yield to you based on such baseless accusations!"
I remained seated on the couch, calmly sipping my tea. The serenity in my demeanor starkly contrasted with the Tower Master's fury.
"Tower Master, who do you think I am?" I asked, my voice steady and authoritative.
"The Lord of this land," he replied, his tone dripping with disdain.
"And as the Lord of this land, it is my sole responsibility to tend to my constituents' worries and concerns. The existence of your tower, which has committed various offenses against the lesser lords' estates and even attempted to subjugate the escort of the Third Prince, is a severe violation of Imperial law. I am vested with the right to use my power to investigate anyone who commits violations within my land, be it the Magic Tower or High Lords," I declared, my voice growing firmer with each word.
The Tower Master scoffed, "Independent in our operations, we answer only to the High Heavens and the principles of magic, not to the whims of a regional lord."
I set my cup down with deliberate slowness and rose to my feet, my aura of authority filling the room. "You speak of independence, yet you forget the foundational principle that all institutions within the Avaleon Empire must coexist within the framework of our laws and respect for the authority of the land. Your tower's actions have not only undermined this respect but have also posed a direct threat to the stability and security of the region."
Cedrick stepped forward, holding up the parchment once more. "According to the Imperial Law and the Establishment of the Magic Tower, all institutions must recognize and respect the authority of the regional lords. Your failure to properly greet and accommodate His Lordship, along with your involvement in unlawful acts, including an assassination attempt on the Third Prince, are severe breaches of protocol."
The Tower Master's face reddened with rage, but before he could speak, I continued. "Your tower may be independent in its pursuit of magical knowledge, but it is not above the law. The independence you cherish does not grant you immunity from the consequences of your actions. The assassination attempt on the Third Prince is not a baseless accusation but a verified act of treachery that demands accountability."
The room grew tense as my words hung in the air. The Tower Master seemed to struggle for a response, realizing the gravity of the situation. His bluster faltered, replaced by a semblance of caution.
"I demand to see proof of these allegations," he finally said, his voice losing some of its earlier bravado.
I motioned to Cedrick, who produced a series of documents and reports. "These documents contain detailed accounts of the offenses committed by members of your tower, including eyewitness testimonies and evidence gathered from the investigation. You will find that the charges are far from baseless."
As the Tower Master reluctantly took the documents, I leaned in slightly, my voice a low, authoritative growl. "You would do well to remember that your tower exists within my domain. Your autonomy in magical pursuits does not exempt you from the rule of law. Cooperation with my investigation will be in your best interest."
The Tower Master scanned the documents, his expression growing more troubled with each passing moment. The weight of the evidence was undeniable, and the realization of his tower's precarious position seemed to sink in.
"You have until dawn to provide a satisfactory explanation for these actions and to assure me of your cooperation in the investigation," I said, turning away to signal the end of the discussion. "Failing that, I will have no choice but to escalate this matter to the Imperial Court, where the consequences will be far graver."
The Tower Master bowed stiffly, a mix of anger and apprehension in his eyes. "Very well, My Lord. You will have your explanation."
As he left the room, Cedrick and I exchanged a glance. The Tower Master's arrogance had been checked, but the true extent of the Magic Tower's defiance remained to be seen. The investigation would proceed, and the balance of power within the Avaleon Empire would be maintained, no matter the cost.
As we exited the Magic Tower, a Shadow Knight suddenly appeared. The Froiland Knights, including Sir Cedrick, were taken aback but quickly regained their composure and assumed a defensive stance.
"Who are you?" one of the knights demanded.
"Be not afraid, my lord," the Shadow Knight replied, bowing slightly. "I am a Shadow Knight in service to the Third Prince. I am here to deliver this message. Please read it as soon as you arrive at your manor and follow the instructions within as swiftly as possible."
He handed over a sealed envelope, his demeanor calm yet urgent.