As Lilith finished sending her sister the message she was approached by a baron. "Your highness would you indulge me in some small talk?" He asked respectfully. Lilith knew what this really was. In fact she knew the baron rather well.
"Of course Baron Donalds." Lilith replied graciously. She kept her back straight and her chin lifted. Etiquette was one of the skills she would've acquired regardless of her love for them. It was useful as a princess. It also helped avoid conflict in most situations and that often made her safer so Lilith was glad she learned it.
"You see my yields have significantly decreased recently. We were making a fair amount of coin from the purchase of common foods until recently. Potatoes and the like. Yet I fear they are no longer profitable as they are simply not going. I have been assured it is not the farmer's fault but I cannot think what it could be." The baron explained in what was likely slightly real dismay.
"I cannot afford a nature mage of course. Even if I could I highly doubt the country would lend them out. This succession war is taking up too much time if you ask me." Lilith gave him a polite laugh for his joke. Even if it wasn't funny.
"I assure you baron magic is not the only solution to our problems. It is perhaps the most expedient but there are other ways if you wish to wait. Crop rotation is of course one method you could try. I can send you the growing seasons the empire adheres to if you like? Another option would perhaps be fertiliser. Though I would not suggest you involve yourself in something so crass." Lilith explained. Truthfully she didn't care if a method was crass if it got the job done. But this would stroke his ego.
The baron gave her a polite laugh back more genuine than her own. As the baron was laughing, Lilith was approached from another side. "Your highness may I have a second of your time. I was hoping to discuss tactics for combustion mages in long range combat. Your ideas are simply fascinating." Came the voice of another man. Lilith recognised the voice as belonging to a viscount named Zachary.
Remembering her previous conversation with him Lilith continued on as though nothing happened. "Of course. I discussed the idea of trenches previously I believe. I planned out a number of variations to that idea after that. For example, Having an ice fortress made by ice mages or having a ground fortress." Lilith explained her idea and the viscount nodded along interested. He was completely ignoring the baron. Seeing his cue the man left.
"They would only be temporary structures though. Would that not be detrimental?" He asked her in turn.
"I am only a muse viscount. But perhaps another perspective would help. It would require a large amount of ice or ground mages to create such a fortress at the usual size but perhaps if it was smaller. Made for blitz encounters. You find yourself with an immediate terrain advantage. There are other situations of course but the idea is that the fight does not last long. You are shooting ducks in a barrel."
"Hmm so a short term tactic then. Perhaps useful as a temporary defensive position while you construct a real one?" The viscount mused and Lilith smiled. Now he was getting it. Soon another noble joined and the viscount excused himself.
Lilith listened to all of their problems. They varied in nature. Some were about their territories, magic was also a common topic. The most unusual request was marital advice as he had gone out to the streets and brought back a girl one night. He assumed the mrs was ok with this but apparently she was not. Lilith didn't know what to do there but she suggested communication. Her books always said that was good for couples.
The party ended before Lilith knew it and she went outside to meet up with her sister. Now that she had a moment to herself, Lilith thought about the things she'd learned. Zilla's talk of an immortal jellyfish and Wyatt's possible moves were forefront on her mind. She felt like something was going to change but she had just been given a hint to what she truly wanted.
She continued to think about these two topics until eventually Lilith exited the party room and found Nadia waiting outside the doors for her. Nadia smiled upon seeing her and waved her over. Lilith obliged and approached her sister. "You ready? Gotta be on guard around the twins." Nadia said as she giggled. Lilith looked around and checked that no one was nearby. Nadia had dropped the act she used in public and she was scared someone had spotted it for a second.
"You're right. I don't want to go through the foxglove experience again." Lilith complained playfully as she smiled for her sister. Nadia had to be more careful about this. There were already rumours she wasn't as cold as she appeared.
Nadia frowned at that though and said "I actually heard if the twins weren't so abnormally skilled with plants they could've killed us with that. They are almost magical when it comes to manipulating the effects of plants honestly. To anyone else, Foxglove is a poison you know?" Nadia explained seriously.
Lilith just laughed in response. "I know. I inquired about it with the twins afterwards. You know me, I found the new knowledge too tempting to let go. The twins instructed me horticulture after that incident. One such nugget of knowledge was the fact that foxglove is poisonous. The following questions lead me to believe they simply enjoy the plant." Lilith explained much to Nadia's amusement.
"I suppose it is like the twins to have a favourite plant of all things." Nadia continued to giggle as she started to walk away. Lilith followed as she replied.
"Apparently they have several. The list consists for the most part of herbs such as St John's Wart and Yarrow." Lilith informed her sister.
Nadia just smiled uncomprehendingly at the names Lilith listed. At that moment, Lilith finally paid attention to the pair of footsteps behind them and she could already feel the trouble this was going to cause. She had been trying to ignore it for a little while but it seemed they really were here for the two of them.
Lilith suddenly stopped and turned around. Confused but knowing she wouldn't do so for no reason, Nadia followed suite. When she saw who was coming towards them however, she brought her fan up to her face and frowned behind it.
"What can I do for you Wyatt?" Nadia asked icily. She was no longer in public, there was no need to be polite. Nadia didn't want her sister time to be interrupted and Wyatt was doing just that. Upon hearing her speech and tone, he scowled.
"You will address me as prince Wyatt or Dear elder brother. Nothing less. Do you understand?" He commanded not asking for opinions. Of course just because he wasn't asking, didn't mean Nadia wasn't going to provide them.
"No I will address you how I like. This isn't a formal event and I could call you the stick-muncher for all it matters right now." Nadia replied still with her icy tone. Lilith wasn't pleased her siblings were fighting but the name stick muncher brought up some fond memories.
Wyatt had eaten a stick to impress their father when he was a child. Lilith had made a vague reference to sticks and rulership at some point. Wyatt had taken that as a chance to prove that he was fit to rule by eating an entire stick. He did not have a fun time afterwards.
Hearing this comment did not have Wyatt in the best of moods. Still he was a prince and he would not be taken off track by a simple insult with reference to his childhood. He took a deep breath and tried to be the adult in this situation. "I will ignore your disrespect due to the setting but it shall not be tolerated again." He said with a harsh tone.
"hah." Nadia let out a snort and the moment she did Wyatt placed a blade to her neck. It was so fast that neither Lilith nor Nadia had time to react. The cold glint of steel pressed up against her sister's neck pushed Lilith's mind into overdrive.
Lilith's mind calculated the risk to her life. He was faster than her. Her odds of escaping that blade were not high. She could slow it. The blade was partially in Nadia's shadow. Not enough to slow the whole sword. If it moved though, Lilith could stick it there for a moment. Wyatt was faster than her however. She would still be caught.
Lilith searched for escape routes. She wouldn't survive a fall from the window. Witnesses weren't close enough to matter. Nadia could fight back but he had her at his mercy. Lilith could slow his blade and Nadia could disable him. If the attempt was made, it would give Lilith time to escape.
Lilith thought about Nadia. Her thoughts were mixed. She would always prioritise her own life. She needed to see the end of the universe. Nothing was worth more to her. Not even people. Yet Lilith found herself begging the world not to let Nadia die. She loved her sister and didn't want to lose her. Lilith couldn't help. Maybe someone else could.
Wyatt's Possible reactions include… Before Lilith could start to think up hypothetical reactions that would endanger her plans Wyatt sword arm twitched. The moment that happened Lilith readied her magic waiting for the moment Wyatt tried to swing. She hoped it wasn't the case.
Instead however, Wyatt lowered his sword. Nadia was still staring at him unamused but her face was covered in a small sheen of cold sweat. She had likely felt the tension in the air and knew full well Wyatt was ready to kill her. That was probably more painful than the small cut the sword left on her neck.
Lilith sighed. Her sister didn't have to be in danger. She didn't have to abandon her. Thank you. She didn't know who she was thanking. She would've thanked the world itself if it took credit for this. She would've never forgotten this. She was the type to hold grudges.
Wyatt placed the sword back on the scabbard at his hip and continued the conversation like nothing happened. "Sister won't you drop out of the race?" He asked sincerely. Despite the fact that he had just threatened her, this sounded genuine in some way. He was as close to begging as someone like Wyatt was going to get. You could hear it in his tone.
Nadia was staring her brother directly in the eye. Nadia knew exactly what was happening but unfortunately she couldn't step up to the olive branch he was offering. She shook her head sorrowfully at Wyatt and he sighed in response.
"I tried… I really did." He muttered under his breath and he walked off. As he did so, Calvin came from a few rooms down and spotted Wyatt. He walked over to him with measured strides. Seeing that Wyatt had left and was having talks of his own the two sister's departed.
Wyatt said nothing and simply watched as the two sisters left his sight. He had truly tried but she was clearly set in her path. "Milord, I bid thee speak with me for but a moment." Came Calvin's voice from his side. Wyatt didn't turn around and simply started walking to a room fit for private conversation, the subordinate behind him following along.
Lilith and Nadia meanwhile were wandering the corridors down to a certain room. Their surroundings were always the same and yet seemed to twist and turn like a snake enclosing prey. The same red-carpeted floors marred by the many high class boots that trampled down the carpeted fibres. Yet not a single stain was seen between those fibres, not a spec of dust or spilled drink.
The walls were grey and dull, yet gave off a sense of security. They were thick, rough and bumpy. If you so much as tapped your knuckle against it you would scrape off skin. They were just as clean as the floors, seemingly more like high class stone tables than walls, if you ignore the possibility of losing a finger or two for bumping your hand on the table.
Along the walls were a number of windows that lit up the inside of the castle. They had intricate carvings that only the imperial family understood in the glass itself, a feat of engineering miracle that no one has managed to replicate since the Empire's founding.
Lilith remembered the story the carvings were depicting. It was passed down in the imperial family in a manner similar to a creation myth. In fact it was a creation myth in a way. Her father actually bothered to include her when he told the story to all his children. Nadia was 8, Wyatt 10,Lilith only 6 and the twins, being only 3 years old at the time, were excluded as their siblings could always teach them.
Yet Lilith imagined the day the tale was told to them would be one they remembered for the rest of their lives. "Today you shall learn of the empire's purpose. Our founding goal. You shall engrave this into your minds as something we MUST strive not to repeat." Stated the emperor sitting in his throne for this audience with his children.
No one else was in the room. The gaudy furnishings and excellent craftsmanship on display in the room around them seemed almost wasted on their occupants. They were the only people in the world who would see this level of detail and simply dismiss it as normal.
"Whomever may warm this throne after me must heed this story. Even if you reject the way I rule, even if you reject my very self. Always abide this story. For my father told me this when I was but a child and his father before him. You too will go on to warn your children in a similar manner when they come of age." He spoke in definitive statements. This wasn't a request it was an order.
"Why would I want kids? They sound like such a pain. They'd constantly get in the way of my research. I suppose I could learn about parenthood itself one day but..." Spoke Lilith without really thinking. She remembered being far more outspoken at this age. 'and she hadn't found out how cruel the world really is just yet.' thought Lilith in nostalgia.
"Don't worry Lilith. Wyatt'll take the throne so you won't have to worry about it." Came a lively voice from her right. This was Nadia only 8 years old and already thinking about how she would live after Wyatt became the emperor. Though she was yet unaware that she would one day join the competition.
"You needn't worry father. I shall engrave this lesson in my mind and repeat it ver... ba... tim to my own children. Surely those I sire shall be exceptional." Boasted Wyatt proudly. Well ignoring the fact that he couldn't quite pronounce the word he'd stolen from one of the ministers.
"Listen!" Boomed the emperor and all sound immediately fled the vicinity. He looked around the room and once he confirmed his children were all paying attention again he spoke.
The story was a simple one. The world had been some sort of utopia. The word itself was 'metropolis.' but the best translation the empire could find was utopia. The emperor went on to describe their civilisation.
They could touch the stars, fly through the sky and live for exceedingly long times. He achieved all this without the aid of magic. Lilith had a lot of questions about this part even at that age, but unfortunately the emperor didn't take questions. Any attempt was immediately silenced.
There were of course still those who were less fortunate. Perhaps not as horrendous as the conditions in the slums of today but certainly not a pleasant experience. Drinking unclean water, walking miles to get the necessities to survive they even found translations approximating to 'the children of protruding ribs.' which Lilith presumed to mean something rather ghastly.
These unfortunate people were the source of true calamity and the reason the empire refuses to have any slums on it's territory. The empire refuses to have a faction of the unfortunate that it cannot control, for it lead to the destruction of this world not long ago.
They had found a way to get out of the situation they were in. Some form of energy source. The translations were broken at best and downright illegible at worst. It would be fair to say however, that the energy source was of the planet destroying kind.
Soon after they started using it, they caught up with the civilisations made of the rich and the powerful. They became rich and powerful themselves and were given a seat at the table. The empire's faction that existed back then was resistant to this idea because they knew the truth but none listened.
Soon it became apparent however. The world was dying and everyone was scrambling to figure out why. The empire's faction immediately pointed at the newly elevated but they defended themselves well and claimed the empire was making false claims.
By the time others realised this wasn't the case, they had already lost their chance. The world was crumbling and there was now nothing they could do to stop it. Determined, the empire's faction along with it's allies attempted to make a cure.
Many a topic researched, many a solution tried yet none managed to truly matter. Their great wealth meant nothing in the face of death and they truly lamented this fact. They simply wished to throw money at the problem and make it go away.
A man soon came who could do just that. The faction believed it nonsense at first but they were out of options. The man was one of the unfortunate and they thought it fitting that they try and clean up their own mess.
As it turned out, this was the correct decision. Within the next several years, the man had done it. Translations for the name of the project are quite clear, though the meaning alludes even the greatest scholars. The 'isekAI' project.
It was a miracle to all those in the empire's faction. It would restore the lands, peace would spread through the world and a new era would begin. Unfortunately, that did not include them. The entire current world must be wiped, except for a certain few.
The empire attempted to convince the man that they were the certain few. They were the first to discover the issue, the first to think of solutions. Yet the man was stubborn and did not budge. He condemned the majority of the empire's faction to death.
In exchange, he spared a single leader from each faction. Even those who started the disaster in the first place. This decision was once again protested and once again, he was a stubborn man. Deciding to cede to his will, they valiantly sacrificed the majority of their number.
Soon after, the world was reborn and the empire was created with it. It held a promise from that day forwards. They would never allow the unfortunate to rise against the world once more...
"You ok Lilith? You've just been staring at that painting for a while?" Nadia asked snapping Lilith out of her nostalgia trip. She shook her head to chase out the cobwebs and replied to her sister's worried question.
"I am merely thinking about the time father told us that story." Lilith replied indicating the painting in front of them. Nadia turned her head as well and her eyes lit up with recognition.
"Oh yeah that. I understand why he was so insistent we pass it on but it sure was a sad story." Nadia said as she stared at the glass with her own nostalgia.
"I didn't care for it much at the time. Honestly I was pre-occupied thinking about different things. Now though I have to wonder about it." Nadia continued and Lilith nodded.
"I found it incredibly distasteful. The manner in which it was conveyed was inefficient and biased. They did not even tell us about the supposed 'energy source' and I find that a solution to the world's very demise would've been useful." Lilith said in dismay shaking her head to clear the slight anger that came back with the memory.
Nadia laughed at her though and just smiled as she lapsed back into silence staring at the wall. After a few more moments of this Lilith perked up deciding now was as good a time to ask as any.
"I find the topic has interested me in another tangentially related. You were not interested in the throne at the time. Yet now even Wyatt cannot sway you from your decision. I find myself wondering what has changed." Lilith asked. Because this was Nadia however, she made it clear with her tone that she was free to ignore the question if she wanted to.
Nadia sighed to herself as she heard it and began to think. Lilith didn't mean any harm and the girl was probably just curious like she always was. It meant she didn't have to share but her sister had asked. Not sharing wasn't an option by that point.
Eventually she started to speak. "You are aware that some believe the imperial family is cursed? Because when one takes the throne all the others die. Including the previous monarch and their loved ones." Nadia asked and Lilith nodded.
"Though there are none left this generation." Lilith remarked still staring at the image in front of her. The empresses had all died. Some during childbirth, others through political plots and others still through disease. Their father did not have a great taste in women. They all died or tried to kill him.
Nadia nodded as she continued. "Most people know the whole curse story is rubbish. It's just the imperial family tying up loose ends. We're just a bit more ruthless than most, though perhaps that in itself is it's own kind of curse." Nadia explained as she continued to nod. She had lost her train of thought at the end but she decided to continue regardless.
"Before our mother died she told me about this little tradition. Whoever ascended the throne would have to kill their siblings. Except, she didn't want that. She had us after all. We were the only full blooded siblings in the imperial family. Though the twins consider themselves as such, their parents most certainly did not." Nadia scoffed at the end of her little explanation. The twins parents did not get along in the slightest.
"Sorry, I should stay on track. My point is that before mother died, she told me she didn't want that. But she didn't know how to fix it. This was a problem that had persisted across our country's history after all. She put her hopes on me. I was 11 or so at the time and had zero idea of politics. I figured it'd be easy to stop my siblings from killing each other. We'd just 'get along really well' and everything would be fine." Nadia sighed at her naivety.
"Then I heard the story of how well father got along with his siblings. He doted on his little sister supposedly. Some of the older ministers were talking about it. I don't know how true it is now, but back then I believed it without question." Nadia explained.
"There is compelling evidence to suggest that father murdered his little sister with his own hands. I find the idea that he could've doted on her uncompelling or if true, absolutely terrifying." Lilith interjected. She just had to inform her sister about the information even if it might interrupt her story.
"Well I sure believed it at the time. I figured there must be some sort of condition that forced the emperor to kill their siblings. I looked for it but ultimately I couldn't find anything. But I did see how it could happen." Nadia said a tone of sadness coming to her voice.
"I saw Wyatt as he trained. As he worked so hard to become emperor and impress father. I saw what he was willing to give up for that position. Then it hit me. Everyone who was trained to take up the crown was trained to give things up." Nadia said nostalgically.
"I saw what that training was doing to Wyatt. He was clearly too focused on the throne and he would end up like so many rulers before him. If he had to give up a sibling or two, he wouldn't bat an eye." Nadia said and Lilith understood the problem.
"So you went through the training yourself, intending to rule in Wyatt's stead. Your goal was always to protect your family, so you believed yourself capable of determining what you should and should not give away." Lilith relayed, giving her interpretation of events.
"I just couldn't trust him I guess. I don't know if it was the look in his eyes or something but… I just couldn't trust him. That's why it was so hard for me to reject him earlier. I don't know if he'd eliminate us once he got what he wants and I don't trust Wyatt enough to take that chance." Nadia explained. There was a sad and broken smile on her face. A small tear ran down her cheek and she brushed it away with her hand.
Lilith was about to speak up but Nadia beat her to it. "The twins are coming up soon" She said with a smile. The tear tracks were soon gone and Nadia smiled. It was genuine this time, marred only by the slight pain from the conversation. Nadia treasured her family in a way Lilith never could. Lilith loved her family but wanted to see the world develop far more. Nadia just loved her family.