"Now, tell us who you really are and why you have come here," the chief elder spoke as he settled into his seat at the center of the table.
John offered a light nod before beginning his introduction, "Allow me to introduce myself first. I am John von Eldrin, the third prince of the Imperial Dominion and the son of Eric von Eldrin, the current head of the empire." With a slight bow, he conveyed respect and courtesy.
"To my right is Sir Nicholas, the Count of Icewind Bastion and a general of the Grand Duke's army," John continued, pointing towards Nicholas. "And to my left are my escorts: Hans, my butler, and Sir Friedrich, a knight of the Grand Duke."
After a brief pause to gauge the reactions of the elders, noticing little change in their expressions, John proceeded, "As for my purpose, as I mentioned earlier, I am here to propose a deal with the High Dwarves of Ferrum Castrum. It is a deal that would undoubtedly benefit all parties involved."
Just as John was about to delve into the details of his offer, a heavy silence fell upon him. The chief elder's words resonated in his ears, "Have your people forgotten the pact that your first emperor made with our kind? And if you truly are from the imperial family, what gives you the audacity to come here and expect to leave alive? Or are you simply unaware of the Pact of Isolation?" It dawned on John that the amiable elder who had guided them through the city had vanished, replaced by a serious and resolute leader. Perhaps he had noticed the change earlier, but it had taken time for John to fully process it, considering the abrupt shift in character.
After regaining his composure, John took a deep breath and addressed the elders with a resolute expression. "I assure you that I am fully aware of the risks involved in my presence here. I possess extensive knowledge about the pact established by the first emperor, and my purpose today is to liberate you from the restraints that have bound you for a millennium. As for what gives me courage... I trust that you will remain composed enough to hear me out and engage in negotiations before resorting to drastic measures." As John concluded his statement, he noticed the chief elder's expression contorted with anger. However, since the old dwarf remained silent, John pressed on. "I am well aware that the pact imposed by the first emperor confined multiple species to their original territories, preventing expansion and forbidding involvement in human affairs. Yet, as I mentioned earlier, my intention is to free you from these restraints." As he finished speaking, a wave of bloodlust washed over him, emanating from the direction of the chief dwarf, making it almost difficult for John to catch his breath.
The chief elder's voice filled the room, laced with disbelief and stern warning. "Are you being serious right now? This matter is not one to be joked about, even if you are a prince. Do you possess the jurisdiction or authority to carry out such a deal? You appear no older than a child... You better provide a convincing reply immediately, or depart from here."
"I assure you that I am being completely serious," John responded, raising his head defiantly despite the overwhelming pressure exerted by the chief elder. "Could all of you kindly leave the room for a moment? There is no need to worry about me, so please trust me on this one." With those words, John turned to Nicholas and the others, who hesitantly left the room.
Once Nicholas and the rest had departed, John continued his explanation. "The emperor, my father, has granted my uncle, the grand duke, complete authority over the administration of the northern territories. He has been allowed to act independently while the North remains isolated from the empire. As his delegate, I am here with the authority to negotiate with your people and the ice elves that reside further north."
However, as John concluded his explanation, confusion was evident on the elders' faces. It was understandable since they were unaware of the political landscape within the empire.
Acknowledging their lack of understanding, John decided to provide further context. "To shed some light on the matter, the political environment within the empire has grown increasingly unstable. We stand on the precipice of a civil war, an event that is all but certain to occur the moment the current emperor passes away."
He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "In his infinite wisdom, the emperor has tasked my uncle, the grand duke, with complete territorial isolation. This vast territory covers approximately 25% of the empire's land, although most of it consists of tundra. Alongside the decree of isolation, the emperor has given explicit orders to bolster the military forces in this region. The grand duke is to ensure that when the civil war inevitably erupts, he possesses the strength and preparedness to defeat opposing factions and place me on the throne. Consequently, both my uncle and I have been granted absolute authority over the Valoria Grand Duchy."
Having concluded the lengthy explanation of the empire's political situation, John let a sly smile grace his lips. "As a final point, it is important to note that very few individuals within the empire are even aware of the pact made a millennium ago, and even fewer actually care about it. This is likely your last opportunity in the foreseeable future to attain true freedom. Despite the empire's potential downfall, you would remain confined here due to the treaty's stipulation regarding intervention in human affairs."
As the weight of his words settled in the room, an even greater amount of pressure bore down on John, emanating from all six of the elders.
"ARE WE TO INTERPRET YOUR WORDS AS A THREAT?" they demanded in unison, their glares piercing.
"Take it as you will," John responded, his voice strained as he struggled to breathe under the mounting pressure. "From my perspective, I am offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And I haven't even revealed all the benefits yet. This, in my view, is a mutually beneficial arrangement—a win-win situation for both parties involved."
"Win-win deal, you say?" The chief elder's voice carried a mixture of skepticism and caution. As he loosened his pressure, the other elders followed suit, relieving the intensity in the room. "You've outlined what you're willing to offer, but we have no inkling of what you desire from us... and it had better not be something foolish. You've long surpassed the point where jests are acceptable," he questioned, his tone laced with suspicion.
"But first, how are we supposed to trust that anything you've said is true? The last time we placed our trust in a human, we were isolated here," the military elder interjected forcefully, cutting off John's attempt to speak. The other elders nodded in agreement, their expressions reflecting their shared understanding of the military elder's concerns.
As the pressure around him eased, John responded with a smile. Retrieving an empty piece of paper from his storage ring, he placed his working hand atop his chest and poured his mana into the paper. "I, John Von Eldrin, son of Eric Von Eldrin, solemnly swear upon my mana that everything I have spoken and will speak to you, the High Dwarves of Farrum Castrum, to the best of my knowledge, is the truth and nothing but the truth."
With the oath taken and the written contents of the oath now inscribed on the paper, a profound silence enveloped the room. Everyone was taken aback by the audacity of John's action.
After a brief moment, the room's atmosphere gradually shifted away from hostility. The engineering elder, still harboring a hint of suspicion, broke the silence. "Although you mentioned this earlier, I would like to delve into it in more detail. How exactly do you possess knowledge about the Eternal Flame?"
"My response, unfortunately, remains unchanged. A friend revealed this information to me. However, the identity of my friend, I regret to inform you, is a detail I cannot disclose," John replied, shaking his head.
The elders collectively sighed, accepting John's answer, but swiftly redirected the conversation to more pressing matters. It was the chief elder who took the lead. With utmost seriousness etched on his face, he inquired, "You mentioned a new source for the Eternal Flame. What did you mean by that?"