The Ezelean Empire.
For them to take claim of the name 'Ezelea' speaks of their arrogance. In three consecutive millennia, they are able to maintain their superior standing which this day remains immovable.
That is how much power the Ezelean Empire wields and even the Allied Kingdoms cannot threaten their position. Currently, the continent is at peace all thanks to the empire being all too silent.
The Allied Kingdoms dare not provoke the sleeping beast, as a result, the Kingdoms also decide to maintain a stance of peace. And this peace allows the human race to prosper, and for a long time, humans didn't see war.
However, that suddenly changes at End-Summer, Day 32 the 3rd cycle of the 4th millennium…
And the cause of it is the elves.
With the elves, comes the decline of a Kingdom. War did they wreak, and slaughter did they spread. It is a total pandemonium as quickly refugees from the Allied Kingdoms suddenly increase manifolds from the south. The chaos proliferates in an incessant manner.
For the Empire though, this doesn't concern them.
They are more interested in the 'High-Elf' or the silver-haired as others like to refer to them. It is a deeply hidden secret in the continent how there are actually immortals that live among the mortals… Since the founding of the empire, the existence of these high elves has become a deeply hidden secret.
In the current era, the existence of high elves is visually extinct, and the cause of this is the founding emperor's wild hunt… In the secret records of the empire, there is a legend of how a high-elf's heart is a crucial ingredient to create a potion that will grant a thousand years lifespan.
If compared to the youthful immortality that a high elf possesses, a thousand years means nothing. But for greedy humans, this means a lot even though just a temptation.
To the empire, however, it means more than a lot. It is because it is not just a mere legend— for the founding emperor confirms it himself firsthand.
The truth of the matter is that these 'thousand years' are the secret of the Ezelean Empire's prosperity.
Sharing the table of two is a young man with white hair and red eyes, and a middle-aged man wearing a luxurious robe with trimmings of gold. The identity of the two is quite special. The former is the ancestral emperor of the empire who is now titularly an archduke, and the latter is the founder of the Tower of Fire.
The one and only emperor, Thamuz Solomon Ezelea sips his tea as he calmly watches over his close friend, Aprasius, a 'secret elder' of the Tower of Fire. "It has been two millennia since you are with me… How is the progress, my friend?"
"We are expanding our medicinal knowledge with fervor, your majesty. No longer are our minds trapped in the theories of herbalism and alchemy. We are taking careful steps on the art of surgery, and while there is some form of success, it will still be a long time until we completely succeed." Aprasius respectfully answers his majesty, lowering his head in deference to his master.
Thamuz nods in approval. Thinking of a wholly different matter, he asks Aprasius of his disciple. "How is your apprentice? As the current council leader of the Tower of Fire, he is doing excellently. I need an extra hand on managing my 'farm', what do you think?"
Aprasius's eyes widen in subtle shock. "Your majesty, are you finally expanding the church?"
"Yes," Thamuz not a change in his emotions plainly answers. "I will have him as pope… It is time for us to reemerge. The expansion of the church will be the start. The servants of the Divinities shall become the Church of Truth." With a sudden playful tone in his voice, he adds. "We are the Truth. As gods, it is only right for humanity to worship us." Thamuz lightly places his tea on the table and crosses his legs. "I trust that your apprentice won't fail me."
"Your command is my will…" Aprasius respectfully bows once more.
Officially ending this secret meeting, Thamuz gestures for Aprasius to go. At Aprasius's departure, another figure appears in front of Thamuz.
It is the current emperor, Thamuz's descendant, Lazarus the Third. He has graying hair, and shares similar features to Thamuz. While he is emperor, he is nothing to Thamuz as such he lowers himself by kneeling on both of his knees while giving a proper salute by thumping his fist to his chest.
"Greetings. Ancestor." Lazarus rigidly greets the founding emperor.
Thamuz smiles at his descendant. "How is it? Lazarus?"
"I am approaching my ending days. I hope to pass the throne to my eldest son, so that he may learn of your existence." Lazarus says in one breath afraid that he might lose whatever courage he harnesses of requesting this from his ancestor.
"Why not the second princess? From what I hear, she is the most talented among your children?" Thamuz curiously asks, but to Lazarus, it sounds pointed and challenging.
Lazarus is overthinking too much, but that is just how grand the existence of the ancestral emperor is… "She possesses strong sentiments with the demi-human races. I believe that if she learns of the empire's secrets, she might… rebel…"
Thamuz finds Lazarus's answer to be amusing which makes him laugh. "Ha ha ha…" Keeping his thoughts to his own, Thamuz asks Lazarus. "And what is wrong with that?"
"Huh?"
Thamuz ignores his descendant's bafflement trying his best to explain it as concisely as possible. "She will not. It is just propaganda in the end. If she learns of these 'secrets' as you speak of, she might rebel, but that really doesn't matter."
Deciding that it is too bothersome to care about what Lazarus thinks, Thamuz simply answers. "Just know this, the empire has always been an advocate of meritocracy. If she has the abilities, then make her emperor, or context-wise, empress. I know that you love your eldest son, but as tradition requires it, the battle for the throne is a necessary step. Do you understand? While I like an obedient puppet, I would prefer a more superior one."
Referring to Lazarus as a puppet is quite a direct insult, but Lazarus didn't take it to heart too aware of where he stands. "I understand, your majesty. I shall show no favoritism among my children."
"Ok, you may go now…" Thamuz permits Lazarus to leave, however, Lazarus remains.
"Your majesty, I have reports to make…" Continuing on his report, Lazarus reveals the real reason why he is here. "Under the interrogation of the Imperial Agency's torture, the half-elf finally cracks and reveals everything that there is to know about the rebelling elves in the Beyronald Kingdom."
"What is there to know?" Thamuz frowns not keen on learning about this rebellion. "Hmmm… Oh, speak of the devil… It is about the high elf, isn't it? I permit you to stand. Here, have a seat and tell me what happened."
"Yes, your majesty." Lazarus shortly stands from his kneeling and sits in the chair just opposite Thamuz. "I was recently in the meeting with the upper council of the Tower of Fire…"
"Skip that…" Thamuz impatiently comments already in the know of how 'political' the lowly humans in the Tower of Fire can be if it allows them.
"Ahem~" Lazarus dispels the awkwardness of being interrupted. "The Tower of Fire has a new product. They call it the Truth Potion. It is a hallucinogenic drug that forces people to tell the truth."
"Go on…" Thamuz rubs his chin in anticipation. Just what could the mysterious Elf King of the stories be like? To Lazarus, this sudden emergence of a high-elf is a big surprise, and may as well be a concern to the empire. But for Thamuz, it is not really a big deal.
"The half-elf's will is strong, so even with the Truth Potion, the Imperial Agency finds it hard to gain information from her. Extracting information from her through torture is more difficult. We had the Seers from the church accompany the interrogator to fasten the process, and in time, we are able to discern some truths.
"First, the rumors. They are all true. We are unsure of the half-elf's words' veracity because we suspect it might be fanaticism at work, but from what we can infer from the Seer's visions through peering into the past, it is all true. The prime interrogator of the case, Spider, also attests to it prior to his mission involving Urden County.
"Second, new technology. The elves have new technology. They have bows that are able to penetrate iron, and even dent steel if the situation allows it. Moreover, a new type of potion that can amplify the strength of an ordinary person at the expense of a hundred years…
"Lastly…"
Thamuz listens with interest, so when he hears Lazarus halting his words at 'Lastly', Thamuz finds it very annoying. "What is it?"
Lazarus finally acquiesces realizing the displeasure he is causing. "From what we can infer… The half-elf seems to be the so-called Elf King's lover…"
Thamuz hearing the best joke of the millennia finds himself uncontrollably laughing… "Hah~ this is too funny… The Elf King's lover eh?