"Hello?" The voices echoed through the vast expanse of the white void.
"Is anyone there?" He asked, but there was no response.
-
Suddenly, a piercing screech cut through the once serene void, and the man calling out found himself abruptly teleported to an entirely new place.
The man inspected the scenery infront of him. It was a farm-field, the breeze was soothing and the sun was setting. But, he found himself drawn to another scene unfolding before him like a haunting specter.
There was a huge villa aside the huge borders of wheat fields and a commotion was evidently observable. The air was tense with the weight of impending doom as the hovering man witnessed the confrontation between a cautious man and what seemed to be a dozen knights.
Curiousity compelled him to fly closer to the scene and heard one of the knights calling out to the lone man, "You have been condemned to death by the Emperor, Senator Justinian! If you do not wish a similar fate for your family, come out by yourself!"
These words were directed to the man standing at the entrance of the opulent villa but he refused to bow down to the knight's command.
"My family? They have already been killed, tyrants! If you wish to bid me death then fight me!". His voice rang out defiantly, filled with a raw intensity that sent shivers down the the flying man's spine.
But the knights weren't reluctant, they fully intended to clear their orders. The man watched as they issued the ultimatum but Justinian's response was like a lightning bolt, he denounced them and dared them to face him, the fire of rebellion burning bright in his eyes.
The standoff seemed to last an eternity. Justinian, half-hidden behind the safety of his door, held his ground against the relentless onslaught of the knights. As if possessed by a powerful force, he struck down his assailants one by one, each falling in a pool of their own blood, their gruesome demise sending chills through the man's incorporeal form.
Yet, outnumbered and surrounded, the odds were against Justinian. Despite his fierce resistance, he was eventually overpowered by the sheer numbers of his adversaries. His valiant struggle came to a bitter end as the knights closed in, their collective might too much for one man to withstand. The knights left after cleaning their bloodied sword and decapitating the corpse's head, as though it was a completely normal occurrence.
The spectating man felt a deep sense of sorrow and awe as he bore witness to the final moments of Senator Justinian's life. Even in the face of imminent death, the senator's bravery and defiance was awe-inspiring. He had fought fiercely, taking down many of his assailants before succumbing to the relentless onslaught.
As his headless corpse lay still, the man couldn't help but be overwhelmed by a profound sense of tragedy. A life extinguished, a family left bereft, and the echoes of resistance silenced by the brutal forces of power. The scene etched itself into the man's conscienceness.
But then, the man woke up.
"Hah....the hell?" It was Nolan lying on his bed, his body drenched in sweat, and his heart beating rapidly.
"Was that a nightmare?" Nolan wondered to himself, attributing the cause of these unsettling dream to the haunting tales of his grandfather's cruel proscriptions.
"Ugh, why can't I find peace in my sleep?" He grumbled, frustrated by the recurring nightmares that had plagued him in recent nights.
However, he suddenly recalled the important meeting scheduled for today.
'Right... I must freshen up. I have a meeting with the Military Council today. I cannot allow myself to be further distracted by these matters'. He cleared up his mind for the day's objective, clenching his fist with newfound determination. He was resolute in doing whatever it took to survive and refused to succumb to fear anymore.
Nolan quickly shook off the lingering unease from the nightmare and proceeded with his morning routine. He freshened up, cleaning himself and dressing in his royal attire, ready for the day's tasks.
After breakfast, Nolan proceeded to meet with his trusted advisors, including the members of the Military Council who were absent from the last session. The destination was the senate-house.
Nolan couldn't help but feel anxious as he walked through the corridors of this building once more. However, he was now more prepared than he had been before. The teachings imparted by his mentors, Polybius and Cicero, had proven to be invaluable. And, unlike before He felt more confident to speak without their direct assistance, even if it wasn't eloquent befitting a king.
But, he couldn't help but wonder about their long absence. Had they been caught up in some situation he was yet to know of? Whatever the reason, Nolan knew he had to focus on delicately handling the matters at hand with the senate and the military council before seeking answers about his mentors.
As he entered the senate-house, Nolan was met with a room filled with esteemed senators and military leaders. The grand hall echoed with hushed conversations and the weight of political intrigue. He took his seat upon the elevated platform, just as before and waited for the Council to begin the session once more.
"Glory to the Empire! Long live the Emperor!" The Consul proclaimed, his voice resonating through the grand hall. "Let us commence the session. The primary matter of discussion shall be the strategy to address the threat posed by Julian. As per the edict passed a week ago, Julian, now deemed an enemy of the state, shall have his command over the army declared null and his properties within the Empire's domain seized by the State. Furthermore, his title as the governor of the northern provinces stands revoked, although his envoys are reluctant to recognize imperial authority." The Consul's words carried the weight of the law and reflected the conclusions drawn from the previous session.
One of the attendees, not attired in the usual senatorial garments but instead donning military attire, stood up and respectfully sought permission to speak, Nolan presumed him to be from the Military Council. Once granted, he began his address with a sense of urgency.
"Esteemed Colleagues, the Grand Domestic has dispatched me to provide you with swift and crucial intelligence on Julian's position and resources." The man unfurled a scroll, displaying it between his outstretched hands. "The pretender to the throne is rumored to have amassed an astonishing force of 50,000 soldiers, with at least half of them confirmed as per our reports. Additionally, the tribes of Galba have openly declared their allegiance to him, blatantly defying the peace treaty imposed upon them during the reign of Emperor Maximus the Elder."
The room was filled with murmurs of concern and unease as the gravity of Julian's military backing became evident. The threat posed by his alliance with the Galban tribes added to the complexity of the situation.
The man in military attire continued, "Furthermore, our scouts report that Julian has fortified his position in the northern provinces, making it challenging to initiate a direct confrontation without risking heavy losses."
The consul then inquired, "What is the current state of the Empire's army?"
The man replied, "We can immediately muster a force of 20,000 troops. Additionally, the Client kingdom of Suraj remains loyal to his Majesty Basilius, and they are willing to support our policies. I strongly advise granting the Grand Domestic the command to gather an army to counter Julian's rebellion."
The consul nodded in agreement and replied, "I concur! We shall urgently request the Grand Domestic to mobilize the necessary forces."
However, before the consul could finish his sentence, the senate chamber's door was forcefully thrown open, and a group of armed men stormed into the room, their presence causing an uproar among the senators.
The senators stood up in alarm, demanding an explanation for this insolent intrusion. "What is the meaning of this?" The consul demanded to know.
The intruding men were clad in military garments adorned with various insignias, indicating their high rank and authority. The leader of the group stepped forward, his expression was serious.
"Calm down, Senators! I assure you that our abrupt interruption is not without a reason," the man declared firmly, his voice demanding attention. He paused for a moment, his piercing gaze locking onto many of the individuals in the room, before finally turning to address the Emperor directly. "We are Taxiarchēs, representing Lord Julian's delegations here to respond to your actions."
The senators exchanged murmurs, with some expressing discomfort at the army officers' boldness in speaking freely. Nonetheless, the man pressed on, undeterred by the protests.
"Lord Julian vehemently rejects your illegitimate motion of declaring him an enemy of the state. The northern provinces stand united in defiance of this abrupt edict. He demands that you rescind his status as an enemy and relinquish your throne," the Taxiarch asserted.
The senators were taken aback by such an audacious proposition, and immediately protested, ordering the soldiers to leave the sacred senatorial ground.
"Maintain good conduct with a pretender? This is preposterous! We will not entertain such outrageous demands from rebels like you!" one senator exclaimed, his face flushed with anger.
Another senator chimed in, "Your loyalty lies with a traitor and a rebel! This nation has no need for mutineers like you!"
The Taxiarch remained unfazed by the heated objections, his demeanor remained uneffected. He slowly placed his hand on the hilt of the sword hanging from his waist, making it clear that he was ready to take drastic measures to defend Lord Julian's cause.
"If you refuse to acknowledge Lord Julian as the rightful Emperor," the Taxiarch declared boldly, his grip on his sword tightening, "then this sword will speak for him!"
This was, undoubtedly, one of the most bold display of imperial defiance, the crown of Aurelia, had even seen.