They left the train at another platform situated right next to the palace. Einar's father picked him up and they joined the throngs of people. They all strode towards the gates of the palace.
It was a sight to behold. Row upon row of guards in pristine white uniforms, each armed with gleaming spears, formed a formidable line along the entirety of the road leading up to the gates. Both their armaments and surcoats bore an insignia– a black dragon coiling around a towering oak tree, its claws clutching at a sword and a hammer. The sun reflected on the bright metal of their weaponry and armor, making them appear as though they had just descended from the heavens to carry out their duties.
An air of eerie silence prevailed amongst the ranks of the guards, broken only by the faint, but menacing rustling of their chainmail in the light summer breeze, adding to their intimidating appearance.
Vedel gulped as he walked up to one of the guards that stood in front of the gates, barring entrance to anyone that failed to properly identify themselves.
"Good day, Citizen." The guard greeted him before he could speak a word. "Are you here to see the parade?"
Vedel's body tensed up.
Vedel's body tensed, his hands fumbling in his pockets."Y-Yes sir." Vedel stuttered. "W-we just came to… to join in on the celebrations. I-It's my s-son's first p-parade you see."
"You need not be afraid if your ID checks out sir." The guard replied with a stern voice.
"M-my ID? Yes, o-of course!" Vedel murmured. He rummaged through his pockets a bit before handing a small piece of paper over to the guard. His hands trembled so badly that Einar feared that his father might accidentally rip it up.
The tall man inspected it thoroughly before nodding and handing it back to him. "You may enter. The plaza is packed so please make sure to stand in the back rows. We wouldn't want anyone missing out on the show."
"Thank you, sir!" Vedel replied whilst relaxing his body, finally letting go of the tension that had built-up during their short exchange.
They strode onto the palace's grand grounds, and Einar was utterly captivated by the colossal scale of the place. He marveled at its expanse, estimating it could comfortably accommodate hundreds of thousands of people and still have room left for countless events. The plaza stretched out, wall to wall, for a staggering 5 miles or more. As they reached the spot indicated by the guard, they were met with the sight of a bustling crowd. The plaza was already teeming with half a million attendees, and a continuous stream of people continued to pour in.
Vedel had trouble finding them a good spot, but eventually, he secured one right at the plaza's edge. As the sun reached its zenith, a hush descended upon the crowd. The silence was deafening, hundreds of thousands gathered in close proximity, yet not a soul dared to utter a sound. Even Einar found it difficult to contend with the palpable tension in the air.
The guards closed the gates after the final attendees streamed into the plaza, and the metallic clang of the gates joining together reverberated through the plaza. The echoes were so overpowering in the otherwise eerily silent square, that all those who were present could feel them resonate through their bones as they slowly died down.
Then, after what seemed like an eternity, a lone trumpet pierced the air. However, it was soon accompanied by others, uniting to create a powerful ensemble. Referring to it merely as a melody hardly did it justice. The symphony of sounds produced a profound, imposing resonance. It resonated low, guttural, and primeval, akin to the final breath of a dragon.
The sounds of the trumpets slowly died down, and the gates leading up to the main palace building swung open. For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Thud, thud, thud.
Those blessed with good hearing could discern a faint, rhythmic sound in the distance.
Thud, thud, thud.
The sound intensified. Most people now perceived something that resembled war drums.
Thud, thud, thud.
The rhythmic thudding persisted, and suddenly, a long row of slow-marching soldiers emerged from the shadows behind the open gate. Their armor resembled that of their colleagues who had stood guard outside the palace but was of notably higher quality. It was full-plate armor, forged from radiant white metal. Yet describing it as that would fall short of its ethereal beauty. This armor exuded an aura of sheer brilliance, captivating all who beheld it.
The shoulderguards of their armor were inset with large purple crystals, each the size of an apple, while a magnificent white crystal adorned the center of their chestplates. From this central crystal, luminous veins coursed through the rest of the armor, forming something that looked akin to a circulatory system.
The common folk in the crowd remained silent, awestruck by the appearance of these seemingly divine guards, but Einar could hear the ordinary guards mumble among themselves.
"The Varangian Seraph's..." one said. "...never seen one of them before..." another added. "...the ones that guard the Emperor" someone else mumbled.
Einar was just as shocked as the guards, yet for wholly different reasons.
'Those sets of armor are suited for Kings and Emperors!' He inwardly gasped. 'Even the armor I possessed when I was an Archmage pales in comparison to this!'
The soldiers dressed in white uniforms marched to the center of the plaza, capturing everyone's attention. When they reached the heart of the plaza, two of them stepped forward, breaking away from the formation. They hurried up to a large podium positioned right in the center of the plaza. One of the soldiers pulled a scroll from his pocket, and with a clear voice, he began to read from it, sharing a message with the crowd.
"Greetings, citizens," his voice resounded, its formidable tone amplified by the square's innate acoustics. "Today, on this momentous occasion, we gather as one to pay homage to the most sacred day of our Empire, a day where your offerings and devotion infuse the Empire with strength for yet another year. A day that, throughout history, has been the harbinger of profound change and destiny-altering events."
The assembly, held in rapt silence, revealed the subtle quivers that coursed through a handful.
"Today is no different. Our wise Emperor has chosen to grace us with his presence at this year's ceremony. With him he brings an announcement that shall change our fate once more. And now, with no further delay, it is with great reverence that we introduce to you Emperor Egnatius Pendragon, the illustrious Dragonbane, Conqueror of the Sun, and the Defender of Humanity. The Sovereign of our Holy Empire!" We have gathered you here today, to honor the Empire's most sacred day. The day that your sacrifices empower the Empire for another year, and the day historically known for carrying great change with it."