While the kings of Novus Mundus ruled their lands, the system of Nobles grew in strength and influence. In Icaris, a city built on the cliffs of the western coast, the people were governed not by a king, but by a council of Nobles. These Nobles were chosen for their wealth, intellect, and connections, and they wielded considerable power over the city's commerce, laws, and military.
Lady Elyra, one of the most influential Nobles of Icaris, was a master of diplomacy and intrigue. She quickly became the voice of the city's nobility, using her influence to forge alliances with other cities and kings. Under her guidance, Icaris became a hub of trade and culture, with its wealth rivaling even the cities ruled by kings.
However, the rise of the Nobles also created new tensions. The common people, once equal in all things, now found themselves at the mercy of the ruling class. Though the Aurelians still lived in peace, there was an undercurrent of dissatisfaction brewing among the lower classes.
Milton watched this from his distant perch in the heavens, unsure of what to make of his creation's development. The Aurelians, with their kings and nobles, were creating a society that resembled the very hierarchies he had once rebelled against. Yet, there was a strange beauty in their progress—their struggles, their ambitions, their triumphs and failures. This was the freedom he had given them.
But Milton knew that with freedom came the potential for conflict, and he could sense that the age of peace was drawing to a close.