Chapter 10: Royal Imbecile

3 January 5555
Central Empiria
Outside the gates of the Empirian Palace
[King Claude IV]

King Claude has decided to set out to find the Scepter of Omnipotence and claim it for himself. Bringing along with him an army of generals, Claude set out towards the middle of Athenaeus, where he received information from his royal seers that it would be the most likely place where the Sceptre of Omnipotence would be located at.

After Claude had bid farewell to his people, the he assembled his party of fifty men - his elite band of generals, royal archmages, crossbow archers, mystic doctors and knights. He appointed Blaine, his royal advisor to be his navigator, as Blaine had studied the ancient scrolls and scriptures all his life. Blaine was exceptionally knowledgeable of the whereabouts of their goal than anyone else.

Ironically, Blaine voiced out his opinions to his King before they set off, in hope of changing his mind.

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, embarking on the journey to obtain the Sceptre is a perilous undertaking! Ravenous beasts savage the island, thirsty for the blood of humans," said Blaine.

Claude was hesitant on answering. There was no way he was going to give up this quest after years and years of planning. He'd been preparing for this day the moment he became King.

"I already know that Blaine, but with my army of veteran fighters, I doubt that any of such 'beasts' would stand a chance. Have faith Blaine, every being on this confounded planet shall be Empirians when we return victorious," said Claude, overconfident as ever. His eyes surveyed his companions as he rounded final checks. They were all on horseback and readily armed.

Blaine opened his mouth to reprimand his Lord's foolish overconfidence, but he changed his mind and mounted onto his horse. Even if he did speak, it would be pointless. Claude had always been an adamant, selfish brat since the day he was born. His parents died trying to make him a strong conqueror, they neglected his moral values.

"Curse those harebrained morons, for they have given birth to an imbecile," thought Blaine to himself, in reference to Claude's parents.

He strongly felt that HE should be given the crown of Empiria since he is so much more deserving than Claude. He clutched tightly onto the reins of the bridle, trying to contain his rage. The day will come, he reassured himself.

"Onward to victory! For Empiria!" declared Claude , raising his sword into the air, firing up his white stallion, Hurricane. His warriors cheered and the party galloped off into the woods.

Chapter 4: The Fourth Heir

27 December 5554
5 days before the descent of omnipotence
Central Empiria

"All Hail King Claude!"

The trumpeteers start blowing a majestic tune as King Claude the IV of Empiria makes his triumphant return to his beloved homeland. As his troop of cavalry rode up the boulevard leading to the Parade Grounds, between the crowd of cheering, overjoyed people, there he was, on his impressive white stallion, Hurricane. One hand gratifyingly clutching onto his sword, the other waved to his people, melting their hearts with his gorgeous smile.

His advisor, Blaine, was the old man in the purple robe was riding after him. Ironically despite the victory, Blaine, as always, had his cold, thoughtful look n his face. Hardly anyone had noticed him, why would they? He was nothing more to them than an old grouch.

Claude and his army have yet again, wiped out a band of bandits that has been robbing merchants on the outskirts of Empiria, which had caused Empiria's trade to severely deteriorate.
Every villager who had heard about their king's victorious return all rushed to the parade grounds to welcome him. Once again, Claude had proven himself worthy of being the ruler of the strongest empire in Athenaeus.

"Who is he mama?" A little boy around the age of five asked his mother. His eyes fixed upon the King's huge sword.

"He's the man that had united all the lands around Empiria together," replied his mother, as she stroked his hair gently. "A great man to be respected indeed."

"Mama, when I grow up, can I be like him?"

"You can't son, King claude's legency is only passed down onto his own children. You dont need to follow someone's footsteps to be someone great as well, son!" encouraged his mother.

King Claude finally stepped in to the Parade grounds with all his Generals and his trusty teacher cum bodyguard cum advisor Blaine. Stepping on the a grand platform, King Claude started giving his speech.