Chương 98: Chapter XXV Verse III — The Sovereign's Journey Begins

With a crack of the reins, the carriage moved forward.

"It's great to see you again, Lucilla." Aurelia smiled, but her streaks of wiped tears told a different story.

"It's great to see you too." Lucilla replied with a sympathetic smile.

"I was so worried when you fought Galan." Aurelia opened her arms.

"Come here." Lucilla sank into the familiar, comforting embrace, a sob cracking her voice.

"I'm so sorry I said those things. Galan told me if I could convince you to leave, he wouldn't have to fight you."

"It's okay," Aurelia said, rubbing her head.

"I know you two meant well."

"But didn't he hurt you?" Lucilla asked, her eyes red.

"Actually," Aurelia showed her a trembling hand, "aside from the lingering pain in my palm and wrist from hitting him, I feel fine." She held her head.

"Though my mind needs some rest from that… memory."

"But I saw your body convulsing."

"Oh, so my body—" The sudden stop cut her off. Outside, Galan jumped down from the carriage roof, his voice sharp and commanding.

"Alright, Marcus, wake up!" He approached the sleeping man before kicking his feet.

"C'mon. Don't make me mindcast you awake." Marcus' eyes fluttered open.

"What happened? Are we leaving, Master?" His eyes adjusted to the low light.

"Wait, you're not him."

"I'm your new master," Galan said.

"Who are you?" Marcus said, scratching his eyes. As Galan's features came into focus, Marcus remembered the crazed killer. He scrambled back, grabbing the halberd and pointing it at Galan.

"Don't come any closer!" he shrieked. Galan chuckled.

"Whoa, nice reaction time."

"I'm warning you!"

"Alright, enough of this," Galan sighed. With a flick of his wrist, the halberd vanished from Marcus' hands. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"How…?"

"Now get up before I disappear you too." Marcus slowly rose to his feet.

"Please don't hurt me, Master…" Galan clapped him on the shoulder.

"Relax. I told you you're one of the good guys, didn't I? Follow me." He led the terrified navigator back to the carriage. Once Marcus was on top of the carriage roof, Galan summoned the halberd again.

"Here. It's yours. Just don't point it at anyone." Marcus took the weapon, confused.

"Thank you… I guess." As Galan walked off, the forest began to shed its darkness. The soft, red light of dawn bled through the trees. He found the cooks huddled by the dying embers of their fire.

"Attention!" Galan's voice cracked like a whip. The two men jolted awake, scrambling to their feet in a panic. Decimus snapped into a clumsy military posture, while Tullius fumbled at his side for a phantom ladle.

"Master! We—" but Decimus' words were cut off.

"Relax," Galan said.

"I already told you two I liked the soup." A sigh of relief escaped the lips of the cooks as they eased their shoulders.

"But I think we could do more than a mere outpost dinner," Galan continued.

"So I've decided that we're having a feast at my village to celebrate my coronation." The cooks only stared back, bewildered.

"Coronation?" asked Tullius. Galan shrugged.

"It means I'm your emperor now." Their eyes widened. They immediately slammed their faces into the dirt.

"Emperor! Forgive us! We did not know!" shouted Decimus.

"We are unworthy! Please spare our wretched souls!" begged Tullius. Galan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Alright, I guess this one's warranted. Now get up." The cooks scrambled to their feet.

"C'mon. You have to pick a horse and ride with us," Galan invited.

"Both of you are capable of that, right?"

"Y—yes," answered Decimus nervously.

"I've been riding since I was three, Emperor!" Tullius declared.

"That's more like it!" Galan laughed.

"Let's go." As they walked back to the carriage, Tullius asked timidly, "Emperor… what kind of food do you desire?"

"Whatever you feel like cooking," Galan said over his shoulder.

"Just make sure it's fit for a feast."

"Yes, Emperor! We won't fail you!" they declared. They arrived at the waiting crew and mounted their horses. Galan climbed onto the coachman's seat but paused, his gaze sweeping over the misty valleys below. A profound dissonance filled him—a weight born from the knowledge of the clean, orderly world above and the dark, rotting layers he knew were hiding beneath.

"Everyone," he began, his voice booming.

"Today marks a new dawn. Not just for me, but for the entirety of the empire." He took a deep breath.

"The people have faced enough cruelty. With the rising of the sun, I will start a new era! One that ensures peace and prosperity for all, regardless of whether they have tails, horns, or claws. And to do that… I will need your help!" He turned and rested his shins on the seat, raising both fists.

"Who's with me?!" Silence. Then, Aelia punched the air.

"Yeah! Let's do that!" The others chuckled awkwardly.

"Seriously?" Gaius asked, unimpressed.

"Was that speech really necessary?" Lucilla's voice drifted from the carriage.

"Yep," Galan replied.

"Gotta practice for the big day, right?" He sat back down.

"Now, to my village!" The reins cracked, and the carriage surged forward, dust kicking up behind them. They moved with speed and purpose, leaving the ruins of the old outpost behind. The road ahead was long, but they were united, riding towards the light of a new day.