Chương 135: Chapter 127-Chosen Timing

What's worse than a Purist trying to become the Headmaster of the most diverse University in the world? Well, it's that very same Purist walking side by side with the fucking Emperor! Okay, don't freak out. I have to stay calm and composed. I'm The Chosen One, Gods damn it. Wait, no I'm not. I should probably be freaking out right now. Pulling myself away from freaking out, I focus on the scene that's unfolding before me.

We have Alexander Argent, the man who burned my home to the ground, and you have Emperor Rowan, also known as Penelope's dad. He doesn't look much different than Heath, but way older. I mean, you got the black, or I guess now salt and pepper hair. The muscular build. The height, Gods, is he tall. The only real difference between him and Heath is age and the fact that he has green eyes like Penelope, or would it be safer to say that Penelope has green eyes like him? Uh, who cares?

"Al, what do you think about this?" I ask as I turn to empty air. Where the fuck did he go? Damn that's annoying. Kind of reminds me of Abrigon. That fucking asshole. Okay, what do I do? From a glance, it doesn't seem like my backup is here, but I may have to go in early before this Purist gets his fangs into the Emperor. If he hasn't already.

"CJ?" Hopper asks.

"Not now, Hopper. I'm scheming," I say absentmindedly.

"Oh, okay," he says as he stands quietly next to me. Slowly turning my head, I give a devilish smile.

"When did you get here, and do you mind doing something for me?" I ask as I put my arm around his shoulder.

"I just got here, and why does it feel like you're already going to get me in trouble?" he asks with a sigh.

"Just your imagination. Now, here's the plan."

"That's when I told him how impressive it truly was to make a shot like that," Alexander says as he lets out a small chuckle. The Emperor gives a small nod.

"Your stories are truly intriguing, but I must-""Emperor Rowan, it's truly a pleasure to meet you," I say as I walk into the conversation. The Emperor gives me a strange look, but quickly switches to a friendly smile.

"Chosen One, the pleasure is all mine. I had been meaning to meet you in person for quite some time, but the opportunity kept escaping me."

"Then it is fortuitous that we are able to meet now. Oh, I didn't see you there. Hello, Mr. Argent. I hope I'm not interrupting your conversation," I [Lie], hiding my disdain.

"Evening, Chosen One. You need not worry. Your presence is always welcome," he says, playing up the old man act.

"Yes, you only missed some stories that Mr. Argent was regaling me with," the Emperor says with a small chuckle.

"Yes, but now that you're here, Chosen One. Perhaps we should delve into a more serious topic." The Emperor raises an eyebrow.

"Which topic would you like to discuss, Mr. Argent?"

"Perhaps we should talk of how important the position of Headmaster is to the future of the Empire," he says pointedly.

"Yes, I think we should. Where would you like to start?" I ask. The Emperor takes a sip of his drink as Alexander goes to answer.

"Perhaps we should discuss the pressing issues of this fair nation. Emperor Rowan, what do you think is the greatest threat to the Empire?"

"The forces of evil. Specifically, the Blight," he answers.

"That is the most obvious threat, but the greatest threat is something entirely different."

"And what would that be?" the Emperor asks as the nobles around us start to listen in.

"Internal threats. Those who have historically aligned themselves with the forces of evil are free to walk the streets of this fair nation. How are we to know that their allegiances are what they say they are? If history has shown anything, it's that we can't trust those who have been touched by the corruptive nature of evil. Instead of embracing them, we should keep them at arm's length, until we can determine their allegiances, of course," Alexander says with an almost disarming charm. This sly fucking fox.

Purist rhetoric isn't entirely accepted here in the Empire. After all, a Purist believes in Human supremacy above all else, but he wouldn't dare mention that in this mix of Elves, Beastkin, and especially not in front of the Emperor, who has Half-Elf children. But, there's always a group you can pick on without much backlash. Hells most would agree with his sentiments.

"That is certainly a belief that some in the Empire hold, but how will you address this as the Headmaster?" the Emperor asks.

"Simply, of course. Evil starts where rules bend. Unlike the previous Headmaster, I wouldn't allow flagrant disregard of Imperial and University law. All the while I will instill the letter of the law into the students," he says as he stares me dead in the eye. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"That is certainly an opinion to have. A wrong one, but an opinion nonetheless," I say as I take a bite of my cookie.

"Chosen One, what do you believe to be the greatest threat to the Empire?" Emperor Rowan asks with a neutral tone.

"Can I be blunt?"

"Please do."

"The laws in place will end this Empire far faster than the forces of evil ever could," I say to the man and the various nobles who put those laws in place. The growing crowd of nobles murmurs to themselves.

"What is happening?"

"The Chosen One is arguing with the Emperor?"

"Did he just disrespect the law?" The Emperor looks down at me.

"Go on. I believe you have more to say."

"The Empire is the largest nation in history, and it has the problems that come with it. Our peacekeeping force, the Imperial Knights, numbers roughly 58, when we should realistically have far more. An Imperial Knight is the best of the best, but even they can fail when their numbers are stretched so thin. Then you have the social services, such as the local food banks. In the Capital, there are three food banks in total. All of them are understaffed, underfunded, and are frankly overwhelmed.

Then that brings me to the last and most glaring problem. The lack of guards. You could be getting attacked on the street, and not a single guard could be nearby to help you," I say as I stare down Alexander.

"And what does this have to do with the laws in place?" the Emperor asks calmly as the crowd grows louder.

"Every single one of the problems I presented could be easily solved if the Blight Laws were no longer in place," I say.

"Are you insane? Repealing the Blight Laws? Those laws keep us safe," a Baron says in indignation.

"If we repeal the Blight Laws, the Blight Touched could infect us all," a Viscount says with fear.

"The Blight Touched are a danger! We can not allow them to work our fields! Feed our children! Or even live in our neighborhoods!" another Baron yells in anger. Alexander shakes his head.

"They may have been human once, but the Blight Touched are dangerous and can not be trusted."

"Dangerous? Can not be trusted? Are you an expert in the Blight?" a familiar woman's voice cuts through the crowd. An older woman with pink skin, golden eyes, and pink Dragon horns walks through the crowd with the presence only a Dragon could have. Seems that Hopper is doing good work out there. The Emperor turns without even a semblance of fear.

"Greetings, Tyra, Queen of Dragons. I was not aware that you would be attending."

"My apologies. At first, I had decided not to, given how busy I am with the restoration of my kingdom, but my schedule cleared up," she says, giving me a wink.

"How fortuitous. On behalf of my wife and the people of this Empire, we welcome you. It is good to have you back on the side of good," Emperor Rowan says flawlessly, mixing compliments with humbleness.

"We have The Chosen One to thank for that, but before we get sidetracked. You, the one with the scar, what were you saying about the Blight Touched?" she asks with a hint of malice hidden in her words. Alexander takes a half-step back instinctively.

"It has been historically shown that the Blight Touched are affected by the Blight in ways that could be dangerous," he says carefully. Tyra nods.

"As the foremost expert on the Blight, I can assure you that a blanket statement of the likes of that is wrong. So is the commonly held belief that a 'Blight Touched' can infect you with the Blight."

"History proves-""History is written by man. History is where belief becomes fact and where those with ill intent scheme. Before you correct me using history, consider who in this room was alive for that history and who is merely reading about it," Tyra says. A silence hangs in the room as the crowd around us is stunned. It is rare to see such an old creature with the kind of presence that Tyra has. Even the Elves are frozen stiff, but there's one man with the audacity to move.

"If your assertion is correct, then why were you affected by the Blight in such a capacity? Why did you become Tyranus, The Slumbering Disaster?" he asks with an unfounded level of confidence. Tyra looks up at him with her golden dragon eyes. Then, in an instance, the entire area is filled with her presence. The oppressive feel of it almost sends me to my knees. The only reason it doesn't is that I've felt it once before.

"I think that's enough, Tyra," I say as I place a hand on her shoulder. The oppressive presence disappears.

"Apologies. I was stunned by the ignorance of the question. Those you call the 'Blight Touched' have been affected by small doses of the Blight. I, on the other hand, was bathed in the equivalent of a hundred years of exposure. Other than some slight discoloration of the skin, the Blight Touched are perfectly fine." Alexander rubs his neck.

"I will have to take your word, but I still believe that the Blight Laws are a necessary component in keeping this Empire safe." Some of the nobles in the crowd nod along in agreement.

"If the Blight Touched aren't dangerous, then what reason might you have to oppose my idea?" I ask as I see the bunny ears of Hopper lead someone towards us.

"Dangerous or not, the Gods marked them the same way they marked all of the betrayers. If the Gods have not forgiven them. Then why should we?" Alexander says with a sly smile.

"Do you not think my existence as The Chosen One is a sign that the Gods have forgiven the betrayers?" I ask, laying the bait.

"You dare speak for the Gods? Even if you really are The Chosen One. Do not pretend to know their will," he says, letting slip a hint of venom.

"Perhaps I should dare to speak for the Gods," the Pope says as Hopper leads him towards the conversation. By the Gods Hopper! If you don't have the best timing in the world, I don't know who- A sudden sense of dread pricks at the back of my head. Turning to the threat, I'm yet again met with nothing. Once is a fluke. Twice is a pattern. Three times and you're dead. There's a threat in this ballroom, and I don't know where it is.