I: Akori’s Dilemma
Out of the infinite fireballs in the universe, Creator Irma, with Mother Nature’s help, could only curate five suns to be habitable. With his power, Irma controlled the heat with an energy shield and built land on the surface of each sun that was otherwise nothing but fire.
Of the five suns, Orelia was the only one left with the direct descendants of Creator Irma, while the Kurlandan family took over the other suns. When the burning sky still glowed at dusk, however, a little dim than at dawn, and the cold winds pleasured the sorens [1], most rested, considering it to be night.
One evening, resting in his royal garden while relishing the scent of flowers, Emperor Akori awaited to meet his daughter contemplating the future of his subjects. Apart from hunting and training, Emperor Akori took pleasure in watching the eventide sky that emitted all shades of red.
That evening, Emperor Akori thought to himself, “Isn’t it true that everything in this universe has something to teach us?”
The Emperor, who united the whole of Orelia under his rule through his principles & foresight, now wondered, “Would the Kurlandans take over Orelia too? Is this the end of the rule for Irma’s children?”
Though the Kurlandans admired and bowed to Akori, they wouldn’t miss any opportunity to capture Orelia if presented with one. Emperor Akori knew that his son would be the weak link to provide them with such a chance.
Akori’s son Athor was well-educated and mature but was nothing like his father. The Emperor was troubled that he lacked command but was, to some extent, pleased that he was loved by the councillors for his judgement and views. Though the Emperor had doubts about whether Athor would be a worthy successor, he caved in as he was his only son, but his recent actions disappointed him.
Akori’s little confidence in his son’s capabilities was shattered when he learned a heartbreaking truth about him. With the events unfolding, Akori could foresee the inevitable end of his family line and the ruin of his world after being occupied by the Kurlandans.
Nevertheless, God Irma and Goddess Irmiti had also blessed Akori with a daughter named Aronica. The girl had many of her mother’s characteristics and was the only one who could provide any respite from the pain Akori felt after losing his wife to an unknown sickness. She was the woman he had loved all his life; it was never the same again without her.
The two siblings were quite different in their nature. Athor, who was aptly named after a wise saint, was invested in acquiring knowledge and was one of the few who feared ignorance. He spent most of his time reading and often expressed his hatred for warfare. Most of his admirers often quoted his famous words, “Only weak minds fight with swords while the mighty fight with minds.”
On the other hand, Aronica was one of the best archers in Orelia. She excelled in warfare and wasn’t fascinated with acquiring as much knowledge as possible.
For a few days, the Emperor feared his family’s future and the fate of his Orelia because his son had violated their law and committed a sin that shall not go unpunished. For his son’s crime, Akori has no other choice but to crown his daughter. He knew he would not only violate the law but also displease a lot of his subjects.
What baffled Akori was that his well-learnt son, who knew their law well and even passed an uncountable number of judgements, broke his moral code and committed a heinous crime.
This action of Athor convinced the Emperor that his son was just a boy seeking his own benefit than looking up to his subjects. The Emperor knew that by crowning the boy, he could make his subjects hate him because his son would force a foreign race to become a part of their family, disgracing the royal line once and for all.
But Akori couldn’t just crown his daughter too. There were a lot of councillors who would go against it, considering the history of the Sorens. The Queens of the past killed so many in their rule that no one would let another sit on the throne. Not without force. Even Akori’s loyal councillors would prefer having a foreign race amongst them than crown a woman.
Knowing how these foreign races could act, Akori didn’t want to take the chance. His daughter, in his opinion, continued to be the pride of their family and was mature enough to take up the responsibility.
He heeded the advice he received from the voices of the three beasts’ at Creator Irma’s feet. The voices requested the Emperor to help Creator Irma and Irmiti, which meant Akori could no longer continue living in his mortal form and should now pass on his crown. He knew he didn’t have a lot of time left.
These voices were the forces that helped Akori on his quest to conquer Orelia, and they guided him all his life. Without them, Akori might not have learnt about his son’s secret. The voices also validated his decision, “A wise choice is to crown your daughter Empress.”
Determined to protect his legacy, he summoned his daughter to inform her about the impending decree that affected the future of Orelia.
Footnotes
Sorens: Creations that lived on the sun are called sorens. They are blessed with long lives & cosmic auras to protect them and are often loyal & determined.
II: Irma’s Command
While Akori pondered how he should express his point to his daughter, his guards opened the chamber doors, and Aronica walked in. She was sleek with white skin, an oval face, red lips and braided black silky hair that ran up to her waist. Approaching her father, Aronica removed the red aura around her.
Every Soren, since their creation by Creator Irma, has been gifted each of them one of the three auras visible to the naked eye. They were red, blue & green and were created of ruby, sapphire, and emerald, respectively.
The red aura was presented to those whose nature represented fury, the sapphire aura represented pleasantness, and the emerald aura represented wisdom. In Akori’s family, the Emperor had the sapphire aura, Aronica the ruby aura, and Athor the emerald aura.
Settling down in the chair beside her father, Aronica could notice her father ageing more quickly than ever before. She observed his beauty fading with every passing moment, and he looked exhausted, unable to do anything he desired.
Aronica could see how after years of conquering and adoring a crown turned her father into nothing more than an old broken man almost prepared to fall prey to the desire for a long sleep. He was becoming thin and couldn’t walk long distances. There were days when he couldn’t attend his court sessions and passed on his responsibilities to Athor.
Glancing at her for a moment, Akori filled an empty cup with hot milk and mixed it with honey before passing it on. After enjoying the cool breeze filled with the fragrance of different flowers, listening to the songs of the chirping birds and staring at the red sky, Aronica sipped the sweet milk.
Akori loved that Aronica never refused milk, even when she grew old, unlike Athor. He waited until she sipped and started, “I have summoned you to reveal my decision about my descendent, my dear.”
Aronica placed her cup on the table before them and asked, “Decision about your descendant? Isn’t Athor already destined for that title?”
Noticing her father’s silence, Aronica continued, “Father! He is more knowledgeable than half of your council combined, and no one can be a better descendant.”
With a smile, Akori replied, “He will become a stain on my legacy, child.”
Confused, Aronica remarked, “I’m confident that he would be a wise emperor, and your legacy would be unparalleled. For ages, your name would be hailed for being a remarkable emperor and then passing on your legacy to such a noble son.”
Holding his daughter’s hand, Akori smiled, feeling immensely glad that Aronica trusted and admired her elder brother so much, even when she knew his shortcomings as a commander and leader.
As much as Emperor Akori accepted that Athor was beyond question-wise and an excellent warrior, he sadly admitted, “A force I trust in has informed me something unprecedented, and I have to act on it.”
Realising his father was about to reveal his secret, Aronica waited as Akori continued, “The three beasts of Creator Irma, as you well know, have always been my best well-wishers. They were a prime reason I won every battle I fought.”
Aronica disagreed, “You give them more credit than they deserve. You kept winning, and they were just a guiding force like many of your councillors.”
Disagreeing, Akori replied, “They are more than you think they are, my child. They are the reason why I’m an Emperor; without them, I might not have lived such a long time.”
Staring at his daughter, waiting for him to reveal his secret, Akori continued, “Maybe if they had let me die, it would have been more merciful than instructing me to give up my son and crown my daughter instead.”
And Aronica snapped.
III: Aronica’s Summoning
She bluntly declared, “You cannot!”
Before Akori said anything else, Aronica leapt a little in surprise. She knew that Sorens would never accept an empress again, and even if they did, she always presumed that her father would never crown her and was never preparing to ascend, even in her wildest dreams.
Tired, Akori replied, “It wasn’t a suggestion Aronica. It was a command!”
Aronica knew her father would never disobey any command from Creator Irma’s beasts. He would respect their command irrespective of the consequences, even giving up his principles if needed.
Thinking twice about every word she intended to say, Aronica asked, “Crown me? Considering your knowledge and position, I would like you to give me one good reason why this is even an idea to be considered?”
She knew the voices of Creator Irma’s beasts had never dictated to her father in the past, and this was the first time they did. Often they would suggest, but it was up to the Emperor to trust in them or not. She also knew that the voices never offered the reasons for their suggestions. So even if she asked the question, she knew there wouldn’t be a fruitful outcome.
With a smile, Akori replied, “You know your brother is holding meetings with all of my councillors to vote for my successor?”
With her eyes widened, Aronica instantly exclaimed, “Meeting to vote for him? Isn’t he the successor anyway? Why should he request their help?”
Noticing her father’s silence for a moment, Aronica continued, “Father, what have you done?”
Picking up his cup, Akori whispered, “I named you my heir and the councillors are torn. They cannot crown you, neither can they crown your brother anymore.”
Noticing no regret in her father, Aronica realised something was wrong. She knew she wouldn’t be commanded if not needed. Thinking about it for a moment, she honestly admitted, “I cannot, father.”
Even if the voices insisted she was to be chosen, she couldn’t agree to it at any cost. So defying outright, she declared again, “I apologise, but I don’t trust these voices as much as you do, father. There is no way I would betray my brother, the rightful heir only to crown myself.”
Speaking to his daughter, Akori nodded in disagreement as Aronica continued, “With this decision, our family will lose all of its respect, and your legacy will be ridiculed for this choice eternally.”
Every word Aronica spoke was anticipated by the Emperor. Waiting until she finished, Akori pleaded, “I’ve no time left, child. So please promise me that my wish will be fulfilled. Consider it my last one.”
Though Aronica wanted to shout, “Are you even listening? Do you even care as to what I think?”
She held her words when she heard her father mention it was his last wish. Thinking about the coronation, Emperor Akori continued, “I know your personal decision isn’t being valued, but I’m out of options, child. My faith in these voices made me what I’m today. I believe in them so much that I’m challenging my own people by giving them an Empress instead of the Emperor. I’m restoring a title that once destroyed our race entirely only because I trust you.”
The young princess couldn’t utter a word. She realised his father was bidding her farewell and she didn’t have the strength to fulfil her father’s wish. She stammered, “Why are you leaving, father? You are needed now more than ever to sort these things out.”
Holding his daughter’s face in his hands, the old Emperor confessed, “Our creators are in grave trouble, and I’m needed to help them.”
For a moment, Aronica felt disgusted that her father, who served the Creators’ purpose all his life by fighting their battles, should now continue to fight for them even after letting go of his mortal form. Rather than peacefully join their ancestors and live in the eternal world, he is still commissioned to fight more battles. The broken soul didn’t have a peaceful time during his existence and wouldn’t have any peace in the future.
Knowing that her protests would be futile, Aronica asked, “Why isn’t Athor here if you are leaving father?”
With a smile, Akori replied, “Your brother is securing his family’s future child. Well, I wouldn’t blame him. Without the crown, they would be slaughtered. My councillors might be wise, but my generals aren’t.”
Aronica was surprised that her brother had a family. Presuming this choice of his was what changed her father’s decision, and she decided to solve the problem once and for all easily. She knew her father’s last wish might not be fulfilled, but her brother would certainly prove his worth, and her choice to give up the title would be appreciated in due time.
Observing her lost in her thoughts, Akori asked, “It’s time, child. Would you like to accompany me to the temple of Irma?”
Holding hands, they stood up as one of the voices of the beasts whispered, “Your daughter wouldn’t respect your wish Akori. Perhaps you should try to convince her until she agrees.”
Walking with her, Akori just smiled. He knew his task was completed, and now fate would decide what would happen.
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IV: Athor’s Absence
Holding hands, the Emperor and Aronica exited the royal gardens. Before them lay a gigantic gate and the path beyond it that led to Irma’s temple. In the path were a lot of royals as their families were alone permitted to stay in Orelia’s capital; with them, the city had at most ten hundred-thousand non-royal Sorens serving as guards.
Alongside these guards called the Emperor’s personal guards, no force was permitted to enter the city. At the gate, addressing their commander, Akori commanded, “I wish to visit Irma’s Temple.”
The next moment, one set of bodyguards aligned as a big square around him and Aronica before forming a colossal ruby aura to stop any attack. These soldiers, called Flares, were handpicked veterans only selected if they had the ruby aura.