88 Celebrating Four Years Worth of Birthdays (1/2)
It was the 8th month of the 4th year that Clay and Ryan had started their travel. No one else knew about their adventure in another world.
It was the usual for the people that Clay had left behind in Claiomh. Even the transfer gates have successfully been installed on both kingdom's territories for the public to venture into Claiomh and visit. Merchants were required to pay a toll for using the gates however, that was something that merchants did not even complain about compared to the safety of their travels from one kingdom to the next.
Two years ago, the former emperor of the human realms had visited Claiomh and proclaimed the greatest news in history for the human realm empire. The emperor left the throne and abdicated the crown to offer it to Clay. They arrived quickly and announced such a great news even more quickly than that. So, the news of Lord Clay becoming the sole emperor of the whole Human Realm resounded in the realm, including the neighboring realms.
The emperor's announcement took the city of Claiomh by surprise, however, their surprise only turned into pride for their glorious leader and Lord, Clay. They announced that date to be a Realm-Wide holiday celebrating their Lord Clay, headed by Isaac and the rest of his direct subordinates.
When the Emperor also heard of the transfer gates, he was so fascinated by it that he requested for Isaac and Giselle to also connect the former Imperial capital with the one in Claiomh as well. Isaac had been against it at first, however, the need to delegate people to manage the kingdoms under the Empire. Starting a year ago, Isaac had finished training ministers to better manage the territories and helped them progress into a better kingdom. The nobility was slowly given new titles and trained according to their strengths. The nobility was given offices in the city hall where their capital city was located. This ensured that whatever projects the city hall wanted to do; they would obey. They needed no persuasion other than that Lord Clay may see their kingdom as useless and cannot be controlled thus, deciding to destroy it instead.
With Clay's power and prestige being used as threats and motivation, the empire slowly adapted Isaac's reformation according to Clay's ideas that he gave to Isaac.
Military training remained a secret to other kingdoms. The only exception that Clay had given permission to train were the Night Prowlers who had overseen protecting the kingdom of Giselle.
Also, effectively, Giselle became the Imperial Queen of the whole Empire, however, her voice was not powerful enough to sway anyone to follow her whims. And she understood this, so she kept her paws off the imperial throne and instead focused on the Kingdom of Acadria.
The capital city also expanded upwards towards Moribor and the rest of the expansion focused on the mines on Moribor itself.
Guilds had built themselves up in this place and the city had become bustling to the extent that when there's market day, the town square was always packed full of people, bargaining and hawking their products. Cultural guilds like the Archeology Guilds focused more on discovering new ruins in the Impassable Mountain Range which was now a place that posed challenges to adventurers, mercenaries and archeologists alike. Most of those that venture that way, hire the city guards to guide them. There would usually be one or two guards to accompany them to repel any unusually dangerous monsters.
Isaac had the busiest schedule but when it came to training, their diligence could not be toppled. Caltec Jon and Mor took care of the new recruits that join their ranks from the 3's families young.
The selling of the potions that Jora and his fellow apprentice had been one of the pillarsof support for the capital, however, they stopped selling too much and focused on their training since Isaac told them that training was more important for them now, instead of selling. Since, the capital already had the dungeon to generate income. Jora followed this advice and further leveled up in alchemy. The same happened to Myles and his fellow apprentices. His Fire magic further advanced since they last went in a party. His fellow apprentices also gained a lot of insight and leveled up in their Elementalist skills.
Occasionally, Isaac, Caltec, Jon and Mor would spar at the peak of Moribor and generate enough force and speed to break the sound barrier creating thundering sounds and making the whole city tremble. Those who were not part of Clay's original families he took in, will always be surprised and scared by this, however, to them who were used to these thunderous claps did not mind it even one bit.
Slowly, Isaac had planned with Giselle to connect every Kingdom in the Empire with a transfer gate using the Rift Spell's concept to connect the whole Kingdom into one cohesive unit. This way, the hassle of information sharing, and production lines become easier and abundant. Isaac already put this into motion and currently, there are 15 kingdoms that are already connected out of the 50 kingdoms under the Empire.
Magic fueled vehicles also replaced horse-dragged carriages and carts. Although still crude, vestiges of cars on earth and motor bikes littered the streets of the Imperial Capital. The former Emperor also worked for the city hall in the former Imperial Capital as well to this day. He was the most avid fan of these magic fueled vehicles.
***
In the room where Clay remembered his room was located.
Clay and Ryan appeared out of thin air and landed on the floor. Clay stood straight and composed. Ryan though was under Clay's arms, bringing him like luggage.
”Father… put me down please.” Ryan begged and Clay noticed the position that his son had been in and put him down gently right after.
”Son, you should remember where we are right? You already have the mind of an old man, so I guess that'll make things easier for us to get along. With that said, your mother should be excited to see you. I'll call for her immediately. In the meantime, you can go around and explore the city on your own.” Clay gave Ryan his freedom to explore the moment they got back. Ryan agreed and left the room, surprising the family servants who maintained the palace.
News of Clay's arrival had the servants all riled up and excited. Even the City Hall was not spared from the excitement and even announced Clay and Ryan's return home. Putting up a banner in the skies of the city declaring the ”Emperor has Returned!” through projection magic tools and technology they've developed.
The four retainers having heard the news firsthand immediately sprung up and dropped everything they did, no matter the import and went to report to Clay. By now, they've learned not to kneel in front of Clay and just slightly bowed their head to show reverence. Although they couldn't hide the urge to kneel in their body language.
”How've you all been? I reckon you've at least done your assignment while I was gone.” Clay chuckled. He could feel the Hydra at the bottom of the dungeon, being fought by raiding parties of mercenaries and adventurers.
”We– ””Sire– ””Lord– ””My– ”
All four of them spoke in unison and wanted to be the first to answer but was stopped when Clay held his hand to signal them to stop and spoke again before they could continue, ”Sunshine, come and show yourself. I need you to tell Giselle that we're back and that she needs to see her son.”
”My Lord! I shall deliver the message pronto.” Sunshine appeared out of nowhere from the shadows inside the room and spoke in confirmation before again blending with the shadows and disappearing. No one in the room reacted to him appearing and disappearing like that. They all knew he was there the moment he entered the room. There was no use in acknowledging a shadow.
”Good. Now Jon, tell me how you guys defeated it the first time? I know you've tried many ways to beat it. I want to hear how you manage to beat it without totally obliterating it and wasting the great materials it had on itself.” Clay spoke with the assumption that they'd have done their best to find other ways to beat it after they first were able to defeat the Hydra. It was not something unexpected as of course, they had to share these methods minimally to others like the adventurers and mercenary guilds inside the City to make sure that no one faces it and perishes after foolishly going inside, guns blazing without a plan. That was the business plan that they've already devised long before Clay left for the Demon Realm and Evernight.
”Lord Clay this is how we started it off…” So, Jon recounted their adventure with Jora and Myles as support. It was later that Myles and Jora found their own purpose in the party. Myles and his fire magic were able to singlehandedly defeat the Hydra in their 97th run each time the Hydra respawned. Jon and Mor on their 56th run and Isaac on their 2nd run. Caltec himself also succeeded in defeating the Hydra by plunging into a hole in its body that Caltec had dug through his fists and brutally took its heart out ending its life.
”I see. That's great then. How's your training? I think it's time that you step up your game and gain more experience by traveling the world and bringing it to my knees. So, your training shall be intensified for the duration that I am staying here this time. Get ready, we're going to the peak of Moribor.”
With that declaration, the four of them paled and started to shiver. They felt it the moment they saw Clay, however, when he said their already intense and crazy training was to be put a step higher, they finally admitted… Their Lord had changed, stronger and even more dangerous. However, to them this was good news. And the latter part of his declaration implied that they will be assigned and scattered throughout Alleucanth to conquer other realms and form treaties with Claiomh.
”We live to serve!” Unified in their agreement. They stood erect and saw Clay's face as he smiled at them brightly. The Hell they just learned to get used to, was after all just the entrance to it.
***
Ryan went out of the room and immediately he found people. He remembered that some of them were people who took care of him during his infancy. Although right now, he still is a toddler, he knew he had grown. He bowed his head to them slightly to acknowledge them and they were all frozen stiff on the spot.
He knew the reason for it but did not care. They were reverent towards him and the one they worship as a god, his father. He knew that his father was something even he could not explain what is.
Ryan went out of the Palace and into the streets towards the City square. He had to first pass the City Hall where all the transactions pertaining the country and the governance of Claiomh Solais was centered. Once he passed there, he saw the banner that they hung up in the skies saying the ”Emperor has Returned!” and chuckled.
It seems that these people really worship father like a god.
”I wonder when Father plans to unify the whole world under his rule. Will peace be maintained well by then? If it's father I feel that he'd be able to without doubt. It feels weird to have faith in someone else other than myself.”
In deep thought, Ryan explored the guilds like the Craftsman guild, the Cultural Arts guild, the Business guild, the Adventurer's guild and even the Mercenary guild. After visiting those, he visited the Museum and the Auction house plus the Theatre that's been established after they left. He also visited the Arena and training area of the soldiers and guards of the whole City.
While there, he was invited by soldiers to train with them, knowing who he was. He wondered how they knew him without him identifying himself to them, however, one of the residents told him, ”It's your hair. Your mother has the same color and it's unique in Claiomh. No one dares to dye their hair in that color for fear of the Lord's wrath even as reverence to the queen.”
Knowing this, he held an expression of a curious child getting the answer for his curiosity. He gave thanks to the citizen and left the place. After hours of just wandering around, Clay came to him secretly and used telepathy to tell him they should go home. After all, if Clay stayed too long and showed himself to the public, some of them may kneel in front of him making him feel awkward.
Returning to Clay's room.
”How was the city? Do you think you can rule them well and lead them?”
”Rule and Lead? Aren't I too young for that father?”
”Too young? No son, you're old enough as it is, both mentally and soul based. Right?”
”Well yea, but wouldn't the people think I'm too young to rule?”
”I know you'll do well with it. Plus, who would dare to oppose this anyway? I'm the overlord of the human realm anyway. Plus, when you grow powerful through time, you'll also feel that worrying about other people's opinions is a waste of time and something that only politicians should worry about. Ruling isn't about being political, it's about fear and respect towards you, while leading only needs to be done for your direct subordinates. That's why I want you to go around the world with Isaac to expand your network and find yourself good subordinates for yourself.
”When I'm gone, and I will eventually, you'll have to lead your people into the future. That's something that needs a powerful person to manage. I need you to be that powerful person. Besides, even when I'm gone, I'll probably still help out in some way or another.”