Yesterday there was an attack at Sanctuary. A group of mermaids and pirates went into the Balya river, and crossed into Sanctuary from the river. It seems all the fishery workers were taken iack. While our ey as a whole won't be affected by this, it is very much a political, and tactical disaster. The workers have no doubt been pressed into service to bee pirates, and that's not eveioning what happeo the fishery owners. All ma personnel was found o crosses, while the meager security team was disemboweled. I warned you already duke Rivka, and I urge you now. You o i more in the army.-A letter to duke Rivka, from general Maltza

  POV prince Eden Civillis of the Empire

  It has been two long weeks at the academy, and I believed it was time to get some answers from my father. He really likes keeping me in the dark, but this has gooo far as is. Making my way through the pace all the staff here bow their heads in subserviehroughout the Empire the people bow their heads. My css being the exception to that, not because of some idea that they are equal to me. I believe it has more to do that there is no reason not to be hostile. Most of my insane h-insane cssmates have still proven to be someatable despite all their shortings.

  That is still no excuse to fill half my with the monsters. I knew my father opposed me learning magic at the academy, but this is just ridiculous. The minotaur and the padin stantly get in fights, the dwarf is w with the vampire to btantly attempt to uate secrets, the pirate mermaid is often overheard discussih magic theory with the lich, and then there is that *thing* that came along with the hoo goddess demon lord. Just looking at either of those two is enough to send shivers down my spine.

  I am awoken from my horrors as my escort opens the door to the imperial throne room. The emperor sits ohrone enjoying some women, while nobles are discussing matters while scattered about. No doubt that those two women at his side are both members of here to spy on the he emperor notices my presence, and no doubt knows why I'm here, as he gestures me to follow him to his office. My hunch is proven correct as the women quickly fall off, and vanish into the shadows.

  "Eden." The emperor's tone has lost the jovial tone he had when he was sitting on his throne a moment ago.

  "Wilnius." He frowns at the casual usage of his name, he never liked the slightest breach of formality, yet I do so enjoy pushing him.

  "I get the feeling you aren't here to e speak to me about your progress in the academy." His majesty says it with disappoi in his voice.

  "I am here because someone clearly has a grudge against me studying magic at a learned institute, and seems to have arranged for the most dangerous individuals to walk the po infiltrate my css. All in an effort to make life stressful." I say it with as much fake offense as I infuse in it.

  The emperor narrows his eyes at me for a bit, before finally ing to the part where he usually expins things. "I really do want you to succeed, but I more importantly want to teach you a bigger lesson than magic."

  "The thing from the north has been researg, and practig forbidden magic. The Dalkan siblings are setting up a spy work. The southern twins are making trade deals with o get more sves. The greenskins are in tact with nearby raiding greenskins, coordinating them. The pirate has been going around the capital nailing svers to wooden crosses." As my father tinues speaking I grow a little pale. Why is he putting his subjects through this? Yet he doesn't tinue, and waits for me to respond, typical.

  "Why are you allowing them to do these things?" It was clear he was hoping for that answer. Annoying old prick.

  "Because they would anyway. Whether I san it or not. Naturally I don't just let them go ahead with their shenanigans unsupervised." The emperor tinues speaking of them as if they are children in a pyground.

  "The northling has beeing spoon-fed information by an 'insane' researcher that just so happens to direy rituals towards matters that would aid us. The Dalkans succeeded iing up their spy work, with some key figures being double-agents who are now effectively operating a spy work within our nation that sees things like those outside our nation would. The greenskin raiders that are being trolled, are all being directed to our borders with clever patrol usage." As the ing bastard keeps speaking it bees clear we truly were kids pying in the sand to him.

  "The nobles in tact with the southern twins have beeing some mixed requests from the both of them, revealing that the twins are w against each other. The people killed by that pirate? All part of a major pro-war svery ring that haven't been paying taxes." That st ohrew me off. Killing people who don't pay taxes? The emperor is faster than me asking the question.

  "Which brings me to my real point, my garbage vassals. I guarantee you that half of the imperials in your css are treasonous, the other half simply not having itted yet. Those rats in noble clothing will kiss our asses, excuses my Dalkan, whehe opportunity arises. Still, I am sure they do it to taste whether we have been properly keeping our behinds guarded. Those monsters outside our borders, the very same ohat currently inhabit yic csses. Those are the only ones you really trust in a way." The emperor rants about our vassals again, that isly he part where he includes our neighbors as a positive part is new.

  "How could I possibly trust a vampire? Or a lich? Or the actual demon lord?" I see parts of the point he's making, but trusting the undead goes a bit too far.

  "Fn policy is so simple. Those monsters do what they want, because they . If you know what you want you trust them to try a. Our vassals could do anything right down to self-destrug if they bee stupid enough to believe it grants power. Those across the border have simpler wants. The north thing wants knowledge on spatial magic? We trust it to go after books on spatial magic. The pirate hates svers? Give her a fug list of enemies who happen to be svers, and you get front row tickets to watg a pirate intimidate her oppos to the fullest."

  So he really pnned all that in advance? I don't know if he's crazy enius. "What about the demon lord? What does she want?" She is after all the most dangerous out of all them.

  "I don't know. It scares me not knowing what she wants, but other than peace she hasn't really overtly wanted something." Nevermind he's definitely more on the crazy side.

  "More importantly than all that politics stuff, has any girl caught your eye?" He suddenly spins the topic around, and sends the versation into a cliff.

  "Huh?"

  "e on boy! You got to have a girl you fancy by now!"

  "Please don't speak of my private life like that." He sees too much with the than is good for him.

  "If you don't pick, you know I will. The Empire won't survive without stroies to either one of her vassals, or even one of the fn girls. Reports say that Alicia girl is quite the political backstabber, you know. I wouldn't mind her pnting a knife in the back of anyone who moves on you."

  "Father, I would rather not every girl that approaches me ending up as a sshing victim."

  "I wasn't talking about girls moving on you, Eden."