Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the prompting of her father, Theo dutifully explained how the tensions between Ariadne and the Empire had been lessened during her stay. She left out most things relating to Vahn, but, having already discussed it with both Eva and Arika, she made sure to mention her kinship with the latter. It would greatly strengthen her position if she had the support of the future Queen of Vespertatia, as, even compared to the Imperial Family, the Ostian Royal Family was beloved by the people.

Needless to say, Emperor Michael was pleasantly surprised by his daughter’s unexpected kinship with Arika. It was extremely beneficial for the Hellas Empire, the largest Demihuman nation, to have a positive relationship with the country that represented a Holy Land for all Demihuman tribes. They might not benefit much during the war, as Ostia was traditionally a neutral third party, but, when it came time to rebuild, they were sure to recover much faster with the support of the most magically advanced nation in the world.

Unfortunately, while the kinship between Theo and Arika was an extremely beneficial relationship for the Empire, the promises she made with Ariadne were bound to cause considerable tensions in the Inner Court. Her words effectively guaranteed the independence of Ariadne following the war, and, while this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for the City-State, it represented a significant financial loss for the Empire.

The research conducted by Ariadne and the specialist products they produced accounted for nearly seventeen percent of the gross-domestic-product of the Hellas Empire. This, combined with the fact they were responsible for producing some of the greatest Scholars, Mages, and Artificers within the Empire, made it exceptionally difficult to allow them independence. When you included the value of their land and its resources, it was even harder to agree, as, according to confidential reports, there were traces of Chronoton within some of the more remote regions.

A single gram of Chronoton was worth nearly 170,000,000 Drachma, and, if used in the production of weapons, it had the ability to either stop Time or display a target through the Time Axis by a few hours. This was exceptionally useful against powerful foes, as, if you could send them a few hours into the future, you were able to effectively remove them from the battle. If you took that time to create a powerful seal in the area where they had been previously, it was possible to capture even S-Rank criminals without much difficulty.

The most important aspect of Chronoton was that it could even transplant or seal a target through the most powerful of magical barriers. There was virtually no counter to it, and, in the distant past, it had been the cause of countless wars. It didn’t matter that it required mining more than a hundred million tons of ore just to produce a single gram, as, once it had been refined, its value more than made up for the cost.

While Michael didn’t particularly care about Ariadne’s independence, he couldn’t simply ignore the fact they were in possession Chronoton, even in its unrefined state. It was the same substance that led to Vrixho Nagasha being sealed in the past, so, if it was ever weaponized against them, it could spell the end of the Empire. Thus, after hearing about Theo’s promise, he remained silent for several seconds with his eyes closed before adopting a serious expression and saying, "We understand the reason for the tensions between Ariadne and the Empire. However, compared to the many benefits we have given them throughout the centuries, the actions of a few outliers should not jeopardize more than a thousand years of coexistence. Recognizing the Sovereignty of Ariadne also directly conflicts with the interests of the Empire so I fear your promise might have been made in vain..."

Though it was true that Ariadne had become something of a ’playground’ for corrupt Nobles, it was also true that the Empire had granted them numerous concessions over the years. Allowing them to preserve their territory was already a unique exception, and, if not for the close kinship between the founders of Ariadne and Emperor of the time, such an arrangement would have been impossible. It had even been given tax-exemption status during previous wars, a blessing most City-States could only dream of obtaining.

Despite her opponent being both the Emperor and her father, Theo did not back down. Instead, her expression became even more serious as she firmly stated, "Change and progress are necessary for a nation’s continued prosperity. If Hellas wishes to remain relevant in the coming era, we cannot be held back by personal interests and tradition. It is high-time the Empire forges a route toward the future that doesn’t rely on conflict to promote advancement. If we continue along our current path, I fear it is only a matter of time before our arrogance and greed lead to our downfall."

Surprised by his daughter’s words, Michael raised his brows slightly. He was actually impressed by the conviction contained within her voice, but, before he could remark, someone else beat him to it, shouting, "Audacious! Your words are an insult to everyone who had laid down their lives to ensure the prosperity of the Hellas Empire! We are a species born and bred for battle yet you ask us to go against our nature in order to pander to weaklings? Where is your pride as a Princess of the Hellas Empire!?"

As if she hadn’t heard the outburst of her older brother, Theo continued to stare at her father with a look of conviction in her eyes. She would not waste time arguing with fools who only pursued their own interests, and, though it was heartbreaking, she had already made the mental preparations to prevent the coming coup.

Seeing the unwavering conviction in his daughter’s eyes, various thoughts began running through Michael’s mind. It was clear that a lot more had changed during her stay in Ariadne than the reports had stated. She radiated a considerable amount of confidence, and, when he focused his senses, he was shocked to find that he couldn’t actually see through her. Though it wasn’t noticeable at first, it was like her aura had become unfathomably, and, the more he tried to understand the depth of her power, the greater it seemed...

Before matters could exacerbate, Michael raised his hand to silence the growing discord within the Court. Then, in a commanding tone, he stated, "Leave us. Rakan, Klemens, you will remain."

Hearing their Emperor’s command, many within the Court displayed proper courtesy before quickly alighting from the Throne Room. The only exception was the Second Prince, Kacper, who, against standard etiquette, decided to remain. The changes in Theo made him feel more threatened than ever before, and, though his Grand Uncle tried to usher him out of the room, he refused to leave before he could make his case.

Though he noticed his son’s belligerence, Michael didn’t want to shame him before the rest of the Court. He was already a very troubled boy, and, despite his many failings, Michael still cared for his second son greatly. He was the result of the union between Michael and his childhood sweetheart, so, with the latter dying during Theo’s birth, the Emperor had always been more tolerant than he ought to be whenever it concerned Kacper.

Unfortunately, as a result of being coddled for much of his life, Kacper had developed a powerful sense of entitlement. This came to a head following the birth of Theodora and her selection as the Crown Princess, as, prior to that moment, he had always been his Father’s ’favorite’. This caused him to believe he was next in line for the Throne, and, as a result of his childishness, he had been readily exploited by the more divisive elements within the Imperial Court. He was convinced that Theo had stolen both his birthright and his mother, so, unlike the rest of his siblings, he had always harbored a considerable amount of hatred toward his younger sister...

Once everyone had cleared out of the Throne Room, leaving only the Emperor, the Prime Minister, Vrixho Nagasha, Jack Rakan, and his sister, Kacper didn’t hesitate to state, "Forgive me, Father, but I cannot simply ignore this matter. Theodora has clearly been placed under the influence of that vile creature. At this rate, the Empire will be brought to ruin by Theodora’s naivete. It is not my place to question Father’s wisdom but it is clear that Theodora lacks the qualifications to properly fulfill her duties as an Imperial Ambassador. She is far too young and impressionable for such responsibility!"

Though it was clear to everyone that the Second Prince’s actions were the direct result of envy, his argument was actually very sound. By the standards of the Empire, Theo was far too young to hold a position of authority, but, due to extenuating circumstances, she had been appointed a position traditionally held by the more senior members of the Imperial Family. An Imperial Ambassador was often tasked with directly negotiating with foreign nations, so, more often than not, only those with a considerable amount of experience were assigned the post...

For a brief moment, Michael started to consider his son’s words, but, almost immediately following the latter’s outburst, Theo calmly stated, "Age is not the only metric for maturity. There are people younger than me serving proudly within our military. We allow them to lay down their lives for our great nation yet coddle the members of the Aristocracy who are supposed to set the example that others follow. If my age is to be a point of contention, I will stake my status as Crown Princess in the Rite of Challenge."

Hearing Theo’s words, Michael, Vrixho, and the Prime Minister, Klemens Jozef Sirzega, couldn’t help but show expressions of shock. As for Kacper, he had a look of incredulity that quickly turned to a dour expression due to Jack’s laughter...

Though it was rare for a member of the Aristocracy to undergo the Rite of Challenge, it was one of the most intrinsic parts of Hellasian culture. By undergoing this ceremony, youths could be elevated to the status of adults by proving themselves in a series of challenges against their seniors. This was the final challenge many recruits faced before becoming soldiers, and, so long as they were able to survive the ordeal, their age would no longer matter in accordance with Imperial Law.

Since he had been making an argument based on their traditions, Kacper found himself at a loss in response to Theo’s words. She had every right to undergo the Rite of Challenge, and, as a member of the Imperial Family, it was all but guaranteed she would succeed. The only real requirement was to pass a written test and challenge three opponents who were considered her seniors. Despite her boyish nature, Theo had always been an intelligent girl, and, even without the power granted to her by Vrixho, even mediocre members of the Imperial Family were often far stronger than the talented member of the Nobility...

Before Kacper could come up with an argument against Theo’s inalienable right to undergo the Rite of Challenge, he found himself in a renewed state of incredulity as his father said, "Very well, Theo. I recognize the validity of your request. However, considering the circumstances, I believe it would be for the best if you allow me to choose your opponents. Are you willing...?"

Without any hesitation whatsoever, fighting intent could be seen in Theo’s gaze as she nodded her head in acquiescence. Then, leaving the Second Prince with a stupefied expression on his face, the Emperor stated, "Since your brother stands in contention to your status as Imperial Ambassador, he will be the first of your three opponents. Afterward, I will have you face off against a Captain of the Imperial Guard. If you are able to perform well against them, you will be free to choose-"

Unable to restrain her growing excitement, Theo dismissed with courtesy entirely as she exclaimed, "I want to fight against Jack!"

Hearing his daughter’s exclamation, Michael, Kacper, Klemens, and Vrixho were at a complete loss for words. As a result, the only sound within the Throne Room for several seconds was the sound of Jack laughing, his aura gradually spreading through the chamber before he spontaneously stopped and answered, "I accept your challenge! Show me how much you’ve grown, brat!"

(A/N: Alternate Titles: ’Muh interests tho...’,’Theo don’t play unless her Master is involved’,’This is a little more than a small ripple xD...’)