Tyranny of Steel

Having said goodbye to his parents, and one of his best friends within just a few short years of one another. Berengar entered a depressed streak. Where he sat on the sofa, drank beer, and watched TV. By now, the Reich was advanced beyond the limits of the one he had left behind so many years ago.

Things that were only in science fiction before were starting to become a reality. So much so that Berengar was having a hard time adjusting to many of the new things in life. His children with Brynhildr were growing like weeds, while the rest of his children and grandchildren routinely visited Berengar and his wives.

If Berengar was being honest, he now longed for his youth, in a way he never thought he would. When he was a young man, he was leading armies to triumph over kingdoms and empires. Now he was just an old man sitting on his ass and watching tv. It was almost as if there was no purpose left for him in his life. And he was just living each day, one day at a time, until he finally stepped foot into the grave.

Meanwhile, his son sat in the seat of power for the world's largest and most powerful Empire, where he continued to oversee the Reich's daily developments. There were many things that needed to be done, but most of them were not Hans's problems.

Thus, today, the current Kaiser decided to take a day off to visit his old man. Hans stepped foot in the living room and found his father in a depressed state. It was no wonder why, his loved ones were beginning to pass away from this world. And while Berengar may know what awaits him in the next life, the idea of living for several more decades without seeing them again was something he did not wish to do.

When Hans saw the state his father was in, he knew something had to be done, and thus, he approached the old man and dragged him out of his seat, giving him something to do other than just watching tv.

"Get up, old man, and get fucking dressed. We're going to Kufstein..."

Berengar did not know why his son wanted to drag him to the metropolis that he had built, and was quick to inquire further about the man's reasoning, albeit in a cantankerous manner.

"For what purpose?"

Hans simply sighed before revealing his thoughts on the matter.

"I need you to give a speech to the Reichstag about the recent conversion of our people to the pagan religion which is practiced in Iceland. You're the one who started this, so you need to make people aware that it is okay to practice the faith of our ancestors. Even the church will have to back down from their outrage if you come forward and speak up on behalf of the pagans!"

Berengar could only sigh as he picked up his beer bottle and finished its contents with one giant swig. He then threw the bottle in the trash before climbing the steps of his villa, where he prepared himself for a speech.

After nearly thirty minutes, Berengar descended the staircase and followed Hans into the nearby car, which would take them to Kufstein. By mid afternoon Berengar had arrived back in Kufstein for the first time since Eckhard's funeral. He did not have the ability to process just how much it had changed over the years while grieving the loss of his best friend. But now that he took a look around, he realized that Kufstein was a proper modern city.

New and sleek skyscrapers had popped up throughout the city, which blended with the more traditional architecture that had been built during his reign quite well. The city streets were well maintained, and electric vehicles were shockingly common. Something which was only starting to become a thing when he passed away during his previous life.

There was even a maglev in the center of the city, which sent high-speed trains across the reich at speeds Berengar previously thought were impossible. These maglev rails were spread across the entirety of the Reich, from as far west as Frankia, to as far east as Rusland.

As for the police force, they drove throughout the city in armored vehicles, while wearing the most advanced body armor available on the market. They even had powered exoskeleton suits beneath their body armor to enhance their physical abilities. Something which was also being tested in the military at the moment.

The citizens continued to dress modestly, and the German Youth Corps was ever present throughout the city, doing works of charity and public service while dressed in their signature uniforms, which had been slightly modernized as the years passed.

While Kufstein had become a very modern city, it did not have any of the problems that were generally associated with such things. Homelessness was virtually nonexistent, as was crime, thanks to an ever present police force, and a society which raised its youth correctly.

However, if there was one thing that Berengar noticed, which was incredibly different from before, it was that polygamy was not as common as it used to be. Back in the day, one man would be surrounded by multiple women, and have plenty of children with each of them as they walked through the streets. Now, there only appeared to be one polygamous couple for every one hundred monogamous couple. And they were usually extremely wealthy, and good-looking men.

After driving through the city, and noticing all the changes that existed, Berengar exited his vehicle, and was led inside the Reichstag, where he stood at the podium for the first time in many years. Most of the politicians who had been in office during his reign were gone and were replaced with men from the younger generation.

Yet, there was still a look of admiration and respect in all of their eyes when they witnessed the Great Kaiser of the German Reich enter the Reichstag for the first time in years. Standing by his side was the current Kaiser, who waited for his father to give the speech which he had personally written for the man.

Berengar had memorized the speech, but had made some mental changes, and thus he spoke with the oration skills he was so renowned for. Hoping to captivate the attention of the public, as this speech was broadcasted across the world.

"For those of you who don't remember me, my name is Berengar von Kufstein. It has been many years since I stepped down as Kaiser, in favor of my eldest son, Hans. And until now, I have never had a need to step forward and speak publically about matters of State.

However, as an educated man, I have been keeping up with the times, which is easier than ever now thanks to the internet. And I have discovered a disturbing trend among the German people that is happening as we speak."

Many of the more conservative elements of the German parliament nodded their heads in agreement with Berengar's words, expecting him to speak about how the pagan menace needed to be eradicated. However, they were shocked to hear Berengar's next words. As much as anyone was.

"I'm talking, of course, about the increasingly hostile behavior towards those Germans who follow the religion of our ancestors. I know there are many of you who may be shocked to hear me voice my support for these pagans. But, in many ways, I look back to the founding of our Empire, and how the Catholic Church tried so hard to stamp out the German Reformation.

The result, of course, was disastrous for the Catholics. Whose faith is now a footnote in the history of Europe. I believe that if the Reich continues to oppress these Germans, who choose to follow a religion that is native to our culture and our lands? Then it will inevitably lead to not only a schism within the church, but to civil unrest.

Which is why I have decided to come here today and try to convince you all that it does not matter which God a man may worship, only that he has German blood running through his veins! We are one person, bound by blood and soil. And because of that, we should not let something as petty as religious beliefs stand between us.

So you would do all to remember to respect your fellow Germans. Especially in these times, where the teachings of the bible are becoming less and less certain. That is all that I wanted to say. Thank you all for listening to the ramblings of an old man."

After saying this, Berengar stepped down from the stage and returned to his secluded life in the mountains. But his words had single-handedly stopped the hostilities between the German Church and the Pagan revival.

Partially because Berengar was respected as the founder of the German nation, but also because he was considered by the German Church to be a living saint, and thus his words held enormous meaning to its followers. Especially after he had compared their current actions to those of the Catholics who were now thoroughly vilified in the history books.