Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 130: Constructing a kingdom (2)

Seren does not believe in the Lucellian faith, which earn the ire of the Church, so usually Vern would try to send an army every five years to try subjugating a part of Seren and propagate their faith.

Usually, in the past some High Lords in the Dukedom allowed the Vern troops to pass through their lands, while some in the South disagree with such acts.

The Northron lord likes the silver and gold they got from such transaction while the Southron lords did not like it because it would mean that they are opening themselves up for retaliation from Seren and also the detrimental effect of such act would do to their region security.

It is also the reason why the Southron lords and the Northron lords often butted head when The Noble Council is called and why they did not like each other that much

But now the Dukedom is united and it is clear to all that the young lord of Vermont would build a new Kingdom with King Adrian.

the moment the rulers of Seren decided that the victory and the formation of this new kingdom is inevitable, they sent an ambassador to him.

Seren propose to him that they will hinder any movements of Dostov forces who have always been their enemies, to ever reach Alan, while the kingdom will deny Vern troops to pass this lands.

Adrian knew what they were hinting at. The Ancona family that rules over Lannover is his sister in law noble house.

And they are supplying Alderam forces while also at the same time rebelling against their King.

If the House of Ancona wins there, then his kingdom would have another threat. And Adrian wanted peace at least for a few years or this new kingdom would not last.

The Succession War between two brother has escalated beyond anyone control.

What supposed t be a simple battle between two brother has become the battleground for two of the most powerful noble houses in Alan to fight against each other.

It involves the Southron lords and the Northron lords, as factions are formed and sides are chosen

It even involves the Churches of Cori and Vern tug of authority. His kingdom is born amidst all of this chaos.

It involves even the Empire of Vern and Dostov noble houses.

Before the Succession War, the only image that the Human Continent has of the Dukedom was that it is a land ruled by Dukes and their lords.

It is a land where the Bleeding Wall is situated at and the Watchers that guard's humanity and watches over the Dark Sea.

Then when the war started, the whole world knew of the Alan family as their brotherly conflict were brought out into the world stage.

And then the appearance of the Vermont family crowning him as King, as they finally stepped out from the shadows and reveal their power and influence to the world.

Their unstoppable cavalry, their undefeatable army and the young lord military talent shock the world.

Arial the Dragon! Arial the Undefeatable! Suddenly everyone is interested to know what will happen to this new kingdom.

He had think of the offer with great deliberation.

After a few weeks of bargaining and negotiating, yesterday he informs Seren emissaries that the alliance is accepted.

The West and East region is already secured by his diplomacy.

Only north which is Vern, and Vangua which is in the South has no alliance with him but the Vermont family network is ever reaching.

Vangua will not make sudden moves on them, not now that their King disappeared and the noble lords there descended into a domestic war.

Neither will Vern, which owes lot of silver and gold to the Vermont's if Adrian information to be believed.

They may not like his people, Caelum all of them, but they do like Vermont's gold.

'There are many things to be discussed' He thought to himself. The wind blows and the clouds that cover on top of him moved.

The sunlight shines on him and he look up and smiles. It has been so long and he finally see the end of this sordid affair.

The hope for this spring is that the war will be over, and peace will finally dawn on this land.

The birds can be seen nearby, flying across the courtyard, happy and free, soaring high above the sky.

The clouds, a puffy white shape amid the blue horizons.

Adrian smile

Spring is his favorite season. Promising a new beginning.

Then someone from outside the chamber shouted

'Your Majesty, informing the arrival for Lord Silas and Duchess Julia' the announcer announces their arrivals.

Adrian nodded

'Let them in' he ordered.

The door of the chamber opens as two people could be seen entering the chamber

Silas bow his head slightly and so does the Duchess.

'Your Highness'

'Your Highness' both of them greets him.

'Please be seated' Adrian said gesturing them to their seat and they each take a seat in the chair while he sorts out the documents in the table.

'My lord it is an honor to be here' the duchess said her eyes scanning the room, a gentle smile on his hand

'No, my lady. It is mine.' Adrian said.

The lady looked beautiful, and there is this motherly nature about her.

Adrian once heard that she borne of another child, a daughter when she was with his husband on their retreat in Seren.

If somehow his wedding and union with his bride would result in the birth of a son, Adrian have an arrangement to betroth his son to Lady Julia daughter, ensuring not only their alliance and house support but also his position and their position in this Kingdom.

But that is a long time from now and not the matter of today.

'My lord, why have you ask for me?' Silas ask. Then Adrian ask

'Did you explain everything to the Duchess?' It was then Silas understand. He nodded and answered

'Yes, my liege'

'Then that is why. We are here to discuss the letters by the young lord and to settle and agree on some of yesterday discussion that almost makes us argue against each other'

Silas nodded.

Yesterday, there was a heated debate in the Court between the King and Silas. Everyone knows about it.

Even The Duchess got to know about it. She might not move about in the court, but a woman of her stature would surely have ways to gain information.

They are many that respected her. Because not respecting her is the same as not respecting the young lord of the Vermont.

And nobody wanted to disrespect the young lord.

And everyone knows how protective the young lord about his family. A report once came to the attention of him a few weeks before the battle of Berth.

The report was spoken in detail in one of his court session where all the nobles and his courtiers attending the session heard all that was reported.

One small fort insults they young lord mother when they were sieging it

The young dragon sieges the fort and to make sure none in the kingdom dare spoke about his mother that way again, he killed all of those people that guarded the watch, and the people in the fort even after they surrender and hang them all in a forest nearby creating a ghastly scene.

Then for the others, they burned them all turning them into ashes.

For the nine people that spoke badly about his mother, no one is to allowed bringing their corpses down from the tree.

If that is not enough, even though he did not kill the villager he burned all of their villages like some Vorthy raiders.

Since then everyone knows that the dragon has a scale that you should not have touched. But the funny thing about all of this was the fact that the report was fake.

Arial ask a favor from Silas to create this hoax. But the reason why the hoax is so believable is because it is not entirely a lie.

When he asks Silas what is the truth and what is the lie, he told him that whatever the people believes, that is the truth.

Even until today, he still didn't know whether Arial really did what he did in the report or maybe he did the deed but not for that exact reason.

Because there really is a hanging corpses outside some burned down village near Berth.

But the truth?

Other than Silas and the young lord, probably no one would ever know the real truth.

All that people thought, was that Arial the Dragon would not tolerate your disrespect against his family.

And that image stuck with him, giving his entire family this layer of invisible protection. Because nobody wanted to attract the wrath of the young lord upon them

He sighed then he get back on track.

'First would be the question of our race.'

'Ah yes. Our race.'

'The Caelum' the duchess said with a mysterious smile on his face. Adrian then look toward the Duchess and then said

'Yes...but your son, the young lord, have half a mind to unite this country in their own new identity. And that could not be done if we still use the old terms to identify ourselves'

She only nodded.

'So what do you suggest?' He then asks Silas.

Silas ponders the question for a bit and then he said

'Change it my liege. We are Caelum but also the citizens of this great Kingdom. We need to change how we identify ourselves. Not Caelum but a different kind of race. But we are Caelum, yes. Caelum, which comes from the ancient tongue, means Sky People. But have we reached the sky my liege like our great ancestors? We need to differentiate ourselves with Caelum in Vern, disassociate ourselves from Caelum that has always been ruling the continent'

'Why? We are a proud race.' Adrian said

Silas smiles and then he said

'It is quite simple. Race emergence and race sentiments. They, which I mean, the other race said now, that while it is true that Caelum race gives us freedom from the Demon Lords, it is also true that for the past one thousand years, our race has dominated everything, from administration, politics, economy, and even religion. We, once the most predominant race in this continent but no longer. The other races that sail here, some stranded in this continents, some who sail here in making of their new home, intermarriage with our race and so born this other races. Anglais, Raxons, Loth, Darnes, Etrushk, Gaul, Franks, Cathigia and many others and there are more them than us and they are here to stay. Not pure blooded like us, who have from the very beginning intermarried with the rest of the other Caelum race descended from the Lost Generation, who in turn descended from the First Generation. And the other races, they are an unsatisfied lot, my liege. In our rule, we never did care much about them but to create a strong Kingdom, racial divide might plunge us into a war like what happen in Dostov right now.'

'But in Dostov, isn't their war a religious one?' Adrian ask, pointing one flaw in Silas arguments.

'In Vangua then' the Duchess interrupts

Silas nodded

'My mistake. It is true. Dostov war is mostly motivated with their disgruntled attitude toward their own government, more than the feeling of racial divide. But, in Vangua there is no denying that racial sentiment is growing as Caelum race is portrayed as the very same way as we have portrayed the demon lords of the past.'

'So your solution?'

'Change our name.'

'Change our name?' said the Duchess shocked by such a simple solution. Silas nodded, that diplomatic smile did not even leave his face

'Yes, my lady. It is as simple as that. Instead claiming that we are Caelum race, and the land and all above is our dominion, we simply said that we are Caelum but we are also tolerant. We have many races living here now, mostly because of Lord Arial and my lady House achievement in making Acro a hub for trade. Some.no, no, many of them even stay here to evade the wars that happened in their own continent but it also spurred on because of your son recruitment, which give them pay, handling the military like it is a business and the soldier is his workers. But in nationalism, as your son, so wisely, termed, it is even cheaper to get troops if they are all fighting for the safety of our Kingdom. Organized and discipline, trained and deadly.'

Adrian nodded

'Wise counsel'

'That I could not deny Your Highness' the Duchess nodded an approving nod to Silas while Silas blushed

'Well, then what is the name you wish to put forth' Adrian asked

'I have been thinking and I decided in Aether. It is one of the elements in the alchemy studies of the past. We are of the Aether race, descended from the First Blood, yet we do not share the same sentiments of the other Caelum race opinion. We can declare ourselves as an offshoot if not, more purer of Caelum blood, in the sense that we pursuing the ideological principles of the Caelum race, which is to understand each other. And it is not the first time our race changes the terms of how we identify ourselves. We are known as the Sky People when our ancestor first arrived; it is only a thousand years ago that Levitia declared we are Caelum. Who said we can't declare ourselves different?'

The Duchess nodded

'Lord Silas speak wisely. Tolerance can be a powerful weapon, that is true your highness. Look at Dostov and their rigidity, and look at Vangua and their civil discord, all propagated because of intolerance' the Duchess said supporting Silas

'Then I will simply write a decree and sent it to every other lord. But will they obey?' Adrian asked.

Silas rub his chin and close his eyes for a few seconds and then opening his eyes he said.

'They will my lord. Most of the lords, mostly in the South have many dealings with other races but maybe it will be harder to accept in the north where old sentiments die hard. But we must start somewhere' Silas said.

Adrian nodded. The Duchess also agree with the decision.

So Adrian prepare a letter and write, phrasing the words as polite but firm as possible. Then in that chamber they began talking about other matters.

There is the Construction that will need to be undertaken after the war ended, certain laws that need to be established, line of succession and more.  Adrian could not help but appreciate the Duchess keen intellect and her calmness and wit as she helps him in many matters.

And then finally when the sun is setting they are done with the basic of the new kingdom that they wanted to build.

They also decided that after the war is won, the land will be known as Aetherland, not Alan, to show and symbolize a nation belonging to the people.

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Second part of the chapter. tomorrow will be the last chapter for the month. And happy holidays. The New Year is coming and I am one year older than before. Huhuhu