Chapter 47: The City of a Million Dreams

The convoy rode through the night.

No one complained.

No one asked for rest.

The Emperor himself had summoned Kael.

Keeping the Dragon Throne waiting...

Wasn't an option.

The moon slowly disappeared behind the western mountains.

The first rays of dawn painted the horizon gold.

Then...

Iris, who had been scouting nearly a kilometer ahead, suddenly pulled her horse to a stop.

Her eyes widened.

For the first time since Kael had met her...

She was speechless.

Leon rode beside her.

"What is it?"

She slowly raised her hand.

"...Look."

Everyone followed her gaze.

Far beyond the rolling hills...

A city emerged from the morning mist.

Not simply a city.

A civilization.

Walls taller than mountains stretched across the horizon.

Seven concentric walls surrounded its districts.

Each wall shimmered with ancient runes carved by master enchanters centuries ago.

Countless towers pierced the sky.

Massive crystal-powered airships floated above the city like moving islands.

Gigantic bridges connected districts separated by rivers.

Thousands of banners fluttered proudly.

Even from this distance...

The city looked endless.

Walter slowly removed his helmet.

"...How many people live there?"

Edwin answered quietly.

"Latest census..."

"...One million three hundred thousand."

Silence.

Even Hugo forgot to breathe.

Blackwood...

Had barely thirty thousand people.

Ashfall...

Nearly one hundred and twenty thousand.

But Aurelia...

Contained enough people to fill dozens of Blackwoods.

Kael couldn't help smiling.

"So this..."

"...is the heart of humanity."

The Golden Gates

Hours later...

The convoy reached the outer gates.

The closer they came...

The larger everything became.

The walls weren't merely defensive structures.

Entire military barracks had been built inside them.

Thousands of Imperial Knights patrolled the battlements.

Ballistae, the size of houses, overlooked the roads.

Magic cannons pointed toward the sky.

Even dragons...

Would struggle to attack this city.

A line of travelers stretched nearly two kilometers.

Merchants.

Foreign ambassadors.

Noble families.

Mercenary companies.

Pilgrims.

Everyone waited.

Everyone...

Except Kael.

The Imperial Courier rode ahead.

He held up the Emperor's black seal.

The gate captain's eyes widened immediately.

He slammed his fist against his chest.

"OPEN THE IMPERIAL GATE!"

BOOOOOOOM!

Massive gears began turning.

The central gate...

Normally reserved only for the Imperial Family...

Slowly opened.

Travelers gasped.

"Who's arriving?"

"Did the Emperor return?"

"No..."

"It's a prince."

"Which one?"

"I don't recognize that banner..."

Then...

People saw it.

The silver dragon upon black cloth.

The Black Dragon Banner.

Many whispered.

Few recognized it.

But everyone remembered it.

Inside the Capital

Crossing the gate felt like entering another world.

The streets were paved with polished white stone.

Water flowed through enchanted canals.

Street lamps floated without poles.

Crystal trains moved silently above the roads.

Magic-powered elevators climbed the sides of enormous towers.

Every district seemed larger than Blackwood itself.

Markets sold magical artifacts.

Runesmiths enchanted weapons in public workshops.

Alchemists displayed glowing potions.

Scholars debated philosophy on street corners.

Bards sang stories of ancient emperors.

Children practiced beginner magic under their teachers' supervision.

Kael watched everything.

He wasn't just looking at a city.

He was studying...

The future of his empire.

Walter nearly crashed into another carriage.

"There are too many people!"

Hugo laughed.

"You've been staring at everything except the road."

Even Grom looked amazed.

"I've visited Aurelia twice..."

"...and it still feels unreal."

The Noble District

As they rode deeper into the capital...

The atmosphere changed.

The merchants disappeared.

The crowds became quieter.

Large estates replaced shops.

Every mansion belonged to one of the Empire's Great Houses.

Their banners lined the streets.

House Valen.

House Ashford.

House Wintermere.

House Ravenmoor.

House Drakon.

House Aurelius.

House Asterion

Damien stared quietly.

"My family used to own one of these."

Walter blinked.

"What happened?"

Damien smiled bitterly.

"We stopped being useful."

No one laughed.

The Palace

Finally...

They saw it.

The Imperial Palace.

Built upon the highest point in Aurelia.

It overlooked the entire city.

The palace itself looked less like a residence...

And more like an entire kingdom enclosed within walls.

Golden domes reflected the sunlight.

Hundreds of towers stretched into the clouds.

Waterfalls poured from floating gardens.

Thousands of Imperial Guards stood watch.

Above everything...

Towering over the Hall of Dragons.

The seat of the emperor.

Kael slowly exhaled.

"This..."

"...is where history is written."

Orders from the Emperor

Before they could approach the main gate...

A squad of black-armored Imperial Knights blocked the road.

Their commander stepped forward.

Unlike ordinary guards...

These men wore black cloaks embroidered with golden dragons.

The Emperor's Royal Guard.

The strongest military unit in the Empire.

The commander saluted.

"Prince Kael Aurelius Asterion."

"I am Commander Severus Kane."

"I have been ordered to escort you."

His gaze shifted toward the Black Dragons.

"The Emperor's orders are specific."

"The Prince..."

"...comes alone."

Walter immediately frowned.

"Absolutely not."

Leon instinctively stepped forward.

"So we're just supposed to leave him?"

The Royal Guards didn't react.

Their discipline was frightening.

Commander Kane looked only at Kael.

"The Emperor's command."

"None may accompany you."

Silence settled over the group.

Kael looked toward Darius.

The old general nodded once.

"You knew this was coming."

Kael turned toward his companions.

"I'll go."

Walter looked ready to argue.

Kael raised a hand.

"If the Emperor wanted to arrest me..."

"He wouldn't need to separate us."

"He has an army."

Walter reluctantly sighed.

"...Fair point."

Grom stepped forward.

"My Lord."

Kael looked at him.

"If..."

The old goblin hesitated.

"If they ask about me..."

"Don't protect me if it costs your future."

Kael smiled.

"I already made that decision."

Grom lowered his head.

He already knew the answer.

The Walk to the Dragon Throne

Commander Kane gestured toward the palace gates.

"This way, Your Highness."

Kael adjusted his black cloak.

He looked back one last time.

His first Black Dragons stood proudly behind him.

Not one looked afraid.

Only determined.

Kael smiled.

"I'll be back."

Then...

He turned.

And walked through the palace gates alone.

Behind him...

The enormous golden doors slowly closed.

BOOOOOOOM.

The sound echoed across the palace grounds.

For the first time since leaving Blackwood...

Kael truly stood alone.

Waiting somewhere beyond those halls...

He was the most powerful man on the continent.

His father.

The Emperor.