Chapter 988: Aldernan in the Mist

No sooner had Matilda finished speaking than a thunderous buzz of murmurs erupted throughout the entire assembly hall.

Whether noble faction deputies, representatives of wealthy citizens, or delegates from various levels of mages and scholarly associations, all were struck by the same shock. And that shock quickly gave way to uncontrollable doubt and heated debate.

In that moment, they even forgot the usual decorum and restraint they so carefully observed.

Amid the uproar, a councilor finally stood, demanding a more detailed explanation. Some shouted that this was madness, warning that such actions would plunge the empire into unprecedented chaos. At the eye of this storm, Matilda simply watched quietly, unsurprised by any of it.

The parliament—a relatively new institution in the Typhon Empire, having operated for over a decade—had its roots in the older “Noble Council,” which had existed here for much longer. No one could deny the historical significance and practical value this body had contributed to Typhon’s development. Even now, Matilda fully understood the immense weight the parliament carried, and she empathized with the deputies’ shock and confusion. So, for the first several minutes, she remained silent, allowing the hall’s occupants time to absorb and process the news—and to gradually calm down.

At last, one by one, the agitated councilors fell silent under Matilda’s steady gaze. The once roaring hall slowly quieted.

Count Duller did not join the debate. He sat quietly in his seat, watching familiar men and women grow red-faced over the past several minutes. His expression was thoughtful as he reviewed recent shifts in Aldernan’s situation and the various reports flowing in from multiple channels. For a brief moment, he recalled his earlier trip with the diplomatic delegation to Cecil. Then he looked up just in time to see the empire’s shining jewel rise from her chair.

Matilda stood, and her movement brought complete silence.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” she began, her voice calm and steady as she scanned the room, “I know each of you by name. I am familiar with you all, and I understand—truly understand—your doubts and anxieties at this moment. But please, hear me out. The royal family has no intention of undermining the stability we have long maintained, nor do we act out of malice or any hidden agenda to attack the parliament we have built together.”

With every eye fixed on her, Matilda paused briefly before continuing.

“The empire faces a crisis unlike any we have encountered before. I do not mean merely the ‘war’ with Cecil—a conflict shrouded in mystery—nor only the recent strange occurrences within the War God’s Church. The causes behind these anomalies are far more chilling.

“Our military harbors fatal weaknesses. Traitors have emerged within our noble ranks. Our church and populace are being corroded by a dark force—one that moves swiftly, unpredictably, infiltrating and lurking in the shadows, intent on toppling the empire’s order. I believe you are all well aware of the recent changes and rumors circulating in the capital, so you understand what I mean.

“In the face of such a threat, the parliament is clearly insufficient. I do not deny its significance or its role in the empire, but under these extraordinary circumstances, we must replace it with a more efficient, tightly controlled, and secure body.

“From today forward, the empire will enter a state of emergency. The royal cabinet, led by Her Majesty Rosetta, will assume full authority over many parliamentary powers. All military, administrative, and religious units will answer directly to the emperor’s commands. We must mobilize our forces with utmost efficiency, root out domestic instability swiftly, restore order in Aldernan in the shortest time possible, unite the empire’s strength, and resolve this crisis without delay.

“As for those of you here… rest assured. The parliament is only temporarily suspended as part of this emergency. Though this is the first time we have enacted such sweeping emergency measures, everything remains firmly under Her Majesty’s control. You need not fear for your safety or reputation—each person beneath the Triple Spires is a proud member of the empire’s upper echelon. I trust your loyalty, and Her Majesty trusts it as well.

“So, loyal and honorable councilors, you should understand the royal family’s efforts to safeguard the empire’s interests. The choice you make today will be noble and worthy of record in history.

“This is a rare opportunity to make a great contribution to the empire and prove your worth. Seize it firmly.

“That is all I have to say.”

Matilda’s every word was gentle and courteous, carrying an almost irresistible power to inspire trust and calm. Count Duller sat quietly below, listening to the princess’s speech, then sighed softly to himself.

An impeccable address—now the time for reasoned debate was over.

Of course, some in the hall would still press on. Duller saw councilors rising to speak, others whispering among themselves, and some casting permitted communication spells, apparently reaching out to their networks for intelligence.

He glanced toward a nearby opportunistic merchant, whose round face was etched with anxiety. This time, Duller felt no disdain. Then he lowered his gaze to the ornate ring with a large gemstone on his finger.

After a moment’s thought, he brought the ring close and infused it with magic. The expensive magical device glowed faintly, and a voice whispered directly into his ear: “My lord, your orders?”

“Where are the Guardians of the Realm?”

“They are at Parliament Street and Upper Cross District.”

“Where is Duke Pedinan?”

“Duke Pedinan left the Obsidian Palace an hour ago—we cannot track his exact whereabouts.”

“That will do.”

Duller exhaled, massaged his aching brow, and resolved to fully support His Majesty’s emergency decree.

…

The corridors of the Royal Mage Association stretched deep and long. A hunched figure slowly passed beneath arches adorned with portraits of great mages from history. Artificial nerve cords beneath his robe shifted with a faint, ominous friction.

Passing mages all sensed the oppressive gloom radiating from the black-robed figure, yet none dared show disrespect as he strolled through the association. Though he wore a plain private robe without any association insignia and rarely greeted anyone, every person who passed bowed respectfully and addressed him as “Master Daniel.”

Daniel responded with a simple nod—the friendliest gesture he could muster in this place.

At the corridor’s end, Daniel stopped.

He looked up at a wall with several blank spaces, one of which had been sketched with simple lines. The faint scent of paint lingered in the air.

After a long moment, he withdrew his gaze and turned toward the corridor’s corner, where a woman in a pale purple skirted mage’s robe seemed to materialize out of nowhere, walking toward him.

Mages nearby halted respectfully, greeting her as “President Mapel.”

Windsor Mapel returned their salutations warmly but did not slow her pace. She came directly to Daniel, smiling slightly. “I didn’t expect you so early.”

“Hm, I happened to have some free time,” Daniel replied coolly. Though still distant, his tone lacked the overt disdain for the association he once showed. He glanced toward the adjacent corridor, frowning slightly. “Who’s the latest glory to be painted on this hall?”

Mapel looked at her mentor and suddenly laughed. “You are, my teacher.”

Daniel’s stern face shifted in surprise. His yellowed eyes widened as he glanced at the unfinished portrait on the wall, then back at his former pupil. His frown deepened. “Me? That’s no joke.”

“It’s no joke. This was unanimously agreed upon by the association’s senior representatives, and even Her Majesty approved it.”

“I’m no longer a member of your association,” Daniel said oddly.

“Lord Richard in the fourth portrait isn’t either, nor is Lady Marina Venton in the twelfth,” Mapel smiled. “No one said the Hall of Sages must only feature association members. You clearly qualify—you practically built the empire’s entire magical industry infrastructure single-handedly. That alone meets the ‘sage’ standard.”

Daniel’s eyebrows twitched. His eyes moved repeatedly over the yet-to-be-outlined mural, but he said nothing. Mapel’s voice came again: “I know this was one of your greatest dreams—though you may no longer care, I believe you fully deserve a place here.

“In terms of achievements that changed the era, your foundational work for the empire’s magical industry far surpasses that of any routine association president.”

After a few seconds of silence, Daniel cracked a faint smile and turned to walk on. “A pointless gesture.”

Hearing his dismissive, cold remark, Mapel couldn’t help but laugh. Her mentor hadn’t asked her to remove the mural.

She followed Daniel’s steps as he glanced back and casually said, “I came to hand over the technical data for the communication device. The Engineering Guild has completed the energy and amplification design and passed lab tests. Our part is done; the rest is yours.”

“Perfect timing!” Mapel smiled. “With this, the transmitter I designed will finally solve the energy problem. Next is the practical phase—the communication towers across the land are ready for complete overhaul. Everything is perfectly aligned.”

Daniel gave a grunt, then a faintly sardonic smile curved his lips. “Not long ago, more than half the association was locked in fierce debate over the cost and feasibility of upgrading the national communication network, faces flushed as if ready to sever ties with the world for the empire’s sake. And now you’ve already produced the upgrade plan… The winds in the association really do change as fast as they did back then.”

A flicker of awkwardness crossed Windsor Mapell’s face. She gave a wry smile and shook her head. “You must have noticed the shift in the city’s atmosphere lately. There have been some… unconfirmed rumors going around.”

“I’ve heard quite a few,” Daniel replied casually. “Though I’d rather not have. Living in Aldern, it’s hard for anyone to avoid the noise.”

“…Mages are the most perceptive among us,” Windsor sighed. “Proud as we are, pride can’t stand against imperial power. It’s not that the winds of the Association change too quickly—it’s that the winds of Aldern itself shift too fast.”

Daniel stopped walking, a thoughtful look crossing his face as he murmured, “The winds of Aldern, huh…”

“Master?” Windsor glanced at the elderly man beside her, uncertain if she’d heard him correctly. “What did you say?”

“Nothing,” Daniel shook his head. “Just marveling at how many troubles this city holds.” Then, as if on a whim, he asked, “By the way, I heard you’ve made some progress understanding those strange ‘Deep Sea Runes’ the Cecilians sent us?”

“Progress is too generous a word,” Windsor said. “Those things are far stranger than I imagined—almost baffling. Just as the Cecilians warned, these so-called ‘Deep Sea Runes’ come from a civilization beyond humanity. The gap between their culture and ours is even greater than that between humans and elves. So unraveling the logic behind those runes won’t be easy. But fortunately, even without fully grasping their deeper principles, the runes still work. Experiments have shown that when used to construct a fully sealed space, they can block all forms of mental contamination—and even have a powerful purifying effect on individuals already affected…”

“…Oh, that does sound intriguing,” Daniel raised an eyebrow. “If I have the time, I’d like to see the facility once you’ve completed it.”

“Of course,” Windsor smiled. “It’s right there in the Obsidian Palace. His Majesty will be pleased to know you’re interested—after all, you’re an expert in runes yourself.”

(End of chapter)