FATE #3 *(A ROSE IN BLOOM)*

IN ONE AND THE SAME*

PEARL'S POV

Why must we go to battle and war among nations and empires, taking thousands upon thousands of lives, even though the meaning of peace was given to us by a human?” I yelled. The question left the place dead silent.

Everyone up here looked over at me—so did the reporters below.
“Comparing the meanings of war, battles, and peace, which one must not only our hearts but our actions yearn for?” I said again.

“The very day I signed and issued the treaty, I didn’t see this many reporters from outside the empire. When I came to the battleground and didn’t wage war but instead protested for peace, flying my white flag, here are all the statements, news, and reports about the battle—yet none of them captured that.”

I clasped my arms behind me, feeling my confidence surge.

“Geater never attacked until it received the first blow from two united empires. Two systems teamed up against one, failed, and now her weapons are being questioned. Wars and battles are about survival, not the means to it. Who has ever questioned the inventions of ammunition and weapons used to defeat an enemy?”

I felt the serenity in the atmosphere, the relief resting on the shoulders of everyone standing with me.

“A den for demons?” I chuckled. “My greatest regret is overdoing myself to preserve the lives of my army, unleashing unquenchable flames onto the very souls who could have lived to make a better world for those yet unborn. My sense of responsibility took me farther than I planned.”

I paced along the barricade, trailing my fingers over it while observing every heart beneath my vantage point.

“Talents are like lakes in the soul of every person—until trenches are dug to set them in motion, they remain stagnant. I am a gifted sorcerer, all of you. I love challenging myself to reach the highest I can go, so don’t condemn what you do not understand.”

My eyes fell upon a strange figure in a black cloak, barely interacting with the reporters or this meeting at all. She moved through the rows, clearly trying to catch my attention.

She finally stepped out behind them, looked up at me—her face hidden beneath a long hood—and then walked away.

“I’ll take questions—one after another.” The place filled with murmurs and unease.

“After searching through the seven empires and many nations, none appear to bear the phoenix totem, nor the giants who fought for Geater. People are unsettled. Some say they were demons you conjured; others claim they were gods you summoned to our realm. What is the truth, Your Majesty? Who are they?”

A woman spoke from the crowd. Her question drew my gaze, and I noticed it appeared on every list they held.

“I can dismiss them now if you wish,” Lucious said as I raised a hand.

“Let it be,” I replied. “You—the one asking—what do you think?”

Murmurs spread again.

“That either could be true,” she said. “Considering how different they appeared—their physiques, complexions, and powers—I believe they could be one of the two, Your Majesty.”

“Sometimes believing you know the truth is safer than pressing for confirmation, don’t you think? What you believe becomes your truth. It only changes when you step out of your way to seek confirmation.”

I gripped the barricade, speaking from the depths of my heart.

“They are people broken through no fault of their own—just like me—bearing curses and deprivation, stripped of who they once wished to be. We are all different, not because we chose to be, but because we endured. Holding onto hope so we don’t lose the final thread we cling to—must we be held accountable for surviving? Must we face our problems with knives, swords, daggers, and guns like everyone else?”

“So no—they are neither gods nor demons. They are simply people who were hurt before their birth, people you may never understand. Their identities lie in your hearts; whoever you believe them to be, that is who they will be to you. Can any of you climb up here and tell us why you are who you are—why you look different, think differently, believe you are special, and why you exist among us?”

“If no one can, then neither can their existence be explained merely to satisfy your curiosity.”

I felt the weight of my words settle upon them, even though their expectations remained unmet.

“Do you intend to establish a one-world dictatorship under your jurisdiction?” another woman asked. “How many empires do you plan to merge under your rule?”

“They should be dismissed now, Your Majesty,” Manchester said. Lucious stepped beside me and urged me to say no more.

“As much as lies within my power, this will not end until the world no longer has people living in isolation under the pretense of empires. Every merger opens shut doors and tears down walls built to divide us. The world has long surpassed its old civilization. Forming new relationships and building shared settlements is the civilization we must now embrace.

“No longer should our birthplaces, languages, or surroundings become barriers between us. A time will come when the world searches for me and finds no trace of my footprints. Until every empire falls—until we no longer need walls to separate us—my destiny remains unfulfilled.

“We need laws and regulations to guide us, not people of flesh and blood using privilege to oppress others. Until that day comes, there will be mergers and dismantlings.

“Agyepong became the scapegoat—and four more who sought survival and understanding are gone as well. That is an action that will never be repeated.”

I spoke boldly, leaving everyone stunned.

“I am not trying to rule the world. I am trying to set it free. Even the most deserted lands can flourish if we spread our wings and reach them.

“This is how far I intend to go with Zherra. When that is done, we will both return to the earth. If I die, she must die too. No matter how long it takes, I will fulfill that destiny—hand in hand, tasting death together.

“No matter how high these walls rise, they will one day fall, releasing the best version of humanity into the world. It is said that love is built in an empire.

“I believe this is my destiny.”

“Get them out—now!” I left the rest to Lucious and the elders. I had to find out who she was.

Something about that person’s appearance—and her departure—was deeply unsettling.