Of Kings and Pawns

Chapter 30 - Wings of Fate

The golden light of dusk bathed the Sunfire Palace in a warm glow, but inside its gleaming halls, the air was heavy with tension. News had arrived from the warfront—General Kai had fallen. His death at the hands of General Zhiang and Tao sent shockwaves through the Empire of Nihon, solidifying the resolve of many within the court. For General Yui, the answer was clear: the Empire must turn its eyes to the south, to the lands beneath Zhong, and strike before a united front became an insurmountable force.

But it was the news of House Merrick’s support for General Zhiang that unsettled the Emperor more. The Old World was already stirring, and now Nihon stood on the edge of a precipice.

In the training grounds, Crown Prince Keita gripped his spear, his muscles taut from hours of rigorous practice. Sweat beaded down his forehead as he lunged forward, piercing the air with flawless precision. General Kai’s death had changed everything, and with Zhong rallying and Merrick backing them, Keita knew the burden of leadership would fall to him soon. There was no time for hesitation, no time for weakness.

After hours of training, Keita rested his spear beside him, catching his breath. He wiped the sweat from his brow and made his way to the wyvern aviary. The sound of flapping wings echoed in the open space as the magnificent creatures moved about their perches. Keita’s eyes found the jade wyvern—his wyvern. The beast was a sight to behold, its emerald scales glistening in the fading light, but despite its beauty, it remained distant.

Each time Keita attempted to approach the creature, it moved back, baring its fangs and letting out a low growl. Today was no different. As Keita stepped closer, the wyvern snarled at him, its tail flicking in warning.

“Why won’t you accept me?” Keita muttered under his breath, frustration gnawing at him.

From behind, a voice broke the silence. “Wyverns are like the dragons of old, Keita. They do not bend to anyone’s will. They choose their riders.”

Keita turned to see Emperor Hiro standing in the shadows, his presence commanding yet calm. His father had been watching him all along.

“Treat it with respect,” Hiro advised, stepping closer. “The same way you treat your mother. Only then will it trust you.”

Keita frowned, looking between his father and the wyvern. He took a deep breath and calmed himself, his mind clearing of the frustration that had clouded it moments before. Slowly, he approached the jade wyvern, his steps steady and unhurried. The beast watched him closely, but it did not move away. As Keita reached out, the wyvern bowed its head slightly, allowing him to place his hand on its nose.

Keita’s heart raced, but he remained composed. The wyvern let out a soft rumble, accepting his touch.

Emperor Hiro observed the scene, a sigh escaping his lips. His son had shown promise, but it wasn’t just the bond with the wyvern that weighed on his mind. Soon, Keita would lead the invasion of the southern lands alongside General Yui, and Hiro knew the weight of that responsibility.

“They are more docile than dragons,” Hiro said quietly, stepping forward to join Keita at the wyvern’s side. “They were never meant for war, just as our empire was never meant for endless conquest. But here we are, forcing them into battle… just as Nihon is forced into war.”

Keita glanced at his father, confused. “I thought you wanted this war, Father. You’ve always spoken of expanding the empire.”

Hiro shook his head. “It’s not that simple, Keita. The generals want war. They seek expansion, power, and glory. But I, as emperor, have always questioned the cost. I never wanted Nihon to become like the kingdoms of the west, consumed by their hunger for dominance.”

Keita frowned, his grip tightening on the wyvern’s reins. “But we are liberating the southern lands, freeing them from the New World’s control. Isn’t that worth fighting for?”

Hiro sighed, knowing his son’s youthful idealism was clouding his judgment. “Keita, we are no different from House Merrick, Brighton, or Frank. They all claimed they were bringing peace and order when they expanded their empires. But in the eyes of the people in the south, we are invaders. No matter how we frame it, war is war. And the innocent always pay the price.”

Keita’s frustration bubbled to the surface. “If you believe that, Father, why don’t you call off the war? You’re the emperor. You could stop this.”

Hiro’s expression grew somber. “I am the emperor, yes, but I am no longer the one with the power to make that choice. Ever since Nihon modernized, the generals have grown too strong. The royal family… we are little more than figureheads now. If I were to go against them, it would only lead to civil war. We would be no different from Zhong.”

Keita’s eyes blazed with determination. “This is for the greater good, Father. Nihon has fallen behind. We must modernize, or we will be left in the dust. If the cost of that is war, then so be it.”

Hiro’s heart ached at his son’s words. He could see the ambition, the fire in Keita’s eyes. “And if the cost of modernization is the lives of innocent people, then is it still worth it?” Hiro asked softly. “I would rather live under a rock than spill blood for the sake of progress.”

Keita shook his head. “That’s why the royal family was reduced to figureheads, Father. We refused to see the future. Adapt or perish. I don’t want my family to perish. Once this war is over, I’ll restore our glory. I swear it.”

As if in agreement, the wyvern shifted beneath Keita, nudging him forward. Without hesitation, Keita leapt onto the creature’s back. With a mighty beat of its wings, the wyvern took to the skies, carrying the crown prince high above the palace. Keita felt the wind rushing past him, the vastness of the world unfolding beneath him. He marveled at the height of their flight, the jade wyvern soaring gracefully through the clouds.

Below, Emperor Hiro watched his son disappear into the sky, his heart heavy with the weight of their conversation. Keita had the spirit of a leader, but he was still young, still blinded by the allure of war and power. Hiro could see what his son could not—that the path ahead was fraught with danger, that war, once started, was not so easily stopped.

As he stood alone in the courtyard, Hiro sighed deeply. Everyone around him seemed to be losing their minds over this war, driven by ambition, pride, and fear. The gamble between glory and death was one Hiro feared would tear them all apart.

“Fly high, my son,” Hiro whispered, his voice carried away by the wind. “But be careful how far you fall.”